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U.S.-PHL cooperation leads to successful anti-trafficking operation in Cavite

MANILA, March 17 (PNA) -- The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines congratulates the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division for a successful operation resulting in the rescue of nine children and the arrest of Arlene and Emelinda Aringo for offering children for sexual acts in exchange for fees.

This operation was undertaken through close coordination between the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila, and HSI in Portland, Maine.

This operation was supported by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization.

Arlene and Emelinda Aringo were arrested for violation of the Philippine Republic Act (RA) 9208, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364, a no-bail offense. (PNA)
LGI/PR-US EMBASSY/RSM

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Hi Friends,

You can now install a TubagBohol.com app in your Android phones, tablets and other devices. Simple search "TUBAGBOHOL.com" in Google Playstore. You can also visit this link directly: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tapatalk.tubagboholmikeligaligcom

At your service,
Mike Ligalig

Ngano nga mag-ilog man nga naa may daghang bakante.

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Balong, asa naman imong love story?

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Kini na ba ang puli ni Prony nga baksan sa Albur, Bohol?

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Why allow China to explore Benham area?

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Fat Cream to Fight Obesity, anyone?

BENHAM RISE, 7,641 PH ISLANDS MUST BE IN OUR TEXTBOOKS, SAYS CONG. BELARO

New-found 534 Philippine islands, the Benham Rise, and the exclusive economic zone are among the recent developments and concepts which should be included in the country's new textbooks on social studies, geography, geology, maritime, and marine life, 1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-list Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr. said in a news release.

"Our National Mapping and Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA) is doing a great and indispensable job charting all our islands, the Benham Rise, and the limits of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Their output must be included in our textbooks," Belaro said.

The party-list congressman and former university professor noted that it was in February 2016 when then Environment Secretary Ramon Paje revealed NAMRIA's discovery of 534 new Philippine islands using new technology.

"Now the Benham Rise is a hot-button issue but the general public, school teachers, and their students know very little about the Benham Rise and the 7,641 islands of the Philippines," Belaro also said.

More detailed information can be given to students in the form of printed and electronic brochures, the congressman also said.

"Updating our textbooks need not be a solo effort of the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. Private foundations, advocacy groups, and private firms can also help by producing teaching kits and conducting specific training for teachers," Belaro said.

He also said updating textbooks is "usually a long and tedious process, but it is high time we make sure those textbooks are updated and as quickly as possible."

"The UN arbitral tribunal ruling on our South China Sea claim and our latest Supreme Court decisions about the country's territory, continental shelf and EEZ should also be in our textbooks," Belaro said. (END)

Stand Your Watch!

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Habakkuk 2:1

The watchman’s job was vital. An approaching army left residents of an ancient city precious little time to flee or to prepare for battle. Everyone’s life depended on the alert watchman as he peered into the horizon for the earliest glimpse of an approaching threat. It was critical that the people be alerted as soon as possible to what was coming.

As a Christian, God places you as a watchman for yourself, your friends, your family, and your church family. It is essential that you be attentive to what God is saying. It may be that a friend is in crisis and needs God’s word. As you study your Bible, God may choose to give you words of encouragement to share with your friend. It may be that as your children face difficult challenges, God will speak to you as you pray and reveal how you can help them. If you are spiritually alert, you may receive a warning from God that addresses specific dangers that those around you are facing.

If you are careless, on the other hand, your family may be struggling, but the answers God has for them will go unheard. If you are oblivious to God’s message, those around you may miss the encouraging promise from God that He wanted to share through you. God holds His watchmen accountable for their diligence (Ezek. 33:6). Strive to be attentive to every word that comes to you from God. Your diligence will benefit you and those around you as you heed God’s warnings and follow His commands.      Henry and Richard Blackaby

Investment Scam in Marinduque, Philippines Exposed.
Please download the attached PDF document below for more details. The document is from the official website of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Our Mission
Driven by our shared desire to improve the health status of the Filipino people we, the PHILIPPINE HEART CENTER, shall provide comprehensive cardiovascular care enhanced by education and research that is accessible to all.

Our Vision
The PHILIPPINE HEART CENTER is the leader in upholding the highest standards of cardiovascular care, a self-reliant institution responsive to the health needs of the Filipino people.

A Portion of Tubigon, Bohol

Philippines boasts best of MSME products at ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meet

The Department of Trade and Industry through its Go Lokal! store project showcased outstanding Filipino products from 18 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) Retreat and Related Meetings last March 8-10 in Pasay City, Manila.

“This is the first time we showcased Go Lokal! products through an exhibit. We hope to showcase more of these globally competitive products of our MSMEs from the regions in the succeeding ASEAN-related events. We see that this is the best time to feature our products to our ASEAN neighbors,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Products sourced from various MSMEs in the country include fashion accessories, bags, and home decors. DTI is expected to showcase more of the Go Lokal! products in the upcoming 30th ASEAN Summit in April and at the 31st ASEAN Summit in November.

Go Lokal! is a design-led concept store showcasing modern and indigenous quality products crafted, designed, and created by innovative Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It can be found in consumer-frequented locations as a mainstream distribution channel for world-class products while offering value for money to the Filipino consumer.

Go Lokal! is a public-private collaboration initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) serving also as incubation, marketing, and branding platform for the best of Philippine MSME products including the next gen One Town One Product (OTOP) offerings.

“With Go Lokal, we would like to maximize the growing domestic consumer market. Through this, we are also helping our MSMEs in mainstreaming their products,” explained DTI Undersecretary for Industry Promotion Group Nora K. Terrado.

At present, the DTI’s Go Lokal! has signed memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with the country’s chain of malls such as Robinsons Department Store and DoubleDragon’s CityMall.  For the growing tourism industry, it has also signed with Enchanted Kingdom through its Agila Theater’s Pugad Souvenir Shop. Go Lokal! is one of the many projects of DTI in providing market access to micro entrepreneurs across the country.

DTI wishes to partner with more private sector entities such as ports and top tourists destinations in the Philippines for the said project. The Go Lokal! Project is part of the One Town, One Project (OTOP) program of DTI.

JP companies express PH investment interest worth Php198.5B: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez (4th from top R) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade (4th from top L) recently met with senior executives of Japan’s seven major trading houses in Tokyo to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s trade investment of infrastructure programs. The sogo shoshas or Japanese companies with a broad range of business activities discussed investment interests in the Philippines’ economic development, conservatively valued at Php198.5B. Also present at the meeting were PH Ambassador-Designate Jose Laurel V. (3rd from top L), and representatives from Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui and Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Toyota Tsusho, and Sojitz.

In picture are (Top, standing from left to right) Mrs. Dita Angara- Mathay (Commercial Counsellor of Philippine Embassy in Japan), Mr. Yozo Kubo (President, Itochu Corporation), Hon. Jose C. Laurel V (Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines), Secretary Arthur P. Tugade (Department of Transportation), Secretary Ramon M. Lopez (Department of Trade and Industry), Mr. Eduardo M. R. Meñez, (Chargé d' Affaires, a.i., Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines), Ms. Cherie Mercado Santos (Assistant Secretary, Department of Transportation), Mr. Yoshiyuki Hata (Country Chairman Manila Branch, Mitsui & Co. Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. Manila Branch, Mitsui & Co. Ltd.). (Bottom, sitting from left to right) Mr. Toshiharu Yoshimura (Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sojitz Corporation), Mr. Masayuki Hyodo (Representative Director, Business Unit, Sumitomo Corporation), Mr. Junzo Shimizu (Senior Advisor to the Board, Toyota Tsusho Corporation), Mr. Shigeru Yamazoe (Senior Executive Vice President, Marubeni Corporation), Mr. Hiroshi Sakuma (Executive Vice President, Global Environmental & Infrastructure Business Group, Mitsubishi Corporation).

Negros officials told to develop human capital

The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has urged officials of the province of Negros Occidental to further develop human capital to address the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the province. Human capital is a major component of the growth of the IT-Business Process Management (BPM) Industry Roadmap 2022, IBPAP said. IBPAP is now in the process of identifying recipient-teachers for the Service Management Program training scheme and Advanced English Proficiency Pre-Employment Training. The program, which initially targets at least 600 college and university teachers in the province, has the full support of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Omega Healthcare finalises acquisition of WhiteSpace Health

Omega Healthcare, a rapidly expanding company in the healthcare BPO/KPO space, said it has finalized its acquisition of US-based healthcare analytics firm WhiteSpace Health. Omega said the acquisition enhances the services it provides and gives it a new geographical footprint in India. WhiteSpace Health has a development facility in Hyderabad, India. The deal marks Omega Healthcare's first acquisition. Omega Healthcare has a presence spread across Bengaluru, Chennai, Trichy and Bhimavaram in India, and Manila and Cebu in the Philippines. With the acquisition, Gopi Natarajan, CEO and Co-founder of Omega Healthcare, said the company can now offer huge technology-based value-add to clients.

ISG names L&T Infotech as top 15 sourcing standout

L&T Infotech (LTI), a global IT services and solutions provider, said it has been named by Information Services Group (ISG) as a Top 15 Sourcing Standout. LTI’s placement on the ISG Index is a direct result of the growth in strategic services in the Americas, including managed services and infrastructure and ERP transformation, according to CEO and Managing Director Sanjay Jalona. Every quarter, ISG name the top 15 providers in the ‘Big 15’ (revenues of more than USD100bn), ‘Building 15’ (revenues between USD2bn and USD20bn), and ‘Breakthrough 15’ (revenues of less than USD2bn) categories for each region. L&T Infotech has a presence in various countries, including the Philippines.

SM to complete four BPO towers this year

SM Investment Corp announced plans to complete four additional business process outsourcing (BPO) towers with a total leasable space of 131,572 square meters. These BPO towers are located in SM Cagayan de Oro, SM Southmall Tower, SM Bacolod, and SM San Pablo. The company recently opened two BPO towers. It has 27 total available sites for BPO buildings. SM Investment Corp allocated P73bn for 2017 capital expenditures to finance the expansion of its property, retail and banking businesses. These planned BPO towers are expected to boost the company’s recurring earnings. The BPO towers will be developed within SM malls.

Malaysia's AllyMtd Group inaugurates second 'mini Putrajaya'

Malaysia-headquartered AlloyMtd Group has recently inaugurated its second urban development or ‘mini Putrajaya’ (in reference to tthe planned administrative capital of Malaysia in the Philippines in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. The P1.5bn development comprises a business process outsourcing (BPO) building and a central business hub. The inauguration was led by Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. AlloyMtd, a leading Asian infrastructure conglomerate, is also looking to develop a ‘real Putrajaya’ in the Clark Administrative City at an estimated cost of USD5.65bn. Nueva Ecija is gearing up for the information technology-BPO industry.

Accenture opens liquid studio in Latvia
Global consultancy and outsourcing firm Accenture has recently opened an innovation studio, dubbed liquid studio, in the Latvian capital of Riga. Accenture said the studio will help clients with innovation and software development cycles. At the studio, Accenture's clients will work alongside Accenture engineers to turn concepts into products in just a matter of days. The studio has capabilities in the internet of things, cloud, block chain, immersive experiences and emerging technologies. Accenture also has liquid studios in Silicon Valley, Paris, Nantes, Kronberg, Milan, and London. It plans to open more studios.

Acquire BPO in IAOP's best outsourcing providers list
Global business outsourcing firm Acquire BPO has been named by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) as one of the world's best outsourcing providers. Acquire BPO, which has 12 locations in Australia, the United States, Dominican Republic and the Philippines, has been named in the 2017 Global Outsourcing 100 list of companies. The selection process involved a rigorous scoring methodology. Acquire BPO CEO Scott Stavretis said being named as one of the world's best outsourcing providers demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to provide an offshore advantage to clients.

Accenture acquires Seabury Group
Seabury Group, a New York-based professional services firm focused on the aviation industry, is now part of Accenture following the completed acquisition. The deal adds Seabury's corporate advisory practice focused on restructuring distressed aviation firms and its consulting practice to Accenture's existing aviation capability. The combination of Seabury’s highly regarded industry expertise, coupled with Accenture’s consulting capabilities and deep digital experience, will enable Accenture to drive large-scale transformation for clients across the aviation industry, said Jonathan Keane, managing director of Accenture's aviation practice.

Bill Gosling Outsourcing again named in Canada's best managed firms
Canadian outsourcing firm Bill Gosling Outsourcing was recently named to Deloitte LLP's Canada's Best Management Companies list for the 18th consecutive year. The company, which also operates in the Philippines through its office in Taguig, was named on the list due to emphasis on three areas - employee management, client collaboration initiatives, and employee development. Bill Gosling Outsourcing CEO David Rae said the company does its best for its client and employees and certainly does not set out to win awards. Rae admits though that the company is thrilled to win the award again. In business for 60 years, Bill Gosling has grown to become a leader in contact centre services across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Philippines.

More than 2,000 BPO jobs available at DOLE portal
The Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) said a total of 2,086 job opportunities in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry are available on the internet-based job and applicant matching portal of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Most of the BPO jobs are for call center agents, the BLE said. The BPO industry remains the top industry with employment opportunities on PhilJobNet, the government job portal maintained by the BLE. Other posted employment opportunities are: customer service assistants with 776 vacancies; service crews with 744; staff nurses, 674; production machine operators, 602; promo salespersons, 595; real estate salesmen, 570; manufacturing laborers, 515; sales clerks, 513; and sales associate professionals, 505.

BPO revenue can't trim trade deficit - BPI
The lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, Emilio Neri Jr., said the country's trade deficit could grow larger than total remittances income and not even the BPO industry can bridge the gap. Neri said the USD20bn in gross revenue from the BPO industry would translate to only USD5-10bn in net revenue. If not managed well, the deficit-to-GDP ratio could be brought back to 1997 level, the year of the financial crisis. Neri said the peso should be allowed to depreciate to avoid the dwindling reserves. BPO revenues and remittances from Filipinos working abroad have been considered as the main drivers of the country's economic growth.

Ayala raising P7bn to fund projects, including BPO offices
Philippine property and mall developer Ayala Land Inc (ALI) is raising P7bn through the issuance of a 10-year fixed rate bond. In a statement, ALI said proceeds of the transaction will be used to partially fund some of ALI's projects, including Ayala's Intercon project, which will feature business process outsourcing offices. The capital expenditure for the Intercon development is P17.5bn. ALI tapped China Bank Capital Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead underwriters for the P7-billion bond offer. The bond offer is part of ALI's P50bn debt program registered under the shelf registration of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

IBM bags USD1.6bn Lloyds outsourcing contract
US IT services provider IBM will manage many of Lloyds Banking Group's computer systems in a seven-year outsourcing contract worth GBP1.3bn (USD1.6bn), the Financial Times reported. The deal also calls for the shift of more than 1,900 jobs from Lloyds Banking Group to IBM. Reports said the deal could cut almost GBP760m of costs for Lloyds, although the deal is opposed by some senior union officials. The IBM deal is the brainchild of Jacqueline Guichelaar, who organised a similar project at Deutsche Bank with Hewlett-Packard before joining Lloyds last year as chief information officer for infrastructure technology services.

Canadian firms urged to come to the Philippines
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John T. Holmes said he wants to tell Canadian investors to come to the Philippines and explore various opportunities. In an interview with reporters, Holmes said he wants the relationship between the two countries to further firm up, considering the growing number of Filipinos who are now living in Canada. Holmes said Canadian companies are investing in the business process outsourcing industry in the Philippines and more are investing in other areas. He said there are good opportunities and money to be made in the Philippines. Holmes added that Canada wants to continue what it has done successfully so far in terms of doing business with the Philippines.

Stefanini names Spencer Gracias CEO for North America, APAC
Brazilian outsourcing firm Stefanini has announced the appointment of Spencer Gracias as its new CEO for the North America and Asia Pacific regions. Based in Stefanini's North American headquarters in Michigan, Gracias is tasked to implement a strategic plan that reinforces the company's goal of acting as a digital transformation agent for clients. He previously worked with and helped growth through technology at Whirlpool, CPFL, Globo TV, General Motors, ABN Amro Bank, Santander Bank and more. Stefanini earlier announced investments in North America and Asia Pacific with the goal of growing 25% in these regions by 2020. Stefanini has presence in a number of countries, including the Philippines.

Teleperformance creates new division
French outsourcing firm Teleperformance has announced the creation of a new division called Specialized Services. The new division will include online interpretation services, face-to-face visa processing, analytics, and debt collection. Teleperformance said the new division will continue to retain the company's LanguageLine brand. The French call center operator acquired LanguageLine in the 2016, making it the language industry's biggest acquisition to date. LanguageLine’s network of 8,000 interpreters are concentrated in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean; 3,500 are based in the US, 2,200 in Mexico, and contingents of several hundreds in Canada, Peru, Honduras, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. The company also has 600 interpreters in the UK.

Local BPO firms may seek lobbyist to counter Trump
A group of outsourcing companies in the Philippines is looking at hiring a research group or lobbyist to monitor the threat of rising American protectionism. This was revealed by IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines Chairman Ike Amigo. He said outsourcing companies in the Philippines, whose clients are mainly US companies, are keeping an eye on developments in the Trump administration. Outsourcing companies in the Philippines have expressed worries that Donald Trump's plan to bring jobs back to America will extend into services. An economist at Credit Suisse Group AG in Singapore was quoted as saying that Trump is one of the biggest risks facing outsourcing revenue.

Amazon Web Services enters call center industry
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is entering the call center industry by introducing cloud-based tools. The suite of tools developed by AWS will help enterprises manage their call centers, according to reports. The tools are based on the technology AWS developed for its own retail call centers. The report said the suite of tools will allow customers to build their own customer-service programs using bots and voice control, with the ability to learn and adapt to specific industries. Brendan Read, Frost & Sullivan’s digital transformation senior industry analyst, said Amazon is selling AWS services to the contact center providers for their entire portfolio to ride on top of.

BOI finalizes blueprint that ends BPO investment perks
The Board of Investments (BOI) is now finalizing the general polices and specific guidelines of the new three-year investment blueprint that includes a provision that ends the perks to business process outsourcing (BPO) firms. The BOI blueprint stated that the perks granted to BPO investments in Metro Manila will be lifted by 2019 as the government seeks to funnel fresh capital to the provinces. The 2017 Investment Priority Plan (IPP) includes more SME-oriented, innovation-drive, health and environment conscious activities. According to the memorandum, there is a deliberate policy to shift investments to the countryside.

Cayetano vows continuous support for Duterte admin

Plans to work with new DFA Sec. in pushing for genuine reforms

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday (March 14) vowed to continue supporting the Duterte administration through whatever means the President deems fit, be it in the Senate or in the Cabinet. 

This is in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement that the senator may be needed in the Senate than in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Duterte earlier said he would offer the DFA post to Cayetano after the one-year appointment ban gets lifted.

But whether or not he gets offered a cabinet position, Cayetano pledged his assistance to the administration and said he would continue to help the President, particularly in pushing for his legislative agenda in Congress.

“Nothing has changed… Dedicated pa rin akong maging successful ang administration na ito. Dedicated akong gawin ang trabaho ko kung saan man ako,” Cayetano said.

“The preference of the President during the campaign was for me to join him in the Cabinet. Now the need changes. May mga legislation, may mga pinangako kami na gusto naming mapasa sa Senado,” he added.

The senator also expressed his full support for newly appointed acting DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said he would closely coordinate with the new DFA leadership as they both push for more genuine reforms aimed at making Filipino’s lives better.

“I was supportive before of Secretary [Perfecto] Yasay, and now, [I support] acting Secretary Manalo… Si Sec. Manalo ay professional. He’s been there for the longest time. Hindi pulitiko ‘yan na mangangako nang hindi kaya. He knows the ins and outs of the problem,” he said.

Among the initiatives, which the senator plans to endorse is the provision of better protection and care for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). He has been pushing for the creation of one-stop shops that will cater to migrant workers’ needs, as well as additional funds to provide legal assistance to Filipinos facing charges abroad.

“As I said, ang success ng ating Pangulo ay success ng ating bansa. So I want the President to be successful,” Cayetano said. “Ang aking misyon talaga ay matupad ang pangako ng ating Pangulo.”

LOPEZ, MALMSTROM AGREE TO STRENGTHEN ASEAN-EU TIES. ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Chair and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Lopez recently (March 10) met with European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom during the 23rd AEM Retreat Meeting and Related Meetings in Pasay for the 15th ASEAN-EU consultation, pushing trade relations between the two regional blocs. Trade Commissioner Malmstrom agreed with Secretary Lopez in developing e-commerce as one of the top agendas of the PH chairmanship of ASEAN this year. This advocacy would provide micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) easier access into the global value chain, delivering wider market access for the sector. Secretary Lopez highlighted the thrust of the Philippines as the ASEAN chair for this year on “inclusive, innovation-led growth” not only for the country but for all ASEAN Member States. “With 40 years of auspicious ASEAN-EU relations, we continue to explore new areas of cooperation to increase trade and investment between the two regions,” the trade chief said.

No Exceptions to Holiness

Daily Devotional for Wednesday, March 15th, 2017

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Exodus 4:24

Moses had just received one of the greatest commissions in history. He was to be God’s instrument to deliver the nation of Israel and to guide it to the Promised Land. He was to lead them to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:6). Yet Moses had not obeyed all of God’s commands himself, for he had never had his son circumcised. This was a long-standing command from God that Moses had ignored. God’s response was to prepare to kill Moses. Here was one of history’s greatest men about to be put to death before ever performing the task God had set before him. Moses could not expect to blatantly ignore a command of God and still be used mightily in His divine work. Had not Moses quickly responded in obedience, he would surely have lost his life.

Moses learned that God makes no exceptions for holiness. When God sets forth a requirement of His people, He most certainly demands it of the leaders. God wanted to make Moses’ life a highway of holiness through which He could bring redemption to millions of people. God had to make some significant adjustments in the life of Moses before He would use him to lead His people.

Are you trying to serve God and yet ignore something He has told you to do? Are you living your life as if God does not notice your disobedience? Do you apply God’s standards to yourself as rigorously as you apply them to others    Henry and Richard Blackaby

Schedule: Centrio Mall Ayala Cagayan De Oro Movie Guide
Cinema 1: Logan: The Wolverine
2: Kong: Skull Island
3: Pwera Usog
4: Before I Fall / Guardians

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Abreeza Ayala Mall Davao City Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Logan: The Wolverine
2: Before I Fall / Guardians
3: Kong: Skull Island
4: Pwera Usog

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Ayala Center Cebu City Movie Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: Pwera Usog
3: Guardians / Kong: Skull Island
4: Logan: The Wolverine
5: Before I Fall

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Ayala Malls Legazpi, Albay Movie Guide
Cinema 1: Logan: The Wolverine
2: Before I Fall / Guardians
3: Pwera Usog
4: Kong: Skull Island

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Harbor Point Subic Bay Movie Guide
Cinema 1: Pwera Usog
2: Logan: The Wolverine
3: Before I Fall / Guardians
4: Kong: Skull Island

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Solenad Movie Guide Schedule: Novaliches, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Cinema 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: Logan: The Wolverine
3: Before I Fall/ Guardians
4: Pwera Usog


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Marquee Mall Angeles City Movie Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: Logan: The Wolverine
3: Before I Fall / Guardians
4: Pwera Usog

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The 30th Movie Guide New in Pasig City
Cinema 1: Before I Fall
2: A Kind of Murder/Guardians
3: Kong: Skull Island
4: Logan: The Wolverine

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UP Town Center Movie Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: Pwera Usog/Before I Fall
3: Logan: The Wolverine
4: Kong: Skull Island (3D/4DX)

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Southpark Mall Movie Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Pwera Usog
Cinema 2: Kong: Skull Island
Cinema 3: Soon to Open
Cinema 4: Soon to Open

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Trinoma Mall Movie Guide Schedule
Cinema 1: Pwera Usog
2: A Kind of Murder
3: Guardians
4: Kong: Skull Island
5: Before I Fall
6: Logan: The Wolverine
7: Kong: Skull Island

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Bonifacio High Street Movie Guide
Cinema 1: Logan: The Wolverine
2: Kong: Skull Island
3: Before I Fall/Guardians
4: Kong: Skull Island

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Movie Guide Ayala Mall Fairview Terraces
Cinema 1: Before I Fall
2: A Kind of Murder/Guardians
3: A Dog's Purpose
4: Kong: Skull Island
5: Pwera Usog
6: Logan: The Wolverine

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Ayala Mall Greenbelt 3 Movie Guide
Movie Cinema 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: Logan: The Wolverine
3: A Kind of Murder/Guardians
4: Before I Fall
5: Kong: Skull Island

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Ayala Mall Greenbelt 1 Movie Schedule
Cinema 1: Pwera Usog
2: Kong: Skull Island

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Market Market Movie Schedule Ayala Mall
Movie Theatre 1: Kong: Skull Island
2: A Kind of Murder/Guardians
3: Before I Fall
4: Logan The Wolverine
5: Guardians
6: Pwera Usog
7: My Ex and Whys

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Movie Guide Alabang Town Center
Movie Schedule
Cinema 1 - Kong: Skull Island
2 - Logan The Wolverine
3 - Pwera Usog
4 - A Kind of Murder/Guardians
5 - Before I Fall

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Movie Guide:
Cinema 1: Pwera Usog
2: Guardians
3: Logan The Wolverine
4: Sinag Maynila
Cinema 5: Kong: Skull Island
Theatre 6: Kong: Skull Island
7: Before I Fall


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MRI brain scans may help prevent adolescent substance abuse
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2 (PNA/Xinhua) -- U.S. researchers believe magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, increasingly is showing promise as a technique to predict adolescent vulnerability to substance abuse disorders.

As underage alcohol and drug use is increasingly being recognized as a public health and social problem in the United States, with long-term consequences that include poorer academic performance, neurocognitive deficits and psychosocial problems, such study may help identify youth at the highest risk for these problems and allow prevention approaches.

Youth who begin drinking before age 15 have four to six times the rate of lifetime alcohol dependence than those who do not drink by age 21, researchers noted in an analysis published in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences.

"Structural and neural alterations in the brain from drug and alcohol abuse have now been well established," said Anita Cservenka, an assistant professor in the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University (OSU), and co-author of the study. "It's also becoming clear that some of these alterations can exist before any substance abuse, and often are found in youth who have a family history of alcohol and drug use disorders. These familial risk factors can play a role in future substance abuse, along with environmental risk factors such as peer influence, personality and psychosocial interactions."

Neuroimaging studies show significant overlap in brain scans between those with a family history of alcohol- and substance-use disorders and youth who begin using substances during adolescence.

A factor contributing to a peak in substance use during adolescence, researchers say, may be emotion and reward systems that develop before cognitive control systems, leaving youth more vulnerable to risk-taking behaviors. Almost two thirds of 18-year-olds, for instance, support lifetime alcohol use; 45 percent marijuana use; and 31 percent smoking cigarettes.

"We're just beginning to understand the risk factors for substance abuse and the consequences of adolescent substance use with these types of large, long-term studies," Cservenka was quoted as saying in a news release from OSU. "Ultimately such information should help inform us about who might be at most risk and what brain areas are most vulnerable, so we can target them and work to prevent the problems."

If an MRI showed weakness in working memory, for instance, computer games or behavioral tasks might help strengthen the area of the brain that is deficient. Similar approaches might also be used to help address issues such as stress and depression, she said. (PNA/Xinhua)

Listen Live to Y101 FM Cebu Radio Philippines

ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEET EUROPEAN TRADE COMMISSIONER. ASEAN’s top trade officials met European Union’s Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom (6th from L) to convene the 15th ASEAN Economic Ministers-EU Trade Commissioner Consultations today (10 March) in Pasay City. The Philippine-hosted meeting is led by the Department of Trade and Industry, through Secretary Ramon Lopez, who served as chair for the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting Retreat and Related Meetings. Both sides exchanged views on global and regional economic development, as well as discussed the ASEAN-EU Trade and Investment Work Programme 2017-2018. In the photo are (from L to R) Lao PDR: Director-General Laohoua Cheuching; Malaysia: Minister Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed; Myanmar: Minister Maung Maung Win; Thailand: Minister Apirandi Tantraporn; Viet Nam: Minister Tran Tuan Anh; EU: Comm. Malstrom; PH: Sec. Lopez; PH: Philippine-lead Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo; Singapore: Lim Hang Kiang; Brunei Darussalam: Permanent Secretary Jock Hoi Lim; Cambodia: Minister Pan Sorasak; Indonesia: Minister Enggartiasto Lukita; and ASEAN Secretariat: Secretary-General Le Luong Minh.

Testing Reveals Your Heart

"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." Deuteronomy 8:2-3

God allows us to suffer difficulties and hardships for a purpose. God led the children of Israel to wander through the wilderness for forty years in order to humble them and test them. When they refused to obey Him and enter the Promised Land, the Israelites revealed that they did not really know Him. If they had, they would have had more faith. God spent the next forty years testing the hearts of His people to see if they were prepared for His next assignment.

Testing reveals what is in your heart and produces a robust faith (James 1:3, 12). God allowed His people to hunger so they could experience His provision and develop a deeper level of trust in Him. As the people walked with God they came to understand that their lives depended upon His Word. They learned that God’s Word was the most important thing they had. After depending on God for forty years while living in the desert, the people listened when God spoke, and they believed. When they finally entered the Promised Land and waged war against their enemies, the Israelites knew that God’s word meant life and death. They were prepared to listen to Him, and as a result He led them to an astounding victory.

Is God presently testing you in some area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward God because of where He has led you? Or have you come to trust Him more as a result of what you have gone through. - Henry and Richard Blackaby

Baba Yap Live Radio Program

Silliman University faces anew land ownership claims from clan

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- Silliman University in Dumaguete City is again confronted with the issue of land ownership by a group of individuals who call themselves members of the “Piñero Clan”.

More or less 50 of the “Piñero clan” members braved the rains in bringing posters which read: “this is our land” and “Piñero clan families” in front of the Silliman University gate facing the sea along the boulevard on Wednesday.

The clan members and families are headed by one Ralph Piñero, who claims to be from Davao.

In an interview, Piñero disclosed some of the members of the Piñero clan came as far as Antique, Ilo-ilo, Davao, and from Dumaguete, Bais City, San Jose, Amlan and nearby municipalities.

He claimed to have papers to prove more than 10 hectares of land inside the Silliman University campus are owned by their great grandfather named Pedro Piñero and they are ready to present such documents if they are allowed to talk to the Silliman administration.

A few years back, the group calling themselves the “Exodus” also made the same claims only to be told that the university was standing firm in claiming ownership of the lot with titles, deeds and claims unless otherwise assailed by pronouncements of competent courts.

Unconfirmed reports have it, movements from so-called claimants are expected within the year, especially during the founder’s day celebration.

Silliman authorities could not be immediately reached for comments while the so-called Piñero clan members were holding a peaceful picket near the Portal West area insisting to talk to the administration. (PNA)
LAP/JFP/JUANCHO GALLARDE

19 unidentified armed men set fire to heavy equipment in Southern Palawan
By Grace Ann N. Belostrino

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- Three heavy equipment units allegedly belonging to a palm oil company were torched early Wednesday morning by an estimated 19 unidentified fully-armed men in Bataraza town at the southernmost tip of mainland Palawan.

Initial reports reaching the Western Command (WESCOM) claimed the incident took place around 1 a.m. at Sitio Linao, Barangay Culandanum, Bataraza.

Burned were a bulldozer, a backhoe, and a dump truck â€" all reportedly belonging to San Andres Palm Oil Co. (SAPOC).

As of this writing, Capt. Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson of the WESCOM, said no one has claimed responsibility over the incident, and investigation, as well as a follow up operation, are still being conducted in the Culandanum area.

The Bataraza Municipal Police Station (MPS), on the other hand, said it is likely that the perpetrators are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) communist-terrorist group operating in the southern part of Palawan. (PNA)
LAP/CARF/GANB/EBP

Korea to undertake study on proposed international port in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Korean government will proceed with the conduct of a feasibility study next month for the development of a transhipment hub in nearby Babatngon town in Leyte province.

Oliver Cam, Regional Development Council (RDC) private sector representative for business, said officials of the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs are interested in pursuing the study after inspecting the Babatngon port last week.

“Koreans want to transform the Babatngon wharf into an internationally competitive port. The plan is to develop an economic zone attached to the port,” said Cam, one of the RDC members who accompanied the visiting Korean transport ministry officials.

Babatngon town is located in the northern part of Leyte Island and along the shore of Carigara Bay. It is just 22 km. north of this city.

The town’s port has been eyed by experts as a regional hub considering the difficulty for big ships to reach the regional capital. Large Tacloban-bound vessels have to traverse the narrow San Juanico Strait that separates Samar and Leyte Islands to reach the regional center.

The feasibility study will run from April to October this year. The costs, estimated between PHP2 million and PHP15 million, will be covered by grants from the Korean government, according to Cam.

The development will be carried out through public-private partnership and a joint venture between Korean and Filipino investors.

The recent visit of Korean officials is in response to the RDC endorsement of the proposal for the conduct of the feasibility study and master plan of the Babatngon port as Eastern Visayas' regional transhipment hub.

The proposal, together with the RDC resolution, will be forwarded to the Department of Transportation as supporting documents for the Philippine government's request for Korean government support for the conduct of the feasibility study and master plan of Babatngon Port.

“They are willing to conduct the study even without a formal letter request from the Philippine government,” Cam added.

The proposed port development will also be a part of the Tacloban North Agro-Industrial Economic Zone.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Visayas regional director Edgar Tabacon said that as part of long-term development, the government will build a bridge that will connect Babatngon town and Sta. Rita, Samar.

The proposed bridge will be an alternative to the San Juanico Bridge, the only structure that links Leyte and the Samar Islands.

“In anticipation of heavy traffic in the future, we will also widen the Tacloban-Babatngon Road from two lanes to six lanes,” Tabacon said.

The proposed port development is expected to bring more economic opportunities to the northern part of the city, the relocation sites for more than 14,000 families displaced by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. (PNA)

BPO, gov't. center to bring more jobs, progress in Nueva Ecija
By Marilyn Espiritu-Galang

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 9 (PNA)-- The new PHP1.5-billion government center and business hub in this capital city of Nueva Ecija is not only a template of President Rodrigo Duterte's advocacy of easing the process of doing business with the government but of bringing jobs and progress in one package.

This is how the the local and foreign officials described the complex where the newly-inaugurated Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) building 1 is now housed, along with other offices of some national government offices.

City Mayor Rianne Cuevas said the new complex is not only the face of progress in the city and the province but is also the biggest example of what development can do to transform communities into modern cities.

The Palayan City Business Hub (PCBH), which is a partnership between the city government of Palayan and the provincial government of Nueva Ecija, is designed to bring together under one roof the offices of several national government agencies that are often sought by people for services like passporting and license issuance.

"The projects are just some of the signs of the city's readiness to take on the challenges of leading the way for Nueva Ecija's path to progress," Cuevas said.

The lady mayor also said Malaysian Trade Minister Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, who graced Wednesday the inauguration of the BPO building 1, was also impressed with the new complex.

She said Mohamed noted the convenience of conducting business in one place is a big boost to the place's progress.

"Mohamed said such programs to make doing business easy is also being implemented in Malaysia," she added.

Mohamed, together with Tansri Azmil, chair of Alloy MTD, Malaysian Ambassador DatoRazlan Abdul Rashid, Cuevas, BCDA chair Vince Dizon and other top officials of the Malaysian firm led the inauguration of the first ever BPO here and in the province.

Malaysian conglomerate Alloy A MTD financed the BPO project.

Meanwhile, the PHP1.5-billion complex, composed of four buildings, will also feature the People's Center Building (PCB)  which will house several government office.

Among the national government agencies with an agreement with the city government to start operations in the PCB, either already in the works or are being worked out, include the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), NBI, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Elections (Comelec), SSS, GSIS, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and PhilHealth.

The PCB offers more than just convenience to people who have transactions with government, according to city officials.

It has alloted airconditioned space for offices that would not require long lines for people waiting for passports, licenses and other documents.

Outside PCB, two more buildings are designed to house more BPO spaces with each building having 2,000 seats capacity and will feature commercial spaces on the ground floor that could be used for businesses that will cater to BPO workers.

A fourth building will be for other offices and retail establishments with three floors devoted to a 75-room hotel for Palayan City.

This building, according to the design, will have high speed internet connectivity and dedicated fiber optic lines, uninterruptible power supply and centralized airconditioning system.

The BPO buildings are currently being registered as Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-certified.

The first BPO office with 230 seats will start operations on March 15.

Cuevas thus urged all Novo Ecijanos working for BPO offices elsewhere to just come home "and take part in the development of not only Palayan but the entire province.

"There's no place like home," she said.

She also extended invitation to BPO companies to locate in Palayan and tap the talent that abounds in the province of Nueva Ecija in terms of skilled labor and industrious workers. (PNA)

Palawan 47% rabies-free as it kicks off ‘Rabies Awareness Month’
By Celeste Anna R. Formoso

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Palawan Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet) made known Thursday morning that 47 percent of the whole province is now rabies-free as it led the commemoration of March as “Rabies Awareness Month.”

Dr. Darius Mangcucang of ProVet said the percentage rate represents 11 island towns that have already been declared rabies-free in Palawan for having regular eradication program activities, consistent vaccination schedule of pets and other domesticated animals, and for not having any record of bites for three years.

These island towns are Coron, Culion, Linapacan, Busuanga, Balabac, Agutaya, Cuyo, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo, Araceli, and Kalayaan.

Although the accomplishment is still far from the target to declare Palawan as rabies-free on or before 2020, Mangcucang claimed the province remains to be the only area in the Philippines to have declared many municipalities as “rabies-free zones.”

“All our island municipalities are now rabies-free,” said Eileen Macabihag of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), in support of ProVet.

However, she added that none of the towns on the mainland can be declared the same as they are linked to Puerto Princesa, which is considered to be highly contaminated.

“This link (to Puerto Princesa) renders it hard for us to declare any town on the mainland rabies-free because it is the entry and exit points, and there might be spill over; it is very difficult,” Macabihag said, supplying in addition that before any area is declared rabies-free zone, there should be no death by human or animal.

The town of Narra in southern Palawan is recorded to have had death cases due to rabies, according to Macabihag. The last death due to rabies was recorded in 2011.

“On the mainland, Narra is the only town that has registered mortality due to rabies,” she stated.

Mangcucang added too, that currently, Narra is under their monitoring for the presence of the viral disease.

“We suspect that there is rabies in Narra because of animal movement from Puerto Princesa. This is something we cannot control â€" animals traveling and they carry the viral disease,” he said.

Mangcucang said the declaration of a rabies-free Palawan depends a lot on the help of volunteers from local government units (LGUs) to manage vaccinations, and responsible pet ownership.

“We can make the province rabies-free with the support of the LGUs since ProVet has limited employees to implement the task,” he said, adding that this is despite the training they are giving to 250 volunteer barangay veterinary aides (BVA) that are helping in their mass vaccination activities.

Macabihag reminded that each municipality is mandated to have rabies eradication plans that have activities that should be enforced for a rabies-free Palawan in 2020.

In Palawan, the Provet estimated that there are about 68,000 pet dogs, and many first class municipalities are susceptible to the viral disease.

Narra and Sofronio Espanola town in southern Palawan are the municipalities that have recently registered the highest number of bites although the ProVet cannot give any specific detail as to how many there have been in their record.

Being a tourist-frequented province in the country, it is important that Palawan is rabies-free, according to ProVet.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015, “rabies remains an under-reported and neglected zoonosis with a case fatality rate of almost 100 percent in humans and animals.”

It furthered that “Dogâ€"mediated human rabies causes tens of thousands of human deaths annually despite being 100 percent preventable. Over 95 percent of human cases are caused by the bite of a rabiesâ€"infected dog and disproportionately affect rural communities, particularly children, from economically disadvantaged areas of Africa and Asia, where awareness of the disease and access to appropriate postâ€"exposure prophylaxis is limited or nonâ€"existent.”

ProVet is commemorating March as Rabies Awareness Month under the theme "Rabies ay Iwasan, Alaga ay Pa-bakunahan." (PNA)

South Cotabato mulls TWG to address crop losses from pest attacks, calamities

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is set to create a technical working group (TWG) that will look into the series of pest infestations and impact of calamities in the area since last year that already left around PHP657.5 million in crop losses.

Justina Navarrete, chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), said Thursday her office is currently working on the establishment of the TWG, which will be composed of various provincial, city and municipal government offices.

She said the technical body will mainly study the nature and occurrence of the pest attacks, and craft preventive and response strategies.

In terms of calamities, she said the TWG will be tasked to identify measures that will help mitigate their impact and reduce potential losses to agricultural crops.

“This is also aimed to ensure synchronized interventions whenever problems on infestations and calamities would occur,” Navarrete said.

The official said the proposed body will be chaired by the OPAG, while the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will act as vice chair.

Its members are the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council, and agriculture offices of the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

Navarrete said the local agriculture offices pushed for the creation of the TWG to properly address the increasing losses to various agricultural crops and fishery products due to pest infestations and calamities.

Citing their assessment, she said the damages to palay and corn crops already reached around PHP631.87 million since last year.

The bulk of the damage, around PHP390.9 million, was caused by the onslaught of the El Nino Phenomenon in the first and second quarters of 2016.

Some PHP44.6 million worth of crops were damaged due to “lodging or the flattening of fields” as a result of twisters and related occurrences, PHP3.3 million to flashfloods, and PHP934,300 to strong winds.

Navarrete said the pest infestations left around PHP191.56 million in damages, mainly to rice and corn crops.

She said the rodent infestation alone in the second half of 2016 caused around PHP165 million in damages.

Around PHP11.768 million worth of crops were destroyed due to rice stem borer infestation, PHP9.19 million to locusts, PHP4 million to bacterial leaf blight, and PHP1.5 million to black bug.

The damage to high value commercial crops was listed at PHP21.95 million, with PHP3.4 million due to strong and heavy winds, PHP16.5 million to slug caterpillar and PHP1.99 million to chrysomellid beetle attacks.(PNA)
FPV/BS/AVE/HST

Cebu police laud freezing of self-confessed drug lord’s assets

CEBU CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), headed by Senior Supt. Eric Noble, has lauded the decision of the Court of Appeals freezing the multi-million assets of surrendered suspected drug lord Franz Sabalones.

Noble said the freezing of Sabalones' assets will have an impact on the drug operations of his group.

Noble said Sabalones’ group remained active even if he is now in jail.

Sabalones, a native of San Fernando town in southern Cebu, is the brother of the town’s vice mayor, Fralz Sabalones.

He has been under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame after he surrendered to PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on August 7, 2016.

The CA ordered the freezing of Sabalones’ assets, which include PHP76 million in his three bank accounts, six lots, a beach resort in San Fernando, six Sports Utility Vehicles and a 6.4-hectare poultry farm.

Noble said it will be difficult for the group of Sabalones to operate because they can no longer access the funds to fuel their operations.

He said this will also scare his people because they are now confused on where they’ll hide the money they get from illegal drugs. (PNA)

Army, police undergo 5-day in-house combat life saving training in Aurora

BALER, Aurora, March 9 (PNA) -- To provide emergency life saving techniques and measures, selected soldiers and police are now undergoing in-house combat life saving training at the 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion, Philippine Army based in Barangay Calabuanan, in this town.

Lt. Col. Louie DS. Villanueva, Tatag Battalion Commander, said the training aims to teach police and military members how to treat injuries in the combat zone and even in their homes.

"During the combat missions, the availability of medical care may be limited but with the proper knowledge and training, lives can be saved," Villanueva said.

Through this training, he said "they can clearly and quickly identify and channel up all medical emergencies and quick life-saving skills that could help stabilize patients until they reach more advanced care."

"A properly trained combat lifesaver is capable of stabilizing many types of injuries and can slow the deterioration of a wounded personnel's condition until medical personnel arrive," he said.

Through the training program, the participants will learn how to use tourniquet, maintain airways, perform needle chest decompression, and utilize combat gauze appropriately.

Under the basic life support are trainings on respiratory arrest, causes, rescue breathing, ways to ventilate the lungs, technique of rescue breathing, table comparison, cardiac arrest, CPR techniques, bandaging in open phase, cravat phase, emergency rescue transfer and field training exercises.

"Through the training, the participants will help ensure every method being taught will be utilized to save the lives and bring the casualties back to their respective families," he added.

The five-day training will end on Friday. (PNA)

Ormoc to host ‘Balikatan’ military exercise in April

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, March 9 (PNA) â€" The “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercise between the Philippines and the United States will push through in this city next month, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said.

Gomez said he is amenable to hosting the military exercise as it will help improve the peace and order situation in the city.

Initial talks with a group of American and Filipino soldiers were done in October and finalized in December last year.

Gomez said the Balikatan military exercise will have components such as a medical mission, book donation, and construction and repair of school buildings and health centers.

The military exercises are designed to serve as a venue for Philippine and US military forces to exchange combat expertise.

The plan to hold military exercises here came on the heels of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s statement last year asking US military forces to leave Mindanao in the wake of increased security threats as a result of the heightened offensive against the Abu Sayyaf.

Capt. Louis Kalmar, humanitarian and civic assistance planner of the Philippine-US Balikatan program, recently visited the city to discuss with the local government officials the holding of the military exercise.

US soldiers arrived for the “Balikatan” exercise in 2000. It was the first since the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement signed by the Philippines and the United States of America.

In 2014, the two countries signed a deal for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and it was declared constitutional by the Supreme Court in 2015.

“Balikatan” 2017 in Ormoc City is the first in Eastern Visayas region.(PNA)
FPV/BS/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR

DOST willing to clean algae bloom in Boracay

KALIBO, Aklan, March 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will help the local government unit of Malay, Aklan clean the excessive algae that bloomed along the shores of world-renowned Boracay island.

Jairus Lachica, DOST-Aklan chief, told the PNA Wednesday night that they had been coordinating with the local government to clean up the algae since last month.

This resort island was put in the spotlight after several tourists complained of excessive algae bloom in its white sand beaches.

Lachica said that one of their experts, Dr. Melinda Palencia, a professor and an environmentalist from Adamson University, had presented her program to the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay town.

"Dr. Palencia invented the vigormin, a white powdery substance which she also calls eco-friendly septic system (ECO-SEP), a technology for domestic wastewater treatment," Lachica said.

The ECO-SEP is a movable and deployable septic tank system for the settling, aerobic digestion and filtration of sewage/septic water.

Lachica said that ECO-SEP was first introduced in Boracay in 2015. After its successful introduction, it became widely used in different tourists destinations in the country such as Palawan and Bohol.

"I am not sure if the local government has since then used again the ECO-SEP technology in Boracay. I will ask yet Dr. Palencia on this," he said.

As part of the process, the DOST is seeking the help of the local government of Malay for the establishment of a satellite office in Boracay so they could function well there.(PNA)
FPV/BS/AJP/JNAGUIRRE/KVB

12 dopesters fall in Bulacan sting operations

CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan, March 9 (PNA) --Joint operatives of the San Jose Del Monte City police station and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office III (PDEA-3) on Thursday netted at least 12 persons engaged in illegal drugs activities during simultaneous buy bust operations and implementation of search warrant in different barangays (villages) in this city.

Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., said that the series of operations was in line with the “One Time Big Time” operation plan of the Philippine National Police (PNP) against criminals and lawless elements. 

Caramat identified the arrested suspects as Reden Cruz, Justine Talahuron, Albert Del Rosario, Manuel Guirero, Wefredo Aquino, Antonio Memoracion, Ronald Valmonte, John Mark Solomon, Jennifer Soriano, Fenando Udal, Liza Soliman and Venonica Balvis.

Confiscated evidence were 49 sachets of illegal substance and two firearms.

Supt. Fitz A. Macariola, acting city police chief, said that the success of the operation is the result of good cooperation between city and village officials.

“This is part of our comprehensive implementation of security measures in the maintenance of peace and order wherein the crackdown against the proliferation of Illegal drugs and loose firearms are among our focus,” Macariola said.

He said that the arrested suspects were detained at San Jose del Monte City Police Station and will be charged for criminal complaint for Violation of Art II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) and Violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition). (PNA)

Local gov't to honor outstanding Cauayenos during 16th cityhood anniversary

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, March 9 (PNA) -- The city government here will be honoring outstanding Cauayenos who excelled in their respective fields of expertise during the 16th cityhood anniversary which will be held on March 30.

Sylvia Domingo, City Cooperative Officer of Cauayan City, said the city government will give honor to Cauayenos who have brought prestige and honor in various fields of expertise.

Among the recognitions for outstanding Cauayenos are 1st B.G Dy Public Service Award, 1st B.G Dy Proud Cauayeno Award, City Model Employees, Top 10 Taxpayers award, 5 outstanding barangays and 5 outstanding punong barangays, 5 outstanding barangay kagawad, 5 outstanding barangay secretaries, 5 outstanding barangay treasurers and 5 barangay tanods and Cauayeño centenarians.

Domingo said the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Office started to receive nominees to the different categories. Awardees will receive a trophy and cash award from the city government. (PNA)
LAP/SCD/MGEDALE

House natural resources committee backs Zambo’s Pasonanca Watershed bill

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The House Committee on Natural Resources has approved and recommended the passage of House Bill (HB) 124 otherwise known as the Pasonanca Watershed bill authored by First District Rep. Celso Lobregat.

Lobregat on Thursday said the committee, headed by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, recognized the significance and vitality of HB 124, which contributes to the preservation of one of the seven remaining watersheds in the country today.

Lobregat said the concurrence of the committee to HB 124 is very timely because the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD), which manages the watershed, is in the process of developing its facilities to protect and preserve the vegetated watershed of this city.

“We all very well know that the preservation of our watershed is very important, that’s why I am seeking the immediate approval of this (bill) in the House all the way to the Senate to ensure the protection of our natural resources,” Lobregat said.

Lobregat filed HB 124 last January 18 seeking the declaration of the Pasonanca Watershed Forest Reserve as a protected area under the category of natural park.

Lobregat said the measure was necessary to preserve this city’s watershed cover in order to protect the water source not only for the present generation but for the future residents of the city.

The bill also expanded the coverage of protection to include the periphery of the watershed for better management of its land area and providing additional buffer to this city’s water cover.

Lobregat expressed optimism that HB 124 will get equal support from his colleagues and also the Senate “so it can finally be enacted into a law.” (PNA)

DILG extends livelihood aid to 7 ex-rebels

ILOILO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- Seven former rebels from Iloilo province received PHP65,000 each in financial aid under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG provincial director Teodora Sumagaysay said Thursday the assistance would enable the former rebels to start livelihood projects, now that they are back in mainstream society.

Of the total amount, PHP50,000 will go to their livelihood project and PHP15, 000 will serve as immediate assistance.

The former rebels received their respective checks Thursday morning from Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion Commander Leo PeÅ,,a and Sumagaysay at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

Most of them were from the third district of Iloilo, specifically Janiuay. Four of them surrendered to the Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion, and the other three to the 82nd Infantry Battalion.

Sumagaysay mentioned that the former rebels have gained approval for their respective business plans before they were granted the assistance.

She said that they have different choices but most of their livelihood proposals were in agriculture.

Meanwhile, PeÅ,,a said the assistance is proof that the government is sincere in helping rebels who return to mainstream society.

He lauded the government program for the former rebels. most of whom are already living peacefully with their own homes and livelihood.

He assured that they are continuously holding dialogues with other rebels, especially those in Lambunao town, so they would surrender.

Last year, more than 20 former rebels received the same assistance from the DILG.

Meanwhile, the department has assured that the CLIP committee, composed of representatives of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and the provincial social welfare and development office, will monitor if the assistance is being utilized by the former rebels for its intended purpose.

The military and the police will continuously implement their advocacy campaigns to make sure that the former rebels do not return to the rebel movement, that they are protected, and that they are fully reintegrated into the society. (PNA)

North Cotabato approves drug testing ordinance for overspeeding drivers

COTABATO CITY, March 9 (PNA) â€"- Traffic enforcers can now flag down speeding vehicles along major highways in North Cotabato and subject their drivers to an instant drug test.

This, after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved on Thursday an ordinance authorizing highway traffic enforcers to subject the drivers caught for overspeeding to a drug test.

Board member Socrates Piñol authored the legislation, Provincial Ordinance No. 2017-003, which authorizes local government units, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board (LTFRB) personnel to flag down all kinds of speeding vehicles.

Piñol said most of the highway accidents that happened in North Cotabato were due to human errors and the drivers were suspected of using illegal drugs, especially passenger van drivers.

Piñol said his legislation was in support to Republic Act 10586, also known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

With the approval of the ordinance, he said North Cotabato becomes the only LGU to have passed a legislation on drug testing for drivers along the highway.

It was unanimously approved by all members of the provincial legislative body. (PNA)
LAP/BS/NYP/EOF

DOLE 2 targets 14,911 students for SPES this yearReginald B. Estioco

TUGUEGARAO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment- Regional Office No. 2 (DOLE 2) has allocated some PHP40.114 million to benefit 14,911 students under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) this year.

DOLE 2 Regional Director, Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. said his office has coordinated with various LGUs and some private establishments in Region 2 for pledges.

“As of today, we have already approved 13,927 pledges coming from the five provinces of Region 2,” Rodriguez said.

“This is a yearly undertaking of DOLE 2. I would like to express my gratitude to all the LGUs and private establishments that pledged to participate in this year’s implementation of SPES,” Rodriguez stated.

“Education is the best weapon to overcome poverty. With SPES, poor but deserving students are given the opportunity to finish their studies by providing them descent wage employment during their vacation,” the lawyer director added.

Among the provinces in the region, Isabela has the highest number of target beneficiaries of 5,816 students with an allocation of PHP15.65 million as DOLE 2’s 40% counterpart for their salaries.

In the province of Cagayan, target number of students to be employed is 4,585 with PHP12.33 million allocation for their salaries.

For the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, equal target of 1,528 students are set with an allocation of PHP4.11 million each for their salaries.

In the province of Batanes, target number of students to be employed under SPES is 1,454 with an allotment of PHP3.91 million for their salaries.

Meanwhile, pursuant to the Labor Code of the Philippines and the DOLE 2’s advocacy of social protection to all workers, an amount of at least PHP0.75 million is allocated for one year insurance coverage of all the SPES beneficiaries.

The SPES Act was initially amended by RA 9574 in 2009. It expanded the program’s coverage, to include the out-of-school youth or student drop-outs who have good track record, but were forced to stop schooling due to financial constraints, encouraging them to enroll in the next school term. Private establishments were also encouraged to take part in SPES.

The new SPES Law, RA 10917, which was enacted in July 2016, aims to expand the coverage of the program to include not only poor but deserving students and out-of-school youth, but also dependents of displaced workers, and would-be displaced workers due to business closures or work stoppages, or natural calamities, who intend to enroll in any secondary, tertiary or technical-vocational institutions.

Under the SPES, employers of the students, LGUs or private instutions, will pay 60% of their salaries while the remaining 40% will be paid by the DOLE.

However, under RA10917, the DOLE’s counterpart for the salary of students employed by low-income LGUs may be increased up to 75%. (PNA)
FPV/SCD/RBESTIOCO-STRINGER

Tuguegarao eyes PHP700-M loan for ‘Lawin' rehabMelvin Gascon

TUGUEGARAO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The city government here has plans to avail of a PHP700-million loan to fund various rehabilitation projects following the devastation wrought by super typhoon Lawin four months ago.

Mayor Bienvenido De Guzman II has asked the city council for authority to contract the loan with lending institutions despite criticisms that the proposed loan is unnecessary.

The mayor was asking for a renewal of the same authority granted in December last year, in favor of former city mayor Jefferson Soriano, but which was deemed revoked after he was dismissed from service by the Ombudsman last month.

The city council cited the “widescale (sic) destruction” in the city for the necessity to contract a loan.

“Whereas, on October 19, 2016, super typhoon Lawin, with the international name of Haima, one of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit Tuguegarao City, has caused widescale destruction in infrastructure and other facilities owned by the city government,” the December resolution read in part.

But the city government’s plan has been met with criticism, with residents expressing fears that typhoon rehabilitation was being used as a smokescreen for fund misuse, and the subsequent debt payments would drain the city coffers.

De Guzman II said city officials have yet to negotiate with borrowers to determine the amount of debt payments the city will to make out of its internal revenue allotment in the next three years.

“That authority has already been granted to then Mayor Soriano, but now, I need to request for a new authority to avoid any legal complications,” he said in a phone interview.

Documents revealed that the city government plans to borrow some PHP700 million as an “omnibus loan facility” from still-undetermined lending institutions, which the city will pay in 10 years.

Of this amount, PHP260 million will be allotted for the construction of a hospital, while PHP150 million will be used for the repair of the city’s Don Domingo Market.

Another PHP90 million is eyed for the construction of school buildings and classrooms; PHP50 million for the construction of an evacuation center; PHP40 million will be used for the construction of drainage canals; and another PHP40 million for the repair of the city hall.

Some PHP30 million will be spent for the repair of the city’s Central Public Market, while another PHP20 million for the repair of the old city hall.

The city will request for a moratorium to pay the loan in the next three years; the first payments will be made in 2020, according to documents. (PNA)

Bataan lines up activities for 75th Araw ng Kagitingan

PILAR, Bataan, March 9 (PNA) -- The provincial government has lined up various activities for the commemoration of the 75th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9.

The annual event remembers the heroism and sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers who fought the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II, particularly at the exact site of the battle in Mount Samat in Barangay Diwa here known in history as the "Fall of Bataan."

With this year's theme: "Parangal sa mga Beterano Tungo Bayan na nararapat sa Pilipino, Pilipino na nararapat sa Bayan," the celebration will kick off on April 2 with the 12th Padyakan sa Bataan, a mountain bike circuit race, at the Karagatan Bay View Peaks in Mariveles town.

On April 3, the "Galing Bataan" trade fair that showcases the province’s native products will be held at the Plaza Mayor in Balanga City.

At 6 p.m. on the same day, it will be the Bataan Cooperatives and Entrepreneurs' Night.

The next day, April 4, students from various public and private schools will compete on the Tagisan ng Diwang Bataan history quiz that will take place at the Vista Mall in Balanga City.

On April 5, it will be the Bataan Senior Citizens' Night at the Plaza Mayor in Balanga City.

On the following day, April 6, the Bataan Seafood Festival which showcases the province's wide array of seafood products will be held in Balanga City.

On April 8, it will be the Armed Forces of the Philippines drum and bugles parade that will start at 6:30 a.m. from Plaza Mayor to Provincial Capitol.

On the same day, it will be the parade of floats in Balanga City's major roads and highways at 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m., the "Parangal sa Beterano" will be staged at the provincial capitol grounds.

The main event will be on April 9 with the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in Mt. Samat in this town.

The event is expected to be attended by key national and local officials, living war veterans and their spouses, other distinguished guests, tourists and students.

Meanwhile, a drum and lyre competition will be staged at the provincial capitol quadrangle on the same day at 4 p.m.

At 6 p.m., there will be a concert by local artists and the grandest pyrotechnics display in honor of the veteran soldiers.

The annual event will culminate with the Freedom Trail, a 160-km ultra marathon and ultra relays and bike tour, from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando City in Pampanga and then to Capas, Tarlac on April 10. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/EBE

Philippines' first chocolate museum opens in Davao
By Digna D. Banzon

DAVAO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The producer of the internationally-awarded Malagos Chocolates has opened the country's first Chocolate Museum in Malagos Garden Resort in Calinan, this city.

The museum complements the Malagos Cacao Farm, which straddles 30 hectares of 50-year-old rehabilitated cacao trees.

Charisse Puentespina, project director and head of Charisse Puentespina Designers and Associate, said the opening of the Chocolate Museum is the "newest attraction in Davao City." Aside from attracting visitors, Puentespina is hoping it would encourage other farmers to grow cacao and engage in sustainable farming.

"What we are proud of about the museum is the 'tree to bar' (chocolate) experience," said Puentespina.

"Once harvested, the cacao beans are brought to the plant where we do the chocolates so that in terms of traceability, one is sure that what they are eating is safe, she added.

Puentespina, who is also in charge of production, said they want to share their cacao growing and cacao making procedures to the public.

She said the plant is able to produce 15 tons of chocolates a month but “we hope to to increase production with the additional equipment and technology.”

The plant is still half-mechanized as there are still portions that are manually operated.

Puentespina said the task is challenging. However, she said their foremost objective is to provide a venue to educate the youth on sustainable farming and chocolate production.

The company's chocolate maker, Rex Peuntespina, said the entrance to the museum includes a welcome information about the "tree to bar" concept, which is "very unique" compared to other museums abroad.

"We should be proud that raw materials in foreign countries that have museums showcasing chocolate-making, like in Europe, source their raw materials from us," he said.

At the museum, the company teaches people how to appreciate dark chocolates.

"We show them how chocolates are made from scratch (as well as) the practices in the farm," he said.

He said it is a "must-see" in Davao City as the tour can be capped with the "make your own chocolate" in the demo area.

The Malagos Chocolate is a 2-Star Winner (3-star highest) at the 2016 Great Taste competition, the "Oscars" of the food world, held in London last August. In April 2016, it won a silver award for Best Unflavoured Drinking Chocolate at the 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

It won its first award, a bronze award for Best Unflavoured Drinking Chocolate, at the 2015 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

Puentespina said with their chocolate products winning international awards, it makes "people curious how and where these chocolates are made."(PNA)
LAP/BS/LCM/DDB/LDP

5 'rent-a-car scam' vehicles recovered in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, March 9 (PNA)-- Authorities here have recovered five stolen vehicles, believed to be part of the rent-a-car scam, inside a yard of an import-export company here.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma on Thursday said the recovery of the vehicles was the result of several days of surveillance and due diligence by SBMA law enforcers, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The SBMA, NBI and PNP have been working together to crack the case and will continue to do so until everyone involved has been brought to justice,” Eisma said.

She said authorities recovered Wednesday night five vehicles at the Ichiban yard, an import and recondition facility of used trucks and construction machineries from Japan for sale to local market or for re-export to the international market, located on Argonaut Highway Lower Mau Camp inside the Freeport.

The recovered vehicles consisting of two commuters and a Toyota Grandia van were allegedly rented on different occasions by a certain Roldan Bernardo in Olongapo City in December 2016, but were never returned to their owners since.

Bernardo was not around when police arrived.

Authorities also found a Toyota Fortuner reportedly owned by one Mr. Zafra and a Mitsubishi Montero, both believed to have been rented by the suspect and brought to Ichiban yard.

Police are now studying if Ichiban has criminal liabilities after the discovery of stolen vehicles in their yard, while verification of the documents of the vehicles are being made prior to informing the legal owners for their return.

Eisma said the SBMA shall actively monitor the case and will assist in any way to ensure that proper charges will be filed against the suspect or suspects.

“Again, we issue this warning, the SBMA will be tough on anyone who will be caught violating law and order inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” she added. (PNA)
FPV/ZST/RAV

Family of slain gov't doctor casts doubt on killed suspect

KALIBO, Aklan, March 9 (PNA) -- The family of the slain "people's doctor," Dreyfuss Perlas, doubted the involvement of a suspect recently killed by the police in Lanao del Norte.

Batan Councilor Dennis Perlas, the father of Dreyfuss, said that they are doubtful if indeed Agapito Amparong, who was identified by the Lanao police as a suspect in the murder of his son, really had a hand in the killing.

He noted that the police may have identified Amparong as one of the suspects in the killing of the young doctor because he already had a series of murder charges in Lanao.

Perlas further told the PNA in an interview on Thursday: "I was informed that the police were about to serve the warrant against the suspect (Amparong) when he ran away. The police reported that they saw the suspect carrying a hand grenade, the reason why the authorities shot him."

Meanwhile, the Perlas family announced that the burial of the slain doctor will be on Saturday, March 11 in Batan town.

Dr. Perlas, a rural health physician, was killed last March 1 by unidentified assailants while on his way home to Lanao del Norte. (PNA)
LAP/BS/AJP/JNAGUIRRE/KVB

OceanaGold Phils. asked to start rehab of Didipio mine site Melvin Gascon

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya, March 9 (PNA) -- Town officials here have called on the national government to order a foreign mining firm to start its rehabilitation of the mine site in Didipio village after its operation was ordered suspended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a resolution, the Kasibu town council asked the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to direct OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. to repair a “gaping crater-like pit” in the middle of Didipio village, site of its gold-copper mining project.

The officials were invoking the Mining Act of 1995, that OceanaGold was mandated to undertake rehabilitation of “excavated, mined out, tailings covered and disturbed areas” of its Didipio mining site.

Since it started operations in 2013, OceanaGold has flattened what was then Dinkidi hill and dug up an open pit in Didipio, causing concern among local officials, villagers and environment groups.

“(OceanaGold) has already expressed that its open pit operations in extracting gold has stopped last year. The town government believes that (OceanaGold) should have already started rehabilitating the said open pit,” the resolution read in part.

Kasibu mayor Chito Bumolo expressed concern that OceanaGold has not presented any rehabilitation plan once it ceases its operations in Didipio.

“We are getting worried because it has been years, and we have yet to know what they intend to do with the mine site once they leave, and whether this plan is acceptable to the communities,” he said.

The company is trying to stave off a suspension order issued by environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez for its Didipio gold-copper project by elevating an appeal with President Rodrigo Duterte. 


Citing the findings of a mine audit she commissioned last year, Lopez ordered the suspension of OceanaGold’s operations here over unresolved social and environmental issues.

Sought for comment, Mario Ancheta, MGB Cagayan Valley director, said the agency will study the Kasibu government’s request.

“We will assess whether or not under its mine rehabilitation plan, the company is now supposed to undertake rehabilitation of the area at this time. We will also monitor whether or not the company has fully complied in its obligation to make deposits for the (mine rehabilitation fund),” he said.

For its part, OceanaGold said “rehabilitation and closure planning is an integral consideration” of its Didipio mining operations.

“We know the risks in rehabilitating and closing an operating mine and we intend to minimize these risks as far as possible by working closely with our regulators and the community,” said Ramoncito Gozar, OceanaGold senior vice president for communications and external affairs. (PNA)
FPV/SCD/MELVIN GASCON

Fire at Taiwan care center kills 4

TAIPEI, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A fire broke out at a long-term care center in Taiwan's Taoyuan city Friday morning, killing four and injuring 13, the local fire department said.

The fire started at 5:05 a.m. and was put out half an hour later, with more than 30 people rescued from the building, which mainly houses the elderly.

The fire may have been caused by the use of candles after a blackout in the morning, the department said.

An investigation is underway. (PNA/Xinhua)

Japan seeks to enhance ties with S. Korea after Park's impeachment

TOKYO, March 10 (PNA/Kyodo) -- Tokyo remains committed to enhancing security cooperation with Seoul to address the rising North Korean nuclear threat, Japanese officials said Friday, after South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary motion to impeach President Park Geun Hye earlier in the day.

Japan will also cautiously see how South Korean politics evolve after the ousting of Park, at a time when relations between the two Asian neighbors remain strained over history issues, including over "comfort women," many of them Koreans, who were forced to work in wartime brothels for the Japanese military.

"Japan needs to promote cooperation with the new (South Korean) government in various areas," Kishida told reporters shortly after the South Korean court released its decision, which ousts Park from office over a swirling corruption and abuse-of-power scandal. (PNA/Kyodo)
LOR/RSM

China offers fresh aid to Afghanistan to assist refugees

KABUL, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- China on Thursday offered 100 million U.S. dollars to assist the Afghan refugees and returnees and further boost bilateral ties with the neighboring country.

The announcement came as nearly 1 million Afghan refugees returned to their homeland within the past one year while nearly the same number was forced to flee their houses due to ongoing conflicts.

The latest fund for Afghan refugees will be channeled through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and would be rendered to the refugees.

Earlier on Thursday Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing joined Afghan Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs Sayed Hossein Alimi Balkhi and Fathiaa Abdalla, country representative of the UNHCR, to distribute assistance to more than 330 refugee families in eastern side of Kabul.

Minister Balkhi expressed gratitude to China and other stakeholders for their assistance to the Afghan refugees and displaced families. (PNA/Xinhua)
LOR/EBP

Austerity in Britain to continue beyond 2020: think-tank

LONDON, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The financial crisis and its aftermath has led British government since 2010 to cut government spending, and in the wake of the government's budget on Wednesday further reductions in spending beyond 2020 are inevitable, according to an economic think-tank.

"It looks like being a third parliament of austerity," Paul Johnson, Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director, said in a post-budget briefing in London on Thursday afternoon.

The government budget is based on Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) figures, whose director Richard Chote on Wednesday announced the biggest ever revision to forecasts between autumn and spring, revising down its expectations for government borrowing in this financial year from 68 billion pounds (82.8 billion U.S. dollars) to 52 billion pounds.

Johnson commented on Thursday that the forecasts for the next four financial years beyond 2016/17 told a different story.

They were almost exactly the same at this spring budget by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond as they were in his autumn financial statement in November. Government borrowing continues to fall over this period but at no faster rate, and from the same levels as forecast in November. In other words, the strong positive move downwards for government borrowing in 2016/17 is not a permanent structural change but a temporary one which will not be repeated. (PNA/Xinhua)

First major U.S. cruise company sails into Cuba

HAVANA, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Oceania Cruises on Thursday became the first major U.S. cruise company to make a port call in Cuba, after years of being barred from the Caribbean destination by U.S. sanctions.

"Oceania Cruises made history this morning when its ship, Marina, pulled into Sierra Maestra cruise terminal in Havana, Cuba, carrying 1,250 guests," the company said in a statement.

On board for this historic occasion were Bob Binder, the co-founder and CEO of Oceania Cruises, and Frank Del Rio, the company's Cuban-born founder and CEO of Oceania's parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Accompanied by Cuban tourism officials, the two men took part in a ceremony marking the event.

The U.S.-led trade embargo against Cuba remains in place. However, since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties in 2016, certain travel restrictions have been relaxed, allowing for the restoration of regular flights and cruises. (PNA/Xinhua)
LOR/EBP

President Park ousted as court upholds motion, overwhelming majority of S. Koreans support impeachment

SEOUL, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye was ousted as the country's head of state on Friday after the constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach the scandal-ridden leader.

The court's acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi read the ruling on the impeachment, broadcast live nationwide, saying it was the unanimous decision of eight justices.

South Koreans, who had called for Park's resignation, cheered outside the court in downtown Seoul after hearing the impeachment ruling.

A tearful mother and her daughter were among the anti-Park protesters who held placards that read "Impeachment is Victory of Candlelight Vigil" and "No THAAD."

Park's supporters, who rallied just hundreds of meters away on the street, remained silent and burst into tears following the verdict.

Some of the president's loyalists attempted to break into the court building and clashed with the police.

Local media reported that two of Park's supporters died of unidentified reasons during the rally. One of the dead is in his 70s.

Opinion polls have never changed in recent months, with almost eight out of 10 South Koreans demanding Park's ouster. About 15 percent people have insisted on the rejection or no decision on the impeachment.

By law, the court's ruling takes effect immediately after the reading. Park will be required to leave the presidential Blue House as she officially lost all of her presidential power as well as her title as the incumbent president.

A presidential election will be held in 60 days.

President Park became the first South Korean leader to be forcibly removed from office by the impeachment. She was also the second president to be impeached in the country's constitutional history.

In March 2004, then President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached for his call on voters to support his own party in the parliamentary elections of that year. About two months later, he was reinstated as the court ruled that his violation of an election law was not grave enough to boot him from office.

Park's ouster is an unprecedented event in South Korea's modern history, as there is no specific law stipulating that the impeached leader must leave the Cheong Wa Dae by a given date.

Lee Jae-myung from the Minjoo Party, mayor of Seongnam city to the southeast of Seoul, said, "Today is a great day for people. Impeachment is the start to build a fair country free from corruption, foul play and privilege."

"Genuine unity will only be made possible when completely clearing away the legacy of old days," he added.

Cheong Wook-sik, director of local advocacy group Peace Network, believed the result was not surprising.

"President Park breached the constitution and fell short of people's expectations," he said.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday said he respected the court's decision.

Only when people, especially those who protested against the impeachment, accepted the ruling, "can the rule of law, which is the basic value of the South Korean constitution, stand upright," Ban was quoted as by Yonhap news agency as saying.

Since the Dec. 9 passage in the National Assembly of the impeachment bill, a total of 20 hearings had been held in the court. It took 92 days before the court's final decision, longer than the 64 days required for the 2004 ruling on Roh's impeachment. During the 64-day period, only seven hearings were held in 2004.

Park will be subject to indictment and detention by prosecutors as she lost her presidential immunity following the court's ruling.

Prosecutors have identified Park as an accomplice of her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of a corruption scandal that led to Park's impeachment for multiple charges including bribery.

Park will also be stripped of most of privileges granted to former president, including monthly pension worth 12 million won (10,400 U.S. dollars) to 13 million won per month, one paid chauffeur and three paid secretaries. Free medicine and costs for a personal office will not be given to the impeached leader.

For the forcibly impeached leader, the period during which the presidential security service provides guards would be reduced from 10 years to five years. After the five-year period, police officers will guard the impeached leader.

Meanwhile, the South Korean military has been ordered to put on vigilance against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea given South Korea's current political situation, according to the Yonhap news agency.

U.S. State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington DC that the United States will continue to work with Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn for the remainder of his tenure as the acting president.

"We look forward to a productive relationship with whomever the people of South Korea elect to be their next president," Toner said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan will continue to cooperate with South Korea after the country's Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Park. (PNA/Xinhua)

Impeachment of south Korean President confirmed by Constitutional Court

TOKYO, March 10 (PNA/Sputnik) â€" The Constitutional Court of South Korea has upheld the parliament decision to impeach President Park Geun-hye, suspended over a corruption scandal.

The court verdict was announced on Friday and was broadcast live by the South Korean YTN news channel. All 8 judges voted in favor of impeachment.(PNA/Sputnik)

34 dead following Guatemala rehabilitation center fireLatin America

MOSCOW, March 10 (PNA/Sputnik) -- The death toll from the fire at a rehabilitation home for abused teenagers in Guatemala has gone up to 34, media report.

Twelve of the minors injured in the fire succumbed to their wounds in the past hours, while 20 remain hospitalized with severe fourth-degree burns, Telesur TV said on Thursday night, adding that the total death toll now stands at 34.

On Wednesday, firefighters announced that 19 girls were killed in a fire at the government-run rehabilitation center of Hogar Virgen de la Asuncion, located in the San Jose Pinula suburb of Guatemala City.

Early on Thursday, media reports said that the death toll had gone up to 32.

Guatemala has announced three days of national mourning for the victims of the fire, which broke out after one of the minors housed by the center set a mattress ablaze following a riot.

According to local media reports, about 60 adolescents escaped the rehabilitation center on Tuesday, protesting against violence and low food quality. (PNA/Sputnik)

Over 700 new voters listed in Bacolod during Women’s Day special registration

BACOLOD CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- A total of 731 additional voters were registered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this city during the special registration held in celebration of the International Women’s Day.

The new registrants can already vote in the Katipunan ng Kabataan and barangay elections in October.

Records of the Comelec-Bacolod released Thursday showed that for ages 15 to 17, registered were 151 girls and 81 boys while for ages 18 and above, 363 females and 110 males were listed.

For senior citizens, 18 females and eight males were also able to register.

City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said that although the special registration aimed to prioritize women and girls only, the Comelec staff also catered to male registrants since there was enough time to accommodate them.

In Bacolod, the special registration was held in three sites: in the areas of Bacolod East hosted by Barangay Estefania; Bacolod North, held in Barangay Mandalagan; and Negros Occidental National High School.

The East included Barangays Granada, Alangilan, Villamonte, Montevista, and Vista Alegre while the North covered Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Bata, and Banago.

Comelec Resolution No. 10175 directed the holding of special satellite registration activities for females in pre-determined venues in various cities across the country.

All concerned Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) were tasked to create a special satellite registration team composed of the election offer and at least four election assistants, if possible, and to identify an accessible and convenient venue for the conduct of the satellite registration where qualified residents will be accommodated.

The resolution promulgated on February 27, 2017 designated a full day of voter registration where women and girl applicants are prioritized in recognition of the vital role of women as partners in the pursuit of the economic, social, cultural and political development pursuant to the mandate of the Magna Carta of Women under Republic Act No. 9710. (PNA)
LAP/NLG

'Bato' hits NPA over ambush of Davao Sur cops
By Alexander Lopez
By Alexander Lopez

DAVAO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -â€" Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa slammed the communist New People’s Army (NPA) over Wednesday’s ambush that killed four policemen.

Dela Rosa said the attack was an attempt "to impress to the public that the NPA machinery and forces are still in place."

The PNP chief on Thursday visited the wake of police officers killed during the ambush in Bansalan town on Wednesday.

“They are showing that they are a force to reckon with,” Dela Rosa pointed out, adding that the rebels are also trying to counter government reports that their number is now dwindling due to the series of surrenders of their members.

He expressed grief over the death of the four police officers, among them a non-combatant member of the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO).

“They (NPAs) should answer why they did it,” Dela Rosa said.

Four police officers were killed and another one was wounded in the ambush staged by suspected NPA members in Barangay Sibayan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Killed were PO1 Rholly Benelayo, PO1 Saro Mangotara and PO1 Joey Narvasa, who were all members of the Bansalan Municipal Police Station, and PO3 Jeden Mei Rabor, a member of SOCO.

Wounded during the ambush was PO2 Allen Arnado, also a member of the Bansalan police.

The police officers were on the way to Barangay Sibayan to investigate a reported murder incident when waylaid by the gunmen.

Dela Rosa, during the visit on Thursday, personally talked to the families of the slain police officers and gave them financial assistance. (PNA)

OPAPP turns over detention center for women, children to police station in Maguindanao

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao, March 9 (PNA) -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) turned over on Thursday a Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) to the municipal police station here.

“The OPAPP took the initiative to fund the facility in support and response to the government’s peace and security concerns particularly in conflict situations,” OPAPP Usec. Diosita Andot, who led the opening of the center on Thursday, said.

The initiative to erect the one-storey 10 x 6 center, costing PHP300,000, came after the local police had a hard time figuring out where to detain a minor female suspect, who was collared in one of their anti-illegal drugs operation late last year.

“During that time, we brought the female suspect, who was also eight months pregnant, to the Shariff Aguak municipal police office, where there is a women and children center,” Chief Insp. Lendsy Sinsuat, former Datu Odin Sinsuat police chief, said.

Sinsuat said the incident prompted them to ask their superiors for the possible establishment of the facility, to which the OPAPP responded.

Chief Insp. Ali Bunga, current town police chief, vowed to operate the WCPC competently to safeguard women and children against any form of violence.

“We are lucky to have this WCPC as there are still many other police units in the ARMM that do not have this kind of facility,” Bunga said. (PNA)

Dumaguete City gov't alerts residents against flash floods

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 9 (PNA) â€"- The local government of Dumaguete City has alerted residents against flash floods as intermittent rains, sometimes lasting for hours, pose a threat to the community.

On Thursday morning, at least two spillways in the city were rendered impassable as the Banica River overflowed.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Jose Chu had updated on measures taken in anticipation of flash floods.

Relief goods are also prepositioned and ready for distribution while heavy equipment were mobilized to remove flood debris.

For the past days, light to moderate rains have soaked Dumaguete and other parts of Negros Oriental, attributed to the Low Pressure Area sighted off Mindanao and the tail-end of a cold front.

Roving patrols were also deployed to warn residents in barangays near the Banica River and Okoy River to be vigilant against possible flooding.

The Traffic Management Office had put up barricades at the spillways at Colon Extension (near Foundation University) and in Taclobo-Bagacay.

A flash flood alert was also issued to residents to immediately evacuate, prioritizing children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, in the event the river waters begin to rise to a threatening level. (PNA)

Cebu City cops warned of ambush when going to remote areas

CEBU CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Thursday warned its operatives to take precaution in responding to remote areas after the ambush staged by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels that killed four police officers in Bansalan, Davao Del Sur on Wednesday.

"All units are reminded to always exercise caution when executing duties and responsibilities," Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, CCPO deputy director for administration, said.

The local police were also directed to seek the assistance of village peacekeepers.

"In the event of calls for police assistance, use due diligence in confirming reported incidents through barangay officials, Barangay Intelligence Network and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team," he said.

The safety reminders will become part of police weekly conferences and pre-deployment briefings.

Four police officers were killed in Bansalan, Davao del Sur on Wednesday in an attack blamed on suspected NPA rebels.

The slain police officers were members of the Bansalan Municipal Police Station and the Scene of the Crime Operations of Digos City.

They went to a remote area in Bansalan to respond to the killing of two civilians. (PNA)
LAP/BS/EB

Construction of ‘skyway’ in Cagayan De Oro pushed

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 9 (PNA) -â€" A member of the legislative council here is pushing for the construction of a “skyway” to ease the burgeoning traffic in the city’s urban center.

Councilor George Goking, chair of the council's committee on commerce and trade, said Thursday that he would ask the city engineer to work on the plan in coordination with the Road and Traffic Administration (RTA).

Goking said that the construction of the skyway would ease the city’s major thoroughfares of horrendous traffic that commuters and pedestrians experience during peak hours.

The councilor proposed that the “skyway” become an alternate road for J.R. Borja Street, the longest street in the city that traverses from the city’s west district in Barangay Carmen to the junction of Barangay Gusa in the city’s east district.

Goking said that he wants the “skyway” to start in Barangay Patag that would pass above Barangay Carmen and J. R. Borja Street towards the junction in Barangay Gusa.

The idea of constructing a “skyway” was originally conceived by former Rep. Rufus Rodrigues in 2015.

Rodriguez had proposed a two-lane skyway from Barangay Patag to Barangay Gusa with an estimated cost of PHP 2.6 billion.

Rodriguez said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had approved the proposed budget during the previous administration. (PNA)

Cops nab high-value 'drug dealer' in Cagayan de Oro

,CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 9 (PNA) â€"- A day after the Philippine National Police (PNP) revived its anti-drug campaign here, a high-value suspect was arrested with more than a kilo of alleged "shabu" (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth Php2.3 million, a police report said Thursday.

Inspector Jessie Palencia, deputy station commander of the city’s Divisoria police station, said that the suspect, Sobair Mimbalawag, was caught red-handed with the illegal drugs during a buy-bust operation in his house in Barangay Balulang late Wednesday afternoon.

The police here announced Tuesday the revival of Operation Tokhang (Reloaded), an anti-illegal drugs drive, which was suspended earlier this year after the involvement of police officials in the killing of a Korean national allegedly engaged in drug trafficking.

Taken from Mimbalawag’s possession were 10 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 512.3 grams with a street value of about PHP 2.3 million at PHP 5,000 to PHP 7,000 per gram.

The suspect is considered a high-value target," said Senior Inspector Maricris Mulat, Divisoria police station chief.

“His [Mimbalawag] arrest is a product of weeks of observing him and gathering more information,” Mulat said in a telephone interview Thursday.

She said they received tips from concerned citizens that the suspect may have been involved in selling drugs as it was observed that vehicles would drop by Mimbalawag’s residence at night.

Mulat said there is a high possibility that the suspect is working for a drug syndicate, judging from the volume of shabu that he was dealing.

“This is no small-time pusher. He may be involved in a huge organization, the extent of which we still have to find out,” she added.

Aside from the suspected shabu, Mulat said they also confiscated bank deposit slips, some amounting to PHP300,000.

Mimbalawag, however, denied that he was in the illegal drug trade. He admitted that he was a user, but said stopped using drugs six years ago. (PNA)
LAP/BS/CD/JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

BFP-NIR seeks delivery of new fire trucks for Region 18

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) or Region 18 has called on the logistics office in Manila to inquire as to why no fire truck has arrived yet for the region.

BFP NIR regional director Sr. Supt Fred Trajeras, Jr. said he is hopeful the Austrian-made Rosenbauer fire trucks will arrive this month for the 17 cities of NIR, because funding for these had been assured since last year by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Trajeras appealed to local chief executives of the concerned local government units where these fire trucks are intended to make a follow up letter-request addressed to the fire chief, who is incidentally retiring this July.

Of the 17 fire truck units, three are intended for Negros Oriental specifically for Guihulngan, Canlaon and Dumaguete City, according to Sr. Supt Trajeras, Jr. who graced the inauguration and blessing of the fire sub-station located in Daro, Dumaguete City Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the BFP regional director has instructed the city fire marshal of Dumaguete, Chief Inspector Mary Joy Candelario, to already submit names of applicants for Fire Officer 1 as part of the 100 quota for FO1s intended for the entire region this year.

Trajeras directed Candelario to make sure the applicants are residents of Dumaguete so they will not be assigned in other places.

They will take the place of eight firemen being reassigned to the newly inaugurated fire sub-station.

On the other hand, City Mayor Felipe Remollo wants to fast track the processing of requirements for the construction of a new BFP building to be situated near the government center.

BFP regional director Sr. Supt Trajeras told Mayor Remollo that a donation of 600 square meters of lot is the only requirement so funding of up to P19 million can be allocated for the construction of the BFP building in Dumaguete.

This is part of the P2-billion budget appropriated for such purpose. (PNA)
LAP/JFP/JUANCHO GALLARDE

Philippines secures economic priorities in ASEAN
Trade chief pushes for MSME development, innovation, inclusive growth

MAKATIâ€"The Philippines successfully advocated its trade priorities in ASEAN as the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) Retreat and Related Meetings ends (10 March), laying the groundwork for the 49th AEM in September.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led by Secretary Ramon Lopez secured endorsements from ASEAN Economic Ministers on the timely realization of Philippine priority deliverables for 2017.

“Aside from championing our trade agenda as a country, we are also able to advance the economic agenda of our fellow ASEAN Member States (AMS); thus, bringing our domestic interest to the regional platform,” said Sec. Lopez, who chaired the AEM Retreat and Related Meetings, adding that AMS’ endorsements will strengthen the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.

“Our objective is to make AEC work and to make AEC felt in the day-to-day experience of Filipinos,” said Philippine lead Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, who presented before the Meeting the summary of priority deliverables.

Innovative, inclusive growth

“The Philippines is taking the lead in seeking new policy interventions that are expected to contribute towards helping MSMEs harness the opportunities presented by open and increasingly integrated markets,” said Sec. Lopez.

A self-certification scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will allow the sector to partake in the benefits of the free trade agreements, while the action agenda on investment, inclusive business and women and youth entrepreneurship will strengthen the investment linkages between MSMEs and Multinational Enterprises (MNEs)â€"a thrust that Sec. Lopez has been pushing in the domestic front to foster inclusive development towards shared prosperity for all.

Aligned with the inclusive growth agenda is the endorsement of the ASEAN Declaration on Innovation, which advocates for an enabling ecosystem that supports entrepreneurial activities in technology and innovation.
“Inclusive business will allow companies to engage the poor and low-income communities as partners, customers, suppliers, and employees in their supply chains because it makes good business sense,” added Usec. Rodolfo.

Connectivity, services, private sector

The AEM Retreat also touched on the launching of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Network, a system that will both enhance intra-regional connectivity and bolster socio-economic growth in the regions.

On the services sector, the endorsement of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) means fostering a more transparent trade in services, boosting further contribution and competitiveness of the services sectors in ASEAN.

The meeting also explored on convening regular dialogue with the private sector to highlight its business priorities and recommendations, as well as identify ways to complement existing public efforts toward taking full advantage of opportunities under the AEC.

“Public-private sector engagement not only reduces the gap of understanding of the private sector and the general public on ASEAN, it also promotes intra-ASEAN and global trade and investment and reduces current and future impediments faced by business enterprises,” Sec. Lopez added.

ASEAN-driven RCEP

The AEM Retreat discussed preparations for the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN, which coincides with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship.

An equally relevant element of this chairmanship is the push to achieve considerable progress on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), showcasing ASEAN’s headship in bringing about a regional partnership that integrates major economic players China, Japan, India, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The shared optimism on RCEP will mean more foreign investments and more dynamic trade and business alliances. As noted by DTI, RCEP will expand the ASEAN market of 600 million to 3.5 billion as it will include ASEAN’s six Dialogue Partnersâ€"that accounts for almost half of the world’s population, representing a huge integrated market base.

This expanded economic partnership is seen to shape the future of trade and economic liberalization in Asia. At the backdrop of recent economic uncertainties and rising protectionism, RCEP is poised to keep the momentum of trade as an engine for regional and global economic growth.

“The chairmanship is an event to strengthen the enduring ties that bind us all and an important occasion to reaffirm the shared aspirations and values which will lead us to our envisioned integration come 2025,” Usec. Rodolfo concluded.

The Philippine hosting of the ASEAN Summit to be chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte will be held next month, while the bigger meeting 49th AEM is scheduled in September 2017.

Davao City IP rep urges establishments to comply with halal ordinance

DAVAO CITY, March 9 (PNA) â€"- The Indigenous People’s (IPs) representative in the city council urged business establishments in the city to fully comply with the provisions of the city's halal ordinance.

Councilor Halila Sudacar made this call after she noted that only three supermarkets are complying with the law, which was approved last year. Davao City's Halal Ordinance is considered a first in the country.

Establishments violating the provisions of the ordinance have been urged to comply with its provisions or be penalized.

The warning came after Muslim leaders complained about the failure of some supermarkets to implement the ordinance.

"It is deemed implemented even without an Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and should be complied with," said Sudagar.

Sudagar said supermarkets are mandated to follow the halal ordinance even without the IRR because the ordinance itself is clear and provides provisions for its implementation.

"So far there are few supermarkets implementing the halal ordinance and these are NCCC, S&R and Abreeza," she said.

Under the halal ordinance, all supermarkets and grocery stores selling raw and processed meat, fish and seafood are mandated to segregate halal from non-halal or haram food products. The segregation is required from delivery to storage and even in the slicing, weighing and carrying of the products in carts or baskets.

Establishments found violating the halal ordinance will be slapped with the following penalties: a fine of PHP500 to PHP1,000 for first-time offenders; a fine of PHP1,000 to PHP3,000 plus suspension of business permit and license to operate from three to six months for second-time offenders; and a fine of PHP3,000 to PHP5,000 plus revocation of business permit and license to operate for third-time offenders.

Sudagar said complainants should submit a written letter of complaint to any of the following offices: City Veterinarians Office, City Health Office and Business Bureau. (PNA)
LAP/BS/LCM/LOVELY CARILLO/LDP