Mindanao Daily (June 6, 2018)

4Ps beneficiary is now a public school teacher

See story, P5

MINDANAO DAILY We innovate... and we lead!

Volume VIII, No. 016

www.mindanaodailynews.com

Wednesday

P15.00

June 6, 2018

Since

1923

World Environment Day 2018:

Salakyag marches against GMO cartel destroying PH agriculture

By MIKE BAÑOS Editor-at-Large

PhilHealth mum on alleged P10.6-B fund diversion issue

FARMERS and environmental stakeholders joining a trans-Philippine marched to advocate for the Rights of Nature have lambasted the GMO cartel which they say is destroying the country’s agriculture.

Some 400 participants from all sectors of society braved torrential rains last May 30, 2018 to join the third leg of the Salakyag Para sa Sangnilikha 2018: Sama-samang Sakay-LakadLayag Para sa Sangnilikha Trans-Philippines Pilgrimage and Caravan dubbed Salakyag 2018.

Among the highlights of the peaceful protest action attended by farmers, civil society organizations,

By LEILANI JUNIO PNA

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Friday announced that it will stop issuing any further statement to the media regarding recent issues related to the premium contributions of senior citizens.

“Based on the directive of the PhilHealth Board of Directors, we have already filed a complaint against former Health secretary Dr. Janette Garin and former PhilHealth president and CEO Atty. Alexander A. Mutlisectoral Groups show their banners following the Padilla with the Office of May 30 Salakyag March in Cagayan de Oro as a run-up the Ombudsman pertaining to the process by which the to World Environment Day on June 5, 2018.

See marches, page 11

Photo

courtesy of

Carl Cabaraban

See fund, page 11

Greenpeace calls for ‘action from all fronts’ -Says plastic pollution a multifaceted problem, calls out companies to take action

Two men take their time off to rest after carrying their personal belongings to the Capitol grounds of Misamis Oriental Provincial Government in Cagayan de Oro City, where they, along with more than 100 residents of Kamansi, Lagonglong town, seek refuge since Sunday evening, for fear of getting caught in the crossfire between the military and the New People’s Army n their community. photo by gerry lee gorit

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“YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.”

Distributor & Dealer of: Steel Bars; Holcim Cement; Davis Paint; Sand & Gravel; Plywood; INdustrial Supplies; Finishing Supplies; Electrical Supplies; Power Tools; Air Compressors

ENVIRONMENTAL activist Greenpeace Philippines called for “action from all fronts,” especially from companies most responsible for producing single-use plastic, in order to beat “catastrophic pollution” that chokes the planet as the world marked “Environment Day” on June 5.

Unilever, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and PT Torabika Eka Semesta were among the multinational companies that are the biggest sources of plastic wastes, as revealed in a waste assessment and brand audit, conducted in six Philippine cities by the Global Alliance for Incinera-

tor Alternatives (GAIA) and Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), said the group in a press release posted on its website.

“This is consistent with the released result in September 2017 that also identified these companies as top-polluters in a brand See calls, page 10

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Ragcom Ten

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Crisis-affected families receive Ramadhan food packs from IRW

By John Paul F. Soriano

MARAWI CITY, May 31 (PIA TFBM ICCC) – More than 1400 families residing in barangay Bito Buadi Itowa, Boganga and Sarimanok tent city received Ramadhan food packs from Islamic Relief WorldwidePhilippines (IRW).

Each food packs contains 15 kilos of rice, two liters of oil, half a kilo each of mongo beans and iodized salt and three cans each of sardines and corned beef, all of which are halalcertified.

The organization intends to let families concentrate on their prayers and worry less for food during Suhoor (meal before sunrise) and Iftar (meal after sunset).

However, the relief is not only for those who are fasting. According to IRW programme coordinator

A family from Brgy. Bito Buadi Itowa happily unboxes the Ramadhan Volunteers from Islamic Relief Worldwide-Philippines (IRW) while they food pack they received. (John Paul F. Soriano/PIA ICCC) unload food packs. (John Paul F. Soriano/PIA ICCC)

Leah Bugtay, they also provide the assistance for non-Muslims who need it.

“As an [international] humanitarian and development organization we provide assistance based on the need and the right

of the people to have access to assistance…regardless of faith, race, gender, political affiliations,” Bugtay said.

For a family of five, one set of food pack is estimated to last for seven days. For families who have up to

10 or more members, two sets are given to them.

Beneficiaries were grateful for the relief.

Volunteers from Cagayan de Oro also contributed for the success of the distribution. The group is

composed of mountaineers, most of whom are Christians.

One of the volunteers, Kr ist ie Sab anp an s aid they are glad to help even through giving their time and strength.

This Ramadhan, with the help of Muslim and non-Muslim volunteers, the organization aims to reach 15,000 people in Marawi City and Maguindanao Province. (John Paul F. Soriano/PIA ICCC)

City, DENR to ink MOA on infra project at Balubal

Bukidnon Rep. Manuel Zubiri (right) unveils the rendering of the training center for IP traditional skills inside Mindanaw Tribal School in Maramag, Bukidnon with (from left) Tesda Bukidnon director Kotie Bax, Tesda 10 director Tarhata Mapandi and Tesda deputy director-general Alvin Feliciano. photo by mark francisco

TESDA launches special skills training for IPs, former rebels in Bukidnon

By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MARAMAG, Bukidnon, June 1—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched on June 1 the Special Skills Training Program (SSTP) for Indigenous People (IPs) and ex-rebels in Bukidnon.

TESDA Deputy Director General Alvin Feliciano who led the SSTP national launching at Mindanaw Tribal School within the IP sub-village in Panadtalan, Maramag town, Bukidnon, said the program will prioritize the training of IPs and ex-rebels.

“This is the first step for the IPs and rebel returnees’ reintegration in the socioeconomic aspect of seeing life because it has been said that education is a process

by which a person begins to learn how to learn—especially that this training program banks on one’s skill or expertise,” he said.

Feliciano said these beneficiaries or scholars will have the freedom to choose what course they want to enroll depending on their turf or line of interest.

In an interview, TESDA Bukidnon director Kotie Bax said the government targets 20,000 beneficiaries nationwide for this SSTP, adding that the training will be carried out in TESDAaccredited training schools.

“In Bukidnon, the training will be held in 31 TESDA-accredited public and private schools that offer technical and vocational programs,” she said.

Bax explained that program beneficiaries are en-

titled to free assessment, free skills training, entrepreneurship training, and daily training allowance of P100.

Identification of these beneficiaries will be certified by National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure their legitimacy.

There are 12 sectors— with 52 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses—included in the special program.

These sectors are agriculture, automotive, construction, HVAC Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC), metals and engineering, semi-conductor and electronics, furniture and fixtures, garment and textiles,

health, social, and other community development services, tourism, processed foods and beverages, and utilities.

The beneficiaries or scholars may avail only once in any of the skills training under this special program.

However, they can still avail of other scholarship programs under Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), and Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA), subject to qualification requirements of the three—TWSP, STEP, and PESFA—programs.

Bax said those participants who complete the SSTP training module will be assessed and be given a national certification once See launches, page 10

THE 18th City Council during its 84th regular session yesterday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MAO) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 10, covering the implementation of Rural Infrastructure Subproject-Proposed Development of Barangay Balubal, from Purok 1 to Sitio Laguilay Access Road.

Pursuant to Executive Order 192, the DENR is the primary government agency mandated to conserve and manage the country’s environment and natural resources, while under Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”, the city government is mandated to share the responsibility with the national and regional governments in the protection and management of natural resources within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

As provided under the MOA, the DENR shall assist the city government in the planning and preparation of proposal, and implementation of the rural infrastructure subprojects including but not limited to technical assistance and capacity building on procurement, construction supervision, financial management and operation and maintenance.

Moreover, it shall also ensure that the rural infra-

structure subprojects are implemented in compliance with the technical standards and applicable laws and regulations in accordance with the subproject proposal of the city as approved for financing by the Provincial/Watershed Management Council (WMC), among others.

Meanwhile for its part, the city government shall prepare and submit short list of possible rural infrastructure projects to WMC for endorsement, implement the rural infrastructure subprojects, including but not limited to, procurement, construction supervision and financial management, in accordance to the approved detailed engineering design and subproject proposal. Furthermore, it shall also prepare and submit physical accomplishment/ progress reports, financial reports and other pertinent documents to DENR as prerequisites of fund release for the subsequent endorsement to the Municipal Development Fund Office (MDFO) of the Department of Finance. It shall, likewise ensure the availability of 20% cash equity/local counterpart funds as the city’s share for the approved rural infrastructure subprojects, among others.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on public works, during its meeting presided over by Councilor Jay R. Pascual and on laws and rules chaired

by Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya. (JAO)

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Across Mindanao

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

3

PRO-9 to recruit 1,090 new cops this year ZAMBOANGA CITY--The Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) is seeking to enlist a total of 1,090 new policemen this year.

Senior Supt. Romulo Cleve Taboso, Regional Personnel Human Resources Doctrine Development (RPHRDD) chief, said the 1,090 quota for PRO-9 is part of the 17,935 new policemen the Philippine National Police (PNP) is recruiting this year nationwide.

Taboso said that of the 1,090 slots, 700 are allotted for the regular quota exclusively for Public Safety Forces (PSF) in first cycle recruitment.

Taboso said that the remaining 390 slots are intended for the attrition quota in second cycle recruitment.

He said his office is

scheduled to start accepting application for the first cycle of recruitment on September 17, this year.

The recruits are set to take oath in July 2019.

He said application for the second cycle, which is the PO1 attrition recruitment program, will commence in October 15, 2018.

Their scheduled oath-taking is on February 16, 2019.

He said the minimum qualifications to become a police officer are as follows: Filipino citizen; good moral character; must have passed the psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical tests to be administered by the PNP; and, must possess a formal baccalaureate degree from a recognized learning institution.

They also must be eligible (PNP Entrance, Bar and Board Examinations,

and Civil Service eligibility to College Honor Graduates); must not have been dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government; must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude; Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62-m) in height for male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57-m) for female; must weight not more or less than five kilograms from the standard weight corresponding to his/her weight, age, and sex; and, must not be less than 21 nor more than 30 years old.

Taboso said the applicants must pass the physical and medical examination, See recruit, page 5

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, on Monday welcomes Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief at Camp Col. Romeo Abendan in Barangay Mercedes, Zamboanga City. Dela Vega was the invited guest of honor during Monday’s flag ceremony at the PRO-9 headquarters.

(Photo courtesy Westmincom PIO)

Farmer kills own pa

By Malu Cadelina-Manar MindaNews

KIDAPAWAN City--Authorities launched on Monday a manhunt against a farmer in Makilala, North Cotabato who escaped after stabbing his own father on Sunday, a police official said.

Chief Inspector Johnny Rick Felongco Medel, chief of Makilala police, identified the victim as Sozimo Susae, of Purok Centro, Barangay Malasila.

Susae died after his son, Dante, reportedly stabbed him several times, Medel said.

Father and son had a heated argument outside a

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows a gesture of respect to the Filipino community upon his arrival at the Grand Hilton Convention Center Seoul in South Korea on June 3, 2018. Presidential by Toto Lozano

Duterte’s ‘sexism, misogyny’ ‘has become a norm:’ Gabriela

By Antonio L. Colina IV MindaNews

DAVAO City--The “sexism and misogyny” of President Rodrigo Duterte “has become a norm,” a women’s rights advocate said on Monday.

Gabriela Southern Mindanao chair Jean Lindo, reacting to Duterte’s kissing of an overseas Filipina worker in South Korea on the lips on Sunday, called the act “disgusting.”

Duterte met with the Filipino community at the Convention Hall, Grand Hilton and Convention Center, in Seoul, during his official visit to South Korea.

Lindo said Duterte has negated the gains of women’s rights advocates and lawmakers who worked hard to make the Philippines the leading country in terms of

gender indices in Asia.

She said she was dismayed by the action of the President, who as mayor of Davao City for 23 years, was instrumental in the passage of the 1997 Women Development Code.

The law mandates the local government to “uphold the rights of women and the belief in their worth and dignity as human beings.”

The law provides that “women shall be recognized as full and equal partners of men in development and nation building and men shall share equal with all forms of productive and reproductive activities.”

Lindo said it should be clear to Duterte what sexual harassment is because he signed the code himself.

“I do not know if the President reads the docu-

ments when he signs. I assume he does. He himself signed the Women Development Code. It should be clear to him what sexual harassment is,” she said.

She said the President himself violated several times “the laws promoting gender equality and protecting all forms of violence against women.”

“If you have this situation, this is clearly Rule by Law. Citizens have to obey rules but the authorities violate the same rules. He can use the same law against citizens,” she added.

The President has drawn criticisms for his controversial statements about women.

Earlier, the President said he would order the military to shoot the private parts of female members

of the New People’s Army to make them useless, and declared he does not want a woman to lead the Supreme Court or the Office of the Ombudsman.

The SC was led by former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who was removed last month by her colleagues via a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Another woman, Conchita Carpio-Morales, leads the Office of the Ombudsman.

During the campaign in 2016, then presidential candidate Duterte drew flak for his rape joke about Jacqueline Hamill, the Australian lay missionary who was raped and killed during a hostage-taking incident at the Metrodiscom See sexism, page 5

neighbor’s house in Purok Centro after which the latter left but warned he would return.

The elder Susae reportedly went home to take his dinner but met his son who stabbed him several times in the belly and back, the police official said.

The father allegedly told his son to stop, to no avail.

Bystanders brought the victim to the nearest hospital but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

Medel said the suspect escaped and is said to be hiding in Kidapawan City.

He will be charged with parricide. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)

Maguindanao cops arrest ‘fake policeman’

By Edwin Fernandez PNA

COTABATO City--Local police in Parang, Maguindanao, filed on Monday usurpation of authority and illegal possession of firearm charges against a man who posed as a police officer.

Supt. Ibrahim Jambiran, Parang police chief, identified the suspect as Jaded Ibrahim Mangodacan, who went around town as “Police Officer 2 Mangondacan.”

Police seized from Mangondacan a 9mm Glock pistol, ammunition, police uniform, various police identification cards and patches.

Jambiran said the town police received a tip from

a concerned citizen about a man in police uniform suspiciously roaming around the town’s public market.

Jambiran said the tipster, who personally knew Mangondacan, a native of Lanao del Sur, told police the suspect was not a law enforcer.

The suspect did not resist arrest when police accosted him.

Jambiran said Mangondacan, who is currently locked up at the town police detention cell, was charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 for gun possession, usurpation of authority and falsification of public documents. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Opinion Hotline

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Time to get wet

THE wet season is here again and time to keep watch on the weather bulletin. Flooding may soon hit low-lying areas, including the feared landslides that claimed substantial damages to lives and properties in the past.

Flooding, more often than not, inundates land or property in a highly developed environment, particularly in more densely populated areas like Cagayan de Oro. Basically, flooding is caused by massive rainfall that overwhelms the capacity of drainage systems, such as storm sewers.

Flooding therefore is specific in the fact that the cause is simply the lack of adequate drainage in a highly urbanized like

Cagayan de Oro. Last Monday’s high intensity rainfall was the start of the urbanites’ agony even at the onset of the rainy season.

In an instant, the initial rains had caused the flooding of low-lying areas of the city and the absence of a dedicated sewage system and drainage canals had forced large amounts of rain to swell into the city’s open spaces including streets, hallways parks and even malls.

Flood waters may enter the existing sewage system, but then it gets deposited somewhere else in the city particularly on the streets.

And like it not, drain covers dance freely, indicating that the city’s drainage

is undersized and more so, inadequate.

Elsewhere in developed and developing countries, urban flooding may happen frequently and surprisingly.

The same sort of thing can happen in rural areas and is then called ponding.

Floods are a great disturbance and therefore, it dislocates people and destroys properties including vehicles.

Roads can be blocked, and people can’t go to work or to school. The economic damages are high, but the number of casualties is usually very limited, because of the nature of the flood.

Floods happen in a relatively short period of time and can inundate an area with rampaging waters in

Ruffy Magbanua

minutes, or even in seconds.

Further, the problem with flooding is the fact that it occurs in highly in populated urban centers, seldom in sparsely populated areas.

As more and more land areas are converted into residential and industrial zones, the amount of surface area available for water infiltration into the soils decreases.

Clearly enough, a city with no urban planning, flooding takes over. (ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo. com)

A Deeper View

Insatiable human desires

PROJECTING themselves as lowly paid public servants, the country’s public school teachers are again ranting about their low pay demanding for more on the first day of classes Monday.

Sadly, mainstream media gave the rant much publicity as if the public school teachers are the most exploited and most oppressed sector in the public service.

But how much is the public school teacher receiving as entry pay? Teacher 1, or the newly hired receives a monthly pay of P20,179 and a monthly average of P6,196.50 in bonuses and allowances or an average monthly gross income of P26,375.50.

C ompare the above monthly entry pay a public school teacher receives to the monthly pay of their counterparts in the private

sector receive at P12,375.

This is if the private school is giving the minimum daily pay of P550 multiplied by 22.5 days per month.

There are many private schools that don’t give the minimum daily wage as entry pay for their teachers. I knew this for a fact having had the chance in the past of working as the point man of a religious organization tasked with journeying with its institutions such as schools.

Juxtaposing the two pays, can you sympathize with the public school teachers in their rant for higher pay?

Take note that I only used the Teacher 1 monthly pay for our purposes. Teacher 2 receives a monthly basic pay of P22,149 excluding the P6k+ bonuses and allowances.

It is in this regard that

I am so baffled why mainstream media in their reports buy this falsehood peddled by the public school teachers about their pay.

Media should not just swallow hook, line and sinker the public school teachers demands for higher pay.

They are paid handsomely already even compared to the other employees in the public sector excluding, of course, the police and those in the armed services whose monthly pay have been tremendously increased by the sitting administration.

As a rule, teachers are required to teach half day only.

This means their P20k+ basic pay is only for a half day’s work.

The fact, however, is that public school teachers are still complaining. But why?

Certainly the problem lies not in their take home pay

Jesse E.L. Bacon II

but in the way they spend their pay. The sad reality is that they view their monthly pay as the fund that’ll enable them to satisfy insatiable desires.

This distorted view about human desires visà-vis monthly pay is the one that is enslaving the public school teachers to penury. Human desires should not be equated with human needs. Anyone can live without satisfying their human desires but no one can live without satisfying human needs.

Unfortunately, many would even sacrifice their human needs so they can See desires, page 11

Kakampi Mo Ang Batas

Duterte’s Korea kiss: no malice at all

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…

Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life…” (Proverbs 22:4, the Holy Bible).

-oooDUTERTE’S KOREA KISS: NO MALICE AT ALL: In order for all of us to acquire a more realistic perspective about the kiss that President Duterte gave to a Filipina who is married to, and has a child by, a Korean, we should endeavor to watch the complete video of the incident which is even now making the rounds of social networking sites.

I have watched the video, from the scene where the Filipina, accompanied by another woman, approached the President at the rostrum, then received with glee the

kiss of Duterte after overcoming her shock, and then embraced him while patting his back, at the same time that the President was also embracing her and patting her back in return. I also watched the scene after that, where the President himself directed the woman to go down the stage. The truth is that, the kiss lasted for only about a second and half or so, clearly negating any malice in that act.

From how the video appeared to me, the President obviously was simply trying to tease our countrymen who have been working in South Korea. The style and the manner by which the President behaved in the video portrayed a politician who merely wanted to pro-

vide merriment to Filipinos who he knew are already afflicted with fatigue or homesickness on account of their being overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in South Korea. I repeat, there was absolutely no malice in that kiss!

-oooTHOSE ATTRIBUTING MALICE IN DIGONG’S KOREA KISS ARE DERANGED: The only problem at this point is that the President’s critics and political foes have been showing only the part where his lips were in a smacking position with the woman’s own lips, evidently to give the impression that the kiss was lascivious because it lasted for quite some time.

Indeed, the intention of

Batas Mauricio

the critics and the political opponents of the President is to discredit and shame him once again, by making him appear as abusive and disrespectful, particularly against women.

But the truth cannot be hidden. These efforts to bring Duterte down produced no effect at all. The reason is that, unlike before where information can be easily twisted by one’s critics, the people now have a way of immediately unmasking the truth and exposing the lies or “fake news”, as in the case of the video showing the kissing scene in See kiss, page 11

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Community

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

5

4Ps beneficiary is now a public school teacher Maramag, Bukidnon --- Finishing her college education is the only way out for Charmaine T. Noynay of Purok 4, Base Camp here from a life filled with hardship.

Charmaine, a public secondary school teacher at Bukidnon National School of Home Industries (BNSHI), is a former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary.

Among six siblings, Charmaine is the first to finish college at the Central Mindanao University in 2016.

“I have three siblings who finished high school, but did not continue to college due to our financial instability,” she said, adding that it was her dream to finish her tertiary education and improve the well-being of her family.

“As the fourth child, it has always been my dream to finish my studies no matter what it takes. It has come to me that my family’s future has to change, especially with my two younger siblings,” Charmaine said.

She builds a house When she got her first pay, Charmaine started to buy construction materials for her dream house

Sexism... from page 3

detention center in Davao City in 1989.

Rojean Romanes, outgoing university student council member at the University of Philippines-Mindanao, said Duterte’s action was condemnable and that he was giving them more reason to rage against the “machofeudalism system.”

Romanes urged the women to join the #BabaeAko campaign on Facebook and Twitter that was launched last week.

She said the campaign has so far earned the support of student leaders from different universities, influential artists, and writers.

“Kaya po iniimbitahan ang lahat ng sumali at sumupurta doon sa (That’s why everybody is invited to join and support the) #BabeAko campaign, for we have all the reasons to rage against the system that continuously subjugates women’s status in our society,” she said.

Environmentalist Chinkie Pelino-Golle, executive director of Davao City-based Interface Development Interventions, said the kissing was unnecessary even if it was just for fun. “He should have not done it.”

On Sunday, Duterte kissed a Filipina on the lips in exchange for “Altar of Secrets: Sex, Politics, and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church,” a book authored

by Aries Rufo, during his meet-up with the Filipino community.

The kissing happened

here.

Erected beside the older house, Charmaine still can’t believe that her dream of building a new house for her family is now a reality.

Construction is still on going The Provincial Schools Division of Bukidnon of the Department of Education hired Charmaine after she passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers last year and assigned her to handle Mathematics subjects at BNSHI here.

A life filled of hardship Her father is a farmerlaborer, while her mother is a housewife.

“We belong to the poverty line and that is very evident in our household.

We are eight in the family. My father is a farmerlaborer and my mother is a housewife,” Charmaine disclosed.

“When I was about to graduate in 2016, my father was only earning P300 a week and that’s not even fixed. My mother was earning as well but only for our daily needs,” said Charmaine.

“My first two years in the university was the hardest years of my life. My allowance was not constant.

Sometimes, I don’t even have an allowance. No matter how much I budget my

money, it is still not enough.

I always borrow photo copies from my classmates so I could study for our tests,” she said, adding that, “but no matter how difficult it was, I had always prayed for strength so I could keep going.”

“My academics have never been easy also. I may not be that intelligent but I always study hard so I could maintain my grades and still be in the scholarship program of the university,” Charmaine explained.

ESGP-PA helps her achieve dream It was in her third year in college when she became a beneficiary of the Expanded Student Grantin-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA).

The ESGPPA is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

“The program helped me a lot especially on my allowance and school fees.

I was assured that I could continue my studies and finish it on time because the program is very generous

at the tail end of his twohour and six-minute speech, which was broadcast live on Facebook by the People’s Television Network, after he announced that he was giving away his book that reportedly exposes the misconduct of bishops and priests in the Philippines.

About 24 minutes and 29 seconds into his speech, the President asked the book from his aide. He then told the crowd to believe in God but not in the Catholic Church.

The President’s drug war has been criticized by human rights groups and the Church.

“I would like to just maybe give it to an officer or whatever, I just place it there kung sino mauna (whoever comes first gets it). Huwag yung lalake. May bayad ito – halik (Not a man. This comes with a price – a kiss),” he said.

Two women came up on stage after being teased by the President. He told them to share the book since he only had one copy.

“May dalawa dito umakyat kayo dito (You two come up here). You share to be fair maybe after you. You can finish that in two nights, one night,” he said.

The other woman, holding the book, gave him a cheek-to-cheek but the President insisted to the second woman, who was already uncomfortable, to give him a kiss. The woman said she was married after the President asked her off-mic if she was still single.

“Pero kaya mong sabihin na biro lang? Sige na

paselosin mo na (But can you say that it’s just a joke?

Let’s make him (husband) jealous,” he told the woman.

He drew cheers as he kissed the Filipina from the audience.

Duterte told the crowd to not misconstrue his action, saying he only wanted to entertain the Filipinos.

“Huwag ninyo dibdibin yun, pangsaya ng mga tao (Do not be offended, it was meant to entertain the people), gimmick. I’m every glad to see you. Do not misconstrue that. There’s nothing in it, except I want to be close with my fellowmen and countrymen,” he said.

Duterte left for a threeday official visit to South Korea on Saturday. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

Recruit... from page 3

including drug test, and the final board interview by the members of the PRO-9 screening committee.

He said the PNP is now accepting online application for initial screening and evaluation to the interested qualified, competent and determined applicants for PO1 through the PNP Online Recruitment Application System (ORAS) website www. regular.pnp-dprm.com.

ORAS is a web-based and a central recruitment application system that simplifies the submission of accomplished PNP PO1 Application Form.

“Through this system, it also addresses queries regarding the recruitment process,” he added. (PNA)

to the grantees,” Charmaine said.

Charmaine considered the program as her greatest blessing during her college years.

“My life has become better after I graduated and I am grateful for the program for helping me reach my dreams. I do hope the program (4Ps) will continue to help a lot of students who dream not just for themselves, but for their family also and for the country’s future as a whole,” said Charmaine.

“Yes, I graduated Cum Laude, but the success wasn’t mine alone. The success was mine to share

with my beloved family, who were my greatest motivators and inspirations and to the persons behind the amazing program which aided my education,” continued Charmaine.

“I pray that the program will continue to serve the poor, but deserving stu-

dents,” said Charmaine, thanking God for her achievement.

Charmaine is currently taking her master’s degree at CMU. She is planning to finish a doctorate degree to earn a title as a statistician of the Department of Education.

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Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE

Wednesday

BUSINESS

May inflation at 4.6%, price pressure seen to ease in next months

By Kris Crismundo

MANILA -- Government data released Tuesday showed that headline inflation in May rose to 4.6 percent, slightly higher than April’s rate of 4.5 percent but generally lower than the market’s expectation.

In a press briefing Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority

(NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the increase in price pressures last month is mainly attributed to higher prices of fish due to declining fish catch; meat, due to higher cost of feeds; fuel, because of rising prices of international crude oil; and rice, because of market panic.

Share of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to May’s

Study says girls more prone to smartphone addiction than boys SEOUL -- Girls are twice as prone to smartphone addiction than boys, likely because they use more social networking and messaging services, according to research results released Tuesday.

The conclusions of a study team from Ewha Womans University in Seoul were that students who were female, consumed alcohol, had lower academic performance, did not feel refreshed in the morning and went to sleep after midnight were at a significantly higher risk of smartphone addiction.

The results were based on research involving 1,796 adolescents -- 820 boys and 976 girls -- aged 14.9 on average. The study was

published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

The risk of addiction for girls was 23.9 percent, compared to 15.1 percent for boys. The odd ratio suggested that the risk of smartphone addiction in female students was double that of boys, while the risk for students who drink alcohol was 1.7 times higher than for those who do not.

The research team took note of the difference in the use of social networking services (SNS) and messaging apps between boys and girls. For the former, the use of social media was 26.5 percent compared to 41.2 percent for girls. In the

inflation has remained at 0.4 percentage points, which means for ever y PHP1 increase in prices of goods and services, the tax reform only contributed 9 centavos to the price hike.

Edillon said price pressure is expected to ease in the coming months as global oil prices are expected to decline.

She adde d t hat t he Congress’ approval for

6

June 6, 2018

the Rice Tariffication Act will greatly contribute to slowing down the inflation rate.

Actual inflation data is within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ inflation outlook of 4.6 to 5.4 percent, Department of Finance’s projection was at 4.9 percent, and IHS Markit Chief Economist for Asia Pacific Rajiv Biswas’ expectation was at 5 percent. (PNA)

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+639092721115 (SMART) rsuitescdo@gmail.com

LEGAZPI CITY -- The government through the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) invited the public to invest in its new 3-year retail treasury bonds (RTBs) with a minimum investment of PHP 5,000 during the Bicol leg of its roadshow and investors’ briefing at the Oriental Hotel Monday in this city.

BTr Director Ma. Nanette Diaz, in an interview on Monday, said the RTBs form part of the national government program to make government securities available to small investors.

“RTBs earn fixed interest rate, the interest rate is based on the prevailing market rate and it is paid quarterly during the term of the bond”, Diaz said.

Diaz added that RTBs are designed to be higher yielding yet affordable savings instruments.

“They are considered credit risk-free because they are direct, unconditional and general obligations of the Republic of the Philippines. RTBs are higher-yielding as their interest rates are superior to the other investments.

RTBs are affordable with a minimum denomination of PHP 5,000 and in multiples of PHP 5,000 thereafter”, Diaz explained.

The bond offer began on May 30 to June 8 and will be issued on June 13 with a 3-year maturity. However the BTr told the public that the offer period can be shortened depending on the See invest, page 7

Construction, heavy equipment showcased in HMR auction

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

See show, page 7

free wifi hot and cold showers spacious parking lot

By Connie Calipay

See says, page 7

DOST-funded researches conducted by the UP System.

It will be the first “Aghambayan” and will be jointly organized by the DOST and the UP System, according to Edwin Villar, acting deputy executive director for research and development of DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

“The event aims to showcase what UP has done and the technologies it has developed. Some of these technologies are ready for

The Travellers’ Choice

Gov’t invites public to invest in Treasury bond, as low as 5K

DOST launches “Aghambayan” for researchers, to show UP works MANILA -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched on Wednesday the “Aghambayan”, which will showcase the top 40 projects of the University of the Philippines (UP) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila on June 20.

“This event is very important to me because UP was the biggest recipient of our research projects,” DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña told the Philippine News Agency (PNA), noting that “Aghambayan” will serve as a networking platform for researchers and industry leaders and offer them collaboration opportunities.

Dela Peña said the event will showcase the top 40

SUITES

Over 120 units of construction and heavy equipment is up for bidding this June 30, during HMR Auctions’ public auction event.

HMR Auctions has partnered with Sunwest Group Holding Company Inc. to showcase a wide selection of brands to contractors, traders, and the general public.

The event will be held from 10 AM onwards at the Magna Industrial Park, Diversion Road, Barangay 41, Botong, Legazpi City, Albay.

“We are pleased to present HMR’s biggest auction event of the year. You will be able to buy quality units for only a fraction of the retail price. Plus, we make sure that the units are priced to sell, ready to work, fully refurbished, and has genuine parts,” said Mr. Samuel Powell, CEO, HMR Auctions.

Hydraulic excavators, loaders, graders, forklifts, bulldozers, and many other construction and heavy equipment will be auctioned.

There will be a viewing period to be held on June 18 – 19, 2018, from 8 AM to 6 PM daily.

“Interested buyers can inspect and view all the equipment to be auctioned. Our friendly staff are also open to explain to them the live auction bidding process,” said Mr. Powell.

For all logistic requirements of bidders, HMR Auctions has also partnered with Antrak Logistics. They can provide hasslefree national and international transport services for the units.

The first 30 registered bidders will be given a free round-trip ticket to and from Legazpi City.

See auction, page 7

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Billboard

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

7

Earth Day 2018 inspires volunteering activities at Globe As part of its volunteerism— or “volunteaming”—efforts to celebrate Earth Day, one of the world’s most important environment care-related events, Globe employees shared their time and skills by participating in various coastal cleanup and tree-planting activities spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Last year, we reached an all-time high in our volunteerism goals when a total of 3,803 employees volunteered for various social development causes. 2018 is a year where we put volunteerism in the DNA of each employee—building a base of volunteers with the sole purpose of doing a ‘Globe of Good.’ We intend to bring in more employees who may want to share their time and effort and encourage them to volunteer in any of the activities that they support,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

A total of 38 volunteers from Globe joined a Coastal Clean Up activity at Las Piñas Parañaque Critical

Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) to help reduce waste brought by single-use plastic. This was followed by the participation of more than 90 Globe volunteers in a mangrove planting initiative in Brgy.

Balibago, Calatagan, Batangas.

Also, the company’s “volunteaming” activities for Earth Month 2018 was highlighted by more than 60 Globe volunteers, who participated in a Watershed Ecosystem Awareness Activity conducted by the DENR in Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. The activity emphasized the importance and value of keeping Angat Dam, a strategically-located hydroelectric dam that supplies almost 90 percent of raw water requirements to Metro Manila, protected and free from any form of pollution.

Globe is one of the country’s few companies that nurture its people’s innate desire to help by providing every employee with one day of “Volunteer Time-Off ” every year to pursue their chosen advocacy. It also encourages “volunteam-

Invest...

bank for inquiries. (PNA)

availability of bonds.

The government issues RTBs to raise capital for its projects and to diversify funding sources of the government and to promote awareness to the Filipino for the habit of investing #parareadytayobukas.

“As to negotiability, they are negotiable and transferable, the interest rate is 4.8750 p.a and the interest will be deposited to your account quarterly,” she said.

Last week, the BTr auctioned off PHP 66-billion, expecting higher than last year’s PHP 255-billion.

The BTr advised the public to go to their prefered

from page 6

from page 6

Says...

case of messaging apps, the figures were 12.8 percent for boys and 23.6 percent for girls.

In the addicted group, SNS usage was predominant, while in the non-addicted group, use of entertainment apps was more prevalent.

Smartphone addiction and duration of sleep at night also showed a correlation, according to the study. Some 40.4 percent of adolescents in the highrisk group slept six hours or less at night, compared to 28.3 percent in the low-risk group. Those categorized as high risk said they did

Clean up drive

Mangrove planting activity

ing,” where employees are free to organize themselves in groups to pursue their advocacies.

In 2017, volunteerism in Globe reached an all-time high of 52.8 percent of total employee base who volunteered for various social development causes. It also institutes activity-based and skill-based volunteering to support work with a partner group or community, organizing people who may want to join various advocacies and provide pro bono services, capacity building, or skills transfer.

“We must cease being

tolerant of environmental abuse and take an active part in the strict enforcement of environmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances.

The government needs the citizenry’s direct participation in accelerating reforestation, coastal cleanups, energy conservation and popularizing lifestyles that will enable the country to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance its resilience,” says Roy A. Cimatu, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The partnership with DENR was pursuant to

Presidential Proclamation No. 1481, s. 2008 that calls for various efforts to help green the cities and oceans.

It also forms part of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that Globe supports, namely Climate Action and Life of Land.

Globe continues to be an avid supporter of the DENR’s various environment-related activities. Last year, Globe employees participated in a 30-km bike trek called “Bike.

Hike.Plant.”, which ran from the DENR Region 3 Office located at the Government Center, Maimpis, San Fernando City, Pampanga, up

to the Mount Arayat National Park. Each volunteer biked around the city and then hiked up to the chosen area to plant a tree. The event aimed to showcase the beauty of Philippine forests, and encourage people from various sectors of the society to rehabilitate and protect forests by advocating responsible tourism and proactive reforestation.

Globe also provided free charging stations during the event.

For more about Globe Telecom’s various employee volunteerism activities, visit www.globe.com.ph.

not feel refreshed in the morning and that it took them longer to fall asleep.

“The quality of sleep in adolescence affects growth, emotional stability and learning skills,” the study said. “Therefore, the management of smartphone addiction seems to be essential for proper sleeping habits. There is a critical need to develop a means of preventing smartphone addiction on a social level.”

(Yonhap)

will draw the academe, government agencies, and potential adoptors.

“We will (also) showcase these (research studies) to other universities and colleges, so they could see what they could adopt, and for them to learn more about these researches,” he added.

Investors, technology entrepreneurs, and startups will likewise attend the one-day event.

There will be an exhibit of the UP System’s scientific works at the PICC. According to DOST, the “Aghambayan” will also have panel discussions, poster exhibits, and technology demonstrations.

(PNA)

Auction...

antiques.

For more information, you may contact Jam Paulo at (02)548-6999 and 0917 822 3599 or email her at jam.paulo@hmrphils.com.

You may also visit http:// hmrauctions.com.ph/ and follow HMR Philippines on Facebook for updates @ HMRTradingHausOfficial.

Show... from page 6

commercialization, while some are for pilot testing,” Villar explained to the PNA during the launch.

He said “Aghambayan”

from page 6

HMR Auc t ions was founded in the Philippines in 1994. It specializes in the valuation and cash maximization of obsolete assets; from heavy equipment, automotive and industrial, to arts and

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Davao

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

DepEd-11 rejects PDEA-led drug testing in Davao schools

DAVAO CITY – With the opening of the classes here, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI is eyeing to conduct drug testing in some schools after receiving reports of drug activities of some high school students.

The Depar tment of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11), however, is opposed to the idea.

Antonio Rivera, PDEA11 director, in an interview on Monday said they received reports of marijuana use by some students. He did not elaborate.

But Rivera underscored the importance of drug testing as a way of reducing demand for drugs, along with information campaign on the ill-effects of drugs.

“That is why we have schools here na ginabantayan nato (that we are See rejects, page 10

WREATH-LAYING. President Rodrigo R. Duterte offers incense which is part of the wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen soldiers at the National Cemetery in Seoul, Republic of Korea on June 4, 2018. (Rene Lumawag/Presidential Photo)

13 centenarians in Davao Region receive 100K cash

DAVAO CITY--The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has awarded Php 100,000 cash gift to each of 13 centenarians in Davao region with ages ranging from 100 to 105 years.

“Our personnel had to go house-to-house in remotest villages to save the older persons from long and bumpy rides and to ensure that the eligible recipient receives the cash award and signs or thumb marks the payroll following the simple turnover,” DSWD-11 Director Mercedita Jabagat

said on Monday.

According to Jabagat, some local government units opted to conduct the awarding as a special municipal ceremony in the presence of the mayor, other local officials and the centenarians’ family members.

“We target at least 40 centenarians for 2018.

Earlier, validation of centenarians was conducted

by DSWD staff to verify the documents submitted such as birth certificate or Philippine passport, senior citizen identification card or any other Philip-

pine government-issued ID which shows age and citizenship,” Jabagat said.

Other alternative and acceptable documents to prove the claim include a marriage certificate, old school documents, baptismal or confirmation records, birth certificate of children, or an affidavit executed by at least two (2) disinterested persons at least 80 years old with personal knowledge of the centenarian’s actual age or birth date.

DSWD focal for older persons Arris Medrano said, “Most of the centenarians

can still move around and some even eagerly responded to queries from DSWD personnel.

Nanay Segundina, who is 101 years old, even sang and danced to express her happiness over the unexpected “gift”.

Most were shocked and teary-eyed but all, including their children and grandchildren, were grateful to God and to the government.

Republic Act 10868 or An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians, and for Other

Purposes also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, grants all Filipinos who reach the age of 100, whether residing in the country or abroad, a cash award of Php 100,000 as a “centenarian gift.”

Aside from the cash, they will also receive a Letter of Felicitation signed

by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and a posthumous Plaque of Recognition for deceased centenarians who died upon the effectivity of the Act. Centenarians are also See receive, page 10

Police, DepEd declare peaceful school opening in Davao City DAVAO CITY--The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) recorded zero crime incident in schools during the first day of school in Davao City. Traffic conditions, especially near schools, were also normal.

This was reported by DCPO spokesperson Senior Insp. Maria Teresita Gaspan on Monday, adding that the deployment of two police officers in each public school helped maintain the orderly opening of classes.

Gaspan said the police officers have been ordered not just to guard the peace but also to assist both the students and parents.

The Department of See declaRE, page 10

OWWA releases P7-M in livelihood assistance to OFWs DAVAO CITY – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has released PHP7.58 million in livelihood assistance to its member-migrant workers under the “Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay” program during the first three months of the year.

OWWA Davao region Director Petrona Bergado said the money was released to 379 overseas migrant workers out of the 600 applications that OWWA received from those who have returned from overseas across the globe. Each applicant received PHP20,000 in cash assistance for livelihood projects mostly in

agriculture production.

There are still 87 applications on a process, said Bergado during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex. She added that OWWA is assisting with small livelihood projects for OWWA members.

OWWA has allocated PHP12 million for livelihood assistance, on top of the welfare assistance, medical and calamity aid that OWWA members could avail.

A loan facillity is also available for overseas workers who want to engage in business enterprise and scholarship programs – the OFW Dependent Scholar-

ship, the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship and the Sills-forEmployment Scholarship.

The loan program is a partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines and LandBank which offer lower interest rates compared to commercial banking offers. OWWA’s role is to provide training on business enterprise under this partnership.

OWWA has recorded 10 million overseas workers, with the Davao region numbering to 201,000 active and inactive members.

For non-members or undocumented Filipinos See releases, page 10

Bergado

9

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PhilJobNet records 2k vacancies in sales The PhilJobNet, the labor department’s internetbased job and applicant matching system, this week recorded almost 2,000 new vacancies in the field of sales.

In a report from the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), the new vacancies are for the positions of merchandiser – 495; junior supervisor – 495; customer service assistant – 380; cashier – 296; and stall salesperson – 200.

Vacancies at the call center still topped the weekly listing of job opportunities at 2,060. This was followed by staff nurse – 650; mason – 502; market salesperson – 441; household attendant – 349; and public health nurse – 297.

There are also vacancies for non-formal education teacher – 270; financial/ accounts specialist – 248; service crew – 245; domestic helper – 211; waiter – 210; barista – 204; construction carpenter – 195; warehouseman – 191; and supervising management specialist (government) – 160.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III encouraged the public to make full use of the PhilJobNet’s enhanced services as it fast tracks the jobseeker’s search for jobs and the employer’s search for work force.

The job portal already has 21,628 active jobseekers and 2,819 accredited employers with job posts.

For more job vacancies and other employment facilitation services, job seekers and employers may log on at http://philjobnet. gov.ph/

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

DTI meets Azerbaijan Ambassador to discuss oil, food trade

MAKATI—Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez met with Azerbaijan Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev last 31 May to discuss trade opportunities between Azerbaijan (AZ) and the Philippines (PH).

“O ur me et ing wit h Consul Garayev is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s strategy to seek out nontraditional trading partners.

We see a lot complementation between our countries,” said Sec. Lopez.

PH is keen on exporting tropical fruits, like bananas and mangoes, to AZ. Exporting to the Eurasian country is also a boon for PH’s Halal industry, since its population is predominantly Muslim.

“Your country is famous for its mangoes,” said the Azerbaijan Ambassador who cited Jose Rizal as his childhood hero.

Meanwhile, PH sees AZ as an alternative source of fuel since oil and natural gas account for around 90 percent of Azerbaijan’s total exports. The country is also a transport hub for exports since it’s located near Georgia, Turkmenistan, Kazakh-

From L to R: Consul a.h. of Azerbaijan in the Philippines Jose De Venecia III, Counsellor Ruslan Nasibov, Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Undersecretary Nora Terrado, Director Ann Cabochan, and Director Angelica Cayas.

stan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine.

With only a 10M population and a 6.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Ambassador Garayev said that his country needs more manpower for its tourism and agriculture industries.

Since there are only 300 Filipinos in AZ, Sec. Lopez suggested that Filipinos fill these vacancies.

Both countries want to mutually develop education and tourism by having student/ teacher exchange programs and tourism pro-

motions. The two countries will form a Joint Economic Commission to further these talks beginning with possible government to government transactions.

Current trade balance between PH and AZ is in favor of PH due to exports

of the following: electronics; electrical and electronic machinery; almonds, fresh or dried, shelled. Azerbaijan is PH’s 172nd trading partner (out of 223), and 153rd export market (out of 216), and 171st import source (out of 198)

against women workers.

“The conference theme on ‘Women at Work’ is timely and relevant to us against the backdrop of unfortunate experiences by Filipino overseas workers the past few months,” said the statement of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III read for him by Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod.

The Philippines has drawn global focus early this year following reports of

alleged deaths and abuses of Filipino women workers in the Middle East. There were reports of violent deaths and abuses, and a number of rape cases of household service workers.

“The Philippines is unrelenting in pushing for a fair and humane treatment of our overseas workers especially our women migrant workers. They are, on varying degrees, subjected to violence at work

and experienced abuse and inhumane treatment,” the statement said.

It added that in addressing the problem, the government actively engaged the labor-receiving countries so as to afford the overseas Filipino workers full and equal protection of their rights and promote their welfare.

“This we do by forging bilateral labor agreements with host countries,” the statement said, adding that some 37 of those agreements had already been concluded.

“But these initiatives of the Philippine government are not enough to sufficiently protect the rights and promote the welfare of

PH bats strong action for migrant protection UNITED NATIONS, Geneva - The Philippines on Monday strongly called for global action for the protection of migrant workers.

In a statement read before the plenary session of the 107th session of the International Labor Conference here, the Philippines also brought to international attention the need for global intervention in addressing violence and harassment in the world of work, especially

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro City

Libona elementary school welcomes old and new students

By MERELINA O. PAHUYO Teacher III San Jose Elementary School Libona, Bukidnon

SAN Jose Elementary School in Libona, Bukidnon has a total of 34 students in kindergarten under adviser Venus Aple Clemen. It has 23 Grade 1 students under Genita Losac. It has 25 Grade 2

students under Janeth Escolar. It has 29 Grade 3 students under Fe Gerangaya.

It has 24 Grade 4 students under Merelina Pahuyo.

It has 18 Grade 5 students under Lelian Milvar. It has 27 Grade 6 students under Imelda Borinaga. San Jose Elementary School has a total of seven teachers under principal Anecita Gulle

Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar MUNICIPALITY OF MAGSAYSAY Province of Davao del Sur

with a total of 180 pupils as of June 4, 2018.

They join the more than 27.7 million students returning to school last Monday. An estimated 27,757,546 children from kindergarten to Grade 12 trooped back to public and private schools, including local and state universities and colleges. The projected

enrollment for kindergarten in public schools is 2,637,351; 12,663,690 in elementary or Grades 1 to 6; junior high school or Grades 7 to 10, 6,711,367; and senior high school, 1,451,267.

DepEd welcomes with utmost optimism our 27.7 million learners from all over the country.

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO)

See bats, page 11

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 10172, a NOTICE is hereby served to the public that ALONA TAALA MAGNO has filed with this Office a petition for the correction of clerical error in the entry of the child’s sex from “MALE” to “FEMALE” in the Certificate of Live Birth of ALA PRECIOS TAALA MAGNO who was born on July 18, 2005 at Cagayan de Oro City and whose parents are ALONA BACARRO TAALA and APOLONIO REDONDO MAGNO. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 08 June 2018.

(SGD.) EVANGELINE C. TAPANGAN Municipal Civil Registrar

MDN: May 30 & Jun 6, 2018

RA Form No. 10.1 (MCRO) Republic of the Philippines Province of Davao del Sur Municipality of Santa Cruz

Publication Notice R.A. 10172 OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

Republic of the Philippines Local civil registry Office Province: Davao del Sur City/Municipality: Matanao

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

May 28, 2018 CCE-0024-2018 R.A. 10172

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that ERNESTO CALLAO BANDICO has filed with this Office, a petition for change of first name from “GUILLERMO” to “ERNESTO” in the birth certificate of GUILLERMO CALUMBA BANDICO who was born on June 25, 1959 at Matanao, Davao del Sur and whose parents are TEOFISTO C. BANDICO and EMILIANA C. CALUMBA

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than June 13, 2018.

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that JOLY M. ASILUM has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of entry in the child’s sex from “MALE” to “FEMALE” in the Certificate of Live Birth of JOLY MEJORADA ASILUM at Cebulan, Astorga, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur and whose parents are SIMON ASILUM and HERMINIA MEJORADA.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 25th day of June 2018.

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that GLENN HOPE MALIG-ON PARTIDAS has filed with this Office a petition for correction of entry in the GENDER from “FEMALE” to “MALE” in the Certificate of Live Birth of GLENN HOPE MALIG-ON PARTIDAS at Malongon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur and whose parents are DANIEL C. PARTIDAS and LEONIDAS P. MALIG-ON.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than June 11, 2018.

MDN: May 30 & Jun 6, 2018

(SGD.) ANASTACIA B. DENSING Municipal Civil Registrar

MDN: May 30 & Jun 6, 2018

(SGD.) NONITA DIONISIO-DALUMPINES Municipal Civil Registrar

MDN: May 30 & Jun 6, 2018

(SGD.) MARIO M. TIZON Municipal Civil Registrar

10

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Calls... from page 1

audit conducted by the Break Free from Plastic movement, including Greenpeace, in Freedom Island in Metro Manila,” the group said.

“These companies must get their acts together and start the reduction of singleuse plastic packaging in their products. Rather than just relying on individuals who are sincerely changing their habits in using plastics, these companies, who are making a lot of money from consumers, should invest in long-term solutions that will curb plastic pollution in our cities and waterways,” said Angelica Carballo Pago, campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines.

Greenpeace urged companies to do away with single-use packaging and instead introduce ecologically-sound, long-term innovations that will help alleviate the mounting plastic pollution problem, which primarily affects the poor and marginalized sectors of society. Plastic pollution is a multifaceted challenge that encompasses many environmental ills - from polluting our oceans, to promotion of unhealthy diets, to fuelling climate change.

All over the world, 300 million tons of plastic are

produced annually, while approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the sea each year[3]. In addition, plastic production reinforces an even bigger problem that’s already affecting the lives of millions of people around the world: climate change.

A report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), released in September 2017 and entitled “Fueling Plastics”, details how over 99% of plastics are produced from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels [4]. As plastic and fossil fuels industries are deeply intertwined, it could be said with certainty that plastic production is contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fueling climate change.

Greenpeace Climate & Energy Campaigner Khevin Yu says that consumers can help the reduction not just of plastic pollution, but carbon emissions as well, through their everyday choices. “By refusing plastic, which is a byproduct of fossil fuels, consumers are breaking free not just from plastics, but also from dirty energy. This is a simple yet valuable act that can help end the fossil fuel industry’s grip on our economy, our politics, and our lives,” said Yu. The new data from GAIA

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and MEF also revealed that 79% of the branded plastic residual wastes collected comes from food packaging. Virginia Benosa Llorin, Food and Ecological Agriculture campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines, said that the promotion of supposedly cheap but unhealthy food, tainted with toxic chemicals and preservatives, and wrapped in single-use plastic packaging, is costing Filipino citizens more, especially low income families.

“It is communities in marginalized sectors who have to deal with these interconnected problems -- not just dealing with the single-use plastic trash from our cities and towns, but also the cost to their health, from both the plastic pollution and the unhealthy food that these big corporations peddle,” Benosa Llorin said.

“The global food system is currently responsible for a quarter of all GHG emissions that is causing climate change. Livestock alone accounts for 14%, comparable to the whole transport sector. We need ecologicallyproduced, plant-based food choices over industrial and processed meat. We need to reimagine our consumption, including our food, from their sources down to how they reach our plates,” Benosa Llorin added.

Greenpeace is part of the global #breakfreefromplastic movement that envisions a future free from plastic pollution.

Launches... from page 2

they pass.

The government decided to adopt this innovative training program to empower IPs and ex-rebels to thrive and cope with today’s inventive world, she added.

For details and queries, applicants may call TESDA Bukidnon through mobile numbers 09989500567 or 09778140290 and look for information officer Abdulwahid M. Madum or visit TESDA website at www. tesda.gov.ph. (RLRBalistoy, PIA-Bukidnon)

Rejects... from page 8

monitoring). In fact, we will be coordinating with the Prefect of discipline because we have a suggestion. This refers to the high school if they will agree if we can conduct drug testing to the students,” he further said.

Rivera lamented that the principal of one school has not responded yet, although PDEA will continue to coordinate with authorities.

In a separate interview, Jenielito Atillo, DepEd-11 spokesperson, said that current policy only allow the Department of Health to conduct drug testing in schools and among the teachers.

“It is only the DOH and not the other agencies. So if they want to do that DepEd is saying “no” because it must be the DOH, not PDEA (that will conduct the drug

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testing),” Atillo said.

Atillo said any drug testing in schools should be conducted randomly.

“We will also want to identify what school is this (PDEA-11 is referring to).

They should follow the process because we are protecting the rights of the children.

The random drug test refers to the health issues and then we try to know the health of the child, unlike law enforcement agencies which have a different direction,” he added.

Atillo pointed out that DepEd considers the drug problem as a health issue, ensuring that testing should only be done to help the child. PNA

who returned to school on Monday.

DepEd had earlier projected 1,161,040 public school students. This includes 732,294 public elementary students including kindergarten; 362,836 Junior High School students; and, 65,910 Senior High School students.

There are up to 196,295 private school students in the region including 66, 476 elementary students and kindergarten students, 62,970 Junior High School students and 66,849 Senior High School students. PNA

Receive... from page 8

entitled to awards and incentives from their respective city or municipality, to be from page 8 determined by the local Education (DepEd) XI re- government unit. gional office also shared the President Duterte signed the Act into law in 2016. same observation.

DepEd spokesperson Je- PNA nielito Atillo said the opening of classes across the region was smooth despite from page 8 late enrolment activities migrant workers, Bergado in some schools. He said said assistance is provided late enrollees will still be by the National Reintegration Center for Overseas accepted by the schools.

Police Regional Office Filipino Workers.

(PRO) XI spokesperson, “OWWA is a membership Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, agency,” she responded when said the opening of the asked the kind of assistance classes for public and pri- for undocumented overseas vate school was generally migrant workers. peaceful with no untoward Meanwhile, OWWA is incident reported within all set for the 23rd Migrant established police assistance Workers Day on June 9 that will be held at the New City desks in schools.

Driz said traffic conges- Hall Atrium in Tagum City, tions in some areas were Davao del Norte. The event immediately addressed by is expected to draw 1,000 police, traffic enforcers and active and inactive OFWs who are either members of LGU personnel.

“This has been the result the OFW Family Circles of the cooperation and active or permanently returned support of the community migrant workers. to law enforcement efforts Bergado said various activities will be held to of the PNP,” Driz said.

Davao region has about honor and empower OFWs. 1.3 million students in A trade fair will highlight both public and private the event and this will also schools. Davao City has serve as the venue for OFWs about 364,597 elementary to sell their various product and high school students lines.

The Migrant Workers day is celebrated pursuant to the Republic Act 8042 or the Magna Carta for OFWs approved in 1995. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

Declare...

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Bats... from page 9

migrant Filipinos,” it added.

The statement stressed: “Much remains to be done.

Among which is the need for more responsive international cooperation tools to enable governments and stakeholders to provide safer and more suitable migration blueprint.”

“It is heartbreaking to note that despite global interventions not only by the ILO but of other international organizations, we have yet to achieve gender equality at this technologically-advanced age,” it added.

The statement concluded: “We beg for answer.

When will this culture of inequality end?”

Desires... from page 4

dom drug tests cannot be made on all elements of the police force of the country.

There would be policemen who are still hooked into drugs, like the womanmember of the PNP Special Action Force in Taguit City who was caught in a pot session in her own house, who would somehow escape detection.

What you, Chief Supt.

Eleazar, should aspire for is for policemen to be guided back to relevant spirituality through meaningful activities that would assure their coming in contact more often with the Word of God, the Bible, knowing and obeying God’s commands. If this is what you will be accomplishing in your short term, Mr. Eleazar, true change would come to our policemen, and if that happens, it could even catapult you to the country’s presidency.

-oooFOR QUESTIONS, REACTIONS: If anyone would like to ask me any question about what the burning issues of the day mean, or what we have discussed here, or to consult on any problem, whatever it maybe, please call 0917 984 24 68, or email me at batasmauricio@yahoo. com, or post your concerns at www.facebook.com/attybatas. Promise, I will answer right away. Thank God in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

satisfy their human desires.

This is very prevalent among public school teachers who are buried with all sorts of debts. This is so because human desires are always greater than one can earn hence the pressing need to temper such desires. A runaway human desire will just lead to corruption because there is no way it can be satisfied.

It is in this regard that the public school teachers should be conscious about so they will not keep on ranting about low pay when they are actually paid sufficiently. (jelbacon@yahoo. from page 1 com; jelbaconii@gmail.com) church leaders and church-

Marches...

Kiss... from page 4

question. Because it has become very easy to know what really happened with the latest technologies, many have immediately come to the conclusion that the kiss was without any hint of malice or any sexual undertones as it was simply a very fleeting kiss.

Truly, only the mentallyderanged or the brain-damaged guys would ever find the courage to accuse the President of rudeness or of being a “sex maniac” on account of that kissing scene.

What truly confounds me here is the apparent inability of the purveyors of these accusations bordering on “fake news” to see that it is not Duterte who is going to be hurt by all these, but their allies ultimately would be at the receiving end of these false accusations against the Chief Executive.

-oooUNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR GEN. ELEAZAR: I have a word of caution for Chief Supt. Guillero Eleazar, the newly-minted chief of the Philippine National Police National Capital Region, in connection with reports saying he would push for more random drug testing of policemen in the Greater Manila Area to catch those in uniform who continue being drug addicts up to now.

Gen. Eleazar, Sir, random drug tests cannot change your policemen. First, ran-

based organizations led by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ was the opposition against the impending commercialization of BT-Talong and Golden Rice in the Philippines.

“What’s really happening now is most of our crops are GM crops which means most farmers are getting their seeds from corporations and companies, so they really need a big capital in order for them to have a yield upon harvest,” said Roselyn Balmes, advocacy officer of Agro-Eco Philippines at the press conference held at Gaston Park following the march. “It’s not only degrading the environment but it’s also not sustainable because iyong ginastos ng mga farmers for these things is not commensurate sa anong nakukuha after harvest.”

Agro-Eco Philippines is a Mindanao-based national NGO of organic farmers, scientists, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups asserting the right to food of the people, ending hunger in the poor farming communities, and increasing the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate change through agro-ecology, advocacy and lobbying, social enterprise, and international solidarity.

The activity has also raised the awareness of the people on the proposed National Seed Law (R.A. No. 7308 also known as the Seed Development Act of 1992) which is perceived to curtail the rights to access of the farmers to save, develop, exchange and share traditional seed varieties and farmer-bred lines in favor of a few multinational GMO corporations.

Unsustainable Agriculture

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 In an article posted in The Organic and Non-GMO Report (2013) entitled The GMO Seed Cartel, author Ken Rosboro cited how “problems resulting from escalating prices for GM seed are seen most dramatically—and tragically—in developing countries.”

“According to a study by Consumers International, an estimated 270,000 small-hold farmers in the Philippines are being forced to grow GM corn and ending up in debt. The cost of corn seeds has risen 282% from its introductory price and accounts for 18-21% of a farmer’s total cost of production. Farmers are at the mercy of seed suppliers and lenders who are one and the same in the country and refuse to provide lending unless the farmers grow GM corn.”

A local study by Magsasaka At Siyentipiko Para Sa Pag-Unlad Ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) found that a farmer needs about P 9,800.00 to buy GM corn seeds to plant one hectare against only P4,500.00 for conventional hybrid corn varieties, thus agrochemical companies such as Monsanto earns at least P 5,000.00 per hectare on seeds alone. In 2011 alone, it was estimated that companies earned over P3-Billion in the sale of GM corn seeds in the Philippines.

In a similar study done by MASIPAG in 2012 on the socioeconomic impacts of GM corn among poor farmers, results showed that the expensive cost of GM corn production has driven farmers to local usurers and traders, incurring as much as 40% interest per cropping season that they are unable to pay off.

The use of GM corn seeds entail the use of synthetic chemicals, and together they make up 40‐48% of the total expenses that a farmer spends per season, and all of these go to the corn traders/financiers and agrochemical companies.

Unfortunately, yields of GM corn are inconsistent, with most farmers losing as much as P10, 000 after a bad harvest.

GMOs impact the health and environment. In Capiz, hundreds of hectares of hills and mountains are now converted to GM corn plantations. Farmers can easily clear lands with the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup which Monsanto is also producing.

Most GM corn in the Philippines is genetically modified to become herbicide tolerant, such as glyphosate. Glyphosate is considered a Category 2A

Carcinogen of the IARC-WHO. Study estimates that over 5 million liters of glyphosate was doused in GM corn farms in 2011 alone, contrary to the claims that pesticide use is declining due to GM adoption.

Hills and mountains cleared with glyphosate are now almost devoid of topsoil due to soil erosion and becoming very acidic making such areas unproductive over time.

Eugenio Geraldo, Agro-Eco PH Advocacy Point Person, and Farmer-Trainor for Malitbog, Bukidnon, said environmental stewardship for sustainable agriculture starts with the seeds planted by the farmers.

Speaking in Visayan, Geraldo said: “If we start caring for the environment, we should start with the seeds. During these times, with seeds like Sige-Sige or RR, these require chemicals to thrive.”

MASIPAG and Greenpeace researchers previously tested samples of traditional and native corn varieties and found they were already contaminated by GM corn sold by seed companies (BT, RR, and stacked corn varieties) through cross-pollination, tainting the country’s second staple crop with GM traits.

“Farmers call the contaminated corn varieties ‘sige-sige’ corn in Mindanao as these dangerous technologies are creeping into our food systems without our knowledge and consent”.

The researchers found GMO corn presents a risk to health and the environment since these are used as livestock feeds and when their meat is processed the BT toxin could be ingested in fresh and processed foods, posing health hazards to the human population.

The return of Bt-Talong and Golden Rice “When we speak of sustainable agriculture, we should talk about people’s lives and chemicals have side effects which are detrimental to people’s lives,” Geraldo stressed. “And things are taking a turn for the worst with the impending return of Golden Rice and BT-Talong.”

Farmers groups, environmental activists, scientists, consumer advocates and concerned sectors have challenged Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to uphold the rights and welfare of farmers and consumers, in the light of the reversal by the Supreme Court of its decision on the controversial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)“talong” (eggplant) case.

Seven months after its landmark decision permanently enjoining the field testing of BT talong, the Supreme Court on July 26 reversed its ruling on the basis of “mootness” and granted the petitions for motion for reconsideration filed by pro-genetically-modified organism (GMO) proponents.

In a similar development, the controversial genetically modified GR2E Golden Rice variety, which is still being pushed in the Philippines, recently received a positive evaluation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), concurring the variety’s safety and nutrition.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said the provitamin-A biofortified rice variety has completed its food safety evaluation from the USFDA, its third international nod after approvals from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand and Health Canada earlier this year.

Sustainable Agriculture via Seed Banks “Our advocacy to farmers in Agro-Eco Philippines is to preserve our old seeds and cross-bred them with our current varieties. The same with rice, we have preserved old seeds as rice breeders so we won’t depend on GM crops for our seeds. And this is how we in our small way can contribute to sustainable agriculture,” Geraldo said.

Already, farmers from Benguet, Pangasinan, Aurora, Rizal, and Iloilo banded together as part of the worldwide initiative dubbed the Seed School and Farmers’ Capacity Building Programto create food security and cultivate food diversity by simply saving seeds of traditional varieties.

Putting seeds in the control of smallholder farmers and sharing them at the community level is one way to contribute to future food diversity and security. The program seeks to enable organic practitioners to produce and distribute seeds locally, and to spread seed-saving techniques through direct, farmer-to-farmer exchanges.

Yolanda Esguerra, executive director of PMPI and national coordinator of Salakyag 2018, said this situation is typical of the way the present economic system is supported by a legal structure that allows the plunder of nature under the guise of laws minimizing and managing environmental destruction.

“There has to be a totally new framework that would

consider the inherent rights of nature to exist, flourish and regenerate for the good of all creation, not just to minimize and manage its destruction.

And the whole capitalist economic system is profit-driven, where nature is all that we have.”

Esguerra said Salakyag is a timely platform to uphold the rights of nature “as equal in importance to the rights of human beings.”

“The modern world has produced people so disconnected with nature who only see its usefulness in relation to themselves. The natural perspective should be the ability to appreciate the links and usefulness of each of the species to each other.”

“We call on government to dialogue to institute measures to protect the most vulnerable groups, from the impact of natural disaster and man-made destruction. We ask the lawmakers to pass the green bills: Alternative Mineral Management Bill, National Land Use Act, and Forest Resources Bill and the creation of the Disaster Resiliency Department.”

Fund... from page 1

request for the funds was made,” PhilHealth President Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna said in a statement.

Dela Serna vowed to cooperate in the proceedings and concentrate on the next steps that they will take.

“Let me sincerely assure our members and stakeholders that we remain unwavering in our efforts to uphold the ideals of genuine public service, and that we conduct our operations with utmost public accountability to ensure that service remains uninterrupted,” she said.

The PhilHealth Board decided to file a case of graft against Garin and Padilla before the Office of the Ombudsman last March. The two allegedly asked for the release of the fund for the health facilities enhancement program and purchase of barangay health stations and dental buses of the DOH. Dela Serna bared the filing of the case during a congressional hearing on the sustainability of PhilHealth’s fund last Tuesday.

Garin and Padilla both belied the claim they had diverted PHP10.6-billion worth of senior citizens’ fund, noting the Department of Budget and Management did not approve of its release. (PNA)

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. 10 Monte Carlo Bldg., RER Phase I Subd., Kauswagan Highway Cagayan de Oro City Telephone No. (088) 857-1930/Fax No. (08822) 72-76-82

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP)

June 5, 2018 SGD. ATTY. JOFFREY M. SUYAO, CESO III Regional Director If you have any information / objection to the above-mentioned application(s), please communicate with the Regional Director.

MDN: June 6, 2018

MINDANAO DAILY We innovate... and we lead!

Editor: MARK FRANCISCO

Wednesay

feature

June 6, 2018

12

Children are the Future: It takes a Community to Educate a Child Education is and always will be very important in building a strong foundation in one’s life. This is especially true in terms of looking at our future generation. Education is a strong building block in building a stronger and healthier community.

IDC got the opportunity to render service to the community through taking part in this year’s Brigada Eskwela. IDC was able to participate in the activity at Batinay Elementary School, a far-flung community in Cagayan de Oro, last May 29, 2018, and donated materials for Macabalang Elementary School and Lumbia Central School.

During the activity, IDC donated school supplies, construction materials for the schools’ further improvements and conducted a feeding program. This activity was in partnership with Damiani Property Management Services Inc., the official leasing and property management of IDC’s Primavera projects.

“Education is the most important tool you can receive, that can bring you the most success in society today. Education lessens the challenges

you will face in life. The more knowledge you gain the more opportunities will open up to allow these children in the future to achieve better possibilities in career and personal growth.” said Frances Mae R. Galvez, IDC Brand Manager.

IDC has been a contributor in assisting the local community of Cagayan De Oro. IDC is fully aware that the real future lies in the hands of these children. This is in sync with the company’s goal to promote sustainable development.

And they prioritize in making sure that these young individuals will be the next builders of our community.

“This activity becomes an eye opener to me as an individual and be a part of this Brigada Eskewela. Through the company’s effort, we are able to experience firsthand what these children need to achieve their dreams. And with are simple ways we are able to assist them in reaching their aspirations hoping that they would be somebody in the future.” said Lynette R. Rongo, IDC Sales Manager IDC is a leader in promoting green advocacy in Cagayan de Oro. Both projects of IDC, Primavera

Residences, and Primavera City, won the International Property Awards for Best Mixeduse Development in the Philippines. With its dedication to smart and passive green developments, Primavera Residences garnered the distinction of being the First Completed Condominium Project in East Asia to be given an EDGE (Excellence in Design For Greater Efficiencies), a global green certificate by IFC World Bank.

n line with the Environment Month and World Environment Day, the Mister Earth Philippines regional eliminations was held last Sunday at Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City. The activity was coordinated by Donie Galigao of Dreamboard Artists.photo by mark francisco