Independent federal competition authority eyed in new Constitution
'Ang Corporate Social Responsibility ni Bong Go' ni Jun Ledesma
ANG GOBYERNO sa daghang aspeto mora ra sab og usa ka dakong korporasyon. Ug susama sa pribado nga korporasyon o kompaniya nga gipanagiya sa gobyerno, nagaimposar kini sa iyang kaugalingon og corporate social responsibility, programa nga dili prinsipal nga tuyo apan nagagahin sila og bahin sa
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ilang kita aron sa pag-adto sa mga komunidad nga nagkinahanglan og tabang. Ang mga korporasyon sa gobyerno, ilawom sa payong sa Gender and Development Program, gimandoan sa balaod nga mogahin og 5% sa ilang budget para sa GAD. Samtang kini gidisenyo aron mahimong kabahin gyud ang gender equality sa ilang mga programa,
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pwede sab ang GOCCs nga mogamit niining pundoha para sa mga proyekto sa CSR ilabi na kadtong maghatag og pupareha nga mga kahigayonan ug mga kaakohan sa kababayenan ug kalalakin-an sa ahensya nga nagaimplementar niini ug sa mga komunidad nga benepisyaryo. Continue on page 7
A CONSTITUTIONALLY mandated federal competition authority with national powers is being eyed in the new Charter being drafted by the Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution. ConCom member Arthur Aguilar, chairperson of the
subcommittee on economic reforms, said this competition authority will have powers strong enough to ensure fair and healthy competition and go after monopolies, oligopolies, and cartels. These are among the practices that restrain trade and commerce, deny competition, upset free-market structures, impose market domina-
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tion or perpetrate rentseeking behavior. Aguilar said this competition authority can also prevent economic domination in any of the proposed federated regions. “If we liberalize the economy, we want to make sure that no anticompetetive behavior emerges, especially Continue on page 3
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Federal State of ‘ZamBaSulTa’ pushed ‘Muslims want Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as one federal state’
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AMBO ANGA CIT Y – M uslim leaders and AMBOANGA CITY Muslim v ar ious stakeholders in M indanao ar e Mindanao are pushing for the separ ation of B asilan, S ulu separation Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-T awi fr om the A utonomous R eawi-Tawi from Autonomous Region in M uslim M indanao and instead include the Muslim Mindanao pr ovinces in Z amboanga P eninsula to for m a fedpro Zamboanga Peninsula form e rrated ated state should C ongr ess appr o v e the Congr ongress appro nment which P pr oposed feder alism go v er ernment Prresident proposed federalism gov Rodr igo D uter te is str ongly adv ocating. uterte strongly advocating. odrigo Duter The three neighbor- City, Zamboanga del i n g p r ov i n c e s w e re Su r a n d Z a m b o a n g a o r i g i n a l l y p a r t o f Re - d e l No r t e, a n d n ow g i o n 9 i n We s t e r n t h e addition of Mindanao which com- Zamboanga Sibugay. Continue on page 2 prised of Zamboanga
A Muslim woman shows a manifesto from a huge group in Tawi-Tawi province in southern Philippines expressing its strong support to the Bangsa Sug Consensus held in Zamboanga City on May 9, 2018. Also in the photo (right) is former Sulu Governor Dr. Sakur ‘Datu ShahBandar’ Tan speaking during the event. Muslim leaders and various stakeholders in Mindanao are pushing for the separation of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and instead include the provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula to form a federated state should Congress approve the proposed federalism government which President Rodrigo Duterte is strongly advocating. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
'Dapitan and Dipolog Cities: Gateways to Mindanao from Negros Island' IT WAS a pleasant personal discovery for me when I learned that Dapitan and Dipolog cities in Zamboanga Del Norte province in Mindanao can be reached via Ceres Liner in about 10-hour ride. My friends and I did not catch the lone Ceres trip going that route and we decided to get to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province
ARMM
and catch any trip from there. To our surprise, there are lots of Ro-ro boats operating and though we initially banked on Fastcat, it was full already, so we lined up and eventually rode the Montenegro Lines. We slept our way through the 3-hour sail and we were in Mindanao already. Amazing. From the port, we rode our first public tricycle which can seat two sets of
two passengers inside facing each other and is funnily designed like the head of a sailboat which has higher front seat and lower on the other side. And so, we started our Day One after we had lunch at the famous Sunday eat-allyou-can in Kalan-an ni Manay with lechon and seafood fare in Dapitan City. Rizal in D apitan Dapitan After checking in to a
Eastern Mindanao
prettily adorned travel inn in a quiet street of Maria Clara Street, Dapitan City the three of us, Lily, Ivy and Marga - short for Margarita, headed to where our national hero was exiled. Rizal's house in the late 1890s which still has the two surviving original posts and standing right on the spot where it once stood is perched beside the ocean. Continue on page 7
Western Mindanao
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Federal State of ‘ZamBaSulTa’ pushed ‘Muslims want Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as one federal state’
Five influential Sulu sultans, Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram with the Grand Muftii, His Eminence Abdulbaqi Abubakar; and Sulu Governor Toto Tan and father former governor Dr. Sakur 'Datu ShahBandar' Tan during the Bangsa Sug Consensus held in Zamboanga City on May 9, 2018. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Continued fr om page 1 from In a consensus held on Thursday afternoon, stakeholders from Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao trooped here to read their manifesto as a show of strong support to the proposal for the creation of ‘Federal State of ZamBaSulTa’. Justifications Among the valid justifications for the proposed Federal State of ZamBaSulTa are Economic Viability and to ensure this is to group together Zamboanga Peninsula with Zamboanga City as the center, and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi; Historical Reality as the shared history of the area and proposed federal state is a strong argument for its unity as one federal state. This history stems from the once dominant force exerted by the Sulu Sultanate over these areas, including Southern Palawan and the islands of Sulu and South China Seas, but the consensus also maintained that this is not to say the Sultanate of Sulu will again lay claim to these areas, instead, the region is now witness to different operative local government units that wield the real power and that cannot be changed. It also cited other justification for the union such as Geographical Proximity because the provinces and Zamboanga City is contiguous to each other by land, and Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi are situated next to each other like a chain of island south of the Zamboanga Peninsula. And Demographic and Cultural Identity because of similarity in cul-
ture and peoples – Muslim and Christian relationship, education and interfaith engagements have strengthened this identity in the region. At least 5 influential Sulu sultans, Ibrahim Bahjin, Muizuddin Jainal Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin and Phugdalun Kiram who are part of the Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate, also attended the event dubbed “The Bangsa Sug Consensus – ZamBaSulTa. A People of Significance.” - and threw their all-out support for the proposal along with Muslim religious leaders led by the Grand Mufti, His Eminence Abdulbaqi Abubakar. Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde, who represented Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, read a message in front of some 1,500 people. Christian and Muslim political leaders, among them former Sulu Governor and a strong ally of Duterte, Dr. Sakur Tan - also called Datu ShahBandar – and his son, Totoh Tan, the current governor of Sulu, spoke in the event. Consensus The Tan patriarch, in a position paper he read before the huge crowd, enumerated several concerns and reaction of Muslims to the proposed Bangsamoro Bill and federalism. He said the main objections of the people of Sulu through its Sultanate to the proposed Bangsamoro law center on the provisions on Territory that would change the historical name of the Sulu Sea to “Bangsamoro Waters.” He said Sulu Sea should retain
its name. Tan said the constituents in the provinces under the ARMM (including Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao) should be given the option to vote against inclusion in the new Bangsamoro entity. “The position is anchored on the principle of democratic consultation which is an essential element of plebiscites and a basic concept in Islam, as embodied by the principle of Shura (or consultation) in the Holy Qur’an.” “The method of plebiscite and the counting of votes should be based on real democratic consultation and should not be hampered by what may be considered as the tyranny of the majority,” the elder Tan said. He said the present version of the bill provides that the establishment of the Bangsamoro and the determination of the Bangsamoro territory shall take effect upon ratification of the Basic Law by majority votes cast in plebiscite. The present bill, Tan said, takes for granted that all five constituent provinces favor inclusion in the new Bangsamoro entity. “This should never be presumed because presumption destroys the democratic essence of plebiscites. Precisely for the reason that the Bangsamoro entity is new, and is not just an amended version of the ARMM, the consent and option of the ARMM constituent provinces should be respected,” he said. Tan said when the constituent provinces voted for inclusion to the ARMM in past plebiscites, they consented to be included in the
Sulu Governor Toto Tan during the Bangsa Sug Consensus held in Zamboanga City on May 9, 2018. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
ARMM, and not in the Bangsamoro which is completely new legal entity. “Ratification therefore should be on the basis of the majority votes of each constituent province and not of the entire geographical area of the present ARMM,” he said. He said the territorial lines of federalization should not be dictated by religious dogma for this would be limiting, counterproductive and contrary to the spirit of nationhood. “The federal territorial divide is not a divide of peoples and religions; it is a realistic and practical divide of administration and governance, so that the people get the best and most viable governance that befits their needs and circumstances,” Tan said, adding, a copy of the consensus would be submitted to the House of Representatives and Senate, and the Palace. Representatives from various sectors from the academe to business groups also read their own manifesto supporting the consensus. Consultations Muslims have been urging Duterte to consult all different tribes in southern Philippines in drafting the Bangsamoro bill that will be part of the new Federal government lawmakers are proposing. There are over a dozen
Front, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014. The MILF whose influence is concentrated only in Maguindanao - now wanted to rule over the proposed new Bangsamoro homeland that would replace the Muslim autonomous region. Muslims in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and Palawan belong to the majority Tausug which is the native inhabitants of Sulu and two ethnic tribes – the Yakan and Samal – and they do not want to be ruled by the MILF, of majority of its tribe and members. They wanted a separate autonomous region with Tausug as their leader; and for the revival of the Sultanate of Sulu and give political powers to their sultans. “We do not know what the entirety of the BBL. But we want to manage our own affairs,” said one Muslim resident in Zamboanga City. Sabah Claims In May 2016, Duterte said he will press the Sultan’s claim to Sabah, now one of the states of Malaysia. The Sultanate of Sulu, up to this time, continues to lay claim to the mineral-rich Sabah which Malaysia strongly rejected, although it is paying the Sultanate of Sulu every year. Also in April the same year, for the first time in the rich history of the Sultanate of Sulu, five influential sul-
Council of the Sulu Sultanate and designated as Special Envoy. Sulu S ultanate Sultanate The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in 1457 and is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. It continues to lay claim to North Borneo, now Sabah in Malaysia after obtaining it from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of World War II. But the sultanate said it had merely leased North Borneo in 1878 to the British North Borneo Company for an annual payment of 5,000 Malayan dollars then, which was increased to 5,300 Malayan dollars in 1903. North Borneo was annexed by Malaysia in 1963 after a referendum organized by the Cobbold Commission in 1962 saw the people of Sabah voting overwhelmingly to join Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur continues paying the Sulu Sultanate some 5,300 ringgits a year on the basis of the Sulu royals’ ceding the Borneo state. Malaysia In February 2013, the
Former Sulu governor Dr. Sakur 'Datu ShahBandar' Tan speaks to a huge crwod during the Bangsa Sug Consensus held in Zamboanga City on May 9, 2018. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Muslim tribes in the region, mostly in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao and also in Palawan. An estimated 11 million Muslims or approximately 11 percent of the Philippine population, but their leaders are not well represented in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission or BTC the government has put up to draft the BBL. Majority of the Muslims do not even know the provisions in the BBL and previous consultations in the time of the Aquino administrations were mostly staged with Muslim leaders saying they were not consulted. And to make matter worse, Christian lawmakers continue to challenge the provisions in the draft law by saying they are unconstitutional. ate R egion Separ eparate Region Even provincial governors of the Muslim provinces were not part of the BTC which was chaired by Mohagher Iqbal, the vice chairman of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation
tans signed a covenant in an unprecedented move aimed at consolidating and strengthening their unity. The signing ceremony held in Zamboanga City brought together all the Sulu sultans and was attended by hundreds of supporters and members of the different Royal Houses of the Sultanate of Sulu, and religious leaders and representatives of various sectors not only in the province, but in the autonomous region as well. The elder Tan, a key figure in the unification of the sultans, commissioned many respected Muslim scholars and educators from the University of the Philippines to help in crafting the unity covenant. The sultans also thanked the Tan for his efforts in unifying the Royal Houses of the Sultanate of Sulu. Tan, a philanthropist, is strongly advocating the revival of Sultanate of Sulu and promoting the rich and colorful tradition and culture of the Tausug people. And in November 2016, Tan was conferred as Datu ShahBandar by the Royal
ailing Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, sent about 200 followers headed by his brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram to Sabah to assert their claim to and supposed historical rights over the oil-rich state. Jamalul’s group rejected Malaysian demand for them to surrender peacefully and fighting erupted in Lahad Datu town where more than 60 of the sultan’s men were killed and over 300 Filipinos arrested on suspicion that they were aiding the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin. Malaysia also put Jamalul and his brother on its wanted list and branded them as terrorists for intruding into Sabah and killing and decapitating 10 policemen and soldiers in separate clashes on the island. Agbimuddin managed to escape the Malaysian assault in Sabah, while Sultan Jamalul died in October the same year from a lingering illness at age 75. Agbimuddin died from cardiac arrest in 2015 in Tawi-Tawi province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Independent federal competition authority eyed in new Constitution C ontinued fr om page 1 from when we create federated regions and they will have their own economic powers. They cannot be allowed to have their own monopoly,” Aguilar said. This competition authority, he said, will have powers to intervene in the regions and prevent the capture of a region by one or two business groups, as well as anticompetitive behavior and practices. Under the proposed federal gover nment, Aguilar said that federated regions are given economic powers and will become strong drivers of economic development. However, big business may go down to the regions and dominate from there. “One business group could go down the region and say…we will dominate there…and that cannot be allowed. ( The federated regions) won't have power to enact anything that would be anti-competitive; they don’t have the power to create their own competition authority, they cannot create their own rules on how to regulate monopoly, they should follow the federal (competition authority),” Aguilar said. “It’s to make sure that the consumers enjoy an economic market where there is no abuse of market power and they don’t end up buying one piece of good that’s higher than their counterpart in Ma-
laysia or Thailand because the guy who’s making it has monopoly,” he added. According to Aguilar, this competition authority will also send out a message to investors that the future being envisioned is “an economy that takes great effort to ensure that there is always free market competition.” At present, there is only one section under Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony in the 1987 Constitution on monopolies and competition. The section reads: “The State shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires. No combination in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed.” Aguilar pointed out that there already is the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) created by law. However, there is a need to clothe it with powers under a federal set up. By giving competition authority the federal powers, it will strengthen provisions against monopolies and unfair and/ or inefficient market structures as a prerequisite to economic liberalization. I ndependent Aside from having federal powers, the competition authority, will also be “clothed with independence” to insulate it from political pressure and influence. Right now,
the PCC is under the executive branch of government, ConCom Senior Technical Assistant and spokesman Ding Generoso said. “What is the Concom looking at when it says that there should be a constitutional body that will enforce policies on competition? It simply means that that agency of government will have to be in the nature of being independent of the other branches of gover nment,” Generoso said. He explained that this proposed competition authority will be in the same mold as the other constitutional bodies -the Commission on Audit (COA), Commission on Elections, Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Office of the Ombudsman, but not necessarily the same powers. "These constitutional bodies are independent of the other three branches of government, meaning the three branches do not interfere directly in their operations,” Generoso said. Aguilar said the ComCom will use the current structure of the PCC as a guide in determining the structure and powers of the federal competition authority. The subcommittee on constitutional bodies will be determining whether it would be a full constitutional body like the others or slightly different. “You know, we have constitutional bodies
now with fiscal autonomy. You cannot remove the officers there except by impeachment and security of tenure. What we have envisioned is definitely to ensure independence and security of tenure within a fixed term similar to our bodies
right now,” he said. “The institutional design will be studied and deliberated on in the subcommitee on constitutional bodies. But what is clear is that we want to clothe it with clearer and more powers, including powers in the federated
regions.” Aguilar, meanwhile, said the PCC has already submitted its position paper and proposals on how the provision can be enhanced and what will be the Commission’s role under a federal set-up. (Azer Parrocha)
Gov’t agencies have 15 days to answer public requests
PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte has given all government agencies in frontline services only 15 days to respond to all public requests and concerns. This after Duterte signed Memorandum Circular No. 44 which directs all government agencies and instrumentalities, inc l u d i n g government-owned or controlled corporations, to respond to all public requests and concerns within that period of time. The circular, which was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, takes effect immediately.
“All government agencies and instrumentalities, including governmentowned or controlled corporations performing frontline services as defined in RA No. 9485 are hereby directed to respond to all public requests and concerns within 15 days from receipt thereof, unless a shorter period is provided under applicable laws and issuances,” the memorandum circular read. Under RA No. 9485, frontline services are defined as the process or transaction between clients and government offices or agencies involving applica-
tion for any privilege, right, permit, reward, license, concession, or for any modification, renewal or extension of the enumerated applications and, or requests which are acted upon in the ordinary course of business of the agency or office concerned. Duterte has repeatedly vowed to streamline processes in government agencies by reducing the requirements and the processing time of all applications. He said this is part of his administration’s efforts cut long processing periods and red tape in all government agencies. (Azer Parrocha)
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'Ang Corporate Social Responsibility ni Bong Go' ni Jun Ledesma Continued fr om page 1 from when we create federated regions and they will have their own economic powers. They cannot be allowed to have their own monopoly,” Aguilar said. Mas dako og pleksibilidad ug kagawasan ang mga pribadong korporasyon sa pag-implementar sa ilang mga programa sa CSR tungod kay dili sila ilawom sa paghiling sa awdit sa gobyerno ug kinahanglan lang mosubay lang sila sa mga guideline o gabayan nga gilatid mismo sa kompaniya. Ang Anvil Awards sa Public Relations Society of the Philippines nagahatag ug pag-ila, premyo, publisidad ug kadungganan sa mga kompaniya nga pribado o giangkon sa gobyerno nga dunay mga proyekto nga mopausbaw sa kinabuhi ug panginabuhi sa mga komunidad nga benepisyaryo. Sa pagkatinuod, ang pagimplementar og CSR dili sayon nga mora lang ka og nagsuroysuroy og parke. Mao na nga gibati ko og tumang kaluoy kang Sek. Christopher "Bong" Go tungod kay akong naobserbahan karong bag-o nga kinahanglan mohimo siya og wala maandi nga mga trabaho nga angay nga naa sa
ilawom sa CSR sa gobyerno pwera pa sa realidad nga kini dinagko gyud kaayo. Si Bong Go ang bangko sa mga impormasyon sa iyang boss, Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte, ug sa samang panahon nagdumala sa Presidential Management Staff. Isip boss sa PMS, siya ang nagaatiman sa mga reklamo, mga pangutana sa pagpakisayod ug mga hangyo og tabang gikan sa katawhan. Isip PMS maingon nako nga susama siya og opisyal sa trapiko nga nagatultol ug nagadumala sa rota sa komunikasyon gikan sa katawhan ngadto sa haum nga mga ahensya sa gobyerno alang sa angay ug hinanali nga aksyon. Ang iyang opisina ang unang lakang aron maputol ang red tape o mga paglangaylangay sa opisina sa gobyerno. Tungod niini, wa gyuy puangod ang mga kapareha ni Pia Ranada sa Rappler nga mopasumbingay nga dunay iregularidad o iligal nga gihimo ni Sekretaryo Bong, ang Special Assistant to the President, sa iyang pagendorso pinaagi sa mubo nga nota sa daplin sa mga dokumento bahin sa isyu sa kontrata sa prigata ngadto sa hingtungdang ahensya nga mao ang Department of Na-
tional Defense para sa angay nga aksyon. Tungod sa kadaghan ug kadako sa trabaho sa iyang boss, si Bong, nga maoy iyang gustong tawag, karon ang nagarepresentar sa Presidente sa mga biyahe nga wala maeskedyul tungod sa mga katalagman nga nahitabo, kamatayon ug uban pang mga emergency. Daladala niya ang personal nga mensahe sa Presidente ug angay nga hinabang. Idugang pa dinhi sa maong trabaho ang nagakadaghan nga mga apila para sa hinabang nga gipadangat sa mga lungsoranon pinaagi sa mga programa sa radyo. Si Cesar Chavez sa DZRH pananglitan hapit na malumos sa mga hangyo gikan sa iyang mga suki nga tigpaminaw nga ipadangat ang ilang mga mulo, hangyo ug mga kabalaka ngadto kang Sekretaryo Bong. Maayo gani kay si Bong sulod sa mga katuigan nga nagserbisyo kauban ang iyang boss nakaadjust na sa iyang kinabuhi ug himsog ug lagsik tungod sa iyang pagkahinula og basketbol. Ang Presidente, bisan Mayor pa lang siya sa Davao City, mosuroysuroy sa siyudad samtang ang tanan
'Dapitan and Dipolog Cities: Gateways to Mindanao from Negros Island' Continued fr om page 1 from It was almost an urban legend in the place that Rizal's sweetheart Josephine Bracken had a miscarriage and the fetus was buried under the entry stairs. Of course, there was no physical evidence on that story. Spread in the verdant property are Rizal's replica clinic and school, the irrigation, and the lover's rock where Rizal used to have his creative rest or afternoon nap, and said to have married Josephine Bracken there without any religious rituals. Incidentally, the rock is a heart shape too. (Btw, I saw a marriage contract signed by Rizal and Bracken before his fateful death on 30 December 1898 at a Rizal Museum in Intramuros which was duly authenticated by NCCA). The Rizal Museum inside the compound is impressively constructed but I was disappointed that all there is inside it were only replicas. The wooden patient chair which came from Rizal's clinic in Hongkong is the only original in the house. (Before going to Dapitan, I recommend that one reviews the Albert Martinez and Amanda Page movie on Rizal because the setting of the movie is actually in the shrine). Generally, my consolation in the afternoon's visit to the museum was having seen the handwriting of Rizal when he was making hurried cursive drafts and his exquisite handwriting in his final letters. By the way, I cannot help but mention that the Guinnesscertified smallest man alive since 2011 can be found in Dapitan City and we saw him. You may drop by the old house where he, riding in a toddler's bike, and his father can be found. Wher e We Went IIn nD apitan Where Dapitan City Dakak Park and Beach Resort has a very huge exclusive property wherein one
needs to avail of the free shuttle in order to roam around. The beach has white sand but the shoreline is not that long as the famous Boracay. It offers a lot of water sports and there is a small swimmer's area which I did not get to enjoy much because it was already low tide when we decided to check on the waters. We were ferried to the Villa Angelina Luxury Suites where we enjoyed the view of the oceans and the short shoreline of the Nude Beach from atop the hills. Lily had her Island Punch; Ivy had her Pina Colada while Marga had her Margarita there. Selinog Island which has refreshing waters and white sand and a very long and rough 3hour ride through a fishing boat, but when we went back, the sea was calm so it took us 2.5 hours only and in time to enjoy the sunset at Dapitan Sunset Boulevard. We tried some food fare at Gloria De Dapitan which is situated beside the Gloria Fantasyland which we opted not to go in. We were told that Dapitan has a cinema and residents of the neighboring 30-minute away Dipolog City go there to watch a movie. There are lots of eats along the boulevard too. Generally, Dapitan City is charming in its quietness yet historically rich celebration of Rizal's fruitful exile. The St. James Church has the Mindanao relief map in front of it.We revel in the tall cherry blossoms in white and pink petal hues which are growing around the park. We also enjoyed the old structures used as government offices which are lined in the periphery of the streets. Wher e We Went IIn nD ipolog Where Dipolog City We had a good laugh when we first saw that each tricycle in the city has a notice on its back: DAY OFF ON THURSDAY. The day-off was on different date for every trike. Phil Adams, a local who played host to us and whose name is reminiscent of
my fave musicians Phil Collins and Bryan Adams, explained that it was like a color-code traffic scheme where the trike cannot go out the streets on its day-off. Basically, Dipolog is the capital city of Zamboanga del Norte and it is where the airport is located. There are luxury hotels and restos there. The eats and modern-designed restos are found in Dipolog City. Newly-wed Phil and Rina's top picks for themed cafe and resto are: Eskina, where pasta and steak are best and the owner is quite a local legend because everything started as a turo-turo in an eskina of Dipolog; Cathy's and Cafe Isabel's which are sister-restos are where hot choco and tapa are best; Tapas and Beer is where Filipino food fare can be enjoyed; and Melting Pot where ribs and salads can be enjoyed. The three of us enjoyed Melting Pot because of its vintage-themed decors and great food, and they serve teas and herbal infusions. We also enjoyed the bookthemed dessert house called Cafe Life where among others; Alice-in-wonderland and The Little Prince come alive in the walls and ceilings. We tried the Cogon Eco-Tour in Dipolog City which can be pretty inspiring for hikers and bikers. We omitted the 3,000 steps because we don't want to literally break our legs. Dipolog City is urbanized compared to Dapitan City but it has a sunset boulevard which we enjoyed very much. The trip taken by the three flowers, Lily, Ivy and Margarita early this May was one happy tanning summer indeed. (Gerlie M. Uy. The author is a travel and idea blogger at www.footandfire.blogspot.com and an avid fan of the sun, the sand and the seas.)
nahinanok na sa ilang pagkatulog. Bisan og si Bong dili nagasakay og motorsiklo sama sa iyang amo, duol ra siya kaayo. Sa panahon sa kalamidad si Bong ang usa sa mga unang moresponde. Usa ka beses kaniadto sa dihang dunay usa ka kalit ug wa damha nga baha nga ninglamon sa usa ka subdivision nga duol sa akong gipuy-an ug ang tubig ningabot na sa mga atop sa kabalayan, nakit-an si Bong nga ningsalbar sa mga tawo nga didto na lang nagatungko sa ilang mga atop tungod sa kalawom sa tubig. Iya ni silang gipasakay sa iyang jet-ski ug gidala sa lugar nga luwas. Lakbitan nato og balik si Pia Ranada. Isip bag-ong reporter sa Rappler nga ang assignment mao ang
kampanya ni Duterte sa una niining pag-asdang sa bugnong lugaynon pagka Pangulo sa nasud, nahulog siya sa usa ka lawom nga kanal sa dihang ang dakong duot sa katawhan nga gustong motan-aw sa Mayor nga kandidato pagka Presidente nawad-an og disiplina ug ningtulod kaniya ngadto sa ngilit sa kanal. Si Bong ug ang iyang boss ningputol sa maong yugto sa kampanya aron dad-on si Pia sa ospital. Wa siya biyai ni Bong ug ni Mayor Duterte hangtud nga ang mga doktor ningpasalig sa ilaha nga okay na ang kahimtang ni Pia. Sa pagkakaron, nakatutok si Pia sa trabahong pagpangita og sayop sa Presidente ug ni Bong ug di pa lang gyud dugay nga
ningbuhi siya og pahayag nga hadlok daw si Duterte kaniya kay kamatuoran man lang gud daw ang iyang ginabatbat. Kun atong subayon, ang iyang "kamatuoran" naggikan sa namakak nga mga testigo nga sila si Edgar Matobato ug Arthur Lascanas. Si Bong nabahinan sab sa pagkamadalidalion, pagkamahinaykon ug pagkamaoy ni Pia. Human niya atubanga ang Senado ug gitubag ang tanang tinumotumo nga mga pasangil ug gilimpyohan ang iyang pangalan, ang special assistant to the President ningbalik dayon sa iyang trabaho nga pwerteng bugata ug mora og tinibo nga dinagko kaayo nga corporate social responsibility.
DepEd screens applicant teachers for ARMM
COTABATO CITY – The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said applicants for the remaining Teacher 1 positions are currently being screened to fill up vacancy in the ARMM. DepEd-ARMM Assistant Secretary Sittie Mariam Balahim said there are three phases that applicants should undergo - examination, interview, and demonstration teaching. While teaching eligibility is the baseline qualification, she said they would seek out the best to fill the limited number of teaching positions. “Kung sino po yung pinakamagaling, 'yun po ang mabibigyan ng item,” Balahim said. Among the aspiring teachers is Meriam Abdullah, a walk-in applicant from Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province. Abdullah said she is hoping to get hired. “Malaking tulong po sa amin ng pamilya ko kung susuwertehin akong mabigyan ng item,” she said. DepEd-ARMM Secretary Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. said they are also set to fill a total of 2,458 available vacancies for school year 2018-2019, which includes teaching positions in the elementary and junior high school level, pending the issuance of the Notice of Organization, Staffing and
Compensation Action from the DepEd-Central Office. Mitmug said they are addressing various concerns on the teachers’ status should the Bangsamoro Basic Law be passed soon by Congress. He said that DepEd-ARMM has already started preparing for the transition by updating their records of teachers and the inventory of equipment. He also echoed information that has been provided by legislators during peace forums, saying that DepEd-ARMM teachers who hold appointive positions will not be removed upon the dissolution of the region. However, they could avail different options during the four-year transition period which include reapplication for a teaching position, filing for terminal leave, or any other option that may be provided for by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. In terms of furthering education reform in the region, Mitmug said he is pushing for school-based management which is a strategy that better empowers the DepEd-ARMM, along with schools across the region, in terms of planning and decision-making on education policies. In addition, he said there are plans to draft and distribute worksheets custom-made by the DepEd-ARMM for first graders in the region. This aims to
enhance their learning abilities based on the 3Rs (read, write, and recognize) while also focusing on basic subjects. Mitmug said these worksheets will be a great help, especially to those pupils who live in remote areas and find it difficult to acquire books. “Ang pinaka-exciting part dito sa worksheet natin ay magiging common material siya para sa mga bata sa ARMM, para magkaroon ng common identity,” he said. “Pagtulungan po natin ito at ang importante po ay malinis ang intension natin na lahat ng ito ay para sa ating mga kabataan,” Mitmug said. Some 6,000 teachers were also deployed by the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) to serve as members of the electoral board for every precinct in the Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan polls. Mitmug said that three teachers will be assigned as members of the electoral board and each of them wiill receive P6,500 allowance. He said that the Commission on Elections and security forces assured the safety of the teachers and that DepEd-ARMM implemented the Emergency Response Network to ensure the safety of the teachers. (Bureau of Public Information)
Month-long Ramadan Fair highlight local entrepreneurs COTABATO CITY - The annual Ramadan Trade Fair has formally opened here last week and is participated by dozens of traders who put up their booths that featured local goods. The Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTIARMM) said at least 20 booths were dedicated to hosting the businesses of those who are still displaced by last year’s ISIS siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province. Their booths were subsidized by the Office of the Regional Governor, along with food and accommodation, during their stay in Cotabato City throughout the trade fair.
“We provided them grants of P30,000 for capital and P10,000 for the tools they needed to take their business here in Cotabato City for the Ramadhan fair,” said Nhorkhalila Mae B. Mambuay-Campong, Chief-of-Staff of the Office of the Regional Governor. The fair featured both food and non-food products were geared towards endorsing and renewing interest in the local goods available across the region. A number of line agencies of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional government were also featured during the fair. The Department of Agrarian Reform-ARMM
also put a booth that featured products from the region’s agrarian reform beneficiaries, while the Department of Science and Technology-ARMM booth featured products that were produced and packaged with the help of the agency. The Department of Health in ARMM offered free medical ser vices while the Department of Tourism featured local tourism sites. The trade fair featured nightly program covering a wide range of Islamic topics with different ARMM line agencies scheduled to take charge of the program every right until the end of the Ramadan on June 15. (Bureau of Public Information)
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Cebu business groups welcome Duterte ‘endo’ order CEBU CITY – The business community in Cebu has welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) banning all forms of illegal job contracting and subcontracting and said it is supporting the government’s efforts to protect the welfare and rights of the workers. “ The CCCI (Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry) supports the EO that PRRD signed yesterday (Tuesday) against illegal contractualization and ‘endo’ because it is consistent with the Labor Code passed by Congress,” CCCI president Antonio Chiu said. While it allows cer-
tain jobs to be contracted out, Chiu said the EO protects the rights of workers for just benefits and compensation as well as security of tenure. “The rule of law should always prevail so that we could continue to attract foreign investments and create more jobs,” Chiu said. The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industr y (MCCI) also welcomed the EO, saying the business community must look after the welfare of its workers. “A harmonious and progressive relationship between management and labor is a step towards business prosperity and economic growth,” said MCCI vice
president Steven Yu. “The business community welcomes this development and seeks to be a partner with government in nation building.” Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph, for his part, said the EO is a welcome development as “business needs to practice fair labor practices.” “Our practices should (also) reward high productivity. But our laws make it extremely difficult to penalize inefficient workers and this must be corrected,” Joseph added. President Duterte signed the EO imposing a complete ban on illegal contractualization during the 116th Labor Day
celebration at the IC3 Convention Center here in Cebu. However, Duterte said his EO is not enough and Congress needs to amend the Labor Code in order to implement an effective and lasting solution to the problems brought about by contractualization. The EO ending the practice of “endo” drew mixed reactions from labor and cause-oriented groups on Monday.
Jime Paglinawan, chairman of Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (Ama Sugbo-KMU) and Bayan-Central Visayas, said they welcomed Duterte’s EO as initial victory for the workers, while the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) claimed the EO was for the employers’ benefit and not for workers. Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philip-
pines (ALU-TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay also expressed disappointment, saying the EO did not actually ended “endo” but strengthened the regulation. Tanjusay’s fellow ALU-TUCP member Art Barr it, however, said President Duterte finally fulfilled his campaign promise to end contractualization and he was glad about it. (Luel Galarpe)
‘Malasakit Center’ gets funding CEBU CIT Y – Stakeholders thanked the government for its P50million support to the Malasakit Center here which President Rodrigo Duterte earlier pledged during one of his visits in Cebu. Special Assistant to the President Bong Go personally delivered and handed the funding recently to Dr. G e rardo Aquino Jr., chief of the V icente Sotto Memorial Medical Center ( VSMMC) and Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas Director Jaime Bernadas. The money is intended to help indigent patients needing financial assistance for medication, diagnostic examinations, and payment for hospital bills. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop staffed by representatives from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health In-
ARMM
surance Corp. (PhilHealth), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor). It was conceived in response to the President’s earnest desire to help the poor who are in need of medical attention, Go said, adding, the one-stop shop center is similar to the program they have in Davao City, where patients can easily process their request for financial aid either from the DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth, PCSO, or Pagcor. “The President told me to talk with (Presidential Assistant for the Visayas) Mike (Dino) and see if we can implement this program nationwide. So, I talked with Mike and told him about this program initiated by Mayor Sara (Duter te-Carpio) in Davao. Thus, Malasakit was born,” Go said. Dino, who also
graced the turnover, said the Malasakit Center in Cebu is the pilot area for the program in the Visayas and he hopes the program will be replicated around the country. “For the time being, we have this one-stop desk at the VSMMC, and we have catered to the needs of 10,944 indigent patients and have shelled out about PHP55 million in financial assistance, so far. If this program becomes successful, hopefully, we can replicate this around the country,” Dino said. Go assured Dino the government will replenish the PHP50 million immediately once it has all been spent. Also present at the turnover were Foreign Affairs Secretar y Alan Peter Cayetano, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. (Luel Galarpe)
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