Environment Environment
Opinion 52nd Engineer Brigade transformation journey
Story on page 2
Lopez gets praises, more tips on defending watershed, environment
But thinking deeper about the question, one may ask, what has the Duterte administration done for the poor so far?
Read more/p.4
Story on page 8
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. 219
Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com
Monday
February 20, 2017
P15.00
Miners protest vs DENR chief By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN Contributing Editor
CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur—Braving the torrential rains, some 5,000 people mostly mining workers, lumads and students on Thursday staged a marchrally at the town center to protest the suspension
of permits to three mining companies in the two neighboring towns here. The protesters were emotional with calls against the move of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez suspending the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement of Marcventures Mining and Development Corp
(CMDC), CTP Construction and Mining Corp. and Carrascal Nickel Corporation. The protesters march around the town center carrying placards and streamers loudly chanting slogans in Surigaonon vernacular : “Padajon (continue)!” A large streamers that covered
the frontliners of the march carries a message of appeal to Lopez which reads: ( Pusoan mo kami Sec. Gina, Ipadajon an mina! ( Feel us Secretary Gin, continue the mining! )”. Many of the lumads who joined were coming from the far-flung mountain
Drenched. Not evet the rains, would stop protesting
residents in the mining towns ofSurigao del Sur to join the march rally against the suspension of three mining companies. Below, college scholars of the local government of Cantilan town in Surigao del Sur joined the march rally to protest the suspension of three mining companies. Photo by Janus Louise V. Panganiban for Mindanao Daily
See PROTEST, page 7
After quake, killings continue in Surigao By Roel Catoto of MindaNews
SURIGAO City––Even as the city is still trying to recover from the effects of the 6.7-magnitude quake last February 10, motorcycle-riding hit men struck again on Thursday. On Thursday evening, three people died and another one was wounded in two shooting incidents perpetrated by assailants riding in tandem.
The first incident occurred at 6:50 p.m. along P. Reyes corner Narcisco Streets and claimed the life of Jemar Fortuna Alabat, 20, crane operator and a resident of Barangay Taft. The victim succumbed to two gunshot wounds, in his neck and lower right cheek. Police investigation said the victim was with his father, Gerniel Escubedo Alabat, 39 at the roadside when two
Duterte calls recent allegations ‘pure garbage’ P resident R o d r i g o Duterte has dismissed as “pure garbage” the recent allegations against him, saying he has already ordered the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to give
out information about his financial worth. In a speech before the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1967 of which he is an See GARBAGE, page 7
Related Story: Duterte turns table on Trillanes; calls senator ‘tulisan’ 8 p.3
men arrived aboard a motorcycle and said, “Ini ra baja kamo” (So you are here) and began shooting the victims. Gerniel was hit in his right upper arm and was brought to a hospital. The assailants fled afterward. After 30 minutes, another shooting occurred at M. Ortiz Street in Barangay Washington killing two persons. The victims were identified See KILLINGS, page 7
1.8-M students to take career assessment exam
About 1.8 million Grade 9 students from public and private schools nationwide will take the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) on March 1 and 2. The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Bureau of Educational Assessment (BEA), will lead the administration of the annual NCAE, with help from personnel of schools divisions nationwide. The NCAE determines the learner’s aptitude and occupational interest in any of the Senior High School Antonio “Sonny” Fuentes Trillanes IV (left) and President (SHS) tracks. Occupational interest is the learner’s Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte.
See exam, page 7
MINDANAO DAILY SECOND FRONT PAGE mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE
Monday
February 20, 2017
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The transformation journey of the 52nd Engineer Brigade THE 52nd Engineer Brigade Transformation Journey started on year 2012 as part of the Philippine Army’s 18-year strategy. Anchored on the Performance Governance Pathway (PGS) of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), the Philippine Army adopted a concept called the Army Governance Pathway (AGP) with four stages towards a systemic governance approach. 52nd Engineer Brigade attained the first stage or “Initiated Status” last October 2014 and this award was received by the former commander of the Philippine Army’s 52nd Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Reynaldo G. Mutiangpili during the time when Lieutenant General Hernando DCA Iriberri was the Philippine Army’s Commanding General. On May 29, 2015 the Multi-S ector Advisor y
52ND BRIGADE MSAB meeting. Col. Doinisio C. Baudin Jr., commander of the 52nd Engineer Brigade, explains the transformation journey of the 52nd Engineer Brigade during the just-held 4th Multi Sectoral Advisory Board (4th MSAB). Looking on is First District Rep. Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba of the province of Bukidnon. Photo supplied Board (MSAB) was launched with Honorable Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Representative of 1st District, Bukidnon Province. The MSAB serves as the external adviser on the transforma-
tion effort of 52nd Engineer Brigade. On December 2015, the second stage or “Compliant Status” was attained with Lieutenant General Eduardo M Ańo as the Commanding
General and the medallion was received by then Colonel Arnold F Fernandez as the commander of 52nd Engineer Brigade. Currently, with the able leadership of the new
commander of the brigade, Colonel Dionisio C Baudin Jr , they are vying for the third stage or “Proficient Status” and is now preparing for the on-site audit to be conducted by the third party validation team on the couple of weeks from now. The brigade is confident to attain the Proficient Status” with the help and external advise of the MSAB members composed of different key sectors of society. The 52nd Engineer Brigade MSAB is regularly conducting meetings on how to help the brigade realize their strategic objectives for the betterment of the Philippine Army as a whole. The following are the MSAB members; Government Sector: Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Representative, 1st District, Bukidnon Province; Rogelio N Quiño, Vice-Governor, Bukidnon Province, NGO Sector: Atty.
Jud A Yuzon, CDO Rotary Club, Mr Ariel C Hernandez, Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc, People’s Orgazination: Ms Pacita D Panis, TRICAP Director, Region 10, Business Sector: Colonel Marcel O Lacbain (Ret),Manager, Mindanao Security Group, Del Monte Philippines Inc, Media Sector: Mr Dante M Sudaria, Publisher, Businessweek Mindanao, Academe Sector: Dr Dixon Q Yasay Phd, Director, GLI-XU (Ateneo de Cagayan), Church Sector: Fr. Noel P Pedregoza, Parish Priest, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Youth Sector: Ms Jellie Ann P Edem, Past President, Student Council of Industrial and Information Technology, Ms Marianne Grace L Serenuela, Member, Philippine National Red Cross. Army Core Purpose: Serving the people. Securing the land.
Price freeze remains in force in quake-hit Surigao By Roel Catoto of MindaNews
SURIGAO City––A price freeze on basic commodities continues to be enforced in the city, an official reminded local businessmen and consumers. Celestino Negapatan, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Surigao del Norte told MindaNews in a phone interview Friday that the price freeze was based on Resolution No. 23-2017 dated Feb. 11, 2017 of the city council. He said basic goods shall be sold at prevailing prices, which shall be the average prices within a month from the occurrence of the state of calamity. He added they were monitoring the prices. But several consumers said some prices of goods like milk, sardines, and selected brands of soap had increased after the February 10 quake. “There‘s an increase of 10-30 cents a piece,” a grocer admitted to MindaNews. Negapatan explained that under Republic Act 7581 as amended, basic necessities include the fol- COLLAPSED. The second floor of Cuizon Lodge along P. Reyes Street collapsed on Saturday afternoon (February 18, 2017) after series of lowing: rice, corn, bread, aftershocks in Surigao City following a 6.7 magnitude of earthquake that struck here on February 10, 2017. No one was reportedly hurt during See remains, page 6
the incident. City Officials also ordered, Palasso Hotel, located beside the collapsed building to vacate the area to avoid the danger. Photo by Roel N. Catoto for Mindanao Daily
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In Focus
Monday, February 20, 2017
3
Anti-criminality, anti-corruption, Duterte turns table anti-illegal drugs program launched on Trillanes; calls senator ‘tulisan’
By Faustien Faez Rugay CIO-Iligan City
THE city government of Iligan under Mayor Celso G. Regencia gladly received the barangay-based anticriminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) dubbed as Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya - Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Iligal na Droga or, the MASA MASID and spearheaded its launching last February 16 held at the Frosty Bites here. During the introduction of the program, Sr. Supt. Leony Roy Ga reported that crime dipped since July last year by as much as 24.02 percent. Liza Ladres, a representative from the DILG, Region 10 (DILG-10), enumerated some of the purpose of MASA MASID program. These are, Ladres said, institutionalize volunteerism and to heighten community involvement, so that Iligan City will be an entirely safe and peaceful community.
By Lilian C. Mellejor of PNA
MASA MASID launching. Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia with Mr. Foster Anayron, officer in charge of the Interior and Local Government in Iligan; Ms. Liza Ladres of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Region 10, Sr. Supt. Leony Roy Ga, Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Mr. Roosque Calacat, and Prosecutor Eduardo Cueto of Iligan City gathered during the launching of the MASA MASID, a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti- illegal drugs program which encourages multi-sectoral partnership to intensify. Photo courtesy of Jay Roy D. Lim/CIO In his speech, Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Roosque Calacat said that it has been last 2002 since the Philippines was made aware of the problem on drugs. However, Calacat said the upper men has not lifted a finger to resolve this. He mentioned that he was thankful for the presidency of President Rodri-
go Duterte, who pushed through his war against drugs. During his talk, he mentioned that the family shall play a great role in maintaining a drug-free country. Since the family is where each individual is initially trained. He said almost 90 percent of those drug dependents came from dysfunctional families. “There-
Lawmen nab 6 wanted persons By Faustien Faez Rugay CIO-Iligan City
IN accordance with Mayor Celso G. Regencia’s aim to clean Iligan City, the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) conducted last February 15 the One-Time-Big-Time anti-criminality campaign in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies. The One-Time-Big-Time anti-criminality campaign has resulted to the arrest of six wanted persons mostly residents of Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City. Arrested were Alvin Loay charged with robbery; Ronnie Pableo wanted for Estafa; Efren Angelo Ortiz and Jefford Sombreno, who have pending cases for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972; Dennis Manila charged with two counts of theft; Karen P. Fernan
fore, the family shall play a great role in the recovery of those drug-dependents,” said Calacat. Aside from family, he also mentioned that the barangay will also greatly help with the clearing of drugs in the nation. The UBAS (Ugnayan ng Barangay At Simbahan) shall help disseminate the information to the residents and provide awareness of the negative effects that drugs can do to the users. This cooperation shall also help with the successful rehabilitation of the drug dependents, he said.
DAVAO City––President Rodrigo Duterte has turned the table on Senator Antonio Trillanes, calling him ‘tulisan’ (thief) alleging on the “lucrative business” of using his office for retainers. “It is known in the Senate that Trillanes uses his office to ask for retainers and that this has become a lucrative business for him,” the President said in a recorded statement sent to the media on Thursday night. He issued this statement following accusations from Trillanes that he amassed PHP211 million illegally. While Trillanes’ accusation is a rehashed issue, Pres. Duterte challenged Trillanes to go to court and file the proper case. “I advise him further to stop opening his mouth when he has nothing to say anyway,” he added. The President defended his daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who he said has been earning as a lawyer with clients actually paying for her services and “not from illegal retainers which Trillanes is so used to so doing.” Pres. Duterte said his partner Cielito “Honeylet”
Avancena, who has been included in Trillanes’ allegations of hidden wealth, is also earning since 18 years ago when she ventured into businesses -- a donut business and meat supplier in five malls in the city. “Trillanes, alam mo, ‘yang si Honeylet started her donut business 18 years ago. She supplies meat sa five malls dito sa Davao, siya ‘yung nagsusupply ng karne ng baboy (Trillanes, you know, Honeylet started her donut business 18 years ago. She supplies meat to five malls here in Davao, she is the one supplying pork meat),” the President said. Pres. Duterte said Avancena has earned money through hard work and perseverance. “Hindi kagaya mo, ambisyoso (Unlike you, ambitious),” he added. He further lashed back at Trillanes accounting of the money including even the day-to-day banking transactions of Avancena. “This just shows his ignorance with regard to the banking business, the people who have personal businesses,” he said as he asked Trillanes not to compare his family to him. “Ngayon, kung pamilya mo gutom See SENATOR, page 6
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Monday, February 20, 2017
Opinion
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Bulatlat Perspective
Is change under the Duterte administration for the poor? AFTER providing an input on the Global and National Situation before sisters of the OSA, a nun asked me where President Duterte is taking the nation. My response was that it is not clear because the President could say one thing then his staff would try to explain that it was not what he meant. Also, he could be passionate about addressing a serious problem such as illegal drugs, which his predecessors ignored, but the way his government is going about it is wrong: through a killing spree mainly targeting the poor. But thinking deeper about the question, one may
ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI
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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
Taguiwalo has been doing a lot in addressing the problems of responsiveness of the department during calamities, in cleaning up the list of beneficiaries for the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program, and even in uplifting the conditions of the employees of the department. But would the department have done it without the leadership of Taguiwalo? Of course, it is President Duterte who appointed the two. It was reported in the news recently that President Duterte ordered that the housing for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
Benjie Oliveros
be distributed for free. The cancellation order by Environment Sec. Gina Lopez on the 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) or mining concessions of mining companies along watersheds would also benefit the people a lot. However, the Chamber of Mines has already filed an opposition to her appointment before the Commission on Appointments to stop her and it remains See POOR, page 7
The Striker
Of black and white
ONE of my regular readers, who glued his eyes on my articles appearing in various newspapers in the Philippines as well as in other EDITORIAL countries, suggested that government officials who ALLAN M. MEDIANTE are guilty of corruption Editor-in-Chief from an amount of more ruel pelone CRIS DIAZ than one hundred million Managing Editor Executive Editor pesos should be hanged in CHENG ORDOÑEZ MARK FRANCISCO public and allowed to die Associate Editor Lifestyle Editor slowly. Of course, I was laugh GILBERT Y. CHAO gerry lee gorit ing because it sounded like Motoring Editor Photo Journalist a joke until I got a follow PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN up note from him and he Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao declared he was dead seri ous on his suggestion. I Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor found his desire good but it is tainted with utmost AL JACINTO JOE FELICILDA cruelty. But he was right Regional Editor-WestMin Editorial Consultant and erring politicians really deserve punishment with RODRIGO B. SEVILLA JOE PALABAO extreme pain to deter the Regional Editor-Davao Feature Editor NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Legal Counsel
ask, what has the Duterte administration done for the poor so far? Just recently, Agrarian Reform Sec. Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano finally distributed the land of Hacienda Luisita. But would the Department of Agrarian Reform do it if not for Secretary Mariano who was a peasant leader and former Anakpawis Party-list representative before he was appointed? The Supreme Court decision ordering the distribution of the land became final on April 2012, almost five years ago, and it is only under Mariano when it was distributed. Social Welfare Sec. Judy
commission of such crime in the future. I am just glad some people whose right had been violated for years, are now coming out to express their ill-feelings. The title of this article, “Of Black and White” was my original since 1970 and I found it very appropriate to hit the good, the bad and the ugly in our civilization. A parade of criminal libel cases were filed against me but all ended in acquittal. I was thankful the eyes of our justice system was focused on my innocence and full exercise of press freedom as guaranteed in our Constitution. On the P2-billion pesos Senator Antonio Trillianes said is in the account of President Rodrigo Duterte
in the bank, he said further he will resign from the Senate if he is proven wrong. President Duterte replied if Trillianes could prove his allegation, he will resign as president of the country. People are really confused who is telling a lie and who is not. This kind of conflict is an old song among politicians. Some of them have bank accounts in foreign countries like Switzerland, the United States or elsewhere. I think they should join hands and work for the betterment of the country and people rather than indulge in bickering for nothing. Anyway, I encourage Sen. Trillianes for his search and expose of things in the government. He is one of
Ben Emata Jr.
the few oppositionists which we need badly. Without opposition in the system we will never know what is happening around. This is the essence of democracy. I admire people who extended help to the victims of earthquakes in Surigao. It is not so much of the material things that count but the support and comfort that we showed to the broken hearts of our brothers and sisters. This is one good attitude of the Filipinos that had been practiced ever since. See white, page 7
Kakampi Mo Ang Batas
Church schools’ students: better than counterparts
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, `This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’…” (Matthew 3:1617, the Holy Bible). -oooBAPTISM OF JESUS A PRODUCT OF DIVINE WILL: The baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River showed it was a product of divine will, to show that Jesus was no ordinary believer, and was not in fact an ordinary man undergoing baptism. That baptism demonstrated who He really was---God
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. -oooCHRISTIAN CHURCH SCHOOLS: HONING CHILDREN BETTER: The “Visayas Regions United ASCEP (Association of Christian Educators of the Philippines Conference” on February 17, 2017 in Bacolod City highlighted what Christian church schools have been fighting for all along, ever since the government since the early 1990s granted them permits to operate: their students are honed not only in academics, which is a regular fare for any other public or private school, but more so on spirituality. As I arrived at the Gospel Baptist Church in Mandala-
gan, Bacolod City for the Conference in my capacity as the general counsel of United ASCEP, I was pleasantly surprised to find school children studying at the Church trooping to me and the other visitors and taking our hands in the traditional Filipino way of showing respect and welcome for older people. Taking the hand of elders among young Filipino children, especially those still studying, has become totally extinct nowadays, more so because parents and school teachers are no longer requiring such a display of deference from the young. I was glad that among the students of Christian church schools, especially in Bacolod City, this is still being
Atty. Batas Mauricio
observed.
-oooCHURCH SCHO OL STUDENTS BET TER THAN COUNTERPARTS: Then, during the Conference, which saw the expression of support for United ASCEP’s fight from Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya and City Administrator Moises Dela Cruz (who pitched in for Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia) against orders from the Department of Education (DepEd) to close all Church schools, school children showed their talent in playing the violin and other See sTUDENTS, page 7
Forum
FOR ADS PLACEMENT CALL OR TEXT: 0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Editor: Ruel V. Pelone
Monday, February 20, 2017
The political stages and their ordeals
I am not a politician but very much fond of observing the political condition. If it is not in a global outlook, at least I am watching closely the national and regional-political situation. For presidential election, most countries have also the same stages. Again, I am not a politician, but fond of watching the political arena. Therefore, my analysis can be either right or wrong. So far, the political arena for the president in any country has had always similar stages. The first one is the preliminary political campaign. During the presidential campaign, the candidates are always confident of what he or she has stated for all the jargons. These jargons are identical to the promotional mottos like the trading or selling of the products or services. The most ultimate goal to be achieved is to get the votes as many as possible.
In that stage, some ordeals or temptations are coming up continuously. These can be issues related to black mails and fake news related to slanders. This stage is the most chaos situation when it cannot be controlled by the security agencies in the country. Mostly, the jargons and the strong statements tend to be in discrepancies. Public can get confused because of these discrepancies. These are the strongest kicks among the contestants in this stage. The second stage is the post elected-president. The situation is different from the stage one atmosphere. This second stage is identified by the blurring policies to be made by the elect-president. He or she is similar to the individual entering the jungle, just trying to find the ways to get out of the most difficult situation. He or she is busy selecting the government organs to sup-
port him or her, during his or her leadership. The most difficult thing is to choose the right men for the right place. It can be said to be the stage of being blind, because he or she has been tightened by his or her own jargons or promises during the presidential campaigns. The third stage is the growing one. In this situation, the elect-president has gained his or her almost right people for the right places. However, they are still dragged into their own oligarchies. Managing all the tasks given by the electpresident is more difficult because they have to adapt to their surrounding people. Various interests are blended and the policies to be made are in less mature decisions. In this stage, the people in the country are criticizing here and there by pointing out all the weaknesses. This is less difficult compared to the previous stage. But,
cabinet reshuffle can be one of the common evidence for the public due to the weaknesses in making decisions. The fourth stage is the nearing to mature stage. In this stage, the elect-president has made good enough stability, but the strongest kicks from the people are related to the demand for the proof of the promises spoken during the campaign. The people are getting fed up because of some policies made can be deviating from the track of the promises for the grassroots. This is quiet stable but the ordeals are actually much riskier than the previous stages. There are still criticisms coming up continuously because the people can see exactly what the policies being made. They know whether all policies can be for the whole people or just for the oligarchies behind the president and his or her cronies.
Have My Say
Chinese government had every right to take offense but it stayed calm, even as it made clear behind the scenes that there were certain limits that should not be overstepped. These limits would have been overstepped if Donald Trump had not called Xi before receiving Japanese President Shinzo Abe and certainly if he had not confirmed officially that he would honor the “One China” policy after hints that he would not in the past. He also, in a press conference, said that the phone call had been “very warm.” His willingness to back down is perhaps surprising, but it seems that Trump is going to play it cool from now on. It was also clever to not say a word about thorny issues such as the South China Sea territorial dispute, or the trade surplus. Before the phone call, the US president involved his relatives to lessen the blow to China. In a first for the White House, he
sent his daughter and her five-year-old Arabella to a New Year’s reception at the Chinese embassy. Moreover, a video of his granddaughter singing “Happy New Year’ in Chinese went viral. The New York Times said this was a “diplomatic coup” on the part of Arabella, even if it did come two weeks too late. It seems as if Trump is dealing with foreign policy in the same way as he does business: He sees how far he can go before having to backtrack, as he has done now with regard to China, NATO and Canada. He has also been reasonable with regard to North Korea, barely reacting to Kim Jong Un’s attempt to attract attention through missile tests. Internationally, there has been some relief that his non-reaction was as balanced as it would have been before him. In any case, his unusual behavior - tweeting, blustering, playing golf with Abe, let alone having his granddaughter play the
Klaus Doring
diplomat - is keeping his opponents on their toes. B eijing understo o d Trump’s game and remained remarkably calm during the time of the provocation; it can afford to stay calm: The world is well behind China when it comes to trade. But Trump is under pressure - he has to deliver on promises regarding economic growth and jobs in the US. He will have to show his hand soon; there can be no bluffing with regard to China. The economies of the US and China are simply too interdependent now. Games? We should take a watch. +++ Email: doringklaus@ gmal.com or just follow me in Linkedin, Twitter ot Facebook or visit www. germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.
Not to WESM, yes to economic dispatch in M’nao
It is economic dispatch that needs to be implemented in the Mindanao grid, instead of illegally parachuting the WESM into a grid that is not connected to the Luzon-Visayas grid. Economic dispatch of power plants will solve the perceived problems of overcapacity, over- and under-contracting, uncon-
tracted capacity, etc., in the electric power industry in Mindanao. This paper discusses what economic dispatch is, how it is being done at present in Mindanao and in the Luzon-Visayas WESM, and how it should be done to enable economically efficient contracting and interchange of power capacity in a grid without a WESM.
The paper is intended mainly to guide the technical working group of the AMRECO, as they work on the development of rules to govern the dispatching of generating plants in the Mindanao grid. But it is also intended for the general information of member-consumer-owners of the electric cooperatives, as we battle in the public square against the scheme
president’s leadership. So, what is the president for then? The whole nation or the oligarchies? •••••• Editor’s Note: Dr. Djuwari Sarkawi is the Head of Research Journal and Publishing Department, STIE Perbanas Surabaya. He is also the guest lecturer at Ottimmo International Master-gourmet Academy, Surabaya; The advisor of Indonesia Association of Press Practitioners/ Journalists in East Java province (HIPSI), Indonesia. He is also the president of the International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors, and Reviewers (IASPER).
Dear Col. Dubria,
Power Forum
First of two parts
Dr. Djuwari
Open Letter An Open Letter to the Police Chief of Davao City
Just in time?
At LEAST when it comes to policy towards Asia, US President Donald Trump is becoming a little bit more dependable it seems, says German TV-commentar Frank Sieren. It’s rare, that I agree with my fellow German media friends. Yeah, sometimes, we also meet on a different level. Yes, this time: it was a close call, but US President Donald Trump seems. Donald Trump und Xi Jinping to have come to his senses just in time. He had already spoken to over 20 heads of state before deciding to put a telephone call through to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last week. This was too late considering China’s economy is already stronger than the US’ in terms of purchasing power, China contributes four times more than the US to the global economy, China has the largest global population and is the fourth-largest country in terms of area after Russia, Canada and the USA. The
The fifth stage is the stage for the elect-president to keep himself or herself safe. This is the most difficult situation compared to the first, second, third, and forth ones. The elect-president has to keep working for the nation development but he or she has to prepare whether he or she has to get elected again in the following period or term. This is the condition of the president in any country to get much more confused. This condition makes him or her get so many free-kicks from different angles. Looking at the stages above, we can see that, practically, all the presidents in any country really work for the nation only in the third and fourth stages. The first, the second, and the last stages are for keeping himself/ herself safe. Therefore, all the nations in any countries are taken care only half of the time or period of
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David A. Tauli
of the DOE, instigated and funded by the oligarchs in the electric power industry, to establish an illegal WESM in Mindanao. Economic Dispatch Economic dispatch is generally defined as: The operation of the See YES, page 5
I am writing to relay to you a public safety concern brought to my attention yesterday. One of our graduate interns, Ms. _________ hailed a white taxi outside Damosa at around 8:30am yesterday and instructed the driver to bring her to the Ateneo Roxas gate. She had a stuffy nose and it was some time before she registered a strong repulsive smell permeating the inside of the cab. She then noticed that the driver had on a surgical mask. In her growing alarm, she noted that there was no driver’s ID visible anywhere inside the cab and that there were no markings on the inside of the doors for the operator’s phone number and the taxi number. Ms. __________ said that the cab was going very slow and that she was further alarmed to note that the driver had made a detour along a deserted side street off Cabaguio. She texted a friend to say that the taxi she was riding had taken her among the warehouses in Cabaguio. By then, Ms. __________ was starting to feel numbness around her nose and mouth and was already feeling a bit dizzy, but she desperately fought it off. Luckily, she spied a Massey warehouse with some activity and insisted for the driver to let her off, which he did. The Massey security guards responded to her plea for help by getting her to sit down to catch her breath and clear her head. They also hailed a taxi later to get her to our event at school. Unfortunately, the taxi that dropped her off had already left before she was able to confide her concerns to the guards. They were not able to get the license plate. Ms. __________ arrived around 9:30am, still very shaken. She was very pale and trembling from her ordeal, although she refused to be seen by our clinic personnel. We only ran her by some crisis debriefing and sat with her until she was able to release some of the terror she felt. At dinner, she was able to tell the 10ID’s Assistant Division Commander about her experience and he counseled us to bring this concern to your attention. I am very sorry that we cannot provide any further details that would allow our police to take action to address the undue distress caused on Ms. _______. I hope however that you will use this information to prime our traffic officers on the presence of what could be a bogus taxi unit driven by a man in surgical mask who seems to have a preference for a slow, stinky ride along the obscure back roads of the city. In the interest of public safety, I am asking for an alert to be sent out to keep our police and the public vigilant. Thank you. Sincerely yours, GAIL TAN ILAGAN, PhD, CSSP, RP Director ADDU COPERS
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Monday, February 20, 2017
Remain... from page 2
fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil and salt. Also in the list are laundry soap, detergents, firewood, charcoal, candles, drugs classified as essentials by the Department of Health, potable water in bottles and containers, fresh fruits, locally manufactured instant noodles, households liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene, he said. He added that unless sooner lifted, the price freeze under R.A. 7581 shall remain effective for the duration of the condition that caused it but not for more than 60 days, provided that for household LPG and kerosene the duration shall not be more than 15 days. “A l l c onc e r ne d are warned that violators shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for a period of one year to ten years, or a fine ranging form P5,000 to P1,000,000 or both at the discretion of the court aside form applicable administrative penalties,” he said. The official said a water refilling station was reportedly selling at 50 pesos instead of the usual 15-25 pesos per container. “We went to this water station told them to bring back the price,” he said. Consumers also complained that prices of fish at the city public market had increased. Negapatan said the DTI has no jurisdiction on the prices of fish sold at the public market but the local price monitoring committee under the city mayor can do something about it. Fish vendors at the public market told MindaNews this afternoon that it is normal for them to increase the prices if there is low supply. Benilda Ballescas, a fish vendor, cited bad weather and the full moon as the reasons for the low supply of fish. Grace Pilapil, another fish vendor, admitted that there are those who took advantage of the situation. She said only bangus or milkfish was not affected by the increase because it comes from fish ponds. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)
Senator... from page 3
noon o ngayon, huwag mo kaming isali. Hindi kami kasing malas sa pamilya mo (Now if your family is hungry then and now, do not include us. We are not as unlucky as your family),” he said. He added that they were not also poor because his father, the late Vicente Duterte, was governor (of the undivided Davao) and left them inheritance. Unlike them, Duterte said what was left with Trillanes were just
“hangin at yabang”. He also labeled Trillanes as a shame, citing the failed Oakwood mutiny that the senator led years ago. The President is also unperturbed by Trillanes’ dare to resign, saying that he would resign immediately if Trillanes can prove his allegation that he amassed PHP2 billion illegally or if the bank account under his name has a total deposit at one time of even just half a billion. He said Trillanes is not even afraid to resign because the senator is on his last term and would have nothing to lose if he would resign from office, which explains his penchant for all this daring President to resign. Pres. Duterte emphasized the senator has no political career after his term in office expires in less than two years. The president labeled the issue hurled against him as “old and rehashed” and that he had answered the accusations during the campaign period. It may be recalled that during the presidential campaign last year, Trillanes accused that Duterte has kept PHP211 million of undeclared wealth. Duterte even challenged Trillanes then to show up at the bank and he will open his bank account that allegedly contained the PHP211 million on one condition that his accuser sign an affidavit and file a case against him. Duterte dared Trillanes to present himself before officials of the BPI Julia Vargas branch where Trillanes said Duterte has bank accounts. Duterte was then represented by his legal counsel, lawyer Salvador Panelo. He said the Julia Vargas BPI account existed — with a “little less than” PHP211 million content. If Trillanes would sign an affidavit, Duterte vowed to open his account. (PNA)
Praises... from page 8
by distributing land and support services to the displaced mining communities,” said Bautista. 4. Demand accountability from mining companies, government officials involved Environment and rights defenders working with Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) said in another statement that aside from closure and suspension of mining companies, the government must also hold these companies responsible for the damages to the natural resources and surrounding ecosystems they have committed. Aside from canceling mining permits, the department should also investigate how these mining companies got the permits and were able to operate on watershed and critical habitats, said Sherwin De Vera, regional coordinator of the Ilocos Network for
the Environment (DEFEND Ilocos), an environmental protection advocacy group. 5. Protect the environmental defenders Noting how the environment secretary herself is being “bullied” for her defense of the country’s watershed, environmentalists requested greater vigilance in monitoring and documenting human rights violations in miningaffected communities and among the environmental and rights groups. “The danger of allowing corporations, especially mining companies to fund political campaigns is that, profit-driven entities are given clout over national policies, making our laws and economic thrust more favorable to greed than people’s welfare,” said DEFEND Ilocos. They called the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP)’s attempt to block Lopez’s confirmation as environment secretary as an “act of a bully”. Unfortunately, pressuring lawmakers to turn down the likes of Lopez is not the only thing COMP has been doing, said the environmentalists’ network. They said the chamber also funds the military “to make way and protect their investments at the expense communities”. De Vera said this is why in most areas with mining operations there is also a large contingent of government troops and plenty of cases of human rights violations. They asked the government to protect all environmental and rights defenders from being harassed by mining companies and the government troops protecting it. (http://bulatlat.com)
Pollution... from page 8
to curb pollution, according to Thiaw, is to find out the sources and reduce them, which is a complex process and in need of joint efforts from all walks of life -- governments, the private sector and the civil society. Among the ef for ts, Thiaw said investing in renewable energy is a feasible approach to tackle, for instance, air pollution and this industry has proven to be profitable. “The price is going down and the technology is accessible.” Thiaw said the UN environment agency believes that by using new technology and renewable energy, a country can provide energy to its communities without further polluting the environment. “A good example is China where hundreds of billions of dollars are being invested every year on renewable energy,” he noted. To reduce the air pollution in China, Thiaw said the Chinese government is investing quite massively to reduce the number of coalfired energy systems and is promoting clean transport systems with electric vehicles and motorbikes.
He said though the measures need to be further enhanced, “the right policies are already being put in place” and “we are very confident that the leadership in China is fully aware of the situation and will be addressing it in the future”. Noting that the air pollution, known as smog, has also been observed in other parts of the world, like in France and in India, Thiaw said it is critical to establish mechanisms for countries to share experiences on how to reduce pollution through effective measures. He mentioned that the UN Environment Program is organizing the UN Environment Assembly, to be held in December this year in Nairobi with the theme, “Pollution”. He said the conference itself is a wonderful opportunity for dialogues and he expects representatives of governments, as well as the private sector to join the discussion to help the world adopt a new way of life so as to reduce pollution. As for current international cooperation, Thiaw noted the Paris Agreement, the deal reached by the international community to combat climate change. While stressing that the links between climate change and pollution are evident, he said with the Paris Agreement, governments will make decisions to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and that will contribute to reducing the air pollution nowadays. (PNA/Xinhua)
Yes...
from page 5
electric generating plants connected to a transmission system in order to produce enough energy at the lowest cost to serve consumers reliably, while taking account of any operational limits of the generating plants and the transmission system. In economic dispatch, the cost to be minimized, usually called variable costs as distinct from the fixed costs of the generating plants, refers to the shortterm costs of using available generating plants to supply the electrical needs of customers. The operating procedure for attaining economic dispatch is simple: When more than one generating plant must be operated to supply electricity to the loads connected to a transmission system, the generating plant with lower marginal cost must be dispatched before the generating plant with higher marginal cost. The last generating plant that is dispatched in order to make total supply equal to total load or demand will have the highest marginal cost among all the power plants that have been made to operate. Economic Dispatch in the Luzon-Visayas Grid and in the Mindanao Grids The same procedures are followed in carrying out economic dispatch in differ-
ent electric power systems such as the Luzon-Visayas grid, which has a wholesale electricity spot market, and the Mindanao grid, which does not have a WESM. As actually practiced in both the Luzon-Visayas and the Mindanao power systems, economic dispatch is done by dispatching first the renewable energy power plants, which have virtually zero marginal costs. The RE power plants are followed by coal-fueled power plants, followed by oil-fueled power plants, which generally have the highest marginal costs and are dispatched last. In Luzon-Visayas, natural gas fueled power plants are dispatched after coal plants and before diesel power plants. Mindanao does not have natural gas. So it is not the dispatching procedure that is different between a grid that has a WESM and a grid without a WESM. The difference is in the pricing of the output of the generating plants that are dispatched. In the Mindanao grid, the price paid by consumers for generation that is not covered by contracts will be the ERC-approved rates for the power plants that are dispatched. The rates are different for various types of power plants, with the rates being around 3.00 pesos per kWh for hydro plants, 4.00 pesos for coal plants, and 6.00 pesos for oil-fueled power plants. In the Luzon-Visayas grid which hosts the Philippine WESM, the price paid by consumers for all generation purchased from the WESM will be the highest bid price of the generators that are dispatched, and the same price will be paid to all the generating plants regardless of type. High Rates of Electricity with the Establishment of a WESM in Mindanao The pricing system used in the Philippine WESM will be used in Mindanao if the DOE and the GENCOs succeed in establishing a WESM in Mindanao.
At present the marginal cost of the highest-cost peaking power plant in Mindanao is around 20 pesos per kilowatt-hour. This will be the price for all generation purchased from a Mindanao WESM if the GENCOs are required to bid their true marginal costs. The price of purchases from a Mindanao WESM could even rise higher than the true marginal costs of the highest-cost peaking plant (to 30, or 50, or even 100 pesos per kWh), if the GENCOs are allowed to submit their Desired-Bid and not their true marginal cost. This is the crime that will be committed against power consumers in Mindanao if the DOE succeeds in its scheme to implement a WESM in Mindanao. The consumers will pay at least 20 pesos per kWh for all electricity that is purchased from the WESM, whereas they are now paying at most 4.50 pesos per kWh for any uncontracted electricity that is delivered by generators under the economic dispatch being carried out by the NGCP. It is a crime not only against power consumers but against all Mindanaoans. High rates of electricity in Mindanao will drive away business and industrial corporations who are heavily dependent on electric power to carry out their operations. High rates of electricity will force all consumers to reduce their consumption. And the uncontracted capacity of the GENCOs will remain uncontracted, while the capacity that is already contracted will have to be reduced. So the problem of uncontracted capacity that a WESM is supposed to address will become worse. And in the process the WESM will wreak economic havoc on the people of Mindanao. •••••• (Engr. David A. Tauli is the president of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers)
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Poor... from page 4
to be seen if Malacañang would support her or overturn her cancellation order. But aside from these, the poor have hardly benefited, if at all, from the policies being pushed and implemented by the Duterte administration. The salaries and wages of rank and file employees and workers have remained the same; contractualization is still being practiced; landlessness is still prevalent; prices and rates of basic goods, services, and utilities remain high. And social inequities remain, as well as the system that perpetuated it. On the other hand, the more than 7,000 killed in the Duterte administration’s lethal war on drugs came mostly from the poor. And the two main pieces of legislation being pushed hard by the administration– the revival of the death penalty and the lowering of the age of criminal liability – would likewise mainly affect the poor, especially with the country’s flawed justice system that is vulnerable to corruption and the legal maneuvers of expensive lawyers. The move of our honorable congressmen to remove the crime of plunder from those punishable by death, to save themselves and their ilk, shows who is the main target of the death penalty. In the rural areas, the declaration of the all out war by the Armed Forces of the Philippines would also mainly affect poor peasants and indigenous peoples who are being targeted on mere suspicion of aiding the New People’s Army, especially those resisting projects affecting their land and environment such as mining, logging, and the like. Already, development workers have been arrested in Bacolod City and Baguio City, Rogina Quilop and Sarah Abello-Alikes respectively. Two activists, Ferdinand Castillo of BayanMetro Manila and Edison Villanueva of GabrielaSouthern Tagalog were also arrested. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was elected president by a wide margin on the promise of change. Criticized for his profanity-laden campaign speeches, he said he was cursing because he was expressing the people’s anger and frustration over the status quo. And he said his heart is for the poor majority. However, there have been no changes in the policies and programs that have perpetuated poverty for the majority. It’s true that the Duterte administration has only been in office for a little more than seven months of a six-year term and a lot could still happen. But with the direction being taken by the Duterte administration so far, change doesn’t seem
Monday, February 20, 2017
to be forthcoming, espe- and appoints more judges to cially for the poor majority. solve this age-old problem. I can see the days of Vice (http://bulatlat.com) President Leni Robredo are numbered. Soon she will be an ex-vice president while from page 4 Bongbong Marcos takes I wish civic and business over her post. Next national groups extend help too to elections will be a great scepoor victims specially rice nario for the return of the and medicines. “Give food to Marcoses in Malacanang. the hungry and water to the Another possibility is for thirsty” an old saying that President Digong to get ill is true and alive these days. and give power to his vice Earthquake is unpre- president. Things impossible dictable. It just strike and are only in dreams not in things go wild. It is not like Philippine politics. (Bennex typhoons and other natural News Service) calamities that could be felt days earlier. Preparedness is always the best thing to combat such thing. The gov- from page 4 musical instruments, as ernment must educate the people on emergency aris- well as in speaking publicly ing from disasters. People about spiritual values. The video and still phoshould know where to run, tos of the children’s superb to evacuate, to get help, etc. when things go wrong. performances can be acThey should be told not to cessed at www.facebook. panic but let the presence com/attybatas. Indeed, while of mind stays. In past in- I am trying very hard to cidents, panic cause death. avoid making comparisons There were people, during at this point, I cannot help earthquake who jumped but say that school chilout of the window without dren belonging to Christian realizing they are in the 10th church schools demonstrate floor of the building. This far greater sensibility to is precisely what I meant developing their talents of presence of mind and and far greater ability to understand what is being in panic. I agree to the call of the taught them. I apologize if I appear government for the public patronizing here, but then, to help fight the NPA. The NPA is the military arm of I observed that school chilthe Communists. We can dren studying at Christian never accept communism church schools exhibit more because we are Christians. restraint, more respect, Besides, the NPA is the and more circumspection, enemy of the state. As citi- compared to other school zens of the Philippines, children from public and we are under obligation to private schools, especially defend our country against those who are no longer its enemies. I urge citizens being taught good manto report to the authorities ners and right conduct. the presence of armed men Unfortunately, however, it in your neighborhood. Also is these church schools that the extortion activities of the DepEd wants to close! -ooosome men belonging to U N I T Y OF G OD’ S the communist group. The communists have been dis- T HR E E M AN I FE STAturbing us for 48 years and TIONS: After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist it is time that we stop it. One of the problems of at the Jordan River, as narPresident Rodrigo “Digong” rated in Matthew 13:16-17, Duterte is how he can send He went up out of the water, former Justice Secretary De and heaven was opened. Lima to jail. In return, De Jesus then saw the Spirit of Lima is fighting back on God descending like a dove similar objective but the and alighting on Him. At president is immune from that point, a voice was heard suits. Fighting a president which Bible translations said is always an uphill battle went like this: “This is my because he has all the ten- Son whom I love; with him tacles in his command. Now I am well pleased.” This, to me, signifies that the department of justice is doing everything against Jesus is indeed the Father, De Lima. The BIR has not Son, and Holy Spirit---the moved yet. The NBI, the translation notwithstandpolice, etc. could make ing. The opening of heaven, plans too. All that Duterte the descent of the Spirit of should do now is just sit God upon Jesus, and the down under the mango tree declaration of who Jesus was, all point to the fact and wait. I am glad when Duterte that there is a unity of the ordered the suspension of three manifestations of God the war on drugs, killings in just one God. Thank God has stopped too. Of course, in the Name of Jesus! -ooothere is still murder around PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang but not so much like those in the previous months. Tanging Daan” (The Sole It seems the voice of God Way): a Bible Exposition through the church has been and prayer session online, heard. I wish the govern- could now be heard 24/7 ment goes on with its fight (24 hours a day), in the against drugs by arresting Philippines and the world suspects and bring them at www.facebook.com/anto court where judges can gtangingdaan. Phone: 0917 render decisions. It is true 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, there are delays around but 0977 805 9058. Email: bawe can create more courts tasmauricio@yahoo.com.
White...
Students..
Protest... from page 1
communities belonged to the Manobo and Mamanwa tribes who are recipients of million pesos of indigenous peoples one percent share of the gross income of mining companies. Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. led the charge in asking Lopez in his speech to reconsider her stand since it would affect massive unemployment in Carrascal and this town which hosted the three companies. “Can you give employment to some 7,000 residents who will lose their jobs?” Pimentel asked Lopez. In local vernacular, he then called on President Rodrigo Duterte to help thousands of people who will lose jobs. “Manong Digong tabangi ang katawhan nga mawadan og trabaho tungod ni Gina Lopez (Elder brother Digong please help the people who will lose their jobs because of Gina Lopez,” the governor pleaded. Pimentel cited at least 5,000 new job opportunities would be lost because the Carrascal Nickel Company had decided to put on hold the establishment of the US $5 billion processing plant because of Lopez stand antagonizing mining companies in the province. He said the closure of mining companies in the towns of Carrascal and Cantilan would lead to the resurgence of criminalities like highway robbery, dynamite fishing and prostitution. For his part, Cantilan Mayor Philip Pichay said his town stand to lose some P600 million in money circulation a year because of the thriving businesses now investing in his town since the advent of these mining companies. He cited the lumads in the indigenous communities living within the mining areas have been the biggest beneficiaries with some P10 million fund they get from the one percent share of the gross income of the companies which have been used in education and health program and livelihood activities. While he welcomed the proposal of Lopez to offer green economy through ecotourism ventures as alternative livelihood when the mining industry ends, Pichay said the industry needs to generate at least one billion pesos in income to employ 3,000 people in these towns. He refuted Lopez’s timetable of two years to stabilize the ecotourism industry saying even 3-star hotels cannot be built within this period and it would take 3-5 years when the alternative industry will be sustained. “I appeal to Gina Lopez to review her stand because we will be economically dislocated,” Pichay said. “Before we were deprived of going to schools, now, our children are company scholars studying in nearby
urban center colleges and even in Manila where we have for the first time sent a law student,” said Datu Engwan Ala, Municipal Tribal Chieftain in Lanuza. Marcventures have been sending at least 116 collegiate scholars with all the privileges including monthly stipend of which 40 of them have already finished college. “We don’t want to go back in the past when life was so hard and children don’t have the chance to go to school,” said Alexis Estampa, a scholar of mass communication at St. Paul’s University in Surigao City. Marlon Surat, a mine worker at CTP Mining, said Lopez should instead work to draw more job opportunities instead of closing down mining companies that have been their source of livelihood in the last 10 years. Ramon Apilleda, a mine worker at Marcventures, was more vocal in his tirade against Lopez saying there are more qualified people with doctorate degrees than her who could not hurt the mining industry.
Killings... from page 1
as Ray Manuel Honor Gealogo, a resident of Barangay San Juan, and his companion Jaynerhal M. Presas, a resident of Barangay Luna. They sustained wounds in their heads and bodies. Both victims were riding a motorcycle when the attackers who also aboard a motorcycle shot the victims from behind. Police did not rule out the possibility that the shooting was related to illegal drug trade. President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced during his visit after the quake that he will continue the war on illegal drugs and other crimes. “Patayin ko talaga kayo pagmag drugs kayo (I will really kill you if you are into drugs),” he said. Recently, a retired judge in the city was killed while a city prosecutor survived an attempt on his life. Lawyers here said the victims were on the “hit list” of a supposed death squad and that some police officers were involved. S r. S u p t . A n t h o ny Maghari, police provincial director, denied the existence of a hit list and the involvement of some police officers. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)
Exam... from page 1
preference in specific vocations and career categories. The two-day exam also aims to guide the conduct of career guidance at the school level and to ensure the development of skills and competencies required for the world of work and career choices. This is also to provide basis for profiling a learner’s aptitude in the four SHS
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tracks -- Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design. Under the Academic track are the following strands: Account anc y, Business and Management (ABM); S cience, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS). The career assessment covers three domains -General Scholastic Aptitude (GSA), Occupational Interest Inventory (OII), and Aptitude for the SHS tracks. The GSA refers to the student’s scientific ability, reading comprehension, verbal ability, mathematical ability and logical reasoning ability. The OII pertains to the checklist of occupational interests which provides an assessment on preferences for comprehensive career guidance. The Aptitude test measures the innate ability of the student to succeed in the SHS tracks. This year’s career assessment is pursuant to the DepEd’s Memorandum No. 16 s. 2017. (PNA)
Garbage... from page 1
honorary member, the President described the issue as a matter of principle and honor for him. He reiterated his campaign pledge that should any of his family members or he himself be involved in corruption in government, he will resign immediately from office. He also gave his word that he would not bring shame to PMA Class of 1967. “Kaya ang gusto ko lang sabihin sa inyo (All I want to tell you is), it’s politics again. It’s a rehash of what they… it is pure garbage,” the President said in his speech at the Cordillera Convention Hall of the Baguio Country Club Friday night. “But you know, I’m President. I’ve ordered AMLC and everybody to give information what’s my worth in this, in terms of pesos, in this planet.” T h e Pre s i d e nt f u rther said that neither any member of his family nor himself is involved in corruption, noting that he has not signed any voucher for extra benefits or accepted allowances. He admitted he only gets his salary. The President vowed to hit hard against corruption, adding that he must lead by example to command obedience. “You know our people have endured corruption all throughout the years. I would not like to be a person (who is) into the blame game,” he said. “But at least during my time, there will be a respite for the people. And corruption will really be controlled or stopped. ‘Yan ang masiguro ninyo. (You are assured of that.)” A report culled from the Philippine News Agency
Pollution reaches ‘unbearable’ level to humanity: UN official Pollution has reached a level that is unbearable to humanity, and one of the important solutions to current emergency is to invest in renewable energy, said UN Environment Program Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Thiaw said pollution is a multi-dimen-
sional issue that has an impact on public health and also affects the economy. Thiaw earlier cited World Health Organization statistics as saying that 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution, adding that trillions of dollars are also being lost every year due to pollution.
Moreover, he noted that pollution may cause trans-boundary issues because pollutants generated in one country may affect another country or region far away through rivers and lakes, forest fires or air. The most effective solution See POLLUTION, page 6
MINDANAO DAILY ENVIRONMENT mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE
Monday
February 20, 2017
DENR chief gets praises, more tips on defending watershed, environment
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By MARYA SALAMAT Bulatlat.com
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’s order to cancel mineral production sharing agreements located in watersheds is continuing to draw praises and support from multisectoral groups. They appreciated what they call as Lopez’s brave and unprecedented move. “Despite the destruction, protests, and human rights violations throughout the years, none of her predecessors in DENR had the guts to go against big mining interests,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said in a statement. On Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, Environment Secretary Lopez detailed in a press briefing the department’s “gift” of life, its decision to cancel at least 75 Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) or mining permits all over the country. According to DENR, there are 37 MPSAs in Mindanao, 11 in Visayas and 27 in Luzon that will be canceled. On appeals for “due process” by the mining companies, Lopez said canceling their permits is based on the law and the environment department had followed due process every step of
A view of the mountains in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. This is a prime example of a mineral-rich target of large-scale mining. The indigenous Talaingod Manobos living here continue to be militarized to give way to mining, logging and plantation interests. (Bulatlat File Photo by Carlo Manalansan)
n “Maintaining healthy watersheds in these areas will guarantee that our population will have an adequate, clean and safe water supply for irrigation and domestic water needs.”
“Maintaining healthy watersheds in these areas will guarantee that our population will have an adequate, clean and safe water supply for irrigation and domestic water needs,” Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE, said in a statement. In another statement, Gabriela Party Rep. Emmi de Jesus expressed support for DENR Sec. Lopez’s moves against certain miners. She stressed its correctness by recalling how the Philippines, having been mined for decades, has “had tragic experiences of rivers and reservoirs being damaged and made toxic due to mine operations all over the country.” Filipinos lose not just their water, minerals, lands and forests due to mining. According to Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, “the people’s defense of their lands from environmental plunder has resulted in the deaths of tribal leaders and anti-mining activists.” Under the Aquino administration, troops had A “red sea” of turbid flood waters submerged large parts of the municipality of Santa been deployed to openly Cruz, Zambales during Typhoon Lando. Large-scale nickel mines have been blamed for protect mining interests. causing the massive siltation. Photo by Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines To strengthen regulation the way. On lobbyists’ reminders about the billion-peso investments brought in by mining companies, the environment secretary said what many environmentalists had been saying for years: “We don’t want investments that are ‘raping’ us. We want investments that will help us, that will pay our people well.” She said it is the role of government to take the middle path and make sure
everyone benefits. So far, not just based on their audit but also based on what many people’s organizations have been striving to bring to light for years now, the benefits in mining have largely been one-sided in favor of mining companies. “If mining is so good, why is Caraga still the poorest region?” Lopez asked. The environment secretary also cited the irreparable loss in water and biodiversity due to mining.
Bulatlat File Photo of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. She puts AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Bisaya on speaker phone during a dialogue with indigenous peoples in UP Diliman, Oct 2016. Photo by Chester Higuit/Philippine Collegian
of mining Various groups suggested projects that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) can pursue to follow up on its ban of disruptive mining, especially in watershed areas. Even as these groups criticized the Chamber of Mines for “bullying” Environment Sec. Lopez, they urged Lopez to press ahead. In various statements, they gave the following as the secretary’s logical steps following the selective mining ban toward successfully defending the environment and watershed areas: 1. Repeal Mining Act of 1995 and push for the People’s Mining Bill or HB 2715 in Congress The rationale, as Gabriela Rep. Brosas explained, is that “The extraction of our country’s mineral resources must primarily serve and benefit our communities and not multinational corporations and big business interests.” A new progressive mining policy will strengthen the mandate of the current thrust to effectively regulate mining and balance environmental protection, national development, and people’s rights, said Bautista of Kalikasan PNE. 2. Pursue agricultural projects, other livelihood for the benefit of local
farmers and residents Compared to the productivity in agriculture and other more sustainable land uses once threats of mining plunder and destruction are removed, the projected revenue and employment losses cited by mining industry players are ‘miniscule,’ said Bautista of Kalikasan PNE. He said agriculture and fisheries would be more productive once the government actually took steps to stop denuding our forests, polluting our waters and killing off our biodiversity. This will improve livelihood opportunities for our farmers and fisherfolk, said Bautista. 3. Provide aid and alternative livelihood to mine workers Kalikasan PNE urged the other government offices to work with the DENR in cushioning the immediate impacts of the mining crackdown to its workers by providing aid and alternative livelihood. “The P2 billion aid announced by President Rodrigo Duterte for displaced mine workers can be coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Agencies for rural development such as the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform can help mining communities See praises, page 6