Chinese minister hopes Philippines will revive talks on oil, gas deals in South China Sea
BFP personnel practice setting up the Mass Casualty Decontamination System, which is designed to decontaminate large numbers of patients effectively and simultaneously in a short period of time.
Unabated smuggling continues
THE Philippines has been one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia Pacific region with an average annual growth increased to 6.4% between 2010 to 2019 from an average of 4.5% from 2000 Continue on page 4Continue on page 4
W ITH fresh backing from the Senate leadership, Sen Grace Poe underITH fresh from the Senate Sen. Grace Poe underscored anew the need for a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Card Regscored anew the need for a SIM (Subscriber Module) Card Registration law to battle incessant spam messages clogging cell phones andistration law to battle incessant spam messages cell and duping subscribers subscribers. to put an end to text scams'
Sulu State College now offers Tourism course
SULU - The Sulu State College has now included Bachelor of Science Tourism Management in its list of courses and further boosting the potential of the province as a major destination for holidaymakers and Charismatravellers.Ututalum,Continueonpage 2Continue on page 2 photo from the Sulu Provincial Tourism Office shows a group of Filipino tourists visiting the province.
Marcos
“The open support of the Senate President will be an impetus to bolster the passage of our bill. Hackers, spammers, and phishers appear to get more sophisticated by the day and come up with Continue on page 2Continue on page 2 pledges support to MSMEs
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police and customs agents patrolling off Zamboanga City in southern Philippines intercepted a speedboat loaded with 142 boxes of smuggled cigarettes worth nearly P5 million.Police said the boat was seized recently near Manalipa Island. The Continue on page 6Continue on page 6 A photo released by the Zamboanga City Police Office shows some of the confiscated cigarettes worth nearly P5 million.
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An offshore oil platform and its supply ship in the northern waters of the South China Sea. (Photo by Xinhua)
U.S. combat support agency trains Filipino emergency personnel
SIM card registration pushed
DAVAO CITY – The U.S. government has finished Continue on page 7Continue on page 7
A Chinese minister has expressed hope for the revival of talks with the Philippines on oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, without undermining each other’s claims in the disputed waterway.Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party’s diplomatic arm, the International Liaison Department, told reporters in Manila recently that the Continue on page 7Continue on page 7
ARMM Eastern Mindanao Western Mindanao Cebu Manila Est 2006 mindanaoexaminer.com ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT (062) 9555360 or (0917) 7103642 P10 September 5-11, 2022
The bill was first introduced during President Rodrigo Duterte’s term following the emergence of so-called pro-Duterte “troll farms” on social media, especially even before the 2016 presidential election. But Duterte rejected the bill over concerns that this will give rise to a situation of dangerous state intrusion and surveillance. Duterte vetoed the proposed law over the inclusion of social media registration. The provision requiring social media networks to compel their users to provide their real name and phone numbers when creating accounts was included by lawmakers during the bicameral conference meetings on the bill. The measure also penalizes people who use fictitious identities to register for social media accounts with a fine of up to P200,000, jail time of at least six years or both. Lawmakers passed the measure in an attempt to address terrorism, text scams, bank fraud and defamation online, but internet freedom advocates said this bill will violate Filipinos’ right to privacy. (Mindanao Examiner)
Government with Sulu State College providing instructors and trainers to facilitate the course. Local tourists continue to flock to Sulu where beachfront restaurants have mushroomed due to the improved peace and order situation and the massive infrastructure projects of the local governments.LastJuly, the Mindanao State University in Sulu also proposed the establishment of the College of Law and school officials led by Chancellor Nagder Abdurahman have met with Tan to ask for his endorsement.Abdurahman presented the proposal for Tan’s endorsement to the MSU Board of Regents. He said all necessary preparations were made, including the feasibility study of the proposal, adding, instructors, who are mostly composed of MSU Alumni, will conduct face-to-face classes, if given the go ahead signal. Tan commended the MSU for pushing through with this initiative and expressed his all-out support and assistance for the realization of this objective. He also urged MSU to put more emphasis on courses in Agriculture, saying the province has naturally rich soil and vast agricultural lands planted with a variety of fruit trees, abaca, cacao and coffee to which Sulu is Abdurahmanpopular. welcomed Tan’s suggestion, adding the MSU also has 1,000 hectares of hatchery dedicated to sea cucumber and mad crabs. (Mindanao Examiner)
Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 the college president, has informed Governor Sakur Tan of the new course and even proposed a partnership agreement with the provincial government to encourage locals to take up Bachelor of Science Tourism Management and promote Sulu’s rich history and cultural heritage; and pristine nature parks and white beaches, and culinary showcase.Tansaid he welcomed this development and considered the new college course as a big boost to the growth of the tourism industry in the province. “Even I would like to attend classes in Tourism, to learn and to know more about the subject,” said Tan, who is relentless in promoting Sulu to business groups and travel agencies.And to further enhance and pursue the development and promotion of the tourism industry, Tan said the Provincial Livelihood and Productivity Training Center in partnership with the Sulu State College, would also provide short term courses in Tourism Support Services for free. The program will be funded by the Provincial
Sulu State College now offers Tourism course
2 The Mindanao Examiner September 5-11, 2022 MINDANAOPEACESUPPORTIN SIM card registration pushed
'Time to put an end to text scams'
Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 even more believable scams. They are emboldened to do their dark deeds because they can remain anonymous,” Poe, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said. She said even her staff received spam text messages bearing their names. The messages were invitations to click a link to play “slot game” which is popular in many casinos. “Unwanted messages offering items, jobs, loans, among others have also been ceaseless,” she added.
Poe said no less than Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri nearly fell victim to robbery and extortion attempts through a series of text messages from people posing as government officials demanding cash from him. This prompted Zubiri to reiterate his call for the speedy passage of the SIM Card Registration bill. Poe last month refiled her Senate Bill No. 99 to require public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to register SIM cards as prerequisite to their sale and activation. Under the bill, all existing SIM card subscribers shall register for free with their respective PTEs within 180 days from the measure’s effectivity. The registration period may be extended for another 120 days upon written request to the Department of Information and DatainsentationobtaineddisclosuretosoTechnology.CommunicationsFailuretodowillauthorizethePTEsretiretheSIMcard.Poe’sbillprohibitstheofinformationintheregistra-process,exceptuponcourtorder,writtencon-ofthesubscriberorcompliancewiththePrivacyAct.Breach of confidentiality by any PTE shall be meted penalties: first offense, a fine not to exceed P300,000; second offense, not more than P500,000; third and subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding P1 million for every offense. The unauthorized sale of registered SIM cards shall also be penalized by imprisonment of no less than six years and/or a fine of P200,000.“Each day without the law, someone gets victimized. Scammers spare no one. We must stop them in their tracks,” Poe said as she called on telecom companies to also fight text Globescams. Telecom has more than 87 million subscribers while Smart Telecommunication has over 70 million, and Dito with only 1 million subscribers.
3The Mindanao ExaminerSeptember 5-11, 2022
Marcos said world economies took a hit as the pandemic swept the globe, with businesses being forced to rethink how they could survive the global health crisis and emerge stronger in the aftermath. He said the MSME summit was a great opportunity for businesses not only to see the light at the end of the tunnel but also to finally break through into the sunlight. The gathering, Marcos noted, could be an apt platform for tackling the strategies on how to revitalize MSMEs under the new normal.“Itwill also be an avenue for the government and the private sector to find ways to work together, ensuring an enabling and sound environment for the recovery of the country’s MSMEs, which form part of the backbone of the economy by generating more than half of local employment,” he said.
The President said he is pleased that the MSME Summit focused on post-pandemic recovery and the promotion of digitalization, which are aligned with the administration’s priorities. He also expressed his support for the MSME Development Council led by the trade department in formulating and implementing strategic goals to improve five key business areas: business climate, access to finance, management and labor, access to technology and innovation, and market access.This multidimensional approach, Marcos pointed out, will allow the country to breathe new life into its MSMEs and help them move forward to a more resilient and prosperous future. After the country navigated through the pandemic in the past two years, the President said it is now the time to come up with pandemic-proof strategies that will allow local businesses to take wing and serve its consumer base with quality products and services. “Indeed, the success of our MSMEs is crucial to fortifying the foundation of our economy. From this end, it is my assurance [that] we will continue to stand by your side, walk down the same road no matter the circumstances,” he said. At the same time, Marcos commended Go Negosyo, the Department of Trade and Industry, the US Embassy in the Philippines, and all other partners, describing them as the government’s reliable allies and partners for collaboration and Alsoinnovation.present were US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion III, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and other members of the diplomatic corps. (Mindanao Examiner)
Acknowledging that the village officials are the heart and core of government service, Abalos assured them the government will remain steadfast in capacitating local officials and ensure that they are fully equipped to perform the duties entrusted to them by the people. “Focus on the work that you need to do, extend help to those who greatly need it, and be assured that whatever you may require in accomplishing this grand task, we will do our very best to provide for and assist with in any way that we can,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
Marcos pledges support to MSMEs
BASILAN – The rivalry between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) continues in the restive province of Basilan in the Bangsamoro autonomous region.Both groups maintain territories manned by heavily-armed members in various towns and despite tight security imposed by the police and military, occasional clashes stillJustcontinue.recently, fighting erupted in the village of Bacud in Tipo-Tipo town following the confiscation of alleged illegal drugs by MILF forces from a member of the MNLF on AugustThere28. were no immediate reports of casualties from both sides. The clash occurred a day after members of the MILF and MNLF traded gunfire in the village of Parangbasak in Lamitan City. The fighting reportedly killed a member of the MNLF. The clashes stopped after government forces rushed to the area to prevent the escalation of violence between the two warring groups. Both the MILF and the MNLF have huge forces in Basilan. The Western Mindanao Command and the 1st Infantry Division did not issue any statement and neither the MILF or MNLF leaderships.The rivalry is not exclusive to Basilan, both groups had figured in intense fighting in the past in other parts of Mindanao. And now, the MILF claims to have forces in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces which are strongholds of the MNLF under Nur TheMisuari.MILF is a breakaway faction of the MNLF and has signed a peace deal with the government in 2004 while the MNLF inked a peace accord in 1996. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Village officials told to help eradicate drug problems, maintain peace and order
Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 to 2009, according to the WorldHowever,Bank.it said the Covid-19 pandemic and community quarantine measures imposed in the country had severely impacted economic growth and poverty reduction. Growth contracted significantly in 2020, driven by heavy declines in consumption and investment growth, and exacerbated by the slowdown in tourism and remittances.Similarly, the previous trend in real wages, which is expected to have a positive impact on household incomes—particularly those from the lower income groups—has been severely hampered by the impact of the health crisis, with negative consequences also for poverty reduction in the country.With increasing urbanization, a growing middle class, and a large and young population, the country’s economic dynamism is rooted in strong consumer demand supported by a vibrant labor market and robust remittances. Business activities are buoyant with notable performance in the services sector including business process outsourcing, real estate, tourism, and finance and insurance industries.The Philippine economy has also made progress in delivering inclusive growth, evidenced by a decline in poverty rates and its Gini coefficient. Poverty declined from 23.3% in 2015 to 16.6% in 2018 while the Gini coefficient declined from 44.9 to 42.7 over the same period.Nevertheless, the economy has started to recover with a 5.6% year-on-year expansion in 2021, buoyed by public investment and a recovery in the external environment. With continued recovery and reform efforts, the country is getting back on track on its way from a lower middle-income country with a gross national income per capita of US$3,430 in 2020 to an upper middle-income country (per capita income range of US$4,096–US$12,695) in the shortTheterm.World Bank report said the economy is expected to further rebound, drawing strength from the recovering domestic environment with declining Covid-19 cases and wider economic reopening. Still, the economy faces downside risks from the weak external environment, reeling from an expected global growth deceleration, rising inflation, and geopolitical turmoil. The recovery is expected to also have overall positive impact on poverty reduction.President Bongbong Marcos pledged to support the revitalization of the country’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), recognizing the sector’s role in post-pandemic economic regeneration, job creation, and poverty reduction.“As your President, I assure you that the revitalization of our MSMEs is among the administration’s top priorities,” Marcos told the attendees of the recent MSME Summit 2022 at The Manila Hotel.“I reiterate the government’s full commitment to work hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to make certain that MSMEs are protected and provided with ample opportunities, not only to recover from these extraordinary times but to grow and thrive in this modern age,” he added.
4 The Mindanao Examiner September 5-11, 2022
MILF, MNLF rivalry continue
INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr has told village officials to help in the government’s anti-drugs campaign and maintain peace and order. He said village officials should help the police in maintaining public order and to utilize peace keepers in their respective communities.“Asthefrontliners in government service, our barangay officials are in a very strategic position to help our police force in securing our kababayans. Our barangay tanods or Bantay Bayan serve as force multipliers of our uniformed personnel in ensuring peace and order and combating illegal drugs,” Abalos said. He said it is the primordial duty of the village officials to protect the welfare of the public, adding the local government is mandated to enforce existing national laws. “Hindi lamang kayo katuwang ng kapulisan kundi kayo ay may mandato na siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng inyong mga nasasakupan,” he Abalossaid.reiterated his call to operationalize and strengthen the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils which render assistance to the law enforcement agencies in the eradication of illegal drugs.
samoro Organic Law, the BTA “shall be the interim government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region during the transition period,” with legislative and executive powers
THE BANGSAMORO Transition Authority’s Committee on Health held a public consultation on proposed BTA Bill No. 172 in one of the most remote areas in Lanao del Sur.MP Saffrullah Dipatuan, committee chair and one of the principal authors, emphasized that the proposed bill ‘prioritizes’ access to basic medical and healthcare services for the people of Kapai, including its adjacent municipalities.Withover 30, 000 residents, the municipalities of Kapai and Tagoloan are classified as geographically remote and underdeveloped areas in Lanao del Sur, with limited access to health services due to remoteness and poor road infrastructure, MP Dipatuan further added, urging the immediate passage of the bill.The measure proposes to establish a level 1 general hospital with 25 beds, integrated with the Universal Health Care system, in Kapai, Lanao del Sur. MP Dipatuan added that the bill will also help to sustain livelihood opportunities in the two municipalities, paving the way for ‘lasting peace.’ The committee will convene and will take into consideration all comments, suggestions, and recommendations after the consultation, according to MP Dipatuan. Several representatives from Kapai and Tagaloan’s barangay and municipal local government units, health, security, women, and religious sectors were present during the activity. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
The public consultation aims to give city local government officials, Barangay Chairpersons, members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, academe, civil society groups, non-government organizations, religious, youth, women's sectors, and other non-state entities an avenue to share legislative inputs, comments, and recommendations on the proposed legislation. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
and functions of the Bangsamoro government.The BOL further specifies that the “MILF shall lead the BTA, without prejudice to the participation of the MNLF in its membership. It shall be composed of 80 members, who shall be appointed by the President.Ofthis 80, 41 members shall come from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the remaining 39 from the Government of the Philippines.Thecomposition of the 41 MILF members is a product of a consultative process carried out by MILF through an internal review and vetting process. This list was submitted to the Office of the President through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, and subject to a selection and evaluation process of the Office of the President.
MARAWI CITY - Following the groundbreaking ceremonies conducted by the Office of MP Atty. Hamid Aminoddin Barra, two multi-purpose buildings that will strengthen Madrasah operations will be built in various areas of Lanao del Sur.The training centers will be established at Barangay Bago-a Ingud in Ditsaan Ramain and Patani in Marawi City in partnership with the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development as the implementing agency.The facilities were funded under the Transitional Development Impact Fund of MP Barra. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
COTABATO CITY - After gathering legislative inputs and recommendations from different sectors, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Committee on Trade, Investment, and Tourism concluded its twoday public consultation in Cotabato City. MP Atty. Maisara Latiph, the principal author of BTA Bill No. 157, or the Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Act of 2021, said that social enterprise is now viewed as a means of reducing poverty and empowering youth, women, and other marginalized sectors.
More hospitals to rise in BARMM
The BTA is tasked with producing results that will address a variety of challenges, including peace and security concerns, poverty reduction, business and job creation, and stability between ethnic clans and economic classes, among others. This year, the BTA was scheduled to end on June 30 after the regular members of the BARMM parliament will be chosen on May 9 during the national and local elections. However, Congress decided to push back the regional elections until 2025, adding three more years to the BTA.
Training centers to rise in Marawi City
Meanwhile, BTA Bill No. 48, known as the Charter of the Bangsamoro Development Corporation, was cited by CTIT Chair Marjanie Macasalong as the "best way to pursue the inflow of private capital while ensuring fair and non-discriminatory treatment of public and private sector entities in the process of development."Other proposed bill discussed was BTA Bill No. 124, or the Bangsamoro Cooperative and Social Enterprise Code of 2021, which seeks to govern the establishment and organization of the cooperatives and social enterprises in MembersBARMM.of the academe, non-government organizations and agencies, experts, and other stakeholders shared their inputs and recommendations for the first two proposed measures, which will be discussed during the two-day consultation.Proposed bills include BTA Bill No. 85 and Bill No. 21, which seek to institutionalize the barter trade and establish a Barter Trade Center,CTITrespectively.ChairMP Marjanie Macasalong said the bills will serve as a mechanism for the implementation of policies and programs that will promote the development of trade, cooperatives, and other social enterprises in BARMM. The committee will deliberate on all of the inputs from the participants and integrate them into the proposed legislative measures. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
Proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code pushed
COTABATO CITY - As part of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s mandate to enact priority legislation, the Committee on Local Government held a public consultation on the proposed Bangsamoro Local Governance Code in CotabatoDeputyCity. Speaker Atty. Omar Sema, who facilitated the consultation, emphasized that the BLGC is one of the priority codes that needs to be accomplished during the transition period. Salient provisions of the code were explained by OIC Director Muhammad Farzieh Abutazil of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government-CotabatoHeCity.said that the BLGC's main guiding principle is to strengthen the power of supervision of the Bangsamoro government through the MILG and to exercise its regulatory power only when necessary and as applicable.
1. MR. AHOD BALAWAG EBRAHIM 2. MR. ABDULLAH EBUS GAYAK 3. MR. ABDULLAH BISTON HASHIM 4. ABDULLAH GOLDIANO MACAPAAR 5. ABDULRAOF ABDUL MACACUA 6. ABDULWAHAB MOHAMMAD PAK 7. AIDA MACALIMPAS SILONGAN 8. AKMAD INDIGAY ABAS 9. ALI OMAR SALIK 10. ALI BANGCOLA SOLAIMAN 11. AMROUSSI AMPUAN MACATANONG 12. ANNA TARHATA SUMANDE BASMAN 13. BAI MALEIHA BAJUNAID CANDAO 14. BAILENG SIMPAL MANTAWIL 15. BASIT SARIP ABBAS 16. BENJAMIN TUPAY LOONG 17. DAN SALA ASNAWIE 18. EDDIE MAPAG ALIH 19. EDUARD UY GUERRA 20. HARON MUHAMMAD ABAS 21. HUSSEIN PALMA MUÑOZ 22. IBRAHIM DUMARAAG ALI 23. KADIL MONERA SINOLINDING. JR 24. LANANG TAPODOC ALI. JR 25. MARJANIE SALIC MACASALONG 26. MARY ANN MADROÑO ARNADO 27. MATARUL MATARUL ESTINO 28. MOHAGHER MOHAMMAD IQBAL 29. MOHAMMAD SHUAIB YACOB 30. MOSBER ENTOL ALAUDDIN 31. MUDJIB COMPANIA ABU 32. PANGALIAN MACAORAO BALINDONG 33. RAISSA HERRADURA JAJURIE 34. RAMON ALEJANDRO PIANG SR. 35. SAID ZAMAHSARI SALENDAB 36. SAID MANGGIS SHIEK 37. SHA ELIJAH BIRUAR DUMAMA-ALBA 38. SUHARTO SANDAYAN ESMAEL 39. SUWAIB LATIP ORANON 40. TAWAKAL BUGA MIDTIMBANG 41. UBAIDA CASAD PACASEM 42. ALI MONTAHA DATU HARON BABAO 43. HATIMIL ESMAIL HASSAN 44. MUSLIMIN ASALIM JAKILAN 45. ALBAKIL DASANI JIKIRI 46. FAISAL GUIABAR KARON 47. OMAR YASSER CRISOSTOMO SEMA 48. ADZFAR HAILID USMAN 49. ABDULKARIM TAN MISUARI 50. NURREDHA IBRAHIM MISUARI 51. DENMARTIN ABDUKAHIL KAHALAN 52. ABDULAZIZ MANGANDAKI AMENODIN 53. HAMID UDDIN MALIK 54. TARHATA MATALAM MAGLANGIT 55. RANDOLPH CLIMACO PARCASIO 56. LAISA MASUHUD ALAMIA 57. RASOL YAP MITMUG, JR. 58. BAINTAN ADIL AMPATUAN 59. JOSE IRIBANI LORENA 60. NABIL ALFAD TAN 61. SUHARTO MASTURA AMBOLODTO 62. DON MUSTAPHA ARBISON LOONG 63. AMILBAHAR SADDALANI MAWALLIL 64. RASUL ENDEREZ ISMAEL 65. SUSANA SALVADOR ANAYATIN 66. ROMEO KABUNTALAN SEMA 67. FROILYN TENORIO MENDOZA 68. ISHAK VELOSO MASTURA 69. ALI BALAYMAN SANGKI 70. NABILA MARGARITA PACASUM PANGANDAMAN 71. DIAMILA DISIMBAN RAMOS 72. JOHN ANTHONY LACBAO LIM 73. HASHEMI NUR DILANGALEN 74. SITTIE FAHANIE SINDATOK UY-OYOD 75. JAAFAR APOLLO MIKHAIL LINTONGAN MATALAM 76. BASSIR DIMAUKOM UTTO 77. KHALID MA-AMPOR HADJI ABDULLAH 78. MICHAEL ENIT MIDTIMBANG 79. MOHAMMAD KELIE UGALINGAN ANTAO 80. PAISALIN PANGANDAMAN TAGO The BTA is dominated by Moro Islamic Liberation Front with 41 nominees and 39 from the Accordinggovernment.toR.A. 11054 or the
COTABATO CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named the new 80 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, a month after assuming office. The majority of their workforce is comprised of lawyers, lawyer-certified public accountants, engineers, teachers, doctors, architects, media practitioners, politicians, former elected officials at the local levels, and government bureaucrats. They are the representatives from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as members of the Bangsamoro community in North Cotabato, indigenous peoples who are not Moro, the Kalagan or Kagan community in Davao Oriental, and Christian or settler communities in Davao City and Cotabato City. Below are the newly appointed members: Bang-
Marcos names new 80 BTA members
(LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
BTA strengthens Trade, Investment, and Tourism programs
5The Mindanao Examiner - RegionSeptember 5-11, 2022
JOURNALISTS, media researchers and university students will join forces to fight rampant and often deadly disinformation in a new three-year global program led by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) with the support of the Scripps Howard Foundation.The $3.8 million initiative called Disarming Disinformation will help journalists produce investigative reporting to identify and debunk falsehoods and to ferret out the shadow figures behind disinformation campaigns.Journalists in the program will pioneer innovative techniques to reach audiences targeted by these campaigns, as an antidote to the contaminated information environment that threatens democracies everywhere.“From Russia’s war on Ukraine to the global COVID-19 pandemic to assaults on democracy in the United States and elsewhere, we’ve seen how these lies can have fatal results,” said ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi. “Every journalist in the world must become a disinformation reporter, and Disarming Disinformation will help address that urgent need.”
6 The Mindanao Examiner September 5-11, 2022 Corporate / School PVC ID Customized Lanyards Trophies & Plaques T-Shirt Heat Transfer Jersey & P.E. Uniforms Full ZamboangaPrintingNewsletterSignagesSublimation&PanaflexTarpaulinsLay-Out&GraphicsKeyChains&NewsEditingServicesCity,062-9555360&0917-7103642
The program will be run under the auspices of ICFJ’s Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting, an award-winning initiative that provides more than 13,000 journalists with training, grants and other support to better cover the most urgent crises of the “Journalistsday. face an uphill battle with inaccurate and false information spreading at an alarming rate,” said Liz Carter, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund and Scripps Howard Foundation. “This approach will not only help journalists detect misinformation and disinformation but will also expose them to practical solutions to combat this issue, which is undermining trust in journalism across the globe.” Through the Disarming Disinformation program: Thousands of journalists and journalism students will receive training on topics such as fact-checking, verification and digital security; Reporting grants will spur cross-border investigative projects; Journalists and newsrooms will develop new techniques for audience engagement to reach those most likely to believe disinformation.AnICFJKnight Fellow with expertise in fighting disinformation will lead a train-the-trainers component to multiply the program’sTheimpact.program also includes a robust, action-oriented research component designed to surface adaptable solutions and recommendations for journalists and media outlets. ICFJ will promote these solutions through its global network and on the International Journalists’ Network site, which reaches nearly two million unique users annually in eight languages. ICFJ will partner with the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University and the University of Maryland on key components of the project.Initsfinal year, ICFJ will amplify all the initiative’s learnings, partnering with select local newsrooms in the United States and other key countries to integrate daily practices that routinely expose and debunk widespread falsehoods. (ICFJ, Mindanao Examiner)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Street dances. Carnival king and queen. Parade. Fireworks. These were all part of the recent celebration here in honor of Saint Augustine.Thestreets were filled with cultural dancers in colorful outfits as 10 villages competed and showcased their best and in the end, the village of Macabalan was hailed as champion, bagging P150,000 cash prize. The village of Puerto came in second place and won some P90,000 cash prize. The third was the village of Kauswagan which bagged P65,000 cash prize. The village of Macabalan was also awarded “Carnival King” while the village of Puerto was this year’s “Carnival Queen.”Prior to the holding of the joyous event, all street “dancers and participants were asked to present their COVID-19 vaccination cards to ensure the safety of "Dakoeveryone.nakong kalipay ug pagpasalamat sa tanan nagtambong, nagpaluyo, nagsuporta sa nagkalain-laing programa sa dakbayan. Kung kamo mga katawhan wala nagkooperar, wala nitabang, dili mahigayon ang kasaulogan sa kapistahan sa tumang kasadya ug kalipay,” said Mayor Rolando Uy. Various floats from the local government and national government agencies, and security sector also snaked throughout major roads with local cheering all the 110 Baggingcontingents.thefirst place for the Street Parade and
ICFJ launches 3-year initiative to combat dangerous falsehoods
Continued from page 1 boat originated in Sulu’s Jolo town, according to the local police. It said the shipment - 38 cases of Royal cigarettes and 104 cases of Delta cigarettes - was bound for Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.It said the boat was manned by five people who are now in the custody of the Bureau of Customs. Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, the city police chief, lauded the operating units for the continuous operation against smuggling while reiterating “that strengthened collaboration with other intelligence units and community support is what makes law enforcement effective.” Late last month, police seized over P2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes here and arrested seven people - five of them were crew members of a fishing boat transporting dozens of boxes of cigarettes and noodles. The boat (F/B Reana), manned by Lijon Salad Albani, Anam Dammang and Nurhasi – both surnamed Said; and Julkipli Lamalan and Tony Dahi, was intercepted on August 27 also near Manalipa Island by patrolling police and customs agents.The seized contraband was worth over P1 million and came from Jolo town in Sulu province and the cigarettes and noodles were to be delivered to Zamboanga Sibugay’s Mabuhay town. Police also confiscated 32 boxes of cigarettes valued at over P1.1 million from Benhar Tunggal and Aldimar Idjan who were delivering the contraband Friday when their truck had a flat tire in the coastal village of Sinunuc, according to Maj. Shellamie Chang, a regional police spokesperson. She said the policemen offered help, but spotted the contraband during inspection of the truck. Two other anti-smuggling operations last week netted over P4 million worth of cigarettes in Sinunuc village here and in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Tungawan town. The smuggling of cigarettes, among other commercial products from nearby Sabah, continues unabated in Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner)
Cagayan de Oro celebrates feast of Saint Augustine
Continued from page 1
Unabated smuggling continues
Floats competition was the CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative with P120,000 cash prize. Their float’s main highlights was the “Banga” or earthen clay that commemorates the famous landmark in the village of TheBulua.float was also adorned with a “Giant Goldfish,” representing the City of Golden Friendship, and the goddess of the Cagayan de Oro River, which symbolizes the provision of nourishment and Thelife. Carmen village’s “Golden Tartanilla” came second and won P90,000 cash prize. The Tartanilla symbolizes Cagayan de Oro’s most utilized mode of transportation in the early 1990s, and was embellished with a “Golden Horse” - sharing golden opportunities to people around its neighboring towns in Misamis Oriental. The Oro Backyard Gardeners bagged the third place with P70,000 cash prize. Their float was adorned with miniatures cathedral, fish, tropical flowers, and white water rafting symbols. The celebration also brought together various showsfrom agricultural to trade fairs - and attracted hundreds of Religiouspeople.procession was also participated by the faithful which ended at Saint Augustine Cathedral. Organizers also held a fluvial procession and fireworks at Duaw Park. (Recthie Paculba) (Photos by Recthie Paculba)
A photo released by the Zamboanga City Police Office shows some of the confiscated cigarettes worth nearly P5 million.
IN THE gospel, there is a part where Christ went to the house of Peter and cured Peter’s wife, after which many others who were sick came to be healed by Christ. Even evil spirits that possessed a few came out of those they possessed. (cfr. Lk 4,38-44) We have to understand that the best thing for us to do, especially when we are faced with all sorts of problems and difficulties, is to go to Christ. Being with Christ, asking for his help is actually the best condition for us to be in, even as we also would exhaust all possible human means we have to resolve our predicaments. To be with Christ is always doable. All we have to do is to rev up our faith which tells us that Christ is always around, eager to help us and even willing to offer his life for us. It’s always a question of faith. As Christ himself said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt 17,20) The faith of our Lady made possible the incarnation of the Son of God that led to our redemption. The faith of the apostles and all the other saints, despite their weaknesses, made them able to do what may be considered as impossible to do. We should just learn how to deal with the difficult and the impossible things in our life with faith more than our human efforts alone.
Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 discussions could continue if both sides showed “some kind of flexibility”.“Itseems that there are some legal barriers or legal factors that are standing in the way of a final consensus,” said Liu, who previously served as the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines. “I hope that both sides will move about this issue in a way that is feasible and practical so that the cooperation could be continued and realised.” Liu also said the maritime disputes should not be allowed to become a stumbling block in bilateral relations as Beijing moves towards a “golden era” in ties with Manila under President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. He added China was willing to help the Philippines in the agriculture, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors to boost cooperation between the two countries.In June, Marcos Jnr’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, terminated talks over joint energy exploration between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, citing constitutional constraints.Thetwo countries have sparred for decades over maritime sovereignty and had since 2018 pledged to jointly explore oil and gas assets in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), despite China also laying claim to them.Liu also met Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and exchanged views on a range of issues, including stalled China-backed infrastructure projects. The Chinese minister said they did not want “to spend too much time discussing the feasibility of the projects that were previously agreed upon and once consensus is reached, the deals will move ahead”.
OPINION OPINION Chinese minister hopes Philippines will revive talks on oil, gas deals in South China Sea
The secret is always to go and to be with God who can make the impossible possible. In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswered, if not, contradicted. We should always remember that God never abandons us and is, in fact, all ready and prompt to come to our aid, albeit in ways that we may not realize, at first, just like what happened in that story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. (cfr. Lk 24,13-35) We should not allow our feelings of sadness to be so dominant and pervasive that we shut off God’s many and often mysterious ways of helping us. If we do not pose a deliberate impediment to God’s ways, there is always hope. In our darkest moments, some light will always come piercing and dispelling the darkness away. Every day, we should find a way of how to be with God, fanning our desire to go to him always and sharpening our awareness of his constant presence and interventions in our life, etc. We should strengthen our conviction that amid the varying situations in our life, the best condition for us to be in is to be with God. (FRC)
Continued from page 1 training over two dozen Filipino emergency personnel on how to respond to chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a combat support agency within the U.S. Department of Defense for countering weapons of mass destruction, trained the members of theBureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and personnel of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here.The training courses focused on emergency response to mass casualty events involving CBRN components, addressing risks that first responders face, and using specialized equipment to determine the type of chemical or material present during a CBRN“DTRAincident.continues to collaborate with the Philippines to further strengthen our longstanding partnership and produce trained personnel that are capable of conducting emergency CBRN response operations,” said DTRA On-Site Inspection and Building Capacity Director David Musgrave. “These training activities not only improve the readiness and capabilities of local first responders but also enhance interoperability with the United States and other international partners in CBRN and countering weapons of mass destruction operations that directly contribute to greater regional security,” he added. Filipino emergency personnel also benefited from a medical management course and practical demonstrations on using the Mass Casualty Decontamination kit to strengthen their capacity to respond to a CBRN incident in the southern Philippines. The Mass Casualty Decontamination kit donated by DTRA to BFP and SPMC is valued at P20.8 million“On($370,000).behalfof SPMC, I would like to take this chance to express my heartfelt gratitude for this donation from the U.S. government. As the largest hospital in the Philippines, we hold an important position in the healthcare industry.”“This equipment and training would address the mitigation and preparedness against risks of CBRN hazards, either on an intentional, accidental, or natural origin,” SPMC Director Dr. Ricardo Audan said. DTRA has been a longtime partner of the BFP in exchanging best practices on threat response and remains committed to supporting the BFP’s modernization program and its goal of becoming the Southeast Asian leader in CBRN incident prevention. DTRA’s new partnership with SPMC enables it to gain valuable insights from the center’s highly trained medical professionals.Future DTRA capacity-building activities in the Philippines will include additional virtual and in-person training for CBRN awareness and response, and opportunities for BFP officers to travel to the U.S. for DTRA-sponsored multinational training activities. (Mindanao Examiner)
SOME PEOPLE might shun work and be turned off from it because it requires effort and with effort there is tiredness. We might ask, “Is work a punishment from God? The answer is no. From the beginning, even before original sin, God intended for man to work. “And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it”. (Genesis 2:15) God made the world incomplete because he wanted man to complete it and be a co-creator. Man was made to be a participant and not just a spectator in the work of creation. However, after original sin, work seems to be a punishment. If we read in Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken...” It is not work itself being the punishment, but the tiredness that goes along with it. The pain of work along with sickness, suffering and death are consequences of original sin. God made man to work as birds were made to fly. It is through work that man is able to express his creativity as well as his personality. Work is also an occasion to commune with other people. It becomes an avenue to serve others and to the community as a whole. When you approach your work as an opportunity to serve others it becomes a whole new vision. You will make sure people get the best service or the best product. In my entrepreneurship class I would always raise the most common question about business, “What is the purpose of business?” And I would always get the most common answer, “To make money.” This kind of answer is a product of conventional thinking or nowadays it’s called groupthink that often is wrong because it hardly makes a deep reflection on the right answer. The correct answer is “To offer a quality product or service.” When you make this your priority, profit will just follow. Besides, “to make money” as a motive, sounds selfish and self-serving. But most importantly, work is a spiritual undertaking. We can offer our work to God as a fragrant sacrifice acceptable to Him. We ought to remember that Christ did not just redeem us by dying on the Cross. His whole life was a work of redemption. In other words, His carpentry work, His everyday ordinary life in Nazareth (eating, sleeping, enjoying the company of others, etc.) that took place before He started preaching, was part of His work of redeeming us by offering all these to God the Father. Christ’s work as a carpenter along with the tiredness that went with it, was part of our redemption. We have to remember that we can offer to God anything as long as it is not sinful. “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 CorinthiansOffering10:31)ourwork to God would now be another whole new approach towards work. If we are to offer our work to God, then we should work well because we can’t offer to God a sloppy job. “You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has a defect, anything that is seriously wrong; for that is abhorrent to the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 17:1) On the contrary God deserves the best. It should be a pleasing offering by giving it our best much like the offering of Abel when he reserved the best produce for God. (Genesis 4:4) And what reward do we get if we do this? A closer relationship with God and the gift of grace to help us in our work. Thus, it becomes a virtuous cycle. If we offer our work to God, in return God gives us the grace to work even better and to work with joy. This is the secret to working productively and cheerfully even if no supervisor or boss is watching. And even if we are supposed to be bored with our work since we do it every day, the grace of God helps us to be happy, cheerful, and persevering in our everyday work. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23) (ECC)
The Spiritual Dimension of Our Everyday Work by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)
The Mindanao Examiner 7September 5-11, 2022 by Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo (Cebu)
The Best Condition for Us
Let’s remember that as long as we are here on earth, we have to contend with all sorts of difficulties, trials and temptations. And as if these are not enough, we also have to contend with the truth of our faith that tells us that we are meant to pursue a supernatural goal that definitely cannot be achieved simply with our own human powers, no matter how excellent they are.
The tribunal also ruled that China’s massive land reclamations and actions against Filipino fishermen at a disputed shoal violated the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. (South China Morning Post)
Continued from page 1
Meanwhile, the youthbacked West Philippine Sea Coalition urged Marcos Jnr to stand up against Beijing’s maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this month. In his first State of the Nation speech, the president pledged that the Philippines would use diplomacy and be “a good neighbor” to other countries, but would not yield an inch of its territory. China continues to defy a 2016 ruling by a UN-backed arbitration tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s extensive claims in the South China Sea on historical grounds.
Personnel from DTRA, BFP, SPMC, and local first responders participate in a CBRN emergency response training in Davao City.
U.S. combat support agency trains Filipino emergency personnel
the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Radyo Pilipinas Jolo, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz SalapuddinRep. Shernee Tambut, Jolo, Asiri, and Aziz
8 The Mindanao Examiner September 5-11, 2022 Pictures in the News
Photos from offrom
the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government,Photos
the Office
The Mindanao Examiner 9September 5-11, 2022 Across : 1. District 5. Adam’s abode 9. 12.PlaceBrought to court 13. ___ of passage 14. One, in Havana 15. Office staff 17. Sty resident 18. Wharves 19. School org. 20. Landed property 24. Informal denial 26. Dens 27. Aquatic mammal 30. VIP’s car 31. Conger 32. Broker’s advice 33. Helium, e.g. 35. List entries 36. Companions 37. Raspy 38. French pal 40. Bestow 42. Female deer 43. Fluctuation 48. Medic 49. Historic times 50. Light brown 51. Compass pt. 52. Salamander 53. IOU Down : 1. Venomous viper 2. Regret 3. Browning’s “always” 4. Radio spots 5. “Sesame Street” character 6. Eat 7. Perpetual 8. Singer Willie ___ 9. Jim Henson, e.g. 10. Army division 11. Roman garment 16. Picks 20. She, in Toulouse 21. Go by boat 22. Clock, e.g. 23. Fragrance 25. Spaghetti, e.g. 27. Got together 28. Stately trees 29. Ultimatum word 31. Trap 34. Gridiron number 35. Dubuque’s locale 37. Lift 38. Says further 39. Cows’ calls 41. Depict 44. Baseball’s ___ Williams 45. Polar sight 46. Ball 47. Pecan, e.g. Answer to last week’s crossword: Weekly Sudoku:Answer to last week: ADVERTISE WITH US The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is available in Cotabato City’s lone newspaper dealer Bernadette Guotana at “Goutana Copy Center” at Stall 5. For subscription, please call 0997-5412615. And for all your publications, please call BARMM Bureau Chief Mark Navales at 0916-6885389 Guotana Newspaper Dealer 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. Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief Reynold Toribio Graphics/Video Editor MANILA No. 18 Purok 4B Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City, 1632 (0916)chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com9558559,(0915)0070927,(0947)2652969
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10 The Mindanao Examiner September 5-11, 2022
The Mindanao Examiner 11September 5-11, 2022
C EBU Archbishop Jose Palma said the plan to divide the Archdiocese of CebuEBU - Jose Palma said the to divide the Archdiocese of Cebu is being revived to better serve the millions of faithful in the provinceis revived to better serve the millions of faithful in the province. Palma explained the Archdiocese of Cebu is vast and consists of 174 parishes, including those in different islands of the province. He first floated the idea in 2011 with the former Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal supporting Palma because “it would be good to serve the needs of the faithful.” Vidal even suggested the Cebu archdiocese be divided into three - North Cebu, Metro Cebu, and SouthCurrently,Cebu. the suffragan dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Cebu include Dumaguete, Maasin, Talibon and Tagbilaran. “In the process, this division in the Archdiocese (Cebu) is really in progress. Actually, this plan has been going on for a long time, we are in the process, this aims to serve more people, especially in the far-flung areas in Cebu province," Palma said. Palma’s statement came following the ordination of Bishop Ruben Labajo as Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese last month. He is the second co-bishop of the archdiocese along with Bishop Midyphil Billones. The Cebu archdiocese also has two auxiliary prelates Bishop Antonio Ranola and Bishop Emilio Bataclan who are both retired. (Ferdinand Patinio) Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu vested in traditional Roman Catholic vestments delivers his homily at the church of Mary Co-redemptrix in Cebu City. (Photo by Arnold Carl Fernan Sancover)
Finland only reopened its embassy in the Philippines in September 2020 after closing in 2012.Apart from providing visa and consular services to Finns and Filipinos in the country, Hassinen said this is to boost the trade cooperation between the two nations, as well as increase Finnish presence in Southeast Asia, "a region growing in"Finlandimportance."and the Philippines have an excellent bilateral relationship. Since the Embassy reopened two years ago, we have already seen great and mutually beneficial cooperation in, for example, education and waste management. The Embassy works towards even closer relations and further business opportunities also in climate change, renewable energy, circular economy, and smart city solutions,” Hassinen said. The envoy said Finland sees Cebu and Davao City as important hubs for business that could attract Finnish companies into the region. “Finland is very pleased with the experienced and well-connected Honorary Consuls in Cebu and Davao City. We are certain they will use their knowledge and expertise to deepen Finland’s business connections in Visayas and Mindanao, finding new and exciting opportunities for Finnish companies and relevant stakeholders in the regions,” she said. The embassy said they could guide Finnish companies in obtaining information about local business culture and in finding cooperation partners. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)
Division of Archdiocese of Cebu revived
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 0917-7103642 or visit their Facebook page: Mindanao Civet Coffee. (AJC)
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.
CEBU – The Finnish government opened two honorary consulates in Cebu in the Visayas and in Davao in Mindanao, signaling Finland's growing presence in the Philippines.Franco Soberano, chief operating officer of property developer Cebu Landmasters, has been named honorary consul in Cebu while Antonio Peralta, executive director of the Foundation for Rural Enterprise Ecology and Development of Mindanao will serve in Davao City. An honorary consul has the role of promoting economic and cultural relations between two countries.Thetwo received their exequaturs or official recognition from the Department of Foreign Affairs recently. “The Honorary Consulates are now fully functioning. Official opening ceremonies are planned for later this year both in Cebu and Davao City," Finnish Embassy in the Philippines' Chargé d'Affaires Laura Hassinen told the Philippine News Agency.
Thailand offers tourism job opportunities to Filipinos
Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey
CEBU – Thousands of jobs in the hospitality industry of Thailand, particularly in the accommodation sector, will soon be available to the Filipino tourism workforce. This is one of the main agreements in the high level bilateral meeting between the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn last month. The Thai Tourism Minister said with the lifting of travel restrictions and resumption of tourism activities, the Thai tourism industry is currently facing a shortage in their workforce with 60% of vacancies from different hotel staff up to middle manager positions.
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Finland opens honorary consulate in Cebu, Davao
He said there is preference towards professionals from the Philippines, noting the Filipinos’ impressive command of the English language - a requirement in accommodating Thailand’s increasing foreign tourists and guests.“We note with serious consideration the shortage in the tourism workforce coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am presently in discussions with the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment wherein we have agreed to conduct joint job fairs all over the Philippines, specifically catered to the tourism industry for the purpose of ensuring that those that left the industry or may have been laid off from the industry during the time of pandemic would once again have the opportunity to be employed,” Frasco said during the meeting.DOT and DOLE are currently working in a tourism job fair program entitled “Trabaho Turismo Asenso!” together with partner local government units (LGUs) and incoming Thai counterparts slated on September 22 to Frasco24. said she invited Thailand in the job fair series to extend more opportunities to the Filipinos wanting to work in the Thailand hotel and restaurant industry. The invitation was gladly accepted by the Thai Minister who confirmed their countries participation in the job fair. (Cebu Examiner)
