Issuu

MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T

Volume VI, No. 210

Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com

Saturday

February 11, 2017

P15.00

Longer blackouts pester Surigao power consumers By Roel N. Catoto

SURIGAO City--Residents in Surigao del Norte and parts of Surigao del Sur are bracing for a 12-hour power outage starting today (February 11, 2017) due to maintenance work. This has been a monthly

predicament to every power consumer. Last November 20, residents in the same areas suffered an 11-hour blackout also due to maintenance work while in December last year a nine 9-hour blackout and on January, 3-day See consumers, page 7

DLSU invites writers for writers’ workshop THE Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of De La Salle UniversityManila (DLSU) is inviting writers to submit their application for the 17th IYAS La Salle National Writers’ Workshop, which will be held on April 24-27, 2017 at the European Documentation Centre, Henry Sy Sr.

Waves of Laswitan. People from different places in Mindanao enjoy the waves

that lash at the rocks in Laswitan near the shore of Barangay Madreliño, Cortes town in Surigao del Sur on Sunday, February 5, 2017. MindaNews photo by Roel N. Catoto

CEB flies over 19-m passengers last year Posts highest number of passengers flown in one day

THE Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), flew 19.1 million passengers in 2016, an increase of 4% from the 18.4 million passengers flown in 2015. On average, CEB flights were 86% full during the year. Growth in passenger volume was largely driven by the airline’s low-cost short-haul services, and increased frequencies in key domestic markets. Specifically, the former recorded

a 9.3% growth compared to 2015, while the latter reflected a 2.6% increase. “Last December 27, 2016, the Cebu Pacific Air Group carried a total of 64,684 passengers—the highest number of travellers we have ever flown in one day. This surpasses our prior record of 62,947 passengers flown last January 3, 2016, translating to 1,737 additional

passengers,” said Atty. JR Mantaring, CEB Vice President for Corporate Affairs. “This significant increase in number only shows our firm commitment in trafficking trade and tourism in all the destinations we operate in, while at the same time enabling everyJuan to connect with their families and friends all around the world,” added Mantaring. CEB posted notable passenger growth in international destinations such as Beijing Shanghai and Xiamen in China, Taiwan (Taipei) and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. In the Philippines, See year, page 7

Meat companies get power supply from AboitizPower By MYRNA M. VELASCO, Contributor

THE country’s major meat processors have signed a power supply deal with the retail electricity supplier (RES) units of Aboitiz Power Corporation for an aggregate 12-megawatt capacity. The off-taker companies affiliated with the Philippine Association of Meat Proces-

sors, Inc. (PAMPI) include Foodsphere, Inc. (CDO), Virginia Food, Inc., LIIP Food Processors, Inc. (Century Pacific) and GenOSI for McDonalds. The power supply agreements had been inked with Advent Energy and Aboitiz Energy Solutions, both RES units of the Aboitiz group for the retail See POWER, page 7

Hall, DLSU-Manila. The IYAS La Salle National Writers’ Workshop this year is in collaboration with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), and supported by the DLSU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. See WRITERS, page 7

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Business

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: NELSON CONSTANTINO

Calamity feared as water hyacinths invade Maguindanao, North Cotabato By FERDINANDH B. CABRERA, MindaNews

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao--Communities surrounding the Rio Grande de Mindanao feared another calamity may yet happen as water hyacinths continued to pile up in portions of Datu Piang, Maguindanao and Midsayap, North Cotabato. This has resulted to flooding for several days now in the low-lying village of Ulandang in Midsayap where the Datu Gelen Piang Elementary School is located. Despite a flooded school ground, children like Ana Lumenda still attended classes. “We still can handle crossing the flooded school but cannot afford to skip classes, as we will be left far behind if we lose our motivation to come to school” she said in the vernacular. The c u lpr it – huge masses of water hyacinth, locally known as “pusaw,” upstream of Datu Sajid Piang Bridge that connects Datu Piang and Midsayap — blocked the normal flow of water. This forced the water to change its course inundating portions of Ulandang. Residents feared for the worst if the water lilies were not removed. One of their options is to cut the

water lilies, mostly three to six meters thick, into smaller chunks to restore the normal water flow. They said that if rains continued upstream or in the Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato mountain areas, more hyacinths will clog the Liguasan marshland waterways. Estimates showed that about the clogging had already covered eight hectares near Datu Sajid Piang Bridge. Engr. James Mlok of the Maguindanao engineering district said manual removal is not feasible as water lilies from upstream would continue to move downstream every minute. “Clogged water plants have reached to almost eight hectares,” Mlok said. “Good enough the ARMMHEART has initiated coordination meeting the other day for the military and the Moro rebels to help in unclogging the waterways.”

WATER HYACINTH. Aerial photo shows the accumulation of water hyacinth on one side of the Datu Piang bridge in Maguindanao, alarming officials of an impending disaster like flooding or a bridge collapsing if no immediate action is taken. Around eight hectares of water hyacinth, six feet deep, have been preventing the normal flow of Dansalan river, a tributary of Rio Grande de Mindanao. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA

He was referring to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team headed by Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary. Alamia convened major stakeholders and organized a “convergence team” composed of disaster workers, 6th Infantry Division, local residents and Moro Islamic Liberation Front members

to lend warm bodies in manually and mechanically removing water lilies. Lt. Col.l Warlito Limet, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion called on Moro rebels for help. “Let’s set aside ideology and work for the common good of our people,” Limet said. Mayor Genuine Kamaong of Datu Piang asked the regional government for the purchase of a water master for faster removal of hyacinths before to prevent further flooding in Datu Piang. He said the the calamity

fund, which is five percent of the local budget, is not enough to handle the huge resources needed to eradicate the clogging. “We are flooded here every three months or ev-

ery time heavy down pour occurs upstream, kawawa naman kami (we’re so pitiful),” he said. “We are asking ARMM to help us procure water master or floating backhoe.

MORE than 20,000 businesses filed for business permit renewal on 2016 as reported by the Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD) of the Cagayan de Oro City Mayor’s Office. BPLD Chief Vivian Sabuga-a said that her of-

fice was able to issue 20,999 business permits in 2016. In line with this, Sabugaa urges businesspersons in Cagayan de Oro to take advantage of the extension of business permit renewal. The city council has extended the deadline of business permit renewal from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28 this year due to the urban flooding last Jan.16 that affected the operations of the businesses. Based on the law on business permit renewal, businesses will incur 25 percent surcharge and 2 percent penalty for every month after the deadline that they’ll fail to renew their permits.(IAF-CIO/ PIA10)

20,000 business firms renewed permits on 2016

RPN Radyo Ronda Stations Nationwide

CNN Philippines Stations Nationwide CNN Philippines TV-9 Manila CNN Philippines TV-12 Baguio CNN Philippines TV-12 Dagupan CNN Philippines TV-26 Tarlac CNN Philippines TV-10 Iriga CNN Philippines TV-4 Iloilo

CNN Philippines TV-8 Bacolod CNN Philippines TV-9 Cebu CNN Philippines TV-5 Cag. de Oro CNN Philippines TV-5 Zamboanga CNN Philippines TV-7 GenSan CNN Philippines TV-9 Davao

DZBS 1368 Baguio DZRL 639 Batac DZTG 621 Tuguegarao DZKI 1332 Iriga DYKW 936 Binalbagan DYKB 1404 Bacolod DYKC 675 Cebu DXKO 1368 Cagayan de Oro DXKS 1080 Surigao DXKD 1053 Dipolog DXKP 1377 Pagadian DXXX 1008 Zamboanga DXKT 1071 Davao DXDX 693 General Santos

Kagay-an Festival 1st Oro Lechoneros Encuentro Champion

for Orders, Contact Yoyong:

09354145759 09169249371

Mindanao Daily TARPS-STICKERS-NEWS

tarpaulin sticker billboards backlitfilm panaflex photopaper 881-0100

0935-1613398 mdntarps@gmail.com

GILBERT Y. CHAO - Motoring Editor

Saturday

motoring February 11, 2017

Ford Island Conquest Makes a Second Stop The Ford Island Conquest venue represents a cross between a scaled-up showroom and a test drive venue with highlights and design twists that will offer the ultimate test drive for the Everest, Ranger and EcoSport. Fun-filled activities are also available for the whole family. Its second leg will be held at Bonifcio Globl City in Taguig from February 10-12, 2017. “This is a great opportunity for customers to get behind the wheel and experience themselves why each of these global Ford vehicles has become so popular here in the Philippines,’ said Minnie ValenciaBustamante, vice president for Marketing and Sales of Ford Philippines. The Everest is engineered for extraordinary, equally suited for a comfortable cruise through the city or to effortlessly take on any terrain. Its bold and stylish design features a quiet, refined interior, smart technologies, exceptional on-road dynamics, and capabilities that include best-in-class ground clearance of 225mm and water-wading up to 800mm. The Ranger sets the industry benchmark in the pickup truck segment with its unmatched combination of quality, passenger comfort, and versatility. With 237mm ground clearance, 800mm water wading, and

unsurpassed towing capacity, no flood can intimidate this smart and ‘Built Ford Tough’ truck. The EcoSport combines the maneuverability, affordability, and fuel economy of a compact car with the practicality and spaciousness of an SUV in a contemporary and stylish package. With 200mm ground clearance and best in class water wading capability, the EcoSport’s versatility can take on any urban adventure in style. For updates on Ford Island Conquest, visit www.facebook. com/fordphilippines.

Caltex Fuel Your School helps boost Davao students’ academic potential through new learning equipment

Keeping students actively engaged can be challenging, particularly for educators teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Adopting the simple strategy of using visual stimuli can do wonders in boosting attention

spans and promoting class participation, according to several studies. This is further strengthened by the significantly higher class engagement in 30 Davao City public high schools that recently received visual equipment through the Caltex Fuel Your School (FYS) program. The majority of the almost 50,000 students who benefited from Caltex’s donation, which includes laptops, projectors, pocket Wi-Fi devices, calcula-

tors and lab tools, reportedly showed marked increase in class participation and longer attention spans. This has resulted in better overall academic performance, with beneficiary schools reporting dramatic improvements in students’ grades at the end of the second quarter of the current school year. “Since its Philippine launch in 2015, Caltex Fuel Your School has funded more than 58 classroom projects in 67 Manila

and Davao schools and has impacted about 153,000 public high school students. Following its highly successful run for the last two years, we hope to continue bringing Caltex Fuel Your School to more regions to spur STEM learning in secondary schools across the Philippines,” said Peter Morris, country chairman of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Opinion

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: Ruel V. Pelone

Kakampi Mo Ang Batas

The Mindanao Daily is pubished by MINDANAO DAILY NEWS PUBLISHING CORPORATION. It is Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Reg. No. CS201531735. With Business Plate No. BP-28984, Under Business License Certificate No. 2015-15224, BIR-TIN No. 464682-324-000. Main Business address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa St., Brgy. Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. Tel. Nos: (088) 856-3344, 857-8447, 0917-7121424, 0947-8935776 E-mails: Advertising:mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com, Editorial: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com DANTE M. SUDARIA Publisher and President TERESA ZAFRA PELONE Comptroller melanie rivera SAIRA E. GUMISING Advertising

felix santillan ZELOUNE SUDARIA Layout Artist

WEMALYN GARCIA Marketing

Rolando sudaria Production

manila marketing office 9th Flr, Unit 918, CityLand Herrera VA Rufino cor. Valero St. Salcedo Village, Makati City TEL. #: 5555392, Cell No.: 0977-152-8860 lani vallido Marketing and Sales Manager

MIJIE JUAT MAY IGLECIAS Account Executives

DAVAO booking OFFICE Door 223, Doña Segunda Bldg., CM Recto Ave., Davao City Office in Charge : SARA CASTOR, 0926-398-8293 Circulation : JOHN PAUL AQUINO, 0907-331-5640 ILIGAN OFFICE G/F IBJT North Terminal, Tambo, Hinaplanon, Iligan City Office in Charge: SONNY SURDIA, 0916-349-7422

EDITORIAL ALLAN M. MEDIANTE Editor-in-Chief

ruel pelone Managing Editor

CRIS DIAZ Executive Editor

CHENG ORDOÑEZ Associate Editor

MARK FRANCISCO Lifestyle Editor

GILBERT Y. CHAO Motoring Editor

gerry lee gorit Photo Journalist

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing…” (2 Thessalonians 1:3, the Holy Bible). -oooTHE STORY OF THE B OY JESUS BEING FOUND IN THE TEMPLE: Why would the Bible carry an account of a relatively uneventful stor y of Jesus being left behind by His parents in Jerusalem who, after three (3) days of searching for Him, would find Him in the company of teachers in the temple courts? The objective, once again, was to show that Jesus was no ordinary boy, and that He was in fact disclosing His being God and Savior early on! -oooUBIAL MUST RE-FOCUS WORK ON SEXUAL PROMISCUITY OF THE YOUTH: If Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial really wanted to address sexual promiscuity that often leads to early marriages or unwanted teen pregnancies, she must re-focus her energies towards inculcating good manners and right conduct among Filipino children,

AL JACINTO Regional Editor-WestMin RODRIGO B. SEVILLA Regional Editor-Davao

JOE FELICILDA Editorial Consultant JOE PALABAO Feature Editor

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI

NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Legal Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------

bureau and mktg staff candy macabale - 09161326483 RIZA O. ARES - 0915-9753-277/0926-2242-653 MISOR - LOLONG NABONG - 0906-875-8650 GINGOOG CITY-MANNY ANSIHAGAN-0936-287-7788 North Buk. - DAHLIA S. BENEMERITO-0936-303-0410 VALENCIA CITY - PHILIP PHIL CALUMBA-0905-652-5407 MARAMAG - roFINA CUALES - 0926-336-1585 quezon, buk. - ROSE GENON Iligan City - JEFFREY OPONDA-0936-1174378 tangub city - bobby mag usara OROQUIETA CITY - PJ TREMEDAL-0919-3452375 ARMM - Sony Sudaria-0947-4810371 cotabato - ANALISA ESPAÑOLA-0916-9351714 davao - tom a. caballero-09756023684 davao - tomas canoy avancena jr.-09177017010 davao del norte - sarah castor - 09263988293 digos city, dvo sur & kidapawan - romeo d. sanchez davao city - rene s. arias (Photo Journalist,) butuan - PAT SAMONTE-0912-8091093 san frans - CRIS PANGANIBAN-09277974193 San Francisco - deding PANGANBAN-0927-7974193 Pagadian City - GRACE FRANCISCO -0912-8484037 ZAMBOANGA - AL JACINTO -09177103642 Member: ORO CHAMBER Philippine Press Institute

with a deep emphasis on spirituality. That way, she would be able to truly introduce change the mindset of the youth today, which is now steeped in disrespect for and contempt of parents and any and all forms of authority, permissiveness anchored on lack of moral values, and absence of fear and love of God that are often the breeding ground for crime and corruption. Ubial should be told that handing out condoms to the young, blocking porn sites in the Internet, and distributing print materials showing photos of people afflicted with sexually transmitted diseases will not deter sexual promiscuity nor early marriages or unwanted teen pregnancies. -oooRET R A I N I NG FOR S E C R E TA R Y U B I A L NEEDED? In fact, I will even suggest to Ubial to consult motivation and spiritual speakers in the likes of Francis Kong, Pastor Ed Lapiz and even Brother Jurem Ramos (who is from Davao City like her) to learn from them what ails the Philippine society in general, and the Filipino youth in particular, and then carry whatever they may prescribe as cure for

misbehavior and recreant attitudes among the young. I am sure Kong, Lapiz, and Ramos will tell Ubial that young children can now engage in sexual adventurism even at a very young age, precisely because they are no longer being taught good manners and right conduct and, more importantly, spiritual values that are necessary to mold them into good individuals and, later on, responsible citizens of the Republic. If Ubial does not seem to consider the teaching of good manners and right c ondu c t and spi r itu a l values as important in molding the character of the youth and in bringing about a citizenry that is productive and progressive, somebody should tell her to undergo an urgent re-orientation and a retraining so she could focus on what is truly important in making a citizen a good person. -oooTHE CONCERNS OF THE BOY JESUS: In Luke 2:41-52 of the Bible, the stor y is told of Joseph and Mary going up to Jerusalem ever y year for the Festival of Passover. When Jesus was 12 years old, he was brought by them to the Festival and,

Atty. Batas Mauricio

when Joseph and Mar y were already travelling home, Jesus stayed behind without telling them. They had to search for Him all over. The search ended up in the temple courts, where Jesus listened, and asked questions, to the teachers, amazing the crowd with His understanding. When He was asked why did He not tell Joseph and Mary what He wanted to do, He told them: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my father’s house?” This question perplexed them, of course, but it only meant that Jesus was already saying that He had concerns in this world other than the concerns of ordinary men and women! -oooPLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible Exposition and prayer session online, could now be heard 24/7 (24 hours a day), in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan. Phone: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

1974 Battle of Jolo, narratives and quest for social conscience

By Noor Saada

PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN of MindaNews Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao

Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor

Retraining for Sec. Ubial needed?

ZAMBOANGA City––Yes narratives, plural, because the February 1974 battle of Jolo was not just a narrative of one or a narrative of victors. Because it was not undertaken by a lone group or it is a question of win-loss mentality. Between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) locked in tight combat with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were tens of thousands of civilians. We will never know how many died and were maimed exactly. The Tausug has a term for innumerable, “mataud tuud!” (too many) and it came down to us as such – too many destroyed, too many dead, too many burned, too many maimed, too many scarred for life, too many orphaned and widowed, too many in diaspora and never to return again, because their pre-1974 Jolo was shattered forever. This year, aside from their narratives, it is also worth discovering what and where Uncle Sam, our big brother, stands on this issue. Thanks to WikiLeaks, official diplomatic cables are now available to us. The victims’ narratives

Kissa and Dawat The Aftermath of the Battle of Jolo February 7, 1974 The day Jolo burned was the day Our martyrs rose from their graves The day we rose from our slumber The day we saw the last of the fires The day we found in our hearts The fervor of the old days The wailing of the dead From the depths of the earth. The day Jolo burned was the day We re-ignited the blaze in our hearts. I was born in Tulay, Jolo, Sulu, in 1972 and was barely two years old when the Battle of Jolo occurred in seven bloody days in February 1974. It was roughly seven bloody days of destruction, death and displacement at a scale unimaginable. It was because of this war that our family was forced to seek refuge in Tawi-Tawi. As I was growing up, the horrors and agonies of that war was repeated in stories from my grandparents, parents, uncles and aunties, and elders cousins. Fazlur-Rahman Abdulla, the head of the Sulu Action Coordinating Center (SACC) in his Facebook post remembers the “families fleeing to the hinterlands and others staying at pier for days. The port of Jolo

was fortified with soldiers and civilians wait for navy ships to transport them to Zamboanga.” Warina Ismuraji, Coordinator for Western Mindanao of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), recalls her family’s dangerous route around town in the midst of an active battle, seeking temporary shelters, until they left the town proper and found refuge among relatives in an adjacent municipality. Former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Atty Mehol Sadain wrote and posted a short poem in his Facebook account. The Aftermath of the Battle of Jolo on February 7, 1974.

We re-ignited the blaze in our hearts. His brother, Said Sadain Jr., wrote about his so-called “Jolo-caust” experience and this was published by MindaNews. Please follow this link to read – http:// www.mindanews.com/topstories/2016/02/that-wemay-remember-february7-1974-the-jolo-caust/ The world needs to know violence was brought to our shore, as OBYA-ARMM Executive Director Amir Mawallil wrote in his latest article. In the beginning it was the Spaniards, then a succession of one colonial after another. The Spaniards, the Americans and the Japanese have left, but the violence remains and has become a culture, a stereotype and a prejudice against a peaceful people seeking their proper place under the sun. Heart-breaking but true. The MNLF narrative – Fighting neo-colonialism The MNLF narrative on the Battle of Jolo is published in their website. You can read them in full here – http:// mn lf net.com/Ar t icles/ Editorial_07Feb2013_Revisiting%20the%20Feb%20 7%20Burning%20of%20 Jolo.htm For the MNLF, Jolo See BATTLE, page 5

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: Ruel V. Pelone

Battle... from page 4

joins a succession of military genocides in Pata, Patikul, Indanan and Maimbung. In their website, they argue, “the two-day continued Philippine Navy (PN) battleships bombardments from the sea, and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) jet fighter planes, T-28 ‘ToraTora’ warplanes and helicopter gunships bombardments and machine-gun firing from the sky led to the burning of the central Tulay mosque, Chinese Pun Tai Kung temple and the entire commercial town of Jolo, killing more than 20,000 Muslim, Christian and Chinese civilians with countless material losses.” It was the military, not them who destroyed Jolo. The AFP narrative – Protecting Martial Law There is no doubt that the secessionist movement down south was further complicated by the Martial Law regime. For the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it was to put down a rebellion against the State. There is a short account on the Battle of Jolo, particularly one against the MNLF stronghold in Sibalu Hill, from the perspective of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), “By dawn, wave upon wave of F-5 and F-86 fighters, as well as T-33 jets and C-47 gunships, took off for Jolo every minute – bombarding the enemy camp accurately and relentlessly. After each sortie – some pilots flew three sorties during that attack – the aircraft would dart back to Mactan to reload. Before the morning was over, helicopters landed at Sibalu Hill to extricate the Marines that narrowly escaped a massacre.” Additional information can be read online here – http:// www.globalsecurity.org/ military/world/philippines/ paf-history-4.htm The American Narrative The American view regarding the Battle of Jolo comes in the form of leaked diplomatic correspondence which was classified by June 2005. One cable bearing the canonical ID: 1974MANILA01682_b dated 1974 February 13, 09:35 (Wednesday) bears the title “JOLO CITY DESTROYED IN MUSLIM REBEL ATTACK”. The WikiLeaks page is available here – https:// www.wikileaks.org/plusd /cables/1974MANILA01682_b.html In this particular correspondence from the US embassy in Manila to the 13TH AF, Commander in Chief US Pacific Command and the Department of State, they were aware of the then South Western Command (SOWECOM) head General Admiral Espaldon’s preferred “policy of attraction” going on for the past five months, a period of rebel returnees getting back to the mainstream and given access to government resources and local positions. However, as of January

1974, there was an increasing number of government forces on Jolo Island in preparation for a major offensive because the MNLF had started taking over other towns. By late January, the skirmishes between these forces were becoming more frequent and closer than ever before. By February 4, AFP forces landed in Jolo to retake areas from MNLF control and by February 7 the MNLF had attacked the Army’s main post defending the airport. An American observer based in Zamboanga learned from AFP sources that between February 7 and 9, in a period of three days, the airport was lost to and retaken from the rebels twice, in a cat and mouse duel, I suppose! On February 11, the AFP was strong enough to hold back the MNLF forces and made possible the visit of then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and chief of staff General Espino. The Americans knew napalm was used by the PAF. The Embassy knew napalm bombing “may have added to fire, which quickly destroyed most of the town. Government officials have claimed that rebels set torch to the city”. Napalm is an incendiary weapon considered as “effective against fortified positions, like bunkers, caves and tunnels, as well as vehicles, convoys, small bases and structures. It clings to whatever it touches, creating a large, hotly burning area around the target. This feature also decreases the need for accuracy when dropping napalm bombs.”[1] Earlier during the Vietnam War, the American dropped around 388,000 tons of napalm during 1963 -1973 period [2] It was only in 1980 that the United Nations banned the use of incendiary weapons on civilians. The local police, under the command of town mayor, was found to have fired on the government’s air forces rather than the rebels, and together retreated to the interior where they were sought by the AFP. The mayor’s son was among those dead and led the attack from the MNLF side. As of February 13, 1973, what the embassy knew then from the AFP intelligence chief General Paz are the following: • 40,000 persons were made homeless in Jolo. • 18,000 of these refugees were transported by Coast Guard boasts to Zamboanga. Initial government relief efforts were in the form of funds, nutribuns and clothing. Ah … the popular nutribun that was used to feed students in public schools! The Embassy’s comments regarding the Jolo battle: The confusing political situation and polarization would benefit consolidation for the MNLF and flare up discontent in other areas. If so, it will isolate the AFP and reduce

Saturday, February 11, 2017 its local support. Back then as it is now, the local belief is that the government is bent on military solution to the insurgency, because the government’s development benefits have not really trickled down. The promises, too, did not materialize. A few days ago, the incumbent Defense Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, was quoted to have reiterated the “all-out-war” policy. Have we not learned lessons from the Battle of Jolo in 1974 and other similar operations? 43 years after – the quest for social conscience Four decades after the Battle of Jolo, the military solution is still the government’s default policy. This default has come to symbolize something – a phrase to explain what you can’t defeat or do not fully understand; a routine military work with no relevance to overall goal of nation-building; a term to justify internal corruption; a palliative balm to sooth the majority of the people momentarily; a knee-jerk response to the media when you can’t think of anything substantial at the time of interview; and a government action gone berserk by killing its own people. Under the current government, with the President hailing from Mindanao and claiming Moro blood and affinity, it has accommodated the different MNLF factions and pushed the latter back in the peace process. This is good for the meantime to keep the relative peace and order situation. But in the long haul, the Battle of Jolo reminds us, that undelivered promises are just a stick away from mayhem of the 1974 magnitude. Those seeking violent redress of their grievances, the Battle of Jolo provides us a classic lesson – does the end justify the means? Imagine a crude version of napalm bomb can yield this destruction: “A 2,500-square-yard area could be engulfed in flame by a single bomb. However, dropping napalm from high-speed aircraft was not so accurate. This resulted in a large number of innocent civilians suffering serious harm.”[2] In the Vietnam War where napalm effects were documented, “Napalm is the most terrible pain you can imagine … water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212°F). Napalm generates temperatures of 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius (1,500–2,200°F).” [3] That was 20th century technology. Imagine now the capacity for destruction of 21st century technology! There is no doubt that there is money to be made and interest to be protected in war. This is an aspect of the Military Industrial Complex that continues to fuel local obsession with conspiracy theory. Then and now, the war in Mindanao has become a microcosm of global anti-terror war, complicating what is already one of the longest See BATTLE, page 6

MDN: Feb 10, 11 & 13, 2017

Saturday, February 11, 2017

BSP keep rates steady Thursday THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policymaking Monetary Board (MB) on Thursday kept key rates steady, which is widely expected by the markets. In a briefing, BSP officerin-charge Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) remains at three percent, maintained

since May 2016 before the implementation of the Interest Rate Corridor (IRC) in June last year. Rate of the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate, the special deposit account (SDA) rate, and the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) were also kept steady at 3.5 percent, 2.5 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment of inflation dynamics and the risks to the inflation outlook over the policy horizon,” Espenilla said. Espenilla said latest baseline forecast for inflation indicated that inflation would remain within the See RATES, page 7

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: Ruel V. Pelone

DTI-Davao setting up more Negosyo Centers this year DAVAO City––The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will set up 14 new Negosyo Centers (NCs) in different provinces and cities in the Davao Region after last year’s success. DTI-11 regional director Maria Belenda Ambi said they had successfully established 15 NCs last year, surpassing their target of 14 for 2016. Given this accomplishment, Ambi credited their success to the strong support of the local government units and the private sector. Ambi said they saw the importance of the centers as clients started to come to the Centers for technical assistance and accessed the services like training that helped them improve their businesses. She said the Negosyo Center is a onestop shop for services intended to support existing and start–up small businesses like business registration assistance; business advisory; and, business information and

advocacy. Ambi reported that last year, the NCs were able to serve 39,804 clients, conducted 477 training programs with total participants of 16,863. On the other hand, Ambi announced that they will be upscaling the Mentor Me (Mentor Micro Enterprises) program in all the provinces in Region XI. Last year, the DTI piloted the Mentor Me program in selected cities in the country namely, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Zamboanga. It is an 11-week mentorship program that assisted micro-entrepreneurs move up to the next level with improved operational systems and business skills. Ambi said the participants need to meet some criteria to become the recipient of the program. Recipients go through the selection process for this year’s program beneficiaries. (DIGNA D. BANZON/PNA)

20-year CLUP proposed

CAGAYAN de Oro City-Instead of coming up with a ten-year Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), the City Council committee on planning and development is preparing the stage for the drafting of a 20-year plan for Cagayan de Oro City. During the first meeting of the newly-created committee, Councilor Ian Mark O. Nacaya said the 18th City Council would like to raise the standards of the city and revisit the

CLUP. The formulation of the comprehensive land use plan is mandated by Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code. Section 20 (c) provides that local government units in conformity with existing laws, shall continue to prepare their comprehensive land use plans enacted through zoning ordinances, which shall be the primary and dominant bases for the

future use of land resources. BARANGAYS Councilor Edna “Inday” M. Dahino said barangays should be given importance in the drafting of the CLUP. She added that the CPDO should include what is stipulated in barangay development plans. Collaboration between the city and barangays is needed to come up with a better Cagayan de Oro, she stressed. See PROPOSED, page 7

NEW YEAR SALE

UP TO 50% DISCOUNT ON SELECTED ITEMS

R.E.R. Highway, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City Telefax. No. (088) 856-5763, Cel. No. 09268376542

WHOLESALE & RETAIL TENZEN CERAMIC TILE IMPORTED CERAMIC TILE IMPORTED GRANITE TILE IMPORTED GRANITE SLAB EUROLUX LIGHTING OSRAM LIGHTING FIREFLY LIGHTING AKARI LIGHTING FOCUS LIGHTING TILE TRIM WASH BASIN PVC MOULDING

ROYALTERN WATERCLOSET HUIDA WATERCLOSET SUNLOT WATERCLOSET SOHO WATERCLOSET ROYU ELECTRICAL DEVICES ANAM ELECTRICAL DEVICES GLASS BLOCK PINLIGHT/CHANDELIER BATHROOM ACCESSORIES CONCRETE PAVERS SHOWER PANEL ABC ZEMCOAT

CONGRATULATIONS

To the New Fraternal Order of Eagles NMR-1 ASSEMBLYMAN

ROYALTERN BATH TUB AEROGAZ WATERHEATER ARISTON WATERHEATER FIRSTANK STAINLESS TANK RONDINA KITCHEN FAUCET RONDINA LAVATORY FAUCET STAINLESS KITCHEN SINK PRETTYDOOR PVC DOOR ABC TILE ADHESIVE ABC TILE GROUT PVC/BRASS STAIRNOSSING DOOR KNOB

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Battle... from page 5

protracted conflicts in the world! We cannot depend largely on leaders. The Battle of Jolo was led by them on both sides. We need a social conscience that will not provide refuge for violence and destruction. The Mindanao Problem is not just a program of the Moros, it is a Filipino Problem. Since we have created this country and insisted on its unity and included those peoples who have been lukewarm from joining since Day One, it behooves the majority to show social conscience. In the online Cambridge Dictionary, it says, “If you have a social conscience, you worry about people who are poor, ill, old, etc. and try to help them.” The Oxford Living Dictionaries views it this way, “a sense of responsibility or concern for the problems and injustices of society”. This is the mindset and the attitude we need. This is not dependent on leaders; this is dependent on a critical mass of Filipinos to complement the peaceloving and conscientious Moros from within! It is only then that sustainable peace and inclusive change are possible. [1] “How Napalm Works” , http://science.howstuffworks.com/napalm.htm [2] Napalm in Vietnam War”, http://thevietnamwar. info/napalm-vietnam-war/ [3] “Napalm Sur vivor Tells of Healing After Vietnam War”, http:// w w w. a d v a n c e . u c o n n . edu/2004/041108/04110803. htm (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Noor Saada is a Tausug of mixed ancestry – born in Jolo, Sulu, grew up in Tawi-tawi, studied in Zamboanga and worked in Davao, Makati and Cotabato. He is a development worker and peace advocate, former Assistant Regional Secretary of the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, currently working as an independent consultant and is a member of an insider-mediation group that aims to promote intra-Moro dialogue).

Power... from page 1

competition and open access (RCOA) regime of the industry. According to Foodsphere President Jerome D. Ong, their choice of cornering power supply from Aboitiz Power had been anchored on the power company’s broad base of experience in the industry. He said the power firm had given them “cost effective energy rates that would result (in) optimum savings for our company.” Ong cited the experience and reputation of the Aboitiz Group being part of their “deciding factor” on the capacity purchase, in addition to having “very responsive

and technically competent team that always provides after-sales support.” Virginia Food President Felix Tukinhoy emphasized that the rates they have in the contract will let them effectively manage their costs. Luis Miguel O. Aboitiz, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Aboitiz Power, said their company would be “looking forward to a stronger partnership with its new customers and PAMPI as an organization.” PAMPI has roughly 50 member-companies raking in revenues rounding up to P300 billion annually; and had broad job generation of more than 300,000 for Filipino workers.

Year... from page 1

domestic traffic increased in Cauayan, Siargao and Ozamiz. CEB currently offers flights to a total of 37 domestic and 29 international destinations, operating an extensive network across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA. Its 58-strong fleet is comprised of four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and three ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2017 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of one more brand-new Airbus A330, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 13 ATR 72-600 aircraft. For bookings and inquiries, guests can visit www.cebupacificair.com or call the reservation hotlines (+632)7020-888 or (+6332)230-8888. The latest seat sales can be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@ CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages. Guests may also download the Cebu Pacific official mobile app on the App Store and Google Play.

Consumers... from page 1

blackout hit the two provinces when its transmission tower collapsed when typhoon Auring made landfall in Surigao del Norte early last month. In an advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), said the two local power distributors in Surigao del Norte and one in Surigao del Sur will have no power supply due to maintenance work on the transmission firm’s equipment. “We are facilitating the maintenance work at Placer-Madrid 69kv line,” the NGCP advisory said. Engr. Sergio Dagooc, general manager of Siargao Island Electric Cooperative (Siarelco), said the outage will affect them, as they are using the same transmission lines that will be fixed in mainland Surigao del Norte. Siarelco is servicing nine towns in the islands with a power demand of 3 megawatts. Engr. Narcisco Caliao Jr., general manager of Surigao del Norte Electric Coop-

Saturday, February 11, 2017 erative (Surneco), said the outage will affect their entire franchise area covering Surigao City and 11 towns of Surigao del Norte. The power utility firm had acquired a 10-megawatt modular power generating set two years ago, but it cannot be utilized for commercial purpose pending permits from government agencies. Caliao said they could operate its generator sets had they don’t have a ride on activities on that day wherein they will fix poles and other lines that have defects. Aside from the modular power generating sets, Surigao City has a new power generator supplier, Nickel Asia Corporation, which built a billion peso land-based generator in the city. The power generator is also not ready for commercial operation pending the completion of permits. Glorie Rebleza, spokesperson of NGCP in Caraga, said Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II, which is servicing the municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza will also experience the blackout. “NGCP will exert all efforts to restore the line earlier or as scheduled,” she added. Since last year, residents have been experiencing long power outages almost every month due to maintenance work. Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative, a power utility in the province of Dinagat Island will be spared from the blackout since it belongs to a small power utility group and is not connected to the main grid of the NGCP. Local residents urged NGCP to conduct maintenance work at night time, so they will not face the burden of having no electric power.

Writers... from page 1

The workshop director is Marjorie Evasco, and the project coordinators are Raymundo Pandan, Jr. and Shirley Lua. The workshop fellowship screening committee accepts creative work in Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Filipino and English. Fellowships are awarded by genre and by language. Creative writing entries that explore the problematic human relations with the environment will be given preference for these fellowships. Ten (10) applicants will be chosen for the workshop fellowships, which will include transportation subsidy and board and lodging (for non-Metro Manila based fellows). For workshop fellowship applications to be considered, the following requirements must be complied with: 1.) Submit original work in only one chosen literary genre and language: either 6 poems, 2 short stories, or 2 one-act plays. 2.) Send works in two (2) computerencoded hard copies, font

size 12 pts., double-spaced. 3.) Include in the folio a page that would have the applicant’s complete mailing and electronic contact address, contact number, and a short resume. 4.) Mail by March 6, 2017 the hard copies and all requirements to Dr. Marjorie Evasco, Iyas La Salle National Writers’ Workshop Director, c/o Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center, De La Salle University, 24o1 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila 0922. For inquiries, please call BNSCWC (632) 5244611 local 233; email bnscwc@ dlsu.edu.ph or iyas17workshop@gmail.com.

Rates... from page 6

government’s two to four percent target over the horizon despite acceleration of the rate of price increases in recent months. “Inflation expectations area also aligned with the inflation target over the policy horizon,” he said. The BSP governor, however, said that balance of risks to inflation was on the upside due to possible hikes in electricity rates and initial impact of the government’s fiscal program, which Finance officials expect to achieve in the second half of 2017. He said impact of these factors on inflation were seen to be countered by developments in the global growth prospects. “The Monetary Board stressed that while the global economic environment has become more challenging due to expected shifts in macroeconomic policies in advanced economies, including the ongoing normalization of monetary policy in the US, domestic economic activity is expected to stay firm, supported by buoyant household consumption and private investment, increased fiscal spending, and ample credit and liquidity,” he said. With these factors, Espenilla said the Board believed that current monetary policy remained appropriate. “Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor and assess evolving economic developments and will calibrate its policy tools as appropriate to ensure sustained price and financial stability,” he added. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, during the same briefing, said adjustment of the RRR “is always on the table.” He said the MB recognized that the country had a high level of reserve requirement but since domestic liquidity remained high, domestic demand was still firm, and credit growth remains strong, thus the Board decided to keep it steady. “It (RRR adjustment) will be considered at some point in the future when conditions are more conducive to an adjustment in the reserve requirement,” he added. (PNA)

State of calamity declared in Lake Sebu

GENERAL Santos City--Officials of Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato have placed the entire area under a state of calamity due to a recent massive fish kill that destroyed around P126 million worth of tilapia. Roberto Bagong, action officer of the Lake Sebu Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said Thursday the municipal council issued the calamity declaration in a session on Wednesday. He said the move was based on a recommendation from their office and the MDRRM Council headed by Mayor Antonio Fungan. But he said the council has set conditions that they need to accomplish in line with the declaration, among them the immediate submission of some documentary requirements. Three barangays -- Poblacion, Takonel and Bacdulong -- were earlier placed under a state of calamity due to the impact of the fish kill from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4. The fish kill, which is considered the worst in Lake Sebu so far, destroyed around P1.4 million tonnes of tilapia from 4,944 fish cages owned by 464 operators. Bagong said that based on their latest assessment, the estimated damage value has reached over P126 million. The average farm-gate price for tilapia in Lake Sebu is at P90 per kilo. As next move following the calamity declaration, the official said they will convene the town’s fish cage operators and other stakeholders on Monday next week for a dialogue and consultation. He said they will introduce to local fishing stakeholders various recommendations made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the provincial government of South Cotabato to help address the recurrent fish kills at the lake. These include the enforcement of the 10-percent limit of the lake’s area for aquaculture development as set in Republic Act 8850 or the Philippine Fishery Code of 1998. Around 20 percent of the 354-hectare lake is presently occupied by fish cages or way higher than its carrying capacity. “They also recommended the setting of a regular closed season for fishing and a moratorium of two to five years for fish cage operations,” Bagong said. On the part of the municipal government, he said they will push for the immediate cleanup of water hyacinths or water lilies in parts of the lake. He said they will also forge memorandum of agreements with fish cage operators for the conduct of regular cleanup in areas that they occupy. He said they will tap the participation of the barangays in the cleanup activities to ensure that they would be sustained. Experts noted that the overcrowding of fish cages at the lake, the proliferation of water hyacinths and the use of commercial feeds by operators have caused its waters to deteriorate, triggering fish kills. They were blamed for the occurrence of “kamahong,” a phenomenon caused by the sudden rise in the water’s temperature. “Kamahong,” which usually occurs during the rainy season, triggers the rise of sulfuric acid in the lake’s waters that eventually cause the massive fish kill. BFAR earlier said results of its water sampling on the lake and other physio-chemical parameters showed that Lake Sebu’s waters is “dying.” Last year, the municipal government recorded at least eight fish kills that destroyed around P1.4 million worth of tilapia. The last major fish kill in the area was in 2014. (MindaNews)

Proposed... from page 6

Councilor Dahino also called on the CPDO to also consider the changing times in drafting the CLUP. “In planning, we should think differently. What was applicable in the past may not be applicable now,” she stressed. For her part, Councilor Annie Y. Daba said consultation with barangays is a must. Councilor Teodulfo Lao proposed that barangays submit their development plans to be incorporated in the CLUP. After some discussions, the committee requested the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to submit the working draft of the proposed CLUP in two months time.

“If we need to hold a summit per sector, we will study it,” Nacaya said. TASK The 18th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy created the committee on planning and development by virtue of Resolution No. 12567-2017. It is tasked to study, investigate and report on all matters and measures pertaining to city planning, zoning, land classification, land use and management, urban community development. The committee shall also review and recommend actions on the CLUP, Annual Investment Program (AIP), City Development Plan (CDP), Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA) and other short and mediumterm plans of the city. (SP)

Saturday, February 11, 2017

FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 â€¢ 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com