Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (October 25-31, 2021)

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October 25-31, 2021

‘Talk to the People’ hindi poll campaign: Duterte

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GINIIT NI Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ang mga kanyang virtual presser o “Talk to the People” ang hindi election campaign at nais lamang umano nito na ipaalam sa publiko kung ano ang ginagawa ng kanyang administrasyon.

“Hindi ito sa kam- na hindi ito ano, pera ng because sinabi ko sa inyo panya kasi we are in the tao ito. So kaya lang nan- ipapakita ko kung saan Continue on page 2 campaign period already dito kami in this program

China continues to help the Philippines

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian

DAVAO CITY – China has vowed to continue providing assistance - in the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan - for the construction and livelihood development of Davao City and the Philippines to bring more benefits to the people.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has recently donated 10 brand new ambulances and vans to President Duterte’s hometown to boost Davao City’s anti-epidemic efforts.

The donation was received by Duterte’s son, Sebastian who is also the vice mayor of Davao City. “It’s our pleasure to contribute to the efforts of the City Government of Davao to advocate the Continue on page 3

RIATF deploys Covid teams in ZamPen PAGADIAN CITY – The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-MEID) said it has deployed special Continue on page 5

Ang Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang ‘Talk to the People’ sa Malacañang nitong Oktubre 19 at makikita rin ang isang foot massager sa ilalim ng kanyang mesa. (Kuha ni Simeon Celi)

Pilot Covid-19 alert level system extends to Mindanao, Visayas CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The national government’s Inter-Agency Task

Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has

Sara Duterte clear on intent not to run under PDP: Cusi DAVAO CITY Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has been clear in her statement that

she will not run under the PDP-Laban party, its president Alfonso Cusi said

‘Mental health’ app launched

Lusog-Isip application promotion material.

ARMM

Eastern Mindanao

amid speculation she is the group's eventual Continue on page 2

Maranaos told to safeguard peace

A neighborhood in Zamboanga City under lockdown. (Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Department of Health and the USAID RenewHealth project launched the “Lusog-Isip”, the first mobile application for mental health and self-care for Filipinos. Lusog-Isip was Continue on page 6

included selected provinces in Visayas and Continue on page 5

An October 2017 front page photo of the Mindanao Examiner shows President Duterte with soldiers at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental before they are deployed to fight the terrorists in Marawi City.

Western Mindanao

Cebu

MARAWI CITY – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año called on Marawi residents to help in the pursuit of a more peaceful and secure nation by safeguarding their communities.

Año said it is the collective duty of the citizens to drive out anyone who puts the nation's peace, security, and sovereignty to the test. He stressed that though the government has won the battle in Marawi four years ago, spoilers of peace are still lurking in Continue on page 2

Manila

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

‘Talk to the People’ hindi poll campaign: Duterte

Continued from page 1 ‘yung pera ninyo napunta. Napakita na namin ‘yung sa mga airports, highways and everything, and of course, the greatest damage inflicted by the siege primarily started by the terrorists left Marawi into rubbles. So pinakita ko sa inyo kung saan ang pera natin nagpunta,” ani Duterte matapos itong magtungo kamakailan sa Marawi City upang inagurahan ang isang mosque doon.

Matatandaan nawasak ang buong Marawi dahil sa pambobomba ng militar upang maitaboy ang mga pro-ISIS militants na kumupkop sa naturang lungsod noong Mayo 2017.

Tumagal ng 5 buwan ang sagupaan sa Marawi at halos walang naturang kabahayan doon na walang tama ng bala o bomba at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakabalik sa Marawi ang mga residente dahil sa matinding pinsala na iniwan ng giyerang kumitil sa buhay ng daan-daang katao.

Sa kabila ng pahayag ni Duterte ay todo naman ang banat nito sa Senado at puntirya palagi si Senador Richard Gordon na siyang chairman ng Blue Ribbon committee na nagiimbestiga sa diumano’y katiwalian at korapsyon sa pamahalaan.

Maging ang mga ibang “presidential” candidates at oposisyon ay bina-

banatan rin ni Duterte sa kanyang virtual presser at ibinibida ang sariling mga kandidato sa darating na halalan.

“May makita lang ano, ah corruption, corruption nandito, corruption.

Magandang issue kasi ‘yan kasi election. Iyong hindi naman nakaalam masyado o walang alam, o alangan ‘yung alam eh tapos sumali kayo sa, hindi ninyo alam ang proseso, now you see the light of day. At the first instance we have said, the Senate is not a criminal investigation body. If you are looking for graft, hindi diyan, sa Ombudsman. It’s the prosecutors who will pore over the documents and would tell you that there is

Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

a good case to file in court.

Otherwise, sabihin sa iyo i-dismiss natin ‘yan kasi walang ebidensiya.”

“But there are some people who keep on hammering, that is a free campaign exposure. Pero sinabi ko sa inyo alam ko na --- ang mga tao na may

dalawa ang mukha dito sa ating gobyerno,” paliwanag pa ni Duterte na patuloy sa pagtatanggol sa kumapanyang Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation na nakukuha ng bilyon-bilyong halaga ng kontrata mula sa pamahalaan.

Pinagbawalan rin ni Duterte ang mga Gabinete at opisyal o empleyado ng pamahalaan na dumalo sa Blue Ribbon hearing at iginiit na walang anomalya o korapsyon sa kontrata ng Pharmally sa pamahalaan. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sara Duterte clear on intent not to run under PDP: Cusi Continued from page 1 presidential bet. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has filed his candidacy for president under PDP-Laban, with Senator Christopher Go as his running-mate.

Asked if PDP-Laban is really going to field the tandem in the 2022 elections or if the party will be looking for another candidate, Cusi said: “Anything is possible at this time.”

However, he said Duterte, daughter of party chairman President Rodrigo Duterte, is firm on her stance. “Yung kay Mayor Inday Sara substituting Bato, that is something na hindi namin na-consider because very clear naman ang statement ni Mayor Inday na hindi siya tatakbo under PDP. So kung hindi siya, paano namin isa-substitute yun?" Cusi told ANC's Headstart.

Election rules allow substitution of candidates if both the original filer and the substitute contender are under one party.

Duterte, who has

been leading preference surveys on the presidency, heads regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago. She has filed her candidacy for re-election as mayor.

Cusi said Dela Rosa was fielded because the party's original plan fell through. PDP-Laban had earlier nominated Go for president and the elder Duterte for vice-president.

Although Duterte initially accepted the nomination, he pulled a surprise when he later accompanied his long-time aide Go in filing a certificate of candidacy for vice-president.

“Nung hindi po nangyari yun and the President said 'I’m not going to run anymore,' we made an adjustment in the party because we cannot be orphaned na wala kaming kandidato na presidente saka vice-president.

Ang pinakamabilis nun, pinag-file na po si Sen. Bong Go for vice-president,” Cusi said.

“During that time, even before naman na nag-uusap kami, iniisip namin who are the possible candidates—every-

body’s a possible candidate, puwedeng tumakbo.

At that time, nandun po si Sen. Bato at sabi natin, may advocacy rin ito, so yun ang napagkasunduan ng partido, na i-field siya para magtakbong presidente,” he added.

Dela Rosa was chosen to be the standard bearer because he is aligned with the advocacy and the "program of government" of the party, Cusi said.

“Why did we put Senator Bato? It’s because he has that advocacy, he supports the program of the president so he can advance the party’s program. Yun ang hinahanap namin sa presidente,” he said.

A former police chief, Dela Rosa had led Duterte's anti-narcotics drive before he was elected as senator in 2019. In a recent virtual conference, Dela Rosa revealed that he was chosen as the presidential bet of Cusi’s PDP-Laban wing some 2 hours before the filing of candidates closed. He said he was surprised with the decision, but it was a “great honor” for him. (ABS-CBN News)

Maranaos told to safeguard peace Continued from page 1 the communities waiting for the opportunity to instigate chaos once again.

He was referring to pro-ISIS militants and foreign terrorists who are waging a violent campaign in the South for the establishment of a caliphate.

Año paid tribute to the 168 “fallen heroes” who made the ultimate sacrifice to free Marawi City from the clutches of terrorists and to remember the innocents who lost their lives during the

battle that lasted for five months.

He also urged residents to take inspiration from the victory in Marawi which is a testament of Filipino patriotism and defiance against terrorism.

“Hindi man tayo isang malaki o makapangyarihang bansa ngunit handa tayong ipaglaban ang ating kasarinlan at kapayapaan hanggang sa huli dahil tayo ay naninindigan na walang puwang sa Pilipinas ang terorismo at karahasan,” Año said.

Año emphasized that the liberation of Marawi will go down in the annals of history as one the country’s proudest moments and biggest victory against terrorism. “Even as we uphold and respect the primacy of peace, make no mistake about it, we shall remain to be a lethal force capable of destroying any threat to our nation for we will not cower in the face of lawlessness and terrorism,” he said. (Apipa Bagumbaran and Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

China continues to help the Philippines

SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO

Peadiatric Covid vaccination continues

A UNICEF photo shows a medical frontliner vaccinating a child against Covid-19.

OVER 3,400 children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 had been inoculated against Covid-19, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire who said that more hospitals are expected to participate in the government’s paediatric vaccination program.

“Nagpaplano na po ngayon para ma-expand pa natin itong mga hospi-

tal na ating pinag-umpisahan para mas marami po tayong mga kabataang mabakunahan pa,” she said.

The pilot run of the pediatric vaccination started on October 18 and targets of the program are children with comorbidities and those who have an impaired immune system.

Dr. Kezia Rosario, of

the National Vaccination Operations Center, said only one child had allergic reaction to the vaccine.

“Iyong isa, iyong severe case natin ay mayroong allergic reaction siya.

The rest are related lang sa pagbabakuna na nastress lang po sila during the vaccination. Nothing serious naman,” she said.

(Maria Teresa Montemayor)

Continued from page 1 well-being of its citizens. Hope these ambulances and vehicles could help to save more lives at this difficult time. We will, as always, stand together with the Philippine government and people to jointly overcome the pandemic till the day of a final victory,” Huang said.

Huang also said that China would donate to the Philippines some one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac. “I am glad to inform (you) that the Chinese government has decided to donate another 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccines. I hope that the vaccines will further facilitate the on-going vaccination roll-out and promote early economic and social recovery in the Philippines,” he said.

China is now the number-one trading partner of the Philippines and Huang said the Chinese imports and investment help the Philippines recover from effects of the health crisis.

“Happy to see that China is now the Philippines’ number-one trading partner, number- one import source, number-two export market, and major foreign investor. The economic tie between China and the Philippines is helping the Philip-

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte during the virtual turn over of the Chinese donation of brand new ambulances and vans. pine economy recover from the downturn caused by the pandemic,” he said.

Huang also quoted Filipino Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez as saying that “Philippine exports to China have increased significantly during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“From January to June 2021, our export to China reached 5.5 billion U.S. dollars or an increase of 34 percent compared to the same period in 2020. China has widely accepted our export products, making it easy for our products to enter the Chinese market,” Lopez said.

He added that Chinese investments kept pouring

into the Philippines during the Duterte administration, even amid the pandemic because the country gained from the President’s independent foreign policy stance.

According to Philippines’ statistics, China ranked Philippines’ number-two foreign investment source in 2016-2020 as its cumulative investment in the country reached P158 billion, increased by 337% comparing with the 20112015 figure.

He also said signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November last year was another good thing during the Duterte administration, and the RCEP is a historic free trade agreement.

“I sincerely wish that the Philippines could ratify the agreement as soon as possible. Turning the agreement into effect will benefit further the trade and investment relation between our two countries, and this, will consequently benefit the Philippine economy and people,” Huang said. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 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, Maimbung Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz Salapuddin)

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

Pilot Covid-19 alert level system extends to Mindanao, Visayas

RIATF deploys Covid teams in ZamPen Continued from page 1 Covid-19 teams in Zamboanga Peninsula as part of an effort to help the local governments address and mitigate the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Manuel Luis Ochotorena, the regional director of the Office of the Civil Defence, who is the chairman of the RIATF-MEID, said a special Covid team has already met with Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local IATF-MEID and other task force members, and discussed the prevailing health situation there.

Zamboanga has nearly 3,000 active Covid cases which forced the RIATF-MEID to recommend to the national government’s IATF-MEID to impose stricter quarantine measures. The city has been placed under Moderate Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until the end of

the month.

Zamboanga del Norte is also under MECQ and Zamboanga del Sur in General Community Quarantine but with heightened restrictions.

Zamboanga Sibugay is now under General Community Quarantine.

Ochotorena said they are going around different barangays to see and assess the situation, especially those with a high number of Covid cases.

“Binibisita namin yun mga ibat-ibang barangays to check and see how they manage Covid cases.

We need to assess the situation to come up with various measures and recommendations sa local government, sa local IATF so we can mitigate the spread of the virus,” he told the Zamboanga Post.

He said residents must strictly follow the public health protocols and community quarantine guide-

lines set by the local government. “People should strictly follow all these health protocols and the quarantine guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus in the community.

This is very important to ensure the safety of every one because Covid-19 is a serious disease,” he said.

Ochotorena also lauded the health protocols imposed by Climaco at the Fort Pilar shrine during the celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. “Mabuti nga at mahigpit yun implementation ng health protocols natin sa Fort Pilar. It was really a potential (Covid) super spreader event and delikado talaga to allow more people sa Fort Pilar,” he said.

He also commended Climaco and the local IATF-MEID for their efforts in battling Covid-19.

(Zamboanga Post, Mindanao Examiner)

Continued from page 1 Mindanao as pilot areas for the implementation of the so-called Covid-19 Alert Levels System.

The system was first introduced in the National Capital Region (NCR) and eventually extended in other parts of the country.

This was confirmed by Presidential spokesman Harry Roque who said the system started on October 20.

“Nasa Alert Level 4 po ang Negros Oriental at Davao Occidental. Nasa Alert Level 3 po ang Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao City, at Davao del Norte. Habang nasa Alert Level 2 naman po ang Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, at Davao Oriental,” Roque said.

He said that once the evaluation of the Alert Levels System shows that it is more effective than the current community quarantine classifications, then it will be implemented nationwide.

“Ilang mga rehiyon pa lang ang na-include natin doon sa pilot implementation.

We are expanding our pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System habang binubusisi pa talaga yung resulta ng initial pilot,” Roque said.

Under the pilot Alert Levels System, dine-in services in food preparation establishments are allowed indoor for “fully vaccinated” individuals provided that workers and employees of the establishments are fully vaccinated, with the following venue or seating capacity: 10 percent in Alert Level (AL) 4; 30% in AL 3; 50% in AL2, and 100% in AL 1.

Outdoor dine-in services are allowed for all customers at 30, 50, 70, and 100% for AL 4 to AL 1, respectively.

Roque said film, music, and television productions shall be subject to joint guidelines as may be issued by relevant government agencies and shall be allowed indoor for fully vaccinated at 10, 30, 50, and 100% for AL 4 to AL 1 respectively, and outdoors for all customers at 30, 50, 70, and 100% for AL 4 to AL 1, respectively.

He said specialty examinations authorized by the IATFMEID shall be allowed at the same indoor capacities as mentioned above, subject to health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF-MEID, provided that workers and employees are fully vaccinated and they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals.

Meanwhile, fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports, shall be subject to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sector-specific protocols. Indoor capacity is at 10, 30, 50, and 100% for AL 4 to AL 1, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, while outdoor capacity is allowed at 30, 50, 70, and 100% for AL 4 to AL 1, respectively, and will be open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated, For all contact sports, Roque said it is not allowed under AL

4 for both indoor and outdoor; not allowed under AL 3, except those conducted under a “bubble-type” set-up and approved by the local government where such games shall be held; allowed at 50% indoor and 70% outdoor in AL 2, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, with fully vaccinated workers and employees for indoor and for all customers for outdoor; and allowed at 100% under AL 1.

Roque also said that venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions; permitted venues for social events; visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like; amusement parks and theme parks; and recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues have different capacities and protocols for indoor and outdoor per Alert Level.

These establishments are allowed indoor at 10% in AL 4, provided that they have been issued the Safety Seal Certification and will cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, and workers and employees are fully vaccinated.

For AL 3 to AL 2, these establishments are allowed indoors at 30 and 50%, respectively, provided that they will only cater to fully vaccinated individuals and their workers or employees are fully vaccinated; and 100% for AL 1.

The same industries are allowed at 30 percent outdoor capacity at AL4, provided that the establishments have been issued a Safety Seal Certification, and workers/employees are fully vaccinated. While 50 and 70 percent outdoor venue/ seating capacity are allowed for AL3 to AL2, respectively, provided that their workers/ employees are fully vaccinated and 100 percent for AL1.

On the other hand, Roque

said the operation of cinemas shall be subject to DTI sector-specific guidelines. These establishments are not allowed in AL 4 for both indoor and outdoor; allowed at 30% indoor in AL 3; and 50% in AL 2, and 100% in AL 1, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals and workers and employees are vaccinated; allowed at 50% outdoor in AL 3; and 70% in AL 2, and 100% in AL 1.

For personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic and cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures, including home service options shall be subject to DTI sector-specific protocols at 10, 30, 50, and 100% indoor in AL 4 to AL 1, respectively, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals and workers and employees are fully vaccinated; and at 30, 50, 70, and 100% outdoor in AL 4 to AL 1, respectively, provided that workers and employees are fully vaccinated.

He said casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and the operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments remain prohibited in AL 4 to AL 2, except as may be authorized by the IATF-MEID or the Office of the President. All of these, however, are allowed under AL 1.

Also not allowed for both indoor and outdoor in AL 4 and AL 3 are venues with live voice or wind instrument performers and audiences such as karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters, as well as funfairs and kid amusement centers such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides. The same listed industries are allowed at 50% indoor and 70% outdoor in AL 2, provided that in indoor they are fully vaccinated and 100% in AL1 both indoor and outdoor. (Mindanao Examiner)

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

‘Mental health’ app launched Continued from page 1 developed in response to the growing need for mental healthcare, especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic when the delivery of traditional face-to-face interventions has become more challenging.

The application aims to expand access to culturally-adapted, evidence-based tools and interventions on mental health, emphasizing self-help and self-care.

It also screens individuals so it can get a better sense of their overall well-being and how they usually cope with stress, before recommending ways they can help themselves through workbooks, exercises, audio guides, journaling, mood tracking, or simple self-care reminders.

If users feel they really need to speak to someone, they can also access a list of mental health and psychosocial support service providers near them or online.

“This app is a timely innovation and we thank our partners at USAID for making this a reality. As the DOH and our health workers strive towards coping and living with this pandemic, we must find ways to care for the mental well-being of our fellow Filipinos who continue

to suffer because of this current circumstance.”

“Lusog-Isip is a selfcare app and one way we can make mental healthcare more accessible to those who need it,” said Frances Prescilla Cuevas, Chief Health Program Officer of the DOH Mental Health Division.

The application is available for both Android and iOS devices through the Google Play and Apple App Store.

The development of Lusog-Isip is also timely in Zamboanga City where the number of suicide cases is high due to depression. And only last week, two young men hanged themselves separately due to depression.

Official data of national and local suicides cases were not immediately available, but last year, there were at least 20 cases of suicides in Zamboanga that prompted Mayor Beng Climaco to order the City Health Office to formulate a mental health program and for the City Budget Office to fund the project.

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite attributed these incidents to many factors, including stress due to the current health crisis. “With what is happening right now due to the pandemic, this contributes to our stress. Those who

cannot cope with or handle the stress well get depressed and some of them commit suicide,” Miravite said.

“We are sad over the number of suicide incidents due to frustrations as a result of Covid-19, but as mayor of Zamboanga City together with the department heads and 98 barangays, we do everything possible to help alleviate the plight of our people, especially during these trying times of the pandemic.

There is hope in our efforts in God’s grace,” the mayor said.

Climaco said mental health programs are important, especially during this time of the pandemic. “Our local government requested the City Budget Office to study the program together with our mental health professionals,” she said.

She said a team of medical officers from the City Health Office and other agencies have already met and will come up with a program addressing mental health issues. “We are concerned with everybody’s mental health and mental health awareness is very important and we need to raise the collective consciousness about mental health,” she said.

(Zamboanga Post, Mindanao Examiner)

Government allows firms to bar unvaccinated workers COMPANIES NOW have the right not to employ workers who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

DOLE was responding to criticism of several large corporations by labor unions for turning down unvaccinated applicants. The hiring of employees is an employer’s right so corporations can by law refuse to accept unvaccinated workers, it said.

“Before a person is employed, there is no employer-employee relationship.

As to whether you can be employed, that’s the privilege of the employer,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello told reporters.

He said vaccine requirements are a valid yet added qualification for someone to qualify for a job they are applying for.

“Sometimes employers specify something that they are looking for, like a 25-year-

old with a pleasing personality. If you don’t have a pleasing personality, they can reject you, right? It’s a valid qualification, correct?” Bello said.

The national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recently required all employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Bello described the policy as a valid exercise of the power of the state to safeguard the health and well-being of the people.

Labor union Nagkaisa said its criticism of employers was not opposition to the vaccination policy but an appeal to companies to provide a grace period for applicants to get vaccinated.

Lawyer Sonny Matula said the Covid vaccine issue should not be weaponized by companies to violate workers’ rights. “We will continue our advocacy for the promotion and respect of work-

ers’ rights such as the fight against contractualization, national minimum wage and better bargaining power, especially during this pandemic,” Matula told UCA News.

Meanwhile, BaguioBishop Victor Bendico renewed his call for Catholics to be inoculated against Covid-19. He also urged his fellow prelates to get vaccinated so that they could serve the Church fully and with more charity. “Getting vaccinated is not only for our own good, it is also for the good of others,” he told Catholic-run Radyo Veritas.

The bishop said every Catholic has a moral duty to keep each other safe from the virus.

Addressing the workplace issue, he said the policy is meant to keep everyone safe. “We need to make sure we are not carriers of the virus ourselves. Thus, we need to be vaccinated,” he said. (Joseph Peter Calleja / UCAN)

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October 25-31, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

Sulu Pictures in the News

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Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Picture of the Week

A painting dubbed “Hermosa: Un Gran Celebracion” by Princess Nicole Zia C. Luy (Inset) of Zamboanga City in dedication to the “Grand Celebration of my beloved Zamboanga City.” The painting is one of the Top 15 Finalists for the Zamboanga Hermosa Art Competition sponsored by the Zamboanga City Government and is now on exhibit at the KCC Mall de Zamboanga until October 30. “An exciting moment.

Entering my very first art exhibition! I am very pleased and appreciative to learn that my Art Concept was chosen by the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Committee. It is an honor to be recognized for my hard work,” says Princess Nicole Zia C. Luy.

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

Across : 1. Entirely 4. Location 8. Alaskan port 12. River (Sp.) 13. Matador’s foe 14. Diva’s specialty 15. Promissory note 16. Declaration 18. Disparaging 20. Musical sound 21. Perfume 23. Snaky shapes 27. Native Peruvians 28. Golf gadget 29. Eased up 31. Marked down in price (2 wds.)

34. Corral 35. Flawless 36. Salty drops 39. Closest 42. Every 44. Oven gadget 45. Five-sided base (2 wds.)

49. Physicians’ group (abbr.)

50. Till bills 51. Pub orders 52. Facial spasm 53. Zero 54. Steak, e.g.

55. Newark time zone (abbr.)

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Marilou Cablinda Answer to last week’s crossword:

Down : 1. Ascend 2. Roaring beasts 3. New Orleans’ state 4. Lack 5. Boring routine 6. Makes very happy 7. Chorus voice 8. Appoints 9. Lode load 10. Hr. part 11. Have supper 17. WSW’s opposite 19. Small depression 22. Rogue 24. Deadlock 25. Conger 26. Visualize 29. Suitable

30. Spelling contest 31. Lyric poem 32. Least cluttered 33. Hindu garb 35. Take a breath 37. Della ___ of “Touched by an Angel” 38. Plant Juice 40. Truckers’ vehicles 41. Piece of land 43. Chowder ingredient 45. Deary 46. Lennon’s Yoko ___ 47. Gents 48. Iced ___

Weekly Sudoku:

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Answer to last week:

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The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

U.S. surgeons successfully test pig kidney transplant in human patient

HEALTH

One egg a day lang po!

Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

M Members of the xenotransplant surgical team at NYU Langone Health pose for a photo in New York, U.S., in this undated handout photo. (Joe Carrotta for NYU Langone Health/Handout via Reuters) FOR THE first time, a pig kidney has been transplanted into a human without triggering immediate rejection by the recipient's immune system, a potentially major advance that could eventually help alleviate a dire shortage of human organs for transplant.

The procedure done at NYU Langone Health in New York City involved use of a pig whose genes had been altered so that its tissues no longer contained a molecule known to trigger almost immediate rejection.

The recipient was a brain-dead patient with signs of kidney dysfunction whose family consented to the experiment before she was due to be taken off of life support, researchers told Reuters.

For three days, the new kidney was attached to her blood vessels and maintained outside her body, giving researchers access to it.

Test results of the transplanted kidney's function "looked pretty normal," said transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the study.

The kidney made "the amount of urine that you would expect" from a transplanted human kidney, he said, and there was no evidence of the vigorous, early rejection seen

when unmodified pig kidneys are transplanted into non-human primates.

The recipient's abnormal creatinine level - an indicator of poor kidney function - returned to normal after the transplant, Montgomery said.

In the United States, nearly 107,000 people are presently waiting for organ transplants, including more than 90,000 awaiting a kidney, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Wait times for a kidney average three-tofive years.

Researchers have been working for decades on the possibility of using animal organs for transplants, but have been stymied over how to prevent immediate rejection by the human body.

Montgomery's team theorized that knocking out the pig gene for a carbohydrate that triggers rejection - a sugar molecule, or glycan, called alpha-gal - would prevent the problem.

The genetically altered pig, dubbed GalSafe, was developed by United Therapeutics Corp's (UTHR.O) Revivicor unit.

It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2020, for use as food for people with a meat allergy and as a potential source of human therapeutics.

Medical products developed from the pigs would still require specific FDA approval before being used in humans, the agency said.

Other researchers are considering whether GalSafe pigs can be sources of everything from heart valves to skin grafts for human patients.

The NYU kidney transplant experiment should pave the way for trials in patients with endstage kidney failure, possibly in the next year or two, said Montgomery, himself a heart transplant recipient. Those trials might test the approach as a shortterm solution for critically ill patients until a human kidney becomes available, or as a permanent graft.

The current experiment involved a single transplant, and the kidney was left in place for only three days, so any future trials are likely to uncover new barriers that will need to be overcome, Montgomery said. Participants would probably be patients with low odds of receiving a human kidney and a poor prognosis on dialysis.

"For a lot of those people, the mortality rate is as high as it is for some cancers, and we don't think twice about using new drugs and doing new trials (in cancer patients) when it might give them a couple of months more of life," Montgomery said.

The researchers worked with medical ethicists, legal and religious experts to vet the concept before asking a family for temporary access to a brain-dead patient, Montgomery said. (Reuters / Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Bill Berkrot.)

arami ang nagtatanong kung ilang itlog ang puwede nilang kainin?

May magandang balita at hindi magandang balita tungkol sa itlog.

Ang itlog ay may protina, vitamin B12, vitamin D, riboflavin at folate.

Mabuti ito sa katawan at masustansya.

Ngunit sa kabilang banda ay may 213 milligrams ng kolesterol ang isang pula ng itlog. Mataas ito sa kolesterol dahil ang rekomendasyon ng American Heart Association ay huwag kumain ng lampas sa 300 milligrams ng kolesterol sa isang araw.

Sari-sari ang opinyon tungkol sa itlog. Ngunit ang sasabihin ko ngayon ay ang deklarasyon ng mga doktor ng American Heart Association at Philippine Heart Association.

Heto ang payo namin:

1. Kung ika’y malusog, walang sakit sa puso, diabetes o problema sa kolesterol, puwede kang kumain ng 1 itlog sa isang araw. Mag-ingat lang sa mga kasamang pagkain ng itlog tulad ng hotdog, bacon at tocino. Piliin ang boiled egg kaysa sa pritong itlog.

2. Kung ika’y may sakit sa puso, diabetes o mataas ang kolesterol, kailangan limitahan mo ang pagkain ng itlog sa 3 itlog lang sa isang linggo. Kung gusto mo kumain ng itlog, mas mabuti ang puti ng itlog na lang ang kainin at huwag na ang pula o egg yolk.

Nasa egg yolk kasi ang kolesterol.

3. Eat eggs in moderation. Sa kahit anong bagay ay dapat hinay-hinay lang ang pagkain. Kapag sinobrahan mo ang isang bagay, puwede itong makasama sa iyo.

Ano ang mangya-

yari kapag kumain nang maraming itlog?

Ayon sa mga pagsusuri, ang pagkain ng lampas sa 1 itlog sa isang araw ay puwedeng magdulot ng bara sa ugat ng puso at panghihina ng puso.

Para sa akin, hindi ko maipapayo ang pagkain ng lampas sa 1 itlog sa isang araw. Kailangan ay balanse ang ating diyeta.

Kumain ng (1) gulay, (2) prutas at (3) isda.

Masustansya ang gulay tulad ng kangkong, malunggay, carrots at kalabasa. Sa mga prutas, sagana sa bitamina ang saging, suha at mansanas. Sa isda naman, mabuti sa katawan ang sardinas, tuna at bangus belly.

Kaibigan, gulay, prutas at isda lang talaga ang masasabi kong subok na sa sustansya para sa ating katawan. Good luck po!

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)

10

The Mindanao Examiner

October 25-31, 2021

October 25-31, 2021

The Mindanao Examiner

11

Founded 2006 mindanaoexaminer.com FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (082) 2841859

P10

October 25-31, 2021

‘Moalboal is top diving spot’

T

HE 2021 World Travel Awards has hailed the Philippines again as Asia’s leading beach and dive destination with Moalboal town in Cebu is among the top diving spots named by WTA along with the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Malapascua, and Balicasag, Panglao, and Anda in Bohol; and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.

This is the country’s ism stakeholders, local “More Fun Awaits” global fifth time to win the pres- government units, partner campaign. tigious award and the agencies, and all Filipinos Some of the country’s third time in a row since who have been helping us top beach destinations, 2019. WTA, established promote our country’s at- such as Boracay in Aklan, in 1993, is the travel in- tractions, products, and Siargao in Surigao del Norte, dustry's most prestigious culture,” said Tourism Sec- and El Nido and Amanpulo awards program. retary Bernadette Puyat. in Palawan, have already “We are elated that She said the award fur- opened to domestic tourists the country’s pristine ther boosts the efforts of the and are ready to welcome beaches and mesmeriz- Department of Tourism to foreign tourists once intering dive spots have once keep the Philippines as a national borders reopen, again been cited as the top-of-mind destination for Puyat said, adding the DOT best in Asia by the pres- foreign tourists as it awaits continues to identify potentigious 2021 World Travel the resumption of interna- tial destinations that may Awards. We share this rec- tional leisure travel to the be developed for dive tourognition with our tour- country, consistent with its ism. (Cebu Examiner)

Covid-19 Risk Reduction Project launched in Cebu CEBU CITY – The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Philippines (APAD PH) have partnered to help localities prepare for emergencies amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The partnership, dubbed as “Covid-19 Risk Reduction Project” was launched here recently to help localities plot emergency response programs. CCCI is APAD PH’s lead convenor in Central Visayas.

CCCI president Felix Taguiam said the project will benefit Cebu’s countryside areas. “The thrust for multi-sector collaboration is the key for faster, inclusive, better preparedness and efficient disaster response, especially in these challenging times,” he said.

APAD PH has donated medical tents to CCCI intended for its chapters to aid in responding to multiple disasters and threats during the pandemic and beyond, and as part of the Covid-19 Risk Reduction Project which is funded by the Japa-

nese Foreign Ministry.

The Japanese Consul General in Cebu, Toshihide Kawasaki, said the assistance could give disaster-affected people better conditions, safety, and relief even in this difficult pandemic time.

“The material value of this donation, impressive as it is, pales beside the value count of the spirit with which it has been given. For these tents represent the goodwill and warm heartedness of your organization (APAD PH) towards the Cebuanos,” Taguiam said. (Carlo Lorenciana)

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with a giant school of fish, Moalboal will make your dream come true with its dense concentration of sardine swims en masse along a reef wall 30 meters off Panagsama Beach. (Photo courtesy of Guide to the Philippines - https://guidetothephilippines.ph)

8 schools ready for face-to-face classes CEBU CITY – Education officials said eight public schools in the province included in the pilot run of the limited face-to-face classes on November 15 have put up safety measures and health protocols against the Covid-19 disease.

These are the Basak Elementary School in Samboan, Mahanlud Elementary School in Malabuyoc, Cabagdalan Elementary

School in Balamban, Luyongbaybay Elementary School in Bantayan, Cañang-Marcelo Luna National High School in Oslob, Busay National High School in Moalboal, Pilar National High School in Camotes Island, and Siocon Elementary School in Bogo City.

Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said each of the schools has created their own implementation plan which will serve as

a guide for school principals during the twomonth pilot run. He said 30 schools in Cebu, mostly in the hinterland and island villages were included in the list after the barangay councils passed a resolution saying the areas are Covid-free.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said only 30 schools have passed the safety assessment. (John Rey Saavedra)

Feature: Air Purifier Necklace

"Daghan mi ug nakat-unan sa among pakighinabi ug pakighimamat sa mga kaigsuonan nato sa Bogo ug Daan Bantayan. Malipayon kaayu ko sa inyong gihatag nga panahon. Salamat sa pag welcome, sa maayong pagtagad ug sa suporta.

Kita-kita ta puhon balik!" - Ace Durano and Junjun Davide

ARMM

Eastern Mindanao

ARE AIR purifiers especially the mini, portable ones worn as necklaces effective in preventing transmission of Covid-19 or other coronaviruses?

What our experts say Mini, portable air purifier necklaces (such as the type available for purchase on consumer websites) have not been shown to prevent Covid-19 infection and there have been no studies about their effectiveness to date. Indoor air purifier units can help reduce tiny parts of virus in the air (airborne contaminants) in a home or confined space if they are used correctly, but

Western Mindanao

they are not enough to protect people from Covid-19.

Context and background Miniature, portable air purifiers are currently being advertised around the world, particularly in online marketplaces. Unfortunately, many claims made by these products around Covid-19 prevention are unverified. Some products have claimed to use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which are physical filters that meet a standard of catching at least 99.7% of particulates that are 0.3 micrometers or larger in size (although the

Cebu

SARS-CoV-2 virus particles causing Covid-19 are smaller on average than this 0.3 micrometer standard for HEPA filters).

According to Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr. Nidhy Varghese, “even if these microbes make it into the purifier, they may elude filtration...the data so far suggests that it is unlikely that air purifiers will help with coronaviruses." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also emphases that "by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from Covid-19."

(Health-desk.org)

Manila