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. 125
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October 28, 2016
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Microsoft to update Windows operating system, enabling 3-D features Microsoft Corporation announced a plan on Wednesday to update its Windows 10 operating system, enabling 3-D features on personal computers (PC). The update, called Creators Update, to the Windows 10, which is Microsoft’s latest software platform for applications to operate, is expected to be available to more than 400 million devices early next year. Microsoft, a technology company based in Redmond, Washington state, of the US Pacific Northwest, said the update will help create, share and experience in 3-D and mixed reality and make Microsoft Edge the first web browser to fully embrace 3-D. In addition, it said Microsoft Office suite, a set of productivity applications including PowerPoint presentation tool, will support 3-D features.
CHEAP POWER RATES? Homes like this one in Lubilan, Naawan, Misamis Oriental can enjoy the benefits of cheap electricity if Mindanao’s hydropower plants were exclusively used for households. Photo courtesy of Elmer Velasco Sayre
Lower electricity rates for households possible See update, page A7
Pulangi Dam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
THE Pulangi IV Hydroelectric Power Plant, also known as the Pulangi Dam, is located on the Pulangi River near Maramag in Bukidnon province on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It uses two reservoirs, produced by damming the Pulangi River, to supply water to a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant; the power plant is capable of generating 255 megawatts (342,000 hp) of power. Construction began in 1982; the first two generators became operational in December 1985, See dam, page A6
E
By MIKE BAÑOS, Editor at large
LECTRICITY rates for residential households in Mindanao can be reduced by as much as P2.25 per kilowatt hour if the output of the AgusPulangi hydroelectric power complex is exclusively allocated for residential consumers. “Upon unbundling of the PSALM charges for generation (MCPC will work on this in 2017), the rates for the hydro will be reduced to the true generation rates of 2.00 pesos per kWh,” said Engr. David A. Tauli,
president of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers (MCPC). “Residential consumers in Mindanao will get a reduction of 2.20 pesos per kWh compared to what they are paying now.” See CHEAP, page A6
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Friday, October 28, 2016
Lawmaker: Chinese firms tapped for PH infra projects have ‘shady track records’ MALAYBALAY City––At least three Chinese companies that have bagged big-ticket infrastructure projects in the country during President Duterte’s recent state visit to China have “shady track records” in dealing with the Philippines, a party-list lawmaker said Wednesday. In a statement, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque mentioned the China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC) that built the Catanduanes Circumferential Road, which “I questioned on behalf of my client, former Congressman Abaya.” “This is the famous case of Abaya v. Executive Secretary, which was used by GMA (Gloria MacapagalArroyo) in justifying the NBN-ZTE deal. This was the decision that the Supreme Court ruled that foreign-
funded projects in the form of treaties did not comply with public bidding,” he recalled. “It took me a long time but this ruling in Abaya has finally been reversed in the ruling involving Sinomach or North Rail. The Court finally correctly ruled that projects pursuant to treaties did not comply with government procurement law. And that the North Rail contract, because it is not a treaty, it is not between states and it is not governed by international law, should have complied with international law,” he added. CRBC signed a contract with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to develop the Bonifacio Global City-Ninoy Aquino International Airport segment of the Metro Manila
Bus Rapid Transit-Edsa project. Since 2009, the World Bank has banned CRBC from all its projects for alleged irregularities in the bidding for the first phase of the Philippine National Roads Improvement and Management Prog ram (NRIMP 1). Roque also mentioned China CAMC Engineering, a subsidiary of Sinomach which he sued in invalidating the North Rail contract. Third on the lawmaker’s list is CCCC Dredging Company, the largest dredging company in the world and the same firm which reportedly built the artificial islands in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Mega Harbour Port for the Cebu Interna-
tional and Bulk Terminal project. “So we need to be on guard. We need foreign investments, but we need to make sure, too, that our laws, particularly our procurement law, are respected to the letter,” Roque, who joined Duterte’s state visit to China, said. “To reiterate, I support the President’s position on his independent foreign policy, and I believe this was the reason why I was invited to form part of the delegation. But that I would like to point out that, by pursuing an independent foreign policy, my interpretation is that we will also be independent from a country like China,” he said. The lawmaker further noted that the talks between the President and the Chinese president on the West
Philippine Sea went behind closed doors. “So we don’t really know what happened to the oneon-one meeting, although I understand it lasted for almost two hours. But with the Chinese premier, the President brought it up. He said that ‘we have our disagreement over the West Philippine Sea, I come here not to quarrel about it but I’m saying that we need to resolve this soon’,” he said. Roque said that based on information he got from other members of the delegation, whatever commitment Duterte obtained from China was not reduced into writing and not formally announced over disagreement on the use of words. “We do not want the word ‘allow’ and ‘permit’ to be used by China because
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the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal is that Filipinos and Chinese and Vietnamese can look forward to the Scarborough Shoal as traditional fishing grounds. And I understand that is what has kept them from reducing into writing this agreement that would resume the fishing of our fishermen in Scarborough Shoal,” he explained. “My personal observation of the President’s trip is that the entire trip is really to facilitate resumption of fishing in Scarborough. Note that the two other decisions of the Arbitral Tribunal that the claim to historic waters is contrary to international law and that the artificial islands are within the Exclusive Economic Zone are matters really that need not be agreed upon. “What the Tribunal said is absolutely binding on both the Philippines and China. On the artificial islands, the Tribunal was very clear, since these artificial islands are built within our EEZ, only the Philippines can build these islands. The translation there is that we own the artificial islands. “But when China will actually cease to use these artificial islands as military bases, of course, is something that will have to be agreed upon. But make no doubts about this, we do not need to negotiate on the status of these islands,” he said. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)
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Friday, October 28, 2016
Injured, but still fighting for rights
“
By DEE AYROSO Bulatlat
Dionesio Abear and Reyan Naong, both from Mindanao, did not expect to be beaten up by the police when they joined the protest in front of the US Embassy on Oct. 19. It was the second time for both to join a people’s caravan to Manila; their first was for President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July. “Not hing happ ene d then, no one was injured,” Na ong s ai d, re c a l l i ng the peaceful rally by the 30,000-strong Manilakbayan from all over the country. “Dito lang pala kami sa US Embassy mabubugbog, he said. Naong and Abear sustained head wounds and other injuries, and were one of the nine activists who filed attempted murder charges against Manila Police officers over the US Embassy dispersal. As indigenous peoples, peasant, worker, medical practitioners, youth, and jeepney driver – the nine also represent the wide range of ordinary folk fighting for their rights, for land, just wages, social services. The police should go to jail and be removed from service, they said during the filing of charges at the Office of the Ombudsman on Oct. 26. The US Embassy protesters led by Sandugo on Oct. 19 called for an independent foreign policy as they blasted US foreign domination, which they said is the overarching force that has kept poverty, economic and military back-
The injured activists who sued Manila Police officers over the violent dispersal in front of the US Embassy are ordinary folk fighting for their rights. UNBOWED. From left, Dr. Julie Caguiat, Reyan Naong, Nicole Soria, a Manobo datu, Dionesio Abear, Jerome
Aba, Reynaldo Moldon, and Piya Macliing Malayao (in wheelchair) at the Ombudsman on Oct. 26. The activists charged the Manila Police with attempted murder and other criminal and administrative cases. (Contributed photo)
wardness in the country. During the protest, Abear and Naong were both security marshalls tasked to keep the rallyists’ ranks secure and orderly. Abear, 42, is a peasant and member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) from Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. Naong, 43, is a worker from Davao City and member of the Samahan ng Manggagawa Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon (Samaako), affiliated with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). When Abear left for Manila three weeks ago, he braced himself for hardship: “We know that we have to fight for our rights, it will not be given freely.” But he did not expect multiple head and body injuries. Another peasant also sustained head and body
Lawmaker backs Duterte’s nationwide firecracker ban
A senator on Thursday filed a measure to support the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to impose a nationwide ban on the sale and use of firecrackers. Under Senate Bill No. 1140 or the “Firecrackers
Prohibition Act of 2016”, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian seeks to prohibit the sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices for recreational See backs, page A6
Dengue cases in Caraga up by 59.3%, 31 deaths recorded
BUTUAN City––The Department of Health Regional Office XIII recorded that dengue cases in Caraga region is up by 59.3 percent, higher as compared to the same period last year and that the dreaded mosquitoborne disease recorded 31 deaths. Data from DOH-13 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, 41st Morbidity Week (Oct. 9-15) Disease Surveillance Report, that a total of 6,259 cases were admitted to the different disease reporting units region wide from Jan. 1-Oct. 15, this year. According to the DOH,
this is 59.3 percent higher compared to the same period in 2015 which has (3,930). The number of suspected dengue cases went beyond the epidemic threshold for the first quarter of 2016. This however does not indicate outbreak since the cases were evenly distributed to the different areas and preventive and control measures were immedialtely implemented. Reduction of cases was noted on the second quarter but consistently increased during the third quarter. For Oct. 1-15, 2016; there were 118 cases that See dengue, page A7
injuries: Reynaldo Moldon, 56, a Tadyawan-Mangyan from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro and member of the group Hagibbat. ”Sobra pong parang pagtratong hayop ang ginawa sa pamamalo sa aking katawan (They beat me up like an animal),” he told Bulatlat. After coming out of the hospital, Moldon said he had to lie in bed for three days due to body pains. Jeepney driver Raymark Sumalbag, 23, was mobbed by truncheon-wielding police men who repeatedly hit him on the head. A high school graduate, he has worked as a jeepney driver plying the CubaoRemedios route in the past two years and had joined other protests as a member of Piston. “I just want to get jus-
tice,” he told Bulatlat. Although his first CT scan was clear, he is up for another set of tests to ensure full recovery. Adam Daniel Lacson, 27, also calls for justice “specially for those with serious wounds.” He and another complainant, Dr. Julie Caguiat, were part of the medical team who were arrested by police while treating the wounded. “As a health worker, I hope this will never happen again for fellow health workers who only want to give help to those who need it, but were kept from doing so, and were even harmed,” he said. Lacson sustained abrasions and contusions as police grabbed him and beat him up. Nicole Soria, 18, an or-
ganizer of Kabataan Partylist-Quezon City, has her left arm on a sling when she went to the Ombudsman. Her chin and the length of the left side of her body was skinned when she was dragged under the police mobile that mowed down protesters in front of the US Embassy. Her wounds still ache, and doctors say she may need plastic surgery. “Even if I want to get back to work, I need time to recover. But when I get well, I will carry on,” she said. Piya Macliing Malayao, a Bontoc-Igorot and secretary general of the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu) was also ran over by the police van. She endured the throbbing pain on her right leg as she
sat in a wheelchair at the Ombudsman. “Keri lang (It’s fine),” she said. She said today, Oct. 27, the national minorities will try the US government in a “street tribunal,” after which they will deliver their “verdict” in another protest at the US Embassy. Today’s rally caps off the three-week campaign to Manila of national minorities from Mindanao, as they back tomorrow, Oct. 28. “I hope this time, they (police) will listen to why we are protesting. It is not just to get US troops out, but for justice for the indigenous peoples, for all the human rights violations and economic oppression… All the police have to do is watch their ranks and open their ears to the protesters,” she said.(http://bulatlat.com)
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Friday, October 28, 2016
Don’t burn yourself
THINK a minute. It’s been said: “Hating people is like burning down your whole house to kill a rat.” You’ve also heard the expression, “Cutting your nose off to spite your face.” When we hate someone, we hurt ourselves far more than the person we’re trying to hurt. That’s why when you’ve been hurt by others, a bad memory is your best weapon to stop it from hurting you more. Forget it, and get on with your life. “Never carry a grudge, since it only weighs you down while the other guy is getting ahead. You’ll
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never get ahead while you’re trying to get even.” You’ll reach your goal of success much quicker if you forgive and forget your enemies. Getting even with someone just puts you on their level; but if you forgive that person, it puts you ahead of them. So make peace quickly with your enemies. “Some people forgive their enemies—but not until they’re dead and it’s too late.” Remember, people need love the most when they deserve it the least. It takes a much stronger person to forgive. A person’s strength is
measured by how many times he can forgive the same person. You see, when our heart is full of kindness, there’s no room in it to hold a grudge. Hating someone is easy. Anybody can do that. So if you want to be unhappy and miserable, go ahead: don’t forgive that person who wronged you. But don’t forget, “Anger and unforgiveness is like fire: if you hold on to it, it will burn you.” However, “If you choose to forgive someone, you’ll be setting a prisoner free… and discover the prisoner was you!” Yet real forgiving
The usurper accuses the usurped as usurper instead THIS is a case of a complaint made by Roderick Marzo leveled against City Mayor Celso G. Regencia under Case No. OMB-MA-125-0514 for Grave Misconduct. The complainant alleges that on 27 April 2015, he assumed as Acting Mayor of Iligan City on account of respondent’s suspension from office for six (6) months, having been found guilty of Grave Abuse of Authority by the Office of the President, which was believed to be politically motivated. On 1 October 2015, respondent voluntarily surrendered and was thereafter detained for the multiple charges of Murder and Frustrated Murder filed against him. While detained, respondent issued executive orders, memoranda and designations, causing confusion to the city personnel
and to the general public. The complainant also cited the case of Mayor Vicente Fernandez of Matanao, Davao del Sur who was dismissed from the service by Ombudsman for the opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that declared his detention as a ground for his temporary incapacity to perform the duties of the mayor. The respondent avers on his Judicial Counter-Affidavit dated 14 January 2016 that he sent a letter to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Iligan City informing the body that he will assume office on 19 October 2015. He performed his duties as Mayor until 4 November 2015, when he was served a letter from the DILG recognizing complainant as the Acting Mayor of Iligan
City. He then filed a case for Declaratory Relief, Injunction, Temporary Restraining Order, Damages and Mandamus before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lanao del Norte. On 22 December 2015, the RTC resolved to issue a preliminary injunction, affirming that he was not under a temporary incapacity, legally or physically. Respondent contends that this civil case, which is now before the Court of Appeals, constitutes a prejudicial question to this case since it deals with the issue of validity of his action while detained. A usurper is “one who introduces himself into an office that is vacant, or, who, without color or title, oust the incumbent and assumes to act as an officer by exercising some of the functions of the office. For one to be
4th in a series of 4 Articles
our poverty-stricken troubled world, what “rays of light” have coops contributed to society particularly in the light of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? Furthermore, what can and should coops do more for development? These are “loaded questions”. I am sure you and your cooperatives have your own particular responses. You know your coops better than I do. Nevertheless, let me suggest some food for thought which hopefully can provoke all of us into more serious reflections about our coops. Let me start with the statement; “Our coops can
and will contribute greatly to development only IF our cooperatives…” • are “totally fit,” healthy and vibrant. Weak and sickly cooperatives c a n n ot a n d will not be effective instruments to reach the MDGs; • become genuine vehicles for total human development, and • will address consciously, institutionally and effectively the needs of the poor. Let me explain each of these briefly. Totally Fit,” Healthy & Vibrant Cooperatives A “totally fit cooperative” develops three strengths at the primary level: 1) Economic Strength gives
PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor AL JACINTO Regional Editor-WestMin
MINDANAO DAILY
Think A Minute
Jhan Tiafau Hurst
takes your Maker’s kind of love and strength. So why not ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for all the ways you’ve hurt and wronged Him? Then, you’ll have His power to forgive others like He did for you. Just Think a Minute.
Agree or disagree
Demosthenes P. Maglasang Sr.
held liable for Usurpation of Official Authority or Office Functions, there must be a clear showing that the person being charged had performed an act pertaining to any person with authority of public officer of the Philippine government or any agency thereof, under pretense of official position, and without being lawfully entitled to do so. In this case, there is no evidence showing that respondent acted with false pretense when he performed the functions of the See accuses, page A7
October, a month for cooperatives
By Anselmo B. Mercado
Cooperatives in the New Millennium: Their contributions to Poverty Alleviation and Development This is the final article in our series on “October, A Month for Cooperatives”. Three articles were published earlier, Article 1: The First Community Credit Cooperative (FICCO) and Our Cooperative “Roots”; Article 2: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Concept of Poverty; and Article 3: Revisiting the Concepts of and Approaches to Development. If indeed some rays of hope have shined forth in
From the mail
“economic power” (i.e., the business health or its ability/ capability to provide business services responding to members’ economic needs, such that an economically healthy coop helps make members economically healthy as well); 2) Strength of Social Cohesion gives “social power”. (i.e., the members’ strong sense of belonging, loyalty and support, esprit de corps, trust and confidence to stand on their own feet); and, 3) Spiritual-Moral Strength provides “spiritual power” (i.e., the coop member’s commitment and application of the coop values/ principles in their daily lives and in their See coop, page A7
See the trap before you speak “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” --Mark Twain One’s willingness to speak the truth sets the tone for the quality of a relationship or friendship. We all know that honesty is a critical component of any relationship. But why
do people willingly choose to sabotage their relationships with one another? Power struggles, control issues, oneup competitions, lack of trust or selfishness takes over and ruins many promising relationships. See the trap before you speak and preserve your healthy relationship.
Daily inspiration Juvy Sarraga
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Friday, October 28, 2016
Lower... from page A1
MCPC is a coalition composed of a cross-section of power consumers in Mindanao coming from electric cooperatives, private distribution utilities academe, consumers, and residents. It has been a close ally of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) and shares the group’s advocacy to get the Duterte government to allocate to residential consumers in Mindanao the entire generation of the hydroelectric power plants on the Agus and Pulangui rivers. AMRECO President Sergio C. Dagooc earlier said they would request the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) Technical Working Group to implement measures which will make available to distribution utilities the remaining capacity of the APHC for exclusive distribution to residential consumers. “Instead of being allocated to industries and the systems operator, the cheap hydro power should be allocated to electric cooperatives or private distribution utilities, because they are the ones serving the poorest of the poor, who are the targets of this administration for the reduction of electricity rates,” Dagooc stressed. Tauli said the total generation of the hydro plants in 2015 was 3,858 gigawatt-
hours (GWH), or 38% of the total generation of all power plants in Mindanao (10,000 GWH). “On a good year, the hydros generation could exceed 4,500 GWH, so the reduced figure may be a result of the suppression of the AP generation, e.g., by using the hydro plants as ancillary reserve, with consequent spilling of water from the dam,” he explained. Since residential consumers only consumed 3,151 GWH in 2015 (31% of total consumption, including system loss, in Mindanao) there is sufficient electricity from the hydro plants to supply the present and future electricity needs of residential consumers in Mindanao. “At present, the bundled rate for generation by government-owned power plants in Mindanao is 3.00 pesos per kWh, while the average rate of bulk generation from all sources in Mindanao in 2015 was 4.20 pesos per kWh.” Residential consumers stand to have their electric bills reduced by P1.20 per kWh (and save P120 on the monthly bills of poorer households that consume an average 100 kWh monthly) once this is implemented. MCPC also supports AMRECO’s advocacy to stop the privatization of Mindanao’s hydropower plants. “Privatization will increase the rates of the hydro
plants to at least 4.00 pesos per kWh, or double their true rates. That will mean windfall profits of P8-billion every year for the private generation companies that will either buy the hydro plants, or their independent power producer administrator (IPPA) contracts, all to be paid for from the pockets of Mindanao’s power consumers,” Tauli said. “Now that there’s a surplus of power in the grid, we will ask NGCP to get their ancillary reserves elsewhere, so the cheap power coming from Agus-Pulangi can be allocated to the coops and private utilities serving households who rightfully deserve to benefit from the island’s patrimony which rightfully belongs to the people,” Dagooc added. Should the AMRECO petition be approved by the president, the electricity price of thermal power plants in Mindanao is likewise expected to fall given the increased competition for the surplus electricity now available from the grid (300MW) plus another 700MW that would be freed up by DUs from their contracts with private power generating companies, making available a total of 1,000 MW to benefit industrial users and the systems operator. “We are now drawing up President Duterte’s vision for consumers, especially lowering the rates for electricity and the eradication of
brownouts,” Energy Undersecretary Benito L. Ranque told participants in a round table discussion on the development of a Social Development Framework for the Energy Sector hosted by the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative Incorporated (FIBECO) and facilitated by Balay Mindanaw last 13 September 2016 at Maramag, Bukidnon. “We are here on behalf of those households which cannot even afford the benefits of electricity, whose experience has been a cycle of one disconnection after the other, because of their incapacity to pay,” Ranque stressed. “Now that we have a president who understand the need for social development, let’s take advantage of this opportunity to take up the cudgels for these unfortunates whose plight may never have been discussed in the DOE, the ERC or in Congress.” Ranque noted how the Philippines’ energy industry has made billions for a few which are ironically being paid for by millions who share very little of those profits. “Ideally, we are looking at how we can restructure this unfortunate situation perpetuated by the R.A. 9136 or Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) so those who earning billions from this industry share the profits, which they keep for themselves instead of pursuing
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social development, and passing on risks to the government and consumers,” he said.
Dam... from page A1
with the last generator being commissioned in 1986. The upper (pondage) reservoir located at 7°47’11”N 125°1’25”E diverts water into a power channel which parallels the river until it reaches the lower reservoir (surge pool) at 7°42’56”N 125°1’25”E, 7.5 km (5 mi) to the south. At the lower reservoir, water is fed to each of the three 85 MW (114,000 hp) Francis turbine-generators via a penstock. The Pulangi IV power plant provides 23% of the hydroelectric power generated on Mindanao. Since operation, the reservoirs associated with the power plant have received an estimated 1,500,000 m3 (1,216 acre·ft) of sediment annually. Of the reservoir’s combined 67,000,000 m3 (54,318 acre·ft) active capacity, 23,000,000 m3 (18,646 acre·ft) has been filled with silt. The unexpected siltation threatens safe operation of the dams and power generation, in addition to drastically shortening the predicted operational lifespan of the dam. At first, the minimum
and maximum water levels were raised and, in 2007, dredging work was performed around the head work of the upper reservoir’s head. Selective dredging in the upper reservoir began in 2010, and continues as of 2011.
Backs... from page A3
purposes. Gatchalian stressed that a nationwide ban on firecrackers was one of the campaign promises made by President Duterte during his campaign. Earlier this month, Duterte said that he was still consulting his cabinet on the matter. However, a similar ban was instituted by President Duterte during his tenure as Mayor of Davao City, The neophyte senator reiterated that his proposal would not affect authorized largescale pyrotechnic shows, which are especially common during the holiday season, since commercial and industrial users which use fireworks for this purpose would be exempt from the general prohibition. “Ensuring festive but safe holiday celebrations through the passage of this bill would be a good early Christmas present from the government to the People,” Gatchalian said. He said that if President Duterte certifies the bill as urgent, Congress would be able to pass it in time to minimize, or even eliminate, firecrackerrelated injuries during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. (PNA)
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coop... from page A4
transactions with their coop, which includes honesty, integrity, democracy, equality, generosity, discipline, frugality, industriousness, social justice, voluntary service, spiritual growth, etc.). These three strengths, put together, provide the power for growth and dynamism to the primary coops, which in turn, should be expanded to the coops’ horizontal and vertical networks for a strong and dynamic cooperative movement. What are the sources of strengths? Briefly, there are also three, one for each, but are interrelated to give a combined overall dynamic power, namely: 1) Sound Business Management for Economic Strength (i.e., expertise/skills of the management team to operate the business enterprise to be commercially competitive); 2) Active Membership Participation and Education for Strength of Social Cohesion (i.e., member’s actual support to the coop, e.g., growth of their shares/ deposits, fulfillment of their contractual/financial obligations, regular patronage and participation in their coop’s affairs, growth in their understanding and knowledge about their coop); and, 3) Dynamic Organizational Leadership for SpiritualMoral Strength (i.e., the coop’s leadership providing constant, consistent articulation, renewal and commitment to the coop’s philosophy, values, principles to lead the coop to attain its vision and socioeconomic objectives, and to contribute to society’s betterment). Coops to Be Genuine Vehicles for Total Human Development Cooperatives are not just mere economics (e.g., deposits, shares, loans, dividends, patronage refunds, markets, insurance, housing, sound business, quality products, good governance, active members, dynamic leadership, etc.). Coops are much more than these. Their aim is multipronged that includes: for social transformation to establish a more egalitarian society in which the wealth/ resources and decisionmaking power are more widely shared and wisely used for the common good, to be instruments for peace and social justice, to build a better world. However, our coops’ ultimate aim, I suggest, should be for “total human development,” or a “full and abundant life for everyone,” expressed so eloquently by Pope Paul VI and Basil Price, SJ that we had quoted in the second part of this paper. Coops to Address Consciously, Institutionally & Effectively the Needs of the Poor In his analysis of credit unions (cooperatives), Da-
vid Hume expressed some critical views about their operations and suggested direct and indirect ways by which credit unions (cooperatives) could contribute to the achievement of the MDGs. Let me reformulate them in a question-format so that perhaps we can all make a study and evaluation of our cooperatives vis-à-vis the following questions. a. Do our coops directly service the poor? To what extent? Is it significant? There is an impression that membership of cooperatives are mainly for the non-poor. b. Are the services of our coops (specially the strong, healthy, totally fit ones) pro-poor (i.e., that cater and are flexible to the poor’s multiple needs)? There is an impression that poverty-reduction is not the main concern of coops, but to provide financial services to their members. c. Are our coops’ services (including terms and costs of transactions) efficient, affordable, reliable, friendly and reasonable for the poor? There is an impression that coops’ services, products, culture are not appropriate and friendly to the poor. d. Do our coops, specially the totally fit ones, reach out to areas where the poor are living (e.g., rural areas, slums, etc.)? There is an impression that the good healthy coops are not reaching out to the rural poor and other places where they live. e. Do our cooperatives uphold the values of dignity, equality, equity, honesty, gender sensitivity, ethnically non-discriminatory, etc.? f. Do our coops support and assist small-medium scale entrepreneurs and their enterprises which provide employment to the poor (“a multiplier effect”)? g. Do our coops get actively involved in lobby and advocacy activities for pro-poor public policies and effective programs that address poverty and other social issues for the common good (e.g., environment, land reform, etc.)? Cooperatives in Cagayan de Oro City The City of Cagayan de Oro has on record 180 registered coops of various types and sizes, with Total Membership of 392,666 (120,000 regular and 216,903 associate members, also of which 64% are female and 36% male). The Total Assets of the 180 coops amount to P15.652 Billion. Among them 9 are large coops with combined assets of P13.69 Billion (ranging from P106.00 Million to P7.57 Billion), 17 medium-sized coops with aggregate assets of P1.559 Billion (ranging from P19.29 Million to P90.29 Million), 43 small coops with total assets of P322.95 Million (ranging from P3.01 Million to P14.95 Million), and 78 micro coops with combined assets of P80.59 Million (ranging from P19.69 Thousand to
P2.96 Million). I was looking at the statistics – there are at least 100 millionaire cooperatives in our City, and 78 are already “multi-millionaire coops” The cooperative movement in Cagayan de Oro has become an economic-social force to reckon with, a force that has been recognized in the Philippines as one of the most cohesive, strongest and biggest in the country. But given this good image, if we rate our coops on a scale of one-to-ten (i.e., 1 – totally unresponsive to the poor, and 10 – very responsive to the poor), what score would our cooperatives get on each of the above questions? Indeed the root, bottomline questions are: Have our coops done something for the poor? If so, have our coops done enough for the poor? I believe that coops have great potentials and opportunities to help the poor only if they consciously, institutionally and effectively provide for the needs of the poor. Conclusion To “capsulize” these series of articles, the MDGs and now the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (formulated to be achieved by 2030) have come to be because of the urgency of the times to address poverty, and also because of a global re-awakening of the idealism of a “world without poverty.” Moreover, there is a worldwide recognition and acceptance that the MDGs and the SDGs cannot and will not be achieved unless the governments and civil society collaborate as partners to commit to this vision and put appropriate and effective programs in place. Poverty has been seen as a complex and perplexing phenomenon, with an ugly face, yet perhaps we have arrived at a better understanding of it, the factors affecting it, and how to address it. Also, more effective and appropriate measurements have been developed about it and how to determine whether or not some progress is made to alleviate it. Likewise, there is a growing body of knowledge about the various concepts, perspectives, models and approaches to “development”. There are reports of positive impacts from various efforts to alleviate poverty. This is well and good because they give us hope, encouragement and inspiration. We also hear of negative results, of worsening poverty. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to give up hope. So, the search for a more effective development formula continues and should be pursued. Lastly, questions have been posed for us and our coops: have our coops done enough to contribute to the attainment of the MDGs and SDGs? Coops have great potentials and opportunities to help achieve the goals
only IF - they are “total fit” -- healthy, vibrant, pursuing “total human development,” and if they provide for the needs of the poor. Wouldn’t we feel just great and proud of ourselves and our coops, and blessed too if, in all honesty and fact, we could say our coops had contributed significantly to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and will pursue them further and me them sustainable? I hope that these four articles I have posted and shared with you have and will be useful to you somehow.
Accuses... from page A4
City Mayor, The Ombudsman notes that it was only on 4 November 2015, or after respondent resumed office, that he was served the official communication of the DILG’s recognition of complainant as Acting City Mayor. Respondent, therefore, acted with color of title when he performed his mayoral functions pursuant to Article 46 (b) of the Local Government Code. The Ombudsman further notes that no court or competent authority at the time prohibited him from reporting back to office. Moreover, the Ombudsman notes that in the Resolution granting the issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Injunction, Acting Presiding Judge Arthur L. Abundiente of RTC Branch 4 of Lanao del Norte held that there was a need for a court order or for a competent authority to declare respondent as temporary incapacitated to perform his functions. In light of this, the Ombudsman finds that respondent resumed his office in good faith since unlike the Fernandez case, there was no order from a competent authority directing him then to cease and desist from performing his functions. As to the administrative aspect of this case, respondent cannot be held liable for Grave Misconduct since there is no evidence showing that he wrongfully intended to transgress some establishes and definite rule of action which is attended by corruption, clear intent to violate the law or flagrant disregard of established rules. And noted, when respondent was served with the DILG letter, he immediately desisted from performing his mayoral functions. WHEREFORE, the Complaint is DISMISSEDS. SO ORDERED. Davao City, Philippines, 17 May 2016. It was signed by CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES on 18 July 2016. How can a usurper appeal to the social compact? He has destroyed it! What laws replace it? The political enemies of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia know that to withhold a due respect and deference is dangerous, the wrong may be forgiven, but the insult will be avenged. Our City Mayor cannot lose his power as city’s chief
MINDANAO DAILY A7
executive till the whole people of Iligan are robbed of their rights to protect him at all cost. I dare say to former City Vice-Mayor Ruderic Marzo that you recklessly awaken the sleeping lion for your own destruction, anyway there is nothing to be destroyed in you, for you have already been destroyed politically beyond description, why? Because you were perpetually prohibited to hold public office pursuant to the promulgated landmark decision of the Ombudsman. Mind you, City Mayor Celso G. Regencia has suffered under the misinterpretation of his good action and false imputation of evil ones which he never did or intended; so that he may justly purge himself from all guilt from being author of jealousy and misunderstanding. He has been serving the Iliganons with utmost sincerity and dedication even confined in the Iligan City Jail. His confinement is an act of conspiracy and political vengeance by his political adversaries. What you wanted to imply in your complaint Mr. Marzo was that, he, City Mayor Celso G. Regencia, is incapacitated to rule with order and reason by accusing him of Usurpation of Power of the very power that was granted to him by the people, which was considered as an arbitrary act so wicked that demand submission to your devilish desire by perpetuating into power shamelessly. I presume that you lack moral compass. The Iliganons cannot be misled by your false notion. Why arrogate yourself to be worthy of your demand to be in power by grabbing the power of the man granted of power by the people? AGREE OR DISAGREE! Demosthenes P. Maglasang, Sr., City Information Staff, Office of the City Mayor. (Editor’s Note: The views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the Mindanao Daily News. The Mindanao Daily News will not accept any liability arising from the article).
Update... from page A1
A parade of Microsoft executives took the stage at the event in New York on the US east coast to talk about the company’s planned product rollout, including a series of hardware such as a new Surface Book laptop computer that comes with a so-called Performance Base to extend battery life to up to 16 hours per charge, a desktop computer called Surface Studio, and a new peripheral input device called Surface Dial. Noting that the desktop machine, Microsoft’s first of the kind, is intended to expand its Surface family, the company said Surface Studio comes with a thin 28inch LCD monitor offering a ultra-HD 4.5K touch screen,
is a new class of device that “transforms from a workstation into a powerful digital canvas.” The high-end PC, priced at USD2,999 and up, has a Studio Mode that allows the screen to sit at a 20-degree angle. “With Windows 10, Microsoft Surface and the medium of Mixed Reality,” claimed chief executive officer Satya Nadella, “we aim to empower the builders, the makers and the creators with the tools to create, collaborate and express themselves in new ways.” Co-founded by Paul Allen and Bill Gates in 1975, Microsoft, still the world’s largest PC software publisher, has tried for years to find a foothold in hardware business, as its flagship Windows operating system loses market share to Android, which works on mobile devices. With the rise of smartphone and tablet computer, the volume of worldwide PC market has been down at an annual rate of about 3 to 4 percent in recent years. (PNA/Xinhua)
Dengue... from page A3
were reported mostly coming from Surigao del Sur (30 cases); Tandag City (22); Surigao City (19); Agusan del Sur (14); Butuan City (12) and Surigao del Norte (7). Barangays identified as hotspots are Brgy. Telaje and Mabua of Tandag City (Morbidity Week 39-40). Clustering of cases (defined as having more than 2 cases in 2 consecutive weeks in a barangay location) was noted in Brgy. Ambago and Libertad (of Butuan City); Brgy. Washington, San Juan and San Roque (Surigao City); Brgy. Roxas (Basilisa of Dinagat Islands); Brgy. Victoria (Tago of Surigao del Sur) and Brgys. Bagong Lungsod, Bongtod, Poblacion, San Agustin Sur, Buenavista and Dagocdoc (of Tandag City). Geographically, the following is the distribution of suspect Dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Oct. 15, 2016 by province and city arranged from the highest to the lowest number of cases versus distribution: Surigao del Sur (1,467); Butuan City (1,114); Surigao del Norte (877); Agusan del Sur (784); Surigao City(698); Agusan del Norte (506); Tandag City (401); Cabadbaran City (112); Dinagat Islands (111); Bislig City (107) and Bayugan City (82). There were 31 deaths reported from the different disease reporting units region wide from January 1 to mid-October. Ages of death ranged from 5 months old to 84 years old. Majority of these deaths were female (64.5 percent). This is 19.2 percent higher compared to the same period of 2015. (PNA) NEED TARP? CALL: 8578447 OR, 745380 MOBILE: +639061389421
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