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BARMM continues to lobby 3-year extension ‘Sulu stands firm, calls for elections’
President Rodrigo Duterte, Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, Governor Sakur Tan, and MNLF Chieftain Nur Misuari.
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HIEF MINISTER Murad Ebrahim continues to lobby for the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government for another 3 years despite strong opposition from various sectors in Sulu province, including the influential and well-respected Governor Sakur Tan and municipal mayors. Ebrahim, also chief- tain of the former rebel Continue on page 2
Number of Covid cases rising, Duterte resorts to prayer
Coast Guard, Maimbung town hold medical mission SULU – Maimbung Mayor Shihla Hayudini praised members of the Philippine Coast Guard who recently conducted a medical mission that benefitted many villages in the town. Hayudini welcomed the Coast Guard personnel led by Admiral George Continue on page 3
Joint medical mission in Maimbung town in Sulu province. (Maimbung LGU)
President Rodrigo Duterte kneels in prayer during a Catholic wedding ceremony on January 8, 2021. (Photo by Albert Alcain) DAVAO CITY – The Philippines continues to register high number of Covid-19 cases as the government
struggles to control the spread of the deadly respiratory disease and putting in question and even
doubts the country’s vaccination program. Ten months had Continue on page 2
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 1-7, 2021
BARMM continues to lobby 3-year extension ‘Sulu stands firm, calls for elections’
Continued from page 1 group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is pushing for the extension of the interim government based on the recommendation of the peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) following its so-called “rapid midterm review” on the Bangsamoro transition period. The extension of the interim government would also extend Ebrahim’s term and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and those holding key positions in the regional government. Ebrahim has met several times with President Rodrigo Duterte to lobby the proposed extension even without public consultations, not even a meeting with the governors and mayors of the volatile Muslim region. Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman also wanted to review the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), but this too was quickly rejected by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sulu has cited various reasons for rejecting the proposed extension, according to a manifesto passed November 17 by the Provincial Board after consulting with municipal mayors and peoples’ organizations, among other sectors. The manifesto said the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Regional Government have not delivered even the most basic of government services, as mandated, to Sulu. And for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families. It said that after almost 2 years, “all they can afford to banner is but the passing of an Administrative Code while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, was left to fend for themselves.” The manifesto also said BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and
wanting, almost negligible; And to allow the extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter vis-avis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s constitutional right of suffrage to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possible legal redress maybe sough. It further said “that the region and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand of a failed experiment.” “The question should be asked to those who are in the seat of authority in the BARMM on why are they so hesitant to submit themselves to an election when even before the transition they have repeatedly boasted of their readiness and preparedness to rule
and govern; and how could they have the moral ascendancy to sit as an authority over a region when they are devoid of a mandate by the true will of the people, thereby casting doubts on their platform of so-called “Moral Governance?”, the manifesto reads. It also called on the Office of the President, House of Representatives and the Senate, and Constitutional Commissions and other concerned groupings and individuals and the BARMM general populace to disallow and deny all attempts and maneuverers to extend the tenure of the BTA. It said that aspiring members of the Bangsamoro Parliament should be compelled to submit themselves before the true will of the people to legitimize their mandate through the electoral process as set and scheduled by the Constitution.
Ebrahim said he fears that he may not win should the elections push through and that is why there is a need to extend the term of the interim government. “We are very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami. And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mag-eleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said in a podcast interview on November 13 with journalist Christian Esguerra on Press One. He said new transition schedule might not be enough to complete systemic and structural changes in the region, including the crucial decommissioning of combatants under the peace deal’s normalization process. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na mer-
on. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (in 2022 elections). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” he told Esguerra. Esguerra’s report said BARMM was allocated a much bigger budget compared with the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its block grant is worth P65.3 billion in this year’s appropriations law, on top of a P10-billion special development fund it was supposed to receive. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari remains silent on the issue of the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro. He has not issued a statement on the proposal and Muslims are waiting for his stand on the issue. (Mindanao Examiner)
Number of Covid cases rising, Duterte resorts to prayer Continued from page 1 passed since the Wuhan virus spread to the Philippines and crippled its economy, the Duterte administration have so far failed to acquire Covid vaccines for its populations as the country’s debts are now over P10 trillion, mostly from loans to purchase the needed vaccines, especially those from China. Duterte has confirmed the rising Covid infections in the country which now has over 516,000 confirmed cases and more than 10,000 deaths since March last year. And the new strain of Covid-19 is not only threatening the country, it has frightened medical experts who fear the worst is yet to come. “You know, we continue to rise sa transmission sa Covid. We are still trying to figure out itong mga scientists, itong mga statisticians, and those who have knowledge of how it is done kung saan ito. It could be a late reaction doon sa mga congregation ng mga tao (during Yuletide season) or it could also be the present situation where a lot of people are around, out of their residences, most of the Filipinos doing their work or employment for their livelihood,” Duterte asked. “Hindi ko kasi mapigil na and I do not think any country
can really do that na kulungin ko kayo lahat. Unless of course it becomes a plague itong mga sometimes they call it itong mga contagion as a plague. When people are dying on the streets then maybe I could use the draconian measures of telling everybody to stay put inside their houses. Ang problema is how to sustain ‘yung mga wala — ‘yung isang tuka, isang kahig; isang kahig, isang tuka,” he said. Duterte – who previously cursed God and other saints - said he and other government officials are now praying that this pandemic would soon be over. “So it behooves now on government to really answer for their daily needs. And I think that we will be able to surmount kung kain lang but it would also, at the same time, kill the economy because nobody’s working. Again, we’d go back to the non-productivity of the economy. Walang nagta-trabaho, walang output, walang nagba-bayad, walang nagbe-benta, at lahat na.” “So we continue to pray. Kami dito kasi it’s still rising, umaabot na ng more than 500,000 ang tinamaan. I hope it would not reach millions because then we would be in serious trouble. We would be no better than the other countries
whose rise is really exponential,” he said. Duterte said the public should strictly follow the health protocols by washing hands frequently with soap and water, and use face mask. Ironically, Duterte himself does not wear face mask during his virtual presser. “Ang problema nito is how you maybe obey the protocols of maghugas then mask. Ang mask makakatulong ‘yan. It does not provide actually 100 percent. Hindi kami nagsasabi nag-mask, hindi ka tatamaan. Pero you’ll reduce it by about — ako tingin ko, in my own estimate, layman lang ako sa mga bagay na ito kasi hindi ako doktor, I’m not a medical person — it will give you something like 80 percent ano basta worn properly. Kasi ‘yung iba nagma-mask tapos nakikita ko ‘yung ilong ninyo sumasabit doon just on the edge of the mask, the upper portion. So it does not really give a relief at all kung ganoon ang — ka-careless ang tao na gumagamit,” he further explained. Much of the country is still under Moderate General Community Quarantine, but Duterte’s hometown Davao City has one of the highest Covid infections in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 1-7, 2021
DILG extends road clearing campaign Tetuan villagers in Zamboanga City are surprised after discovering these culvert pipes covered in soil under the road. The concrete pipes served no purpose as there is no flood drainage in the area. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Saksakin ninyo! DAVAO CITY – Hinimok ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang mga Pilipino na saksakin ang mga taong gumagamit ng kanyang pangalan o mga miyembro ng kanyang Gabinete at opisyal ng pamahalaan at nagsabing huwag magbibigay ng anumang suhol. “Kung malaman namin, madisgrasya ka pa. Iyong may mga tao na nag-iikot na sabi nila lalakarin nila, alam mo ang gawain ninyo kung nagbigay na kayo ng pera, purnada talaga kayo kay hindi naman totoo ‘yan. Saksakin na lang ninyo. Saksakin na lang ninyo,” ani Duterte sa pagtuturo kung paano ang gagawin. Huwag rin umanong gumamit ng baril at makakatawag ito ng pansin dahil sa maingay ang putok ng bala kumpara sa patalim. “Huwag mong barilin kasi maingay. Madali kang mahuli. Saksakin na lang ninyo. Wala ‘yan. Ito ‘yung mga parasites, mga linta, and they thrive on the gull-
ible iyong pati ‘yung naive na lolokohin mo ‘yung kapwa mo tao. Kasi kung alam mo kung straight ka, ang contract mo maganda, kumpleto, walang kulang, you do not have to convince anybody that it is really good because it is really good. Then ba’t — ba’t kayo pumasok…? Maniwala itong mga tao na ito,” paliwanag pa ni Duterte. Huwag rin umanong maniniwala sa mga litrato na nagpapakita sa mga opisyal kasama ang mga ibang tao at hindi umano ito patunay na malapit sila sa isat-isa. “Itong putang inang itong corruption — at I am speaking in behalf of sa amin lahat dito — ‘yung gamitan ng pangalan,” sambit pa nito. “Alam mo kami politiko, lalo na noong election, kung sinong lumapit sa amin magpa-photo, o ‘di pinagbigyan. Politiko, boto ‘yan eh. Ngayon, peace time na, tapos na ang election, itong lokohan na pakita nila katabi ko sila o sa kasal na
magkakumare, kumpare kami, tapos may nilalakad, tapos sabihin na lalakarin namin ‘yang papel mo, bigyan mo kami ng down payment ng ano.” Sinabi pa ni Duterte sa publiko na huwag magpapaloko at inutusan ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na dakpin ang mga taong gumagamit ng kanyang pangalan. “Alam mo, walang nagpapaloko — walang, walang naloko kung walang magpapako — magpapaloko. I am calling on the NBI to double their time pangpahuli nito. Hulihin ninyo ito tapos kung ano, ma-detain ninyo ‘yan sa gabi, wala pa naman ‘yung — bago ninyo dalhin sa korte to — for filing of the cha — idaan mo nga sa Malacañan. Tignan ko lang ang pagmumukha nito. Ang sarap kasing mag-ganoon ng mukha, mag — iyang mukha ng tao paliitin mo kasi maraming sumbong dito sa amin,” ani Duterte. (Mindanao Examiner)
Coast Guard, Maimbung town hold medical mission Continued from page 1 Ursabia Jr. and Commodore Edgar Boado. Governor Sakur Tan also graced the outreach mission in partnership with the municipal government. The mayor said it was noteworthy that even with the Covid pandemic, every sector of government has not been remiss in their outreach engagement with the community, some if not most, are doing it even beyond their mandate
and beyond the call of duty. “Nagpapasalamat po ang Maimbung sa serbisyong inalok ng ating kabalikat at kabisig na mga tauhan ng Philippine Coast Guard. Nakakataba po ng puso na dahil sa pandemyang dulot ng Covid, marami po sa ating mga kababayan ang na antig ang puso at nag aalay ng kanilang kamay upang mapawi ng kahit bahagya man lamang ang pangangamba ng ating mga kababayan
tungkol sa kanilang kalusugan. The challenges brought about by the pandemic had shown the best of us as a people,” Hayudini said. Tan also thanked Ursabia and Boado and all those who participated in the humanitarian mission. Beneficiaries of the medical and dental mission also received rice and other food items distributed by Hayudini, Tan and Ursabia and Boado. (Mindanao Examiner)
KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) extended anew the deadline of the Road Clearing Operation 2.0 (RCO 2.0) to February 15 in consideration of the need of local government units (LGUs) to immediately prepare their local Covid -19 vaccination plans. The DILG ordered LGUs to come up with their vaccination plan that contains the preparation of risk communication plans and conduct of early vaccine information drive. It said the plan must also include a master list of priority eligible vaccine population; identification of possible vaccine centers, available cold chain storages, and other logistical requirements; and a master list of existing human resources and personnel needed in the inoculation program, among others. “The Department is fully cognizant of the urgency for LGUs to pre-
pare their vaccination plans against COVID-19 that’s why the road clearing timeline is extended anew. This is, however, the last extension to be granted by the DILG. We need to give LGUs time to focus on their local vaccination plans so we are giving them more time to undertake their road-clearing operations,” said DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya. Malaya said that the DILG’s validation of LGUs’ compliance has also been moved from to March 2. “The deadline of the submission of all consolidated validation reports from the DILG regional offices will be one week after the end of the validation period or on March 9, 2021. We will not allow any modification in the report after submission,” he said. In order to ensure close coordination on the submission of reports, Malaya said all DILG regional offices also designated one road clearing focal person. All LGUs under the
Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) will be validated according to their full implementation of road clearing operations - the removal of road obstructions, enactment of an enabling ordinance, conduct of an inventory of road obstructions, crafting and implementation of a displacement plan, rehabilitation of cleared roads, creation of a grievance mechanism, and compliance with the ban on tricycles along national roads. The LGUs’ compliance on the ban of tricycles on national highways shall also be checked. “Inaasahan po ng DILG ang full cooperation ng LGUs para sa maayos na validation process. Within the validation period, LGUs shall submit reports detailing their compliance to the components of road clearing to the Validation Team. Strictly no report, no score,” Malaya said. (With additional reporting by Rhoderick Beñez.)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 1-7, 2021
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)
February 1-7, 2021
The Mindanao Examiner
Sulu Pictures in the News
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February 1-7, 2021
Across : 1. Cobbler’s concern 5. Watering place 8. Manner of walking 12. Identical sibling 13. Beach color 14. Paddy product 15. Prince Charles’s sister 16. Involved 18. ___ Ryan of “You’ve Got Mail” 19. Felt dizzy 20. Airplane feature 22. Atlas chart 25. ___ League 26. Actor ___ De Niro 28. Test for flavor 31. Christmas visitor 32. Commnunion tables 34. Deep 35. Pod vegetable 36. Baby carriages 41. Pester 42. Perjure oneself 43. Out-of-date 46. Icicle’s spot 47. Color changer 48. Man’s title 49. Tread 50. School official 51. Rescue me! 52. Cherished animals
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Down : 1. Postage mark 2. Proprietor 3. Jargon 4. Compass dir. 5. Rock band ___ Dan 6. Discussion group 7. Moose’s horn 8. Crossword diagram 9. Feel pain 10. Cold cubes 11. Media mogul ___ Turner 17. Spray cans 19. About-face 21. Mideast bread 22. Chess pieces 23. Picasso’s field
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ
24. School org. 27. Cry loudly 28. Spigot 29. Pub beverage 30. Amtrak depot (abbr.) 33. Tension 34. Defeated ones 37. Math proportion 38. Make joyful 39. Metal bolt 40. Leaks slowly 41. Trumpet, e.g. 43. Bizarre 44. Farewell! 45. Caribbean ___ 46. Psychic ability (abbr.)
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Police kill Zambo cop Villamero’s Enterprises with links to Sayyaf ZAMBOANGA CITY – A policeman with links to the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf was shot dead in a recent firefight with police commandos serving a search warrant in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said. Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, the regional police chief, said Staff Sergeant Jamiri Abraham opened fire on commandos as they tried to serve the warrant in Mampang village. “The operation resulted in the firefight between the operating unit and SSg Jamiri Hawang Abraham after he resisted arrest and fired upon the operating units,” Ylagan said. He said Abraham was assigned with the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office. The slain policeman was also included in the list of
people financing terrorism and connected with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province. “He’s a relative of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Hajan Sawadjaan and cousin of Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Ben Quirino and Muammar Askali, who was also killed in clash with security forces in Sulu,” said Ylagan. “The subject was monitored providing ammunition and firearms particularly to the group of Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu. He was also involved in the kidnapping activities of the Abu Sayyaf and facilitated the negotiations for the release of kidnapped victims in Sulu in exchange of ransom money,” he added. Ylagan said police forces recovered from Abraham’s house two automatic pistols and an automatic rifle, including components in the manufacture of improvised explosives.
Last month, police also disarmed Abraham’s chief Major Jivertson Pelovello after he was tested positive for illegal drug use, according to Ylagan. “Pelovello has been disarmed of his issued firearms and slapped with corresponding administrative charges,” Ylagan said in his report to National Police Chief, Gen. Debold Sinas who ordered the regional police to immediately take Pelovello in restrictive custody. Pelovello was among 60 members of the Zamboanga City Police Office, including 12 of his personnel who were tested for illegal drug use by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office on December 18. He was initially screened, but the subsequent confirmatory test on January 6 yielded positive result for drug use. (Zamboanga Post)
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P10 February 1-7, 2021
Economic recovery remains Cebu’s top priority
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EBU – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she is confident that the towns and cities here are already equipped and capable of managing Covid-19, saying, the road to economic recovery will be the Provincial Government’s foremost concern this year. She said Cebu will con- while they go on with their to be more cautious and analytical in knowing about the tinue what it has already lives and livelihoods. started in leading the road “Kami diri sa probinsya, disease as the average death to economic recovery as this we accept the fact that life is rate of Covid-19 in the nationis far more important than not perfect, this is not para- al level is only 1.7 percent. In dwelling on the number cas- dise. There are diseases and Cebu, she said the recovery es affected with Covid-19. there are diseases. It is not a rate is high at 94.3 percent. “Nag-ingon diay ko nga She reiterated that Covid-19 matter of eradicating diseaswill remain present in the so- es because we cannot do that ma-zero Covid ta? Apan ciety while there is no known but it’s a matter of managing kung mao na lang mag-inicure to it yet. But while she diseases. In this case, it’s a hap na pud ta unya mahadacknowledges the existence matter of managing Covid-19. lok na pud ta, pila na kaha of Covid-19, Garcia said she Syaro naman usa ka tuig na run ang nagkalisud? Ang sithas always pushed for the ta nag deal ani matarantar uation sa poverty, ngano di prevention of not just the gihapon ta karon,” she said. na i-report” she asked. “Sultian ta mo, kay kadeadly respiratory disease, “Give your body the chance but all other diseases as well. to fight Covid and all other hibaw mo, duna na’y Covid Garcia also encourag- diseases and that is what we fatigue ang mga tawo, gikaes Cebuanos to strengthen should focus on. Dili na lang poy na. Kay ngano? Gigutom na sila. Pero padayon their immune system to give Covid na lang gyud.” Garcia urged Cebuanos ta ini sige’g kahadlok, lockthe body the fighting chance down-lockdown ra ba dayon, basin unya daghan mamatay sa gutom kaysa sa Covid mismo,” she added. Garcia said the Province will continue its work in economic recovery which inCEBU – The province of Cebu affected by ASF will not be cluded the reopening of the remains free from the African required to do the downtime tourism industry and impleSwine Fever (ASF) and con- period. All trucks from Luzon, mentation of Sugbo Negotinues to stay vigilant even Mindanao and Region 8 will be syo and Sugbusog programs before the Department of Ag- not allowed to enter Cebu. meant to help local entrepreThe additional measures riculture (DA) heightened the were agreed upon by Garcia alert against the virus. To further protect the and representatives of the province’s P11-billion hog Central Visayas Pork Producers industry, the Capitol will im- Cooperative, Philippine Coast THE PHILIPPINES’ equities pose additional measures as Guard, Cebu Port Authority, and fixed-income exchang39 provinces in the country Department of Agriculture, es have urged Congress to have been affected by ASF. Bureau of Animal Industry, swiftly pass the proposed Only accredited truckers from Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Cebu are allowed to transport Provincial Veterinary Office, Incentives for Enterprises Act live hogs to other provinces and the local governments of (CREATE) to make the counup to Matnog port in Sorso- Daanbantayan, Carmen, Dan- try an attractive investment hub in the region and the dogon, the southernmost prov- ao, Bogo, and Tudela. ince in Luzon, through their Garcia is set to issue an mestic capital market a viable respective drop-off points in executive order outlining venue for raising funds. The Philippine Stock the provinces. these measures aimed to However, returning prevent the ASF virus from Exchange, Inc. (PSE) and the trucks will have to take a entering the province. Other Philippine Dealing System downtime period of seven additional measures include Holdings Corp. (PDS) have days before hauling the next mandatory disinfection expressed their strong supbatch of pigs for delivery. of outgoing and returning port for CREATE, which they During this time, trucks must trucks, livestock transport described as “a landmark bill be cleaned and disinfected. carrier, reefer vans; submis- in a series of reform meaThe Office of Gover- sion of Disinfection Clear- sures undertaken by this adnor Gwendolyn Garcia will ance issued by Veterinary ministration.” “We respectfully urge issue the accreditation to Quarantine from the Port of the truckers delivering hogs Origin; submission of Route both houses of Congress to outside Cebu. This will en- Plan at the border prior to prioritize the immediate sure the compliance with the shipment; and submission passage of the CREATE bill mandatory downtime period. of regulatory documents so that the country can fully Trucks returning to Cebu such as veterinary health reap the benefits of this reafter delivering live hogs and certificate and shipping form bill without delay,” said PSE and PDS in a joint statepork products to areas not permit. (Mylen Manto)
Cebu intensifies anti-ASF measures
neurs recover from the economic brunt brought by the pandemic. Garcia committed to protect Cebu’s economy because she is protecting the Cebuanos who “cannot speak up apan maoy nanga-apektuhan kay wa nay mga trabaho, wa nay mga panginabuhi. That is what we are going to do. We will not be distracted by too much concentration on Covid-19 numbers because the data are all there,” she said. Garcia said this year’s priority programs are geared towards providing more jobs and livelihood to people in
the countryside such as the on-going road repairs and construction. “Thank you very much. We’re in good shape as far as Cebu Province is concerned. We have very clear-cut policies. Our mayors are more than equipped and experienced to manage Covid-19. We must now focus more on reviving the Cebu economy,” she said. She encouraged Cebuanos to continue practice good hygiene and to stay healthy and have a good eight-hour sleep and drink vitamins and other practices to boost their immune system. “People are
employing common sense and using remedies nga readily available sa balay, apil ang inyo gikalagutan nga tuob,” she said. The Integrated Provincial Health Office have also installed systems in all 12 district and four provincial hospitals. All towns and cities have isolation centers in place. “Let us nurture a healthy Cebuano population moving towards economic recovery because we are in the worst shape when we talk about the economy as compared to Covid-19,” Garcia said. (Vanessa L. Almeda)
Congress urged to pass ‘CREATE’ bill
ARMM
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ment signed by PSE president Jose Pardo, PDS chairman Cezar Consing; and Ramon Monzon, the president-CEO of both the PSE and PDS. The immediate lowering of the corporate income (CIT) tax to 25 percent for large businesses and foreign corporations, and to 20 percent for micro, small and medium enterprises with net taxable income of P5 million and below and total assets of not more than P100 million (excluding land), will leave more funds in the hands of publicly listed companies either for business expansion or distribution to stockholders, the PSE and PDS said. “The investment of said tax savings in other business undertakings or investment vehicles can set off a chain of positive economic consequences such as employment generation, higher spending, and increased domestic busi-
Western Mindanao
ness activity as a result of the multiplier effect,” they said. Immediately reducing the CIT and enhancing the flexibility of the country’s fiscal incentives system to bring in investments that will generate the most benefits for the Filipino people will also make the Philippines competitive among its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The Philippines’ current CIT rate of 30 percent is the highest in ASEAN. Aside from the CREATE bill, the PSE and PDS also expressed their support for the expansion of the list of transactions qualifying as tax-free exchanges in Section 40(C) (2) of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC). They also backed the removal of the requirement to obtain prior confirmation or tax ruling from the Bureau of Internal Revenue for the purpose of availing of this bene-
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fit in Section 40(C)(2) of the Tax Code. They said such reforms will streamline the process of reorganization typically conducted by companies preparatory to going public. “This is a very welcome development and a move that has long been clamored for by the market,” the PDS and PSE said. Along with CREATE and the removal of the Initial Public Offering tax in Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, these reforms on tax-free exchanges will spur business creation in the Philippines, incentivize capital-raising activities in the Philippine capital market, and overall, accelerate the country’s recovery from economic losses brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to PSE and PDS. (Mindanao Examiner)
Manila