Mindanao Daily News (May 4, 2023)

MINDANAO DAILY

THE NATION’S ADVOCATE FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PROGRESS

Thursday, May 4, 2023 P15.00

NGCP energizes Mindanao -Visayas Interconnection

NGCP successfully energized the PhP52-Billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), a landmark undertaking that will improve power stability and reliability across the country.

An initial load of 22.5 MegaWatts (MW) was carried by the high voltage submarine and overhead lines from Mindanao to Visayas during its energization on 30 April 2023. "We expect to gradually increase the MVIP's transfer capacity to 50MW by mid-May, and 112MW by the end of the month, before energizing to its full transfer capacity of 450MW by the third quarter of this year," the

Filinvest, PH Eagle Foundation, partner to preserve PH Eagle sanctuary in Bukidnon

Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon - The preservation of the environment has never been more critical than it is today. The world is facing a dual crisis: climate change and biodiversity loss. These crises are interconnected, and addressing them requires an integrated approach. It is in these tenets that the Filinvest Group, through subsidiary FDC Misamis Power Corporation (FDC Misamis), has partnered anew with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to establish an initial twenty (20) hectare reforestation

Solons want EPIRA law amended amid recurring power outages

By Leonel Abasola

and carbon sink area in Brgy. Guilang-guilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Under the Memorandum of Agreement recently signed by FDC Misamis and PEF, within the next three years, PEF will lead the reforestation of the grasslands planting endemic species, while FDC Misamis will provide funding for the entire project.

Within the project area is Mt. Tago, home to a pair of Philippine Eagles - female Kalabugao and male Guilang-guilang and their eaglet Maluko. PEF first

released Kalabugao into the wild in 2010 after nursing her back to health after being kept as a pet by a local farmer. After her release, Kalabugao crossed to the new-found territory at Mt. Tago, where she met Guilang-guilang. Their first nesting attempt failed but succeeded the following courtship season, successfully hatching Maluko. Then, just recently, the PEF, along with forest guards, spotted their second eaglet. According to PEF Research and Development

See FILINVEST , page 11

MANILA –

by the power interruptions

in Western Visayas, a lawmaker filed a measure to probe the energy crisis, as Senate President Juan

Miguel Zubiri proposed for the amendment of the 20-year-old Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday filed Senate Resolution 579 that calls for a probe into the power interruptions in Panay Island and identify measures that would ensure continuous supply to consumers.

Poe said it is time to put in place a long-term solution to the power woes which have been severely See EPIRA , page 11

El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental Mayor Edgar Lignes gestures during the opening of the five-day Association of Local Colleges and Universities Region X Olympics as hosted by his city Tuesday. Photo taken by The Kasayuran, the student publication of the City College of El Salvador, a higher education institution operated by the local government unit currently under the Lignes administration.

High-voltage

direct current cables will connect the Lala Converter Station in Lanao del Norte to the Dumanjug Converter Station in Cebu.

GADNAI Kapulinagan Carbon Forest. Officials of PEF, FDC Misamis, GADNAI, and LGU Manolo Fortich during the unveiling of the GADNAI Kapulinagan Carbon Forest. Seen above are (from L-R) PEF Research and Development Director Dr. Jayson Ibanez, PEF Executive Director Mr. Dennis Salvador, FDC Misamis President and CEO Mr. Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, GADNAI Chairman and Head Claimant Datu Honorio Sumohoy, Manolo Fortich Municipal Administrator Mr. Joey Gaid, and Guilang-guilang Brgy. Captain Mr. Glenn Sumohoy Gulle.

Alarmed

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (left) and Senator Grace Poe (File photo)

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said his visit to Washington, D.C. was vital to strengthen the alliance between the Philippines and the United States, especially during “turbulent times.”

In his speech during the dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy at the Blair House, Marcos said that the way forward to navigate the “almost chaotic” international scene -- defined by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic -- is for the Philippines to have “strong partners” or

Breaching climate goals could be ‘disastrous’, UN chief warns

BERLIN – UN Secretary-

General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on governments to keep their pledge and act against climate change.

“The International Panel on Climate Change tells us that breaching 1.5 degrees, even temporarily, could be

Publication Notice

R.A. 9048/ R.A. 10172

disastrous,” he told the Petersberg Climate Dialogue meeting via video link.

Guterres warned that the temperatures are set to rise 2.8 degrees by the end of the century if countries maintain their present policies.

He called for closer coop-

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

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CCE-0015-2023 RA 10172

April 25, 2023

In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum 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 ROWENA SULAYBAGUIO DAGING 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 ROWENA SULAYBAGUIO DAGING at Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur and whose parents are Felix G. Daging, Sr. and Mamerta B. Sulaybaguio

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than May 25, 2023.

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

eration to end dependence on fossil fuel, and underlined that industrialized nations should deliver on their promises and provide financial support to less developed countries to invest in clean energy.

“The climate crisis de -

“strong allies”.

“Since things are so volatile the stability would come from those alliances, those partnerships. And it is a strange thing to come from that situation where you have very polarized worldview, to come from that situation where now we have to look into very different directions all the time,” Marcos said.

He also pointed out that despite their turbulent history, the relations between the US and the Philippines have endured.

“But similarly, to our ambassadors’ friendships, like two friendships, you go to turbulent times when there are misunderstand -

ings, when there are difficulties, when other forces prevail upon both sides of the partnership,” Marcos said.

“But between the Philippines and the United States, we have prevailed through all that like a true friendship. And the reason for that I believe is that we truly have come to an understanding as to how we believe certain values and what is important, and our role in the world and that has never really been diminished,” he added.

Marcos said the trade relations and partnership between the Philippines and the US must be “continually

Negative trend in climate change to continue till 2060s: WMO

GENEVA – Even with successful climate mitigation efforts, the negative trend in climate will continue for the coming decades, the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned.

“We can still affect this situation, but the negative trend in climate will continue until the 2060s anyhow,” Petteri Taalas told Anadolu in an interview.

“And if we are successful in climate mitigation, we could phase out this negative trend, but the melting of glaciers and sea level rise is a game we have practically lost that will continue for the coming even thousands of years,” Taalas said.

Underlining that it will be a long-term threat in many areas globally, especially for coastal areas and the Medi-

on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that ELGIE A. GEMOYA has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of entry in the child’s sex from “ MALE ” to “ FEMALE ” in the Certificate of Live Birth of ELGIE ALMARIO GEMOYA at Tibolo, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur and whose parents are MAGDALENO GEMOYA and ESTERLINA ALMARIO. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 26th day of May 2023.

(SGD) MARIO M. TIZON Municipal Civil Registrar

terranean region, he said the good news is that the world now has the technological means to be successful in climate mitigation.

Also, the countries began acting against climate change, he said, but argued that efforts of those nations which are going through an economic transition needed onboard as well.

Although the world has a good means to be success-

ful in climate mitigation with the dropping prices of solar and wind energy and the growing amount of electric vehicles, the secretary-general said it is not likely to reach the Paris Agreement goal of keeping warming below 1.5C.

“So far, we are not yet heading towards the Paris 1.5 degrees target, which is a challenge. We have to

MDN: May 4 & 11, 2023

MDN: May 4 & 11, 2023

STRONGER ALLIANCE. Presidents Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Joe Biden meet at the White House on Monday (May 1, 2023). Marcos said his US visit is crucial to strengthen the alliance between the Philippines and the US. (Photo courtesy of Bongbong Marcos FB page)

Luzon

Cruise ship port pushed to boost tourism in Legazpi City

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY – Ako

Bicol (AKB) Party List

Representative Elizaldy Co on Tuesday expressed optimism of securing the necessary project fund to build a cruise ship port here.

Co, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, underscored the importance of investing in infrastructure, such as a new port, to boost the tourism industry and generate more employment opportunities for the locals.

“Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan and I had the opportunity to speak just last week. We are hoping to secure the release of the funding for the project. Our goal is to complete one of the biggest international cruise ship terminals in the eastern Pacific before the President steps down. This will cater to the growing demand for cruise tourism in the region,” he said in a statement after witnessing the arrival of the first cruise ship to dock in the city.

VON VOYAGE. The Hanseatic Nature of shipping company HapagLloyd made the Legazpi City its first port of call under its Philippine expedition on April 30, 2023. Ako Bicol (AKB) Party List Representative Elizaldy Co on Tuesday (May 2, 2023) expressed optimism of securing the necessary funding for a project to build cruise ship port in the city. (Photo courtesy of AKB Rep. Co's Facebook page)

Co said the city needs to have a proper cruise ship port to attract more tourists and make it a premier tourist destination in the Philippines.

“The city has many natural wonders and cultural heritage sites that can attract more tourists, but the lack of proper facilities has hindered its growth. With the new port, Legazpi City can compete with other top tourist destina -

tions in the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Herbie Aguas, Department of Tourism in Bicol (DOT5) regional director, said Co’s initiative will be a “big help” in promoting the tourism industry in the region after the Hanseatic Nature of shipping company Hapag-Lloyd made the city its first port of call under its Philippine expedition.

“I talked to the captain of the cruise ship and they found it a little bit hard to dock but in all, they are very much willing to come back and explore Bicol,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

The cruise ship with 180 European tourists and 167 crew members arrived last April 30, and visited the Mayon Volcano and the beach of Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte. (PNA)

SKINCARE PRODUCTS. Locally developed Skivios skin invigorating solutions are set to be launched in July 2023. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is supporting the development of these products, made through a tripartite partnership among the government, academe and private firm. (Photo courtesy of DOST)

DOST supports local tech on beauty, health innovations

MANILA – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday said it has been supporting the development of local beauty and health innovations, with two products set to be launched in July.

Doralyn Dalisay, a Balik Scientist, recently teamed up with local pharmaceutical firm Maridan Industries, Inc. to develop a skin invigorating solution called Skivios, which the DOST said will help address skin problems and infections.

The DOST added that it has funded a project, wherein the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City partnered with Maridan Industries to develop lo -

cally sourced beauty and health innovations ranging from pharmaceutical drugs to herbal, beauty and skin products.

“By improving scientific infrastructure, like the three laboratories at the University of San Agustin, we introduce new avenues for innovation and product development for the benefit of local industries,” said DOST Leah Buendia in a statement.

Buendia added that the DOST fully encourages tripartite partnerships among the government, the industry and the academe. "This is a way to nurture an environment of innova-

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Have my say

Leadership Is Not a Position

Many people assume that leadership is all about titles, positions, money, and fame. However, leadership is not an actual position or title. In fact, it is about the action you take and the example you set for others. Leadership is the ability to influence others; it’s about the impact you have on others.

The definition of leadership is evolving every two years. If earlier it was about authority and dominance, it’s more about collaboration and teamwork nowadays.

With the exponential increase in the number of millennial workers, they are disrupting the traditional leadership style and want to work under leaders who give them enough opportunities to lead themselves.

What is leadership in today's world? Leadership is a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, to execute strategic plans, and to continually renew an organization.

50% of workers said that they believe leadership is the empowerment of others and have high expectations from their leaders. In fact, they don’t even mind leaving a job if the leader fails to meet their expectations. The daringness is definitely calling for some serious leadership change in today’s day and age.

Are You In A Front Position?

Are you a guide, a commander or a conductor? Are you a leader, who knows how to play the first card in the round? Are you the foremost horse in a team?

Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?

someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gatherings.

ROLANDO SUDARIA production

In the not-so-distant past, leaders followed a model based on directing and administrating. This style started to shift within the last few decades, and today leaders follow a model based on guiding and inspiring According to a survey conducted by Virtuali and WorkPlace Trends, nearly

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I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!" "Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man's character, give him power", already stressed Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn't only mention "men" alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own.

Remember and look around: in the past and at present one can observe

Hints and Traces

Our real identity

It is Christ who tells us very clearly who we really are. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14,6)

Again, if we have to take these words of Christ in faith as we should, then there is no other conclusion we can make but to affirm that for us to get into the right way to know the truth about who we really are, and to have the life proper to us, we need to go to Christ who is our way, and to be with Christ for us to be in the truth about who we really are and to be Christ himself to turn that identity into a living reality.

Incredible things are being told and challenged with these words of Christ! But we just have to learn how to deal with them. We have our whole lifetime to pursue that goal and to grapple with that ideal. But what is more important is to realize that we have actually been given everything --all the means and instruments, etc.-- so that we can achieve what God wants us to be.

The secret is, of course, always to live by faith, which in itself is already a big challenge. To deal with that reality, we have no other recourse but to humble

Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?

Albert Einstein, one of my favourite idols, had said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!"

Leaders in politics, leaders in clergy, leaders in business - many are lacking this specific trait, because, after all, what they say is not what they do. We need leaders with character, integrity, discipline and the ability to

ourselves, that is to say, to admit and to convince ourselves that we are nothing without God, that we are helpless without the guidance of faith. Without God and faith, the only thing possible for us is to take the path of error and sin.

For this, we can get some helpful ideas from one of the psalms which, as we know, are inspired words that express the proper spiritual and supernatural attitude and reaction we ought to have to anything that occurs in our life.

We have to study and meditate on the psalms well so that we can internalize their real meaning and imbibe the spirit behind the words. We have to know the psalms that are relevant to every act we do and every situation we can find ourselves in.

For example, Psalm 25 says: “Lord, make me know your ways, teach me your paths, make me walk in your truth and teach me.” This attitude and sentiment should always be with us, expressing and articulating it as explicitly as possible, since that is the proper attitude and sentiment to have.

The Psalm continues:

“If anyone fears the Lord, he will show him the path he should choose.” If we are wondering how to choose the path proper for us, this psalm tells us to have that healthy fear of the Lord, a gift of the Holy Spirit, for only then can we be shown that path. We have to be wary of our tendency to take this duty to develop this healthy and holy fear of God for granted.

Still the psalm continues: “The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere him. To them he reveals his covenant.” There we are clearly given how we can develop, nourish and keep that necessary friendship with God. It is when we revere him. Do we really adore and worship him by praying and by converting everything that we do as a way to glorify him?

Let’s bring these considerations into our prayer and start coming out with plans, resolutions, and strategies to bring what are suggested in this psalm into action, into life, and reality itself!

Roy Cimagala

Senator, tourism chief laud ‘Suroy-Suroy’ in Cebu islands

By John Rey Saavedra

CEBU CITY – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Senator Robin Padilla joined the Cebu Capitol-organized tour Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in the Camotes group of islands over the weekend.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Monday said 132 personnel from the DOT, led by Frasco, joined the activity to benchmark the best practices in promoting culture and heritage as the agency is gearing up for a nationwide tour dubbed as “Suroy-Suroy Pilipinas: The Philippine Experience.”

More than 300 tourists joined the second leg of the tour for 2023 branded as “Enchanting Camotes” formally opened on Saturday

‘SUROY-SUROY SUGBO’. Tourists enjoy Cebu's roasted pig (lechon) during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in the Camotes group of islands. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Senator Robin Padilla joined the Cebu provincial government-organized guided tour as a way to promote culture and heritage in the countryside.

courtesy of Cebu Capitol PIO)

HERBAL MEDICINE. Abel Pedro, president of the Latazon Indigenous Peoples Organization (LAIPO), shows the herbal medicines on display at the trade center Balay Local at the old capitol building in San Jose de Buenavista on Wednesday (May 3, 2023). In an interview, Pedro said the assistance provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique Provincial Office has helped improve their productivity and generate more income. (PNA photo by Annabel

Consuelo J. Petinglay)

DTI shared service facility, greenhouse benefit Antique IPs

By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVIS-

TA, Antique – The shared service facility (SSF) and the greenhouse provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to indigenous peoples (IPs) in the municipality of Lauaan in Antique have helped improve their productivity and generate more income.

Latazon IP Organization (LAIPO) president Abel Pedro said that before the support from the DTI, their earnings were only enough to purchase materials for liniment, skin ointment, and other traditional herbal medicines.

"Through the SSF, we were able to receive cooking pots, stove, working table, and other equipment to increase our production," he said in an interview on Wednesday.

Pedro said DTI Antique provided them with around

PHP1 million worth of SSF and greenhouse last year.

With the greenhouse, even with too much heat, they could still grow herbal plants such as oregano, yerba buena, and pepper.

“The greenhouse protects our plants so that they will not wilt," he said.

The support, Pedro said, has also enticed more IPs in Barangay Latazon to join LAIPO.

From five members when it was organized in 2018, they now have 65 members who render at least four hours of work in their processing center.

"The IPs in our community saw the opportunity of earning an income from making traditional herbal medicines that they have become interested in," he said.

Pedro said the IPs get PHP20 per bottle for helping in the processing, giving them additional income

(April 15).

The guided tour covered Pilar and San Francisco towns on the first day and the two final stops were in Tudela and Poro towns on the second day.

As the provincial government’s flagship program aims to lure local and foreign visitors to explore culture and heritage in the countryside, Garcia said the “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” has become proof that despite the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and Typhoon Odette, Cebu’s tourism remains vibrant.

Frasco noted the success of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program as a “model for tourism development nationwide.”

“So successful has it been that we in the Department of Tourism are benchmark-

ing this in the form of a program that we are launching called the ‘Philippine Experience’ which, like the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, aims to give our tourists not just an opportunity to visit our key destinations but also our lesser-known destinations and emerging destinations,” Frasco was quoted by the Cebu Capitol’s statement as saying.

Meanwhile, Padilla, in one of his speeches on the Camotes island tour, said he thought of bringing his experience to his home province in Cordillera, as he pledged that his office is very much willing to fund its realization.

The senator lauded Garcia for the initiative and her determination and vision in promoting local heritage

See LAUD , page 10

W. Visayas hopes for better finish in 2023 Palarong Pambansa

By Perla Lena

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Education in Western Visayas is hoping to retain if not clinch a higher spot in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa to be hosted by Marikina City from July 29 to Aug. 5.

DepEd regional information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., in an interview on Wednesday, said Western Visayas ranked third in the 2017 to 2019 Palarong Pambansa.

“The region will be having a series of coordination with the winning divisions and athletes in the coming days so we can ensure that their needs will be given prompt and adequate action,” he said.

Escullar added that by responding to their needs, athletes will be inspired to practice and do more in their respective fields.

The national game will fall within the school break since classes will end on July 7 and the new school year will start on August based

on the DepEd calendar, he said.

Currently, they are preparing for the pre-national games for team sports that will be held in Cebu this June following the success-

ful conduct of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet in Aklan from April 26 to 30.

“We will be consolidating the data for those who

will proceed to the Palaro for individual events and for the pre-Palaro for team sports tentatively this June in Cebu,” he said.

Escullar said that games

See HOPES , page 10

WINNERS. The Department of Education awards the winning delegation for the regular games secondary level of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet held in Aklan on April 30. DepEd regional information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., in an interview on Wednesday (May 3, 2023), said they hoped to retain its place if not clinch a higher spot in the Palarong Pambansa 2023 set from July 29 to Aug. 5 in Marikina City. (Photo courtesy of Ramir Uytico FB page)

(Photo

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Cebu Landmasters posts solid start to 2023, Q1 revenue surges by 33% YoY to Php4.78 billion

• Cebu Landmasters, Inc.’s (CLI) consolidated revenue hit P4.78 billion, up 33% from Q1 2022.

• All business units posted clocked in double-digit expansions: real estate sales were up 33%, hotel operations rose 79%, leasing business grew 22% and management fee income increased 27%

• Sales take-up grew 16% YoY. Casa Mira, CLI’s economic flagship brand, accounted for 52% of the sales.

• CLI's future plans include a strong project pipeline worth P29.75 billion and remains committed to delivering value to its shareholders.

Leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) started 2023 on a high note, registering a consolidated revenue growth of 33% in the year’s opening quarter to P4.78 billion from P3.58 billion.

CLI's net income to parent saw a 10% year-on-year growth, reaching P888 million, driven by the strong performance across all business units at CLI. On the other hand,

Cebu Landmasters first co-living project The Pad in Banilad High Street will have 256 rooms that can accommodate up to 440 persons. The five-storey property, which is a walk away from Cebu IT Park, is set to open in Q3 2023

Q1 consolidated net income soared to P1.17 billion, 43% higher year-on-year.

“Our unwavering commitment to excellence at CLI led to double-digit expansions in

sales, hotel operations, leasing, and management fees," CLI senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano said. "We believe that our remarkable

Q1 2023 financial performance sets the tone for the rest of the year, inspiring confidence in our shareholders while reinforcing our position as the leading developer in VisMin and a major contributor to Philippine real estate."

Revenue from real estate sales grew 33% to P4.71 billion, on the back of the increased number of qualified units for revenue recognition and construction progress.

Reservation sales take-up reached P5.22 billion, marking a significant 16% YoY

growth. The company's economic flagship brand, Casa Mira, accounted for 52% of the sales. By location, Cebu made up the bulk of the sales with 40% generated from all project areas across VisMin.

CLI’s hotel operations also showed a remarkable recovery, with a YoY growth of 79% to P29 million driven by improved room rates as business and tourism travel normalized further in 2023.

Additionally, CLI's leasing business recorded a 22% growth, amounting to P21

million. Meanwhile, the company's property management arm, Cebu Landmasters Property Management (CLIPM), also posted a 27% increase in management fees totaling P15 million, attributable to the management of 24 projects. Looking ahead, CLI has outlined a dynamic roadmap for 2023. Three new hospitality projects, namely lyf Cebu City in Base Line Center, Citadines Bacolod City and The Pad CoLiving in Banilad High Street, are scheduled to commence operations this year. These projects are expected to contribute to the company's hotel revenue, with CLI managing a total of 657 keys by the end of the year - more than a threefold increase from the 180 rooms in 2022.

In the next 2 years, CLI will also complete over 46,008 sqm of gross leasable area (GLA) from their commercial leasing business, including retail spaces at its Astra Centre Mall and the City Center at the Davao Global Township.

With 19 residential projects in the pipeline, valued at Php29.75 billion, Cebu Landmasters is poised to continue its growth trajectory throughout 2023. The company's commitment to delivering value to its shareholders was evident in the recent dividend declaration on April 28, with a dividend of Php0.18 per share.

Cebu Landmasters is set to complete over 4,000 sqm of gross leasable area (GLA), primarily from the retail pods of Davao Global Township (DGT), the listed company’s first estate project that is now set to open its doors to the public. The photo above is an architect’s perspective of DGT phase 1 that includes the township’s first residential development The East Village at DGT, a commercial area and lifestyle mall DGT City Center, and DGT Cultural Center.

Cebu Landmasters is set to open three new hospitality projects with 477 keys scheduled to commence operations this year including lyf Cebu City in Base Line Center whose lobby (architect’s perspective) is shown in the photo above.

244 hired, P16.7-M grants released in Caraga Labor Day rites

BUTUAN CITY – At least 244 applicants were hired on the spot during the conduct of a job fair in time for the 121st Labor Day celebration here Monday.

The Department of Labor and Employment in the Caraga Region (DOLE13) said those immediately hired formed part of the 1,011 registered jobseekers who joined the fair.

“The construction, mining, and wholesale and retail industries posted the highest number of new hires during the job fair,” the DOLE-13 said in a statement Tuesday.

At least 3,073 job vacancies were offered by

some 50 employers during the activity.

Among the lucky jobseekers during the activity was Jocelyn Sa-agundo, a single working mother from this city, who was hired as a production worker by the Kaamulan Multi-purpose Cooperative.

“I heard the news about this job fair through the radio. I am thankful that an employer hired me after I applied,” Sa-agundo said in the same DOLE-13 statement.

Aside from the job fair, a Kadiwa ng Pangulo display was also conducted during the event, par -

ticipated by 12 farmer’s cooperatives from the different areas in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte. Moreover, the DOLE13 facilitated a simultaneous program for the release of over PHP16.7 million worth of livelihood grants to 1,041 associations and different local government units in the region. Payout activities were also conducted for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program, with some PHP39.9 million payment released to 9,542 beneficiaries across the region. (PNA)

Air strike launched vs. DI extremists in Maguindanao Sur

By Edwin Fernandez

CAMP SIONGCO, Ma -

guindanao del Norte –

Backed by artillery fire, military helicopter gunships pounded a suspected Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorist group’s lair in the marshland of Maguindanao del Sur early Tuesday.

the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said in a radio interview here.

Shortly after the strikes,

he said ground troops were dispatched to scour the surroundings of Barangay Magaslong, Datu Piang,

“We are running after the terrorists behind the (April 17) bus bombing in Isulan,” Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of Google map of Datu Piang, Maguindanao

Maguindanao del Sur.

“We are uncertain whether there were casualties; our troops are still there,” Pagcog said.

Two attack helicopters fired rockets toward a group of houses in the middle of the marshland in Magaslong village around 3 a.m. Military intelligence reports indicated that the DI Hassan Group has earlier been monitored to be consolidating its forces in the area.

“There is no letup in our operation against those behind the bombing; they have to pay for it,” Pangcog said.

He said the target area is the launching pad of terrorists in carrying out bombing sorties against military forces and soft targets such as bus passengers, public terminals and public markets in Central Mindanao.

Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokes -

person, said the target of the operation is far from civilian communities.

Last week, the Sultan Kudarat provincial police office filed charges against nine members of the DI-allied Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for carrying out the April 17 bombing against a double-decker bus unit of the Husky Tours Company in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. At least six bus passengers were wounded in the incident. (PNA)

DOST’s SETUP Program Helps Camiguin Woman Entrepreneur Scale Up Cacao Processing Venture

ORDER

Before this Court verified joint petition for the approval and registration of the Divorce filed by petitioners and alleging among others. That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under Civil rite on June 23, 2012 at Cagayan de Oro City, both petitioners had been converted to Muslim and thereby embraced Islam Religion as their new found faith, by virtue of their respective intellectual choices which were duly registered with this Court, both of them can be served summons and other legal processes relative to this case at their resident at Zone 8, Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental 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 for years, 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 23, 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 May 24, 2023 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 26th of April, 2023.

MDN: Apr 27, May 4 & 11, 2023

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s banner program, Small Enterprise Technology Program (SETUP) helps Camiguinbased woman entrepreneur and farmer, Julieta ButalidDela Cerna, scale up her cacao processing venture through science, technology, and innovation.

(SGD) HON. OSOP M. ALI Presiding Judge

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th Shari’a Circuit Court 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City

IN RE: JOINT PETITION TO APPROVE CIVIL CASE NO.2023-050

AND REGISTER THE DIVORCE OF SPOUSES REY T. EPE AND JOCELYN S. MIGRIÑO, REY T. EPE AND JOCELYN S. MIGRIÑO, Petitioners.

Before this Court verified joint petition for the approval and registration of the Divorce filed by petitioners and alleging among others. That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under Civil rite on May 1, 1999 at Tagbilaran City, both petitioners had been converted to Muslim and thereby embraced Islam Religion as their new found faith, by virtue of their respective intellectual choices which were duly registered with this Court, both of them can be served summons and other legal processes relative to this case at their resident at Daan Bantayan, Cebu and Mansasa, Tagbilaran City, Bohol 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 for years, 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 May 1, 1999 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 May 24, 2023 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

DOST's intervention brought about a remarkable transformation for the business, achieving a 20% boost in productivity, a solid 25% increase in sales, and successfully reducing rejects from 40% to 35%. Additionally, the intervention led to the creation of two direct and three indirect jobs, boosting the local economy.

In 2021, the firm was able to acquire food-grade equipment with better specifications through SETUP. Among the equipment availed are roaster machine, a cacao colloid mill, an industrial multipurpose cacao cracker/ dehuller winnower, and more.

"Eto ang pinakamalaki na tulong sa akin kase may grace period one year at saka three years to pay so hindi mabigat sa pagbayad", Dela Cerna said. (This is the biggest help because of the one-year grace period and the three-year payment fulfillment; hence, it is not heavy to pay.)

DOST also provided technological consultancy

Good Manufacturing Practices and food safety seminar-workshops, smart packaging assistance, Halal awareness seminar, MPEX or Manufacturing Productivity Extension, and others.

The agency also provided assistance in the drafting of the firm’s Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), which was among the major documents needed to acquire License to Operate from the Food and Drug Administration. Mama Jita’s Food Products acquired LTO in August last year. The LTO certification enabled Mama Jita’s Food Products to enter neighboring malls and supermarkets in the region.

The technology upgrading helped the firm catch up with the overwhelming purchase orders from partner pasalubong centers, malls, supermarkets, and outlets for their two main products: Tablea and Tablea Choco drink.

During the DOST Secretary’s visit in April this year, Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr asked Dela Cerna her aspirations for her business. “Ang pangarap ko na mas lumago pa (business), target maka CPR (Certificate of Product Registration) para maka display sa mga malls at saka (maka)export." (My dream is for the business to prosper and secure CPR so I can display in malls and

export my products.)

Mama Jita’s Tablea is a chocolate bar for champorado (chocolate porridge) and sikwate (hot chocolate drink). Her products, the tablea and the cold chocolate drink, are made from 100% pure, native cacao variety, with strong aroma. It is available to select pasalubong centers and malls in region 10.

SETUP is a nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness.

(Efraem O.Egoc/DOST 10)

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr and DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang with Mama Jita’s Food Products Inc owner, Ms. Julieta Dela Cerna and DOST-X representatives during the project visit on April 12, 2023. services to the firm, such as

HIRED APPLICANTS. The job fair in Butuan City conducted during the 121st Labor Day celebration in the Caraga Region on May 1 hired at least 244 applicants on the spot. The job fair was joined by 50 employers from different industries, opening up at least 3,073 job vacancies.

(Photo courtesy of DOLE-13)

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Rotary Governor Go appoints PAG

Manuel Aliñabon as District 3870 Family of Rotary & Fellowship chair

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – District

Governor-elect

Gilda “Gigi” Go has appointed Past Assistant Governor Manuel Aliñabon as District 3870 Family of Rotary & Fellowship chairperson for RY 2023-2024.

Governor Go thanked the new chairman for accepting the challenge and joining her team. “THANK YOU VERY MUCH PAG Manny for accepting the appointment,” she said.

PAG Aliñabon is an active Rotarian Officer of the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro.

About the Family of Rotary?

The Family of Rotary Committee will provide information and support for Rotary clubs in efforts to pursue the first Object of Rotary, which is “to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.” Friendship was the foundation, the rock

on which Rotary service was built.

The Family of Rotary Committee will encourage clubs to care for Rotarians and members of Rotary’s extended family (spouses and children) and remember spouses of deceased

Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL SUR 12th Judicial Region Hall of Justice, Marawi City

Office of the Executive Judge

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION NOT. COM. No. 498-23 FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC

ATTY. DAUD M. MACABANTOG, Petitioner.

x-------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SUMMARY HEARING

Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the Petition for Notarial Commission in the City of Marawi and Province of Lanao del Sur, of Atty. DAUD M. MACABANTOG , shall be held on May 16, 2023, 8:30 A.M., at RTC-Branch 10 , Marawi City. Any person who has cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned Executive Judge, before the scheduled date of the summary hearing.

Marawi City, Philippines, this 02nd day of May, 2023.

(SGD) Hon. WENIDA B. M. PAPANDAYAN Executive Judge

Rotarians. Special emphasis will be supporting clubs in forming Family of Rotary Committees to:

• Visit sick Rotarians in their homes and ensure any needs are met

• Inquire after those who have missed meetings

District Governor Elect “Gigi” Go

or allowed their membership to lapse

• Promote membership retention

• Promote diversity of membership in clubs

• Encourage newer Rotarians to serve on a committee or spearhead

Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL SUR 12th Judicial Region Hall of Justice, Marawi City

Office of the Executive Judge

IN RE: PETITION FOR NOTARIAL NOT. COM. No. 499-23 COMMISSION FOR AND IN THE CITY OF MARAWI

ATTY. MARIA ESTRELLIETA G. LARA, Petitioner. x-------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SUMMARY HEARING

Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the Petition for Notarial Commission in the City of Marawi and Province of Lanao del Sur, of Atty. MARIA ESTRELLIETA

G. LARA , shall be held on May 16, 2023, 8:30 A.M., at RTC-Branch 10 , Marawi City. Any person who has cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned Executive Judge, before the scheduled date of the summary hearing.

Marawi City, Philippines, this 02nd day of May, 2023.

(SGD) Hon. WENIDA B. M. PAPANDAYAN Executive Judge

a club project

• Encourage spouses and children of Rotarians to participate in service projects

• Encourage spouses and adult children of Rotarians to join Rotary

• Maintain relationships

Republic of the Philippines ) Islamic City Marawi ) s.s.

with the family of deceased Rotarians and spouses

• Support the family of deceased Rotarians in their times of need

• Encourage the family of deceased Rotarians to continue their involvement with Rotary

—--------------------------------x EXHIBIT 9.3

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION

I TATA SOLAICA MAAD , of legal age, Filipino, with postal and residence address at Rorog Agus East, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, respectfully state that;

1. I am the only surviving legal heir of the late MACAUMBOS LAWANSA DIAMLA , who died intestate on December 25, 2017 at Rorog Agus East, Marawi City without leaving any indebtedness;

2. The late MACAUMBOS LAWANSA DIAMLA left the following properties ;

a. Deposit account/s with the LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES under account number 1261-2218-25;

b. Indicate other properties,if any ;

3. Pursuant to Rule 74, Section 1 of the Rules of Court, I hereby adjudicate unto myself the above-described deposit account/s and properties without judicial proceedings as prescribed by the afore mentioned Rules of Court.

IN WITNESS HEREOF , I have hereunto affixed my signature this 18th day of April, 2023, at Islamic City of Marawi, Philippines.

MINDANAO DAILY FEATURE

Micah The Pathfinder

By: ALMA LACOSTALES CALIBO, EDD Teacher III Lanao del Norte National Comprehensive High School

As the sun began to set, Micah made her way through the dense forest, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the path she was supposed to follow. She was a pathfinder, one of the few people in her village with the skills and knowledge to navigate the treacherous woods that surrounded them.

Micah had always felt at home in the forest, even as a child. She would spend hours exploring the woods, learning about the different plants and animals, and practicing her navigation skills. It was no surprise when she was chosen to be a pathfinder, a role that had been passed down through generations.

As she walked, Micah felt the familiar rustling of leaves beneath her feet and the sound of twigs snapping under her weight. She breathed in the fresh, cool air and listened to the chirping of birds and the distant roar of a river. She loved the peace and solitude of the forest, but she knew that danger could be lurking around every corner.

Suddenly, Micah heard a loud growl, and she froze. She slowly turned her head and saw a large wolf staring at her with yellow eyes. Her heart raced as she tried to remember everything she knew about wolves. She knew that they were territorial and aggressive, but she also knew that they were afraid of fire.

Micah quickly reached for her flint and steel and struck them together, creating a small flame. The wolf snarled and backed away, and Micah continued on her way, her pulse still racing.

After a few more hours of walking, Micah finally spotted the markers she had been looking for. She followed them deeper into the woods, the path becoming narrower and more treacherous. She had to climb over fallen trees and wade through shallow streams, but she never lost her footing or her determination.

Finally, as the moon rose high in the sky, Micah reached her destination. She had found the hidden grove that was rumored to be filled

with rare and exotic plants. She took out her notebook and began cataloging the different species she found, taking samples and making notes on their properties.

As Micah worked, she felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. She had found her way through the forest, faced danger, and discovered something new. She knew that being a pathfinder was not an easy task, but she also knew that it was a vital one. Without her, her village would be lost in the woods, with no way to find their way home.

As she packed up her gear and began the journey back to her village, Micah felt a sense of pride and purpose. She was a pathfinder, and she knew that she was making a difference in her community. She smiled as she thought about the new plants she had found and the knowledge she would be able to share with her people. She knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be, in the heart of the forest, blazing a trail for others to follow.

Delegates from 39 Municipalities of Lanao Del Sur and Marawi City attended the KOOPinas Lanao del Sur Chapter Launching and Leaders Assembly held at cafe Sindaw, Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, BARMM on April 29, 2023

Visit...

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revisited” so that both parties would mutually benefit from these initiatives.

“It still continually revisited so as we can make the most of our friendship and our partnership. And so that is the world as I see it today and the reasons that will come. That is why I am very grateful for the invitation of President (Joe) Biden to come to Washington, D.C. and gain the opportunity to meet the leaders of the government,” Marcos said.

He said the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines should evolve to adapt to changing environments.

“It should evolve because the situation that we are surrounded with changes and we must evolve with that. Therefore, it is extremely important that we have these interactions, it’s extremely important that we are constant in communication. It is extremely important that we understand what it is we are trying to achieve,” he said.

Filipino Americans vital to America’s fabric

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for his part, highlighted the vital role of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in shaping America’s social fabric.

“Filipinos and FilipinoAmericans are a fundamental part of the fabric of the United States,” Blinken said in the presence of key US cabinet secretaries.

Blinken also noted that the Philippines and the US have forged a bond 70 years ago based on arbitral defense and security, adding that both countries have reaffirmed their desire to maintain peace and order in the Pacific region.

“And just last year, thanks to the leadership of President Biden and President Marcos, we have significantly strengthened our alliance. We’ve launched new initiatives together to create economic opportunities for Americans and Filipinos alike. Because last year, trade between our countries was worth more than USD25 billion, a new record, and today President Biden announced that he will send the first ever presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines,” Blinken said.

The US official also pointed out that the two countries have laid out plans to initiate new clean energy projects that will only increase power outputs “but also create good paying jobs for both our countries.”

Working with their Filipino counterparts, Blinken said they have taken steps to modernize security alliances “so that our forces can work even closer together despite natural disasters.”

Earlier in the day, Marcos and Biden affirmed a series of partnerships aimed at strengthening the alliance of Manila and Washington.

In a joint statement,

Marcos and Biden hailed the “remarkable ties of friendship, community, and shared sacrifice that serve as the foundation of the US-Philippines alliance.”

“In efforts to promote inclusive and broad-based prosperity, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, uphold international peace and stability, and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, the United States and the Philippines will remain the closest of allies, working together to deliver a better future for our citizens and tackle the emerging challenges of the twenty-first century,” the joint statement read. (PNA)

Warns...

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mands honesty. We can only solve problems if we name them and look them squarely in the eye,” Guterres said.

“The truth is, on climate, we know what to do, when to do it, and why. But for too long, we have looked the other way,” he added.

Germany is hosting the two-day climate conference, which brings representatives from around 40 countries, to discuss concrete steps toward overcoming the climate crisis.

The conference aims at preparing the ground for successful negotiations at the COP28 Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates later this year. (Anadolu)

WMO...

“The rainfall amounts are going to be lower and evaporation from the ground is going to be enhanced. And gradually we will see also sea level rise impacts and in the long run, there's a risk of even several meters of sea level rise,” he said. “But that's fairly slow progress.”

He added, however, that during the coming decades, the intensification of heatwaves and drought are going to be “more frequent.”

WMO annual report on climate change

Taalas also spoke about the WMO’s annual report on the advance of climate change in 2022 published Friday.

The report found that from mountain peaks to ocean depths, climate change continued its advance in 2022, while droughts, floods and heatwaves affected communities on every continent and cost many billions of dollars, he said.

He added that Antarctic sea ice fell to its “lowest extent” on record and the melting of some European glaciers was literally “off the charts.”

“By the end of last year, we have again broken records in main greenhouse gas concentrations, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and in the last 10 years, they have been the warmest on record, and so far, we have reached 1.15 degrees warming,” he said.

billion, it noted.

Meanwhile, deaths associated with the heat in Europe exceeded 15,000 in total across Spain, Germany, the UK, France, and Portugal.

In Somalia, nearly 1.2 million people became internally displaced by the catastrophic impacts of drought on pastoral and farming livelihoods and hunger during the year, the report said. (Anadolu)

DOST...

from page 3

tion and unlock profitable opportunities for our local businesses,” she said.

According to the DOST, the University of San Agutin is the only biobank in the country with more than 3,000 samples of good bacteria collected by both Balik Scientists and researchers. These good bacteria were harvested from different parts of the Philippines with the goal of developing locally sourced and developed antibiotics.

Skivios products such as facial toner and facial serum will be launched in July. These can be used as a skin-care and makeup routine, and can also be applied before going to sleep.

nand Marcos Jr. expressed his willingness to amend the law and make use of renewable energy to bring down the cost of power.

“We have received the administration’s suggested amendments to the EPIRA, and we are already studying these, and seeing how these amendments can be further refined to best respond to the problems that we are hearing about from the power sector and especially from consumers,” Zubiri said in a statement.

He also called on the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NGCP to solve the power interruptions in Western Visayas.

Zubiri said the two agencies must solve the energy crisis as it already affects the economy of the area and has also brought inconvenience to residents.

Early last week, Senator Raffy Tulfo has called the two agencies to stop blaming each other and instead concentrate and solve the power woes. (PNA)

NGCP...

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explained.

from page 1

Director Dr. Jayson Ibanez, Kalabugao's milestone "became the world's first case of a rescued, rehabilitated, and released juvenile Philippine eagle surviving to sexual maturity and breeding in the wild."

The Philippine eagles have thrived in the area through the years with the help of the local community, specifically the Guilangguilang Apo Datu Nanikonan Association, Inc. (GADNAI), as the site is part of their ancestral domain.

Carbon sink management, eagle preservation, and the involvement of indigenous peoples are essential components of environmental sustainability. These issues are interrelated; thus, a balanced approach is necessary for long-term success.

“We have seen a record in ocean heat content where we have stored more than 90% of the heat,” the secretary-general said. “We have seen a doubling of the sea level rise. It used to be 2.3 millimeters per year in the past.

Kadios, an Ilonggo agricultural product, is said to mimic certain conditions of human skin. According to another Balik Scientist, Jonel Saludes, kadios (Cajanus cajan) has a natural antibiotic.

from page 2 EPIRA...

boost our climate mitigation efforts,” he said, adding that the 1.5C target would be the best for the welfare of human beings, for the biosphere, and also for the global economy as it is stated by the science community.

Mediterranean region, Türkiye

There are two hotspots in the world where warming and climate change are “more effective" than elsewhere in the world,” Taalas said.

“Number one is the Arctic, and the second largest warming we have seen taking place is in the Mediterranean region,” he said. “And this negative trend is supposed to continue for the coming decades anyhow.”

That means the Mediterranean region will become “both warmer and also drier,” and in the coastal areas, the sea level rise will also have an impact, he said.

“And that's of course bad news for agriculture. It's bad news for tourism and human well-being in that part of the world,” he added.

Regarding the situation in Türkiye, which is expected to be among the countries that will feel the impact of climate change stronger, the secretary-general said the country will see “much higher temperatures in the future, especially during the summer half of the year.”

“Recently, we have been fairly close to a five millimeters per year sea level rise, and then we have seen the record low amount of sea ice in the Antarctic area.”

Also, several extreme weather events occurred last year, he said, giving the example of the severe floods in Pakistan and heatwaves in Europe, China, the US and Mexico with severe drought.

“For example, in China, they had the lowest amount of water in the main Yangtze River. In the UK, they broke the all-time temperature record, 40 degrees (Celsius), and also in Sweden, they broke the all-time temperature record, 37.2 degrees,” he continued.

“So we haven't seen an improvement in the real atmosphere yet, and all of these climate indicators, they're moving in the wrong direction,” Taalas warned.

According to the report, rainfall in East Africa has been below average for five consecutive wet seasons, the longest such sequence in 40 years, as 20 million people faced acute food insecurity.

Record-breaking rain in July and August led to extensive flooding in Pakistan, killing 1,700 people and displacing almost 8 million with total damage and economic losses of USD30

Saludes and Dalisay earlier worked together with another firm, GalenX, for the development of Honelle Wound Gel made from medical-grade honey to help fight wound infection. (PNA)

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impacting the daily lives of residents and economic activities in the region.

"Recurring power interruptions and massive blackouts should not be a way of life for our people in Panay Island. Concerned agencies must get a handle on the problem to end the intolerable suffering of the residents," Poe said in her explanatory note.

She stressed the need to determine the root cause of the grid disturbances reported by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) which it said was due to the tripping of distribution utilities (DUs).

The proposed inquiry should also delve into the position of electric cooperatives in Panay and Negros pointing to the NGCP as the cause of the problem.

"There is also a need to look into the long-term solutions to the power interruptions and outages within the backdrop of the 'thin' supply of power in the Visayas grid," she added.

Zubiri, on the other hand, said he will support any amendment of the EPIRA law, saying President Ferdi-

The MVIP is comprised of a 184 circuit-kilometer (ckm) High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine transmission line connecting the power grids of Mindanao and Visayas with a transfer capacity of 450MW expandable to as much as 900MW. The project also includes converter stations in both regions and more than 500ckm of overhead lines to facilitate the flow of electricity.

The MVIP will benefit consumers by providing them a more reliable and sustainable power transmission service that will lessen the instances of power interruptions. It will also promote energy resource sharing, as excess power generated in one region can now be transmitted to the other.

"The completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project is a significant achievement for us and for the Philippines as a whole. This will not only improve the reliability of our transmission services but will lead to efficient energy utilization as one Philippine grid," said NGCP.

Parts of the MVIP were completed in 2022, such as the Lala-Aurora 138kV Transmission Line, the 350kV Submarine Cable, and Cable Terminal Stations in Santander, Cebu, and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte. NGCP expects to complete the remaining components of the project and ramp up the transfer capacity of the facility in the coming months.

“NGCP is committed to providing the Filipino people with a reliable transmission network which is the backbone of the nation’s development. The completion of the MVIP is a significant step towards achieving that goal,” NGCP stated.

"FDC Misamis understands that managing carbon sinks is necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change while preserving the Philippine eagle is crucial to maintaining biodiversity. Indigenous peoples, who have long-standing relationships with these ecosystems, play an essential role in ensuring these efforts succeed," said FDC Misamis President & CEO Juan Eugenio L. Roxas.

"We are happy to link GADNAI with FDC Misamis and help build this new partnership. Hopefully, this collaboration will prosper into the future not only for the eagles but for the benefit of the people and ultimately for the nation's interest," said PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador.

GADNAI plays a critical role in reforestation's success. Part of the project component is capacity building for locals and providing alternate livelihood. Indigenous communities have often been excluded from conservation efforts or have had their knowledge and practices disregarded. Their involvement in these efforts can promote social and environmental justice.

"By recognizing and respecting GADNAI's rights and contributions, we can work towards a more equitable and sustainable future," added Roxas.

FDC Misamis owns and operates a 405-megawatt thermal baseload power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, which significantly contributes to the stability of the Mindanao grid. Its parent company, FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), the power and utility arm of the Filinvest Group, is also pursuing the development of sustainable energy projects such as solar, hydropower, biomass, and waste-to-energy projects.

The carbon sink management program is the Filinvest Group's second project with PEF. Initial conservation efforts started in 2019 when Filinvest, through FDCUI, adopted Philippine Eagle PE-A84-WM022 formally, now known as Dagitab.

Citta Bella at Primavera City topping off Ceremony

In a major milestone for sustainable construction, Citta Bella at Primavera City at the heart of uptown Cagayan de Oro celebrated its topping off ceremony last April 28, 2023. The event marked the completion of the building's frame and a significant step forward in the construction of this environmentallyfriendly structure.

The topping off ceremony was attended by representatives from the Italpinas Development Corpo (IDC) Cagayan de Oro Sales Office team, together with IDC's President Atty. Jose D. Leviste III, sales personnels, bank partners and city officials.

"This is a proud moment for us," said Ms Gladys Ivy Echano, IDC National Sales Head "We've been working hard to create Citta Bella that not only looks elegant but is good for the environment. This is a great example of how we can build sustainably and responsibly in our cities and community."

The new building will be a shining example of sustainable design and construction, featuring energy-efficient systems, water saving, and solar panels. The building's green features will significantly reduce its environmental impact and lower its carbon footprint.

"This project is a great example of how we can create a more sustainable future," said Atty Jose D. Leviste, IDC's President. "We're committed to reducing carbon

emissions, and this building is a significant step in that direction."

“On behalf of Italpinas Development Corporation, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for attending the topping off ceremony of Citta Bella at Primavera City. We are incredibly proud to have reached this milestone, and your presence made this event even more special”. said Leviste.

“We are excited about the opportunities that Italpinas will bring, and we look forward to serving our community with pride and excellence. Our commitment to delivering high-quality services and products remains as strong as ever, and we are eager to continue serving our customers and partners.” he added

ABOUT CITTA BELLA AT PRIMAVERA CITY

Citta Bella Primavera City is a modern and ecofriendly condominium complex located in the bustling uptown Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. It is the second flagship project of Italpinas Development Corporation, a leading developer of green and sustainable buildings in the country.

The development consists of two towers, each with 10 floors, and offers a range of

residential units, from studio apartments to two-bedroom suites. The units are designed to provide ample natural light and ventilation, with balconies that offer stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

One of the key features of Primavera City is its ecofriendly design. The buildings are designed to reduce energy consumption, with

features such as photovoltaic solar panels, which provide up to 20% of the building’s energy needs. The towers are also equipped with wind turbines, which harness the natural wind to generate additional energy.

In addition to its sustainable features, Primavera City also offers a range of amenities for residents, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and landscaped gardens. The complex is also conveniently located near shopping malls, hospitals, and schools, making it an ideal choice for families and professionals.

The project has received several accolades for its ecofriendly design and sustainable features, including the Best Mixed-Use Development in the Philippines at the Asia Pacific Property Awards in 2014. It has also been recognized for its innovative use of green technologies and sustainable practices.

Primavera City is a testament to the growing trend of sustainable and eco-friendly design in the Philippines, and it stands as a shining example of how modern architecture can be both beautiful and environmentally responsible.