The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (November 14-20, 2022)

BTA, Sulu ready public consultations on electoral, governance codes

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After Department of Agriculture, Marcos now wants risk

council under him

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Security tight in South

Women power persevere

Malaysia continues to deport Filipinos

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Malaysia continued its crackdown on illegal Filipinos in Sabah as the heirs of Sultan of Sulu pursue its historical claims on the mineral-rich island.

Just recently, a Philippine vessel carrying nearly 387 Filipinos arrested on various charges in

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Tension high in Basilan after clashes

ISABELA CITY – Government forces heightened security in the southern Philippine province of Basilan following deadly clashes between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

At least three army

soldiers and three members of the former rebel group were killed in fierce clashes that left seven infantrymen and an undetermined number of MILF fighters wounded in the clashes in the township of Ungkaya Pukan, a major

stronghold of the MILF which signed a peace deal with the government in 2014.

Thousands of civilians have fled their homes to escape the clashes which broke out on Tuesday,

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MARAWI CITY - Imagine teaming up with a bunch of people you barely know, starting a business with them, only to get a couple goats in return. A pretty anticlimactic deal, but that was exactly what happened to Baimona Mangotara and 31 other women when they first met at the Department of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform in Cotabato City.

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The 27th Asian Television Awards set on Dec. 1

PASAY CITY - The 27th Asian Television Awards, organized by Wonder Paradise and co-produced by Stone of Hope Foundation, is going to happen on December 1 in Aliw Theatre in Pasay City.

Performers are (Upper) VXON from Manila, (Lower L-R) Erik Santos from Philippines, Novia Bachmid from Indonesia, Wren Evans from Vietnam, Wren Kayrie from Malaysia

Hosted

Jamalul Kiram III reads a copy of The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper whose banner was “Malaysia Goes For The Kill”. Kiram ordered his younger brother, Agbimuddin, to lead several hundred fighters in an armed incursion into Sabah in February 2013 in an effort to regain part of the island. (Photo by Mark Navales)

KIDAPAWAN

A photo released to the Mindanao Examiner by the Western Mindanao Command shows rescuers attending to a blast victim.

Some members of the Saduc Livestock Producer Cooperative pose proudly in front of their rice trading business.

(Jason Casas /PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)

and Christian Bautista from Philippines.

by (Upper L-R) Wallace Ang from Singapore, Hani Fadzil from Malaysia, Chua Qin Kai from Singapore, Kantapong Bumrungrak from

Thailand (Lower L-R) Piolo Pascual, Catriona Gray and Enchong Dee from Philippines.

PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. wants to put the National Disaster Risk Continue on page 5Continue on page 5

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over a “full council meeting” of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

SULU – Governor Sakur Tan met with members of the Committee Secretariat of the Committee on Rules chaired by Floor Leader MP Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba

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5 Gov. Sakur Tan with members of the Committee Secretariat of the Committee on Rules chaired by Floor Leader MP Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba and Committee on Local Government chaired by Deputy Floor Leader MP Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie of the Bangsamoro Parliament. (N.Omar)

Security tight in South

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Up to now, no individual or group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 6 bombing of the air-conditioned bus, owned and operated by Yellow Bus Line. The bus came from Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province and was carrying over two dozen passengers when the bomb went off.

Previous attacks had been largely blamed on local pro-ISIS extremists groups. It was unclear how the bomber was able to sneak the improvised explosive in the bus or what type of device was used in the attack.

The military has condemned the bombing that claimed the life of 56-year old Gilbert Gabosa, a resident of North Cotabato’s Carmen town.

“We condemn this act to the highest degree. This is a cowardly act of the terrorist group and peace spoilers that put the lives of innocent civilians in danger and doing so is a violation of both human rights and international humanitarian law. In this regard, we are working with the PNP investigators to neutralize these terrorists,” said Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of

Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry Division.

“We will exert efforts so that we can identify who are the culprits of this incident and pursue proper actions according to law,” he added.

The Western Mindanao Command said it has a lead on who was behind the attack and vowed to hunt down the perpetrators.

“While we already have a lead on the possible perpetrators, we will continue our investigation to accurately identify and pursue these heartless attackers. We will not stop hunting down the perpetrators to bring them to the bar of justice. We continue to intensify our internal security efforts to counter similar incidents that risk the lives of innocent civilians,” said Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, the acting chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

In May this year, a bomb also exploded inside a Yellow Bus Line unit in downtown Koronadal City in South Cotabato province and injured at least two persons. The improvised explosive went off at the engine bay of the bus. Two drivers of motorcycle taxis tailing the bus were injured in the explosion.

The bus originated from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province.

No group had claimed responsibility for that attack, even after a bomb explosion in April also ripped through another provincial bus owned by Rural Transit of Mindanao in Parang town in Maguindanao province and wounded several passengers. The attack occurred in the village of Making where the bus made a stop at a roadside eatery. The bus was on its way to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte from Cotabato City when the powerful explosion occurred.

In January, a bomb explosion also went off near a fruit stand and a ticket booth in North Cotabato’s Tulunan town where a Yellow Bus Line was picking up passengers. The powerful blast killed a civilian and wounded 7 others. The blast came a day after pro-ISIS militants detonated a roadside bomb in the town of South Upi in neighboring Maguindanao and killed one civilian. The military blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for the bombing. (Mindanao Examiner)

DOH rallies Maguindanao to implement primary care

COTABATO CITY - Following reports of increases in Food and Water-borne Disease (FWBD) cases, and in line with the recent activation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Environment Health (IACEH), the Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire met with local chief executives from the provincial government of Maguindanao to help alleviate and address the effects of severe tropical storm Paeng and other health concerns.

During the discussions, Maguindanao Governor Mariam Mangudadatu showcased local efforts to advance primary care through the provision of outreach primary care services using mobile facilities.

On the other hand, Vergeire pledged her support to provide medicines and other commodities to aid typhoon relief and service provision efforts, as well as technical assistance for various Universal Health Care initiatives, such as the creation of health care provider networks for the province.

“Alam natin na 80% ng mga sanhi ng sakit ay hindi nakadepende sa kalidad

ng serbisyong pangkalusugan, kundi nakadepende sa kapaligiran ng bawat isa sa atin. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng primary care na naka-focus sa health promotion, ating tinutugunan ang mga environmental factors na ito–o kung tawagin natin ay social determinants of health–upang masiguro na ang ating mga mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng maayos na health outcomes,” Vergeire said.

She said the DOH continues to address social determinants of health, which are the underlying causes of different diseases being experienced by Filipinos, including FWBDs.

“We recently activated the IACEH to discuss how we can all join efforts in preventing increases in cases of food and waterborne diseases across the country. Alam din natin na malaking factor talaga ang environment kung bakit nagkakasakit ang mga kababayan natin, at lalo silang nagiging vulnerable sa mga sakit na ito tuwing dumadaan ang mga bagyo. Kaya kasalukuyan na tayong nagsasagawa ng vulnerability assessment sa iba't ibang rehiyon upang masiguro na anumang sakuna ang dumaan,

walang masamang epekto ito sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.

The IACEH member agencies pledged their commitment to collectively work to address the challenges leading to unsafe environments.

Vergeire said these diseases highlight the importance of addressing the social determinants of health through a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. “The DOH cannot do this alone. We need to consolidate the efforts of other national government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to develop effective and sustainable strategies to prevent these kinds of outbreaks,” she said.

“All of these diseases are preventable, kaya dapat hindi na natin hinihintay na magkaroon ng outbreak bago tayo umaksyon. Kailangan nating paigtingin ang ating mga preventive measures at tugunan ang mga isyu pagdating sa social determinants of health, tulad ng safe water and sanitation access, upang maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan,” she added. (Mindanao Examiner)

File photos from the social media page of North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco show the Yellow Bus Line damaged from the roadside bombing in Tulunan town on January 27, 2021.

Message sending failed,’ Globe subscribers air complaints

GLOBE TELECOM subscribers have complained about numerous failures or failed SMS (short messaging system) they sent out from their smartphones.

These were also the same complaints forwarded by Globe Telecom subscribers to The Mindanao Examiner since last month.

They said many of their SMS had failed to reach its recipients. Some claimed a total failure in sending out SMS while others have to switch on their data to be able to receive and send out mes-

sages.

“Message sending failed, that’s what I have experienced lately with Globe (Telecom). There are many times that SMS I sent out never really reached its recipients. Something is wrong here,” one subscriber told The Mindanao Examiner.

This problem started when Globe Telecom temporarily blocked all text messages from prepaid and postpaid numbers containing URLs or website links following widespread complaints from subscribers receiving spam and scam messages

from unknown numbers that bear their complete names.

Globe Telecom - which has 98 million subscribers - said it has blocked the delivery of person-to-person text messages coming from all networks that contain clickable links.

But those who complained to this newspaper said all their SMS did not contain URLs or website links at all. And many of them claimed they were forced to make calls instead of sending text messages which was an added expense. (Mindanao Examiner)

Women power persevere

in the past, when they were selected as one of IOM-KoICA’s beneficiaries on April 15, 2021, none of them actually knew how to bookkeep or even fully understood the basics of entrepreneurship.

Tension high in Basilan after clashes

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Nov. 8, in the town of Unkaya Pukan and sporadic clashes continued with local media reports claiming that four soldiers had been captured and beheaded by MILF forces, and that one armored personnel carrier was torched by the gunmen.

But this was strongly denied by Army Lt. Col. Abdurasad Sirajan, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command. “Not true,” he told The Manila Times without further elaborating.

MILF

The MILF has confirmed the fighting that forced nearly 1,500 families to flee from at least six villages.

ground and implore them to uphold the principle of jointness and ensure that decisions shall always be bilateral in character. I also assure our partners and the peacebuilding community that the MILF is firmly committed to implementing the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro and realizing long-term peace, justice and prosperity in the Bangsamoro,” Iqbal said.

Appeal

were asleep on a makeshift stage in Lamitan City when the gunmen sprayed them with automatic weapons.

Ceasefire

But the Navy Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, the acting chief of the Western Mindanao Command, has ordered troops in the Muslim province to strengthen defensive position to avoid further casualties and collateral damage.

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They heard about the rice trading livelihood and seeing as they were all in need of livelihood after the 2017 Marawi Siege, they decided to band together and on February 9, 2019, the Saduc Livestock Producer Cooperative (SLPC) was born.

Not too long after its formation, the members decided to go ahead and register with the Community Development Authority but before they could even hit their oneyear mark, the pandemic hit the country and they came face to face with its biggest challenge.

With their stocks dying left and right, they were forced to sell what remained and used that money to build their capital; their members also pitched in P2,000 while others threw in P1,000. Once all that was out of the way, the real work began.

They started by supplying vegetables to the stalls in the Crystal Area around Tuca as well as other small markets within the city and quickly became popular among local teachers in the area. This gave them the idea of starting a small tailoring business. After they found success in that field, it was not long before they ventured into the Maranao

delicacies such as “Broa” which proved to be just as big of a hit.

As they continued to expand their horizons, SLPC caught the attention of the local government and managed to become one of the Top 50 cooperatives in the running to receive a rice trading package from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency Philippines (KOICA). Later on, while they focused on their other businesses, they found out that they moved up to the top 8.

But gray clouds were gathering over the horizon and before they had time to properly celebrate, they received news that two cooperatives would be dropped to finalize the six cooperatives who would be receiving the livelihood program.

“Bale, noong sa awa ni Allah, nag-pray kami,” Baimona, SLPC’s chairperson, said. “Kung talagang para sa main, then para sa amin… So ayun, nag top 5 kami.”

They were not in the clear yet though. As finalists, they had to go through grueling classes and training seminars to prepare them for their new business. Despite having had more than successful endeavors

By the time they received the livelihood package almost one year later on March 14 this year, the skills they previously lacked were practically second nature to them and all those hours of training seminars proved to be one of their biggest game-changers.

Members became more enthusiastic with their investments, partnerships formed left and right, and they even established a healthy consumer relationship with students from Mindanao State University and Mapandi Memorial College along with 4Ps beneficiaries within the community.

Most SLPC members borrow money from the cooperative to help with their children’s college tuition but Baimona shared that they are looking forward to taking one of the members’ children as a scholar in the near future. Currently, they are not in a position to offer that benefit, but it is something they hope to achieve when they manage to become one of the top cooperatives in the city. As of now, their main focus is growing their rice trading business.

Baimona and all the other members of the cooperative are more than grateful for how their lives turned out thanks to IOM-KoICA. They share their story in the hopes of inspiring other cooperatives not to give up in the face of adversity. With a smile, Baimona reiterates the age-old passage, “habang may buhay, may pag-asa.” (Pamela Joyce Fumero)

“The armed encounter between the Philippine Army's 101st Infantry Brigade and elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces on Nov. 8 in Barangay Ulitan in Ungkaya Pukan was an unfortunate incident that no one desired to happen, especially during the implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro and while the peace process' dividends started to be felt by the people,” said Mohagher Iqbal, head of the MILF’s peace panel.

He called on both sides to immediately stop fighting to prevent the situation from escalating and ensure the safety of the civilians. He also urged the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, to leave no stone unturned and thoroughly investigate the situation to ensure similar incidents will not happen again.

“Rest assured that, in partnership with the Government Peace Panel, the MILF Peace Panel will strengthen the various peace mechanisms on the

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman also urged the military and the MILF to cease fighting. “Nanawagan tayo ng isang agarang ceasefire sa pagitan ng mga nagtutungaling puwersa sa aming lalawigan ngayon para sa kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan na maaaring madamay sa palitan ng putukan at para hindi na lumala pa ang sitwasyon,” he said.

“Ngayon, ang tanong sa ating isipan, bakit nangyari pa ang mga ganitong engkwentro? Buong akala natin ay wala nang giyera sa pagitan ng AFP at MILF dahil may kasunduan na para sa kapayapaan at nariyan na ang Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao na pinamumunuan ng MILF, pero bakit nagkaroon pa ng karahasan sa pagitan ng puwersa ng pamahalaan at MILF?” asked Hataman, whose elder brother Jim Salliman is the provincial governor.

The 101st Infantry Brigade and the 1st Infantry Division have not released any reports or statement about the clashes or what triggered the fighting which occurred the same day that unidentified gunmen killed four people, one of them Abaas Jangkatan, a suspected Abu Sayyaf fighter, in the September 15 ambush of three soldiers in Al-Barka town, also a known stronghold of the MILF. The victims

“I ordered the troops to strengthen their defensive position to avoid casualties and collateral damage. Reinforcing units were already identified for contingency and deterrence, however, their deployment as the situation develops and warrants shall be cleared with higher leaderships. Nevertheless, my primary order is to protect the integrity of the peace process and abide by the ceasefire agreement. Rest assured that we are on top of the situation and we are for peace,” he said, adding the military is on top of the situation.

Rojas said they are now employing ceasefire mechanisms to pacify the situation and have been talking with the members of the MILF and government’s Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities in Basilan. He said David Diciano, Assistant Secretary for Normalization and Vice Chairman of the government Implementing Panel, is now at the Western Mindanao Command to help halt the tension “triggered by miscommunication.”

“We are grateful for the actions currently being undertaken by the BARMM and Basilan LGU to help us contain the situation in order not to escalate. We appeal to the public not to spread gossip and unvalidated information in order not to aggravate the situation,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

BIFF, target ng militar

COTABATO CITY – Patuloy ang operasyon ng militar kontra Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) sa Central Mindanao sa kabila ng sunod-sunod na pagsuko ng mga kasapi nito.

Ito ang kinumpirma ng 6th Infantry Division at sa katunayan umano ay dalawang miyembro ng BIFF ang napatay sa labanan na naganap sa Barangay Kuloy sa bayan ng Shariff Aguak sa magulong lalawigan ng Maguindanao.

Nakasagupa ng mga sundalo mula sa 33rd Infantry Battalion ang dalawang miyembro ng BIFF na sakay ng isang tricycle. Pinaputukan umano ng mga rebelde ang tropang nagbabantay

sa checkpoint kung kaya’t nauwi ito sa labanan.

“When the personnel of Bravo Company were about to inspect the tricycle, the rider disembarked and suddenly fired towards the approaching troops which prompted them to return fire killing the two BIFF men. The firefight lasted seven minutes,” ani Lt. Col. Benjamin Cadiente Jr., ang battalion commander.

Ayon sa Shariff Aguak PNP, ang dalawa ay kasapi ng BIFF sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Commander Kamir Kambal at kumander Abdulkarim Lumbatan.

Sinabi ni Major General Roy Galido, ang commander ng 6th Infantry

Division at Joint Task Force Central, na hindi palalampasin ng tropa ng militar ang sinumang lalaban sa batas.

“For a couple of times, we have been calling those victims of violent extremism to lay down their arms and go back to the folds of the law to avoid circumstances like this, but some are not heeding it, at gusto pang makipaglaban sa ating mga otoridad,” pahayag pa ni Galido.

Dahil dito, nasa anim na mga BIFF na ang nasawi habang 175 ang nagbalik-loob sa pamahalaan simula buwan ng Enero hanggang sa kasalukuyan. (Mindanao Examiner)

Baimona Mangotara, chairperson of the Saduc Livestock Producer Cooperative, shares their story to inspire other cooperatives not to give up in the face of adversity. (Jason Casas /PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)

U.S. to support Philippine capacity to identify, eliminate WMD components

BTA, Sulu ready public consultations on electoral, governance codes

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and Committee on Local Government chaired by Deputy Floor Leader MP Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie of the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The members of the secretariat led by Gerardo T. Concepcion III, Committee Secretary of Committee on Rules, travelled to Sulu and called on Tan to inform him about the schedules of the upcoming public consultation in the province regarding the draft Bangsamoro Local Governance Code and Bangsamoro Electoral Code on December 5-8.

They committee members will also be meeting with the heads of the different government offices and other stakeholders that are operating in Sulu.

Tan thanked them for the courtesy, saying “it is good that everyone will have the chance to react and make a comment in the process of drafting the codes for the

parliament of BARMM.”

The Secretariat handed over a copy of a 221-page draft of Local Governance Code and 62 pager draft of Electoral Code and highlighted that the Bangsamoro Electoral Code focuses on Parliamentary Elections, considering the nature and form of parliamentary government, and incorporating provisions on party governance.

“The codes should somehow be aligned and in consonance with the national laws, because BARMM might have a different form of government, it is still not a region that is independent from the National Government,” Tan told the committee members during the meeting.

Tan said it is very vital to include the local governments in the process of crafting the needed codes because “we are representing our people and whatever the outcome, we will be held ac-

countable.”

“I have seen the horrors of war; blood was shed and lives were lost. So while we are in a position of competence, we should speak and stand up for our people, because after all these things, it is the youth, this generation, who will benefit or suffer from the consequences of our actions today,” he added.

Tan said BARMM should have more scholars for post-baccalaureate courses and specialties like Medicine and Law and provide quota for every province. “We need to capacitate and educate our people so that we will have qualified professionals joining the workforce of both the regional and local government,” he said.

The members of the secretariat expressed their appreciation to Tan for sharing his view regarding the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. (N.Omar)

After Department of Agriculture, Marcos now wants risk council under him

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Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under the Office of the President to streamline disaster response efforts.

“We will put the national disaster response team under the Office of the President. And I think that we are headed in that direction because of the weather that we are suffering now from the effects of climate change,” Marcos said, stressing the need to bolster disaster response initiatives and re-

habilitation projects in response to the destruction wrought by recent typhoons.

“I think that overall, we can say that the disaster response has been a good one. However, I believe that there are ways that we can make it even more streamlined,” the President pointed out.

As typhoons become much stronger and calamities more destructive, pursuing much-needed reforms to make the country more proactive and responsive to disasters become more imper-

ative, according to Marcos.

Earlier this year, Marcos also appointed himself as the secretary of the Department of Agriculture to address the most pressing concerns of the agriculture sector.

He said his decision to head the Agriculture department was “not only to make it clear what a high priority we put on the agriculture sector, but also as a practical matter so things will move quickly.” (Mindanao Examiner)

THE U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) recently conducted a series of meetings with Philippine government agencies to identify the country’s needs and gaps in preventing the illegal movement of parts or substances that can be used as components of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), particularly missiles, biological weapons, or chemical weapons.

Officials from DTRA’s Strategic Offensive Arms Elimination (SOAE) team held individual meetings with 14 government agencies involved in trade and customs, science and technology, and law enforcement to learn more about the local procedures in place to monitor, identify, and eliminate illicit materials of concern transiting through the Philippines.

Through this needs and gap analysis, DTRA aims to assist the country in developing and adopting streamlined national processes and standards for the safe and effective identification, handling, and disposal of these illicit goods and substances.

“We are proud to engage with the Philippines to strengthen regional and global efforts against the proliferation of WMD-capable missile delivery systems and their components, as well as biological and chemical weapon precursors. The openness and collaborative spirit of the Philippines has allowed us to envision a clear path forward to address the spread of

WMDs,” said SOAE International Project Officer Alex Bednarek.

Janice Dimayayac, of the Department of Trade and Industry-Strategic Trade Management Office (DTI-STMO), said with the goal of preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, they have been working hand in hand with other government agencies to build an effective and strong export control system in the Philippines.

“We recognize the crucial role interagency coordination and cooperation plays to ensure the fulfillment of this mission. We acknowledge the support and assistance from our development partners from the United States, especially DTRA.”

“These engagements opened a lot of opportunities for collaboration between the Philippines and the United States to address gaps and cultivate an enabling strategic trade regulatory environment that not only ensures global peace but also promotes sustainable economic growth and ro-

bust international trade,” she said.

The DTRA’s SOAE team met with representatives of the DTI-STMO, the Philippines Port Authority, the National Coast Watch Center, the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Space Agency, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of National Defense, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Agriculture–Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, and the Department of Science and Technology.

The team also conducted site visits to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Port of Manila, and the Manila International Container Port. The DTRA is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense for countering weapons of mass destruction.

(Mindanao Examiner)

A team from DTRA’s SOAE team tours NAIA’s Pair Cargo warehouse in Manila.

A team from DTRA SOAE visits the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory at the Department of Science and Technology in Taguig City.

Manolo Fortich livelihood summit spurs tourism, helps MSMEs

BUKIDNON - Recognizing the economic and cultural benefits that entrepreneurs bring to their communities, the town of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon province recently hosted the 1st Livelihood Summit to help build a vibrant economy by promoting tourism and encouraging the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) amid the COVID-19 crisis.

With the theme, “Kapobrehon Atong Tulobagon, Solusyon Atong Hiusahon (Let us fight poverty by working together to find solutions),” the local government managed to gather over 2,000 attendees from 22 villages to learn how to achieve economic prosperity through social enterprise development to increase household income.

Similarly, prospective investors, cooperative credit unions, financial and lending institutions, bankers, traders, researchers, and experts came to deliver valuable tips—through coaching and mentoring sessions— that serve as a platform for entrepreneurs to learn more from the departments of Trade and Industry, Tourism, Science and Technology, Labor and Employment, and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Agri Credit Policy Council, Social Security System, Hedcor-Pilmico, and Del Monte Foundation also shared their best practices and expertise to help the town’s micro-enterprises grow and create jobs.

The summit also featured a trade expo of authentic woodwork, hand-

made mats and baskets, beadwork, indigenous musical instruments, handicrafts, organic fruits and vegetables, Bonsai (trees in pots), local cuisine, delicacies, and other goods in merchandise booths. All of these products are made in Manolo Fortich, a town in Bukidnon famous for producing the country's finest and sweetest pineapple.

Mayor Rogelio Quiño said in order to build the economy, local leaders might also start by listening to entrepreneurs.

"Entrepreneurs grow in the neighborhoods where they live. The money stays in their community. They also hire locals. As a result, this event leads to an upward spiral of success for the municipality of Manolo Fortich,” Quiño explained.

Hard work

The mayor inspired the people gathered in the dome when he narrated the hardships he endured to cherish life's simple joys. “When I was young, I was paid to root up weeds in the fields. I also sell newspapers, ice, and other items downtown every Sunday. As I grew older, I gradually saved enough money to build my own corn mill,” Quiño said.

As mayor of Manolo Fortich with nearly 115,000 people, he emphasized that the path to success begins within a heart that wishes to be the best at something—a heart, mind, and soul that does not desire to be ordinary, but extraordinary.

Journey to successto success

Swayed by their mayor's inspiring story of what hard work can achieve, one of the town's entrepreneurs, Benjohn Mahistrado, who owns Alomah's

Place and Nature Farm, shared his success story.

“The winning formula for success is determination, passion, and hard work. They really complement each other if you want to advance in an enterprise. These words of hope came from my roots. My parents once told us that we are ordinary people who have a dream. But we need to work hard to achieve and realize those aspirations,” he said.

Inclusive growthInclusive Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque, who was also present at the summit, said the gathering will establish linkages, pool business opportunities, and support government policies and programs to create a sustainable business environment for MSMEs.

“We should harness public-private partnership to help our local MSMEs grow. As LGU leaders, we look for practical ways to attract and retain more of these economic champions in the countryside in order to attain the overall goal of shared prosperity or the ‘Walang iwanan’ virtue,” the governor said.

Vice-governor Clive Quiño thanked the local government for launching programs that improve people’s quality of life.

“This is truly a convergence that our small businessmen can link. This is the first, and hopefully not the last. This event showed that collaborative problem-solving leads to better outcomes. If you’re looking for ways to improve your business, increase productivity, boost revenue, and have more overall success, one thing makes a difference: people working together,” the vice governor said. (RLRB)

Konsultasyon para sa IRR ng SIM registration, dapat tiyakin

DAPAT TIYAKIN ang malawakang konsultasyon sa mga stakeholder sa pagbuo ng implementing rules and regulations (IRR) ng Republic Act 11934 o Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, ayon kay Sen. Grace Poe.

“Hihintayin natin ang isang IRR na kakatawan sa diwa ng batas para mabigyan ang mamamayan ng depensa sa paglaban sa text scam at misinformation,” ani Poe na siyang sponsor ng naturang batas sa Senado.

Ayon sa isang noncommissioned nationwide Social Weather Station survey na isinagawa mula Sept. 29 hanggang Oct. 2, mayorya ng mga Pilipino ay pabor sa SIM Registration Act.

“The rules will get the ball rolling on our aim to provide a secure and safe mobile phone use in the country while protecting the right to privacy,” ani Poe.

May 60 araw ang gobyerno para bumuo ng IRR mula sa pagiging epektibo ng batas noong Oct. 28.

Isinasaad sa Section 12 ng SIM Registration Act

na ang National Telecommunications Commission, kasama ang Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission, telcos at pangunahing major consumer groups, ang babalangkas ng IRR.

Sa ilalim ng batas, ang mga mobile phone user ay kailangang magparehistro ng kanilang SIM bilang prerequisite para sa activation nito. Lahat ng kasalukuyang SIM holders ay dapat magparehistro sa kanilang mga telco sa loob ng 180 araw mula sa effectivity ng nasabing batas. Maaaring pahabain ng DICT pagpapatala ng hanggang 120 araw.

Ang pagpaparehistro ng SIM ay maaaring gawin electronically sa pamamagitan ng isang platform o website na itatalaga ng telco. Sa mga malalayong lugar na limitado ang telekomunikasyon o internet access, ang mga inatasang ahensiya ng gobyerno at telco ang magsasaayos ng SIM registration.

Libre ang pagpaparehistro ng SIM sa ilalim ng batas.

Una rito, nagpahayag ang grupong CitizenWatch Philippines na umaasa itong ang mga ahensiya ng gobyernong bubuo ng IRR ay magsasagawa ng hayag at inklusibong konsultasyon.

Ang IRR ay magbibigay ng detalye sa registration requirements at proseso nito para gabayan ang publiko at tiyaking maayos ang implementasyon.

Aniya, ang mga probisyon ng batas na magbibigay ng pananggalang laban sa security risk at data breaches ay dapat ma-highlight sa IRR. Kasama dito ang mga direksiyon para sa epektibong pagtugon at pagresolba kung sakaling mayroong mga reklamo.

"Coming up with the IRR not only signals the urgency to protect the people from scams and misinformation. It also conveys that registration will be facilitated efficiently and securely," ani Poe.

Ang SIM Registration Act ang unang batas na nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Mindanao Examiner)

SEC educates sectors on identifying investment scams

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) here held a seminar to educate the public with tools to identify on how to spend their money, and identify how investment scams operate.

The SEC urged the public to investigate before investing and give a copy of credentials from people who have business schemes or modus operandi for verification.

“We hope that our public will exercise caution that

before investing or going into investing people who just approached them especially di nila masyadong kilala,” said SEC Cagayan de Oro Director Lawyer Frederick Enopia, adding if a particular person asks someone to invest immediately, without giving the latter a time to reflect, “that is already a red flag.”

He said the public should always be cautious and never easily part with their hard earned money.

Emman Shepherd, a student of Capitol University, who attended the seminar, said he learned how to determine the red flags of investment. “At the same time I also learned how to identify the right investment. Through this seminar, I am able to learn more and help me broaden my knowledge in investment,” he said.

The seminar was part of the SEC’s Investor Protection Week roadshow. (Jasper

Marie Rucat)

A 'watch-your-car' boy sniffs a bottle of solvent or rugby outside the Mercury Drug Store along Veterans Avenue in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Virtue of Meekness

by Engr. Carlos Cornejo (Cebu)

TO COUNTER the capital sin of anger, we need to talk about its antidote. There are two beatitudes that confront the deadly sin of anger: meekness and its product, peacemaking. There are two definitions of meekness in the dictionary. The first one is that of manifesting patience and long-suffering or enduring harm either physical or moral without resentment. The second definition on the other hand refers to a person who is deficient in spirit and courage; a coward or a weakling or someone who is submissive.

The first definition is the one we should practice and not the second. There is a part of the second definition though that we may practice, because our Lord Jesus Christ himself did practice it too and that is being submissive. But submissive for the right reasons. The submissiveness of Christ was not submitting himself to the environment of his time, or to the circumstances - oftentimes hostile to him, or submitting himself to a person. It was submissiveness to God. It was a submissiveness borne not out of weakness, fear or laziness but out of love. Our Lord Jesus Christ was utterly submissive to his Father. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38) He showed us what it means for sons to submit to fathers, wives to husbands, and members of the Church to God himself. Meekness is an aspect of humility, the first and prerequisite virtue, the alternative to the first and deadliest sin, pride.

Meekness is practicing patience with our neighbor. Meekness comes from charity. If you love your neighbor, you will be patient with his or her weaknesses and shortcomings. “Love is patient, and is kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) And in the long run meekness will make us peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Mt. 5:9) First we need to define peace and then second, we find out what it takes to attain it. Peace, says St. Augustine, is not merely the absence of war but “rest in our end”. After the stone falls, it is at rest. After the acorn grows into an oak tree, it is at peace in attaining its end or its natural goal of becoming a full-grown tree. After an animal’s hunger is filled

with food, it is at peace. And what about the human heart? St. Augustine gives us the answer: “For thou hast made us for thyself Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” True peace is intimate union with God. Our peace can be found in God alone, in this life as well as in the next, because God is our ultimate end or goal in life.

This then will lead us to the answer of our second question, “How do we attain peace?” The way to peace is Christ himself. Christ said, “I am the way”. (Jn 14:6) The way to peace is by becoming a new person, by getting a new nature through a new birth, it is by becoming “another Christ” as St. Josemaria Escriva would say. The beatitude here would now be inverted.

The way to being a peacemaker is by being a son of God. For in philosophy, “action follows being” (operatio sequitur esse), being a son of God, being another Christ, is to be a peacemaker. Peacemaker means making peace. The way to make peace for yourself and for others is by becoming sons of God. For the children of God their work is a product of who they are. It’s not peacemaking that makes us a child of God, but being a child of God makes us a peacemaker. Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall become sons of God”, but rather “they shall be called (or be known as) sons of God. Your action is a product of who you are. Being a son or daughter of God is the cause and peacemaking is the effect.

This is aligned to the teaching of St. Josemaria Escriva who said, “The children of God should be sowers of peace and joy”. Sowers meaning planter of spiritual seeds. A devout Christian makes the atmosphere around him or her cheerful and peaceful. He or she not only calms down others who might be arguing with each other but can be a source of peace amidst trials and troubles in life by helping other people see the spiritual meaning of life’s difficulties. A dedicated Christian practices patience rather than anger by being understanding towards others, trying to find out what bugs a particular person, and helping that person with his or her situation if possible.

OPINION

Toughness amid unavoidable scandals

by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

YES, WE have to be tough, with the toughness of charity, amid the unavoidable scandals in the world. Christ already warned us about this. “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,” he said. (Lk 17,1) We should just be prepared for this condition in our life.

While those who cause scandals in others would be severely punished—”It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Lk 17,2)—we should avoid reacting to these unavoidable scandals by falling into a lack of charity.

If we have the charity that Christ commands us to live, we would know how to deal with these eventualities, willing to suffer and be patient while thinking of how we can help those who cause these scandals and those who are victimized by them.

As St. Paul said, true charity “does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth. Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all.” (1 Cor 13,7) It’s indeed a big challenge to live by that charity, but with God’s grace which we should always ask, we know that we can hack it.

What we should always do is to be most mindful of our words and deeds, because no matter how insignificant they may seem, we may already cause a scandal in others. And we also have to strengthen our defenses against scandals, so that instead of thinking badly, for example, of someone due to what we have seen or heard, we are ready to understand and help.

And scandal need not be in the sexual

department only which is already a grave sin. It may only be a matter of gossip of any kind, as long as we cause another person to sin by thinking badly of someone or by leading him to have some critical thoughts, mental reservations, rash judgments, etc.

Of course, we have to distinguish between the temptation of scandal and the sin of scandal itself. Temptation is only temptation and is not yet a sin because we have not yet consented to it, though we may already be attracted to it. The sin of scandal is when we consent to the temptation and, worse, when we enjoy it and spread it around.

What we should always realize is we have a duty, as Christians, to always give good examples to others. Not that we have to flaunt whatever good thing we have or do, doing some kind of virtue signalling, for Christ clearly said also that we should not show off our good deeds before men, to be seen by them, lest we lose our reward in heaven. (cfr. Mt 6,1)

We have to be aware that we always have to give good examples to others for the sole purpose of leading others to God. It is to edify others, to encourage them to be holy and to pursue the path of sanctity in an abiding way.

This duty, therefore, should be carried out deliberately. It should somehow be planned and aimed at. It should not just be something incidental or something optional. Of course, this duty should not be done out of pride or vanity, but out of obedience to the will of God who wants to save all men. (cfr. 1 Tim 2,4)

PNP open to other big names in Percy Lapid slay as kin asks if Duterte a ‘person of interest’

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) said it was not closing its doors on the possibility of having a bigger or more powerful mastermind, than suspended Bureau of Correction (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, in the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa or popularly known as Percy Lapid.

“Bukas pa rin naman ang PNP kung saka-sakaling during the conduct of the preliminary investigation and sa actual trial at maisampa na officially sa korte itong kaso na ito at may lalabas pong ebidensiya pa na magtuturo sa iba pang tao na may kinalaman sa dalawang kaso na ito ay maaari naman po tayong magsampa ng supplemental complaint,” Police Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesman said in a television interview on GMA's Unang Hirit.

Fajardo made the statement after being asked to react to remarks by Roy Mabasa, Lapid's

brother who, in another television interview, said that his family wanted to know whether former president Rodrigo Duterte was among the 160 persons of interest being considered by the PNP. “Sa amin lang pag-iisip ay gusto lang rin namin malaman kung sino ba 'yung 160 persons of interest na 'yun. Kasama ba diyan si Ginoong Duterte?” he said.

Mabasa made the remark saying that if the basis of the PNP investigation were the people who

were criticized by Lapid in his program, they thought that among the videos being investigated would include the former president.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said the investigation into the Lapid slay started and ended with the identification of Bantag as the mastermind and the filing of murder charges against him and his alleged accomplices in and out of the correction facility.

(Francis Earl Cueto / The Manila Times)

Malaysia continues to deport Filipinos

Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 Sabah were sent here. Most of those deported by the Malaysian government were allegedly illegal entrants in Sabah with social workers saying among those sent back home were eight children. The deportees were all taken to a shelter until they were all processed and sent home to their respective places of origin.

Last month, Malaysia also deported some 355 Filipinos here, according to Captain Benzar Mukarram, of the Zamboanga City Maritime Police.

In September, Kuala Lumpur deported 750 illegal Filipino immigrants arrested in various places in Sabah as Malaysia continues to fight off rightful financial claims of the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate. All of them had been detained in Tawau, Sandakan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu since 2020.

The mass deportation came after a Spanish arbitration in Paris ordered the Malaysian government to pay $15 billion to eight of Sulu Sultan Jamal-

ul Kiram II's relatives in February. The award is the second-largest in arbitration history.

Although Malaysia has filed an appeal against the ruling, its repercussions have already been felt. The state oil company of Malaysia, Petronas, had assets reportedly seized by a Luxembourgian court recently. The lawsuit focuses around a deal established in 1878 in which Sulu agreed to let the British North Borneo Company, a colonial business, exploit its slice of Borneo in exchange for a yearly fee, according to reports.

The Sultanate would cede the territory under the terms of the English version of the contract. The original only makes a leasing commitment. Malaysia inherited Sabah and its associated debts when it gained independence from Britain in 1963, and for 50 years it sent 5,300 ringgit ($1,200) annually to the sultan's legitimate heirs.

According to Elisabeth Mason, an attorney for the claimants, this sets

Sabah apart from other land grabs during the 19th century. It’s a rare, possibly unique instance of a colonial contract that continues unbroken into the current era, she claimed.

After a relative, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, claimed to be the rightful sultan of Sulu and led a tragicomic invasion of Sabah in which 60 people lost their lives, Malaysia stopped making payments to the heirs in 2013. The heirs threatened legal action, claiming breach of contract. After ignoring them for two years, Malaysia decided to skip out on hearings in Europe, giving the claimants' attorneys free rein to make their case.

The international arbitration agreement to which Malaysia is a party means that it will likely have to accept the outcome of any case brought before it. The court decided that the heirs were entitled to 15% of all profits made from fossil fuels and palm oil since 2013, as well as all profits expected to be made in the future.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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Pictures in the News

Photos from the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government,Photos from 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

Cebu eases travel requirements

The order took effect on November 5 and for fully vaccinated travelers, they shall not be required to present any form of Covid-19 test such as RT-PCR or Antigen. When checking in for their flights, travelers shall only be required to present their tickets and passports or any form of valid identification.

However, unvaccinated travelers, though, are highly encouraged to take a Rapid

Antigen Test within 24 hours before departing for Cebu, and those who are unable to do so shall be tested for free upon their arrival at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Garcia’s order emphasized that in no case shall a Rapid Antigen Test Result be a requirement prior to boarding for travelers bound for Cebu.

“All travelers, vaccinated or unvaccinated, need only

present their ticket and passport or other valid identification card upon check-in. Any other requirement, such as Electronic Arrival Cards, shall only be presented upon arrival in Cebu,” according to Garcia’s order.

In the same order, Garcia reiterated that wearing of face masks shall be optional for all travelers bound for Cebu and the Mactan Cebu International Airport. (Cebu Examiner)

TIEZA eyes to redevelop beachfronts in Cebu towns

by December. He said the initial plan would be for TIEZA to allot development funds to redevelop these properties, but the long-

term plan is to let private partners come in and invest.

He noted that TIEZA looks forward to a long-term part-

nership with the province in realizing the dreams for the betterment of Cebu’s tourism industry. (CL/IPA)

U.S. dive show features Visayas dive spots

CEBU - The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is set to sign a tripartite agreement with the Provincial Government and the local governments of Dalaguete, Argao and Moalboal for the redevelopment, reopening and initial operation of their prime beach properties in these southern Cebu towns.

This was announced recently by TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid who, together with Gov. Gwen Garcia and municipal mayors, inspected the Argao Beach Club (now known as Dalaguete Beach Park), a property owned by TIEZA which is located in the village Casay, Dalaguete town.

Lapid said that TIEZA is keen on activating the area into a tourism destination through this tripartite arrangement, and later on look for pri-

vate partners who will invest in the development of the beach park, which used to be one of the tourism prime spots in the south.

The property, located just on the Argao-Dalaguete boundary, is currently maintained by TIEZA and has been abandoned for many years. It has an area of 12.2 hectares.

Another 11-hectare TIEZA property is lying unproductive along the diving haven of Panagsama Beach in the village of Basdiot in Moalboal. TIEZA is also looking to partner with the LGU in making the most out of this prime piece of land.

TIEZA is also interested in developing into an airstrip, another of its properties in Dalaguete. It will have a runway of 1.2 kilometers long inside a 7.7-hectare property. It would be Cebu’s first commercial airstrip in the south, after those com-

mercial airports that are under development in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.

Garcia pointed out that these major partnerships with TIEZA are all for the benefit of Cebu’s tourism industry. “I believe that, right now, with the President’s call on tourism being a key economic driver, we are now looking at tourism as a major factor in our hopes to revive an economy devastated by Covid-19,” she said during her meeting with Lapid and municipal mayors in Dalaguete.

Once these plans are realized, Garcia believes these will be Lapid’s legacy at TIEZA. Lapid also announced that he’s going to present to the TIEZA Board the plans for the redevelopment of these properties within this month.

Lapid expressed optimism that they would be able to open these properties to the public

CEBU – The annual Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida featured famous dive sites in Visayas, among them are Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Davao and some sites in Calabarzon.

The dive sites in Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte are among the diving destinations featured DEMA, the largest trade-only event in the world for compa-

nies doing business in the scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure and dive travel industries.

It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world each year.

DOT Eastern Visayas regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, who presented the Sogod Bay during one of the sessions, said she is optimistic that the

region’s participation in international trade shows would signal a return of foreign divers in the province.

“The Sogod Bay Dive Sites has been dubbed as the Rising Star of the Philippine Dive Destinations. It is often described as an undiscovered divers’ paradise, that has something to suit every diver’s level of experience, preference, and expectations,” Tiopes said.

The 30 dive sites around Sogod Bay, according to Tiopes, offer divers shore dives to world-class muck diving; pristine coral walls dives to macro photography diving, and night dives.

On top of business meetings and networking sessions, the Philippines’ presence at the DEMA Show 2022 also offers educational opportunities through the conduct of country presentations and information dissemination about the recent developments in the Philippine dive industry. (Sarwell Meniano)

Mactan Cebu International Airport

CEBU Swab testing for Covid 19 is no longer a requirement for travelers comEBU – Swab for Covid-19 is no a for travelers coming to Cebu after Gov Gwen Garcia signed Executive Order 43 containing theto Cebu after Gov. Gwen Garcia Executive Order 43 the guidelines for those who want to travel to the provincefor those who want to travel to the province.

DOT Eastern Visayas regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes at the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The Sogod Bay Dive Sites in Southern Leyte is dubbed as the Rising Star of the Philippine Dive Destinations. (Photo courtesy of Tourism Promotions Board)

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia with TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid. (Junjie Mendoza)