Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (June 28-July 4, 2021) by Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

Use of face shields, face masks still mandatory in public places DAVAO CITY – President Duterte has backtracked from his previous statement saying the wearing of face shield should only be worn in hospitals following a meeting with Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Sotto said the President agreed on sug-

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gestions that face shields should only be worn in hospitals. “The President agreed that face shields should only be used in hospitals. Allowed us to remove ours! Attn DOH!” he said in his June 17 tweet. But Duterte on June 21 told Molecular epidemi-

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ologist Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana during a meeting that: “I was only shooting the breeze with the congressmen, the members of Congress who were

there. I never said with finality that we will do away with the face shield.” “It’s a small inconvenience, actually. I know Continue on page 9

A janitor cleans outside an LBC office in southern Philippines. Health experts are worried over the spread of the Indian Covid-19 Delta variant in the country which now has 17 confirmed cases. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Kulong o Bakuna? I

PAKUKULONG UMANO ni Pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng mga taong ayaw magpa-bakuna at sinabing tuturukan pa nito ng Ivermectin na gamot kontra-bulate ang mga mahuhuli. Continue on page 2

Trolls, propagandists step up attacks vs. Robredo, opposition PERSONAL INSULTS and political attacks against those who are critical of President Rodrigo Duter-

te and the opposition are increasing in social media ahead of next year’s national polls.

Trolls have heightened their attacks against Vice President Continue on page 3

Sulu vice governor praised for school project SULU - Education and municipal government officials thanked Vice

Governor Toto Tan for his advocacy and strong support to literacy and educa-

tion after the influential leader handed over a Continue on page 2

President Rodrigo Duterte. (PCOO)

Former President Benigno Aquino dead at 61 FORMER PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino is dead Continue on page 2

ARMM

Eastern Mindanao

Sulu Vice Governor Toto Tan smiles as he speak to education and town officials in a ceremony following his donation of a school building in Patikul town. (Photos by Nash)

Indian Covid variant alarms health experts THE DELTA Covid variant, also known as the Indian variant, has now

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reached the Philippines with health officials saying over a dozen cases had

Cebu

been detected, mostly from returning overseas Continue on page 5

Manila

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Kulong o Bakuna?

Continued from page 1 Tinawag pang “yawa” at minura ni Duterte ang

mga ayaw magpa-bakuna at sinabing uutusan nito ang Department of the

Interior and Local Government (DILG) upang mandohan ang mga ba-

Former President Benigno Aquino dead at 61

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community at the Rizal Park in San Pedro Street, Davao City on Wednesday, March 06, 2013. (Ryan Lim, Malacañang Photo Bureau) Continued from page 1 at age 61.Aquino suffered from various illnesses and had a heart surgery recently and underwent dialysis when he died in hospital on June 24. He served as the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016, and was succeeded by former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was Aqui-

no’s former ally and even campaigned for him and the Liberal Party in Davao City. But Aquino eventually supported the presidential candidacy of Mar Roxas in 2016 and lost to Duterte. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Duterte administration condoles with Aquino’s family. “We commiserate and condole with the fami-

ly and loved ones of former president Benigno Simeon Aquino III as we extend our condolences on his untimely demise. We are grateful to the former president for his contribution and services to the country. We ask our people to offer a prayer for the eternal repose of our former chief executive. Rest in peace, Mr. President,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

rangay officials na kunin ang mga pangalan ng mga residenteng tumatanggi sa Covid-19 vaccine. “Kayong mga barangay captains, I will task the DILG to do that, to look for these persons and kung hindi, I will order their arrest, sa totoo lang. Why? Because if you are a person na hindi ka vaccinated, you are a carrier, a potential carrier (of Covid-19) and to protect the people, I have to sequester you in jail. Mamili kayo: magpabakuna kayo o ipakulong ko kayo sa selda? Sabi ko sa iyo ‘yong selda diyan sa mga pulis, walang linis ‘yan, eh tamad ‘yang pulis maglinis. Nandoon ang lahat, lahat na ng baho nandoon. Doon kayo. Ganito na lang, I will think it over very hard, legally, of course. Pero ‘pag hindi, ayaw ninyo, ipaaresto ko kayo. That is in pursuance of a policy of our crisis of itong health issue,” ani Duterte.

“Iyang mga yawa na ‘yan na ayaw magpabakuna. Itong mga gago na ayaw magpa-bakuna, and they are really the carriers. If you are, they can, you know, travel from one place to another, carrying the virus and then contaminating other people. Ito ‘yong ayaw magpabakuna. Kayong ayaw magpabakuna, ipabakuna ko ‘yong itong sa bakuna ng baboy, ‘yong Ivermectin. Iyon ang ibakuna ko sa kanila. Ang tigas ng ulo eh. Kaya don’t get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. Kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ipaaresto kita,” dagdag pa nito. Sinabi pa nito na ituturok niya ang Ivermectin sa puwet ng mga ayaw magpa-bakuna. “Itusok ko sa puwet mo. Putang ina, bwiset kayo. Eh, hirap na nga tayo tapos nandiyan pa kayo napakaraming dag… So kung lahat

ng Pilipinong nakikinig ngayon, bantay kayo. Don’t force my hand into it, kagaya nitong ano. Strong-arm method ‘yan eh. Walang may gusto niyan. Pero kung hindi kayo magpabakuna, umalis kayo sa Pilipinas. Go to India if you want or somewhere, to America. But for as long as you are here and you are a human being, and can carry the virus, eh magpabakuna ka,” wika pa nito. Matatandaang sinabi noon ni Duterte sa mga namimili ng brand ng Covid-19 vaccines na kung ayaw nila ng Sinovac ng China ay huwag na silang magpa-bakuna. Karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay ayaw sa Chinese vaccines dahil umano sa mababang efficacy rate nito at iba pang kadahilanan. Sa Wuhan, China nagmula ang Covid-19 virus noong Disyembre 2019 at kumalat ito sa buong mundo. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sulu vice governor praised for school project

Sulu Vice Governor Toto Tan hands over the symbolic key of the school building to Education Superintendent Kiram Irilis and District Supervisor Lina Asjali during a simple ceremony witnessed by Patikul Vice Mayor Pulaus Tarsum, Councilor Abdulgafar Mangkabong and Tandu village chieftain Muptha Tarsum, among other officials. The benevolent project will benefit students and teachers of the Tandu Dagmay Elementary School. (Photos by Nash) Continued from page 1 brand new school building in Patikul town. Faculty members also praised Tan, a known philanthropist and a well-respected politician, for the building project which will benefit dozens of students once face-toface classes resume. The gated building has four classrooms, two comfort rooms, a waiting shed, a covered stage and path walk, an office for the school principal and is well secured by a tall concrete wall. The amount of the project was not immediately known. Tan handed over the

symbolic key of the school building to Education Superintendent Kiram Irilis and District Supervisor Lina Asjali during a simple ceremony whose attendees followed health protocols due to the current Covid-19 situation which prohibits mass gatherings. Among those who witnessed the handover of the school building were the town’s Vice Mayor Pulaus Tarsum, Councilor Abdulgafar Mangkabong and Tandu village chieftain Muptha Tarsum. The benevolent project will benefit students and teachers of the Tan-

du Dagmay Elementary School. In his speech, Tan, who is an advocate of child and youth welfare program, said: “This project should make it possible for young learners and teachers alike to have an environment conducive for learning, which in the long run, will contribute significantly to achieving the goals of good education, especially for the Tausug.” Tan is also a sports enthusiast and largely contributed to various sports activities in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)

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A photo from the Department of Defense taken on November 9, 2020 shows one the first of 16 Polish-built S-70i Black Hawk transport helicopters.

Black Hawk Down A PHILIPPINE Air Force S-701 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during night flight training in the town of Capas in Tarlac province in central Luzon, killing all six airmen aboard. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col Maynard Mariano said the Black Hawk, one of six utility helicopters used for such training, crashed on June 23 after failing to return to base in Pampanga province. “The identities of the aircrew members will be provided as soon as the members of their families are properly notified,” he said. The downed Polish-built chopper was under the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing

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based at Clark Air Base. The cause of the crash is being investigated. The helicopters are manufactured by PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which had also previously acquired Sikorsky, the original manufacturer of the Black Hawk. The Philippines acquired the helicopters under a government-to-government deal with Poland, signing a contract worth $241 million in 2019. The Black Hawks are being bought under the U.S. ally’s five-year Horizon 2 modernization program, which will run from 2018-2022. (Mindanao Examiner)

Trolls, propagandists step up attacks vs. Robredo, opposition Continued from page 1 Leni Robredo and her daughters, and other politicians and wellknown and respected personalities identified or supporters of the opposition. They and political propagandists also spread fake news and misinformation against civil groups and even the clerics, but at the same time praise Duterte and his daughter, Mayor Sara Carpio of Davao City, who is reportedly gunning to replace his ageing father. Don’t Engage Senator Panfilo Lacson also urged the public and social media users to resist the urge to engage the trolls and report or block their accounts and pages. “Resist the urge to engage them, report them, and block them – these are the three-point habit that ordinary Filipinos can develop against internet trolls, while waiting for Facebook and other social media platforms to crack down on them,” he said. “We know trolls are financially and emotionally fuelled by agitating and getting a response from their targets. Denying them that fuel is a good first step,” he added. Lacson said he also encountered and dealt with trolls on social media and blocked over 2,000 accounts. He also gave some tips on how to spot online trolls: “The person’s main Facebook profile has no activity; and usually has a generic or unidentifiable profile photo; Overly aggressive and condescending behavior, with targeted offensive messages instead of reasonable arguments; Use of ‘copy-paste’ or distinguishable patterns in their comments. They also use fake news and, or twisted logic, and have a sudden surge of ‘like-minded’ comments targeting and attacking one who does not share their views.” Lacson also backed Senate President Vicente

Sotto III’s call to Facebook Philippines to act against troll farms supposedly being set up for the 2022 elections. “As we wait for the companies concerned to take appropriate action, it would be better for us to develop the habits that will deny these trolls their prize,” he said. He also said that one government official, whose rank is undersecretary, has started organizing troll farms using government funds – two in each province – in time for the elections. Mudslinging UCAN or the Union of Catholic Asian News also reported on June 23 that Father Norberto Garido, a parish priest from Lucena Diocese, south of Manila, has condemned what he called an online mudslinging campaign allegedly instigated by Duterte against Robredo. The priest said recent Facebook posts by trolls calling Robredo an “inutile” and “worthless” leader were likely funded by the Duterte administration. “Now that election time is getting nearer, trolls are once again active to try and destroy those who speak against or criticize President Rodrigo Duterte. Trolls are responsible for spreading fake news. Let us all be standard-bearers of the truth, not lies,” he said. “Trolls have victimized not just the vice president, but many other individuals who criticize Duterte policies such as extrajudicial killings. Every time a person criticizes this administration, trolls flood social media with derogatory remarks to bully them,” the priest added. The report said opposition lawmakers are pushing for an investigation into alleged government involvement in troll farms or groups of internet trolls that seek to influence political opinions and decision-making. Not Us Last September,

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque disputed allegations that Duterte admitted using Facebook trolls. “I dispute that the president admitted to using trolls. He never ever admitted to using trolls. I stand by that as the Presidential Spokesperson. We do not run troll farms. It was the administration in the past that used these,” Roque said. Roque said he was also a victim of black propaganda after a video clip appeared on social media showing him criticizing Duterte in 2016. “Lumabas na naman sa social media ang isang lumang video, where I criticized then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Talagang desperado na ang mga kritiko at mga kalaban. Pero may kasabihan nga, ang punong hitik sa bunga ay binabato. Public knowledge naman na hindi ko sinuportahan ang kandidatura ng Pangulo nang siya ay tumakbo noong 2016. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito ay magiging kritiko na lang ako ng Pangulo – just for the sake of criticizing,” he said. Roque continued to say that when he ran and won a congressional seat, Duterte supported many of his bills, among them are the Universal Health Care, Free Irrigation, HIV and AIDS Policy Act, and Balik Scientist Program. “Patunay na hindi hadlang ang aming pagkakaiba ng pananaw para isulong kung ano ang mabuti sa ating mamamayan. In addition, I am a vocal supporter of the President’s independent foreign policy. This likewise shows that the President has walked the talk. PRRD’s promise of real change is not just a mere empty campaign rhetoric. Nakita at naramdaman ko at ng taumbayan ang tunay na pagbabago. At ito ang nagkumbinse sa akin na suportahan ang Pangulo at kanyang administrasyon na may tunay na malasakit sa tao kaakibat ang matapat na serbisyo sa bayan,” he said. (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, Rep. Shernee Tambut)

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Indian Covid variant alarms health experts

Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think. Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected. In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad. But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City. The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to

give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink. Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection. Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and

resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice. And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)

Continued from page 1 Filipino workers. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Delta variant has now spread to more than 80 countries and continues to mutate. Some reports have found that the Delta variant also causes more severe symptoms, but more research is needed to confirm those conclusions, according to WHO. The Department of Health (DOH), the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health have confirmed the presence of the Delta variant. The DOH said three Filipino crew of the MV Eastern Hope now docked in South Korea were all sent home on June 3 after testing positive for the Delta variant. Two of them completed the 10-day isolation after arrival in the Philippines and were eventually discharged after recovering from the disease. The third Filipino remains in the hospital. Another Filipino worker who arrived home from Saudi Arabia on May 24 was also positive for the Delta variant and also recovered on June 10, but he remains under strict home quarantine because of the health protocols imposed by his local government. The DOH said at least 17 cases of Delta variants had been recorded so far. It did not say or identify the places where those found positive or recovered from the Delta variant. Molecular epidemiologist Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana said the Delta variant is more contagious than other Covid-19 variants. In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on June 21, Salvana said: “The Delta variant is really very scary and this is all the more reason why we really should police our borders po kasi it only takes one variant to get in and then puwedeng mag-India-like surge po tayo kasi mataas po talaga ‘yong number of people na kayang i-infect ng isang taong mayroong Delta variant.” “Kung ‘yong dating virus po natin ay ‘yong original virus dalawa lang po iyong nai-infect, itong Delta variant up to eight po. So it’s up to four times more contagious than the original virus from Wuhan (China) po. So this will really be a big disas-

A man wears a face mask as health experts fear the spread of the Delta Covid-19 variant may spread in the whole country where 17 cases had been confirmed so far. (Mindanao Examiner) ter if we do not keep it out of the country po.” With the presence of the Delta virus, Salvana said there are now four “variants of concerns” in the country - Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta - and told Duterte that stringent protocols must continue. “Wala pa po tayong community transmission ng Gamma at Delta and we really want to keep it that way, and that is why very important po ‘yong stringent protocols natin. Iyong Delta po, as I have mentioned, is 60 percent increased transmission over Alpha or ‘yong UK variant, which has already 60 percent increased transmission over the original virus from Wuhan. So mabagsik po talaga ito. If we thought Alpha was mabagsik, ‘yong UK variant, mas mabagsik po itong Indian variant, ‘yong Delta. And, of course, there’s also the finding that ‘yong mga partially vaccinated ‘yong one dose pa lang, nahahawa pa rin po sila kasi mukhang itong Delta really needs two doses para ma-protektahan po nang maayos. Iyong one dose po is not very good at protecting against Delta,” he said. The DOH also confirmed Salvana’s report and said the Philippines has all those Covid-19 variants - the Alpha variant or the United Kingdom variant; the Beta variant, also known as the South African variant; and Theta variant or the Philippine variant. But the DOH has not reported any Gamma variant or the Brazil variant of the deadly respiratory virus. But it noted a spike in Covid-19 cases in central and southern Philippines. “The DOH, UP-PGC,

and UP-NIH assure the public that bio-surveillance activities for the detection of Covid-19 variants shall continue amidst the increase in cases in Visayas and Mindanao,” the DOH said in a communiqué. The DOH also released P180 million to the UP-PGC in May for the purchase of reagents for whole genome sequencing for the rest of the year. These reagents will allow the DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH to sequence samples of Covid-19 cases regularly until the end of the year, ensuring that the government will have essential information in mitigating the spread of virus. According to the “Pharmaceutical Technology,” the Delta variant continues to spread, and prompting fears it will become the most dominant strain globally. There is also concern that while data is being shared, countries with weaker monitoring systems may not have detected the strain’s presence. It also reported that Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc are highly effective after two doses at preventing hospitalization of those infected with the Delta variant, underscoring the urgency in getting people fully vaccinated. The Pfizer and BioNTech SE shot is 96% effective against hospitalization after two doses, while the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford Covid inoculation is 92% effective, according to an analysis announced recently by Public Health England. Those results are comparable with the protection offered against the Alpha variant, which first emerged in Britain, the data show. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Region XII

NO T I C E Notice is hereby given that the Local Government of Kidapawan City, represented by City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista, has filed with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots at Kidapawan City Resettlement Project Phase III, a BP 220 Socialized Housing Project, located at Barangay Magsaysay, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato consisting a project land area of 49,091 sq.m more particularly described in plan Lot 6-A, Psd12-054904, covered by TCT No. T-117570 as amended by Pcs-12-001962, registered in the name of the Local Government of Kidapawan City. All papers relative thereto shall, upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication. th

Koronadal City, Philippines, 28 day of May 2021.

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DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Kagawaran ng Pananahanang Pantao at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran REGION OFFICE XII

NO T I C E Notice is hereby given that the Local Government of Kidapawan City, represented by City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista, has filed with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots at KIDAPAWAN CITY RESETTLEMENT PROJECT PHASE IV, a BP 220 Socialized Housing Project, located at Purok 8, Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato consisting a project land area of 50,000 sq.m more particularly described in plan Lot 6799-C, Psd-12-057035, covered by TCT No. 152-2012000553 as amended by Psd-12-081337, registered in the name of the Local Government of Kidapawan City. All papers relative thereto shall, upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal thereon. Absent any legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication. Koronadal City, Philippines, 1st day of June 2021.

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Across : 1. Pupil’s transport 4. Wound covering 8. Tater 12. List-ending abbr. 13. Gap 14. Fork feature 15. Corn spike 16. Constant companions (2 wds.) 18. ___ Beta Kappa 19. Not as tight 20. Indigent 22. Not appropriate 26. Boat with two hulls 30. Remote 31. Adjoin 32. Anchorman ___ Rather 33. Model 34. Miles ___ hour 35. Napoleon ___ 37. Guide 39. Concern 40. Rodeo ropes 43. Vane dir. 46. Apologetic 49. Cry of surprise 50. Rock’s ___ Clapton 51. Unfasten 52. Electrified particle 53. Dryer outlet 54. Withstand 55. Small spot Down : 1. Horn’s sound 2. Nevada neighbor 3. Sacred writings 4. Hebrew greeting 5. Boulder’s state 6. Female voice 7. Stinging insects 8. Strict 9. Porker 10. One (Sp.) 11. ___ Moines 17. Harness part 21. Certain grain 23. Spoken of earlier 24. Time gone by

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The Mindanao Examiner

June 28-July 4, 2021

Use of face shields, face masks still mandatory in public places Continued from page 1 that it is inconvenient really to be wearing the mask, adjusting it from time to time. But that is only a very small price to pay rather than gamble with doing away with it and courting disaster. Kasi ang transmission, it’s accepted by all that it could be transmitted through the eyes and through the nose. So I am left with no recourse, but really to adopt your recommendation,” Duterte added. Salvana recommended stringent protocols following the spread of the Indian Covid-19 Delta variant to the Philippines.

Duterte admitted he erred in publicly discussing whether to continue the mandatory wearing of face shields or not when in public places. “But I’d like to tell you that beforehand, when I said, reviewing the international news, noong narinig ko ito, I said baka nagkamali talaga kami discussing about this in public because people thought that it was a done deal. No, it was not. It was just a casual chat. As of now, the face mask is on. Wala tayong magawa, the face shield, importantly, the mask.” “Iyon na lang ang

pangkontra ko kasi it is to the national interest, I said, that we must triple our effort because, I said, we do not know if it would require a new vaccine, which has to be invented first; and second, we cannot afford a second wave because it might be far worse than the first, and then we will have a problem of our economy, and I said it would be a disaster for the country,” Duterte told Salvana. Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque also defended the President’s decision, saying the continued use of face shields both outdoors and in-

doors is based on science and evidence-based studies, which show that face shields give an additional layer of protection against Covid-19. He said the decision on the mandatory use of face shields was made

upon the advice of health experts who informed Duterte that the Delta variant is even more transmissible than the original variant. “Ninety-nine percent ang estimated effect of protection kapag naka face mask,

face shield, at physical distancing,” Roque said, citing the results of international studies. “Ibig sabihin naka-base po sa siyensya itong desisyon ni Presidente sa pagsusuot ng face shield.” (Mindanao Examiner)

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Is StaySafe.Ph really reliable?

THE COUNTRY’s official digital contact tracing system – the StaySafe.Ph – may not be as reliable as what the government claims it to be. The application was developed by Multisys Technologies Corporation in collaboration with PLDT-Smart Group and PLDT Enterprise, and the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force on Covid-19. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also ordered all local governments and the public to use and patronize the StaySafe.Ph application which utilizes a uniformed quick response (QR) code that users show when entering enclosed public and private establishments. And for those who do not have smartphones, they can go to a designated help desk or customer assistance desk for the registration with the StaySafe.Ph or for the generation and printing of the QR code. There is also a penalty for those, including establishments which fail to adapt the digital contact tracing system and for the first of-

fense, the penalty is P2,000 and P3,000 for the next offense, and P5,000 for the third offense. The application can be accessed on the App store for iPhone, Google Play for Android devices and App Gallery for Huawei. A user also needs to enter or answer questions related to health or whether the user has Covid-19 symptoms; and that is why the StaySafe.Ph may not be reliable because the user can enter false information to all the questions during registration to download the digital contract tracing application. The application also alerts the registered user if there is somebody nearby who is exposed or has symptoms of the deadly respiratory virus. The Exposure Notification can be turned on or off, but the application can only be used if the user’s smart phone is connected to a Wi-Fi or the Internet and Bluetooth using their postpaid or pre-paid data from a telecom company. And most smart phone users do not turn on their data because it is expensive or turn on the Bluetooth because it would drain the phone’s battery and also risk being hacked or in-

fected with malwares or spywares. Malwares of malicious software is designed to harm or exploit any programmable device, service or network. Cybercriminals typically use it to extract data that they can leverage over victims for financial gain. And spyware is unwanted software that infiltrates computing devices, even smartphones and steals internet usage data and sensitive information. The DILG said the StaySafe.Ph application is an effective tool for contact tracing nationwide because it ensures consistent and unified contact tracing reporting, making it easier for government authorities and medical experts to keep track of the cases all over the country and carry out decisive actions to stem the rapid transmission of the virus. It said the application is currently being used by some 15 million users and 700 local governments in the country, according to the DILG. It aims to reach at least 50 million users and connect all 1,634 city and municipal governments across the country. David Almirol, President and CEO of the Multisys Technologies Corporation, said the digital contact tracing application is designed to aid in the management of Covid-19 cases by reminding people to maintain physical distance, as well as recording and monitoring symptoms of the deadly respiratory disease. The application engages the public against the spread of Covid-19 and aggregates all reports available in desktop and mobile versions, allowing the government to respond quickly to people’s needs and make informed and timely decisions to keep the public safe during this time of the pandemic. (Mindanao Examiner)

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‘Emulate Rizal’ Dear Editor: I was intrigued when I saw one comment in the Netflix post regarding its recent series Trese. It says in the comment: “If indeed the Filipino can develop a series like Trese why not challenge them to do the Noli Me Tangere and/or The El Filibusterismo?” Why not, after all this is the renowned work of no less than our national hero – Dr. Jose Rizal. Objectively like how they make Rizal as a video game character in the 1999 Medal of Honour as a secret character in a multi-player mode alongside other historical figures like William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill. In another popular video game Tekken (martial arts), one of its fighter characters was inspired by Rizal. Although female, the character was Josie Rizal whose main armament was arnis and kick boxing. Her outfit bore the colors of the Philippine flag and the ornament in her waist is Sampaguita. I believe ideas like this would fulfill the essence of Proclamation No. 75 series 1948 signed by then President

Elpidio Quirino wherein he sets June 19 as Filipino Youth Day aiming to set the lasting emulation of Rizal’s referral to the Filipino youth as the hope the nation, particularly to his writings, and also coinciding to our national hero’s birthday. Indeed, the young ones hold that huge responsibility that was often demystified by what’s happening in today’s world. On how our youth of today perceived patriotism as Rizal addressed his most inspiring appeal to dedicate their prime in the service of the country, sending significant messages about the youth’s deep roles and responsibilities to every Filipino and the society especially at this trying time. As a free nation, our youth must act and spend their liberty responsibly focusing on love of the country not the politician deluded by colors, advocating peace certainly not divisiveness and be at peace with God, whatever they conceive Him to be. Hera Enriquez hee91083@gmail.com)

The Mindanao Examiner

June 28-July 4, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

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June 28-July 4, 2021

Mobile Covid-19 vax teams proposed

EBU CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) urged all local governments in Central Visayas to put up their own barangay mobile Covid-19 vaccination teams to speed up the inoculation of those in the A1, A2 and A3 priority lists. A1 refers to frontline DOH Regional Director “You know our senior workers in health facili- Dr. Jaime Bernadas said the citizens have limited mobilities and A2 are senior cit- mobile vaccination centers ty or some of them are poorizens while A3 are those will benefit those who can- ly mobile so our vaccination adult with comorbidities not go to established vacci- team in barangays should or persons with two or nation sites, especially peo- try to evolve into something more diseases or medical ple with disabilities and the that is more friendly to seconditions. elderly. nior citizens and friendly

Car dealers see bright days ahead CEBU CITY – Local businessmen who are engaged in car dealerships have expressed their support to the government’s mass vaccination program, saying it is an important step for the economy to fully recover and regain consumer confidence. “Amid the pandemic, we are opening a new shop to inspire other businesses and entrepreneurs to open because our economy is slowly recovering, and to generate more jobs,” Cebuano entrepreneur Joseph Lo, Executive Vice President of Toyota Mabolo Cebu Inc., told the Philippine News Agency at the June 20 launch of a car showroom at SM City Cebu. Lo said their expansion signifies their optimism on the recovery of the country’s economy. “We actually decided to open our showroom amid the pandemic to inspire other businesses, other entrepreneurs to signify that this is the new normal we should get used to and they should also be opening their businesses as well, to keep the economy running and generate jobs” he said. Lo said they hope this will inspire not only the automotive industry, but also all sectors to be optimistic about the economy’s recovery path, especially as more people will get vaccinated in the coming months. “Some businesses are holding back on their investments. But here, we are optimistic about the future. We fully support the government’s vaccination rollout because it will fast track our recovery, especially in the business sector,” he said. Lo also expressed confidence in the company’s prospects next year, especially that 2022 is an election year. He said the polls will create economic activity not only in the automotive industry, but in other industries as well. He also cited the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI)

and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) which disclosed that the country’s automotive vehicle sales recovered in the first quarter of 2021 despite the global health and economic crisis. CAMPI and TMA said vehicle sales from January to March this year posted an 8.9-percent increase compared to January and February 2020, which were pre-pandemic months. “For 2021, we did pretty well from January all the way to May; not as good as (during the same period in) 2019, but we’re hopeful that we are on our way to economic recovery,” Lo said. Yvonne Bala, Sales Manager of Toyota Mabolo, said they expect an increase in sales from the small and medium enterprises which will be acquiring service vehicles. The company, she said, posted a 40-percent increase in sales from January to May this year compared to last year. However, their sales were lower by 20% compared to the same period in 2019, which is not bad considering there is still a pandemic, she added. In a separate interview, Andre Borromeo, General Manager of Fairlane Automotive Ventures Inc. (FAVI) said the car industry is seeing signs of picking up and is banking on the vaccination rollout to return business growth to the pre-pandemic levels. Borromeo said the inoculation program is very crucial to the country’s economic future as he urged the public to get vaccinated to help in the recovery efforts. Despite the economic challenges, Borromeo said pandemic has sparked the interest of consumers to own cars, especially those avoiding mass transport. This, he said, is giving car dealers an opportunity to take advantage of the improving consumer confidence. FAVI, the company operating the dealership centers of Ford in Visayas and Mindanao, also opened a new dealer center in Talisay City. (Carlo Lorenciana)

to those who really cannot go to our vaccination post,” Bernadas said. These mobile vaccination teams, he said, should do the necessary evaluation and screening before inoculation, as well as the required post-inoculation observation time for at least an hour to monitor adverse events of the vaccines, if any. Bernadas also advised local governments to prepare a substitution list that can be used in case those who are scheduled to be vaccinated under the A1, A2 and A3 priority lists fail to show up. (John Rey Saavedra)

DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas (PNA)

Vivant gets 25-year contract with Cebu water district

A photo from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District shows the Buhisa Dam which is one of the water sources of the MCWD. CEBU CITY – Power company Vivant Corporation announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vivant Hydrocore Holdings Inc. (VHHI), has been awarded a 25-year bulk water supply agreement by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD). This was disclosed by the company in a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange after it received notice from its water infrastructure unit. “MCWD concluded a successful bid for the Cordo-

va Bulk Water Supply Project through a solicited proposal with VHHI as the private sector proponent and Watermatic Philippines Corporation (WMP) as its technical partner,” the statement reads. The firm said VHHI will build a utility-scale desalination plant that will augment the limited bulk water supply of MCWD cubic meters by 20,000 cubic meters per day of treated and potable water. “This investment in bulk wa-

ter supply is a key milestone for the Vivant group to deliver on its promise to provide forward-looking and adaptable solutions for its communities,” the company said, adding, the Vivant Group is also set to sign a joint venture agreement with MCWD. Water supply has been one of Cebu’s major economic challenges in recent years, with the increased urbanization in the metropolitan area. The water demand is expected to increase with the rising economic activities and growing industries in Cebu. The fast population growth in Metro Cebu is also increasing the pressure on existing systems of water supply. The expanding urbanization and the rising population are two major factors cited to have intensified the challenges related to water quality and wastewater treatment. (Carlo Lorenciana)

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