MNLF declares Abus ‘persona non grata’ A SENIOR Moro National Liberation Front leader has denounced the Abu Sayyaf and declared members of the terrorist group “persona non grata” in the
town of Kalingalan Caluang in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, security officials said. Lt. Col. Eduard Olaso, commander of the Marine
Military photo shows MNLF commander Ali Julkipli during a peace covenant signing in Kalingalan Caluang town in Sulu province.
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Battalion Landing Team 7, said MNLF commander Ali Julkipli also signed a peace covenant during a recent ceremony at the 4th Marine Brigade headquarters. He said Col. Hernanie Songano presided Continue on page 3
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Duterte offers Pfizer to Senators ‘President defends Chinese Covid vaccines, gets 25 million doses’
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AVAO CITY – Following the reported deaths of at two dozen elderly people who had received the Pfizer Covid vaccine in Norway, President Duterte now asked Filipino senators, who are questioning his choice of the Chinese vaccine Sinovac, if they want to be inoculated with Pfizer. Common adverse RNA vaccines – such as – include fever, nausea, reactions to messenger the Pfizer-BioNTech shot Continue on page 2
‘Nickel Island’ devastated, satellite photo shows ‘Was this Misuari’s concern raised in his meeting with Duterte?’ A LATEST satellite photo of the southern Philippine island of Tumbagaan in Tawi-Tawi’s Languyan town shows the devastation of nickel mining activities there. The Google Maps photo accessed by the Mindanao Examiner Continue on page 3
Chinese Minister Wang Yi and President Rodrigo Duterte(PCOO)
Sulu flood victims receive cash aid SULU – Acting Governor Toto Tan recently distributed financial aid to some 200 villagers whose houses were either destroyed or damaged following Continue on page 2
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Duterte offers Pfizer to senators ‘President defends Chinese Covid vaccines, gets 25 million doses’
Senator Panfilo Lacson Continued from page 1 and diarrhoea. More than 48,000 people have been vaccinated in Norway so far. A number of countries, including Norway’s neighbours Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, have also reported post-vaccination deaths, but no direct links to the vaccine have been established, according to reports. “Ang akala siguro nitong mga — for lack of a better word, ayaw ko na lang magsalita. Akala siguro nila ‘yung kontrata sa Sinovac, ‘yung kontrata sa Pfizer… Ayan ‘yung sa Pfizer, gusto ninyong Pfizer, kayong mga senador? In Norway, 25 persons died after receiving Pfizer vaccination. Gusto ninyo? Mag-order kami para sa inyo. Iyon ang gusto ninyo paulit-ulit nandito sa article ng Inquirer,” Duterte asked. “Lahat kayo you apparently… Mas bilib kayo sa… Itong isa, Senator Risa Hontiveros issued a similar call for the government to follow up Pfizer’s EU on approval of FDA. Ngayon, kung kami ang magsalita, kung magsalita si ano siya na ‘yung nagpu-push ng Sinovac. Actually, may isa sa inyo nagsabi na ano… Ito ayaw kong ‘yung
pa-off tangent na mga tirada ninyo - eh bakit ba ito si Duterte Sinovac nang Sinovac?” he added. The Senate questioned Duterte’s choice of the Chinese vaccine which only has about 50% efficacy compared to Pfizer’s 95% and Moderna’s 94%. Duterte has publicly defended the government’s preference of Sinovac and even signed a deal with the Chinese pharmaceutical firm for 25 million doses despite its low efficacy rate against the deadly Covid respiratory disease. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez refused to say how much each dose of Sinovac vaccine cost citing confidentiality agreement. Senator Panfilo Lacson said there is still a long way to go as far as the government’s vaccination efforts are concerned, the controversy involving Sinovac should be a hard lesson on honesty and transparency for officials in the program. Lacson said that had the officials been forthright about the conditions of negotiations with Sinovac early on, there would have been no speculations or suspicions about the matter. “If they had been more
forthright and honest in their responses in our first hearing, hindi mafo-focus sa Sinovac,” he said in an interview on ANC, stressing that while Congress – the Senate and House of Representatives – are willing partners of the executive department, in return, lawmakers “need to be informed also what happened to the appropriations we gave you.” “When the Senate hearings raised more questions than answers about Sinovac, our officials were both tongue-tied and stuttering, leaving us with a string of flip-flopping pronouncements,” Lacson added. Ignore Them But Duterte continues his attack on the lawmakers for questioning his decision and told Galvez, a retired military general, to just go on with his own game plan and ignore the senate investigation. “Now, I’m telling General Galvez yun game plan niya sundin niya. With or without the investigation, proceed and implement what we planned to do kasi pinagpaguran mo yan. Never mind about the investigation kasi mas lalong matagalan tayo kung nandiyan na ‘yung bakuna magdating na,” he said,
Sulu flood victims receive cash aid Continued from page 1 heavy rains. Many areas in the capital town of Jolo were flooded. Those who received the aid are residents of Bus-Bus, Takut-Takut and Tulay. Tan, accompanied by Jolo town Vice Mayor Ezzeddin Tan and other municipal officials, distributed the aid at the Sulu Multi-Purpose Gym-
nasium in Patikul town. The aid was part of the assistance of the provincial government. Jolo Mayor Kerkhar Tan also distributed relief packs to the victims of flash floods in the villages. Weather experts said the heavy rains were caused by the Low Pressure Area and Intertrop-
ical Convergence Zone which also affected a large area in Mindanao. Flooding in Jolo has been a perennial problem during the rainy season and the Ministry of Public Works and Highways in the Muslim autonomous region has not provided solutions to the predicament of the locals. (Mindanao Examiner)
adding that Beijing pledges to donate 500,000 doses to the government. Duterte also trumpeted his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping whom he asked a favor to include the Philippines in the list of vaccine recipients. “Hoy, kung sino ka man ganito ‘yan. Long before na pumutok ito tumawag na ako kay President Xi Jinping. Tapos sabi ko wala kaming resources, we do not know how to make it. Please do not forget the Philippines. Sabi niya - but please remember that we will first vaccinate all of our citizens and they run into billions - at saka ‘yung mga allied ano nila. Mayroon sila… Hindi nga magkasya kasi ‘yung may mga province under their control. Let alone the — ‘yung Tibet, eh in-annex nila, obligado sila diyan,” he said. Duterte even taunted the lawmakers for their investigation into the vaccine funds. “So about time na you just — a little bit — i-ano
ninyo ‘yang utak sa corruption-corruption. I don’t know why you are so occupied sa mga corruption. Now, maghanap kayo hindi dito, baka sa inyo. Baka sa departamento ninyo, hindi dito sa akin,” the president said. Senate Hearing Lacson debunked insinuations that some senators had personal or political motivations in the hearings. “I haven’t heard of any senator who has expressed preference for the Pfizer vaccine or any brand for that matter. What we are doing in the Senate is an exercise of our oversight function over the appropriations laws that we passed, particularly on the purchase of the vaccines,” he said. “There is no personal or political agenda involved in our inquiry as insinuated by Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier. Most of us who participated in the public hearings of the Committee of the Whole merely want to get straightforward and honest responses from the
concerned authorities so we will be informed for our future reference in our legislative work. Instead, the resource persons were groping, inconsistent, flip-flopping and even evasive in their responses – hence our misgivings and apprehensiveness,” he added. He recalled that when the Senate conducted inquiries on the anomalies in the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Corrections and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, enough information was gathered that led to the filing of criminal and administrative cases by the Department of Justice and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission against those involved in corruption. “Isn’t that how the executive and legislative departments work as a team in fighting corruption?” he asked. Many Filipinos do want Sinovac and prefer the vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. (Mindanao Examiner)
Gov. Catamco, patuloy sa kanyang konsultasyon
Si North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco sa kanyang pulong sa mga opisyales ng bayan ng Midsayap. KIDAPAWAN CITY - Patuloy ang konsultasyon ni North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco sa ibatibang sektor at stakeholders sa lalawigan upang direktang alamin ang mga isyus at pangangailangan o problema ng kanyang mga kababayan. Kamakailan lamang ay nakipag-pulong si Catamco sa mga barangay kapitan ng bayan ng Midsayap kung saan ay direktang naipaabot ng mga opisyal sa gobernadora ang mga problema tulad ng mga sirang kalsada, mga dahilan ng pagbaha sa ibang
mga barangay at boundary conflict sa pagitan ng Northern Kabuntalan. Agad naman ipinagutos ni Catamco kay Provincial Engineer Domingo Doyongan Jr. na agad ipaayos ang mga sirang kalsada at desiltation sa mga creek upang maiwasan ang mga pagbaha lalo ngayong may palagiang pag ulan. Tiniyak ni Catamco na ginagawa niya ang lahat upang magpatuloy ang magandang serbisyo sa mga North Cotabateños sa tulong ng national government at mga ahensya
ng pamahalaan. Dumalo sa naturang Pulong ni Catamco ang 41mga barangay Kapitan. Kasama ni Catamco sa puling sina 1st District Congressman Joselito Sacdalan, Midsayap Mayor Romeo Araña, Vice Mayor Manuel Rabara, Councilors Edgar Ostique Jr, Maria Belen Sabio, Vicente Doletin, Tweety Araña, Aleosan Mayor Vicente Sorupia Sr, Pigcawayan Mayor Jean Dino Roquero at Alamada Mayor Jesus Sacdalan, SP Ex Officio Member BM Dulia Sultan. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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NPA, hinimok na sumuko MULING HINIMOK ng militar ang mga rebeldeng New People’s Army na manumbalik sa lipunan at mamuhay ng tahimik kasama ang kanilang pamilya. Sinabi ng 6th Infantry Division na tutulungan ng pamahalaang ang mga rebeldeng nais nasumuko ng mapayapa para na rin sa kanilang kaligtasan. Wala umanong puwang sa lipunan ang armadong pakikibaka at katunayan ay 6 na mga rebelde ang sumuko kamakailan lamang sa Sultan Kudarat. Sumuko ang mga ito - kabilang ang isang sup-
ply officer at isang medic – sa 37th Infantry Battalion sa bayan ng Lebak. Kinumpirma naman ito ni Col. Eduardo Gubat, commander ng 603rd Infantry Brigade, at sinabing isinuko rin ng mga rebelde ang isang M14 rifle, dalawang sub-machine guns and dalawang .357 revolver. “The surrender of said personalities was facilitated by a Barangay Tanod who happened to be a relative of one of the rebels,” ani Gubat. Ayon naman kay Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander ng Joint Task Force Central (Mindanao), na ang
pagsuko ng mga rebelde ay dahil na rin sa magandang programa ng pamahalaan sa kanila at mabibigyan sila ng pagkakataon na makabalik ng normal sa lipunan at bunsod na rin ito ng nagpapatuloy na focused military operations. “They are coming back because they trust the program of the government. They are experiencing hardship in the hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato, hence they come back to the folds of the law to live peacefully with their families,” wika pa ni Uy. (Rhoderick Beñez)
‘Nickel Island’ devastated, satellite photo shows ‘Was this Misuari’s concern raised in his meeting with Duterte?’ Continued from page 1 shows about 90% of the island had been mined. But the different shades of colors of the island - which was once covered in thick vegetation - indicate fresh mining activities. President Rodrigo Duterte, who was made aware of the mining devastation on the island, has ordered a stop to all mining operations in Tawi-Tawi. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte was very much concerned about reports that Tumbagaan Island has been completely devastated by mining activities. “The island has, at this point, been mined out. And while rehabilitation efforts are under way, the president is issuing a directive to stop any and all mining,” he said. Duterte ordered authorities to step up rehabilitation by planting trees in areas devastated by nickel mining. But surprisingly, Duterte did not order an investigation into the mining in Tawi-Tawi or who were or groups behind environmental destruction, and why it was not acted upon by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Environmentalists said nickel mining activities have destroyed the environment on Tumbagaan Island and other sites in Tawi-Tawi.
It was unknown whether Duterte’s order has anything to do with his recent meeting in Davao City with Nur Misuari, chairman of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front. During the meeting, Misuari gave Duterte documents and raised some concerns in Tawi-Tawi. Mining money was also being used to bankroll political campaigns in the Muslim autonomous region comprising the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. As early as 2016, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the previous and now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had asked the DENR to issue an order stopping all destructive mining activities in the Muslim autonomous region. In September 2019, the BARMM said it suspended all nickel mining operations in Tawi-Tawi to pave way for a review of the region’s mining policy. But details of the review were not made public. The Philippines is the world’s second-largest nickel ore producer in 2018 after Indonesia, with both Southeast Asian nations as the top two suppliers to biggest buyer China. And latest available industry data showed that 2.34 million wet metric tonnes
(wmt) of high-grade ore, or nearly 90% of 2.66-million wmt of the high-grade material the Philippines exported to China in the first half of 2018 came from Tawi-Tawi, one of 5 provinces under the BARMM. Tawi-Tawi accounted for 27% of overall nickel ore exports, totalling 15.8-million wmt, to China during the six-month period. In 2016, ARMM Assemblyman Hanibal Tulawie, then chairman of the Committee on Environment and Ecology, said that a resolution was passed asking the DENR to immediately issue a “cease-and-desist” order on all mining companies operating in Tawi-Tawi and also in Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces after he received numerous complaints from the public and environmentalists who are opposed to destructive mining methods. Photos of nickel mining operations in Tumbagaan Island posted on Facebook also showed huge trucks and barges hauling off red soil, which was allegedly being shipped to China where it is processed. There were previous reports indicating that Tumbagaan Island was totally devastated because of mining explorations and the nickel mining activities there and also in Panglima Sugala town. (Mindanao Examiner)
MNLF declares Abus ‘persona non grata’ Continued from page 1 over the ceremony attended by senior military officers and MNLF members, including municipal officials led by Mayor Nurshamier Halun. “The denouncement of MNLF against the presence
of Abu Sayyaf group in their respective camps and communities is a clear manifestation that MNLF is one with the AFP in establishing and maintaining peace and order in the municipality of Kalingalan Caluang,” Olaso said. Halun praised the mili-
tary’s peace efforts and even vowed to help authorities recover illegal weapons from the hands of civilians. Villager leaders Abdulla Suwaib Caluang and Sasad Madjuri also surrendered an old Garand rifle, a homemade shotgun and a grenade
launcher to the military in support to Halun’s campaign. Army Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11th Infantry Division in Sulu, lauded the efforts of the peace efforts of the MNLF. “The MNLF’s actions show their sincerity in building a
good relationship with the AFP and the government. They really want to return to the folds of the law and build a stable peace in the province of Sulu. The Abu Sayyaf group is running out of space and soon they will have nowhere to hide,” he said.
At least 17 Abu Sayyaf fighters, including a woman, surrendered recently to the military in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. They also yielded assorted weapons, mostly old rifles. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
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Sulu Pictures in the News
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Across : 1. Common contraction 5. Island garland 8. Charity 12. Raise 13. Have title to 14. Rocker ___ Young 15. Emphasized 17. Monopoly, e.g. 18. Traitor 19. Matured 21. Get lost! (2 wds.) 24. ___ Ripken, Jr. 25. Halloween mo. 26. Get even 31. Boutique 33. Hair holder 34. Oaf 35. Cilantro 38. Haul 39. Bullring cheer 40. Crave 42. Corrosion layer 46. Feathery scarf 47. Band instrument 48. Georgia city 52. She, in Lyon 53. Age 54. Pinnacle 55. Psychic 56. Dusk, to a poet 57. Paper quantity
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HEALTH
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Mag-ingat Sa Stroke
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a Pilipinas, pangalawa ang stroke sa 10 pangunahing sakit na nakamamatay. May 110 Pilipino ang nasasawi araw-araw dahil sa stroke. Ang mga taong may edad, may high blood pressure, diabetes, at sakit sa puso ang mas nagkakaroon ng stroke. Dalawang Klase Ng Stroke: Ang stroke ay isang sakit kung saan nagbabara ang ugat sa utak (Medical term: Ischemic Stroke). Dahil ang utak natin ang nag-ko-kontrol ng paggalaw ng ating katawan, kadalasan ay nanghihina ang kamay o paa ng isang taong na-stroke. Ang iba pang posibleng sintomas ng stroke ay ang pagkabulol, pamamanhid, pananakit ng ulo, at panlalabo ng mata. Mayroon ding pangalawang klase ng stroke kung saan nagdurugo ang utak ng pasyente dahil may pumutok
na ugat (Medical term: Hemorrhagic Stroke). Kadalasan ay mataas ang blood pressure ng ganitong pasyente. Paraan Para Makaiwas Sa Stroke: 1. Panatilihin ang blood pressure na mas mababa sa 130 over 80. Kapag ang iyong blood pressure ay 140 over 90, o mas mataas pa, ang ibig sabihin ay may altapresyon ka at kailangang magpatingin sa doktor. 2. Kung kayo ay may diabetes, panatilihin ang fasting blood sugar na mas mababa sa 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L). Ang normal na blood sugar level ay 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) o mas mababa pa. Ang diabetes ay nakasisira sa ugat ng ating utak. Gamutin ito. 3. Ipasuri ang cholesterol levels sa dugo at panatilihin ito sa 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) o mas mababa pa. Ang mataas na cholesterol ay puwedeng magdulot ng pagbabara sa utak. Bawasan ang pagkain ng mga matataba at mamantikang pagkain. 4. Huwag magpataba. Al-
amin ang tamang timbang at pilitin itong maabot. 5. Itigil ang paninigarilyo. Ang isang stick ng sigarilyo ay may 10-20 mg ng nicotine na masama sa ating ugat. 6. Limitahan o umiwas sa pag-inom ng alak. Ang taong malakas uminom ng alak ay mas mataas ang tsansang ma-stroke at ma-aksidente. 7. Huwag gumamit ng droga. Ang shabu ay isang pangunahing sanhi ng stroke sa kabataan. 8. Umiwas sa air pollution. Ayon sa pagsusuri sa Taiwan, mas marami ang nastroke kapag madumi ang hangin sa paligid. 9. Umiwas sa mainit na lugar. Ayon kay Professor Chun-Yuh Yang, kapag mainit ang panahon, maraming tao ang na-stroke. Umiwas sa araw mula 10 ng umaga hanggang 4 ng hapon. 10. Magpa-check up ng regular sa iyong doktor. Sa susunod, may dagdag pang payo para makaiwas sa stroke.
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Gov says more infra, health programs for Cebu
C
EBU - From P35.65 billion in 2018, Cebu Province’s assets have grown to P203.9 billion in 2019, marking a 471.9 percent increase. This has reinforced Cebu’s rank as the richest province in the country, according to the Commission on Audit 2019 Annual Financial Report. The huge increase is it presents an even heavier chalthe result of the re-apprais- lenge to make each and every Ceal of the Provincial Gov- buano realize that their lives are ernment’s real properties better because Cebu is the richest based on the current fair province,” she said. market value which was The province, she said, still done as soon as Governor needs to accomplish a lot in Gwendolyn Garcia returned terms of infrastructure, in bringto the Capitol in 2019. ing back the economic activity But for Garcia, being after quarantine, and in giving the richest province means hope to the Cebuanos whose nothing if this cannot be felt lives and livelihood were severeby the Cebuanos. ly affected. “Di gyud ko mang“Well, it’s a nice title but hambog ana kay wala pa ko’y that’s as far as it goes, unless the ikapanghambog,” she said. people really feel the impact of Garcia said her administrabeing the richest province in tion is doing its best to implethe country. So, para nako, I will ment various infrastructure projnot bask in that glory because ects, such as road improvements
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
and concreting and waterworks system. And has also focused on the delivery of health and social services, and food security programs, among others. Of the P203.9 billion total assets of the provincial government, P196.2 billion comes from real properties. These include two Cyberzone towers located in Cebu City. These towers are being rented out to different business process outsourcing companies. The stricter implementation of the Revenue Code and stringent monitoring of sand and gravel quarry operations also added to the increase in assets. And despite 10 months of being under quarantine, road projects all over the province continued and a total of 65.2 kms of provincial roads and 154 kms of barangay roads have already been
‘Sugbo Negosyo’ to continue if program succeeds
CEBU - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has committed to allocate funds and implement another round of the Sugbo Negosyo or the “Sustainable Upliftment and Growth through Business Opportunities” if the first round of the provincial government’s micro-business assistance program succeeds. Sugbo Negosyo aims to rejuvenate enterprises affected by the Covid pandemic. “I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will succeed, that this will really generate economic activities sa atong Probinsya because we will be observing this (in the) first and second quarters. If, in fact, makita nato nga maayo
ARMM
gyud ang dagan, masugdan dayon nato ang Part 2 aron mapun-an ang atong beneficiaries,” Garcia said. Digital coupons were distributed to the 8,253 recipients of the province’s seven districts. The coupons were contained in a “Negosyo Kit” along with a list of supplies needed for the business, digital card instruction, and list of accredited suppliers. Rev Minimart, a supplier in Dumanjug town, earned a total of P870,000 from the beneficiaries’ purchases in three days. The earnings were posted in WePay, a real-time reporting system on digital card transactions. “Dili ni siya dako nga department store ha? Pero na-
ka-generate siya og P800,000 sales in three days lang, meaning maka-benefit sad gyud ang atong mga local nga tindahan,” Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Chief Marivic Garces said. The WePay live portal admin dashboard reported over P9 million in transactions handled for the 79 partner-merchants, which rendered a wallet balance of some P88.9 million. “We’re doing this kay we’re working on a system nga kining atong mga supplier mabayran dayon. Paghatag nila sa billing ma-confirm dayon na diri sad sa ato nga data. I already met with Accounting, Treasury ug Budget nga i-facilitate gyud nga upon submission in two to
Eastern Mindanao
three days at most mabayran na sila,” Garcia said. The governor called on the mayors to assist their constituents who are chosen beneficiaries of the program. “Atong tabangan ang napili nga beneficiaries, constantly reminding them to see to it nga tinud-anay nga negosyo ang ilang pagabuhaton. Mahimo sad ni nga contest sa mga Provincial Board member ug sa Office sa Vice Governor kon hain nga negosyo ang makita gyud nga milambo. We will be drawing up a criteria para sa pagpili sa pinaka-maayo nga negosyo,” Garcia said. She also called on more merchants to partner with the Province. “Tuod duna ta’y beneficiaries pero nakatabang sad ta sa atong partners kay parehas sa Rev MiniMart, asa ka kakita’g
P800,000 in three days? So, by doing this we are helping our beneficiaries, we are also helping our merchants,” Garcia said. Sugbo Negosyo is in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 for technical assistance and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) for business coaching to ensure entrepreneurial competencies. The program, which provides cashless assistance, has a total allocation of P100 million with P15 million coursed through the Office of the Vice Governor and P5 million each for the 17 PB members. Recipients use a digital coupon to purchase materials and equipment from accredited merchants or partner-suppliers. (Eleanor Valeros)
completed and are on-going. Garcia said she aims to have 80-90 percent of the over 800 kilometers of barangay road networks to be concreted, adding better road access for Cebuanos is one of her priorities. “Kay nasayod man ta ang dan gyud mao’y labing importante aron mabuhi ang ekonomiya diha. Dili mulambo ang negosyo kon labihang gubaa ang dan ug naglubaklubak,” she said. Of the P15 billion budget for 2021, P8 billion goes to infrastructure projects. This covers road improvements and concreting, waterworks system, and others. Aside from roads, Garcia also aims to develop Level 3 waterworks system in the province and now has an on-going water development project in Carmen, Argao, Moalboal, Badian, Pinamungajan, and Pilar towns and more will be developed in other areas. “Kahibawo ko ang naminaw ron nga mga Sugbuanon nga kadtong uhaw gyud kaayo og tubig moingon, ‘Gov, ang amo sad tawon diri.’ Trust me kabasa ko ana pero taga-i lang ko og gamay nga panahon kay di man ko superwoman bisan pa og unsa’y itawag ninyo nako. Ug worst, di pud superman, superwoman ang atong contractors,” she said, emphasizing that there is also a process in the implementation of projects that need to be followed. “So, we are working as fast as we can within the framework and structures of existing government rules and regulations. Our target really is, dili man tingali makumpleto nato ang tanan apan masulbad nato to a greater degree ang problema sa mga tawo sa tubig,” she said. (Mylen Manto)
BFAR warns fishing operators CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) warned illegal fishing operators and said it will seize their vessels inside municipal waters. Dr. Allan Poquita, BFAR-7 regional director, said the fishery agency said the Fishery Resource Protection Group (FRPG) will continue to work with
Western Mindanao
the Maritime Police in apprehending commercial fishing vessels operating in municipal waters. He said just recently authorities apprehended a commercial fishing boat operator and his eight crew members from Victorias City in Negros Occidental province after they were caught encroaching the municipal waters off
Cebu
Madridejos town in Bantayan Island, north of Cebu. Fisheries Management, Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED) head Josefina Flores said violators will have to face the consequences of their actions if they continue to violate the fishery laws. (John Rey Saavedra)
Manila