BusinessWeek Mindanao (December 24-25, 2021) by Mindanao Daily News

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Minimal impact ANY BLOW to rice production caused by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) was softened by the timing of the storm, which hit the Philippines after much of the previous harvest had been brought in and as the new planting cycle was beginning, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. “As we reported, the main wet season is over, and dry season (from 2021-2022) has just started in affected regions,” Assistant Secretary Noel O. Reyes said via chat. “Thus, there was minimal damage on palay (unmilled rice). And we will do ‘quick turnaround’ planting, providing affected farmers free palay seed (worth) P148 million.” “Therefore, the damage done by Typhoon Odette will not affect much the fourth quarter and over-all 2021 agriculture performance,” he added.

More poultry import POULTRY PRODUCERS said the government’s policy direction has been to import more food with no regard for the impact on domestic producers. United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) President Elias Jose M. Inciong said in a Viber message that the industry is still dealing with “high levels of frozen inventory, both local and imported. Import arrivals remain high.” “We expect no assistance from the Dar regime,” he added, referring to Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar. “We expect more imports. They are the ones who are helping importers to sell retail.”

Flat agri growth THIRD-QUARTER GROWTH in agriculture output is expected to be flat after typhoons disrupted production, analysts said. Pampanga State Agricultural University Professor Roy S. Kempis said in a phone message that he projects growth to be negative to flat, weighted on the contraction side. “I believe that growth figures will remain flat closer to a negative number between minus 1.5 to 0.5%; about minus 1.0%,” Mr. Kempis said.

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Siargao grappling with water and food scarcity Thank you for trusting us!

By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

ORANGES ON POST. A fruit vendor makes use of an electric post to display his oranges along a sidewalk in Malaybalay City. mindanews photo by h. marcos c. mordeno

Telcos lack 'resiliency measure' for internet connectivity in Mindanao, ICT expert says

E N E R A L LU NA , Surigao del Norte – Days after Super Typhoon “Odette” wreaked havoc along its path, Siargao Island is grappling with water and food scarcity. “Uhaw pa kami sa camel diri (We’re more thirsty than the camel),” said Rodrigo Podadera, a resident in Poblacion 1. Foreign residents in the island were seen distributing potable water along the highway Wednesday afternoon. “I pity the people here because it’s been days that they don’t have enough water,” said a local Good Samaritan who has been giving out water to villages in this municipality. SIARGAO/PAGE 11

By ANTONIO L. COLINA, MindaNews

DAVAO City – The recent internet outage after typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) ripped through parts of the Visayas and Mindanao revealed that telecommunications (telcos) companies lacked res i l i enc y me asures to prevent disruption of internet connectivity in the south, an official of the Information Communications Technology (ICT)-Davao said.

Atty. Samuel Matunog, ICT Davao president, said in a text message on Sunday that the recent internet disruption on the island was by far the “most disruptive and costly to the economy of the island.” While the immediate cause was the typhoon, he noted that it only showed that telephone companies are not prepared to ensure communication lines and LACK/PAGE 11

CHRISTMAS EXCURSION. Excursionists wait for their time to board the passenger boat at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City bound for Talicud Island in Davao del Norte. Talicud Island is one of the top destinations in the region this Christmas season. mindanews photo

Power linemen from Mindanao sent to Odette-ravaged areas By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN, MindaNews

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur– Linemen from different electric cooperatives in Mindanao will spend the holidays restoring power in areas of Caraga Region de vast ate d by t ypho on “Odette” last week. The linemen belong to Task Force Kapatid organized by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. to help restore power lines

in these areas. The typhoon downed power supply in Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands. So far, the following electric cooperatives have deployed linemen to Caraga: Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), South Cotabato I Electric C ooperative, South Cotabato II Electric C o op e r at ive , C ot ab at o

Electric Cooperative, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative and Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative. Philreca said Task Force Kapatid has sent 18 teams to Caraga, and at least seven more electric cooperatives are expected to send in more teams in the days to come. For its part, the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative (Aselco) will not be part of LINEMEN/PAGE 11

Linemen from Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) restoring the electric poles in Basey, Samar that was downed when Typhoon Ursula slammed the province in December 2019. (Nordeco file photo)

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Institutions, establishments BARMM solon wants aid can’t refuse PhilSys ID: PSA for orphans institutionalized

OTABATO City– A member of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament has filed a bill before the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to establish a regional system for accredited orphanages. The 80-member BTA is the interim lawmaking body of the BARMM. “This is to institutionalize support for the welfare of orphans in the Bangsamoro region,” said BTA–BARMM Member of Parliament (MP), Atty. Maisara Latiph, in a statement Thursday. She said her bill, once enacted into law, “will help alleviate the condition of every orphan and provide them with the opportunity to live a fulfilled life". In her sponsorship bill, Latiph noted the sad reality of orphans

that “if foster parents, social workers, or institutions are not there to provide what they need, no one will.” “This is the time for the government to step in. Under the principle of "parens patriae" (legal protector of citizens), the government should stand in as the parents and caregivers of the orphaned child," she added. Parliament Bill 71, or the Bangsamoro Orphanage Act of 2020, also seeks to create a "credible mechanism" that will determine the qualified beneficiaries. The system will adopt an appropriate, effective, transparent, and cost-efficient method to identify and select beneficiaries, as well as coordinate with other ministries and agencies, including organizations in the private sector, to ensure the full implementation of statutory commitments.

It is also mandated to develop a comprehensive monitoring system to address the needs of orphans. Latiph said under her bill, the BARMM government, through its implementing ministries, will establish orphanages in every province in the region, primarily through the Ministry of Social Services and Development in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government. “They will lead the central planning, coordinating, and implementing body of the comprehensive program,” she said. She stressed that the comprehensive support program should provide social welfare and care for orphans, which includes basic needs, physical safety and security, socio-economic needs, educational needs, emotional and spiritual needs, and access to justice. (PNA)

DAVAO City – The Philippine Identification (PhilID) or national ID must be honored in all public and private transactions requiring the confirmation of the identity of the holder. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) stressed this anew after continuous reports that some private companies and government agencies refuse to recognize the PhilID. “Your Philsys national identification card is valid and can be used for any legal transactions. This is a memo from the Philippine Identification System of the Philippine Statistics Authority that mandates that your PhilSys national ID should be accepted for customer identification and verification in

any bank transactions in the Philippines. No institutions or establishments should refuse your PhilSys national ID card or they will be penalized,” the PSA posted on December 13. PSA has also been issuing repeated reminders to government agencies and private entities to accept the PhilID in transactions or they will be penalized by as much as PHP500,000 under the PhilSys Act. PhilSys-registered Jebon Ontua, a resident here, is confident she will be able to use the PhilID in all her transactions. “I registered for the national ID because according to the government, it is a valid ID and I can use it for REFUSE/PAGE 10

DOT-10 ensures tourist destinations adhere to safety protocols CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--The Department of Tourism (DOT)10 ensures tourism destinations in northern Mindanao adhere to the safety protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID 19 (IATF). Abigail Viguella, information officer of DOT-10, during Talakayan sa PIA, December 14 at SM City Cagayan de Oro shared that as the economy opens, the department is also continuously monitoring tourism establishments in implementation of minimum public health standards. Aside from

accreditation, DOT has released 48 safety seals to tourist establishments. “Our accreditation and standards division is very strict on destinations who follow safety protocols,” she said. DOT-10 is focused to develop dive tourism in the region. Viguella shared that as of now, just like farm tourism which is so popular, dive tourism also allows social distancing. DOT is also developing mountain tourism, with the latest on bird watching in the region. Aside from promotions and perks, one of the advantages of being DOT accredited

is that tourism establishments are entitled for manpower training such as Filipino brand of service excellence specifically on how to treat guests properly during their stay. “The tourism sector was really badly hit by the pandemic because of the restrictions that were necessary to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Tourist arrivals were low and some tourist establishments had to close. It was really a hard time for the tourism industry,” said Viguella. One of the lessons learned during the pandemic is really to utilize the internet and social media for promotions. “We saw that our social media and the web is one of the biggest tools to utilize to sustain tourism interest,” she said. As to adhering to guidelines in tourism sites and heritage sites, DOT is one with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the strict compliance to the requirements of Mountain Tourism, said Viguella. “We always welcome tourists but it is also important that our tourists comply with the health and safety protocols and the restrictions or requirements of the local government unit (LGU) and the people who are responsible for a particular area especially in Mt. Kitanglad which is an ASEAN heritage site,” she said. (JMOR/ PIA-10)

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FRI-SAT|DECEMBER 24-25, 2021

Foreign ownership liberalization seen to boost FDIs to PH FOREIGN direct investments (FDIs) to the Philippines are expected to increase following the passage in the Senate of a measure to liberalize several sectors including the telecommunication industry. In a commentary issued on Wednesday, Fitch Solutions said the measure is seen to improve investors’ appetite for the Philippines. “The country has a highly conducive environment for technological uptake but is held back by nascent digital infrastructure. Increased foreign investment in the telecoms and tech sectors will serve the growth of such assets, particularly terrestrial fiber networks where coverage is particularly limited,” it said. To date, foreign ownership in public utilities in the country is only allowed up to 40 percent. The commentary noted that “downside risks to foreign investment and improvements to fixed networks include the Philippines' proximity

CorporateWorld

to escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, as well as the appeal of mobile broadband.” It said the government has been enticing foreign investors through continued liberalization of FDI policies. Citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, it said FDIs have slipped for the third consecutive year in 2020, by nearly 25 percent. With favorable demographics for having a large number of young population, the report said: “the Philippines is largely held back by underdeveloped digital infrastructure.” “Liberalising the environment for foreign investors is likely to encourage greater investment into maturing the country’s digital infrastructure, a requirement for techplayers looking to successfully capitalize on the Philippines’ conducive demographics,” it said. Allowing greater foreign investors’ participation in the BOOST/PAGE 10

Local auto assemblers’ sales up 17% in November S ALES of the local automotive industry increased by 17.2 percent month-on-month in November 2021 to 26,456 units from 22,581 units sold in October. In a statement Monday, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) are optimistic that the industry’s recovery is on track after posting double-digit growth last month as the majority of areas in the country were placed under Alert Level 2. Commercial vehicle sales fueled the industry growth last month as sales rose 22 percent to 18,251 units from 14,955 in October. Passenger car segment grew by 7.59 percent to 8,205 units from October’s sales of 7,626 units.

Year-on-year, industry sales rose 14.2 percent from 23,162 units in November 2020. “Surpassing our last year’s sales performance gives the industry a renewed hope that recovery is underway as restrictions started easing, and economic activities have resumed at improved levels,” CAMPI president Atty. Rommel Gutierrez said. Gutierrez said the industry and vehicle buyers have embraced the shift to online sales and marketing, in which these activities will continue in the future. “This has become a viable strategy for the automotive industry to meet the needs of our stakeholders,” he said. Meanwhile, local assemblers’ sales from January to November 2021 increased by 22.7 percent to 240,642 units from 196,197 units

in the same period a year ago. Passenger car sales for the past 11 months went up by 26.2 percent to 76,813 units from 60,857 units last year. Commercial vehicle sales jumped 21 percent to 163,829 units this year from 135,340 units in the same period in 2020. Commercial vehicles comprised 68 percent of the market and the remaining 32 percent were passenger cars. “(T)he industry remains cautious and on guard at the same time on the uncertainties brought by the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) mutations, which hopefully will not undermine our recovery,” Gutierrez added. Market leaders for the past 11 months were Toyota, Mitsubishi, Ford, Suzuki, and Nissan, respectively. (PNA)

PH eyes export of high-value products, services KEY stakeholders will focus on high-value products and services in crafting the new Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) for 2022-2027 while the country works to tap into its unrealized export potential. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon

Lopez said the agency is spearheading the drafting of the new PEDP “with an overarching goal of transforming the Philippines from an exporter of commodities and intermediate goods to an exporter of high-value products and services.” “The new PEDP will also lay out aggressive

and disruptive strategic directions with targeted and focused priority products and services for promotion that will accelerate the integration and expansion of Philippine exporters in the global marketplace, both physical and digital,” he said during the recent virtual 2021 National

Export Congress. The plan will be anchored on more comprehensive data analysis to ensure that policy and strategic directions are evidencebased and takes into account the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic PRODUCTS/PAGE 10

Opinion

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Dismantle: Structure breeding poverty & corruption KIM'S DREAM

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ORLAN R. RAVANERA With the non-stop outpourings of political a d v e r t i s e m e nt s du r i n g this pre-election period as all of the aspirants are brandishing to effect social transformation, let notice be served that no social change can happen if the structure that is breeding poverty, gross inequities, social injustice and corruption continues to roar its ugly head. Obviously, to those who have dreamt, advocated, struggled and even died for it, social change has been so elusive all these years despite 14 years of Martial Law and two people-powered revolutions, the systems and structures breeding poverty are still as formidable as ever. This time, let us remember the truth that the voice of the people is the supreme law. Therefore, the exercise of their right of suffrage must be done by first awakening and empowering the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable. Unless they are enlightened and empowered, elections will just be an

exercise in futility, just a “big circus” in a businessmanaged electoral system. There is no question t hat p over ty reduc tion and erasing corruption in a highly stratified societal order cannot be had unless the poor and the vulnerable are empowered. Studies by development experts have shown that poverty of the Filipino people is rooted in their powerlessness to have access and control over their resources and utilities. Paradoxically, poverty in this country looms amidst the richness of nature in a count r y o ozing wit h ecological resources. In terms of biodiversity, our country dwarfs countries even those which are financially advanced. Being a tropical country, we have some 8,000 species of flowering plants, much greater in number compared to those found in the whole continent of North America which has only 300 plant species. On marine and fisheries, the Philippine Archipelago is the “center of the center of marine life on earth,” based on the studies of Dr. Kent Carpenter of United Nations – Food and Agricultural Organization. Agriculturally, our lands are carpeted with trees which are the finest in the world and with plants continuously producing healthy food and fruits not for us but to satisfy the consumerist lifestyle

of the people in advanced countries while we cannot even satisfy basic staples like rice and milk, the reason by some 85% of Filipino children are malnourished. But the richness does not end at the surface: beneath are all kinds of minerals and ore deposits that can be described as the biggest in the world. If this is so, why has poverty become a second skin to majority of our people? This is because power has been dislocated and misplaced, cornered by those who are using power to exploit our natural resources with utter disregard for nature and the welfare of the future generations. There was a time when power was with the loggers, so, they wantonly harvested our hardwoods, erasing some 17 million hectares of dipterocarp forest from the face of the earth. There was no stopping them even if all of their logging activities were done in prohibited zones, i.e., in altitude more than 1,000 meters above sea level or in slopy areas with more than 50% gradient, because, from out of their gargantuan raking, they were able to form a strong cabal of vested interest. The massive bonanza also went to the pockets of those who were tasked to enforce the environmental laws, yet, were only successful in conniving with the powerful loggers.

S o much power and privileges have been lodged to the politicians giving way to so much corruption that has earned our country then the moniker, “the most corrupt country in the Asia” some years back. You put power in the hands of the cartels, the conglomerates and the monopolies and you give rise to an elite few that control the economy. Beware, economic power begets political power! You put power in some institutions that cannot rectify social wrongs, then crimes, be against people and property, proliferate. You put power in the hands of the capitalists, you rightly fully deserve a highly stratified society where the poor becomes poorer while the few who are rich become richer. Remember this truism: when a few elites will have much too much and the many who are poor have much too little, then we will be faced with circumstances horrible even to contemplate! Are you still wondering why there is so-called “armed struggle”? Let us all remember that “in a democratic and republican state, sovereignty lies with the people and all governmental authorities emanate from them.” Therefore, the time has come to put power where it rightfully belongs, that is, with the people and to remain there. Let notice be served to one and all that the DISMANTLE/PAGE 11

Herd immunity, Pharmally, and Blue Ribbon Committee

Member: Philippine Press Institute Oro Chamber

Managing marriage Think a minute… Someone said: “Marriage is like getting a phone call at midnight: first you get a ring, then you wake up!” One man said that his wife “went from hard-toget, to hard-to-handle, to hard-to-take.” Yet a woman observed: “A husband expects his wife to be perfect, but to understand why he is not.” Our problem is that when marriage does not give us total happiness like we expected, many of us blame our mate, or even marriage itself. But if you are not a happy person before you get married, you will not be happy afterwards either. In marriage, two people bring together not only their good qualities, but also their problems and weaknesses; so married life can become double trouble if we come into it with wrong, unrealistic expectations. But when we learn how to blend our two personalities and pasts, our love and joy together is more than doubled. Remember: “In the word wedding, the ‘we’ comes before the ‘I’.” Our big mistake is thinking that if we change our mate or outward

FRI-SAT|DECEMBER 24-25, 2021

Empowering the poor & vulnerable

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THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST circumstances, it will solve our marriage problem, along with our other problems. So we get a better job, more money, a nicer house, even move to another city. But the problem is, “Wherever you go—there you are.” Even if we get a different wife or husband, the person we are inside is still the same; so until we stop blaming our wife or husband, or our outward circumstances, and we ourselves change, our marriage and life cannot change either. A wise man put it this way: “No clever arrangement of bad eggs ever made a good omelet.” A good omelet only comes from good eggs! And MARRIAGE/PAGE 11

AS I write this piece the Covid -19 new cases in the Philippines is down to less than 500. This week too an unprecedented 24-million doses of various vaccines arrived in the country thus ensuring a substantial supply of vaccines from now all the way to the first quarter of 2022. About 55% of the total population have been fully vaccinated and we are 15% shy of the herd immunity target of 70%. Nevertheless, we have seen a stark difference in many situations compared to what we had been mired two months ago and beyond. Our emergency and isolation rooms in government hospitals intended for Covid cases are mostly empty. Indeed, we have gone a long way from when we were practically scrounging for Personal Protection Equipment for our doctors, nurses, and front liners. That was true with vaccines too. We faulted Health Sec. Francisco Duque who was the weakest link in our struggle for survival but that is another issue that remains unchanged. At the height of emergency and chaos, the government has to compete with other countries in scavenging for PPEs and vaccines. We were in a situation best described by a Filipino adage: “Ang taong nagigipit, kahit sa patalim kumakapit”.

Enter Pharmally. The supplies of PPEs at the height of the crippling emergencies came from Pharmally. We only learned of this when the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) conducted an investigation into the alleged overprice of PPEs. To the chagrin of BRC Chairman Dick Gordon, the price of Pharmally was nearly half the purchase price of the Aquino government from their source. They then harped on the relationship of Duterte with a Michael Yang and why was a company Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, Gordon alleged to have a measly capitalization of P625,000, was awarded an P8-billion peso supply contract. Be that as it may the Commission on Audit categorically said, there was no overpricing and that the goods were delivered. There were minor issues about face shields that had to be replaced but matters like those are commonplace. But the inquisition did not end there. Because Gordon, like the other members of the BRC are up for elections ergo the investigation lasted up to infinity. All these are after the fact. It is a question of leadership and decisiveness. The fact is, at the height and the first surge of the pandemic when every country worldwide was shopping for PPEs Pharmally through Michael

Yang supplied the Philippines. And here lies the difference between a leader and a bystander cum fault-finder. If Dick Gordon were President at the height of emergency what he will do first is to go to the USA and find none will shop in Europe. Never in China. By the time he will find one in the garbage bin in an American hospital, our doctors and nurses are down and people will be dying in the streets. Look Gordon even refused swab tests Filipinos who go to the Philippine National Red Cross simply because the government owes PNRC money forgetting that through the years it gets subsidies from the government. The Duterte government did what must be done. He did the same thing when the government procured arms for the Armed Forces of the Philippines which was fighting armed communist insurgents and ISIS terrorists in Marawi. He was denied by the US so he purchased arms from Russia and China…..at a bargain. When the country cannot buy vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna of the US and Astra Zeneca of the UK, the Duterte government received millions of doses from China and thousands from Russia. And these were mostly donations. To date, China remains to be the

LETTERS FROM DAVAO

JUN LEDESMA country’s biggest supplier of vaccines most of these are gratis et amore. Call that product of strong leadership in action and art of diplomacy 'condimented' with bilateral talks. To d a t e , w e s t e r n propagandists have not ceased assailing the effectiveness of Sinovac vaccines despite the assurance of the World Health Organization. Only one fact remains, China today, despite its population of 1.3-billion people, has the least occurrences of Covid cases compared to western nations that are still in virtual lockdowns. What of Dick Gordon and his Yellow…rather Blue Ribbon Committee? He sent to jail two Malaysian nationals for driving expensive cars and non-payment of taxes. This is all about Herd immunity, Pharmally, and the Blue Ribbon Committee. If I have money I will produce a sequel of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.

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MPROVEMENTS in the country’s healthcare system, among others, are expected to further solidify the domestic economy’s recovery and boost its capacity to hit the revised target of between 5 percent to 5.5 percent. In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said domestic output, which averaged at 4.9 percent in the first three quarters this year, “has exceeded our expectations in 2021.”

“So there's a greater likelihood that our full year growth will hit the revised target of our GDP (gross domestic product) growth ranging from 5 to 5.5 percent this year,” he said. During the same briefing, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said growth in the third quarter of this year alone reached nearly 7 percent. Dominguez thus was hopeful about hitting the full-year target. “Backed by (a) stronger

healthcare system and the massive rollout of the vaccination program, we will solidify our recovery by reopening the economy,” he said. Dominguez said movement restrictions, at least in the national capital, are expected to ease to Alert Level 1 by January 2022. To avert long term productivity losses and restore more employment, he said the country will resume face-toface schooling most likely in

January 2022, increase public transport capacity for all types of transport to 100 percent, and relax restrictions. “Next year, we are confident that we will reach our GDP growth target of 7 to 9 percent as the numbers are now all in our favor. This growth target is higher than our pre-pandemic growth rate of an average of 6 percent,” he added. Asked for his thoughts on the possibility of a 7-percent domestic output in the last quarter of this year, Dominguez

did not directly give an answer but said: “People have told me that it's very difficult to get seats in restaurants now. People are going out but I didn't know.” Beltran said the October 2021 figure for the manufacturing sector alone rose by 24.7 percent. “So because we have further opened the markets, I think the growth rate will be sustained,” he said. Asked if a 7 percent growth is doable, Beltran said: “It’s doable.” (PNA)

PH, Korea sign loan accord revving up Covid-19 vax program Housing loan takers to benefit In October last pandemic and ultimately (PLCERP II). Korean THE Philippines and from all-in financing program Korea signed on Friday an agreement for a USD100 million loan that would boost the Philippine government’s ongoing nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, on behalf of the Philippines, and Country Chief Representative Jaejeong Moon, representing the Export-Import Bank of Korea - Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEXIM-EDCF) signed the agreement for the second phase of the Program Loan for Covid-19 Emergency Response Program Vaccination Program

Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Inchul attended the signing ceremony. “This financial assistance from Korea will go a long way in helping the Duterte administration rev up its mass vaccination program against Covid-19 that is crucial to the strong rebound by our domestic economy come 2022,” Dominguez said. Kim said he was happy to join the “meaningful” ceremony on the signing of the loan agreement. “Through this agreement, Korea is able to make further contribution to the Philippine government's tireless efforts to combat the

achieve early economic recovery,” he said, adding that Korea remains committed to supporting the Philippine government in fighting the pandemic. According to the International Finance Group of the Department of Finance (DOF-IFG), the PLCERP II will help “secure financial sustainability and fill the budgetary gap” in implementing the Department of Health’s national Covid-19 vaccination program. The DOF-IFG said the loan is designed to support the implementation, monitoring, and management of the ongoing vaccination drive.

year, Korea extended a USD100 million loan to the government for the first phase of the PLCERP, which aimed to build systematic policy measures to respond to the Philippines’ public health challenges caused by Covid-19. Korea extended the loan for PLCERP II in recognition of the Philippines’ accomplishments and plans under the first phase of the loan program, which focused on seven policy actions. These include establishing a national policy or master plan for Covid-19 vaccination; LOAN/PAGE 11

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 19 Cagayan de Oro City

NOTHING the impact of the pandemic on borrowers’ capacity to pay amid the desire to have their own house, a local bank introduced an all-in financing loan payment program aimed to help manage their cash flows. In a briefing on Tuesday, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) head of retail loans Dennis Fronda said fees and charges, which account for about 3 percent of total loan amount, will be included in the monthly amortization and will be spread throughout the loan term. “For the many Filipinos, this will go a long way in helping them manage their Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10TH Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT Cagayan de Oro City

BPI SAVINGS BANK, INC. Mortgagee

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF MINORS, JOHN DAVE DELGADO AND MAE VON DELGADO, WITH PRAYER FOR CHANGE OF NAME FROM JOHN DAVE DELGADO TO JOHN DAVE ACAIN MCGINNIS AND MAE VON DELGADO TO MAE VON ACAIN MCGINNIS

budget,” he said. Fronda said the maximum tenor of loans that this program can be availed of is 20 years. He added now is a good time to take out loans because of the low interest rate environment, lower prior to the pandemic. Fronda said borrowers who currently have an existing housing loan with BPI or BPI Family Bank can tap up or get additional loans for the existing property they are paying or buy another property. Asked why the loan program is initially for housing loans, Fronda said they have plans to expand this to auto loans. (PNA)

EJF FILE No.: 2021-1022

-Versus- For: MARIA MONTESSORI CHILD EXTRA JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC., FORECLOSURE OF REAL BY LOWELL C. RAGAY AND SPS. LOWELL C. RAGAY ESTATE MORTGAGE AND LILIA B. RAGAY, UNDER ACT NO. 3135 Mortgagors. X--------------------------------------------/ SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE

IRA ACAIN MCGINNIS, Petitioner. x------------------------------------/ ORDER The Court takes notice of the Home and Child Study Reports submitted by CSW Melinda C. Macumao-Nacario, in compliance with the Order of September 17, 2021. Let the Initial Hearing be set on January 17, 2022 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Hall of Justice-Cagayan de Oro City, Goldridge Building, Masterson Avenue corner Pedro N. Roa Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. Interested persons may file their opposition on or before the aforesaid date of hearing and to attend the hearing of the Petition. At the expense of the Petitioner, let this Order be published once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Petitioner is likewise ordered to have all its documentary evidence including its Judicial Affidavits and that of its witnesses pre-marked before the Acting Branch Clerk of Court to establish compliance with jurisdictional requirements on January 6, 2022 at 2:000 o’clock in the afternoon, failing which this shall not be calendared for initial hearing and/ or appropriate sanction imposed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Done this 10th day of December, 2021 in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. (SGD) EVELYN J. GAMOTIN-NERY Presiding Judge

Upon Extra-Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC.,Mortgagee, with principal office at BPI Bld., C.M. Recto Ave., Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, against MARIA MONTESSORI CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC., BY LOWELL C. RAGAY AND SPS. LOWELL C. RAGAY AND LILIA B. RAGAY, Mortgagors, with postal address at Jariol Compound, Aluba, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 6, 2021, amounted to ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY TWO PESOS and NINETY SIX CENTAVOS (P 1,496,792.96) Philippine Currency, embracing the principal, interest,Penalties, Insurance and other charges, excluding foreclosure expenses, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at public auction on January 7, 2021, at 10:00 AM at the Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, Hall of Justice, Goldridge Building, Masterson Avenue, cor, P.N.Roa Sr. Ave., Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below including all existing improvements found thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 182231 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 2966-F-1-A, Psd-10-022973, being a portion of Lot2966-F-1, Psd-10-014692), situated in Barrio of Macasandig, City of Cagayan de Oro City, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the SE, along line 3-4 by Lot 2966-F-1-B (Road Lot); on SW., along line 4-1 by Lot 2966-F-2-A, both of the subdivision plan Psd-10-022973; on the NW., along line 1-2 by Lot 2996-E, (LRC) Psd - 18604; on the NE, along line 2-3 by Road. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, containing an area of ONE THOUSAND SIX HUUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN (1,637) SQUARE METERS more or less. XXXXXXXXXXXXX Including improvements found thereon XXXXXXXXXXXX Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-38351 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 3-A, Psd-10-004504, being a portion of Lot 3, Pcs-10-000158), situated in the Barrio of Macasandig, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the SE, along line 1-2 by Lot 3-B; on the SW., NW., and NE., along lines 2-3-4-1 by Lot 3-C, both of the subdivision plan Psd-10-004504. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX containing an area of TWO HUNDRED FIFFTY (250) SQUAE METERS,including improvements found thereon XXXXXXXXX All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication. Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title herein above described and encumbrance thereon, if any there be. Cagayan de Oro City, November 26,2021 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF (SGD) MELBEN T. ALONZO Sheriff IV

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Lacson: Use COA reports to solve corruption Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson calls on prosecutors and investigating agencies to make good use of

Commission on Audit reports to finally solve corruption in the country. This after the COA flagged P1.44 trillion in

“idle” projects from 17 government agencies, a bulk of which are from the Department of Transportation-Office

of the Secretary (DOTr– OSEC). “It is high time for government prosecutors from the Ombudsman or Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as investigating agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to give utmost importance and attention to the regular and special Commission on Audit (COA) audit reports if we intend to be serious in stamping out corruption in the country,” Lacson said on Thursday. The Presidential bet of Partido Reporma lauded the auditing body,

saying that their reports provide very good leads in identifying misuse and abuse of public funds and pursuing cases against erring public officials as well as their cohorts in the private sector including contractors and suppliers. “So much is lost to corruption, oftentimes committed with impunity by shenanigans who continue to laugh their way to the banks while we, the taxpaying public, are left with the proverbial empty bag,” Lacson added. Lacson, who is considered the Senate’s budget watchdog, has earlier said that 20 to 40

per cent of government project costs are lost to “greed.” He has also lamented that Filipinos have yet to feel the benefits of these billionpeso programs. “We are already neckdeep in debt without seeing the commensurate programs, projects and activities (PPAs) designed to uplift the lives of Filipinos.” Lacson added that it is now up to the investigating bodies to keep the ball rolling for future generations. “We owe it to the next generation of Filipinos to act now with strong political will in addressing corruption,” Lacson said.

Misamis Oriental’s economy declines by 11.2% in 2020 MISAMIS ORIENTAL-The economy of Misamis Oriental contracted by 11.2 percent in 2020, mainly driven by a decline in Services primarily contributed by Transportation and Storage at -52.7 percent, followed by Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and

motorcycles at -14.4 percent, and other services at -14.5 percent. This is in contrast to its previous year as the province observed a 7.8 percent growth in 2019, among the major industries, only Agriculture, forestry, and fishing registered a decline of 0.5 percent

The importance of reading comprehension By AIDA G. GALOPE, PhD Principal-1 Dulong Elementary School Dulong, Libertad, Misamis Oriental

SPANISH phi lis opher George Santayana (18631952) once said, "a child uneducated is a child lost." To paraphrase this prognosis, when learners are lost in the abyss of ignorance, they may have problems understanding what they were reading. This is why teachers, particularly in early grades are heavily tasked to bolster pupils reading capabilities and boost their comprehension. Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text. It’s the bridge between the passive reader and active reader, and the crucial link to effective reading – essential for a rich academic, professional and personal life. Reading comprehension involves several different processes, such as imagining what the words describe, understanding the context of the book and being able to answer questions related to a text. Think about a book you’ve read before, and then try to summarise what the book was about. If your child can answer questions about a book or text, explain important

events that happened in a story and have an opinion about why the events may have occurred, they’re displaying comprehension skills. Without reading and comprehension skills, children will struggle to grow academically, as reading is the foundation to all academic subjects such as History, Mathematics and Science. It also influences your child’s ability to write. Reading fluency is also a very important part of reading comprehension, as readers who spend their time decoding words often lose the understanding of what is being read. If your child is still decoding at a Grade 3 level, it’s vital to focus on the basics to give them a strong reading comprehension fou nd at i on . T h is c an i n c lu d e p ay i n g m ore attention, auditory analysis, sound blending, memory, processing speed and visual perception. A lack of strong reading c ompre h e ns i on s k i l l s affects a child’s success at school, as academic pro g re s s d e p e n d s on understanding, analysing and applying information gathered through reading.

in the same year while Services posted the fastest increase of 14.1 percent, Industry recorded a gain of 3.5 percent. However, all major industries posted a decline in 2020 with the following growth rates: -2.9 percent, -6.5 percent, and -17.2 percent for Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Industry, and Services, respectively. The major contributors to the economy of Misamis Oriental were Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, forestry, and fishing based on 2018 to 2020 annual average share of 20.0 percent, 18.3 percent, and 13.4 percent, respectively. Among the major industries, services shared the highest threeyear average share of 46.3 percent, followed by Industry at 40.3 percent. The Province of Misamis Oriental was the ECONOMY/PAGE 10

Julie Nieva, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry-10 (right) shares in Talakayan sa PIA, December 14, at SM City Cagayan de Oro efforts of the Economy Task Group amid COVID-19 pandemic. (ZRD/PIA-10)

MSMEs going digital, adopting e-commerce, says DTI-10 MICRO Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in northern Mindanao are seeing opportunities online as the surge of e-commerce and acceleration of digital transformation continues amid COVID 19 pandemic. Julie Nieva, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10,

shared during Talakayan sa PIA, media forum, December 14, 2021 at SM City Cagayan de Oro that the MSMEs have really worked hard and have seen the opportunities online in platforms such as Facebook and websites where they could sell their products without having a physical store. There is also the emergence of delivery

services. Nieva shared government has also adopted e-commerce where there is no need to transact with a government agency physically. There are still pros and cons in e-commerce, especially that it is still relatively new in the region, but assured physical buying is also DIGITAL/PAGE 11

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. 10 5F and 6F Trinidad Building, Corner Capistrano-Yacapin Streets, Cagayan de Oro City

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP) Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for AEPs.

December 21, 2021 SGD. ALBERT E. GUTIB OIC - Regional Director

BWM: December 24, 2021

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Products... from page 3

and the emerging trends as a result of the reconfiguration of global value chains. “Demonstrating the strong determination to recover from the impact of Covid-19, more than 3,700 Philippine exporters have access (to) DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE OF MARIA JACQUELINE P. MORTEL KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late MARIA JACQUELINE P. MORTEL who died intestate on September 30, 2020; that the deceased at the time of his death left the following parcels of land with 1. Centrio Tower, Unit 1022, Brgy.24, Corrales Avenue- which shall be adjudicate in favor of JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO; condominium Certificate of Title No. 137-2013000245 containing an area of (29.23) sq.m 2. Avida Towers Prime Taft, Unit 1102, 11th Floor, Tower 2- which shall be adjudicated in Favor of Mark Anthony P. Mortel, Condominium Certificate of Title No. 003-2016004718 containing an area of (23.58) sq.m 3. WestWood Village, Canitoan, Block 31, Lot 1 & 2- which shall be adjudicated in favor of ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA; Transfer Certificate of Title No. 137-2016003372 situated at Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE (169) sq.m that the deceased also left the following bank savings account- which shall be adjudicated equally between JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO and ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA, to wit: 1. BPI (CDO LAPASAN BRANCH) Account No. 2170007223 with remaining balance of Pesos: One Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Eight and 94/100 (Php157,798.94); 2. BPI (CDOLAPASAN BRANCH) Account No. 2016033757 with remaining balance of Pesos: Eight Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Four and 64/100 (Php8,494.64); 3. BPI (CDO LAPASAN BRANCH) Account No. 2049005361 with remaining balance of Pesos: One hundred Twenty Two Thousand Fifty Six and 62/100 (Php 122,056.62); 4. MetroBank (CDO-GAISANO) Account No. 7247724001412 with remaining balance of Pesos: Twenty Thousand Six Hundred Fifty One and 41/100 (Php20,651.41); 5. MetroBank (CDO-GAISANO) Account No. 7243733900297 with remaining balance of PESOS: Ninety Seven Thousand Two Hundred Two and 01/100 (Php 97,202.01); 6. Robinsons Bank (CDO BRANCH) Account No. 400130200000576 with remaining balance of PESOS: Forty Nine Thousand Eighty Four and 35/100 (Php49,084.35); 7. BDO (COGONBRANCH) Account No. 001910011272 with remaining balance of Pesos: Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Four and 90/100 (Php 33,664.90) that the heirs hereby waive all present and future rights and claims pertaining to the adjudication of the properties in favor of their co-heir, in the following manner: 1. ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA and MARK ANTHONY P. MORTEL waive all their present and future rights and claims pertaining to the adjudication of CENTRIO TOWER, Unit 1022, Brgy. 24, Corrales Avenue in favor of JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO; 2. ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA and JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO waive all their present and future rights and claims pertaining to the adjudication of AVIDA TOWERS PRIME TAFT, UNIT 1102, 11TH FLOOR, TOWER 2 in favor of MARK ANTHONY P. MORTEL; 3. JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO and MARK ANTHONY P. MORTEL waive all their present and future rights and claims pertaining to the adjudication of WESTWOOD VILLAGE, CANITOAN, BLOCK 31, LOT 1 & 2 in favor ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA; 4. MARK ANTHONY P. MORTEL waive all his present and future rights and claims pertaining to the adjudication of the bank accounts in favor of ABDUL JALLIL M. AMPA and JALILAH A. CORNEPILLO, and has been the subject of an the subject of an DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE OF MARIA JACQUELINE P. MORTEL, filed by the heirs of MARIA JACQUELINE P. MORTEL, per DOC #443; PAGE #89; BOOK #CXXVII; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. DALE BRYAN D. MORDENO. BWM: Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

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new markets in 2021 taking into consideration the global developments and the need to accelerate recovery,” Lopez said. Lopez said the future of Philippine exports holds a “lot of potential” but challenges remain. Citing the export potential assessment of the International Trade Centre (ITC), he said the Philippines has an unrealized export potential of USD49 billion, with USD20 billion caused by product markets specific frictions which can be unlocked and realized through instituting reforms in the area of trade facilitation, among others. Lopez said the DTI and the Export Development Council, in coordination with various government agencies, have been working on a joint memorandum circular that aims to accelerate the recovery of the export sector. “(This is) by addressing some of the key binding constraints to export growth EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late RODRIGO DAAYATA, That during the lifetime of the deceased he is the lawful owner of parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-201156 situated at Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City, Mis. Or., containing an area of NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY NINE (9,829) square meters, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of RODRIGO DAAYATA, per DOC #230; PAGE #47; BOOK #92; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. QUINTILIANITO S. BABARIN, JR. BWM: Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late SARAH T. YAÑEZ, who died on _________in Cagayan de Oro City, that the deceased left among others a aliquot Portion of Parcel of land, containing an area of 2.1110 hectares, situated in Barangay Igpit, Municipality of Opol, Province of Misamis Oriental, Original Certificate of Title No. E-2867, situated in the Barangay of Igpit Municipality of Opol, Province of Misamis Oriental, containing an area of FORTY TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY ONE (42,221) square meters, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, filed by the heirs of SARAH T. YAÑEZ, per DOC #203; PAGE 41; BOOK #87; Series of 2019 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. QUINTILIANITO S. BABARIN, JR. BWM: Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late JOCELYN G. YANEZ, died on July 2, 2015, that during the lifetime of the deceased he is lawful owner of parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-201152 situated at Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City, containing an area of FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY (4,770) square meters, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of JOCELYN G. YANEZ, in favor of MIADEVLAND CORPORATION Represented By: MICHAEL JONES LIM SIA, per DOC #48; PAGE #9; BOOK #92; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. QUINTILIANITO S. BABARIN, JR. BWM: Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

and competitiveness in the area of trade facilitation and by strengthening our partnerships with private sector partners,” he said. As part of its continuous efforts to improve the delivery of services to exporters and in line with a “more ambitious and bolder” PEDP, Lopez said DTI will undertake strategic shifts in export development and promotion, including redefining the measures of exports success from just looking at aggregate values and growth figures to targeted metrics. “Reframing mindsets from export promotion to export development with inclusive innovation industrial strategy at its core and stratifying interventions and leveraging partnerships, identifying the right interventions for each export sub-sector depending on their readiness, and their constraints to growth,” he added. Sylvie Bétemps Cochin, senior trade promotion officer and project manager at ITC, said more innovative firms were less affected by Covid-19 and are more resilient, based on the ITC SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) competitive survey conducted in 2020. “The access to information and market intelligence has also shown to be a key element of competitiveness in the current context and the support of business organizations has also been key,” she said during the same

event, adding these enable exporters to identify markets or maintain their market share during the pandemic. (PR)

Boost... from page 3

domestic telco industry is seen to boost the country’s capacity to be among the fastest-growing cloud market in the region over the medium to around USD1.36 billion market size by 2024. The commentary said that “despite the rapid increase in investment, the Philippines will remain one of APAC’s smallest cloud computing markets, with recent activity insufficient to significantly improve the country’s scarce terrestrial digital infrastructure.’ “That said, liberalizing the market should see an influx of international techplayers looking to monetize the Philippines’ long-term growth opportunity and we could see the country’s cloud computing market forecasts revised upwards,” it added. (PNA)

Refuse... from page 2

many transactions. I already completed Steps 1 and 2. I will just wait for the arrival of my PhilID card,” Ontua said in the vernacular in an interview. She will apply for a passport once her PhilID card arrives. T h e D e p a r t m e nt of

Christmas during pandemic By LORNA D. OGAO-OGAO Sacred Heart Village Elementary School

THERE is a range of enriching activities to boost physical, social and mental wellbeing for the pupils who need it most over the festive break. Whether it’s learning to cook a roast dinner from scratch or building a den with pals, fun activities can help kids thrive. During the pandemic, families have struggled with juggling everything from finances and food to learning and staying active, with school holidays posing a particular challenge. The programme is part of a wider raft of resources available to help with educational attainment and keep kids healthy and happy as we all cope with the effects of coronavirus. It’s opened up so many

opportunities. The skills they have developed and the experience they have gained – our children will cherish and take these things with them throughout their lives. Try to make time for the kids when you can. Join in and play with them. It helps the whole family develop together. Do meal preparation and manage the food budget together. Get everyone to take part in the cooking. It involves social skills, maths, communication – and it’s fun. Keep a dialogue going with your children to help their wellbeing. Talk to them without the screen on or a phone in your hand. Eat together. Ask what they have enjoyed about their day.

Foreig n Af fairs e arlier confirmed it is honoring the national ID in passport applications. P h i l Sy s re g i s t r at i on resumed here on Saturday after a two-day suspension on December 16 and 17 due to Typhoon Odette. S i g n e d i nt o l aw by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens. The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts. It also seeks to boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government agencies where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (PNA) EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late PRUMENCIO A. PELIÑO who died intestate on April 16, 2002 in Cagayan de Oro City the decedent at the time of his death left a certain parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-26762 situated in the District of Camaman-an, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY (160) SQUARE METERS, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of PRUMENCIO A. PELIÑO, in favor of YVES JAY P. PELIÑO, per DOC #64; PAGE #3; BOOK #59; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. MARISSE GAY G. LICO-ARALDE. BWM: Dec. 24 & 31, 2021 & Jan. 7, 2022

Economy... from page 6

third biggest contributor to the economic growth of Northern Mindanao, contributing 1.4 percentage points to the 5.6 percent economic growth of the region in 2019. Meanwhile, the province contributed -2.0 percentage points to the -5.2 percent economic growth of the region in 2020. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), established through Republic Act No. 10625 or The Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, is tasked, among others, to compile and maintain macroeconomic accounts a n d i n d i c at o r s , at t h e national and subnational level. At the provincial level, t he Prov inci a l Pro duc t Accounts (PPA) is the tool to measure the economic performance of the province or highly urbanized cities (HUCs) at a given period. Starting this year, the PSA will annually release the provincial-level economic performances following the identified pilot provinces and HUCs. The Province of Misamis Oriental is one of the pilot provinces for PPA in 2021. (PSA-10/PIA-10/ Misamis Oriental) ERRATUM Applicant GORGONIO F.BUAQUINA II with Case No.R10EV-TH-2021-03-1149 operate TH FREIGHT SERVICE, route within Oroquieta City to any point in Region X and vice versa with the use of Two(2)units not as published Our apology LTFRB-X

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Loan... from page 5

assigning roles of major committees and/or organizations to expedite vaccine procurement and the administration process; profiling eligible populations and determining the priority groups; and securing Covid-19 vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These policy actions for which the Philippine government was recognized also include establishing an effective mechanism for v a c c i n e s t o c k an d l o g i s t i c s m a n a g e m e nt ; allocating budget for vaccine procurement; and setting up the guidelines to observe any adverse effects, and provide treatment and compensation for vaccines, the DOF-IFG said. As with the first phase of the loan, the PLCERP II is payable in 30 years, inclusive of a 10-year grace period and with a fixed interest rate of 1.5 percent. On top of providing funding support for the P h i l i p p i n e s’ C o v i d - 1 9 response, Korea has also extended a USD50 million loan to the Philippines-Korea Project Preparation Facility to bridge operational gaps in implementing projects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program. Korea has also shared its expertise and assistance in setting up an electronic invoicing system in the Bureau of Internal Revenue to improve tax administration. It has committed Official Development Assistance loans to the Philippines amounting to USD1.25 billion as of 2020. Through the KEXIMEDCF, Korea intends to expand its assistance to the Philippines up to USD3 billion in the next five years. (PR)

Dismantle... from page 4

people have awakened and they will not allow any more traditional politicians to suck the country dry of resources! Enough is enough. Look at Pharmally! So horrible to even to contemplate how a few corrupt government officials in cohort with Chinese sucking the country EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late ROMANO Y. CAUDOR and PAULINA A. CAUDOR, died on September 10, 2008 & May 20, 2010, that during the lifetime of the deceased he is the lawful owner of parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-201158 situated at Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City, containing an area of FIFTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN (15,247) square meters, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, filed by the heirs of ROMANO Y. CUADOR and PAULINA A. CAUDOR, per DOC #49; PAGE #9; BOOK #92; Series of 2020 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. QUINTILIANITO S. BABARIN, JR. BWM: Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2021

dry of resources, corrupting not millions but billions of pesos at the time when the country is in so much disarray! Thus, in this time of the forthcoming political exercise, let the sovereign people decide, freely and rightfully, to elect only those who will champion the cause of the Filipino people, those who will truly serve and empower the poor and the vulnerable and not those who are subservient to the interest of a few elites. Amassing so much power and through their clique and cabal of vested interest, are only successful in sacrificing Mother Earth and the people to the altar of greed and profit. Filipino voters beware! A number of those running are portraying themselves as pro-people and proenvironment but their track records speak otherwise. Behind their mask, they are actually alter ego of big business and vested interest groups that are financing their candidacy, appearing on TV continuously giving nothing but illusions through body languages and rhetorical style. Akala nila ganoon na ka bobo ang mga Pilipino! Mga kaigsoonan, magmata na kita!

Siargao... from page 1

Meanwhile, a refilling station in Barangay Catangnan sells water at P50 per five-gallon container, which used to sell at P25 to P30 before the pandemic. A worker who asked not to be identified said it is because of the high prices of petroleum products, more so after “Odette.” Unleaded gasoline here was selling at P63 per liter, usually sold in Coca Cola bottles. Prices soared to P70 after “Odett,” and even as much as P80 in remote areas. “This crisis is even worse than the pandemic,” said Prudencio Meras III, a local surfing instructor whose house situated in Barangay Poblacion 3 was destroyed. “We don’t have anything left, we almost have nothing to eat,” he added. Surigao del Norte first district Rep. Jose Francisco Matugas Jr., who came home to check on his constituents on Tuesday, acknowledged the difficulty the government is facing in distributing relief goods. He dismissed reports that they are holding the rel e a s e of rel i e f ite ms

from the government and those donated by private institutions. “We a lre ady st ar te d giving out relief efforts to different areas across the island,” he told MindaNews in an interview at the Sayak Airport in Del Carmen municipality. “It’s just that the damage is way too much. Our local manpower, logistics, resources are limited,” he added. Matugas said their family business shelled out money to buy relief goods for his constituents. On Wednesday, local and foreign tourists continue to troop to Sayak Airport to get mercy flights to Manila. “A lot of people want to go out because of this dire situation,” said Josepina Nuñez, local manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Lelita Monterde, a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz here, said she needs to go out of the island. “Life is so difficult here. No water and living quarters because our evacuation center was damaged, too,” she said. B efore the typho on, Siargao Island was famous around the world as the “Surfing Capital of the Ph i l ippi ne s .” A lt hou g h COVID-19 hampered efforts to increase tourism activities, it was recovering fast from the pandemic starting at the end of September as the number of cases plummeted. The island had four flights every day since the start of the vaccination drive, and tourism seemed to be alive again just like pre-pandemic times. But when the typhoon hit last December 16, the tourism capital of Caraga Region has been completely decimated. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

Lack... from page 1

internet access would not be disrupted after the onslaught of a devastating typhoon. “While the immediate cause may be typhoon Odette, t he more f u nd ame nt a l cause may have been the insufficiency of the resiliency me asures employe d by (telecommunications) companies to ensure Mindanao will not and will never be deprived of internet access,” he said. Alfredo Baloran, head of Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Monday

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that communication lines were down, but responders here were able to employ contingenc y plans in monitoring the rivers. He added that they are proposing for the procurement of satellite phones next year to augment the disaster response capabilities of the city to prepare for typhoons with similar intensity as that of super typhoon Yolanda on November 3, 2013. He said using the satellite gadgets, communication lines of the responders will not be disrupted even after the occurrence of strong typhoons. After typhoon Odette barreled through the Visayas and Mindanao, major telcos Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, DITO Telecommunity and Globe Telecom announced that i nte r n e t s e r v i c e s we re disrupted due to multiple fiber cable cuts. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Linemen... from page 1

the first batch since their linemen are still restoring energy in the northern towns of the province which were also hit by the typhoon. But Leah Fe Estillore, chief of Aselco’s Corporate Affairs and Communications Department and Institutional Services Department, said their main office here served as command center for relief operations for the typhoon victims. “We could not be prouder of our warriors of light and their respective families who are willing to sacrifice their personal convenience for the benefit of others who have been affected by this calamity – this is Bayanihan at its best,” said Presley C. De Jesus, president and party-list representative of Philreca. Gerne Ong, 39, a lineman from Nordeco in Tagum City, who was sent to Samar in the aftermath of typhoon “Ursula” in 2019 and almost died in an accident at work there, was no longer included in the team that was sent to Caraga. While fixing some electrical wires in Basey, Samar the electric post that Ong climbed bent and he would have been thrown off had he not clung tightly to it. Ong was also sent to areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda in

2013. He was part of the Marawi energy rehabilitation task force in 2005 where a lineman from Bukidnon was killed after he fell from a pole and landed on a sharp iron grill. The Nordeco linemen were told to stay in their areas of assignment in Caraga for 15 days starting December 20.

Digital... from page 6

applicable to online buying. “One of the concerns we see at the DTI is price tagging. Online sellers would post their products and just personally message (PM) us for the price. In the price tag law, the price of the item must be indicated. The price must be indicated even if it is online. There are still quite a number of consumers deceived in transacting using e-commerce or at online stores,” Nieva shared. Meanwhile, she urged online sellers to register their business at the proper agency such as their local government units, DTI and Bureau of Internal Revenue. DTI as the lead agency of the Economy Task Group under the Recovery Cluster vs COVID-19 continues to engage businesses and the workforce and expand economic opportunities based on the approved National Action Plan Phase IV. Nieva shared that under phase IV, the directive is to improve and sustain the economy such as to ensure adequate supply, price control or freeze, reactivate and monitor business continuity plans and provide social welfare benefits for

affected workers, and provide recommendations on how to protect economic interest. For DTI, services for M SM E s c ont i nu e su ch as Bayanihan Cares, loan assistance to MSMEs. They have also implemented programs for the tourism sector such as Cares for Travel and Heroes program for repatriated Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs), and recently the 13th month loan facility for MSMEs. SB Corporation focuses on the 13th month loan f a c i l it y, w h e re i n f rom October to December, 66 loan applications were approved for establishments worth P15 million. Other agencies have training in entrepreneurship, especially in retooling skills. “It is important this time, we have new skills learned to easily adapt to the new changes brought by the pandemic,” she said. Safety seals are also given to establishments and local government units who follow the minimum health protocols to ensure safe opening of the economy. She also reminded consumers that Suggested Retail Price (SRP) and list for Noche Buena has been released at dti.gov.ph/ consumer/presyo. Meanwhile, for Christmas lights, buyers must always check the PS Mark or ICC stickers to ensure they are of quality and have gone through quality control of the Bureau of Philippine Standards. To ensure they are not fake, consumers may download the ICC verification system from google app to scan ICC stickers. (JMOR/PIA-10)

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Andanar seeks public support on add'l relief assistance for typhoon victims MANILA Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday called for solidarity among Filipinos as families in Visayas and Mindanao recover from the damages of Super Typhoon Odette. In an interview, he bared that the Northern Mindanao Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC 10) has initiated a donation drive for typhoon victims dubbed as the "Bangon VisMin Typhoon Odette Donation Drive". The said initiative will

help send additional relief assistance to the affected families in Regions 7, 10 and Caraga. “Tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayang lubos na naapektuhan ng malakas na bagyo sa

Visayas at Mindanao. Halos lahat tayo ay nakaranas na kung gaano kahirap kapag nasalanta ng bagyo. kahit papaano, makatulong tayo para maging merry man lang ang Christmas nila. [Let’s help our

is also the designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Northern Mindanao. According to the latest report by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10 (DSWD-10), there are more than 20,000 families affected in Region 10, with at least 4,700 families still in evacuation centers. DSWD-10 is fellow Filipinos in currently conducting Visayas and Mindanao. their Rapid Damage Most of us know how Assessment and Needs difficult it is to be hit Analysis (RDANA) by a strong typhoon. in order to provide At least we can help in details on services giving them a merry needed to be turned Christmas],” he said over to affected on DZMM Teleradyo. LGUs, including the Secretary Andanar provision of family

food packs. According to Secretary Andanar, the PCOO is also responding to affected families in areas in Caraga region, including Surigao City, Siargao Islands, and Dinagat Islands that were not spared from the havoc of Super Typhoon Odette. He said that electricity and communication remain difficult in the said areas, while logistics for the transport of family food packs and in-kind donations are already making their routes to communities including impassable areas such as Burgos, San Isidro, and Pilar in Siargao.