Int’l Commission
assembled to investigate Duterte’s crimes against humanity

All eyes on the
Philippines now as independent global probe happens
Press Release
December 17, 2020
MANILA – After the
recent pronouncement of the International Criminal Court (ICC),
prominent members of the international community declared on
Thursday that there is an independent investigation ongoing in the
Philippines called Investigate PH.
The ICC Prosecutor Fatou
Bensouda said last Tuesday that there is "reasonable basis" to
believe that crimes against humanity were committed by President
Rodrigo Duterte, specifically the thousands killed in his war on
drugs.
In a virtual press
conference, the Independent International Commission of
Investigation into Human Rights Violations in the Philippines or
INVESTIGATE PH was publicly announced.
“We are here to announce
that an independent people-led probe is happening in the
Philippines. This is most definitely a global issue. The world
community has a responsibility to speak up and seek the truth” says
Former Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon also a member of the
INVESTIGATE PH High Level Commission.
The former Australian
senator further emphasized that: “We must not allow the call for
human rights be hijacked. Accountability must be a part of the
justice and democratic system.”
Also speaking live in the
media event were its leading High Level Commissioners namely: Rev.
Michael Blair, General Secretary of the United Church of Canada;
Atty. Jeanne Mirer, President of the International Association of
Democratic Lawyers; Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe - General Secretary,
General Board of Church & Society, the United Methodist Church; and
Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson, General Secretary of the World Communion of
Reformed Churches.
According to INVESTIGATE
PH, this global endeavor is an independent international
investigation of the human rights situation in the Philippines. It
is an initiative of global organisations, religious, legal, trade
union and political leaders, and civil society.
“We will submit the final
report of the findings to the International Criminal Court and other
relevant UN bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council, UN Security
Council, the UN General Assembly Special Session,” says Atty. Jeanne
Mirer, Investigate Ph High Level Commissioner.
The independent
investigations are scheduled to happen through a hybrid of virtual
and physical fact findings. This aims to further substantiate the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights June 2020 report.
A final report of the
findings will be submitted to the Enhanced Interactive Dialogues and
General Debates of the UN Human Rights Council 48th Session in
September 2021, when the High Commissioner will update on the
implementation of the Human Rights Council Resolution 45/L.38 that
shall provide technical assistance and capacity-building to the
Government of the Philippines for the promotion and protection of
human rights in the country.
INVESTIGATE PH also
intends to join in preceding UNHRC sessions, including the 46th
Session in February to March 2021 and the 47th Session in June-July
2021 to share about the on-going investigation and the preliminary
findings.
“That is what brings us
together today. What is happening in the Philippines amounts to
crimes against humanity. These crimes must be investigated. The
human rights cases must be investigated and the perpetrators be made
accountable,” Former Senator Lee Rhiannon ends.
CARD SME Bank
inaugurates 36th branch in General Santos City
Press Release
December 17, 2020
SAN PABLO CITY –
CARD SME Bank opens its 36th branch on December 7, 2020, to cater to
the financial needs of more MSMEs in Brgy. Lagao, General Santos
City. The Lagao Branch, located at Sestina Building, Lucio Velayo
Sr. Road, Brgy. Lagao, General Santos City, is officially the 6th
CARD SME Bank branch in Mindanao and one of the two (2) branches in
the city.
CARD SME Bank President
and CEO Aristeo A. Dequito is positive that the products and
services of the bank will ignite hope despite the challenges of
2020. “We want to end 2020 reaching more entrepreneurs and helping
them recover from the adverse impact of the pandemic,” says Dequito.
While the first branch in
General Santos City already caters to more than 25,000 clients,
Lagao Branch “will be the home of thousands of MSMEs in the area,”
says Dequito. He continues, “We assure that this expansion will
provide easier transactions for our clients with us.”
As the quarantine
protocols ease, Dequito also shares how the bank braves the pandemic
to constantly provide financial access to the unbanked and
underbanked families.
“The branch strictly
follows the safety guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety of
our clients and staff,” he adds. Like all its branches nationwide,
CARD SME Bank Lagao Branch is equipped with plexiglass dividers and
hand sanitizer dispensers, while strictly following government
mandated health protocols like social distancing and wearing of face
mask.
Digital Banking
Dequito also shares how
the pandemic led the institution to accelerate its digitalization to
advance its banking system. “Throughout the decade, we have been
investing in our digital transformation, but with the current
situation, our banking technological solutions need more urgency to
provide our clients the safety and convenience they need amid the
pandemic.”
With digital banking,
clients can now experience hassle-free banking transactions anytime
and anywhere using their mobile phones through konek2CARD, a mobile
banking application, offered free to all account holders of CARD SME
Bank. “With our continuous journey to digital transformation, we
will advance more of its capabilities.”
Dequito continues, “We at
CARD SME Bank, together with the other institutions under CARD MRI,
are in full swing to continue our mission in improving the lives of
the socioeconomically challenged families in the country.”
CARD SME Bank is expecting
to initially serve more than 7,000 clients from five (5) branch lite
units.
The grand opening of CARD
SME Bank Lagao branch was personally attended by several CARD MRI
clients and staff, representatives from local government units, and
other members of the community. Virtually present via Zoom
conference were CARD MRI Executive Committee Members, including CARD
MRI Founder and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip and
Managing Director Flordeliza Sarmiento.
As of October 2020, CARD
SME Bank has already served more than 1 million clients, has
disbursed more than P7 billion loans, and has a total asset of P8
billion.
DPWH completes
P1.9M footbridge project in Caibiran town

By
DPWH Biliran
December 16, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran –
Accessing basic essential services is now easier for the residents
in Sitio Guindulangan, Victory village in Caibiran town with the
completion of the P1.9M footbridge project from the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Biliran District Engineering Office
(DEO).
District Engineer David P.
Adongay Jr., said that the footbridge project links Sitio
Guindulangan to Sitio Katipunan, Victory village to the town proper
of Caibiran and to other neighboring villages.
The said project covers
the construction of a 14-meter length footbridge with a height of
4-meter from the river bed and a concreting of an 8-meter footbridge
approaches on both sides.
Prior to the
implementation of the project, residents of Sitio Guindulangan are
crossing the river through a log bridge from an unused electrical
post supported only by bamboo poles for its foundation.
Adongay revealed that the
situation of the old bridge limits the residents’ capacity to access
the very basic services they need especially during high tide.
“Because of the poor
condition of the old bridge, crossing the bridge also poses danger
to the passers especially to the children, pregnant women and senior
citizens,” Adongay said.
“With the completion of
the footbridge project, residents of Sitio Guindulangan can now
enjoy a safer and faster access to the basic essential
establishments of the town such as schools, health facilities, and
other government and non-government services,” Adongay said.
Moreover, transport of
goods and farm products will now be much easier since the footbridge
is now accessible by motorcycles.
From its start date on
October 15, 2020, the said project was completed on November 25,
2020, ahead of its target completion date which is on January 02,
2021.
DTI launches
National Trade Fair Digital Mall
By
DTI-TPG-Bureau of
Domestic Trade Promotion
December 15, 2020
MAKATI CITY – In
lieu of the usual National Trade Fair (NTF) organized annually, the
Department of Trade and Industry - Bureau of Domestic Trade
Promotion (DTI-BDTP) is launching the NTF Digital Mall. This is in
response to the unprecedented challenges faced by micro, small, and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has
adversely impacted their operations.
To help MSMEs future-proof
their businesses as they pivot to online selling, the NTF Digital
Mall is a platform that offers continuous promotion of the food and
non-food products from the different regions, amid the physical
restrictions of the pandemic. A project of the DTI-BDTP in
collaboration with the DTI-Regional and Provincial Offices, the NTF
Digital Mall is an e-commerce platform inside the UB GlobalLinker
site.
Formally opened on
December 15, the NTF Digital Mall, like all national trade fairs,
showcases the best products of 223 MSMEs from all parts of the
country. Featured products include processed food and beverages,
gifts and souvenirs, houseware and decor, fashion accessories,
wearables, as well as health and fitness products.
For a more convenient
online shopping experience, the NTF Digital Mall features a product
catalog with a facility to search for a specific product or product
category. For easier transactions, buyers can connect with the MSMEs
via the Viber app for secure instant messaging. Visitors will also
have access to DTI webinars, and can read about the participating
exhibitors' inspirational success stories.
Digital Mall Features for MSMEs
The NTF Digital Mall is
hosted on UnionBank GlobalLinker, a free and innovative platform
that helps MSMEs grow online with tools for efficient business
management and network expansion. It is distinct from other
e-commerce platforms as it is an all-in-one accessible platform that
enables MSMEs to connect to both local and global B2B and B2C
partners, suppliers, and customers. It has networking capabilities
to help MSMEs grow and manage their business. It offers immediate
access to financial service providers, point of sale, accounting,
inventory, human resources, tax and payroll services, supply chain
management, and B2B and B2C marketplaces.
Some of the business
features offered on the NTF Digital Mall that MSMEs can readily use
are:
• Linker.Store - Connect
the MSME’s business to the world by launching their do-it-yourself
E-commerce store for free with its inventory management and data
analysis tools.
• Network – Search for and
manage a global network of potential suppliers, partners, and
customers, not just in the Philippines, but also in other parts of
Southeast Asia.
• Biz offers - Have access
to business tools that will help MSMEs manage their business, share
files, and track important events more efficiently.
• Secure multi-device
access via desktop, mobile or tablet.
• Apply online for business
loans, deposit products, and credit cards without the hassle.
• Biz Forum - Get tips and
inspiration from successful entrepreneurs. A place for discussing
new business ideas, topics and useful articles within a vibrant
business community.
To visit the site, simply
log in to https://ntfdigimall.linker.store/
For more information about
the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow their
social media accounts @BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You
may also email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.
DELIVER-e will be
“game-changing” for farmers and consumers - DTI chief

By
DTI-OSEC-Office of
Digital Philippines
December 13, 2020
MANILA – The
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – together with the
Department of Agriculture (DA), private sector partners, farmer
cooperatives, and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) – is officially launching DELIVER-e on December
14, 2020 alongside a multi-stakeholder commitment pledge signing to
upscale agriculture value chain and improve overall food security in
the country even beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
“This initiative is all
about bringing farm produce closer to consumers and cutting layers
of traders. Through technology and innovation, it will be
game-changing not only for our farmers but also for our consumers,”
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
He added: “This is part of
our strong partnership with Agriculture Secretary William Dar as we
jointly work on solutions to increasing farmers’ income, providing
better supply chain in agriculture and its link to industry
processors or direct to marketplace, and delivering fresher products
for consumers.”
DELIVER-e is a digital
platform that connects farmers to buyers through an efficient and
transparent end-to-end market-based system. It operates through a
sophisticated blockchain technology developed by a Filipino tech
startup, Insight Supply Chain Solutions (InsightSCS), that
integrates related e-commerce and logistics application services
from consolidation point to central warehousing facility, and then
to last-mile delivery services to reach end-clients.
As the lead agency for the
Inter-agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID)
sub-taskforce on food value chain and logistics, DTI brought
together public and private partners, as well as development
partners like the USAID, to design and implement strategies
addressing the looming threat on food security and widened gap in
agriculture value chain.
“Our main goal is to
increase production and ensure supply stability for basic
necessities and prime commodities through new business models,” Sec.
Lopez said.
The immediate
collaborative planning, consultation, and benchmarking activities of
the DTI, DA, private sector partner Supply Chain Management
Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), logistics technology
experts, farmer groups, and the USAID DELIVER-Project paved the way
for the development and initial launch of DELIVER-e in early April
2020.
Since April, this
innovative platform has mobilized over 260 tons of fresh fruits and
vegetables and recorded more than P7.15 million worth of
transactions. Additionally, it has helped around 600 farmers in
Luzon and some provinces in Mindanao by doubling their income from
their harvests and reducing wastage from 50 percent down to only 5
percent.
Even beyond the pandemic
situation, DELIVER-e’s technology is deemed as one of the key
sustainable solutions to improve the Philippines’ agriculture value
chain, making the country more food-secure while improving the lives
of every Filipino farmer.
With the intent of further
developing DELIVER-e and its database modules, DTI – together with
its collaborators from the National Government, private sector,
farmer groups, and the USAID – will undertake a ceremonial
commitment pledge signing during the “DELIVER-e Goes Live” official
launch event on 14 December 2020 to solidify greater collaboration
and cooperation efforts.
As the platform onboards
more players in the agriculture value chain, DELIVER-e will soon be
able to build an elaborate supply-and-demand dashboard system that
will be useful in providing insightful data for the Philippine
Government’s evidence-based decision-making process in relevant
sectors and issues as the country moves towards building back
better.
“Instead of adjusting to
the New Normal, let us try to create a Better Normal where all
Filipinos can enjoy the fruits of our country’s inclusive growth and
shared prosperity for all,” DTI Sec. Lopez underscored.
In October 2019, DTI and
DA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) reinforcing
strong collaboration and implementation of the Agribusiness Support
for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions (ASPIRE)
between the government and the private sector.
Through DELIVER-e, the
public and private sectors will be able to realize ASPIRE’s ultimate
vision of creating businesses and jobs to the rural community by
linking farmers directly to the market.
Unwrapping the
sweet success story of a mother turned entrepreneur from Occidental
Mindoro
By
DTI-Regional Operations Group
December 11, 2020
MAKATI CITY – While
motherhood and running a business might be a ‘tight-rope walk’,
Jerlie Daseco, owner of Triple P Food Products from the Municipality
of Paluan in Occidental Mindoro, embraces both her vital roles.
Triple P Food Products’
flagship product is pastillas. A sweet milk-based confection made
with carabao’s milk, pastillas is a popular pasalubong in the
municipality of Paluan, as it is in any part of the country. The
enterprise offers a variety of pastillas flavors, from purple yam (ube),
jackfruit (langka), cheese, pandan, coconut, and chili, showing the
diverse taste palette of Filipinos.
Occidental Mindoro is also
home to cashew, expanding her product line to roasted and fried
cashew nuts. More of Triple P’s products include, sampaloc candies,
papaya relish (atsara), and honey.
With an initial capital of
P1,500.00 just enough to produce and sell pastillas in their small
community, backed by the owner’s passion to help her family, and the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) MIMAROPA’s support, the
enterprise grew remarkably. From a monthly gross sale of P12,000.00,
Triple P Food Products hit P200,000.00 to P300,000.00 gross sale per
month. Furthermore, the enterprise was able to employ two full-time
employees and 6 part-time employees.
Since DTI MIMAROPA’s
interventions, Triple P Food Products has attended several free
business development trainings and seminars, product packaging and
label designs assistance through the Regional Integrated Product
Development Assistance Project (RIPDA) under the One Town One
Product (OTOP) Program, laboratory analysis support, and
participation to numerous municipal, regional, and national trade
fairs. Ms. Daseco is also a member of the Paluan Food Processors
Association (PAFPA), cooperator of Milk Processing Shared Service
Facility, and a beneficiary of the Livelihood Seeding Program –
Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB), among others.
Triple P Food Products
takes pride in helping their community, especially the indigenous
peoples (IPs) and farmers, by buying their produce at fair prices.
DTI’s interventions helped
Jerlie Daseco to reach out to more aspiring and existing Mompreneurs,
having hired as one of the trainers of the Department on pastillas
and cashew nut processing in the province. This stay-at-home mom
turned entrepreneur is a perfect example of how one can ripple
change to the community through entrepreneurship.
Triple P Food Products has
also tapped the online market, enrolling their products to several
digital platforms, as assisted by DTI. They supply their products to
different stores in Occidental Mindoro and nearby provinces in the
region. Likewise, their product distribution has extended to Manila,
Batangas, and Tarlac, through retailers and distributors.
Interested buyers and
distributors may reach them via their official Facebook page: Triple
P Food Products -Apong. For more information on local products and
produce proudly made from MIMAROPA, visit the nearest DTI Provincial
Office or Negosyo Center.
Castriciones
signs AO giving land to agriculture graduates

By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
December 10, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY –
Agriculture graduates can now avail of farmland under the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) where they can apply
their knowledge on farming as Agrarian Reform Secretary Brother John
Castriciones signed Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
Administrative Order No. 03, series of 2020.
During the Radyo Agraryo
program aired on Monday (December 7) over Radyo Veritas,
Castriciones announced that he had already signed the said law that
would allow agriculture graduates to become agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) of CARP’s Land Transfer Program.
The new law will take
effect 10 days after it has been published in the newspaper of
general circulation.
To qualify, DAR
Undersecretary for Legal Affairs, Luis Meinrado Pañgulayan,
explained that aside from being a graduate of a four-year
agriculture-related course, the applicant must be landless; living
within the municipality where the land to be awarded is situated;
has the aptitude to make the land productive; and not an applicant
of any other DAR’s land transfer programs.
He emphasized that an
applicant need not be a fresh graduate.
Once this new law takes
effect, Pañgulayan said, interested applicants can file letter of
intent at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) in their area,
and fill out the forms that will be provided to them.
A certification from the
school registrar, where they completed their studies, attesting that
the applicant is truly a graduate of an agriculture-related course
must also be submitted, Pañgulayan added.
Two weeks ago,
Castriciones shared when he distributed Certificates of Land
Ownership Award (CLOAs) in Alangalang, Leyte, that his agency is
preparing an administrative order that would grant graduates of
agriculture-related courses a maximum of three-hectare farm lot
under CARP for their laboratory.
With the signing of the
new administrative order, Castriciones calls on parents to encourage
their children to take agriculture-related courses to boost the
country’s agriculture sector.
He reported that per
inventory, there are approximately 230,000 hectares of
government-owned lands (GOL) that may be involved all over the
country.
NCCP on Human
Rights Day: Stand for Justice, Stand for Human Rights
Press Release
December 10, 2020
QUEZON CITY – On
the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the National Council
of Churches in the Philippines joined the multisectoral actions
commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. “This year’s commemoration of International Human
Rights Day is a reminder that as Christians we must actively take
part in defending human dignity especially at a time when wanton
disregard for human rights and the rule of law seems to be a state
policy,” said Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, the General Secretary
of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
“To remain silent runs
counter to what our faith and conscience demand – to do justice, to
love kindness and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8)” Bishop
Marigza added.
The NCCP has always been
vocal in its defense of human rights especially in the midst of the
pandemic where spiraling deeper crises plague the country, and have
pushed many of the vulnerable sectors to the fringes of society as
toxic lockdowns were implemented. NCCP avers that the government’s
militaristic response to the pandemic only brought devastating
effects to the lives of the Filipino people.
The Council and its member
churches also experienced intensifying vilification and red-tagging.
Aside from NCCP, repeatedly mentioned in the recent presentations
made by NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Allen Apuyan were Iglesia
Filipina Independiente, United Church of Christ in the Philippines,
United Methodist Church and Convention of Philippine Baptist
Churches. Last December 8, the image of IFI Obispo Maximo Rhee
Timbang was also included in malicious flyers distributed around
Cagayan De Oro tagging him as a “communist terrorist”.
“Red tagging is real, but
despite these attacks, we will continue to defend human rights.
Denouncing evils in our society and proclaiming and asserting Jesus’
promise of abundant life for all remains to be our fundamental
task.” Bishop Marigza averred.
“The defense of human
rights is at the very core of our faith because of our belief in the
sanctity of life and the need to protect human dignity that God
bestowed on each of us. Just as Jesus triumphed over death in order
to proclaim God’s love, the churches will surely win against the
attempts to malign our ministry and prophetic stance. We will
continue to stand for human rights!” Bishop Marigza concluded.

DAR
to Door. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary
Brother John Castriciones delivers Certificates of Land
Ownership Award (CLOAs) to agrarian reform
beneficiaries’ (ARBs’) homes in Barangays Lourdes and
Bobonon in Alangalang, Leyte. |
Castriciones
delivers CLOAs in remote Leyte villages despite heavy rains
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
December 5, 2020
ALANGALANG, Leyte –
Despite the sudden heavy downpour, Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) Secretary Brother John Castriciones did not back out from his
original plan of delivering the Certificates of Land Ownership Award
(CLOAs) to six agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in a remote
village here under the “DAR to Door” program.
Upon his arrival on
Wednesday (November 25) in Tacloban City, Castriciones went directly
to this town, which is some 30 kilometers away.
Accompanied by his
deputies, Undersecretary David Erro of the Field Operations Office
and Undersecretary Carim Panumpang of the Special Concerns Office,
Castriciones proceeded to Barangay Lourdes, which is still about
five kilometers away from the town proper.
While in the middle of his
talk with ARB Francisco Catindoy in the land the latter is tilling,
heavy rain suddenly poured. But Castriciones patiently waited in a
nearby house of Bernardo Lagaday, another ARB, for the rain to
subside to continue with his purpose of delivering the CLOAs to the
homes of the four other recipient farmers in the area.
From Barangay Lourdes,
Castriciones went also to Barangay Bobonon to deliver the CLOA of
Alicia Tabernero, who became emotional when she received the land
title.
Tabernero, as she thanked
Secretary Castriciones, shared that she had been wishing for a long
time that the land she was tilling would be hers someday, and that
her wish is now being realized. She added that she valued much that
land especially the time that she was sending her children to
school.
On the following day,
Castriciones went back to this town and distributed in a formal rite
at the municipal covered court 1,280 more CLOAs covering an
aggregate area of over a thousand hectares to 1,042 ARBs from other
farming villages in this municipality as well as from the towns of
Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Jaro, Kananga, and
Pastrana.
According to Castriciones,
“kaya ako ay lumilibot sa buong Pilipinas upang palakasin ang
pag-asa ng ating mga magsasaka sapagkat alam ko na sa panahong ito
ay dapat silang bigyan ng pag-asa, bigyan sila ng motibasyon para
magpatuloy sa paghahanapbuhay bilang mga magsasaka.
Castriciones described the
farmers as true heroes of our nation.
He emphasized “malaki po
ang utang na loob ng ating bansa sa ating mga magsasaka lalo na
ngayong may pandemya. Dahil sa kanila may pagkain ang ating mga
mesa.”
Meanwhile, MAALSADA-Farmer
Irrigators Service Cooperative (FISCO) was honored on the same
occasion as outstanding agrarian reform beneficiaries organization (ARBO)
in the region for garnering the highest product sales encompassing
both the traditional and institutional markets, at P13.3-million
from March to October this year.
However, Reynaldo Peja,
chairman of the MAALSADA-FISCO, begged to increase the buying price
of rice. At present, a kilo of rice is sold at P12 only.
Karapatan files
complaint against gov’t officials engaged in red-tagging
By
KARAPATAN
December 4, 2020
QUEZOZN CITY – On
December 4, 2020, days after the last Senate committee hearing on
red-tagging, Karapatan filed criminal and administrative charges
against the ranking officials of the National Task Force to End
Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and former PCOO
Undersecretary Mocha Uson. The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
serves as Karapatan’s counsel in this case.
During the filing of
charges before the Office of the Ombudsman, Karapatan Secretary
General Cristina Palabay said Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Antonio
Parlade Jr., Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, and Esther Margaux “Mocha”
Uson should be held criminally and administratively liable for the
acts that malign, vilify and baselessly red-tag her along with
Karapatan’s officers and members.
Palabay said red-tagging
of activists and progressive groups has led to the killings of human
rights defenders, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and
detention, torture, criminalization of their jobs and advocacies,
and other defilements of their civil and political rights.
Parlade was earlier quoted
in an article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) entitled “Denounce
Reds over brutal slay of CAFGU member, Karapatan told”, written by
Priam Nepomuceno and published on June 2, 2019, alleging that
Karapatan has a connection with the New People’s Army.
“On March 7, 2019,
Respondent Parlade, in a poster shared from the account of the Civil
Relations Service AFP, referred to KARAPATAN as a terrorist front
organization, told the European Union (EU) and the United Nations
(UN) falsehoods with regards to the human rights situation in the
country, and sought material support from EU member states on the
basis of these false claims,” the 40-page complaint said.
“Thereafter, on April 9,
2019, Respondent Parlade utilized the social media as his platform
to spread lies against me and my organization KARAPATAN. In a story
published by Kalinaw News in its website, Respondent Parlade was
quoted.”
The complaint also cited
that Parlade continued red-tagging KARAPATAN, “that even our support
for the calls for press freedom insofar as the franchise renewal
issue of ABS-CBN is concerned was smeared with malicious and
baseless accusations against us.”
The complaint said the
respondents’ red-tagging of Palabay, KARAPATAN and its members and
officers violates the principle of distinction under international
and domestic humanitarian law.
The Philippine government
is a party to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). One of the
hallmark principles of International Humanitarian Law is the
principle of distinction, which restricts targets of attacks to
military objectives only to protect civilian persons and objects.
“Both parties affirmed the
applicability of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and its 1977 Additional
Protocols, which are main IHL treaties. The Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court has parallel provisions and principles
on this,” the complaint said.
Under the complaint,
Palabay and Karapatan said red-tagging constitutes the Crime against
Humanity of Persecution.
Republic Act No. 9851 (RA
9851) or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International
Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity
penalizes the crime against humanity of persecution.
Republic Act No. 9851 (RA
9851) or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International
Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity
penalizes the crime against humanity of persecution.
Under Section 3(p) of RA
9851, persecution refers to “the intentional and severe deprivation
of fundamental rights contrary to international law by reason of
identity of the group or collectivity.”
“This crime against
humanity is committed when there is persecution “against any
identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national,
ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, or other
grounds, committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack
directed against any civilian population,” the complaint said.
Under the complaint,
Karapatan and Palabay said the government officials also violated
the Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by doing acts that “are
contrary to law or regulation; are unreasonable, unfair, oppressive
or discriminatory; and are inconsistent with the general course of
an agency's functions, though in accordance with law proceed from a
mistake of law or an arbitrary ascertainment of facts; are in the
exercise of discretionary powers but for an improper purpose; or are
otherwise irregular, immoral or devoid of justification.”
“Respondents acted with
manifest partiality and evident bad faith when they recklessly
engaged in red-tagging me and KARAPATAN publicly, absent any
competent, admissible, much less credible evidence to prove their
claims,” the complainants said.
“Lastly, the red-tagging
and vilification against us have indubitably already caused us undue
injury not only by threatening our lives, liberty, security but also
discrediting our work and advocacy and besmirching our reputations.”
Download:
Copy of the complaint

Ninety-nine
LSP-NSB & PPG beneficiaries received livelihood packages
from DTI Asec. Niño Contreras with DTI R8 RD Celerina
Bato, DTI Leyte OIC-PD Araceli Larraga and other
government official. |
DTI Leyte grants
livelihood kits to 99 former rebels, MEs in Calubian, Leyte
By
DTI-OSEC-Office of the
Assistant Secretary for PPG
December 4, 2020
MAKATI CITY – The
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Leyte Provincial Office
grants livelihood kits to 82 former rebels (FRs) and 17 COVID-19
affected micro entrepreneurs of Calubian, Leyte during the
Livelihood Seeding Program (LSP) - Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB)
and Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program Distribution
of Livelihood Kits last November 19, 2020 at Brgy. Jubay, Calubian,
Leyte.
DTI Assistant Secretary
Niño Contreras, PPG Head for Visayas and Mindanao Region led the
distribution of P5,000.00 worth of sari-sari store and food
processing livelihood packages to these FRs together with Leyte
Vice-Governor Carlo P. Loreto representing Governor Dominic L.
Petilla, Representative Vicente Veloso of the 3rd District of Leyte,
Brigadier General Zosimo A. Olivares, Brigade Commander of 802
Brigade of the Philippine Army, DTI Region 8 Regional Director
Celerina T. Bato, Calubian Mayor Marciano A. Batiancela, Jr., DTI
Leyte OIC-Provincial Director Araceli D. Larraga and Capt. Roberto
Q. Beatisula, Jr., Battalion Commander of 93rd Infantry Battalion,
8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
“We are bringing the
services of the national government through DTI and other government
agencies to the remote barangays and conflict affected areas of the
country”, says Asec. Contreras.
He also emphasized that
“President Duterte is there to help the people affected by
calamities including those former rebels who are now in one with the
government.”
The sari-sari store
package is composed of: 72 pieces of instant noodles assorted
flavor, 240 single packs of 3-in-1 coffee, 50 pcs. canned sardines,
45 corned beef and 144 sachets of detergent powder. On the other
hand, the food processing package comprised of one (1) unit
two-burner gas stove, a frying pan and an 11 kg. filled liquefied
petroleum gas tank (LPG) with accessories. In addition to the
livelihood kits, the beneficiaries also received grocery items
courtesy of Senator Bong Go who co-funded the PPG program.
Mr. Rotchel Itol, a former
rebel expressed his deep gratitude to DTI and the national
government for the assistance received:
“Thank you very much to
DTI and to our government for this PPG livelihood grant. This is a
big help us (former rebels) as we start a new life”, he said. He
encouraged all other beneficiaries to properly manage the
pangkabuhayan kit they received. “Let us nurture the livelihood
packages given by the government so this will grow and help us
improve our lives”, Itol added.
The Pangkabuhayan sa
Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program is one of the initiatives of the
government and the Department of Trade and Industry that aims to
help micro entrepreneurs and individuals who were affected by
natural and man-made calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, flash floods, fires, health emergencies or
pandemics and local armed conflicts. The said program gives a fast
and easy source of initial capital in the form of livelihood kits
such as the sari-sari store and food processing package to help
micro entrepreneurs recover from the effects of a calamity and for
identified individuals like former rebels start a new business
opportunity.
First BAHANDI
Virtual Trade Fair earns more than P8M
By
DTI-Regional Operations
Group
December 2, 2020
MAKATI CITY – Moved
by the determination of our assisted micro entrepreneurs and the
readily available opportunity for a wider market reach through
technology, the Department of Trade and Industry Region 8 launched
its first BAHANDI Eastern Visayas Virtual Trade Fair.
The Trade Fair ran from
November 16-20, 2020 which was participated by 104 micro
entrepreneurs across the region. These entrepreneurs showcased their
products remotely using online platforms such as Zoom and Facebook.
The products were also posted online as DTI sees it as one of the
best marketing strategies in this season.
The micro small and
entrepreneurs generated a total sale of P8,087,302 including cash
and booked orders. Food products in the region remain best sellers
with 81% chunk from the total sales generated.
Top sellers were Alboco
Food Industry with P2.775 M sales for peanut butter and Delza’s
Native Products with P450,230.00.
The products are still
posted at the BAHANDI Eastern Visayas FB Page and the PLDT Kaasenso
Virtual Trade Expo Platform.

OIC-Regional
Director Ismael Aya-ay (2nd from right) of the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas
turns over the P201,000.00 cash to DAR Secretary Brother
John Castriciones (extreme right) as financial
assistance for colleagues in Regions II and V who were
severely affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
Assistant Secretary David Erro (left) and Assistant
Regional Director Ma. Fe Malinao (2nd from left) witness
the event.
(Jose Alsmith L. Soria) |
DAR-EV employees
extend financial assistance to victims of Typhoons Rolly, Ulysses
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
December 1, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY – OIC-Regional
Director Ismael Ay-ay of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in
Eastern Visayas turned over on Friday P201,000.00 to Agrarian Reform
Secretary, Brother John Castriciones as financial assistance for
colleagues in Regions II and V who were severely affected by
Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
Aya-ay disclosed that the
said amount was a combined contribution of all employees throughout
the region.
Even the contractual and
job-order employees did not hesitate to voluntarily share any amount
they could afford. No matter how small an amount is, but when
summed-up, we were able to raise more than P200,000.00, Aya-ay
added.
According to Girlie Costa,
a job-order employee assigned at the Land Tenure Service Division,
“we can feel how they feel now because we’ve been through the same
situation when Typhoon Yolanda struck our region in 2013, and they
were there to help us recover from devastation.”
“Now, it’s our time to
help them. It’s time that we show them our love even in a small
way,” said Costa.
Earlier, DAR Southern
Leyte Provincial Office send more than P10,000.00 to the DAR
Employees Association in Central Office for the same purpose.
Meanwhile, Castriciones
was in the Region 8 last week to distribute Certificates of Land
Ownership Award (CLOAs).
Young female NPA
fighter killed in a clash in Kananga, Leyte
By
802nd Infantry Brigade,
8ID PA
November 28, 2020
CAMP DOWNES, Ormoc City
– A young female NPA fighter died in a 15- minute clash between the
operating troops of the 93rd Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry
Division, Philippine Army and the Communist Party of the
Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) at Sitio Mat-i, Barangay
Mahawan, Kananga, Leyte about 3:35pm today.
The Kananga Municipal
Police Station identified the fatality as a certain Rochelle Mae
Bacalso alias Ruth/Justine, about 21 years old, said to be a
newly-recruited member of the remnants of Sub-Regional Committee
Levox, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, CPP-NPA-NDF.
The attending physician
declared her dead when brought to the Kananga Municipal Hospital,
where the troops rushed her in an attempt to save her life. She
sustained gunshot wounds in the body that caused her death.
Bacalso was among the
undetermined number of CPP-NPA terrorists who attempted to ambush a
team of soldiers patrolling in the area. The soldiers were deployed
to check reports from local residents on the presence of armed
persons who were suspected to be communist terrorists.
Captured from the
encounter site were one Austrian-made Glock pistol, one bandoleer
for M16 magazines, one magazine for M16 rifle with 29 pieces of
caliber 5.56 ammunition, one backpack with personal belongings, one
cellular phone, four hammocks, four poncho tents, and documents with
high intelligence value.
It can be recalled that in
the aftermath of the first armed encounter between 93IB troops and
the same marauding CPP-NPA band led by a certain Juanito Selleza
alias Tibor, the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, 8ID, PA posted
in its Facebook Page photos of a certain Ruth alias Justine who was
identified as a member of the engaged communist terrorist group.
The 802Bde appealed to the
public then for help in locating her family in Samar Island or
elsewhere in Eastern Visayas in a bid to rescue her from the CTG
that deceived her into joining the armed struggle.
Facial photos taken from
the remains of the female NPA casualty whom the police identified as
Rochelle Mae Bacalso matched with the photos of Ruth alias Justine,
which were downloaded from her Facebook account bearing the pseudo
name of “Kenlyn Mark.” Three unmistakable moles under her lower lip
confirmed her identity.
Brig. Gen. Zosimo A.
Oliveros PA, commander of the 802Bde, reiterates his previous call
for “the local CTG members to abandon the armed struggle and return
to the mainstream of the society and become productive citizens.”

Army troops
seized high-powered firearm, explosives in Northern Samar clash
By
803rd Infantry Brigade,
8ID PA
November 28, 2020
CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – The troops of the 43rd Infantry Battalion engaged in an
encounter with more or less 25 Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) after
a concerned citizen reported the presence of an armed group in the
vicinity of Barangay Mabini, Catarman, Northern Samar on November
27, 2020.
Gunfight lasted for about
15 minutes. No casualty on the operating troops while an
undetermined number of wounded NPA terrorists were reported based on
the bloodstains found in the encounter site.
Seized during the clash
were one M16 rifle, one shotgun, a hand grenade, detonator with
detonator cord, six M16-magazines, 91 rounds of ammunition,
bandolier, laptop, cellphones, 22 backpacks with personal
belongings, five CNT flags, medical supplies and subversive
documents.
The Commander of the 803rd
Infantry Brigade, Colonel Lowell R Tan, lauded the troops of 43IB
for their efforts in protecting the community of Barangay Mabini. He
also thanked the residents who gave the information.
“Let us continue engaging
the community from the Barangay down to Sitios, to build a strong
rapport with the communities and help them cooperate with the
government and the armed forces. The government troops are also
willing to extend our hand for the wounded members of the NPA,” Tan
said.
NMP BOT approves
offering of Vessel Crane Operator Course

By
National Maritime Polytechnic
November 28, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY –
Driven to address the current training needs of domestic and
ocean-going seafarers and maritime allied personnel, the National
Maritime Polytechnic developed new training course, namely: Vessel
Crane Operator Course which aimed to provide adequate training and
familiarization on the usage and operation of a vessel crane
equipment to ensure the safety of the crew, dockworkers and cargoes.
Reports revealed that
majority of crane accidents are caused by human error, resulting to
safety risk, and controllable lost time to the whole operation and
even death, however, these accidents may be minimized, controlled,
or prevented if the person assigned to operate has the proper
training, thus, equipped with the needed knowledge, understanding
and skills on the principles and safe practices relative to the its
operation.
It can be recalled that
last 19 July 2019, on the occasion of the Maritime Industry
Tripartite Council Dialogue held in Cebu City, NMP Head of the
Curriculum Development Section, Capt. Chito A. Go had an initial
discussion with a representative from the Gothong Southern Shipping
Lines, Inc. (GSSLI) on the possible development of a company
specific course for vessel crane operator to address the latter’s
need to increase awareness and to keep its crew and personnel
abreast of the safe and effective operation of the equipment.
Relative to said cause, a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was forged by both parties on 18
September 2019 in Cebu City. The course development was completed in
the 3rd quarter of CY 2020 and pilot-class was eventually conducted
on 24 October 2020 with twelve (12) participants. It was also
attended in by six (6) validators, three (3) from NMP and three (3)
from GSSLI.
After the successful
conduct of the pilot-class, the course package was presented to the
NMP Polytechnic Council on 06 November 2020 where it was thoroughly
deliberated and agreed to have it endorsed to the NMP Board of
Trustees and seek their approval.
The NMP Board of Trustees
(BOT) during its Third (3rd) Regular Meeting (virtual) on 25
November 2020 approved the Agency’s proposal to offer the said
course with a training fee of Two Hundred Eighty-One Pesos (P
281.00) only.
Schedules for the conduct
of the training will be finalized and posted at the NMP website:
www.nmp.gov.ph or in the Agency’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/
nmptrainingcenter) where all updates and relevant information on NMP
programs are also available.
Meanwhile, NMP continues
to conduct face-to-face trainings with strict implementation of the
Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) approved Post-Enhanced
Community Quarantine Operational Plan and other health and safety
protocols as required by the Department of Health (DOH), Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and local government unit (LGU).
Likewise, Filipino
seafarers who are interested to avail of the NMP’s FREE online
classes on SHAPIMS, PADAMS, and GSTS may register through this link:
https://nmp.gov.ph/online-course-offerings/.
Interested stakeholders
who wish to validate the authenticity of their seafarers-employed
with NMP issued certificates may visit www.verify.nmp.gov.ph.
Likewise, those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit
the NMP website and access the e-Research Information System Portal
which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present
the Research Agenda, and engage the industry stakeholders to
collaborate in the research activities.
Further, NMP encourages
OWWA registered seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) and
Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) which entitles the
beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from
the OWWA.
1st NSPMFC, POP
celebrate National Children’s Month with 200 schoolers and non-schoolers
By
LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN
November 28, 2020
CAMP CARLOS DELGADO,
Catarman, Northern Samar – The First Northern Samar Provincial
Mobile Force Company (1st NSPMFC), Philippine National Police (PNP),
in a joint activity with the People’s Outreach Program (POP),
celebrated the 28th National Children’s Month with 200 school and
non-schoolers in Barangay Mirador, Mondragon of same province, on
November 25, 2020.
November marks the
National Children’s Month as declared by the Council of Welfare for
Children (CWC). The month-long event aims to promote awareness on
the children’s rights and protection.
COVID-19 has disrupted the
activities in an environment where children thrive that basically
affect their rights to enjoy and develop themselves; thus, the
celebration.
The distress suffered by
the families, coupled with restricted movement, aggravated the risks
of children to certain abuses like neglect, exploitative labor,
social exclusion, physical, sexual and psychological, which existed
long before the spread of the dreaded corona virus.
With the theme:
“Sama-samang Itaguyod ang Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Panahon ng
Pandemya”, 1st NSPMFC, collaborated with POP and local officials of
said barangay including feeding and distribution of slippers,
facemask and school supplies.
Relatively, each child
received copy of 1st NSPMFC’s Comic Books as additional reading
materials which promote the PNP’s campaign against terrorism. Parlor
games concluded a fun-filled and enjoyable Children’s Month
Celebration.
Meanwhile, an orientation
was simultaneously conducted to the parents and guardians to take
care of their children by upholding their rights especially during
this global crisis.
The significance of
responsible parenting plays a primordial role in influencing the
developmental competence and life course trajectories of the
children.
“Our children must be
treated with utmost protection. Being powerless, they become
vulnerable to exploitation, violence and certain abuses. As
protector of innocents and weak, we assure to stand for their
security and protection and exemplify ourselves as role model to
guide them along their journey,” said Police Major Edwin Oloan Jr,
1st NSPMFC Commander.
Upset Hindus urge
ex-beautyqueen Imelda apologize & replace album cover mimicking
goddess Kali
Press Release
November 26, 2020
Upset Hindus are urging
Filipino-German musician and former beauty queen Imelda Bautista
Schweighart to apologize and replace cover of her album “Fuccboi”
emulating Hindu goddess Kali, calling it highly inappropriate.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed,
in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that goddess Kali was
highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples
or home shrines and not to be used for selling albums with vulgar
names. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols
or icons for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the
devotees.
Celebrities should not be
in the business of religious appropriation, sacrilege, and
ridiculing entire communities. It was deeply disrespectful and
trivializing of divine Hindu deities to be ill-used in scenarios
like this; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism,
emphasized.
Hinduism was the oldest
and third largest religion of the world with about 1.2 billion
adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be
taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should
not be mishandled; Rajan Zed noted.
Zed further said that such
trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world
over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as
anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and
attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
Goddess Kali, who
personifies Sakti or divine energy, is widely worshipped in
Hinduism. She is considered the goddess of time and change. Some
Bengali poets described her as supreme deity.

On-going
construction/improvement of access roads leading to
trades, industries and economic zones -
Caraycaray-Cabungaan-Libtong road in support of the
agribusiness: food and resource-based processing in Brgy.
Libtong, Naval, Biliran. |
DPWH-Biliran DEO
improves road in support of agribusiness in Libtong, Naval
By
DPWH Biliran
November 26, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran –
The on-going construction/ improvement of access road in Libtong,
Naval town in support of the agribusiness: food and resource-based
processing is now more than halfway complete.
The project which starts
from Brgy. Caraycaray-Cabungaan-Libtong is now on its third phase of
implementation, according to David P. Adongay Jr., District
Engineer.
According to Adongay, this
is a multi-year funded project from FY 2018-2022 under the
Convergence program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). This project
covers a total length of 5.8-kilometer two-lane road concreting with
road slope protection, masonry barriers, drainage structures and
rehabilitation of damaged pavement with an allocation amount of
P187.9M.
To date, DPWH Biliran
District Engineering Office (DEO) has completed a total length of
1.6-kilometer two lane road under 2018 and 2019 implementation.
Currently, DPWH Biliran
DEO is implementing the 1.86-kilometer two-lane road concreting with
drainage & slope protection in Brgy. Libtong under 2020
implementation. This project has a contract amount of P46.7M and is
now 71.64% complete as of October 31, 2020.
The completion of the
project by phases will provide a safer and faster transport of
farmers’ agricultural products for food and resource-based
processing such as palay, abaca, copra, cassava, camote, curioso and
ginger in Brgy. Libtong to the market center in the progressive town
of Naval and to the nearby urban areas.
High-powered
firearm, explosives seized in Paranas, Samar clash
By
801st Infantry Brigade,
8ID PA
November 26, 2020
FATIMA, Hinabangan,
Samar – Operating troops of the 87th Infantry Battalion engaged
in an encounter with Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) following a tip
from a resident of the presence of terrorists in Barangay Sto. Niño,
Paranas, Samar, 9:40 a.m. on November 25, 2020.
During the conduct of
focus military operations, the army troopers clashed against five
CNTs in a 10-minute firefight.
No casualty on the
government side while an undetermined casualty was reported on the
terrorist side following the bloodstains found in the area and route
of withdrawal.
Seized during the
operation were one AK47, bandoleer, three long magazines, 27
ammunition, two improvised grenades, cellphones, and subversive
documents.
“The army will continue
its offensive against the NPA. We will assure the people of Samar
that the Army will continue relentlessly and will use all its
resources against the threat group. The government troops will not
stop until we see an end to the local communist armed conflict”,
said Brigadier General Camilo Z Ligayo, Commander of 801st Brigade.
Ligayo also encouraged the
people to work closely with the authorities by reporting any
information regarding the NPA movements and activities in their
communities.
Paying it
forward: NMP mobilizes donation drive for MPCF

By
National Maritime Polytechnic
November 25, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY –
Humbled by the Super-typhoon Yolanda experience in November 2013,
the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) rolled out a donation drive
for the victims of Super-typhoon Rolly in Bicol region, particularly
to the employees, staff, and students of the Mariners Polytechnic
Colleges Foundation (MPCF) - Legaspi and Naga Campuses. A special
committee for the said undertaking was created, chaired by the NMP
Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Mayla N. Macadawan.
“It is our time now to
give back to the MPCF who wholeheartedly helped NMP recover and
rebuild after the onslaught of Super-typhoon Yolanda. In the spirit
of unity, we need to help them, no matter how small, to reciprocate
the kindness they extended to NMP during the difficult and
challenging days of Yolanda, besides, no act of kindness is too
small”, said NMP Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod.
It can be recalled that on
26 November 2013, roughly eighteen (18) days after Yolanda,
Commodore Dante L Jimenez, the then President and CEO of the MPCF,
visited NMP and upon seeing the damages wrought by the typhoon,
volunteered in mobilizing assistance from the private maritime
sector including the Philippine Association of Maritime Training
Center, Inc. (PAMTCI) and other maritime associations.
The MPCF deployed four (4)
batches of its National Service Training Program (NSTP) cadets to
NMP from December 2013 to March 2014 for the much-needed clearing
and cleaning operations. Relief goods consisting of food packs and
used clothing were also distributed to NMP employees, job order
workers, and security guards.
NMP knows how it feels
after being devastated by a super-typhoon, life was grey and dreary.
However, everything had to be recovered including the broken spirits
of the people affected, thus, the donation drive was pushed to
convey the NMP’s heartfelt appreciation to the overwhelming support
of the MPCF who laboriously helped the Agency to rise above the
shackles of uncertainties brought by Yolanda.
Through the concerted
efforts of the NMP management and staff, the Agency’s sole and
exclusive negotiating agent, the NMP Services Association (NMPSA),
and the Philippine Coast Guard - Coast Guard District Eastern
Visayas (CGDEV), the relief assistance was successfully turned -over
to the MPCF on 21 November 2020.
“We are very much glad and
thankful for the assistance of NMP and for its effort of personally
coming to our place to hand-over the heartwarming donations for the
victims of Typhoon Rolly”, relayed by Ms. Ahmie Lanuzo, Community
Extension Service Director of MPCF.
NMP will forever be
grateful to everyone who in one way or another helped the Agency to
rise again after the devastation of Yolanda, repositioning NMP for a
higher rebound in maritime training and research.

Eastern Visayas’
economy slows down to 5.3% in 2019
By
PSA-8
November 24, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY – The
economy of Eastern Visayas grew by 5.3 percent in 2019, albeit,
slower than the 7.0 percent growth recorded in 2018. The economic
growth in 2019 was driven by the Financial and Insurance Activities
(FIA), Education, Manufacturing, Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair
of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles, and Electricity, Steam, Water
Supply and Waste Management (ESWW).
Services sustained its 9.1
percent growth in 2019. Among its sub-industries, Financial and
Insurance Activities (FIA), as well as Information and Communication
(IAC) posted accelerated growths at 19.3 percent from 12.1 percent,
and 11.0 percent from 7.2 percent, respectively. Public
Administration and Defense; Compulsory Social Security (PAD)
sustained its 14.1 percent growth in 2019.
Other sub-industries grew
at a slower pace: Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor
Vehicles and motorcycles slowed down to 6.0 percent from 7.6
percent; Transportation and Storage decelerated to 5.3 percent from
12.7 percent; Accommodation and Food Service Activities (AFSA)
decelerated to 1.8 percent from 19.9 percent; Real Estate and
Ownership of Dwellings (REOD) slowed down to 3.0 percent from 6.1
percent.
Professional and Business
Services (PBS) decelerated to 4.0 percent from 4.9 percent;
Education decelerated to 13.5 percent from 14.2 percent. Meanwhile,
Other Services (OS) rebounded from 4.0 percent contraction in 2018
to 16.2 percent growth in 2019. Human Health and Social Work
Activities (HHSWA) continued to decline at a slower rate to 0.7
percent in 2019 from 7.3 percent contraction in 2018.
Industry decelerated to
2.2 percent in 2019 from 7.7 percent in 2018. Electricity, Steam,
Water Supply and Waste Management slowed down to 7.1 percent from
7.4 percent. Manufacturing recovered from 6.6 percent contraction in
2018 to 6.0 percent growth in 2019. Meanwhile, Mining and Quarrying
(MAQ), and Construction contracted to 6.0 percent and 1.8 percent in
2019, respectively.
Meanwhile, Agriculture,
Forestry and Fishing (AFF) recovered from 0.8 percent contraction in
2018 to 2.1 percent growth in 2019.
Services and Industry
shared the bulk of the region’s economy at 46.8 percent and 39.7
percent, respectively. AFF had a share of 13.5 percent.
Among the three (3) major
industries, Services contributed most to the region’s overall growth
rate at 4.1 percentage points. Industry shared 0.9 percentage point,
followed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing at 0.3 percentage
point.
Puentespina Farms
opens doors to DavOr’s cacao farmers, coops

By
DTI-Regional Operations
Group
November 24, 2020
DAVAO CITY – The
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Rural Agro-enterprise
Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth)
Project, in partnership with the Puentespina Farms, conducted a
five-day intensive training on cacao processing, bean trading, and
cacao economics among the seven cacao farmer organizations from
Davao Oriental on November 16 to20.
The Puentespina Farms,
through its Malagos Cacao Development Center (MCDC), which is the
birth place of the award-winning Malagos Chocolate, shared its
processing technology, standards and protocols that brought them to
the world stage. The participants, composed of twelve farmers,
underwent several activities to hone their skills further. These
included those on understanding the Philippine cacao genetics and
opportunities, productivity enhancement, fermentation and drying
process, bean grading and cacao economics, such as product costing.
Furthermore, the cacao farmers and coop leaders had an actual field
demonstration on all the topics to ensure that they acquired the
necessary knowledge and skills related to technology and the science
behind cacao production and processing.
In the meantime, the
participants also received an orientation on Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP) and process requirements from the Department of
Agriculture (DA) Regulatory Division, as part of the project’s
package of assistance. Likewise, the Philippine Crop Insurance
Corporation (PCIC) gave an orientation of its services, as well as,
encouraged these farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
to avail of the government’s subsidized insurance intervention.
The seven farmer
organizations that participated in the latest activities were the
Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa San Isidro (NAGMASID ARCO), Davao Oriental
Coco & Cacao Development Coalition (DOCCIDeC), Limot Tribal Mandaya
Coop (LIMTRIMCO), Gov. Generoso Cacao Farmers (GGCFA), Panikian
Cacao Sustainable Farmers (PACSFA), NAKMACCO and Yagakauyon ng
Kooperatiba ng San Ignacio (YAKOSI). They would cascade these
learnings to their respective members. These groups are
beneficiaries of DA’s Philippine Rural Development Program’s (PRDP)
cacao post-harvest facilities. As such, the DTI-RAPID Growth Project
complements the other government agencies’ interventions and
harmonizes the support to ensure that the proposed business model
will be carried out and sustained.
The MCDC shared the same
vision with the DTI - RAPID Growth Project, which is to build and
sustain a solid supply of raw materials. Thus, it commits to help in
the production of high quality cacao beans, while strengthening the
foundation of cacao farming. Along this line, the company will enter
into a marketing agreement with the farmer organizations. Part of
the said partnership are the continuous technical interventions of
MCDC, particularly the Puentespina Farms. Being the anchor firm, it
would help establish the business enterprise systems and protocols
of the backward links. This partnership with MCDC is expected to
benefit around 300 to 350 cacao farmers, by having an institutional
market for high quality beans.
Puentespina Farms owner
Charita Puentespina encouraged the farmer leaders to share the
knowledge they acquired to their members and to really nurture their
most vital capital - the cacao variety in the Philippines.
“If there’s proper
technology transfer, the farmers could get a premium price for their
produce, since they are targeting to provide and offer fine cacao
both to the local and international markets,” Puentespina said.
To achieve the
collaboration’s objective, all parties agreed to continuously work
together to finalize their commercial partnership agreement. This
would include the operation systems and protocols and the roles and
responsibilities of each of them to strengthen and sustain the
partnership.
The DTI- RAPID Growth
Project is a special initiative, which DTI implements, and with a
funding support from the International Fund for Agriculture
Development (IFAD). It focuses on four industries - cacao, coffee,
coconut and processed fruits and nuts.

Completed
construction of road slope protection in Brgy.
Tomalistis, Caibiran, Biliran. |
DPWH-Biliran DEO
completes P35.7M road slope protection in Caibiran, Biliran
Press Release
November 23, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran –
Motorists are now enjoying a wider and safer travel along Tomalistis
Road in the town of Caibiran as the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District Engineering Office completes the
P35.7M road slope protection project.
According to David P.
Adongay Jr., District Engineer, the construction of road slope
protection was implemented in three road sections at Tomalistis road
along Biliran Circumferential Road (BCR) where road slips and
landslides are most likely to occur.
The said project entails
the construction of 2,002.87 square meters of road slope protection
(gravity wall) (left side) including re-blocking and paving of
shoulder.
The District Engineer said
that the completion of the said project will prevent further road
slips and landslides along this road section at BCR, thereby
protecting the existing national road from future damage.
“Road closures because of
road slips and landslides causes inconvenience to the travelling
public, the completion of this road slope protection will ensure
that motorists can always have an alternative route along BCR when
other road sections will be closed to traffic,” Adongay said.
Moreover, the road slope
protection project will preserve the existing concrete road
subjected to wear and tear of heavy equipment and vehicles. This
will earn the government savings in rehabilitating damaged pavement
in the future caused by slips and soil collapse.

MARINA
Representative, Engr. Jose Romualdo Denzon, conducting
on-site inspection for AFF and RAFF training courses on
October 21, 2020. |
NMP courses pass
MARINA accreditation
By
National Maritime Polytechnic
November 20, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY – The
National Maritime Polytechnic’s (NMP) application for
reaccreditation of its two (2) Standards of Training, Certification,
and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) courses, namely: Advanced Fire
Fighting (AFF) and Refresher Course on Advanced Fire Fighting (RAFF)
have been approved by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
In the official letter
issued by MARINA dated 30 October 2020, which was received by NMP on
05 November 2020, the aforementioned STCW courses were granted full
course approval valid for three (3) years effective upon payment of
course approval fees. However, the 3-year validity period of RAFF
will commence from the grant of its Provisional Authority to conduct
the said training on 01 July 2019.
Alongside with the
approval of the said courses, MARINA also accredited the NMP’s
instructors, assessors and supervisors who will be handling the
above-mentioned courses.
During the 3-year period,
announced and unannounced visits will be made by MARINA STCW Office
or its duly authorized representatives to ascertain NMP’s compliance
with the MARINA’s rules and regulations.
Moreover, the records of
implementation of corrective actions for audit results both internal
and external, records of review and validation of the courses
including the assessment and statistical record of trainees enrolled
/ certificated must be made available during the conduct of
monitoring.
NMP Executive Director
Joel B. Maglunsod expressed his appreciation to MARINA for granting
the full course approval of the Agency’s ten (10) STCW courses
within the year.
“We are thankful for the
support and guidance that the MARINA has continuously extended to
NMP throughout our journey in putting our STCW courses in place
which paved way to the accreditation of our ten (10) STCW courses
which took us over two (2) years of working out”, said ED Maglunsod.
It can be recalled that
NMP applied for reaccreditation of its ten (10) STCW courses in
January 2018. The full course approval of each course was issued in
a staggered basis pending the compliance with the requirements set
forth under MARINA STCW Advisory No. 2019-05 re: Clarifications and
Supplemental Guidelines on the Implementation of STCW Circular No.
2018-02 entitled “Standards for Mandatory Training Courses Under the
STCW Convention, 1978, as Amended” and the results of the site
inspections conducted last 24-28 February and 21 October this year.
The aforementioned courses
are now open for enrollment. Interested enrollees may call the NMP
Registrar’s Office at the following contact numbers: 0965-182-3521 /
0939-006-3780 or the Information Marketing Section (IMS) through
cellphone no. 0936-786-2196 or email us at info@nmp.gov.ph. They may
also visit the NMP website @ www.nmp.gov.ph or the agency’s Facebook
page (www.facebook.com/ nmptrainingcenter) where all updates and
relevant information on NMP programs are available.
Meanwhile, NMP continues
to conduct face-to-face trainings with strict implementation of the
Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) approved Post-Enhanced
Community Quarantine Operational Plan and other health and safety
protocols as required by the Department of Health (DOH), Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and local government unit (LGU).
Likewise, Filipino
seafarers who are interested to avail of the NMP’s FREE online
classes on SHAPIMS, PADAMS, and GSTS may register through this link:
https://nmp.gov.ph/online-course-offerings/.
Interested stakeholders
who wish to validate the authenticity of their seafarers-employed
with NMP issued certificates may visit www.verify.nmp.gov.ph.
Likewise, those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit
the NMP website and access the e-Research Information System Portal
which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present
the Research Agenda, and engage the industry stakeholders to
collaborate in the research activities.
Further, NMP encourages
OWWA registered seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) and
Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) which entitles the
beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from
the OWWA.
Road leading to
Mapaso Hot Spring undertaken

By
GISSELLE G. PARUNGAO
November 19, 2020
CALBAYOG CITY – An
access road leading to Mapaso Hot Spring is currently undertaken by
the Department of Public Works Highways- Samar First District
Engineering Office.
This road taps from an
existing road that leads to Maharlika Highway and will lead to one
of the leading tourist destinations in Calbayog City, the Mapaso Hot
Spring. This is drawn from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2020
with a total allocation of P30 million.
Calbayog City is
well-endowed with natural resources and potential tourist magnets.
Mapaso Hot Spring is one of the main tourist attractions of Calbayog
City, well-known for its soothing and refreshing pools of hot water.
Bordered by mountain glades and rich vegetation, the place is as
remote as it gets.
There are two ways that
this destination can be reached. One way is through Oquendo
Poblacion where you would have to take a boat to cross a river (Oquendo
River) going to the hot spring which will take 30 minutes.
Another way is to go
through Barangay Amampacang then to Dinagan, Mabini and finally in
Barangay Rizal II which is roughly 6.6 kilometers with a vehicle.
Calbayog City is a
fast-growing commercial hub. With its boom comes the need for bigger
and better thoroughfares to accommodate the increasing traffic
volume and influx of tourists that may visit the tourist
destination.
Samar agrarian
reform beneficiaries organization wins DOST award
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
November 19, 2020
JIABONG, Samar –
The operationalization of a common service facility by a pop rice
producer-agrarian reform beneficiaries organization (ARBO) based in
this fifth class municipality was recognized on Friday by the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as this year’s best
Grant-in-Aid (GIA) science and technology project implemented in
Eastern Visayas.
Cantongtong Agrarian Rice
Farmers Association (CARFA) bested five other contenders coming from
the five other provinces in the region and received P5,000 cash
prize.
This was announced during
the virtual culmination activity of the weeklong celebration of
DOST-8’s National Science and Technology Week held on November 9-13,
with this year’s theme, “Agham at Teknolohiya: Sandigan ng Kabuhayan,
Kaayusan at Kinabukasan".
OIC-Regional Director
Ismael Aya-ay of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sent his
congratulatory message to CARFA for the honors they are reaping now.
Aya-ay is happy to know that CARFA is taking advantage of the all
the assistance and opportunities extended to them.
He likewise commended
those responsible at the DAR Samar Provincial Office and at the
Municipal Agrarian Reform Office of Jiabong for a job well done.
According to Engr. Ramil
Uy, DOST-8 Information Officer, CARFA stood out for its best
practices and community participation as well as its socio-economic
impact.
Uy disclosed that the
judges were moved by the transformation of CARFA which started
producing pop rice the traditional way until they were able to
acquire modern equipment through the combined assistance of DOST,
DAR and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
CARFA is composed of 46
rice farmers. According to Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer
(MARPO) Thelma Alfaro, 41 of the members are agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs). Thus, DAR organized them into an association
in 2012, Alfaro added.
For additional income,
CARFA produced pop rice made from left over rice that are sun-dried
and fried to puff the grains.
DAR Samar Provincial
Office’s Enterprise Development and Economic Support point person,
Monica Bato (now MARPO), disclosed that in 2016 CARFA became a
recipient of a processing facility under DAR’s Village Level
Farm-Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project.
Later, it received more
assistance under the DAR, DTI-CARP, DOST Regional Synchronization,
as well as from the provincial government under then Governor Sharee
Ann Tan.
From the various
assistance, CARFA was able to procure modern equipment, exposed to
skills trainings, and was able to comply with the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) requirements.
Bato further disclosed
that with the P250,000 Grant-in-Aid from the DOST, CARFA was able to
acquire nitrogen gas flushing packaging machine and stainless
pre-cutter molders. They were also able to undergo training on Good
Manufacturing Practices, which led to FDA’s approval in granting the
association in 2018 the License to Operate (LTO), making them
eligible to penetrate a wider market for their product, Bato
explained.
From plain pop rice they
used to produce, CARFA has now nine available flavors to choose
from: peanut, pili, cookies and cream, vanilla, sesame seeds,
marshmallow, choco-coated, pandan and butter.
In 2019, CARFA’s sales on
pop rice had increased by 50 percent with 4,470 packs sold. It has
also generated employment at least to its members.
DPWH - LGU Naval
tackle solutions to sustain major bridge detours in Naval

By
DPWH Biliran
November 18, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran – To
address the recurring problem on the Caraycaray and Catmon Bridge
Detours in Naval town, the Naval Local Legislative Members and the
Department of Public Works and Highways- Biliran District
Engineering Office (DPWH-BDEO) joined hand in hand to find solution
for the problem.
During the 59th Regular
Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Session of the Local Legislative Members on
November 16, 2020 at SB Session Hall, David P. Adongay Jr., District
Engineer (DE) and Alfredo L. Bollido, Assistant District Engineer (ADE)
clarify and explain some issues regarding the controversial bridges
and detours in Naval, Biliran.
Recently, the Catmon and
Caraycaray Bridge Detours became unpassable to the travelling public
due to the continuous heavy rains brought by subsequent typhoons:
Rolly (October 25, 2020) and Ulysses (November 10, 2020) that caused
the water to overflow which resulted to erosion of the bridge
detours.
To prevent or minimize the
situation of the said detours, Hon. Eduardo B. Gaviola, SB Member
suggested to DPWH thru DE Adongay to improve the roadway of the
Catmon Bridge detour by concreting it, similar to the detour of
Caraycaray Bridge. Gaviola also suggested to conduct a rechanneling
on the Catmon and Caraycaray rivers.
Citing the construction/
widening of the Anas Bridge project, Gaviola said that the bridge
was no longer inundated as it used to, after the said project was
completed. In his assumption, because the aggregates used during the
construction of the said project was taken from Anas River, it makes
the river deeper and wider, thus less likely for water to overflow.
The suggestion was
supported by Hon. Ben T. Olid, SB Member. He added that if
rechanneling would be done, quarried materials should be taken away
or be placed at the back of the flood control where it cannot return
to the river.
DE Adongay explained that
the district office has already submitted a request for funding, not
for rechanneling but for dredging of all rivers in Biliran right
after typhoon Urduja in 2017.
However, Adongay said that
there was no action taken regarding this request. The District
Engineer suggested to the Local Legislative to conduct a topographic
survey in coordination with the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) to determine the portion of the river
channel where dredging/ rechanneling has to be undertaken. He
suggested the SB Members to pass a resolution through the
Congressman of the Lone District of Biliran requesting the DPWH for
funding of the project.
On the status of the
construction/ replacement of Caraycaray Bridge currently being
implemented by the DPWH Regional Office VIII, the District Engineer
reported that the delay has remained caused by the unavailability of
required pile integrity and dynamic strain tests, since accredited
companies (geotechnical firms) from Manila and Cebu are still
affected with travel restrictions due to the prevailing pandemic.
According to Adongay, the
said construction tests are part of the construction process and a
requirement. He explained that the absence of the said tests will
affect the bridge construction process which will result in
variation order and additional expenses. The said tests are also
needed for the Construction/ Replacement of the Catmon Bridge.
Hon. Marietta C. Ebio, SB
Member clarified that workers who are doing projects in the Province
are no longer required to undergo quarantine as long as they will
coordinate with the LGU. According to Hon. Ebio, workers can
immediately report to their work assignments as long as they will
just be in one place for the whole stay.
During the session, some
issues were also brought up concerning DPWH infrastructure projects.
The meeting concluded with
DE Adongay assuring that the suggestions/ recommendations taken
during the meeting be brought to the attention of the DPWH Regional
Office for action.
A closer look of
Farm-to-market road in Barangays Imelda to Avelino

By
GISSELLE G. PARUNGAO
November 17, 2020
CALBAYOG CITY –
Farm-to-market roads (FMRs) constructed from the fund allotted by
the Department of Agriculture paved the way for the concreting of
FMR in Barangays Imelda through Bana-o to Avelino located in the
Municipality of Sta. Margarita, Samar with a total allocation of P50
million.
A concreted road which
spans 900 meters is constructed on most part of Barangay Imelda. The
rest is an opening with a length of 1.780 kilometers. With a width
of 5.3 meters, a riprap was also infused in the project to avoid
collapse of structure and protect soil from erosion since the
structure is located in the mountains.
Copra, rice, banana, corn
and other root crops such as taro, cassava and sweet potato are
products that are usually being delivered to the local markets in
Calbayog City from the said barangays.
Residents and farmers
alike, who are living in Barangays Imelda, Bana-o and Avelino would
have to walk for 3-4 hours on foot on a footpath to reach Barangay
Napuro and from there, they will need to ride a motor vehicle to
reach the city proper for another 30 minutes. Income is strenuous
for farmers since they need to bribe someone depending on the
product that they are selling aside from the fare that they pay for
the motor vehicle from Barangay Napuro to the city proper.
A resident and farmer of
Barangay Bana-ao, DayDay Tolibat have these to say. “Amon la
ginkakarga amon produkto pareho san saging o kopra sa amon
kalugaringon na lawas tapos mano-mano la ngadto sa dalan tapos pag
abot namon sa Napuro, gnsasakay na namon ngadto sa Calbayog. Tikang
sa Bana-o maglalakat kami sa Napuro tapos sa Napuro karga na namon
tikadto sa Calbayog na. Naglalakat kami danay upat ka oras, naabot
lima, danay tulo liwat depende la san imo kalakat ngadto. Wara pa
dida an tikang sa Napuro tikadto sa Calbayog. (We carry our own
products in our backs like bananas or copra and trudge the footpath
to Barangay Napuro, then we load it on a motor vehicle that passes
the said barangay to the city proper. We walk for four hours,
sometimes five or three depending on our pace, excluding the
time-travel from Barangay Napuro to the city proper.)
A resident and Barangay
Captain of Barangay Imelda attested saying, “mahirap talaga noon na
hindi pa kalsada ang aming barangay dahil sa mga produkto na lang na
aming dinadala papunta sa car line dahil upland itong aming lugar,
mahirap talaga. Kung mayroon kaming produktong copra na dinadala
namin sa Napuro, galing dito, ang pagdala, binubuhat lang ng tao at
yan ay kada sako binigbyan ng suhol ng seven pesos kada kilo o five
pesos depende sa presyo ng kopra. Kaya sobrang hirap na wala pang
kalsada noon”. (When the road is non-existent, it is so hard for us
to deliver our goods to where motor vehicles are available because
we come from an upland. If we have products to send to the market,
we need to go walk on foot and load it on a make-shift basket
carried at the back to Barangay Napuro and bribe them with seven or
five pesos per kilo depending on the price of copra. That is why it
is hard when there is no road.)
With the completion of
this farm-to-market road, farmers’ income is much better since
travel of their goods are directly delivered to the public markets.
Travel time was reduced from 15-10 minutes to Barangay Napuro where
they can get ahold of vehicles to Calbayog City. Farmers won’t have
to bribe just to get their products to the local markets since
public transportations can now reach their barangays because of the
completed roads.
Furthermore, health issues
such as problems in carrying their sick or those who are pregnant,
can now be transported to the nearest hospitals immediately unlike
before that that they have to carry them and travel on foot for
hours.
“Pag-abot naman san mga
may sakit amon la iton ginkakarga ngadto kay wara man natukad ngadi
sa amon nga ma check-up. Tapos kun may mga burod, nanganganak, amon
iton gnbababa liwat, lakat na liwat. Pag abot sa Napuro mao na
masakay ngadto sa Calbayog, Pero yana madali na kay didi na la
masakay deretso na an byahe kay may ada na man sarakyan”, said Mr
Tolibat. (when it comes to those who are sick and pregnant, we carry
them in our backs since no one can come here for check-ups. But now,
it is easier since any vehicle can now reach our place.)
In the communities where
the primary source of livelihood is farming, the concrete road is a
welcome respite from the inconvenience of travelling to the
Poblacion and back, and able to get their produce to the market
cheaper and faster.
Farmers have better
opportunities ahead of them now. Basic infrastructure paves the way
for a future that holds an abundance of promise, heightened
productivity and accessibility.

Lilibeth
Arce opened her egg-layer machine for 1,000 chickens
amid a pandemic but her hopes were high all for the
advocacy of food sustainability in Surigao City. |
An egg-citing
story of an ex-OFW: If chicken do it, so can you
By
DTI-Regional Operations Group
November 16, 2020
SURIGAO CITY – Meet
Lilibeth Arce, an all-around entrepreneur who used to be an Overseas
Filipina Worker (OFW) but is now embarking into entrepreneurship
with many ventures.
From being the chairperson
of Trinidad Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (TARBECO), a
food processing cooperative located at Brgy. Trinidad, to managing
her own carenderia and the local bagsakan outlet for farmer's yields
Casa de Verdura, she is also the president of Marajaw Karajaw Local
Producers and Exhibitors Association, the cooperator of OTOP Hub
Surigao City, a pasalubong center located at the Luneta Park, this
city.
Just recently, she added
another feather to her cap when she put up the Memorada Farm, a 1.7
hectare of agri-tourism haven. It is a vegetation site for ginger,
eggplant, okra (lady finger), string beans, chili and bell peppers,
among others amid flowering and beautiful shrubs lined by several
mango trees. It also has pigpens and chicken coup for fighting and
free-range native chickens.
But what draws us into her
world even more and prompted a visit from the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte OIC Provincial Director Elmer
M. Natad was her recently opened egg-layer machine for 1,000
chickens. Nestled almost at the edge of her land bordered by the
Surigao River was a structure built to supply the egg requirement
not only within Trinidad but also Surigao City and nearby
municipalities such as Placer.
Although it opened last
March 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic had just started to be felt in the
country, she was not daunted by its effect but instead gave her an
additional drive to do right by it. She became hands on in the
operations (procuring feeds and tending to the chickens) and
meticulously keeps track on how the egg business works. She first
started by selling eggs around the neighborhood and tap agencies
such as DTI to help her market her eggs. Not long after, she started
harvesting an average of 900 eggs daily. Pretty soon, egg dealers
started stopping by at her farm to buy all her eggs.
Conversing with her about
her return on investment, capacity to repay capital loan, business
contingency plan and the next bout of increased harvest by putting
up another egg-laying machine, it was very clear there is no
stopping her just yet.
"I want to share what I
have learned because I want to help not only in providing jobs for
people of Trinidad but also because I am an advocate of food
security for Surigao," Arce said encouraging other existing or
would-be entrepreneurs by sharing her story and the thriving
agri-business of Memorada Farm.
Four
multi-purpose buildings constructed for different barangays

By
GISSELLE G. PARUNGAO
November 15, 2020
CALBAYOG CITY –
Four (4) multi-purpose buildings (MPBs) were built in Calbayog City,
Sta. Margarita and Gandara with a total allocation of P33 million,
said Samar First District Engineering Office.
One of these MPBs was from
Barangay Dumaloong in Gandara which will serve as a day-care center
that will be used by children in the barangay and allotted with P3
million. Two (2) other MPBs were also built in Calbayog City. One
was built in Barangay Danao 1 that was made as a covered court while
the MPB in Barangay Guin-on was designed as a basketball court. They
were both allotted P5 million each.
The three (3) MPBs were
drawn from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020.
Another completed MPB in
Barangay Arapison is allotted with P20 million from the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2019. This comes with three (3) comfort
rooms including those for persons with disability (PWDs).
DPWH is doing its part in
developing the communities as a whole, by providing MPBs that can
serve as venues for livelihood seminars, medical and dental
missions, feeding programs, recreational events, sports
competitions, and other activities. The buildings are also designed
to provide temporary shelter for local residents in the event of
flooding during typhoons and other calamities.
Two road projects
completed by Samar 1

By
VENUS VILLANUEVA
November 14, 2020
CALBAYOG CITY – The
Department of Public Works and Highways Samar First District
Engineering Office has completed the construction and rehabilitation
of two barangay roads in the first district of Samar.
One of the completed
projects is the rehabilitation of población roads in Pagsanghan,
Samar. The P19.4-million project is a five-meter wide concrete road
covering a span of 1.112 kilometers.
To further support the
improvement of the said roads, the project covers 327 meters of open
line canal for drainage. This is an essential structure to avoid
flooding in the town proper where most of the residential areas in
the barangay are located. Slope protection structure of 96 meters in
length, are also installed to prevent erosion since some parts of
the población roads are located alongside of Gandara River which
passes through the west part of the barangay.
On the other hand, a
concrete road in Brgy. Cabungaan, Tarangnan, Samar is constructed
with 0.758 lane-kilometers length (2.5 meters wide) of concrete
roads, amounting to P4.5-million.
This project supplements
the existing provincial roads connecting Brgy. Cabungaan to the town
proper of the Municipality of Tarangnan, Samar, providing for a more
convenient transport of goods and people in the barangay.
Both projects, which are
funded through the district’s Local Infrastructure Program aims to
help improve the quality of transportation by providing a safe,
efficient, and reliable infrastructure thus contributing to the
economic growth of the community.

The
survey team of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
Samar Provincial Office conducts subdivision survey on
an 8.4-hectare landholding covered by a collective
Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in Motiong,
Samar. (Photo by Reynaldo Labine) |
DAR subdivides
lot in Samar town despite rise of COVID-19 cases
By
JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
November 13, 2020
MOTIONG, Samar –
Despite the continuous rise of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
cases in the province of Samar, the survey teams of the Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR) remain unstoppable in performing their
tasks.
Last week, Engr. Enan Chua
and Ferwell Aquino of the DAR Samar Provincial Office survey team
proceeded to this town to subdivide an 8.4-hectare landholding
covered by a collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA)
for the eventual issuance of individual titles.
According to OIC-Municipal
Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Constancio Mabag, the said
collective CLOA was issued in 1996 to four agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP).
Mabag disclosed that the
area is situated in the upland barangay of Candumacol, some nine
kilometers away from the town proper.
Meanwhile, the province of
Samar, as of press time, posts the highest number of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Eastern Visayas with 2,383.
However, based on the
Department of Health (DOH) data, 2,240 of them have already
recovered, leaving a total of 143 active cases and 21 deaths.
(with reports from Reynaldo Labine)
Eastern Visayas
inflation rate declines to 1.8% in September
By
PSA-8
November 6, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY –
Inflation Rate (IR) in Eastern Visayas declined to 1.8 percent in
September 2020. This figure is 0.5 percentage point lower than the
2.3 percent IR recorded in August 2020. The September 2020 IR of the
region, however, is higher by 1.9 percentage points compared with
the 0.1 percent deflation in the same period last year.
The regional IR is 0.5
percentage point lower than the 2.3 percent national average in
September 2020.
Among provinces, Samar
posted the highest IR in September 2020 at 5.3 percent. This figure
is 1.0 percentage point higher compared with its 4.3 percent IR in
August 2020. Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar also recorded
increases by 0.1 percentage point, resulting to an IR of 3.1 percent
and 1.6 percent, respectively.
Leyte retained its
previous month’s IR of 1.3 percent.
Alcoholic beverages and
tobacco commodity group continued to post the highest IR at 7.6
percent in September 2020, followed by restaurant, miscellaneous
goods and services at 4.7 percent.
Of the 11 commodity groups
in the region, four (4) commodity groups exhibited lower IRs in
September 2020 compared with their figures in 2020. The commodity
group for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels declined
by 2.2 percentage points from 1.5 percent IR in August 2020 to 0.7
percent deflation in September 2020. This can be traced to the
continued decline in the index for electricity, gas and other fuels
from 0.7 deflation in August 2020 to 6.8 percent deflation in
September 2020.
The IR for furnishing,
household equipment and routine maintenance declined by 0.5
percentage point from 3.2 percent in August 2020 to 2.7 percent in
September 2020.
Compared with their
figures in August 2020, the IRs for both clothing and footwear
commodity group and health commodity group decreased by 0.2
percentage point settling down to 3.1 percent and 1.0 percent,
respectively, in September 2020.
On the other hand, four
(4) other commodity groups exhibited higher IRs in September 2020
compared with their rates in August 2020. Transport commodity group
posted the highest increase of 2.2. percentage points, from 0.5
percent in August 2020 to 2.7 percent in September 2020. This can be
attributed to the 4.7 percentage points increase in the index for
transport services, from 1.4 percent in August 2020 to 6.1 percent
in September 2020.
The IR for education
commodity group went up to 0.4 percent in September 2020 from zero
IR in the previous month. This increase is due to the 1.4 percent
increase in the index for pre-primary and primary education.
The IR for restaurant and
miscellaneous goods and services commodity group rose to 4.7 percent
in September 2020, higher by 0.3 percentage point compared with the
4.4 percent IR a month ago. This can be attributed to the 0.3
percentage point increase for both indices of catering services and
personal care.
The index for recreation
and culture commodity group inched up by 0.1 percentage point, from
2.0 percent deflation in August 2020 to 1.9 percent deflation in
September 2020.
Alcoholic beverages and
tobacco, and food and non-alcoholic beverages commodity groups
retained their previous month’s IRs at 7.6 percent and 2.2 percent
respectively. Meanwhile, communication commodity group retained its
previous month’s deflation at 1.7 percent.
The Purchasing Power of
Peso (PPP) of the region remained at P0.79 in September 2020. This
PPP implies that the goods and services worth P79.00 in 2012 is
worth P100.00 in September 2020.
PPP in Northern Samar
strengthened by P0.01 compared with its figure in August 2020.
Biliran weakened by P0.01, while the rest of the provinces retained
their previous month’s PPP.
Biliran recorded the
strongest PPP at P0.82. Leyte ranked second at P0.81, followed by
Southern Leyte at P0.80, Eastern Samar at P0.77 and Northern Samar
at P0.74. Samar posted the weakest PPP at P0.73.

Pre-school show
“Tish Tash” all set for worldwide distribution

By
DTI-Foreign Trade
Service Corps
November 3, 2020
MAKATI CITY –
Animated pre-school show “Tish Tash” will soon be enjoyed by kids
around the world after leading kids entertainment specialist CAKE
has inked a distribution deal with its producers – Korea’s Studio
Gale, Singapore’s August Media Holdings, U.K.’s Karrot
Entertainment, and Philippines’ Synergy Entertainment Media.
“Tish Tash has huge potential – a fresh take on what it’s like to
have an imaginary friend, something most children have experienced
and can relate to,” said CAKE CCO & Managing Director Ed Galton.
“We are very excited to be working with strong partners from around
the world, whose collaboration has resulted in a truly global
approach,” he added.
Synergy88 COO and Managing Director Jackeline Chua also expressed
her excitement over this landmark deal.
“We’re excited to see another show come to life and now distributed
globally. It was a great collaboration with Studio Gale and August
Media. Tish Tash is just one of the many shows that Synergy88 has
co-produced with the best global entertainment companies,” she said.
Chua also recounted how Synergy88’s participation in the government
sponsored outbound business missions in Cannes from 2016-2018 had
opened opportunities for global partnerships.
“The company’s portfolio of properties now spans across television,
mobile and web platforms targeting pre-school kids all the way to
millennials. We’re truly glad that DTI-Export Marketing Bureau &
FTSC (DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps) have been very active and
supportive in promoting PH’s global presence in the creative
industry.”
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez welcomed this development, saying, "We
have been pushing for the promotion of the economic potential of our
creative industries globally and we are happy to see developments
like this. The creative industry is a high value-adding sector, and
the country has a natural competitive edge in this area, considering
its rich pool of talents."
DT-FTSC Executive Director Anthony Rivera also added, "We will
continue to collaborate with the creative industry stakeholders and
government partners to help promote and develop opportunities in the
creative sector such as in advertising, animation, film, game
development and design among others. We hope to feature more of our
creative capabilities and gain more access in international markets
for Philippine made content."
Aside from “Tish Tash,” Synergy88 also paved the way for the
country’s first Filipino animated series “Barangay 143,” which aired
on free-to-air television channel GMA 7 in 2018. It made headlines
once again last Oct 1 as it premiered on streaming giant Netflix and
made it to the top ten most watched titles for the week.

The
aerial view of the on-going construction of access road
leading to Talustusan Falls in Naval, Biliran. The
project involves the concreting of existing gravel road
and a rehabilitation of existing damaged paved road with
a length of 1.215-kilometer two lane road. |
Tourism road
leading to Talustusan falls in Biliran now halfway complete
By
DPWH Biliran
October 29, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran –
The Department of Public Works and Highways- Biliran District
Engineering Office’s (DPWH-BDEO’s) access road project leading to
Talustusan Falls in Naval town is now halfway complete.
David P. Adongay Jr.,
District Engineer said that the project is being fast-tracked for
completion on January 03, 2021, the revised expiry date.
“Not only the tourists
will benefit from this project but also the farmers along this road
project will enjoy a wider, safer, and convenient transport of
agricultural products to market centers,” said Adongay.
The improvement of access
road leading to Talustusan Falls involves the road opening and
concreting and rehabilitation of existing damaged paved road at
Sitio Magtaran-an, Brgy. Talustusan with a length of 1.215-kilometer
two lane road.
This project is
implemented under fiscal year 2020 with a contract amount of P31.3M.
DPWH in convergence with
the Department of Tourism (DOT) has allotted P105M under multi-year
funding to enhance the hidden waterfalls in the province.
The fund will be
implemented by phases from year 2020-2022 with a total length of
4.715-Kilometer two-lane road with a width of 6.10-meter and a
thickness of 0.23-meter.
The completion of this
project by phases will help boost tourism in the province. Walking
time will also be reduced from 30-40 minutes to just 3-5 minutes to
reach the waterfalls.

Effective
6:00 AM October 27, Caraycaray Bridge Detour along
Biliran-Naval Section is open to all types of vehicles.
DPWH-Biliran DEO in coordination with LM Baltonado
construction complete the restoration works of the
scoured approaches (Caraycaray Side) after being damaged
by continuous heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm “Quinta”. |
Bridge detours
damaged by TS Quinta in Biliran completes restoration
By
DPWH Biliran
October 28, 2020
NAVAL, Biliran –
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District
Engineering Office (DEO) has completed the restoration works of the
scoured approaches of the Caraycaray and Catmon Bridge detours.
David P. Adongay Jr.,
District Engineer informed that effective 6:00 AM on October 27,
2020 the Caraycaray and Catmon Bridge detours along Biliran-Naval
section are now open to all types of vehicles (lightweight, four (4)
wheels and heavy equipment).
Restoration works which
involve backfilling were done in coordination with DPWH-BDEO and LM
Baltonado Construction.
According to Adongay,
DPWH-Biliran DEO is exerting their efforts and closely monitoring
and coordinating with the contractor under contract with DPWH
Regional Office VIII to restore the said detours for the safe
passage of the motorists and the travelling public.
“These detours are deemed
important as the construction of both Caraycaray and Catmon Bridges
are on-going at present,” said Adongay.
“Travelling public
especially heavy equipment operators will no longer need to take a
longer route to travel to the capital town of Naval and to its
neighboring municipalities,” the District Engineer added.
The District Engineer also
acknowledges the help extended by Businessman Mr. Robert Juve Yao
Ang to fast-track the repair of the detours.
The Caraycaray and Catmon
detours were damaged due to continuous heavy rains brought by
Tropical Storm “Quinta” on October 25, 2020.
China asked to
listen to the people to make BRI “people-centered”

Press Release
October 28, 2020
MANILA – Eight
national and Asian regional organizations based in the Philippines,
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka on Wednesday asked
China to listen to the voices of the people in communities most
directly affected by Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
In a virtual press
conference, leaders of the organizations said appropriate
consultations with the local communities transformed by the BRI
projects would maximize social benefits, minimize investment risks,
and make the BRI truly “people-centered.”
A new book chronicling the
effects of the BRI projects in the Philippines, Indonesia,
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka turns the spotlight on the views
of people affected by the BRI projects. The book was launched during
the virtual press conference.
“Numerous books, studies,
and research papers have been produced by governments, companies,
economists, and investors about the BRI. The voices from the most
important community, however, have not been heard,” Lidy Nacpil,
coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD),
said during the launch of “Belt and Road through My Village.”
The “Belt and Road through
My Village,” co-produced by eight non-governmental organizations, is
a collection of interviews with over 100 villagers who live on sites
where BRI projects are being undertaken.
China’s total investments
in countries where BRI projects are ongoing reached USD 117.31
billion, according to the 2019 China Outbound Direct Investment
Statistical Report released recently by China’s Ministry of
Commerce, the National Statistics Bureau, and the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange.
As of end-2019, over
27,500 Chinese investors have established 44,000 direct investment
enterprises in 188 countries and regions where BRI projects are
located.
“The lives of billions of
people in these 188 countries are being affected directly and
indirectly, positively and negatively, and their lives are changed
forever,” Nacpil said.
The book project was led
by the People of Asia for Climate Solutions (PACS) and APMDD, and
supported by Asia Comms Lab, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
(PMCJ), Indonesia’s Koalisi Rakyat untuk Hak Atas Air (KruHA:
People's Coalition for the Right to Water), Coastal Livelihood and
Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) in Bangladesh, the Pakistan
Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC), and the Centre for Environmental
Justice (CEJ) in Sri Lanka.
The book covered seven
major BRI projects. They are the Kaliwa Dam in the Philippines, the
Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail in Indonesia, the Barisal 350 MW
Coal Power Plant in Bangladesh, the Bahawalpur Solar Power Park and
Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant in Pakistan, the Colombo Port City
and the Colombo Highways in Sri Lanka. The total population being
affected by these seven projects alone stands at more than 15
million.
Based on the interviews,
renewable energy and road construction are among the most welcomed
projects, while lack of communication and transparency, especially
with communities on the sites of the projects, unfair employment
practices, and social and environmental impacts are among the most
frequently raised complaints.
The following are
snapshots of the stories and quotes in the book:
Philippines: the Kaliwa Dam Project
Water crisis is a serious
challenge for the growing population in Metro Manila.
Mike Santos, a barangay
official from Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City, said they had to
mobilize fire trucks to distribute water to residents. Santos said
even with the emergency water distribution, “residents were easily
angered despite our efforts because they were getting impatient over
the situation.”
The Kaliwa Dam is part of
the New Centennial Water Source projects to provide new water
sources for Metro Manila and other nearby provinces. The project
involves the construction of a 600 million liter-per-day (mld)
capacity dam (73m high) and a conveyance tunnel that has a capacity
of 2,400 mld (27.70km long, 4m diameter, around 200m deep).
Around 300 indigenous
people will be displaced from their ancestral lands when the
construction begins. Once completed, the project will inundate a
large part of Barangay Daraitan in Rizal and several areas,
including Barangay Pagsangahan and Barangay Magsaysay in Quezon
Province. Residents of indigenous communities living along the
Kaliwa River said they were not fully informed nor consulted about
the project. “We remain clueless about the proposed dam,” Maria
Clara Dullas, 39, a resident of Daraitan, in Rizal province near
Metro Manila, said. “The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage
Systems has not reached out to residents of Daraitan to explain its
possible impacts on the community,” she said.
Indonesia: the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail
Talking about the Jakarta-Bandung
High-Speed Railway, 23-year-old student Nissa Nurmauluddiana said:
"I think this is positive because there will be many transportation
options to Jakarta, especially now, Bandung people who work in
Jakarta or Jakarta people who are on business to Bandung always run
out of train tickets.”
The project was envisioned
to be completed in 2019, but was delayed due to problems related to
land acquisition and compensation to villagers and local workers.
The total investment is estimated to be USD $5.5 billion. About
124,000 villagers have been affected by the construction of the
railway.
According to KRuHA, which
works closely with the local communities, some people protesting the
land acquisition have been beaten and arrested. They are gravely
concerned about reports of incidents of human rights abuses.
Silvi Febrianti, a college
student from Gempolsari village in Bandung said: “until now, I have
not heard any news from the government about our land compensation
money. It’s not clear enough when we will get it, and how much we
will receive. I want to move as soon as possible.”
Bangladesh: the Barisal 350 MW Coal Power Plant
Maliha Hossain, 38, a
business woman, talked about the importance of electricity to her
online business and to Dhaka. “In Dhaka city, there is an unlimited
number of food courts and recreational activities, if electricity
stops working, everything stops. This is a matter of great
satisfaction. But for the last three years or more, we have been
getting an uninterrupted electricity supply.”
However, she also voiced
her worries about possible air pollution from the coal-fired power
plant project.
The Barisal coal-fired
power plant project is expected to begin operations in 2022. The
entire project will require 300 acres of land and the government is
expected to buy power from this plant for a period of 25 years,
according to the agreement. The project site is surrounded by land
reserved for wildlife and fish sanctuaries. Villagers said they were
forced to evacuate the land to give way for the project.
Abdul Malek Mosulli, 96,
from Taltoli, is one of the hundreds of villagers who lost his
house. “Local villagers protested, but police brought charges
against innocent young men,” he said.
Now the village is visibly
divided into two parts: the high land acquired for the power plant
and low land where the villagers relocated. With the recent floods,
the relocation site has been underwater for months. There is no
drinking water and no fish to catch. The residents are jobless. A
number of people have become laborers at the plant site.
Pakistan: Bahawalpur Solar Power Park and Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power
Plant
“Our lands have gone from
zero to hero since the Quad-i-Azam Solar Power Park project was
initiated in the area,” Muhammad Iqbal, 62, a counselor in Chak
6-BC, one of the villages close to the solar power park in
Bahawalpur, said.
The Quaid-i-Azam Solar is
a 100 MW solar plant spanning 200 hectares of desert land, and
Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant, encompassing 690 hectares of fertile
land, has an installed capacity of 1320 megawatts.
In a different village,
Noman Bhatti, 40, was not happy with the Sahiwal Coal-fired Power
Plant. “I’m still at a loss to understand why the most fertile land
in the Punjab province has been selected to commission such an
anti-agriculture project,” Bhatti said. “We, the affected community,
had approached the court of law to resist installation of the plant
here. Some officials managed to blackmail most of the plaintiffs in
the name of National Interest.”
Sri Lanka: The Colombo Port City and Colombo Highways
In 2019, China and Sri
Lanka signed an agreement to further fund and build the Central
Expressway Project (CEP).
Tharushika Wickramasinghe,
25, talked about how she had changed her mind about highways near
her house after experiencing the new conveniences: “I would like to
see more highways coming up in the country and want the Chinese to
help the Sri Lankan government to build more expressways.”
The Colombo Port City was
proposed in early 2012 by the China Harbour Engineering Corporation
as the site for constructing the Colombo International Financial
City. The project is expected to be completed by 2041 and will be on
a 99-year lease.
Aruna Roshantha Fernando,
a 49-year old fisherman, raised questions about it: “I don’t think
Sri Lanka needs such a big city port in Colombo. Only the rich
people will benefit from this project. What happens to poor people
like us who earn a living by the resources of the sea?”
“People-to-people
connectivity is supposed to be the ultimate vision for BRI,
alongside policy connectivity, infrastructure connectivity, trade
connectivity, and financial connectivity,” Xiaojun Wang, executive
director of PACS, said.
All the testimonials are
presented in the book in the native languages of the villagers, and
have been translated into English and Chinese for international and
Chinese audiences.
At the 75th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, President Xi
Jinping called on all major countries to act with leadership. “They
should provide more global public goods, take up their due
responsibilities and live up to people's expectations.” This was a
continuation of his call for China and host countries “to act on the
principles of high standard, people-centered and sustainable
development” at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in April
2019.
“In order to achieve true
‘people-centered’ vision for the BRI, China must work with host
country governments and be more proactive in reaching out to the
communities to be affected,” Wang concluded. “Only when these voices
are heard, will social, environmental, political and financial risks
be minimized, and will real benefits and welfare improvements be
shared by all involved.”