Mindanao Daily Set A (March 15, 2017)

Lugait town in Misamis Oriental supports PIE training in Northern Mindanao/p.6

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. 239

Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com

Second frontpage Guerrilla daughter/p.2 n

Wednesday

n Life during wartime and the guerrillas of Mindanao/p.5

P15.00

March 15, 2017

For Art’s Sake n Of muse and mice/p.4

EMB stops quarrying in Cabadbaran river BUTUAN City--Environmental Management Bureau in Region 13 (EMB-13) Regional Director Wilson L. Trajeco issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to 73 commercial sand and gravel (CSAG) operating in Cabadbaran River, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

Signed on February 28,

2017, the suspension order was in line with Cabadbaran City Mayor Katrina Marie Mortola’s campaign to rehabilitate the river from continued destruction through an Executive Order No. KM-001, Series of 2017.

Trajeco’s action was grounded on the techni-

cal monitoring conducted in January this year based on Section (c) of the Procedural Manual for Department Order (DAO) 2003-30, implementing guidelines of Presidential Decree (PD) 1586.

This was in consonance with the crusade of DENR Secretary Regina Paz L. Lo-

pez for sustainable development through safeguarding the country’s natural wealth, which she believed would equate to social justice.

The survey revealed that all identified operators establish no embankment causing severe and irreparable damage of the river.

Violations were notable

even after they had made their commitment to initiate mitigating measures for the protection and preservation of said river during the technical conference that EMB-13 organized in 2016.

Trajeco, in an interview, stated that permittee could operate for quarrying only after securing necessary per-

mits from concerned LGUs. In the case of Cabadbaran City, all were required for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) prior to their issuance of permit to operate as required by law, rules and regulations.

He further clarified that ECC is not a permit See river, page 7

Youth groups: Youth need free education, not criminal punishment YOUTH groups yesterday lauded the passage of Senate Bill 1304 or the “Affordable Free Higher Education for All Act” and urged the House of Representatives to do the same.

In a joint statement, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), Bukluran UP System, and Akbayan Youth praised the swift and unanimous vote in favor of passing the bill in its third and final reading in the Senate.

“We laud the Senate for the passage of the free higher education bill. Today, tertiary education in the Philippines fails to fully serve its role as the great equalizer.

Higher education favors

Urge House to enact free higher education, praise Senate

n

the rich, and continues to marginalize the poor. The passage of this landmark bill is a big step towards addressing the wide social inequality in the country,” SCAP Secretary General Isaac Saguit said.

The organizations urged the legislators in the House of Representatives to prioritize the free higher education bill instead of “antiyouth” and “anti-poor” See need, page 7

car catches fire. Firemen from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) spread

water to a burning car that catches fire while navigating along Kilometer 2, National Highway, Barangay Luna here in Surigao City at noon on Tuesday (March 14, 2017).

The driver and its passenger were able to escape before the fire escalated. The fire caused heavy traffic in the area. Photo by Roel N. Catoto for Mindanao Daily

Koko’s party pushes for ‘uniquely Filipino’ federal form of government

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

CAGAYAN de Oro City--A distinct brand of federalism suited to Filipinos is what Senate President Aquilino Martin Pimentel III’s political party is pushing for instead of following other countries’ existing models.

The Pimentel-led Partido

Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) is advocating for a “uniquely Filipino, semi-presidential executive-legislative set-up” under the proposed federal system of government.

“We seek to benefit from the advantages of the parliamentary system while respecting the Filipinos’ preference for a strong

president at the helm, at the leadership,” Pimentel said in a statement Wednesday.

What PDP Laban wants, he said, is for the people to directly elect their president who will remain the head of state and the symbol of unity for the entire nation.

In the planned semipresidential See federal, page 7

Sun drying. A farmer dries “palay” in Kamagong, Nasipit Agusan del Norte on

a sunny day on March 13, 2017. State weather bureau PAGASA is yet to confirm the onset of the summer season as there are still indications of the northeast monsoon that will bring scattered rain-showers over the eastern seaboard of the archipelago.

Photo courtesy of Jun Ayensa for Mindanao Daily

MINDANAO DAILY SECOND FRONTPAGE mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE

Wednesday

March 15, 2017

2

A Symposium In Celebration of Gen. Douglas McArthur Week...

Guerrilla Daughter

By Virginia Hansen Holmes

“Just nine days before her seventh birthday, Virginia (Ginger) Hansen Holmes heard about the attack on American forces at Pearl Harbor and wondered if this was going to change her life. She lived on the Philippine Island of Mindanao with her two teenage brothers, eleven-year-old sister, mother and father, an official with the East Mindanao Mining Company.

Guerrilla Daughter is a memoir of this family’s extraordinary struggle to survive the Japanese occupation of Mindanao from the spring of 1942 until the end of the war in September 1945. The men in the family fought as guerrilla soldiers in the island’s resistance movement, while Ginger, her mother and her older sister were left to their own resources to evade the Japanese, who had been given orders to execute Americans. The Hansen women, faced with immediate death if found and suffering from hunger, disease, and barely tolerable living conditions, hid out in the Philippine jungle and remote villages to remain just ahead of the growing Japanese presence and avoid capture.

Here are some excerpts: Chapter 2: Moving to War and Awaiting the Invasion of Mindanao

The surrender of the American and Filipino military units on Mindanao on May 10 had a major impact on those of us still remaining at East Mindanao. Most of the Filipino employees had already returned to their hometowns and barrios. American and other Allied nationals in the Surigao provincial area had a disheartening choice: surrender to the Japanese forces, or go into hiding in the remote area of Mindanao. We felt deserted and left to deal with a situation not of our making. MacArthur and his staff had fled to Australia, the American and Philippine troops on Luzon and Mindanao had surrendered to the Japanese, and now we were faced with the coming Japanese invasion and occupation of an island that we had called home...

The time was fast approaching when we would have to abandon the mine. The uncertainty of what lay ahead for our family must have weighed heavily on my parents’ minds. Capture by the Japanese was their greatest fear. Like most parents, their concern was less for themselves than for their children. During the early weeks of the war, the subject of life as Japanese prisoners of war was an important one in conversations with friends and colleagues. Where family groups were concerned, it was the consensus that young girls faced greatest danger than boys. With this in mind, Mom and Dad came up with the notion that if captured by the Japanese, Peach and I might fare better if we were disguised as boys. So, our parents summoned the barber from a nearby barrio to our house to give us haircuts. To finish our disguise they called a seamstress, who often came to sew the maids’ uniforms and do mending jobs, to fashion appropriate boys’ attire in a hurry. They, like most of the people in the area who derived their livelihood from the mining operation, were not happy that East Mindanao had shut down. Expressing their regret over our plight, they promised to keep our secret. Luckily, Rudy and Hank had growth spurts during the previous year and had outgrown their clothes. These were cut and altered to fit Peach and me. In short order, our outfits were completed--khaki shirts and short pants. I was thrilled at my transformation into a little boy! Too young to participate in my brothers’ activities, I nevertheless

Symposium on ‘Guerrilla Daughter’ - A book written by Virginia "Ginger" Holmes , was the subject of a Symposium yesterday, held at Centrio Mall Activity Center, in celebration of Gen. Douglas MacArthur Week. The celebration which ends today is hosted by the LGUs of Cagayan de Oro and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The symposium is coordinated by Cagayan de Oro Historical and Cultural Commission, and supported by Veterans Bank. Left photo shows the main speaker - Virginia “Ginger” Holmes herself who came all the way from the United States. (Photo at right which shows the young Ginger is from the back cover of the book Guerrilla Daughter)

felt that everything the boys did was exciting and daring. Now, as a boy, I looked forward to becoming brave and adventurous like my big brothers...

Chapter 7: The Japanese Expand Their Operations against the Guerrillas

Until now our family had done reasonably well in evading the Japanese forces. However, as the end of 1943 approached, they had significantly strengthend their presence on the island and had increased the ferocity of their attacks against the guerrillas. Moreover, the Japanese commander for Mindanao issued a proclamation to the effect that any Americans found on the island would be summarily executed and anyone caught helping them would meet a similar fate. True to their word, particularly when they found a guerrilla, American or Filipino, the Japanese forces immediately executed him, usually by beheading. Afterward, they put the head of the dead person on a stake in the town plaza to demonstrate to the people the consequences of resisting Japanese occupation or aiding their enemies. Albert McCarthy, killed by the Japanese in an ambush, was treated exactly this way...

Chapter 10: The War Ends

We survived the war as a family and came through it with one additional member- little Edward.

(He was born in September 1944.) I cannot forget the shock we experienced on the morning of December 8, 1941, when our world - the one Mom and Dad had so tirelessly worked for - drastically changed. In short order, we lost our home and many associated conveniences. We left the mine with little more than the clothes on our backs and a few personal possessions. With help from our Filipino friends we met the challenges that faced us. Certainly that first year of evasion from the Japanese was the most difficult; at every turn we had to improvise, whether relative to food, shelter, or personal health. But survive we did, under some very difficult circumstances.”

Part of the symposium participants and guests coming from families of War Veterans pose with Author Virginina Hanszen Holmes, after the event.

Veterans Bank Vice President Mike Villa-Real and Mrs. Pearl Villa-Real (3rd from left) is joined by MDN Editor in Chief Allan Mediante, BWM-MDN President & CEO Dante Sudaria, Editor at Large Mike Bañoz, BGen. Restituto L. Aguilar, AFP (Ret), PVAO, and Marlon M. Peralta, Admin Officer II, PVAO, partaking lunch after the symposium.

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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

3

4

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Opinion

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

For Art’s Sake 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

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Of muse and mice

THE sweating bottle of small beer stands on the table.

It has been there for few minutes now delivered by a young bar waiter. I ordered it purposely to energize my mind in my efforts to string together hundreds of words for this column. By the way, you might now be comparing me with Edgar Allan Poe. But no, I am not a fan of Poe. You see, aging mind such as mine needs something to propel its creativity to produce written pieces that readers would like to read.

If only the beer bottle could mutter a word or two, it may have already appealed to me to drink it right away before its coldness is gone!

From t h e ai r w ave s echoes the skillful guitar plucking of Earl Klugh.

And who would not feel in love with his rendering of Laughter in the Rain and Sunset Island.

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,) COMVAL PROVINCE AND DAV. OR. - Rhodel javier 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

compose a written piece, hurrying up to beat the approaching deadline. If indeed I can come up with an article before the line is dead, then that piece must be a buzzer beater!

But it seems my efforts are nil. What happens to me? I can’t write anymore.

I don’t know what to write about. Has my muse left me for good? Or if I could see a mice running on the floor of this restobar, will it be enough to push me to write something that is entertaining enough to the readers following this column?

And what about this idea that is starting to toy my mind: I will smash the beer bottle on the cement floor. And the sound that it makes would be enough to awaken my consciousness from slumber. But wait!

Doing it will surely put me into the bad light—for sure

Raul G. Moldez

I will become the “pulotan” of radio commentaries or would catapult me on the front page of the newspaper I am writing for. Sigh.

Thank God, my sanity remains intact. It commands me to turn on my laptop so that I can start writing my piece. So I am writing it now. And here’s hoping the readers will like my article.

Meanwhile, the small beer on the table remains untouched, un-drink. I’m sure Bacchus would understand me. Excuse me, Bacchus, but I have a deadline to beat!

••• Email me at rgmoldez@ gmail.com

Kakampi Mo Ang Batas

High school reunions: how crushes, puppy loves, look now

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, ALLAN M. MEDIANTE Editor-in-Chief lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing…”

ruel pelone CRIS DIAZ (1 Timothy 2:8, the Holy

Managing Editor Executive Editor Bible).

CHENG ORDOÑEZ (on leave) MARK FRANCISCO -ooo Associate Editor Lifestyle Editor EXCITEMENT IN THE NRMC MARCH 25, 2017 GILBERT Y. CHAO gerry lee gorit HOMECOMING: In a few

Motoring Editor Photo Journalist days from now, those who

PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN graduated between 1950 to Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao

1998 from the Dr. Nicanor Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING Reyes Memorial Colleges Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor High School Department in Paniqui, Tarlac will be hav AL JACINTO JOE FELICILDA ing their first-ever grand Regional Editor-WestMin Editorial Consultant alumni homecoming.

The homecoming is

RODRIGO B. SEVILLA JOE PALABAO Regional Editor-Davao Feature Editor scheduled on March 25, 2017, Saturday, with dayATTY. MARIO T. JUNI long parade and other acNOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE tivities, including a mediCELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 cal-dental mission by Class CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY 1973 at the Amor Village, a Legal Counsel home for mentally-handicapped children, and is to --------------------------------------------------------------be capped with a “fellowbureau and mktg staff ship night” on that day at candy macabale - 09161326483 the Plazuela of Barangay RIZA O. ARES - 0915-9753-277/0926-2242-653 Estacion.

MISOR - LOLONG NABONG - 0906-875-8650 I am a grateful graduate GINGOOG CITY-MANNY ANSIHAGAN-0936-287-7788 of that institution’s high North Buk. - DAHLIA S. BENEMERITO-0955-150-6602 school department in 1973, VALENCIA CITY - PHILIP PHIL CALUMBA-0905-652-5407 MARAMAG - roFINA CUALES - 0926-336-1585 and it would be an underquezon, buk. - ROSE GENON statement for me to say, Iligan City - JEFFREY OPONDA-0936-1174378 “I am looking forward to tangub city - bobby mag usara that event”. In reality, I am OROQUIETA CITY - PJ TREMEDAL-0919-3452375 greatly excited to be in that ARMM - Sony Sudaria-0947-4810371 affair, God willing, and it is cotabato - ANALISA ESPAÑOLA-0916-9351714 not only because I am going davao - tom a. caballero-09756023684

EDITORIAL

Outside I could see through the glass window pane the traffic along the city’s major thoroughfare slowly building up. Cars old and new run at the speed that is more than what the limit allows. And a pedestrian, disobeying the anti-jaywalking regulation, is trapped in the middle of the road.

I wonder if the traffic enforcer by the roadside would arrest him and ask to pay for a fine for violating the ordinance. Or would he run first after those motorists violating the speed limit?

Oh city life! Indeed it is full of rambunctious situations and events. But I don’t care because I have to return my mindset back to where I am—and why I am here. Yes, I am here because I want a space where I can freely obey the dictation of my thoughts. Yes, I am here because I am trying to

to see long-lost friends and classmates once again, after long years of not having seen them.

It is more because of the fact that almost all of us who finished our secondary courses in NRMC in 1973 are now senior citizens who have either retired from work, whether in the government or in the private sectors, or are in the process of winding up their lifelong employments in time for retirement.

-oooHIGH SCHOOL CRUSHES AND PUPPY LOVES IN THE 70s: HOW DO THEY LOOK NOW? Indeed, I am very eager to see who among us experienced the kindness---and, yes, the brutality---of the years that passed all of us by, almost unnoticeably.

I am sure everybody will be eagle-eyed, not in looking into the academic or business achievements of their school mates, but in determining who of the graduates now sport silvery-white hairs, or bulging tummies (as I do), or faces creased by wrinkles (as I also do), or who miraculously managed to retain somehow their youthful beauty and handsome looks.

The point of interest,

particularly to many whose juvenile hearts learned how to beat pitter-patter at the mere sight of high school crushes and puppy loves during those halcyon times, would be how the girls or the boys that made them swoon and dream dreams, or kindled in them desires previously unknown, have aged, and how they would now look at this point in time.

-oooOVERCOMING THE ODDS AGAINST HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING: Even now, some of the members of NRMC High School Class 1973 who have tried their luck and carved out successful lives in far-away places in other countries have already arrived to attend the homecoming. Class 73 President Dr. Rowena Abubo Bautista reported that those who are now in Tarlac for the homecoming are Dolores Sioco, Mayumi Castro, Elenita Gaculais, Eden Alomia, and Layda Rebuyaco, from the US and Australia.

Class Vice President Edgar Guiang told me that these “balikbayans” from Class 1973, and the others who would still be arriving soon, would be treated to a

Atty. Batas Mauricio

welcome dinner on March 24, 2017, at the mansion of Dr. Bautista and her husband, noted surgeon Dr. Jesse Bautista, at the Lacayanga Subdivision, also in Paniqui, Tarlac.

I guess all high school graduates of NRMC would have to thank retired Police Col. Joe Mina---the interim president of the high school alumni association---for his persistence in carrying out the homecoming.

I am aware of the obstacles thrown his way by other alumni who virtually sabotaged the forthcoming affair, but it is a credit to Mina and his team---whose names I cannot list here now---that the homecoming is pushing through just the same. Thank God in the Name of Jesus!

-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.

Daily Inspiration DO YOU have a lot of worries over circumstances you cannot control? Dear friend, one ounce of worry doesn’t do an ounce of good.

Letting worry creep in means you are giving control of the situation over to a spirit of fear.

If you find yourself worrying about something, stop and occupy your mind in a way that solves the problem. Better yet, get your hands busy and put on a spirit of love by serving others.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Juvy Sarraga

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

In Focus

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

General MacArthur Week

5

Two free lectures on ‘Finding our heroes’ in Centrio Ayala today

I

F YOU are a fan of World War II history, novels and movies, come to the Centrio Activity Center in Cagayan de Oro City today (March 15) at 2 in the afternoon.

The Cagayan de Oro City Historical and Cultural Commission (Hiscom) has arranged two free lectures on “Finding our Heroes: The BGen. Francisco Licuanan Jr. Memorial Collection, Philippine Guerilla Files from the US National Archives” and memories of our heroes from World War II as a component program of General MacArthur Week on March 13-17, 2017.

The celebration marks the 75th Diamond Jubilee of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia (via Cagayan, Misamis and Dicklum, Tankulan, Manolo Fortich) on March 11-17, 1942.

Head Researcher Marie Silva Vallejo said the digitization project of the Philippine Archives Collection at the United States National Archives was undertaken to preserve crumbling documents and make known the heroic exploits of our Filipino guerrilla fighters and disseminate the records as research and teaching materials.

“Above all, we want to install a sense See free, page 7

Bolo-wielding Filipino guerillas guard Japanese prisoners.

Life during wartime and the guerrillas of Mindanao Among the salient events of General Douglas MacArthur Week in Cagayan de Oro City are an eyewitness account of how it was to live in Mindanao during the Japanese occupation from 1941-1945, and the operations of Filipino and American guerrillas in Mindanao during that period.

The Cagayan de Oro Historical and Cultural Commission has coordinated two lectures on these interesting subjects, both to be held at the Centrio Mall Activity Center.

The first, “Guerrilla Daughter” was scheduled for 10 a.m. yesterday, and dwells on the book See life, page 7

One American family of heroes belatedly received several Philippine government medals for World War II service. From left, Henry Hansen; sister Virginia Hansen Holmes, author of Guerrilla Daughter; Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, then head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy and Kent Holmes. Posthumous awards were presented to Charles Hansen (father) and his other son, Rudyard.

Above, the Hansen family photo, Manila, late 1935. Right, Ginger and Peach (2001).

Guerrilla Daughter, Virginia Hansen Holmes.

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

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Power coops oppose WESM

C

By GERRY LEE GORIT, Correspondent

AGAYAN de Oro City--The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc. (Amreco) has reiterated on Wednesday its opposition to the proposed wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) as it offers an alternative.

The WESM, which establishes the basic rules, requirements and procedures that govern the operation of the country’s electricity market, is expected to be implemented in Mindanao on June this year.

In a forum attended by its member cooperatives held here, AMRECO president Sergio Dagooc said that WESM is detrimental to Mindanao power consumers as it established a power ceiling cap of P32 per kilowatt hour.

The prevailing rate in Mindanao at present is lower than the ceiling cap that will be set by WESM. In 2013, WESM intro-

duced the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) but was protested by consumers as electric bills shot up across the island.

Dagooc said that what AMRECO and the power generators in Mindanao want to attain is what the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) also wanted to achieve, “but at a lesser cost for the consumers.”

For David Tauli, president of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers, what the PEMC is proposing is illegal.

“This is a market, people should be consulted with, what the Department of

Energy and PEMC did [was] took the rules in Luzon and bring it to Mindanao,” Tauli said, adding, “We in Mindanao will not allow that that would be the rules.”

Dagooc said a technical working group composed of experts in the power industry, specifically on generation, transmission, distribution, systems operations, metering and settlement, will be formed to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the WESM and present them to AMRECO. He added they will be submitting the mechanism and protocols for electricity market in Mindanao for the Energy Regulations Commissions next week so that they can incorporate these to the provisions of WESM. “The mechanism can be an alternative to the proposed WESM,” Dagooc said.

Adelmo Laput, president of the AMRECO Power Supply Aggregation Group Corporation, said that the mechanism is an alternative

electricity market only as one of the options against the WESM. Laput said the alternative electricity market will bid out power from generators based on the Energy Regulatory Commission-approved generation cost, and all other adjustments, but he added it is lower than the proposed P32 cap stipulated in the WESM. What AMRECO is doing, Dagooc said, is protecting their consumers from exorbitant electricity rates.

“What’s the difference of electricity now as compared to the one dispatched

by WESM? Is there sugar added to it that it will cost that much?” he added.

AMRECO is a consortium of 33 member-cooperatives and accounts for 1,941,554 residential consumers in Mindanao.

Twenty-seven of the members are hooked up with the island’s transmission grid while another six operate in the off-grid islands surrounding Mindanao.

Mandatory drug test for Oro officials, employees pushed PUBLIC office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

Quoting Article 11, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution, Councilor Romeo V. Calizo on Monday stressed that as public servants, officials and employees of City Hall must set an example to residents in the drive against illegal drugs.

In his special report during, Calizo said the illegal drug trade has already corrupted the three branches of government.

He said the city government and the City Council are supporting the campaign to have a drug-free workplace in Cagayan de Oro. “We here in City Hall need to lead the example too so that our constituents will trust us, so that we will be credible,” Calizo added.

Policy Last year, Councilor Zaldy Ocon authored Resolution No. 12411-2016, promoting a drug-free workplace in the city of Cagayan de Oro through the conduct of a mandatory drug test to

all officials and employees in the city government.

Calizo, who chairs the committee on police, fire and public safety and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, (CADAC), said the mechanism for a drugfree workplace has already been prepared.

“A random drug test to all officials and employees in the city government, including the City Council has already been agreed together with the assistance and cooperation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the PNP Crime Lab and the Department of Health (DOH),” cited Calizo. The councilor, however, said there are budgetary constraints.

“It is indeed difficult for the appropriation budget of CADAC alone to shoulder the amount of the mandatory drug test, hence, the CADAC needs help,” Calizo added.

Calizo’s recommendationwas referred the matter to the committees on finance, budget and appropriations chaired by Councilor Edna “Inday” Dahino and on health, sanitation and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane for appropriate action. The Power

summer SALE

UP TO 50% DISCOUNT ON SELECTED ITEMS PIE TRAINING IN NORTHERN MINDANAO SUPPORTED

BY LGU-LUGAIT, MISAMIS ORIENTAL!

RTWPB-X conducted the Productivity, Innovation and Enterprise Development (PIE) training to the SMEs/MSMEs of Lugait, Misamis Oriental on February 3, 2017 with logistics support of Honorable Mayor Zosimo A. Perez, Jr., the local chief executive of Lugait, Misamis Oriental. Mayor Perez approved the fund support with enthusiasm, highlighting PESO’s active involvement and participation.

The activity was conducted at the SB Hall of the municipality.

The PIE training was part of continuing education of the local government to its registered businesses, registered manpower agencies/PRPAs and other SMEs/MSMEs operating in the area. Lugait has been an active partner of the RTWPB-X in promoting productivity and service quality to business operators in the province of Misamis Oriental. Mayor Perez emphasized in his message the incessant need for banking institutions, food chains, schools and other social services as manifestation of progress and development. He acknowledged that right incomes, wages and prompt productivity practices are indelible partners in development as he encouraged compliance to basic labor standards in the municipality. Promoting productivity is vital in increasing enterprise competitiveness involving workers’ cooperation.

The all-program orientation was attended by 34 participants coming from 28 firms. Training on Innovation and Lean

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

WHOLESALE & RETAIL Manufacturing was conducted simultaneously in separate sessions and was attended by 24 SMEs, of which 13 SMEs took the Lean Manufacturing while 11 took the Innovation module, all of whom submitted their respective Action Plans. Action Plan implementation will be monitored within six-months after the training to ensure training effectiveness and useability. Along with monitoring is the provision of technical assistance to ensure that productvity programs are in place at plant level. Thus, engaging the SMEs/ MSMEs of free training services of the NWPC/RTWPBs builds vast opportunities for busines’ wellness and longevity where workers learn to appreciate their jobs, improve work performances for stable incomes and possible provision of additional benefits through incentives due to good performances.

As part of continuing improvement in the training modules and assessing trainers’ aptness, an evaluation from participants is generated and duly acted upon to improve service quality. In ad-

dition, requests for plant-level trainings are usually received from the participants which starts up the cyclical crusade of productivity advocacy.

The Productivity, Innovation and Enterprise Development (PIE) is a product of a joint undertaking of the Philippine government and Singapore, crafting the training cum learning journey. The Temasek Foundation, Nanyang Polytechnic International and the Philippine Public Administration Management Programme (Productivity and Standards) was attended by carefully selected trainers of the DOLE, NWPC and attached agencies like NCMB since 2013.

The 5-week specialists and 2-week managerial training programs are part of the continuing learning cum training for trainers nationwide which has produced quality productivity managers and specialists advocating productivity in all regions.

These preemptive undertakings improving resources will spell a great sense in the productivity journey today and tomorrow.

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River... from page 1

but a planning tool of permittee for their mitigating measures to the environment, specific to the area where they are operating. EMB-13 will come in when violations were committed, especially non-compliance of conditions set under the ECC. He added that it is the Bureau’s mandate to monitor and prosecute violators against the environment.

On another significant note, Trajeco said that the Bureau is willing to continue to provide technical assistance to them. “Even

Federal... from page 1

executive-legislative set-up, Pimentel said, the National Assembly will elect the prime minister to be formally appointed by the president.

The prime minister, under the proposal, will be the head of the government and will have power over all matters concerning domestic policy that is not assigned to the president.

The president will still be the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and will be in charge of foreign affairs of national defense, among other important national concerns, Pimentel said.

Aside from that, Pimentel said PDP Laban is also proposing that the vote for the president will also be a vote for the vice-president, as is the practice in the United States, who will become the presiding officer of the Senate.

The number of senators will also increase as the regions will elect their own senator who will each of the 11 regions.

“The Senate will tackle laws that affect the country like the national budget and national defense, and concur treaties and international agreements,” Pimentel said, adding that its other roles will include the creation of the Commission on Appointments, Impeachment Court, and the amendments from the Constitution.

“In federations, the upper house typically represents the regions while the lower house represents the population,” he said. “The laws which concern domestic policies don’t need to pass the senate.”

Pimentel said the proposed federal government would then be responsible for trade, customs, defense, national security, foreign policy, economic policy, currency and monetary while the regional government would have exclusive powers over areas primarily involving basic services.

These regional concerns include sanitation and sewage, waste management, fire protection, housing, regional planning and development and organizing local governments and tourism

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

7

those who are illegally operating, we are here to assist to legalize their activity,” he stressed.

However, it was clearly stipulated in the CDO that concerned permittees shall immediately stop the extraction of sand and gravel within Cabadbaran River until such time that the Provincial Mines and Regulatory Board (PMRB) through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Caraga (MGB 13) will issue an area status clearance establishing a new extraction zone.

Finally, he said that making profit and conserving or DESTROYED WATERWAY. The technical team from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 13 preserving the environment monitors the state of Cabadbaran river in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. In January, the team found out that the waterway was destroyed by permittees extracting sand and gravel within the area. must go together. promotion, among others.

In other aspects of governance, the federal and regional governments will have shared powers on social welfare and development, industry and agriculture, employment and social security, health care, sports development, energy and natural resources, disaster risk reduction and management, police, election administration, human rights, infrastructure development, transportation, communications and education.

But Pimentel said that even if the country adopts the federal system, the Philippines is still one country by one Constitution with one armed forces and one national police force, one flag, one national anthem, one central bank, one monetary system, one foreign policy and one public education system.

Need... from page 1

policies, such as the reimposition of the death penalty and the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility.

“Young people are forced to commit crimes because they are stuck in vicious cycles of poverty. Instead of punishing the youth, the government should raise them out of poverty.

Congress must prioritize free higher education as a measure to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor,” Akbayan Youth Chairperson JC Tejano said.

The youth groups also called for higher budgetary allocation for the education sector, citing the need to improve the capacities of faculty members and staff, construct new and better facilities, and invest in research and development.

“The youth need quality, accessible, and relevant education, not the death penalty or the batang bilanggo bill.

We urge our legislators to comply with UNESCO’s prescription of allocating 6% of the country’s GNP to the education sector,” Bukluran UP System Chairperson Ia Isidro said, referring to the bill seeking to lower the age for criminal responsibility as “the batang bilanggo bill.”

Senate Bill 1304 institutionalizes a “no-tuition” policy in State Universities

and Colleges (SUCs) and establishes the Tuition Subsidy Fund to be used in implementing the said policy. It also mandates SUCs to come up with a meritocratic and equitable admission process that prioritizes the admission of underprivileged and deserving students into their schools.

Higher education is currently free in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Chile, and Brazil.

Free... from page 5

of nationalism through the untold stories in these records,” Ms. Vallejo stressed.

Wit h her extensive expertise and experience from her previous stint at Intel, Ms. Vallejo helped digitize extant records of Filipino soldiers during WWII. Through her extensive research, many Filipino veterans have qualified for more benefits from their service during the war.

In her previous talks on this topic, Ms. Vallejos highlighted the importance of the Philippine Archives Collection.

“These records are not at the command level, but rather on the level of individuals who were involved in military operations in the Philippines from 19411945,” she explained.

“Included in these archives are records of the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs), how guerrilla warfare was waged in the Philippines through personal histories, diaries, unit histories, medical/death reports,” she added.

Researchers will find the collection a mother lode of information detailing activities of guerrilla units, first person accounts of efforts to liberate the Philippines from Japanese control, and prevailing conditions in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation.

Numerous guerrilla groups-willingly or forciblywere employed by the Allies to fight in WWII. Among them were about 300 units of nearly 300,000 Filipino guerrilla soldiers.

The Brig. Gen. Licuanan, Jr. Collection contains the digitized records of Filipino WWII veterans. retrieved from the US National Archives by Marie Vallejo and

her team of researchers.

The 280,000 scanned primary source records include little known guerrilla activities in various municipalities and provinces.

This collection, along with the new USCIS program that allows Filipino veterans expedite reunion with petitioned family members, recognizes their sacrifices and continued struggle for the benefits and recognition promised in exchange for their service.

Ms. Vallejo will deliver her lecture twice within General MacArthur Week: on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 2:00PM at the Centrio Activity Center and again on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 10:30AM at the Liceo de Cagayan University Viewing Room.

The Hiscom is coordinating with the Department of Education and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Field Service Office-10 to bring in interested academics and veterans to attend the two lectures.

These lectures are open to the public. History students and professor and researchers are strongly encouraged to listen in and learn how to use the database for academic research as well as other purposes.

These two lectures are sponsored by the Philippine Veterans Bank in coordination with the PVAO FSEO10 and Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Region X. (RMB)

Her Dad operated a sawmill in Lanao while her three older brothers attended Ateneo de Cagayan (present day Xavier University) while her sister attended Lourdes Academy (now Lourdes College).

The Hansen family later moved to northern Surigao where her father worked as Plant Superintendent of a gold mine.

Her s e cond le c ture scheduled today (March 15, 2017) at 10:30 a.m. of the same venue, will discuss the book Wendell Fertig and his Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines (Fighting the Japanese Occupation 1942-1945) written by her husband Kent Holmes.

The book is an in-depth study of Col Wendell Fertig and the challenges he had to overcome organizing and leading the 10th Military District in Mindanao and contains valuable research material for those interested

in historical details about the guerrilla resistance movement in Mindanao during WWII -- SPYRON submarine missions, radio communications, coast watcher stations, etc.

Kent Holmes is a retired Central Intelligence Agency officer and a member of CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service. He served overseas for 15 years in six countries, including two years in Laos supervising paramilitary operations in northwest Laos. He lives in Falls Church, Virginia.

The Hansen Lecture Series is sponsored by Ayala Centrio Mall and coordinated by Hiscom with the Department of Education Cagayan de Oro City Division, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Field Service Extension Office (PVAO-FSEO) Region 10 and Veterans Federation of the Philippines Region 10. (RMB)

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by Virginia Hansen Holmes, daughter of guerrilla Cpl. Charles Hansen, who was the logistics head for the Surigao sector of the 10th Military District of the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) under Col. Wendell Fertig.

Her two elder brothers were guerrillas under Fertig as well.

Ms. Holmes, who is President of the American Guerrillas of Mindanao Descendants Group (AGOM), will share her personal experience of the time her family spent in Lanao, Misamis Oriental and Surigao from the late 1930s through WWII.

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