Mindanao Daily (November 21-22, 2022)

ep. Rufus Rodriguez

REP. Rufus Rodriguez today said the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris sends a clear signal to China that the US is supporting the Philippines in its territorial dispute with Beijing.

“We welcome Vice Presi dent Kamala Harris. We thank the United States for supporting our sovereign rights in the West Philip pine Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in accordance with the In ternational Arbitral Award in July 2016,” he said.

He said before Harris arrived in Manila, a US of ficial told the press that the visit would show the Biden administration’s “commit ment to stand with our

SM City CDO Uptown rebrands on 20th Anniv

SM Supermalls first mall in Cagayan de Oro City has rebranded with a new moniker to mark its 20th anniversary milestone.

Now officially known as SM City CDO Uptown to differentiate it from its downtown sibling, the re branding was also part of its 20th commemoration to mark its redevelopment.

“We started our 20th year commemoration last June 30, 2022 with the opening of the North Wing, an expan sion building that features fresh, open and enjoyable spaces for a unique uptown feel,” said Oliver John R. Tiu, SM Supermalls Vice President for OperationsMindanao, during a virtual press briefing with some members of the press on 15 November 2022.

“We also launched the mall’s new name to SM City CDO Uptown to kick off the

DSWD-Davao alarmed by use of socmed closed groups for sex trafficking

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV MindaNews

DAVAO CITY — The De partment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)Davao expressed alarm over the emergence of closed groups on social media

which are used as platform to traffic sex workers.

Gladys Credo, spokes person for DSWD-Davao, told Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) last Friday that they are

By TEOFILO GARCIA, JR.

ZAMBOANGA CITY –Authorities separately arrested two traders for selling PHP373,500 worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga del Sur prov ince, an official said Friday.

Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said Aian Du mat-ol, 32, and Gambai Saidali, 24, were nabbed more than an hour apart Thursday for trading illicit goods.

Dumat-ol was arrested around 5:30 p.m. in Baran gay Upper Laperian, Ramon

The team from USTP Balubal won consolation prize during the 1st Agri Aqua Innovation Challenge held recently at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.

SM City CDO Uptown officers Carlston B. Maglangit, PR Officer; Feli Jan Wenson K. Bagares, Asst. Mall Manager; Bernadette Flores, Mall Manager & Joey M. Tumolva, Regional Operations Manager pose for posterity during the turnover with Engr. Chrysler B. Acebu, PACE Pres. & concurrently Pueblo de Oro VP & GM; Glen C. Motol, Sr. Man ager for Township Relations, & Engr. Adrian D. Alcayde, AVP for Township Administration.

Text & photo by MIKE BAÑOS Editor at large

2 traders selling smuggled cigarettes arrested in Zamboanga del Sur

US VP’s visit sends clear signal to China

R

PH interests, views articulated before APEC leaders: PBBM

By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS

MANILA – President Fer dinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday expressed con fidence that he succeeded in articulating the Philip pines’ interests and stance on several issues affecting the Asia-Pacific Region.

Marcos, upon his arrival in the country following the conclusion of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Co operation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, said it is “gratifying” to express the Philippines’ position on certain issues, includ ing climate change, food security, and digitalization.

“We have been able to state our country’s position and that is quite gratifying,” Marcos said, as he reported the outcomes of his inau guration participation in the APEC meetings.

“In a sense, one of the most important things at least for me, the reason I thought I must attend this conference is one, I have spoken to, I have discussed many issues with all the leaders of our region, of the Asia-Pacific. They now know me. They know what the Philippines’ position is on several issues,” he added.

Marcos said it is “very

encouraging” to know that he and his fellow APEC leaders have identified the “same problems for most of the countries” and the solutions needed to address the present and future chal lenges.

‘Idea of unity’

The APEC fora, Marcos said, were “very useful and

Fostering careful and strategic planning in the organization

By SHEILA H. DAVID

Similar to time manage ment, employees need the skill of being able to plan strategically. This means pri oritizing your tasks in order of importance or planning out processes for the entire office to follow. Planning skills also come into play when arranging employee and executive calendars when unexpected cancellations or changes arise.

People working in strate gic planning need to be able to analyze and evaluate the organization’s goals and plans. Only through an analytical eye can strategic planners decide what steps an organization needs to take.

A large part of a strategic planner’s job is communicat ing the organization’s plan to the team. They have to explain (by both speaking and writing) the steps employees need to take to achieve or

agnization’s goals. Strategic planners also need to be active listeners. They have to listen to the needs of the employees before devising a plan of ac tion. They also need to listen to the concerns and ideas of their peers and subordinates.

More so, strategic plan ning involves frequent deci sion making. Strategic plan ners must select a course of action to help the organization achieve its goals without constant doubts and over thought. They need to be able to examine all of the information available to them and then confidently make a thoughtful decision.

Thus, as a member of any organization, it is very significant that we shall plan strategically at all times so that any action or undertaking will then merit success as it has been planned consciously and logically.

productive.”

Marcos said the 21 APEC members concurred that the way forward for economic prosperity is to adopt the “idea of unity.”

“In other words, we have a consonance of views and analysis on the things that are to be of concerned. Furthermore, the solutions

for that are things that we now have formulated,” he added.

“This is essentially the idea of unity. We are all in agreement that that concept is important for us to be able to face the future which is going to be rather tumul tuous in the next perhaps year,” Marcos added.

Bilateral meetings

Marcos also noted that he was able to meet with Chi nese President Xi Jinping, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister

Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the APEC meet ings.

He said he had “very fruitful” discussions with the five leaders, citing their commitment to expand their cooperation with the Philippines in several fields.

“I had several bilateral meetings... That was also very useful,” Marcos said. “The bilateral meetings that we had, we were able to tackle specifics in terms of relationship between our two countries, where we could help each other. I asked about agriculture. I asked about energy, de pending on who we were meeting.”

Thai businesses’ possible investments

Marcos also reported that he met with Thai business leaders to encourage them to invest in the Philippines.

Marcos held a roundtable discussion with Thai busi ness community and had a separate meeting with Thailand’s Siam Cement Group (SCG).

“Some of the bilaterals were with private corpora tions. We were entertained by private corporations who want to invest in the

Pangandaman to meet local budget officers in Mindanao

By AZER PARROCHA

MANILA – Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman is scheduled to attend the annual confer ence of local budget officers in Mindanao on Monday.

In a press statement Sun day, DBM said Panganda man will be the guest of honor of the three-day an nual conference and seminar of the Mindanao League of Local Budget Officers (MLLBO) which will be held in Zamboanga City.

Pangandaman, a staunch reformist and champion for the digitalization of the bureaucracy, will deliver a keynote message to the participants

first day of the event. She is also expected to administer the

She will also grace the celebration of the 45th anni versary of the DBM Region 9 Office.

With the theme, “Strengthening Local Gov ernment Public Financial Management (PFM) thru Digitalization,” the threeday conference from Nov. 21 to 23, 2022, will bring together local government unit (LGU) officials and employees from different provinces, cities, and mu nicipalities in Mindanao.

Last Wednesday, Pangan daman attended the Visayas leg of the annual conference of local budget officers in Tacloban City, Leyte, and

Sustain crackdown vs. online sexual abuse of children: solon

MANILA – Amid the global celebration of World Chil dren’s Day, Senator Win Gatchalian on Sunday urged the government to sustain the momentum of its crack down on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

“Bahagi ng pagtataguyod natin sa kaligtasan at kapak anan ng mga kabataan ang pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng internet, lalo na’t ginagamit ito para sa iba’t ibang uri ng karahasan at pang-aabuso (Part of our promotion of the safety and well-being of young people is ensuring the safety of the internet,

especially when it is used for various types of violence and abuse),” Gatchalian said in a news release on Sunday.

Considering the recent

passage of two relevant laws, Gatchalian said the govern ment is now better equipped to combat OSAEC as well

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ( F ile photo )

BUDGET MANAGEMENT Department of Budget and Man agement (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman delivers a keynote address during the Philippine League of Local Budget Officers (PHILLBO) Visayas Area Conference in Tacloban City, Leyte on November 16. ( p hoto courtesy o F DBM F ace B ook page )

on the

oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected officials of MLLBO.

Senator Win Gatchalian ( c ontri B ute D photo )

Luzon

21 more modernized jeepneys to ply routes in Pampanga

By ZORAYDA TECSON CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pam

panga – An additional 21 modern ized jeepneys will soon ply the major routes in this province.

Nasrudin Talipasan, regional director of the Land Transporta tion Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), said on Friday three transport service coopera tives -- the Kapampangan Trans port Service Cooperative, Lubao Transport Service Cooperative and Guagua/ Betis/ Bacolor Transport Service Cooperative -- will launch the 21 air-conditioned public utility jeepneys (PUJs) at the City Transport Terminal Phase 2 in Barangay San Juan here on Nov. 26.

Talipasan said the new modern ized jeepneys will ply the routes of Angeles City – San Fernando via McArthur Highway; City of San Fernando – San Isidro; Lubao – City of San Fernando via Bacolor; Lubao – Guagua; City of San Fernando –Sasmuan via Guagua; Guagua – SM

City Pampanga/Robinsons Starmills via OG Road; and Guagua – SM City Pampanga/Robinsons Starmills via Bacolor.

He thanked the transport ser vice cooperatives for continuously supporting the government’s PUV modernization program (PUVMP)

“Layunin ng mga nasabing koop eratiba na palawakin pa ang bilang ng mga modernong pampublikong sasakyan sa probinsya ng Pam panga (The said cooperatives aim to expand the number of modern public vehicles in the province of Pampanga),” he said in a social media post.

Talipasan said the modern PUJs are environment-friendly, safe, secure and comfortable and give due consideration to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

He said more commuters would be able to enjoy riding air-condi tioned, spacious, safe and convenient modernized PUJs.

Davao extends P2-M aid for Ilocos Norte typhoon, quake victims

By LEILANIE ADRIANO

LAOAG CITY – The people of Davao through its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Office (CDRR MO) have extended financial assistance amounting to PHP2 million to typhoon and earthquake victims in the province.

Retired Police Colonel Alfredo Baluran, chief of the CDRRMO in Davao City, personally turned over the cash check on Friday to the Ilocos Norte government represented by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Marcel Tabije.

“This is part of our mayor’s commit ment to helping typhoon victims in areas under state of calamity,” said Baluran in a media interview in front of the Capitol here.

As an Ilokano himself because his family originated in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte before they migrated to Mindanao, Baluran said the financial assistance is meant to help in the immediate needs of the Ilocanos who were hard hit by Typhoon Neneng in the middle of October and a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that jolted Abra and neighbor ing provinces of Ilocos region last Oct. 25.

Through the initiative of Davao City mayor Sebastian Duterte, Baluran said it has been a practice of the city govern ment to extend assistance to other cities or provinces hit by calamities. The city has assisted Abra, Aklan and Zamboanga, among others.

Tabije, for his part, thanked Davao for its efforts to assist the local residents here.

“The financial assistance will be of great help to our constituents,” said Tabije as he reported all areas affected by the recent typhoon and earthquake are now recovering with the support of various government institutions.

Last October, Ilocos Norte has been placed under a double state of calamity due to Neneng and a strong earthquake, damaging more than PHP225 million worth of damage to infrastructure. ( PNA )

Ilocos Norte capitol. ( pna F ile photo )

MODERNIZED JEEPNEYS. The modernized jeepneys that will soon ply major routes in Pampanga province. These will be launched before the end of November under the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program. ( p hoto courtesy o F the lt F r B r egion 3 )

Kim’s Dream

Enough is Enough of Oligarchical Control Equity & Social Justice: The Imperative Call of the Times

HIS Holiness Pope Fran cis has mentioned in His Encyclical Laudatu Si that in a world with so much food, why are there many people who are hungry. Such truism is backed-up by data that some 821 million people in the world, mostly in Asia, are living in extreme poverty whose children are all malnourished. In a world of abundance, who controls? who profits? Who decides? Only one percent of the world’s population as their total wealth combined is far greater compared to the total assets of the ninety-nine percent or of the 7 billion people. In fact, the eight richest families in the United States have a total wealth that is equal to the consolidated assets of 3.6 billion people, based on the Oxfam Study. Such gross inequity is the offshoot of the contemporaneous economic paradigm called Neo-Liberal Capitalism be ing advanced through cor porate globalization.

The reign of one percent which is giving so much ven eration to the profit motive that has already captured the mindset of all govern ments, all institutions, all universities and even of religious groups has buried humanity to unbridled ma

terialism and consumerism. Such mindset has become a monstrous parasite that if remained unchecked, may well end up killing all life in the planet as such paradigm is sacrificing Mother Earth and the people to the altar of greed and profit.

Don’t you know that every day, one thousand hectares of the 386-meter high iceberg in the Arc tic and the Antarctic are melting that is giving rise to the world’s sea level. In fact, based on Studies, in 20 years, the sea level in the Philippine Archipelago will rise by 16 meters and by that time, only 3,000 is lands will remain rendering some 41 million Filipinos homeless. Even the Third Pole (the Mekong Delta) will vanished that is the one providing irrigation to millions of hectares of Riceland in Asia where our country is getting its 2.5 million metric tons rice importation annually.

Indeed, Mother Earth (GAIA) is dying which is now in the verge of its 6th extinction after its 5th ex tinction which happened some 65 million years ago when asteroids hit the earth that vanished into extinction the dinosaurs. No asteroid will hit the earth this time

PHIL-CHINA WATCH

PH-China cooperation in the ‘Asian Moment’

THE world’s attention is now focused on Asia as the rare convergence of several crucial regional and inter national activities pursuing the unity and welfare of mankind are convened in Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia this November.

Three major regional and international meetings of world leaders is being held in Asia - APEC 2022 with its theme “Balance in All Aspects” hosted by Thailand, ASEAN with the theme “Stronger Together” hosted by Cambodia, and G20 2022 with the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger” hosted by Indo nesia.

Asia comprises 45 per cent of the global economy and is projected to exceed 50 percent of world output by 2050. This ideal can be achieved only if the global environment of peace and stability can be ensured and any breakdown in the dialogue amongst diverging international perspectives and powers are averted.

The population of Asia by 2050 is projected to grow to 5.26-billion and will comprise 54 percent of world population by that time, coupled with its share of the world economy it

will indeed constitute the continuing fruition of the Asian Century and Asia as the center of global growth and epicenter of stability for the world.

At the heart of Asia’s rise is, of course, China and ASEAN’s peaceful rise in these first two decades of the 21st Century, while the West continues its decline due to an inherently afflicted economic system based on predatory exploitation of neo-colonial economies, bust-bust cycles and profi teering from geopolitical conflicts.

China’s rise in bringing along ASEAN and many other parts of the world, including the network of countries traversed by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has convinced the world of the optimum vi ability of China’s model of development as well as the wisdom of its unique system the global community can learn from.

At the same time China’s clear and unwavering dec laration of its mission to conduct “win-win” relations with all major, medium and small nations, its recent an nouncement of its Global Security and Development Initiatives, and its vision

as the cause of the earth’s demise is heterogenic (manmade). It has been said that _ the homo sapiens is the most flawed species of all of God’s creation, having killed some 150 million fel low human beings in 20th century alone out of two world wars. The thousands of concerned scientists in the world have given a clear warning, stating that the earth is already in the edge of the precipice, just “one minute before midnight.”

Before that happens, it behooves upon all of us to examine the present devel opment paradigm which is based on the growth-at-allcost development strategy aptly called Neo-Liberal Capitalism. That kind of global economic system that is only successful in sacrificing humanity and Mother Earth to the altar of greed and profit is like a giant off-balance. So as not to fall, it has to run and in running, it steps on communities, forests, rivers, seas, agricultural lands, the ozone layer, the iceberg and even on people themselves, leaving havoc on its path.

That AIDS-like

and mission to help create a “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” has convinced the world of is sincere intentions.

This global perception of this sincerity has also been reinforced by the good works of China all over the world over the past seven decades beginning with the 1950s and accelerating in the second decade of the 21st century with the ”Build, Build, Build” of the BRI and the humanitarian diplomacy of China during the Covid 19 crisis

For all the above rea sons China has succeeded in overcoming hostile re sistance emanating from former hegemonic world powers of the West to its goodwill and good works. The “Pivot to Asia” of the US followed by the “trade war” and the campaign against Huawei, and now the “microchips war” have not stopped China’s growing acceptance by the world.

ASEAN, for its part, has economically grown by leaps

Orlan R. Ravanera

ALLAN MARIO MEDIANTE Vice President

RUFINO

VICENTE

RENE MICHAEL BAÑOS Vice President for Special Projects

DANTE SUDARIA, JR. Vice President for Digital ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, PhD Vice president for FINANCE

Herman Tiu Laurel

Visayas

Iloilo City’s waste diversion strategies help reduce solid waste

By PERLA LENA

ILOILO CITY – The city government has been en gaging in waste diversion strategies to reduce by over 20 percent the amount of solid waste being generated daily, the head of Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) said Friday.

In an interview, Engr. Neil Ravena said these in clude a composting activity in Calahunan village which produces around six to eight tons of compost per week that are given to barangays and schools engaging in organic gardening.

He added that there are two material recovery fa cilities (MRFs) available in Calahunan, one dedicated to organic composting while

the other one is into plastics recovery, with a capacity of around 30 tons each.

“Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has been very supportive of the solid waste management and in fact the city govern ment has already acquired machines that they have yet to set up in order to operate. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also provided the city with a bio-digester,” said the CENRO chief.

“The city government is also looking for waste-to-en ergy projects through public private partnership (PPP) for garbage to be converted into energy instead of the government constructing another sanitary landfill to accommodate residual wastes,” Ravena said.

To further reduce the amount of solid waste be ing collected by the city government, Ravena urged residents to manage organic and recyclable materials.

According to him, the city generates around 370 tons of solid waste per day.

“The local government here is supposed to collect only residual wastes that will go to the Calahunan dump site in this city’s Mandurriao district while organic and recyclable wastes have to be managed at the household or barangay level,” he said.

“The contractor should only collect residual wastes because the responsibility of the city is to collect residual wastes only based on Re public Act 9003 (Ecological

Cash aid pours in for crisis-hit NegOr families

By MARY JUDALINE PARTLOW

DUMAGUETE CITY – A total of PHP9 million in cash aid reached 3,000 beneficia ries in Negros Oriental on Sunday under the Depart ment of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situa tion (DSWD-AICS).

Senator Imee Marcos, who led the distribution, told the crowd at Lam berto Macias Sports Center here that the assistance will somehow help them deal with the rising cost of rice,

vegetables and other basic goods.

“The last three years were so difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic and many stayed at home, afraid to catch the disease, while others also lost their jobs and income,” she said in Visayan.

She added that her broth er, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., wants to continue giving ayuda (assistance) directly to the beneficiaries. Each beneficiary re ceived PHP3,000, including

farmers, fisherfolk, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities from Tayasan, Pamplona, Ayungon, Bindoy, San Jose, Sibulan, Dauin, and Siaton towns, as validated by local DSWD officers.

In an interview with the media, the senator said she looks forward to participat ing in more AICS distribu tion in the province.

“I’m hopeful that we can also cover the other towns in the next few months,” she said, as she has been

going around the country in recent days for the DSWD assistance.

Governor Roel Degamo said the AICS distribution will be province-wide.

The AICS is a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, calamities and other crisis situations.

The DSWD also has

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. Senator Cynthia Villar discusses the significant ad vantages of composting in terms of managing solid wastes during the Solid Waste Management of the Philippines Conference 2022 on Thursday (Nov. 17, 2022). Iloilo City, which hosted the event, has been in the forefront in waste management strate gies to help reduce solid waste. ( pna photo B y p erla g l ena )

TIMELY GIFT. Senator Imee Marcos (center) joins the distribution of PHP3,000 cash each to 3,000 beneficiaries at Lamberto Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Sunday (Nov. 20, 2022). The aid is under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. ( pna photo B y J u D y F lores p artlow )

2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair formally opened

IN the first physical edi tion since the economy reopened, the opening cer emony of the 2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair was held last November 16, at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall. The occasion was well-attended by foreign dignitaries representing various embassies as well as guests from various govern ment agencies.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, while unable to attend physically, sent her keynote speech to be read during the ceremony. As a principal sponsor and author of the MSME Law signed in 2008, Senator Legarda shepherded its enactment in recognition of the vital role of MSMEs in employment generation and economic growth. She notes, “As we empower the country’s poorest through MSME programs, let us not forget that our aim is also to enhance the value

of our local and indige nous products and crafts. We must also enhance the competitiveness of rural enterprises as we face the realities of modernization. Let us elevate their standards to being world-class while still maintaining our unique Filipino culture.

Meanwhile, Congress man Christian Unabia, Rep resentative from the 1st District of Misamis Oriental and Chairperson of the Committee on MSME De velopment in the House of Representatives, announced the legislative priorities to address the challenges fac ing MSMEs, “so that they will continue to contribute to the administration’s goal of reducing poverty and at taining economic growth.”

These priorities include: (1) amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs; (2) Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso Act; and (3) amendments

PH among the leaders in digitalization of financial sector

By JOANN VILLANUEVA

MANILA – The success of payment system digitaliza tion varies but an official of Western Union said the Philippines is among the leaders in this field.

In a briefing on Friday, Western Union President for Middle East and Asia Pacific Jean Claude Farah said governments around the globe bids towards digi tization “with more or less success because many have talked about it but few have succeeded doing it.”

He, on the other, noted that in the Philippines “this is already taking place, this is no longer a dream, a bargain or objective.”

“You guys are digitizing your remittance industry much more than the remit tance industry,” he said.

For one, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is aiming for a 50 percent share of digital payments to total transactions by 2023.

Farah noted that the government, in general, is

also pushing for the digi talization of government processes, thus, “you are way down, down that road.’

“As far as Western Union is concerned, we are always in support of any govern ment effort that goes into

making consumers’ lives easier,” he said.

However, gains towards this goal is not being ex perienced by everybody, results of the latest survey commissioned by Western

Results of the survey showed that around 44 per cent of the 2,000 consumers who participated in the survey said they prefer to receive money transfers through digital platforms

PH, SoKor target to sign free trade deal in Q1 2023

By KRIS CRISMUNDO

MANILA – Manila and Seoul target to conclude discussions of their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in order to sign the trade pact by first quarter of next year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Friday.

At the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Co operation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday (Nov. 17), DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual and South Korea’s Trade, Industry, and Energy (MO TIE) Minister Ahn DukGeun had a bilateral meet ing, in which the two trade

executives reaffirmed their commitments to conclude the Philippines-South Korea FTA.

During the meeting, Pascual and Ahn eyed to sign the bilateral FTA in the forthcoming visit of Presi dent Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to South Korea by the first quarter of 2023.

Aside from reaffirming the FTA conclusion, Pascual and Ahn also discussed ways to boost economic relations between the Philippines and South Korea.

“The two ministers had a productive discussion on trade and investment issues,

Importance of good communication skills in the workplace

By SHEILA H. DAVID

Communication is a long standing must-have skill for those in teaching and learn ing management roles.. All types of communication are vital for this type of profes sional: oral communication for meetings and phone calls, writing capability for corre spondence that needs to be sent internally and externally, and strong listening skills to follow instructions.

It’s important for any teaching professional that they can communicate with various parties, such as cli ents, colleagues, parents, learners and senior man agement which makes welldeveloped communication skills an absolute must-have competency.

Communication drives workplace success. Although the detriments of poorly

communicating with others may not be apparent in the short term, it has a crippling effect on the workplace in the long-term. Succeeding in your career requires good communication skills. You need to know what you want and how you are going to attain it. Being an excellent communicator can help pro pel your career.

Moreover, respecting what others have to say and acknowledging them is an important aspect of com munication. Being respectful can be as simple as paying attention to what they have to say, using the person’s name, and not being distracted. By respecting others, the other person will feel appreciated, which will lead to a more honest and productive con versation.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the 2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair. (L-R): Ms. Sky Gavin of When In Manila, BDTP Dir. Marievic Bonoan, DTI Usec. Ireneo Vizmonte, Cong. Christian Unabia, DTI Usec. Blesila Lantayona, DTI RD Leah Ocampo, and DCP Exec. Dir. Rhea Matute.

DIGITALIZATION. Western Union President for Middle East and Asia Pacific Jean Claude Farah said the Philippines’ payment system digitalization is among the best in the world. He said not everyone are sold on this goal given connectivity issues and lack of knowledge, among others. As such, he said the company is supporting government efforts towards widening access on digital transactions. ( p hoto F ro M w estern u nion )

Union showed.

Marawi schools division gears up for first BARMM education summit

By CLAIRE GIGJE

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Gearing up for the nearing first-ever educa tion summit for the entire Bangsamoro region, the city schools division here held a pre-education summit Thursday, November 17, to directly solicit ideas from educators, the local chief executive, Committee on Education, and some part ner stakeholders, engaging all of them in the vision of molding a successful Bangsamoro learner in the 21st century.

able to agree on proposed policies and programs that measure the four sub-sectors of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Edu cation (MBHTE) which are the basic education, tech nical education and skills development (TESD), higher education, and Bureau of Madrasah.

“All members of the community and different stakeholders shall align together with the different policies and programs that they will create so that it will strengthen and envision the successful 21st Bangsamoro learners,” she said.

VP and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte graces 10th Anniversary of RCTQ

By ASANGAN T. MADALE Contributor

VICE President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte graces in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Philippine Normal Uni versity Research Center for Teacher Quality (PNURC TQ). Based on the official facebook account posted by CHED , VP & DepEd Secretary Duterte leads the unveiling the historic RCTQ . It was learned that

PCTQ provides data-driven studies to assist policymak ers make evidence-base decisions in education.

The Philippine Nor mal University Research Center for Teacher Qual ity (RCTQ) is partnership between the Philippine Normal University (PNU) and the University of New England Australia sup ported by the Australian Government.

Its vision is to provide

evidence-based policy advice for strengthening teacher quality. It has also assisted in the implementa tion of the K to 12 Reform by p;roviding nationally consistent policy advice focused on ; Pre-Service Teacher Growth and Devel opment, In-service Teacher Professional Growth and Development and Teacher and Teacher Educator Sub ject and Academic Renewal are some of its major objec

tives. In brief some of its strategies are: it engage collaboratively with govern ment education agencies notably the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education, (CHED) and the Professional Regula tion Commission (PRC) and establish links and networks with the educa tion profession, business and other key stakeholders, the documents stated

Alonto stated that all the things discussed in the

City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Anna Zenaida Unte-Alonto high lighted that through this, involved parties would be See SUMMIT , page 9

PLGU MisOr, Agri 10 spearhead planning -workshop on CADP for Mt. Balatukan cluster

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –

The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental (PLGU MisOr) and the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10), recently hosted the conduct of the Planning-Workshop for the Convergence Area Develop ment Plan (CADP) of the Mt. Balatukan Range cluster on November 10-11, 2022, in this city.

DA-10 serving as the lead convener of the Regional Convergence Initiative (RCI) headed by OIC-Regional Ex ecutive Director Carlene C. Collado primarily aimed to tackle the status and accom plishments of the CADPs of the 12 towns and city of the Mt. Balatukan cluster, at the same time consolidating data for an update of said plan of the covered areas for the 2023-2027 period.

RED Collado further shared that the CADP serves as a basis for attaining sus tainable management of natural resources and rural development within the watershed using the ridgeto-reef approach through the implementation of environ ment-friendly enterprises and livelihood opportunities.

With MisOr under the

helm of new leadership, Gover nor Peter M. Unabia remarked, “We aim to strengthen and repolish our strategic goals and direction towards sustainable development and protection of Mt. Balatukan area and the whole province of MisOr.”

Since the Mt. Balatukan cluster was launched in 2011, DA-10 consultant Joel S. Ru

dinas emphasized that there is a need to consider what happened within the con vergence area and come up with a better plan to use the available resources.

Representatives from the partner agencies of the RCITechnical Working Group (TWG) – DA, Department of the Interior and Local Govern

ment, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including the dif ferent departments from PLGU MisOr, bared their respective plans and programs for poten tial inclusion in the making of the updated CADP.

Guiding the attendees, Mr. Rudinas also directed them

to redefine their directions considering the provincial development challenges such as the expansion of tourism and industries, rapid urban ization, and high population growth.

Factoring in these aspects is crucial, he further explained, as this would translate into increased demand for food,

water, and power, as well as gainful employment and higher returns or incomes.

Mustering the activity were the municipal agri culturists and planning de velopment officers from the concerned towns and cities of Magsaysay, Talisayan, Sugbongcogon, Kinoguitan, Balingoan, Binuangan, Salay, Lagonglong, Balingasag, Claveria and Gingoog, who have also presented their respective initial outputs.

As ways forward, the team agreed on assessing resources for intervention and updated CADPs per municipality by the third week of January, next year, with the review, finaliza tion, and packaging of the CADP from mid-April 2023 to May-June 2023.

The Convergence Initia tive is a strategy involving the complementation of efforts and resources be tween and among RCI-TWG partner agencies, including relevant stakeholders, and that of an LGU, to promote and harmonize the delivery of agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, and rural develop ment services towards sus tainable rural development.

PLGU MisOr and DA-10 spearhead the planning-workshop for updating of the CADP for Mt. Balatukan Range cluster.

(In photo: Vice President and DepEd Sec. Sara Duterte (3rd-right) leads the unveiling of RCTQ during its 10th An niversary, CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera (2nd right) and other officials of PNU-RCTQ witnesses the ceremony. ( c ontri B ute D photo )

Marawi City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Anna Zenaida Unte-Alonto says all things discussed during the pre-education summit will be gathered and presented to the first-ever education summit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to be held in Davao City in December 2022. ( J ason c asas / pia -10/ l anao D el s ur )

6 former rebels receives cash aid of 2.5-M as ECLIP beneficiaries

By ASANGAN T. MADALE Contributor

ILIGAN City Officer-inCharge (OIC) City Director Maria Maida Daniot led the ceremonial awarding and check distribution of check assistance to six (6) formner rebels amounting to 2. 5 Million under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Inten gration Program (ECLIP) held at Sweet Mommy’s Res taurant ,Brgy, Pala-o this city on Wednesday, November 16, Top Officials said.

The distribution of the check assistance to 6 former rebels beneficiaries was as sisted by Iligan City Mayor Frederick Sia and BGen Rey

Alemania with his staff from the Philippine Army under the ECLIP, every FR has received financial support in the form of immediate assistance worth P15,000 immediate assistance and livelihood assistance worth P50,000. The total amount of cash assistance awarded reached P390,000, Daniot said

These FRs were part of this year’s E-CLIP grants by the DILG Iligan City. The said program aims to assist rebels who have surrendered to restore their allegiance to the Philippine government and further reintegrate into mainstream society.

She also encouraged the former insurgents to spread the news about the govern ment and, eventually, return to the folds of the law.

The government has reached out to marginal ized communities in remote barangays. Roads and other public infrastructures were constructed as part of the Support to Barangay De velopment Program (SBDP) projects to provide additional social services.

Pursuant to Administra tive Order no. 10, s. of 2018, the ECLIP provides a com plete package of assistance to FRs who were members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), as well as their immediate family members, who have expressed their desire to abandon armed struggle and become productive members of the society, Alemania stress.

Publication Notice R.A. 10172

Publication Notice R.A. 10172

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Davao del Sur Municipality of Hagonoy

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CCE-0032-2022 R.A. 10172

November 14, 2022

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Ad ministrative Order No. 1, Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that JOSEFINA SARAÑA ABANID NG has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of child’s sex/gender from “ Male ” to “ FEMALE ”; in the certificate of live birth of JOSEFINA SARAÑA ABANID NG who was born on October 17, 1963 at Hagonoy, Davao del Sur and whose parents are Andres Montajes Abanid and Primitiva Daragosa Saraña

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than December 02, 2022 (Sgd) PUREZA S. CABARDO Mun. Gov’t. Dept. Head (MCR) MDN: Nov 15 & 22, 2022

Republic of the Philippines

Local Civil Registry Office Province: Agusan del Norte City/Municipality: Butuan City Publication Notice RA 10172

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CCE-215-2022 (R.A. 10172)

In compliance with the publication requirement and Pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1. Guidelines in the implementation of the Admin istrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (RR on RA 10172) Notice n hereby served to the public that WENIFREDO M. ROCERO has filed with this office a Petition for Correction of Clerical Error of the child’s date of birth from “ FEBRUARY 11, 1960 ” to “ JANUARY 11, 1940 ” in the Certificate of Live Birth of MORAL ROSERO who was born on February 11, 1960 at Tungao, Butuan City, Agusan, Philippines and whose parents are FILEMONA LANDERO MORAL AND TOMAS CUPIN ROSERO

Any person adversely affected by said petition may to his written opposition with this Office not later than 29 November 202 2.

(Sgd) AMALIA T. QUE Acting City Civil Registrar

MDN: Nov 15 & 22, 2022

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Davao del Sur Municipality of Hagonoy

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CCE-0033-2022 R.A. 10172 CFN-0003-2022 R.A. 9048

November 14, 2022

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memo randum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that JOSIEVE SANIEL EBORDA has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of child’s sex/gender from “ Male ” to “ FEMALE ” and correction of child’s first name from “ Joseph ” to “ JOSIEVE ” in the certificate of live birth of JOSIEVE SANIEL EBORDA who was born on January 09, 1970 at Hagonoy, Davao del Sur and whose parents are Vicente Eborda and Isidra Saniel

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than December 02, 2022

(Sgd) PUREZA S. CABARDO Mun. Gov’t. Dept. Head (MCR)

Notice of Auction Sale

All unredeemed jewelries and articles pledges loan from December 22, 2021 to April 29, 2022 will be sold at public auction on November 29, 2022 at 9:00 o’ clock in the morning.

Ang lahat na prenda na hindi natubus mula Disyembre 22, 2021 hanggang Abril 29, 2022 ay isusubasta sa publiko sa Nobyembre 29, 2022 sa ganap na ika-9:00 ng umaga.

By Management

MDN: Nov 15 & 22, 2022

Republic of the Philippines Province of Davao del Sur CITY OF DIGOS OFFICE OF THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR

Publication Notice R.A. 10172

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

November 09, 2022

In Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memo randum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that ELIZA C. OLAYVAR has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of entry in child’s date of birth from “ 10 MARCH 1971 ” to “ 26 FEBRUARY 1971 ” in the Certificate of Live Birth of ELIZA CANSANCIO OLAIBAR at Digos, Davao del Sur and whose parents are Rustico O. Olaybar and Juanita C. Cansancio

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than November 29, 2022

(Sgd) MARISSA C. NEBRADA

City Civil Registrar MDN: Nov 15 & 22, 2022

MDN: Nov 22, 2022

Publication Notice

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Province of Misamis Oriental Municipality of Alubijid

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CFN-00012-2022

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that JULIETO O. UGSOD has filed with this office a petition for Change of First Name from “ HOLITO ” to “ JULIETO ” in the Certificate of Live Birth of “ HOLITO UGSOD ” who was born on MAY 1, 1954 at Matangad, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental and whose parents are ELIAS UGSOD and GUILLERMA OMPOC Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than November 23, 2022

(Sgd) ESTELA N. SALDIA Municipal Civil Registrar

MDN: Nov 15 & 22, 2022

and

St., Jimenez, Misamis Occidental respectively;

That said marriage did not last long due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcilability and they separated for each other for some reason of which both petitioner finally decided to legally break or severe their marriage bond and they decided to separate live physically in bed and board, thereby, executed Memorandum of Agreement in order to formalize their separation. Since their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither mind ing each other affair’s; petitioner seek judicial decree of divorce, thereby, severing their marriage bond on August 26, 1995 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burdens. Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the initial hearing of this case on December 16, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place. Any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in newspaper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED.

Iligan City, Philippines, this 7th day of November, 2022.

HON. OSOP M. ALI Presiding Judge

That said marriage did not last long due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcil ability and they separated for each other for some reason of which both petitioner finally decided to legally break or severe their marriage bond for more than nine (9) years their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other affair’s; petitioner seek judicial decree of divorce, thereby, severing their marriage bond on February 14, 2012 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burdens. Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the initial hearing of this case on December 16, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place. Any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in newspaper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED.

Iligan City, Philippines, this 17th of November, 2022.

MDN: Nov. 22, 29 & Dec 6, 2022

summons and other legal processes relative to this case at their resident at Purok Lourdes Alcuizar Ave., Tubod, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte respectively;

That said marriage did not last long due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcil ability and they separated for each other for some reason of which both petitioner finally decided to legally break or severe their marriage bond for more than three (3) years their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other affair’s; petitioner seek judicial decree of divorce, thereby, severing their marriage bond on June 14, 2011 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burdens. Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the initial hearing of this case on December 16, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place. Any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in newspaper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED.

Iligan City, Philippines, this 18th of November, 2022.

MDN: Nov. 22, 29 & Dec 6, 2022

Kristine Pawnshop Bonifacio Branch Bonifacio St.- Tacurong City

In photo Iligan City Mayor Frederick Siao (center)present to check to former rebels as ECLIP beneficiaries amounting to 65K part of 2.5 million led by OIC City Director Maria M. Daniot, BGen Rey Alemania with his staff from PA. ( c ontri B ute D photo )

Ply...

from page 3

He also assured that the LTFRB will continue to provide technical as sistance to the transport service cooperatives in the province.

The three transport ser vice cooperatives, together with the One Mexico Prime Transport Service Coop erative, first launched 12 modernized jeepneys last March 16. ( PNA )

Help...

from page 5

Solid Waste Management Act),” Ravena added.

On concerns raised by barangays with no areas to situate their own MRF, Ravena pointed to the MRFs situated at the Terminal Market, Jaro Big Market and at Central Market that can accommodate 10 barangays each.

Meanwhile, the CENRO chief said the city’s hosting of the Solid Waste Management of the Philippines Confer ence 2022 that culminated Friday was timely since the topic was about disaster wastes.

Ravena noted that the city monitored an increase of almost 50 tons of solid waste following a series of clearing operation in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

He also noted the timely message of Senator Cynthia Villar during the opening of the conference wherein lawmaker talked about composting as a solution to a lot of problems such as pollution from garbage, soil degradation, and food wastes; and could even trans late into big savings to local government units in terms of garbage collection expenses.

“I have been rallying the national government, LGUs, communities and the private sector to im prove waste management via composting,” she said.

Villar also said there is a need to be “serious in environmental practices, especially in managing wastes” caused by weather disturbances such as the Paeng. ( PNA)

Pours...

from page 5

action centers to immedi ately respond to crisis cases, providing immediate rescue and protection, provision of financial and material assistance, augmentation during disaster, and referrals for immediate medical, legal and psycho-social services. ( PNA )

Opened...

from page 6

tinues to bring Philippine coffee to metro consumers.

The 2022 Hybrid Nation al Trade Fair is organized by the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in partnership with the DTI Regional Operations Group, the Design Center of the Philippines, the National Bamboo Industry Cluster, and the RAPID Growth Project.

to accelerate its operations “to build on our core ca pabilities so that we can hep growth, strengthen and evolve a financial ecosystem that surrounds our custom ers.”

Summit...

from page 7

pre-education summit would be consolidated to be presented in the upcoming regional education summit.

and information collated would become means to effectively address to the regional office all concerns from their ground.

“Through our omnichan nel approach, we belief that we can harness the power of both the physical and digital touchpoints to serve all our customers’ money movement needs,” he added. ( PNA )

Target...

from page 6 to the Go Negosyo Act.

Themed Go Green! Go Local!, the 2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair features agri-based enterprises, in cluding a rich selection of indigenous products and raw materials, handcrafted and handwoven products, furniture and home de cor made from sustainable materials, unique and ecofriendly packaging materi als, as well as health and wellness products. Fresh produce, processed food and beverages, and native delicacies are also among the product offerings.

Two hundred seven ty-two MSMEs from the country’s 16 regions are participating in the 2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City from November 16-20. At the same time, more than 100 exhibitors are featured in the online National Trade Fair on Lazada.

The centerpiece of the event is a Sustainability Pavilion highlighting the highly-versatile bamboo, dubbed as the bio-steel of the future. The Philippines is the 6th largest bamboo exporter worldwide, and the bamboo industry is one of the priority industry clusters for assistance by the DTI.

There are also special settings for the Rural AgroEnterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, with twenty ben eficiaries from the Visayas and Mindanao displaying their wares at the event.

The Philippine coconut industry has its own product showcase, while the highlypopular KAPEtirya con

The rise of online learning platforms

By SHEILA H. DAVID

Nowadays, we all are staying in our homes due to the lockdown policy imple mented by the government. However, learning should not halt. Different countries worldwide have introduced various answers during the pandemic to continue the education process - the intro duction of distance learning. These are online learning platforms such as google, TV broadcasts, guidelines, resources, video lectures and online channels were introduced (UNESCO, 2020).

With schools to re- open its doors the following school year, it’s vital to plan how schools will be able to pursue their mission of implement ing quality education to every student. As school is a public place where crowd

is unavoidable and children are vulnerable, there is a need to strengthen policy in terms of the delivery of instruction - to provide op portunities for online learn ing platforms. Numerous innovative programs have been proposed by the dif ferent learning sectors in the Philippines.

The Department of Edu cation emphasized that it would not necessarily mean that teachers and learners will go to schools and learn inside the classrooms and devised various modalities to ensure that online learning a choice among all others in this new learning environ ment (DepEd, 2020). Simi larly, in the higher education institutions, new normal would be virtual classrooms.

To know more about the 2022 Hybrid National Trade Fair, access the SI SIDLAN digital catalog, and keep updated on other programs of the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promo tion, please follow their social media accounts on Facebook (DTI.BDTP), Instagram (dti.bdtp), and Twitter (@DTI_BDTP). You may also email BDTP Direc tor Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

Leaders...

from page 6

but around 70 percent want to be able to choose how to collect it -- whether in cash or digitally.

Also, some people are wary of using digital chan nels to transfer funds due to lack of connectivity, limited knowledge of digital ser vices, lack of online banking history and are unbanked.

“This amplifies the need for larger ecosystems, where retail and digital platforms grow and evolve symbioti cally,” Farah said.

Citing World Bank (WB) data, Western Union offi cials said the Philippines is among the biggest recipient of remittances around the world, next to India, China and Mexico.

This, Farah said, is the reason why the company, a listed firm in the New York Stock Exchange, aims

which is aimed to strengthen the bilateral relationship of the Philippines and South Korea. Likewise, both agreed to facilitate cooperation centered on research and development, renewable energy, and green tech nology,” the DTI said in a statement.

Prior to the meeting of the trade chiefs of the two countries, DTI Undersec retary Ceferino Rodolfo and MOTIE Deputy Trade Minister Jeong Dae-jin met last Oct. 18 for the second Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC).

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that from January to Sep tember this year, Philippine exports to South Korea grew by 16.9 percent to USD2.3 billion from USD1.96 bil lion in the same period in 2021.

Philippine imports from South Korea stood at USD10 billion in the first nine months of 2022, a jump of 59 percent from last year’s imports of USD6.3 billion.

For this year, South Korea is the country’s ninth larg est export destination and the fourth biggest source of imported goods. ( PNA )

Revisit Philosophical Ideas on Social Reconstructionism In this Time of Educational Recovery A Reflection

ELLEN MAE D. OLASIMAN ,PhD Iponan Elementary School

Social Reconstructionism is focused on how to cope the problem or change brought by the society, education and the use of educational methods.

Society, nowadays, has many issues on the human abuse in terms of emotional and physical. This causes from the different perspec tive of the individual. Based from my experienced, in the community where I belong I have to link with my colleague as to what culture or system they have in the school. It is important to be with them and to work together for the improvement. The root concern of it is to have good development on students learning performance specifi cally on the social matter.

As a teacher, in educating the young children, I have to impart to them the basic skills on how to be a good example to others. Tell to the learners about the problem specifically on the family matters that they can relate one issue to another. They will give the answers on how to do it or how to solve their problems. For example, how to address the family prob lem in terms of their basic

needs? What makes the family happy? How to have a good relationship of each member in the family despite of many problems encountered. With their responses I will ask them and identify if it is right or wrong. Through that I am guiding them to be critical thinkers to cope the problem they are facing. They will think on solutions that are best. Aside from it, later, they will realize the importance of doing it. In my class, I let my pupils give their views so that they will be able to provide their common solution to such problem. Making good dialogue with each other (with my pupils and I) will lead to the social change and transform them socially.

As individual in a fast changing society, changing that is constant. It is my responsibility, as a teacher, to be the catalyst for social transformation of my pupils. This transformation will lead them also to be a catalyst of change in the society they will have in the future. The great effort that I have shared and imparted to them on handling carefully the problem will be remembered by the young minds.

Among the topics tackled were the current profile of learners in the city, pressing issues encoun tered in the delivery of education, and other programs and policies desired to be inculcated in the schools division.

Alonto stressed that with the Bangsamoro region gearing towards moral governance, it is doing everything to make all Bangsamoro learners in-depth or at par with other learners by alleviating the delivery of quality education.

“We shall be ironing out things for the betterment of the delivery of quality education for all Bangsamoro learners,” she said.

Looking at the positive impact of the event if its objectives would be realized, Mayor Majul Gan damra hoped that critical ideas

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF SPOUSES ERNESTO MARTINEZ AND LYNDA E. MARTINEZ WITH PARTITION

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRES ENTS:

This Extrajudicial Settlement of the Estate is made and entered into this 03 day of May, 2021 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; AND

EDGAR LOUIE E. MARTINEZ , of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of P2, Airport Village, Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; AND IRISH LOU MATINEZ ARCAYENA , of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of P2, Airport Village, Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

(Hereinafter referred to as the HEIRS of the late Spouses ERNESTO P. MARTINEZ and LYNDA E. MATINEZ ) WITNESSETH; That:

WHEREAS, the late spouses ERNESTO P. MARTINEZ died on May 2, 2019 at Cagayan de Oro City and LYNDA E. MARTINEZ , died on November 3, 2018 at Cagayan de Oro City, without leaving any will. A copy of their Death Certificates is attached herein and made an integral parts hereof as Annexes “A” and Annex “B” hereof;

WHEREAS, the late spouses above-named died without any debts or outstanding obligations;

WHEREAS, at the time of the de mise of said spouses, they left a certain parcel of land located at Casisang, Malaybalay City, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-122884 and which land is particularly described as follows, to wit:

“A parcel of land known as Lot 20-B, psd-10-0566, being a portion of Lot 20, Pcs-10-0235. Containing an area of SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR (654) Square Meters , more or less.”

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, the heirs being all of legal age and with full capacity to contract, hereby voluntarily divide and adjudicate to themselves the said estate pursuant to Section 1 and 4, Rule 74 of the Rules of Court, under the following manner:

1.) For EDGAR LOUIE E. MAR TINEZ shall belong to Lot 20B-__, Psd-10-_________, with an area of THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX (326) square meters only

2.) For IRISH LOU MARTINEZ ARCAYENA shall belong to Lot 20-B-__, Psd-10-_______, with an area of THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX (326) Square Meters only

The parties shall have the Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-122884 CAN CELLED by the Register of Deeds for Malaybalay City, Bukidnon , and in lieu thereof to ISSUE two (2) new certificates of Title for said lots in favor of the parties herein above-mentioned.

A true copy of this extrajudicial settlement shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper general circulation in Bukidnon in accordance with Section 1 and 2 of Rule 74 of the Rules of Court.

Is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OFSPOUSES ERNESTO MARTINEZ AND LYNDA E. MARTINEZ WITH PARTITION, under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. RENDON P. SANGALANG Notary Public per Doc No. 329 ; Page No. 66 ; Book No. LXXVI ; Series of 2021

“I pray that the input that will be made and gathered will be the vehicle that will carry the Marawi educators as voices in the upcoming education summit, and will make the way into whatever beneficial education policies the MBHTE will formulate to cater to the needs and challenges of the present and the future,” he said.

The superintendent earlier stressed that all municipalities and cities in the Bangsamoro region are mandated to hold a pre-education summit. The first BARMM education summit is expected to be spearheaded in December this year in Davao City. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late Spouses Quirino F. Frugalidad who died on August 2, 1998 at the Provincial Hospital Koronadal City and Teodora Cataluña Frugalidad who died on July 20, 2004 at Feo’s residence at Purok Bagong Silang, POblacion Sto. Niño South Cotabato, left a parcel of Land Lot No. 579, Pls-585, an agricultural lot situated in the Brgy. South Sepaka, Municipal ity of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, containing an area of SEVENTYSEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED (77,700) SQUARE METERS, more or less covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-14427 in the name of Quirino Frugalidad; is the subject of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of Spouses Quirino F. Frugalidad and Teodora Cataluña Frugalidad With Waiver of Rights under the Notarial Registry of Atty. Levy T. Saligumba per Doc. No. 1301, Page No. 261, Book No. XCVII, Series of 2022. MDN: Nov 22, 29 & Dec 6, 2022

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE AMONG HEIRS OF DECEASED PERSON

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRES ENTS:

We, the heirs of FLORDELINA B. DAIGDIGAN , named ANNA LOU B. DAIGDIGAN , single, resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon, RODEL B. DAIGDIGAN RANDY B. DAIGDIGAN ALAN B. DAIGDIGAN , and MYRALUNA D. SUMAGAYSA Y, all married, of legal age, and all resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

That the Heirs-Vendors are the surviving Heirs of the Late FLORDE LINA B. DAIGDIGAN widow a resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon, who died intestate or without leaving a will at Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

That the late FLORDELINA B. DAIGDIGAN , widow, a resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon, during her lifetime, acquired a parcel of land, particularly described as follows;

“A parcel of land, identified as Lot No. 377-1, Cad-10-020894 situated at Barangay Barongcot, Municipality of Dangcagan, Province of Bukidnon, Island of Mindanao.”

That at the time of his death, there are no debts due against the estate of the late FLORDELINA B. DAIGDIGAN; That pursuant to Rule 74, Sec. 1, of the Revised Rules of Court, we hereby agree to extra-judicially, partition and adjudicate among ourselves, the said property to use for title house and lot loan with our sister ANNA LOU B. DAIGDIGAN , single of legal age and a resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon, Philippines.

DEED OF WAIVER OF RIGHTS

That for valuable consideration, we hereby WAIV E, TRANSFER , and CONVEY , absolutely and irrevocably of the above-described property, in favor of ANNA LOU B. DAIGDIGAN , single, of legal age and a resident of Barangay Barongcot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon, Philippines consisting of TEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE (10,333) square meters , more or less, free from lien and encumbrances;

Is the subject of EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE AMONG HEIRS OF DECEASED PERSON under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. MOHAMMAD HUSSIEN B. LUCMAN Notary Public per Doc No. 84 ; Page No. 18 ; Book No. 4 ; Series of 2022 MDN: Nov 15, 22 & 29, 2022

0917-712-1424 • 0947-893-5776

E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Interests...

from page 2

Philippines. So, those are the things that we have to follow up. We have much to do to play our part in APEC. And we will undertake all that so that we will contribute to the success of this region,” he said.

In a Facebook post, the Office of the President (OP) said the SCG briefed Marcos about its existing investments

and its future plans for business expansion in the Philippines.

SCG is one of the largest and oldest enterprises in Thailand and Southeast Asia’s cement and building materials sector. Meeting with Filipino com munity

Marcos was also elated to meet with the Filipino com munity before returning to the country.

He said it is a “breath of fresh air” to see Filipinos living

Teaching strategies to boost learners’ confidence

By SHEILA H. DAVID

For many learners, selfconfidence is a natural per sonality trait: You either have it or you don’t.

Confident learners tend to speak more and know how to get their point across. For those learners who aren’t so confident, learning new mate rial can feel like swimming upstream. These learners are always questioning their abilities and tend to shy away from answering questions.

According to Teach Hub, confidence can also be taught via some creative teaching strategies. We as teachers have a powerful influence on our students, and we can help them feel confident and proud of themselves and their accomplishments. We can help them feel secure enough that they are willing and able to learn new material. Here are a few teaching strategies to do just that.

One, offer praise and acknowledge learner’s accom plishments, both in private and in front of their class mates. Always start with a positive statement, and then you can add on by referring to what they need to work on. Try not to correct every single thing the learner says wrong. Do not interrupt the learner when they are talking to correct them -- this will harm their confidence, not boost it.

Also, set attainable goals from the start of the year. This

is a surefire way for learners to see how much they have grown. Give learners the op portunity to choose what they learn -- this will help them build their self-worth. Try a learning menu or choice board where learners get to choose which activities they want to learn about.

Consequently, make sure to always express a positive attitude to all of your learners. This will show them that you are on their side, and that they are worth your attention. As teachers, we should also cre ate opportunities for learners to succeed by building on their strengths. If a learner knows a lot of information about something, ask them to tell you about it. “I am unfamiliar with how the new gaming system works, can you please explain it to me?”

Asking learners for their help is a great confidence boost to their ego.

And, on top of it encour age learners to do better than they did before. For example, if Brady got a B on his science test, encourage him to get an A this time. It’s important for learners to compete against them selves not their classmates. We should keep a log of how well all learners are doing, and what they are good at and what they need to work on. This careful monitoring will help you catch problems as they arise.

Importance of Physical Education in Elementary

By: OLIVE SYCHELLE G. PARA-ON Teacher III

The development of physi cal competence and fitness is directly influenced by physi cal education. Additionally, it assists pupils in developing their decision-making skills and understanding the ad vantages of living an active lifestyle. The advantages of physical education can in fluence students’ academic learning as well as their pat terns of physical exercise. The student who is physi cally fit and in good health is more likely to be focused, motivated, and successful in school. We offer a variety of activity groups, including ones for dance, running, jump roping, basketball, and soccer, to mention a few. Kids are encouraged to stay active by these clubs.

Physical education may promote healthy and enjoy able lifestyles both inside and outside of the classroom. Kids experience stress related to their academic work as well, and physical education can help alleviate this stress while also giving them time to relax and have fun. This course can teach them other important skills like teamwork and good sportsmanship.

To ensure our children’s future health and well-being, primary schools must imple ment beneficial physical edu cation programs. As educa tors, we should be concerned because, in my opinion, if physical education is success fully adopted and mandated across all schools, the dynam ics of the classroom will alter. In physical education classes, certain foundations are cov ered that we as teachers do not cover. Additionally, the youngsters get a respite from the academic environment through physical education. They are able to let off steam and participate in teamworkbased activities and challenges that they would not encounter or see in the classroom.

Physical education is cru cial for the development of a student’s self-confidence as well as their capacity and competence to engage in a variety of physical activities. The student’s entire life often becomes centered on physi cal education. A high-quality physical education program guarantees that the children can successfully complete a variety of physical activities while having fun.

and working in Thailand.

“Before we left, we of course managed to meet with the Fili pino community in Bangkok. We had a very enthusiastic crowd,” Marcos said. “After all the serious and very important discussions, it’s always a breath of fresh air to spend time with Pinoys (Filipinos) around the world.”

Thailand is home to around 30,000 Filipinos, according to the data from the Department of Foreign Affairs. (PNA)

Abuse...

from page 2

as other forms of child traf ficking and abuse.

He was referring to the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in

Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862) and the AntiSexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Ex ploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (Republic Act No. 11930).

According to the study entitled “Disrupting Harm in the Philippines: Evidence on online child sexual exploita tion and abuse,” 20 percent of internet-using children aged 12-17 were victims of grave instances of online sexual exploitation and abuse during the past year.

The study surveyed 950 children and when these find ings are scaled to the popula tion, up to 2 million children were subjected to these harms

IT TAKES TO BE LEADER!

AIMEE R. PAREÑO Iligan City National High School Mahayahay Iligan City

The various leadership theories evolve from the most basic term used by our ancestors like kings and poli ticians to describe as someone who is “Great.” From the definition of a “Great Man Theory” it boils down to the traits of how to be great and elaborately discussed more that traits can be innate to a person or can be improved to become a skill. As we en counter different challenges and situation in life, our be havior will eventually adapt to it on how we respond and react on things. Leadership is a continuous process that focuses on the idea that the success of a leader pivots on the specific situation at hand. Factors that may affect the leadership style include the task, the personality of the leader and the type, composi tion and background of the group that is meant to be led. Its basic assumption is that leadership can be successful or failure is based on the situation. A leader should have the control held over a situation and must have a

strong connection between the one who leads and the member. Leader’s disposi tion is the main trait that defines the ability to lead and hold the team. In leading the team, someone needs to adapt what type of leadership techniques to fit the maturity level of everyone. A set of goal should be emphasized in order for the group to be guided and will create a clear path on how to achieve these goals and how to re move hindrances. Effective leaders analyze situations, evaluate them and identify how much support the group will give towards the effort and adjusting to leadership style to fit in. A leader needs to set directions to follow in crafting a vision or goal and accepts ideas that are align to help everyone to be inspired on the common goal, this involves a more empathetic and sympathetic relationship with the team so that it could able to develop that growth mindset in them and maximizing their full potentials.

Elementary School Quality Education during COVID-19

By: MARICY K. ALQUIZAR Teacher III Taguanao Elementary School

To stop the introduction and spread of Covid-19 (the coronavirus) into communi ties around the world, health officials are now taking ac tion. Many kids, families, and communities are having their lives affected by the pandemic scenario. Nearly every sphere of society has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including education.

Devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have already been observed, and they are likely to have long-term societal and eco nomic repercussions. The crisis has made educational disparities that already ex ist widely worse because of things like gender, disability, immigration, mother tongue, learning disabilities, or other socioeconomic disadvan tages. The pandemic has starkly shown how vulnerable our educational institutions are, especially ones that are thought to be rather robust. In order to make education institutions more equitable, inclusive, and robust, it is es sential to take advantage of the ingenuity and creativity this crisis has sparked.

It has drawn attention to the applicability of some trends, particularly the au

thenticity of educational set tings. In fact, maintaining kids’ motivation, engage ment, and interest in school as well as their connection to it has become the most important necessity, over and above academics, educational programs, and student as sessment. This is especially true when schools are closed for extended periods of time. This necessitates engag ing, adaptable, and diverse learning activities. In this way, the real-world learning opportunities provided by the COVID-19 lockdown might be used to contextu alize the pandemic’s effects on students. This gives an opportunity to reconsider the subjects taught and the methods used.

The issue of students’ independent learning has been brought to light by the experience of distant educa tion during the pandemic. Although kids are accustomed to having their work closely watched, coached, and pre cisely timed, including when utilizing technological tools, school closures have forced them—especially those whose parents are less available to assist them—to develop greater levels of independence in their learning.

last year.

According to the study, the experiences of victims include being blackmailed to engage in sexual activities or being coerced to engage in sexual activities through promises of money and gifts.

Gatchalian also recalled how the Covid-19 pandemic increased children’s exposure to OSAEC.

In 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that it has received more than 2.8 million reports on online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC), more than twice the nearly 1.3 million reports for 2020.

The DOJ also reported that for last year, it launched official investigations on 268 OSEC cases, almost four times the 73 cases handled in 2020. ( PNA )

Meet...

from page 2

vowed to help them as the national government pushes for the full implementation of devolution.

She described local budget

officers and public financial managers as “transformational leaders” that embody account ability, transparency, integrity, and fiscal responsibility.

To facilitate the devolution of functions to the localities, Pangandaman said the na tional government’s proposed PHP5.268 trillion national budget for 2023 provides al locations to empower LGUs in delivering the services that have been devolved to them.

She said this includes the PHP28.9 billion Local Govern ment Support Fund (LGSF), on top of the PHP820.3 billion indicative just share of the LGUs from the 2023 national tax collections. ( PNA )

Over 3,000 establishments in Davao Region inspected by DOLE, high compliance rate recorded

A total of 3,613 private establishments in Davao Region have gone through inspection and monitoring under the Labor Inspection Program of the De partment of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as of November 14, 2022. A large part of this data is attributed to Davao City with 1,406 followed by the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro with 528 and 484, respectively.

The Department’s Labor Inspec tion Program aims to strengthen the visitorial and enforcement powers under the Labor Code of the Philippines, as renumbered, to ensure compliance of private establishments with labor laws and standards particularly the General Labor Standards (GLS), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), and OSHCOVID.

Of the recent total number of establishments inspected across the region, DOLE XI recorded 92.8% compliance rate for GLS after es tablishments have corrected their deficiencies. Most common violations included basic wage pay, records keeping, and social welfare coverage. For OSH, 86.45% were compliant after necessary corrections on findings such as lack of safety and health personnel and implementation of OSH program among others. Meanwhile, top violations for OSH-COVID were inconsistent observance of minimum safety and health protocol and lack of trained personnel to handle COVID-19 cases in the workplace.

During inspections, Labor Inspec tors are authorized to require access to employer’s records, interview any employee on the premises, and safety inspection within the workplace includ ing electrical and mechanical equip ment. Inspections are implemented through Routine Inspection, Complaint Inspection, and OSH Investigation.

As defined in the Department Order No. 138, Series of 2017, Routine Inspection is conducted to evalu ate compliance with labor laws and standards jointly undertaken by Labor Inspector and representatives of the employer and employees. Complaint Inspection is the act of validating an establishment’s compliance on account of complaints or reports of employees on alleged violations of labor laws and standards. Lastly, OSH Investigation is the process of determining the existence of imminent danger and the like within the work premises. When deemed appropriate, DOLE may issue compliance orders to erring employers and may even order the stoppage of work or the suspension of operations.

In a statement, DOLE XI Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy en couraged continuity and sustainability of compliance at workplaces as well as to advocate for the protection of work ers’ rights. He also assured that DOLE XI, in accordance with its functions as Regional Office, shall constantly promote and maintain industrial peace through comprehensive enforcement of Labor Inspection Program.

MELC-Based Lesson Videos: An audio Visual Technology as an Aid

in New Normal Teaching in Kindergarten

By DERTIREZA B. SAMBAAN Teacher III Gusa Elementary School

The current global health crisis poses a profound im pact on the basic education system. MELC is the DepEd most essential learning com petencies that are rephrased and deemed most essential in the achievement of content and performance standards. Its usage was implemented during the Covid-19 pan demic as one of the actions of DepEd through the learning continuity plan.

MELCs shall serve as the primary reference of all public schools, schools divisions and regional offices in determining and imple menting learning delivery approaches that are suited to the local context and diversity of learners while adapting to the challenges posed by Covid-19.

Accordingly, regional offices, schools divisions and public schools need not create a new list of learning competencies for the different learning areas since these are already available through the MELCs.

Schools, schools divi sions and regional offices are encouraged to supplement the MELCs through their enhancement and contextu alization which specifically includes the preparation of modules or self-learning kits.

Essential learning com petencies are defined as what the students need, considered indispensable in the teachinglearning process to building skills to equip learners for subsequent grade levels and subsequently for lifelong learning.

from page 4

development strategy that kills the Earth’s vital organs, advances unbridled materialism and con sumerism based on an individual pursuit of self-aggrandizement and wealth where money is used not to enhance the quality of life but to make more money. It this country, you call that block capitalism where cartels and the oligarchs run the economy, owned by only 400 families. In the world, only 8 billionaires are in control, whose total wealth equal the combined wealth of some 3.6 bil lion people or half of the world’s population. This is based on the Study of Oxfam.

Our country has become a dumping ground of finished products and source of cheap raw materials following extractive economy. Indeed, where have all our forests and minerals gone? Gone to highly industrialized countries as the country still maintains an exclusive and a neo-colonial status, having been a colony of imperial powers for hundreds of years.

Based on these realities, there must be a change, An increasing number of people want change but how? This time economic change is in the offing but one that must debunk the present development paradigm. Yes, the only countervailing force is one that harnesses the collective power of the people called cooperatvism. But why cooperativism?

Well, by nature, nurture and by law, cooperatives are the ones to advance prosperity for all, their very essence is that of being members-owned, valuebased and sustainable. It is so amazing that in this age where development is equated to eco nomic growth, cooperatives are giving high adherence to human development, where developing human potentials is the priority. In fact, out of the cooperatives’ surplus, about 10% is allocated for CETF (Cooperative Education and Training Fund), about 3% is allocated for CDF (Community Development Fund) and another 3% Concerns for the Community. These funds are used to feed mal nourished children, rehabilitate the impaired eco-systems and in providing medical services to the Indigenous People, to the poor and the vulnerable.

This is so because coopera tives’ mindset is one that focuses on a person as an embodied spirit, more spirit than body. Spiritual qualities of service, of democracy, of love, of intellectual prowess and spiritual values are the ones to be developed collectively and not for individual aggrandizement.

By being sustainable, cooperatives are providing a major change in a world that is beset with so much unsustainability, be in ecology or in economy. It has been said that in the absence of a major change the global system will collapse in less than one hundred years as the earth warms, the iceberg melts, the oceans rise and the endemic species are becoming extinct in a world where the economy is controlled by a few. No less than the United Nations in issuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Stop Hunger, Stop Poverty, Advance Social Justice and Equity, Protect the Environment, Promote Peace, Etc.) has zeroed-in on Cooperatives as transformative for people, planet, prosperity and peace.

No less than the 1987 Con stitution declared that “the State shall promote social justice in all phases of national develop ment.” Such declaration has just remained rhetorical all these years in a highly skewed societal order where the oligarchs, cartels and conglomerates are in control economically and even politi cally as economic power begets political power. Indeed, enough is enough of gross inequity and social injustices. The poor and the oppressed must now harness their collective power to draw those in the margins into the mainstream of development. It is only through people empowerment can the rule of the oligarchs be stopped to give credence to the

Constitutional declaration that “in a Democratic and Republi can State, sovereignty lies with the people and all governmental powers emanate from them.”

Oligarchs, please stop mas querading as ELECTRIC COOP ERATIVES as electricity is a means to life and must be within the control of the people themselves, the MCOs (member-consumerowners) and not for massive profiting by you Oligarchs.

Cooperation...

from page 4

by leaps and bounds, from strength to strength the past decade since the decision to press for ASEAN centrality and become the top trading partner of China, with the new economic standing came prestige and geopolitical gravitas increased to the point that ASEAN has become a pivotal balancing weight in international politics.

ASEAN has grown in the atmosphere of stability and peace with China’s cooperation that disallowed the small issues of the tempest in the teapot, i.e. the South China Sea disputes, from becoming an issue of disunity, tension and conflict. After early heated initiatives from some coun tries. things have settled down to amiable talks and compromise leading to the Code of Conduct.

China and ASEAN showed the world the way of Asians to harmony and peace amidst dia logue and cooperation, and thus this is a glowing example the world is impressed with. At the same time this enhances the cred ibility of China’s multilateral and multipolar organizing initiatives such as BRICS plus, SCO, RCEP and others.

While Asia is settling down and rolling up its sleeves to work double time on post-pandemic recovery, the West is in turmoil created by US-NATO’s provoca tions and sanctions war against Russia compelling the latter to turn to Asia and become part of the Asian family. Russia, China and the BRICS countries are now preparing a new alternative world currency soon to end the US Petro-dollar domination.

Philippine-China cooperation which began in 1975 with the es tablishment of Philippine-China diplomatic relations under the later President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. and became moribund after the 1986 color revolution, found resurgence when Presi dent Rodrigo R. Duterte engaged President Xi Jinping in a “Pivot to China” which shall endure under President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.

Today, during this “Asian Mo ment” Philippines-China relations and cooperation is a crucial ele ment as the US is counting on the Philippine to be its launching pad to support the US destabilization of Asia to abort the Asian Moment from continuing to become the Asian Century. The debate over the US troops and facilities still based in the Philippines becomes a pivotal issue.

Although there is no clear position from the new Marcos administration on the final fate of the US troops and facilities, called EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) bases, the Filipino mass campaign to oust the bases is raging on. The five-year term of the agreement deemed unconstitutional by legal experts shall be up for termination or renewal in April of 2023.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to make a state visit

to President Xi Jinping in January of 2023 and much of the strate gic cooperation projects sealed between the Chinese President and the previous administration shall be revisited, renewed and enhanced in the visit of the new Philippine president. Relations are expected to be reinforced and elevated.

Of particular importance will be the continuation of the projects and investment pledges of President Xi Jinping in the 2017 meetings with President Duterte of which many have already been accomplished in the first half of 2022 including in Package 1, and will now continue through Package 2 of the USD25-billion economic assistance aggregation of projects and investments.

Trade expansion between the Philippines and China is expected as China widens its opening of it market to Philippine goods, services, and ventures, especially after the expected ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the Philippines this year. China, as President Marcos will reaffirm, as he said upon his inaugura tion, China as is the Philippines’ “strongest partner”.

Philippine-China relations and cooperation will only boost and fortify the “Asian Moment” as China and the region forges ahead in the New Era of the multipolar world, preserving the unity of the Asian region while the world continues its historic shift of half-a-millennium of geoeconomic and geopolitical weight from the West to Asia.

Philippine economic growth is showing green shoots after twoand-a-half years of continuous crisis from the pandemic to the raging war in Europe’s east, with the growth of 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2022 no doubt largely due to trade with China. After the Xi-Marcos meeting, this will certainly accelerate through to the next years so long as the two nations and the ASEAN maintain the stability of the region.

Such is the primordial signifi cance of Philippine-China strategic cooperation in this crucial period of the 21st century in the time of the “Asian Moment.” President Rodrigo Duterte said in 2018 he foresees that relations with China will “bloom into something like a big and beautiful flower”, now the Philippines can expect a lush garden to too flourish.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Office of the Press Secretary.

Sends...

from page 1

Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea, supporting maritime livelihoods and countering illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.”

That is consistent with the aspiration of President Marcos to push for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which China should respect and abide by, he added.

Harris is the highest-ranking US official to visit the Philip pines. She is scheduled to travel to Palawan to meet with residents and local officials.

Before her, State Secretary Anthony Blinken was in Manila in August.

Blinken said the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines would kick in if a Philippine vessel or plane was attacked in the South China Sea.

“An armed attack on Philip pine armed forces, public vessels and aircraft will invoke the US mutual defense commitments under that treaty. The Philippines is an irreplaceable friend, partner and ally to the United States,” he said.

Earlier, Rodriguez supported the call of President Marcos for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

“A code of conduct is the way to go forward to peacefully and amicably resolve territorial disputes among countries in the region,” he said.

Rebrands...

from page 1

mall’s redevelopment project, another expression of our com mitment to provide a world-class mall experience for the Uptown CDO market,” Mr. Tiu added.

SM City CDO Uptown was the 1st SM Mall in Cagayan de Oro, its 13th mall nationwide, which has now grown to a network of over 80 malls two decades later.

Mr. Tiu reminisced how Up town Cagayan de Oro was still quite sleepy during that time with very few businesses and residents, yet SM was committed to serve the community and serve as an instrument to change the landscape of the area.

“Twenty years later, here we are, looking back with gratitude to the community for giving us a home in Cagayan de Oro City,” he said. “Today is also a fitting time to give back as a symbol of renewing our commitment to continue to provide uplifting and fun mall experience that makes every day better for everyone.”

As part of its 20th Anniversary commemoration, SM Supermalls donated a Garbage Compactor Truck to the Pueblo de Oro As sociation of Commercial and Institutional Establishments, Inc. (PACE).

“This simple gesture is a testa ment to SM City CDO Uptown’s pledge to the partnership with the Pueblo de Oro Development Cor poration by supporting programs that are socially responsible and environmentally sustainable,” Mr. Tiu stressed.

The donation was received by Engr. Chrysler Acebu, VP and GM of Pueblo de Oro Township in his concurrent capacity as President of PACE.

“SM is actually donating this garbage truck to PACE and not Pueblo de Oro, to clarify,” Engr. Acebu said. “PACE is the associa tion of business establishments in the 25 hectare Pueblo Business Park which includes the Xavier Ateneo integrated grade school and high school campus, as well as the St Francis Parish Church.”

Engr. Acebu said the dona tion was discussed with Mr. Tiu as early as 3 years ago, since SM City CDO Uptown was an anchor locator occupying six hectares and had the biggest foot traffic among its locators.

“With SM expanding its leas able area with the recently opened NorthWing, they initially offered to donate a fire truck,” he noted. “However, since Pueblo already has two fire trucks, they eventu ally agreed to instead donate a compactor type garbage truck to address the solid waste generated by locators in the business park.”

Alarmed...

from page 1 looking into these closed groups, including “Davao Walkers” and “Tagum Walkers,” where sex work ers dubbed “walkers,” communi cate with their clients through private chats.

This is alarming, she said, as it is difficult to trace online transactions between the victims and their supposed clients who often hide their identities by using fictitious names.

These closed groups need administrators’ approval before anyone can join and interact with the sex workers, she added.

Transactions via these groups, she said, usually start with a post from the sex workers: “are you free for a walk tonight?”

She said anyone who answers “yes” will receive a private mes sage, and this is when transaction between a sex worker and her client happens.

Credo added that the workers get paid through electronic cash transfers such as Palawan Express Padala and GCash.

“They are becoming more ‘high tech.’ This is more chal lenging because transactions are done online wherein we are not capable of (monitoring)… We really need to level up in order to keep up with the trend,” she said.

She said the efforts have been undertaken by the DSWD in col laboration with its partner, the non-government organization, Talikala, Inc., to encourage women to quit prostitution but added that most of them resist as they could earn P5,000 to P10,000 daily.

Peter John Cabanilla, victim witness coordinator designate for the Department of Justice (DOJ)Davao, added that the prosecutors find it challenging to prosecute persons involved in sex traffick ing and online prostitution as it is difficult to look for evidence to establish the crime and most of the victims choose not to pursue the case.

What makes it more difficult to prosecute, he added, is that the persons behind online prostitu tion and trafficking hide their identities by using fake accounts.

“It’s very complicated and chal lenging not only for law enforce ment but also for the prosecution. For online transactions through Davao Walker, they would only

file a complaint after they are scammed when they are not paid for their services and when they are being abused,” he added.

He said online prostitution poses challenge for government to step up efforts to prevent online trafficking and prostitution.

“While we are battling cases of traditional prostitution and trafficking in person, here comes online which is fast growing,” he added.

Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of the Police Re gional Office 11, said authorities have intensified cyber patrolling to clamp down on online trafficking and prostitution.

Gultiano acknowledged that online sexual exploitation is a chal lenge but said several cases have been solved by their Cybercrime Unit. “We have many measures like cyber patrolling and other means to retrieve their chats,” she said. ( Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews )

Ramon Magsaysay town with anti-smuggling operatives seiz ing from him PHP363,000 worth of assorted smuggled cigarettes.

On the other hand, Saidali was arrested around 4 p.m. in Barangay Mati in the town of San Miguel. He yielded assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP10,500 and a motor cycle.

Verceles said the two traders were slapped with administrative fines.

A stiffer penalty will be im posed if they will be caught again selling smuggled cigarettes, he added.

Verceles said the campaign against smuggled cigarettes was expanded to the villages to further deny smugglers a market for their products. ( PNA )

Instructional coaching strategy: Its importance

By SHEILA H. DAVID

While the ultimate goal of any instructional coach ing strategy is to increase learners learning, a coach’s immediate goal is to improve teachers’ instructional prac tice. The empirical evidence on instructional coaching is limited, but there are several studies indicating that one aspect of coaching, the degree to which coaches have direct interactions with teachers, is likely to lead to changes in teachers’ instructional practice. The more removed coaches are from the actual work of teachers in class rooms, the less likely they are to have an impact on what it is teachers do there.

Fortunately, the design

of coaching programs can be informed by the larger body of research on effective professional development, which suggests that certain activities do positively influ ence teacher and learners learning, consistent with the findings described. Broadly speaking, the research sug gests that an effective profes sional development program should have the following characteristics: 1) Focused on subject-matter content; 2) Aligned with other re form efforts; 3) Focused on how learners learn academic content; and, 4) Ongoing, rather than short-term, with opportunities for feedback and reflection.