‘Disputes with media should be settled in court’/ Confidential funds

  
EDITORIAL

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta on Tuesday urged that disputes with the media should be settled in court instead of through bloodshed.
    “Meron mga nasasagasaan ang ating mga kasama sa media na talaga namang may impluwensiya, may kapangyarihan, may kayamanan, at ang kanilang nagiging result ay ikli ng buhay ng ating mga kasama (There are media practitioners who clash with influential, powerful, or rich individuals, and this results in shortened lives),” Acosta told a media summit at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.
    She said however that there are laws in place and effective legal processes for those who have grudges against journalists as well as public servants.
    “Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang rule of law and justice. Daanin sa proseso. At kaugnay nito, kailangan po ang mga pag-aaral po ng ating mga kasama sa media ng batas upang maiwasan ang galit at bangis ng mga nasasagasaan (Let’s give a chance to the rule of law and justice. Let’s go through the process. And with this, our media practitioners should also study the law to avoid the ire of those being imputed)” Acosta said.
    Among some of the common lawsuits filed against journalists are cyber-libel or libel under the revised penal code, she was quoted by the government-run Philippine News Agency.
        In a separate speech, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Michel Andre Del Rosario said a “free and responsible press” in the country is a “cornerstone of any democracy.”
    “It is through the diligent and courageous work of our journalists, that we are kept informed, enlightened, and engaged in the affairs of our nation,” he said.
    The media summit organized by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), with the theme "Promoting a free and responsible press towards a safer media community" is part of the government’s efforts to address violence against journalists.
    “It is our solemn duty to address these issues head-on and ensure that those who seek to silence the press are brought to justice,” Del Rosario said.
    Senior media practitioners, lawyers, and legal experts discussed several topics during the event to educate participating journalists on the present condition of the country’s media landscape.
    The PTFoMS - through the PAO and the Puno and Puno Law Offices – also held a free legal aid clinic for journalists during the latter part of the event.
    PTFoMS executive director, Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, said the summit is only the beginning of a series of events organized for media practitioners.
    He said succeeding legs of the event will be held in the Davao Region, Tagaytay City for the Southern Luzon leg, and in Subic for the Central Luzon leg. 

EDITORIAL
Confidential funds

One of the controversial issues now engulfing the country is confidential funds. This, after Vice President Sarah Duterte insisted on having such funds for the Education department which she heads which doesn’t involve national security.
    She wanted a P500 million confidential fund for the Office of the Vice President. Granted.
    She wanted a separate P150 million confidential fund for the Department of Education which she also heads. Pointedly questioned about it by Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), she just said matter-of-factly that security and surveillance work – never before part of DepEd’s functions because why would the department need money for this when there is an acute classroom shortage that was not addressed during her father’s term? – was necessary to handle “specific issues and challenges.” Granted again.
    Taking cue from this, the Dept. of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) also requested a confidential fund worth P300 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for fiscal year 2024 to combat scammers, according to Sec. Ivan Uy said on Wednesday.
    In a Malacañang Press Briefing, Uy explained that the confidential fund is necessary to conduct intelligence and investigations to apprehend cyber criminals.
    Confidential funds pertain to costs associated with surveillance operations within non-military government organizations to assist the agency’s mission or functions.
    The DICT chief expressed concern over scammers using multiple tactics to evade being identified and apprehended.
    Uy said these criminals are well-funded, well-organized, and highly technical.
    Hence, he said that DICT needs to match them with the appropriate government capabilities.
 “Our hands are tied without the proper tools, and many of these tools and methods require confidential funds to be implemented,” Uy said.
    The DICT says that it is working with law enforcement agencies to crack down on cybercrime.
    However, Uy said that the confidential fund will allow the DICT to take a more proactive approach to combating these crimes.
     “We need to be able to gather intelligence and conduct investigations without being hampered by red tape,” Uy said. “The confidential fund will allow us to do that,” he added.
    Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued on January 8, 2015, by the Commission on Audit and four other government entities, prescribes the guidelines for the utilization and audit of intelligence and confidential funds.
    According to records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the combined allocation for confidential and intelligence funds for the upcoming year amounts to P10.142 billion.
    The DBM noted that this figure represents an increase of P120 million compared to the P10.02 billion allocated for the Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) in 2023.
    It is now becoming a trend among government agencies and even local government units to haggle for confidential funds which they will use according to their whims without being accountable for it.
    There needs to be more stringent rules on use of taxpayers’ money like what those in government call confidential funds.

EDITORIAL

Changing abusive, inept corrupt barangay officials

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections has lapsed. Now, the first BSKE since 2018 will be held and changing abusive, inept and corrupt barangay officials is now possible.
After multiple postponements that effectively extended the terms of village and youth council officials, the BSKE will finally push through in October.
    This was after the Supreme Court struck down the latest postponement, through Republic Act 11935, as a “grave violation of the Constitution” and “unduly arbitrary or oppressive of the electorates’ right of suffrage.”
    The gift of a term extension has been widely seen as either a reward or a way of wooing the support of officials at the smallest unit of government.
    The gift is typically granted by Congress and Malacañang shortly before or after general and midterm elections.
    As the Supreme Court pointed out, however, “the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, requires the holding of genuine periodic elections, which must be held at intervals which are not unduly long, and which ensure that the authority of government continues to be based on the free expression of the will of electors.”
    With the BSKE finally pushing through this year, voters should take the time to get to know the aspirants for posts that directly affect governance in their communities.
    People should remember how the incumbent officials performed during the Covid lockdowns, when several faced criminal and administrative complaints in connection with the distribution of various forms of pandemic ayuda or assistance.
    During the Duterte administration, several barangay captains were also indicted for drug-related offenses.
    Voters should also consider the performance of incumbent officials in making their communities business-friendly.     Barangays are empowered to collect certain types of fees for various enterprises and services including for the use of farm equipment. Enterprises from micro to large have complained about the immense amount of red tape and redundant fees imposed by barangays across the country. Even plain folks have been victimized by abusive barangay officials who wielded their power to harass.
    With the filing of COCs, voters can consider how aspirants conduct their campaigns. Those who violate election rules, starting with the display of campaign materials, cannot be expected to play fair and provide honest public service.
    Good governance must be promoted at the grassroots. After several postponements, voters now have a chance to make this possible by electing into office deserving candidates. 
 
 
 

Balangagan Cave open despite visitor’s barbs

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province – The municipal government here has issued a statement after a post of a Manila visitor on the “danger” of visiting Balangagan cave went viral which elicited numerous comments.
    “The Municipal Tourism Office, in its capacity, reached out to the individuals involved and necessary actions were already taken. Rest assured that the LGU will consider the precedent in the formulation of policies to ensure safety in the operation of the cave and for the protection of the site. Please be informed that, Balangagan Cave is still operational and all tourists who wish to visit the cave are strongly advised to wear adventure-appropriate clothing (e.g. sturdy footwear) for your safety,” the MTO said.
    ***
I would like to share this time a recent article by visitor Queenie Anne Gumiran entitled “Balangagan Cave: Southern Sagada’s underground wonder. Gumiran, is a 20-something, full-time public school teacher, a part-time travel blogger and a free-diver.
    She started putting her stories of adventures and misadventures into words and pictures in 2017 and continues to do so as she shares her advocacy, Sustainable Traveling.
Her article: 
I’ve been to some of the most renowned caves in the Philippines like Callao of Cagayan and Underground River in Puerto Princesa City and I must say, caves are a proof that nature is an unparalleled artist. These made me interested about caves that I wanted to see and experience more. Recently, we got a chance to explore another one found in southern Sagada, Mountain Province – the Balangagan Cave. For someone who has not really tried spelunking, the Balangagan expedition was quite an experience. Caves in the Cordilleras, including Balangagan, are fascinating in such a way and let me tell you why.
How Balangagan Cave got its name
The villagers named the cave after the three Taccong elders, Bangcawayan, Lawagan and Nagayang, who entered it to hunt for ‘kupiti‘ or bats. However, they could hardly bring out the good catch as they seemed to get lost. The elders could not find their way out until they heard a ‘timmek‘ or voice.
    The ‘timmek’ that they believed to be owned by a spirit dweller in the cave commanded them to free the bats and not to take its other ‘dwellers’ nor anything out. When they did, they suddenly found the way out. The three unscathed elders came back to the village and spoke of their mystical experience in the cave that was later named after them.
    The cave was once supposed to be named as “Marcos Cave” – after the former Philippine President and dictator, Ferdinand Marcos with the villagers’ hope of funding and developing Sagada’s roads dating back to the 1980’s. A chamber was even named after his wife Imelda and the hall after former Minister of Tourism, Aspiras. However, it did not appeal to the villagers and they still decided to name it after the three elders.
The trek
From Joan’s homestay along Mabisil-Payag-eo-Balili road, we took a Nissan L300 tourist shuttle to the usual exit of the Balangagan spelunking activity at Suyo traversing to Taccong. The cave opening at Taccong where the blue lagoon is located is the usual starting point of the spelunking in Balangagan.
Kuya June, our tour guide, told us that the whole spelunking activity would take us 3 to 4 hours depending on our pacing. Despite the long trek, they told us to expect a “chill” one since the trail isn’t as difficult as that of Sumaguing-Lumiang’s and Crystal Cave’s. Regardless, we braced our sleep-deprived selves for the exciting adventure since it is the first time for the most of us. Three local guides accompanied our group (of 8). They brought flashlights and a fire lamp that were bright enough for us to take quality photos inside the cave.
Balangagan Cave as an ancestral burial Place
What’s interesting about Balangagan Cave is that, it’s also an ancestral burial place for Igorots. Just a few steps from the cave opening, we saw several coffins on the ground. Few steps away from it, we found more with some nestled up in highly formed stalagmites. Aside from coffins, there were also burial jars atop the formations. Sadly, some of the coffins that we found were burned and destroyed. Up to this date, they could still not tell who did it.
Formations and stories
There are notable formations inside the cave that the guides managed to amazingly connect creating a fascinating story that will really tickle one’s imagination. Generally, it’s all about royal family with the cave as a palace. There’s a “dancing hall” where we all seemed to dance as we pass by the muddy floor.     There’s a passage where there’s the prince, princess and queen where the formation actually resembled male and female genitals. We also passed by the “garden” where the formations looked like plants. There were also whale’s tale-like formation that our guides had puns about – and many more.     The majestic formations of the draperies, flowstones, columns and pillars distracted us from the challenging trek. We went through low-beamed, slanted passages and crawled our way through slippery chambers.
Sagada caving rates and fees
Here are some important notes, guest-to-guide ratio, shuttle capacity and their corresponding rates based on Executive Order No. 55 S. 2022 and Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 215, s. 2022 of Sagada:
For caving activities, the ratio of guide to guest is 1 to 5. A shuttle service can accommodate a maximum of twelve (12) guests.
    A guide’s rate on caving activities is at P800.00 for 1 to 5 guests/tourists.
    Take note: the shuttle will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the jump off.
Things to remember when visiting Balangagan Cave
Follow Sagada Tourism and stay tuned on their announcements regarding tours. Some activities, especially spelunking, get suspended especially during wet season or when there’s a recent earthquake.
    Bring dry bags for your valuables.
    Bring flashlights.
    Wear comfortable clothes and a pair of trekking sandals or shoes. The tour guides would highly suggest you wear a pair of leggings to protect your legs from scratches.
    Bring water for drinking and some trail food. However, make sure that you’re going to take your trash with you when you leave.
    Prepare to get soaked at least up to your shin especially when visiting during the wet season.
    Always listen and follow your tour guide.
    Do not just touch nor take anything from the cave.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

‘Danger in Balangagan Cave’

SAGADA, Mountain Province – A post by a visitor in this tourist town went viral and generated comments from contending parties.

Hereunder is the first post uploaded by visitor Egberto F. Selerio Jr. entitled “Danger in Balangagan Cave, Sagada”:
    Our Banaue-Sagada-Atok-Baguio trip ended today. This is my greatest learning:
    If you love your life, do not go to the Balangagan Cave adventure in Sagada.
    The cave is dangerous. There are no safety gears, no orientation, and no life saving devices installed in the cave.
    Our local guides lured us into the cave by lying to us about what's inside. They consistently downplay the risks and outright lie about the activity, i.e., telling us that we will only go swimming. They are a bunch of lying imbeciles, so be extremely wary when you go to Sagada.
    Once you get in the cave, especially 25% of the way or about 30 minutes into the adventure, it will be almost impossible to turn around and back out. From there, each step into the cave becomes more dangerous than the previous ones.
    Near the exit, which is the most dangerous part, I slipped and almost fell into the extremely deep portion of the cave. One of my friends had a panic attack. All of us are trying to survive and are no longer enjoying the adventure.
    Worse, we were all wearing slippers because we thought that we will only go swimming as the tour guides told us. It was a lie. The slippers are very slippery in the cave, which placed us in great danger.
    The department of tourism (DOT) should provide a seminar to the local tour guides and even issue tour guide registration IDs if possible. The safety of the cave should also be checked, especially its structural integrity.
    Safety gears, i.e., hard hats, rubber shoes, life vests, etc., should be required there and the deep portions of the cave should be installed with catch nets. If possible, stairs should be installed. Else, prohibit the activity!
    The first picture below was taken at the cave's entrance. It was the calm before the storm. The second picture was a notice from Sagada Tourism Office about the resumption of the Balangagan Cave tourism on September 1. I hope it gets closed again!
    ***
Hereunder was posted by visitor Muhammad Saajidh in response to Selerio Jr.’s post:  
Dear Egberto F. Selerio Jr.
    I was flabbergasted by your post, ‘Danger in Balangagan Cave, Sagada’ deeming to prove the said cave is an extremely dangerous site to visit. Does this opinion stem from your failure to continue the rest of the tour due to lack of strength and stamina or is it a collective perception of the whole group who took part in the excursion?
    Since I was a part of the group, let me tell you about my observations from the beginning of the day’s excursion (I’m not going to talk about Kaman Utek because you haven’t mentioned it). Please do not take this personally as we both understand that we do not know each other, and I have the right to comment on this because I was a part of the group, and this is also a matter of the livelihood of the guides who took us there.
    Firstly, you have used the word ‘Our local guides ‘lured’ us into the cave…’. The usage of the word ‘lured’ surprised me as I wanted to know first, did you want to visit this cave? Or did you only get to know about this cave after coming to Sagada and the guides tricked you to visit it? I don’t like to leave the fact that the guides might have explained to you about the cave and other places well since you communicated in the local language. However, since you knew this is a cave, did you ask for any explanation as to its layout or the nature of the journey inside as well as the conditions? Why didn’t you ask for an orientation at that time? You accuse here that the guides do not have licenses, so did you inquire about their license before they took you on the tour? Did you check with the local tourist board if these guides are qualified to take tourists on these kinds of excursions? You could have done it there itself, couldn’t you?
    The other factor is it was clearly evident to me that you didn’t seem unhappy, dissatisfied, or disappointed during the tour. (I have plenty of photos and videos myself.) Although I could not understand what you spoke among yourself, I saw you all taking hundreds of pictures and laughing and giggling throughout the journey except in the places where climbing up or down was somewhat difficult. So, I think it is not sensible for you to accuse these guides of putting your life in danger and it is extremely unfair for you to discourage tourists from visiting this fascinating and mesmerizing site which I believe is millions of years old and could definitely be named a world heritage site.
    I was with your group throughout the journey and talked to Leo and Gaile most of the time, but they said nothing of what you claim now as the place is being life-threatening. Even Gaile who suffered the most due to her lack of strength and ability to cope with the team did not say that she was not enjoying it. What I saw was a bunch of young guys having a great adventure.
    Dear Egberto F. Selerio Jr. there are no caves of this nature in the world with paved paths and steps built to climb up and down as far as I know. What you experienced was the real adventure and the real experience of exploring a historical cave. I am so grateful to the two guides who took us there on this unforgettable experience. Although they didn’t use sophisticated equipment or techniques, I could see how much energy and effort they took in taking us all through the whole journey safely. They even lifted and carried some of you in places where you were unable to climb up or down. I am ever thankful to them for that. What I believe is talking negatively and accusing them and also complaining about them seems quite ungrateful. Irrespective of your accusation of the guides being unregistered, I found the guide to be an expert on the cave as he could explain the history, as well as each and every feature of the cave with excellent accuracy. I could imagine how clear it would be in the local language for you, I found him well versed in English as well that he could explain everything so eloquently in English too.

I do not want to create an argument on this, so I do not expect you to reply to my comment. I am writing this because it seems extremely unfair for you to accuse the guides because you did not enjoy the cave. It is also very unfair to discourage others from visiting Sagada just because of your unpleasant experience. It is solely your personal experience and the cave being dangerous is your opinion. You are entitled to your own opinion, but it doesn’t mean that you could impose this on others. Let the people visit and decide if this is a good place to visit or dangerous. I don’t deny the fact that we could have prepared well, for example wearing proper shoes and taking some safety gear as such. Then again, more than me, you could speak to the guides in the local language, so, you could definitely have got a better picture before going there.

Anyway, you paid the guides their full fee. Why? Why didn’t you confront the guides in the cave itself when you first found out that it was not what they promised? Why were you waiting until you got back to complain?

The cave said, ‘Kill nothing but time, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints!’ I am sure we all had done that although we saw this after coming out of the cave.

So, I want you not to kill the spirit of the people of Sagada, not to take their pride in the region and not to leave a black mark on the warm hospitality they offered you.’(They were so polite and hospitable, unlike most of the guides who run after money.)

    ***

We would not like to muddle more the controversy at this time, so it would do well for the municipal government would come up with a statement on this issue as this involves the town’s tourism industry like safety of tourists and folks going inside its caves. 

 

Big Brother BSU

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A notable park within the Benguet State University (BSU) La Trinidad campus is called the Centennial Park.  It was a park established as landmark for the centenary of the institution in the years 2016 and 2017.  It has been more familiar to the public as the site of mini Christmas village every December since a few years ago.
    The park features at least thirty markers that give capsules of the story of the institution through its hundred years.  The one nearest the exit gate, easily inviting interest had the header “A BIG BROTHER TO SMALLER SCHOOLS” and is datelined 1966. 
    The ensuing text says “The Bureau of Education gave MAC some kind of jurisdiction over small schools like the Benguet Vocational School in Balakbak, Kapangan (now GBDAIS), Tadian National Vocational Trade School in Tadian (now TSAT), Buguias-Loo Agro-Industrial School in Buguias (now BSU Buguias Campus) and Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural College (now part of NVSU).  The Payon Bugan Vocational School in Lamut (now IFSU) was attached to MAC earlier than this period.” MAC is Mountain Agricultural College, one of the former names of BSU.
    In a conversation among friends who works at BSU, one said “Mayat dayta nga image ti BSU ah! Big brother!” (Tha image for BSU looks good! Big Bother!).  But another one protested saying that its application to the institution is already passé and should not be used. 
    He cites that the phrase big brother is a metaphor to mean one controlling another which is no longer the case.
    Then another interpolated to side with the worthiness of the big-brother tag.  This friend said that “brother” indicates membership to a family.  BSU is a member of the education community particularly here in the Cordilleras and neighboring regions.  To bolster the idea, it was cited that the university is a member of two associations of state universities and colleges which are often described as family - the Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) and the Association of State Colleges and Universities – Solid North (ASCU-SN). 
    The adjective big, this friend adds, hints at being an elder.  In cultures in the Cordillera, someone who is an elder signifies being charged with certain responsibilities towards other members of the family especially siblings.  It carries with it elements of leadership, care, concern, cooperation and other good standards. 
    An elder is someone who is looked up to for certain value that it can share to others.  This friend closed his argument by saying that the university is not just the first state university in the Cordilleras but is trailblazer in many areas such as on promotion and development of culture, and in the areas of instruction, research and extension in the field of agriculture. 
    Someone in the group concluded the conversation on the topic saying as an example that up to this day, researchers from other institutions and schools are still looking up to researchers in the university for help and guidance.
    Benguet State University is celebrating this month of September the 107^th anniversary of its beginning.  It used to be celebrated every June but historians found out that the institutions initial stage was when learners from the then  Baguio Industrial School (now the Baguio City National High School) where exposed to an area now occupied by the university for some demonstrations on scientific farming in September 2016. 
    The area was then an experiment station of then Bureau of Agriculture and was just transferred for use by the then Bureau of Education.   In June 2017, the Trinidad Agricultural School opened and has evolved to become BSU.
    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Beaming with pride, Sustaining engagements and excellence, Unfolding medical futures today and beyond.” 
    The third line is alluding to the opening of a College of Medicine.  Bills are now in Congress for such purpose and with conviction that the new college will materialize, the celebration will be started with a groundbreaking ceremony and unveiling of the billboard of the College of Medicine. 
    For sure, when the college will be realized, it will be another way by which the university can be a big brother – member of a family charged with certain obligations and values to uphold.
    This corner greets the leadership and management of the university, faculty, staff, students, alumni and the many other stakeholders on this happy occasion.  Happy Founding Anniversary! 

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

Civil service and an anecdote on civil servants

In a casual storytelling session among friends, who are all civil servants, I began an anecdote “There was once an American civil servant who died and found himself evaluated to be going to hell.”  One of them immediately registered his protest saying, “Apay gapus ta civil servant iman yan hell ay dagus?” (Why is it hell immediately just because it is about a civil servant?)
    I replied, “Adi ka et madanagan ta is-sitorya anggay!  Ya Amelikano met.   Yan maaspo nan to isan istorya nan kadwa na ay Filipino civil servant ay umey ed langit!”  (Don’t worry, it is just a fiction!  And the he’s an American.  Also, our character will soon meet a fellow civil servant who is a Filipino who will be going to heaven.)
    Then I went on tell a tale which had developed in the mind adapted from something I read somewhere.  The civil servant, who found himself at the gateway to hell, asked the attendant what the punishments would be.  He was informed that there are actually different hells representing each country and he would be lucky if he chooses the least painful one.  He asked about the American hell and he was informed that once he enters the gate, he will be walking a path of steaming asphalt continuously being heated by a machine.  A witch will be accompanying him to make sure that he will indeed be walking on the steaming asphalt.  The witch will also be beating him with iron blades while they walk.  At the end of the path is a tank of briskly boiling water and where some plastic IDs are.  He should find his identification card, and if he does so, that is the time he will be taken out from the boiling water before he will be led to the  assigned lot at Hell Mountain.”
    There is no queue to the American hell. And he reckoned that it must be because it is the most painful.  He can’t imagine being beaten with iron blades while walking a steaming hot asphalt path and swimming in a boiling hot tank.
    Beside the American hell is one marked “Philippine Hell.”  He asked the attendant what is in it.  And the attendant said.  “You will walk a steaming hot asphalt while being beaten by a Filipino witch with iron blades until you get into a tank of extremely hot water where you will stay until you find your ID with your lot number, then you will be led to Hell Mountain.”
    It was basically the same as the American Hell, he thought.  But he was curious about the long queue which included many other nationalities and so he joined the queue.  When it was his turn, he found out that the machine that was making the asphalt steaming hot has broken down and it might take years before a replacement machine will be in so the asphalt is hardened, full of holes but is not steaming hot.  The witch assigned to do the flagellation asked for some pay off so he won’t do the beating up with iron blades.  The witch just signed a certification that he walked the asphalt and that he was flagellated.   There was water shortage that it was impossible to operate the hot tank.  There too was a shortage of plastic IDs and he was immediately granted a temporary paper ID and walked off to Hell Mountain.
    He discovered that Hell Mountain was just near Mountain Heaven and at some point cross path with those going to heaven.  At the crossway, he saw someone resting on a shed.  The soul was apparently from the Philippine Heaven gateway.  The soul greeted him saying, “Good Day, sir!  Anything I can do to help you?” and then introduced himself as a Filipino.
    “Good day too!  But it seemed you are the one in need of help yet you are on the heaven gateway?”replied the American.
     “Ah!  Yes because the Executive Coach where I am supposed to ride has broken down and might take years to replace.  So I have to walk instead the asphalt highway.  The angels who are to accompany me are busy accomplishing attachments for their performance evaluation but for sure they are with me in spirit” said the Filipino servant.
    Nobody among my friends laughed when I wrapped up telling my fiction and so I diverted with the question, do you still have that vigor to be of service.
    “Aw et adi ta siya nan pan-ublaan,”  (Yes because it is the source of income!), one said.
    And then another expressed the idea that it lessens enthusiasm when equipment used for work breaks down and it takes sometime before requests for replacement are granted; or when back-handed  behaviors works everywhere; or when there are deficiencies in resources that are observed but not addressed.
    Another agreed to the observation but gave the thought that even as some fellow workers see these as drawbacks, there are those who turn these situations to favorable ones.
    I was smiling because I though, all along they were listening to the story.  And even if they hadn’t laugh in the end, it led them to some realizations.
    September is Civil Service Month as declared under Presidential Proclamation 1050, series of 1997 by President Fidel V. Ramos.  According to this proclamation, it is a time for civil servants to “reaffirm their commitment to this (the) public trust by commemorating the establishment of the Philippine civil service.”  Phillippine civil service, defined as the body of government officials and employees giving public services such as health care, education, security, and many others to citizens including those in the remotest villages, was formally established through Act No. 5 of the Philippine Commission which was effective September 19, 1900 which became basis for the Proclamation.
    In celebratory tarps hanging in government offices is the theme “Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future-Ready Servant-Heroes.”  It was a theme that has been introduced in 2021 and was intended to be the theme up to 2030.  This is mirror “the collective experience of the government workforce in the new normal, and in pushing for digital transformation and innovations to uphold public service excellence and continuity” according to the Civil Service website. It further said that the focus of this year’s commemoration is dynamism.  The website further explained that “A bureaucracy marked by dynamic employees, sustainable management/leadership, and a resilient organization is one that can adapt to abrupt changes and is capable of withstanding difficulties without compromising on service delivery – (is) a truly future-ready civil service.”
    This corner wishes all fellow civil servants a meaningful and reaffirming commemoration.  May dynamism be on fire in us and lead us to delightfully meaningful life.
 
 

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

Happy Foundation Day, Hingyon!

One of the usual question when you are with a new group is where-are-you-from.  When what is meant is hometown, and I answer Hingyon, Ifugao, almost always, the next question, “Where is that Hingyon?”
     My initial reply would usually be with reference to the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road or Highway 109 in the country’s road numbering system.  When you are coming from Nueva Vizcaya, Hingyon is the town after the municipality of Lagawe.  The first barangay of the municipality is Barangay Piwong and the barangay before the Banaue welcome arch is Barangay O-ong.
    Some of those who passed by the place would ask, “But there was no town center we’ve seen in between Lagawe and Banaue?”  I would reply that the so-called poblacion which is Barangay Hingyon is more or less three kilometers away from the referenced highway.    The munisipyo  which is located in another barangay, Barangay Bitu, is also more than two kilometers away from that highway.  But there is no network of streets neither in the poblacion nor in the vicinity of the munisipyo.  All barangays though are reachable by vehicles except that the two Cababuyan barangays (North and South) in the northern part of the municipality are reachable by road passing through Amganad of Banaue municipality, and barangay Umalbong in the southern part is connected to a road via Lagawe municipality.  I would always add though that such is better so that the municipality can maintain its forest covers.
    So are there tourism spots in the municipality, some would press further.   My reply is that agriculture is the livelihood for most households.  But it is not the commercial type of agriculture.    It is actually mostly on rice farming on pond fields and swidden  agriculture on mountainsides for other crops such as corn and sweet potato.  As of this time, many of the heritage agricultural practices are being adopted and the produce are mostly for household consumption.  If there is an employed sector within the municipality, they are in government institutions such as the local government unit, the public schools, and the police organization.  It is however noted lately that some are starting to till the land for crops that are traded in centers such as the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal.  And it was also in recent years that tourism is being tried.
    Mount Atugo, one of the tallest peaks in the municipality overlooking the southern part of the municipality and parts of Lagawe is now a hiking destination.  If lucky, one can catch a beautiful sunrise, the sea of clouds or even both.  If not, the green view would always compensate.  Also in the vicinity of the mountain is a cockpit arena that for the aficionados is a reason to visit the area.
    So is Hingyon neither the least nor the last of the municipalities of Ifugao, others interested ask.  I would answer that it is the second of the latest municipalities to be created in Ifugao, the latest being Asipulo.  It has the same birth year as the municipality of Tinoc in 1982 while Asipulo was created in 1992.  Hingyon is the smallest in terms land area, the other municipalities being more than double up to maybe even fourfold of the municipality’s sphere.  It followed that even in population, it is among the municipalities with the lowest population in the province passing only Hungduan by a few hundreds.  Other municipalities have double up to quadruple as per the latest (2020) population census.
    But even so, Hingyon is competitive with the other municipalities in the province.  For instance, in the political arena, many of the past governors, vice governors, and board members of Ifugao grew up or traces roots from Hingyon, Ifugao.  The list would include Herman Dinumla (former BM and vice governor), Albert Pawingi (former board member, vice governor, and governor), Juan Dacawe (former board member and vice governor), Robert Mangyao (former board member and vice governor), Eugene Balitang (former board member and governor), Pedro Mayam-o (former board member, vice governor, and governor), Dominga Bella Takinan (former board member and vice governor), Nora Dinamling (former board member and vice governor) and David Dumangeng (former board member).  Napoleon Hangdaan (former board member) Carlos Luglug Sr (former board member and vice governor) and Dennis Habawel (former governor) have Hingyon ancestry too.  Ronel Gayamo, Maximillian Luglug, Geraldo Luglug (former mayor of Hingyon), Victor Bunnol Jr. are i-Hingyons who also became provincial legislators by virtue of their election as the president of organizations such as the SK, councilor’s league or the ABC.  (My apologies for the i-Hingyons which may have been missed in the foregoing list but their presence too in the political arena, politika being not just an individual but a community act, is surely a sign of the competitiveness of the Hingyon.)
    It surely is not just within the province that i-Hingyons are known. If a list of pride of Hingyon is to be made, it should include the author of a most often cited book especially in culture and the social sciences.  The Ifugao World.  He is Mariano Dumia  from Mompolia, Hingyon who has retired as a foreign service officer. 
    There is also former Vice Governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Jose Tomas Sr. from Mompolia and Anao, who before entering politics made a name in the cooperative sphere.  His name is now synonymous to Tam-an, the name of the cooperative to which he is among the founder which is now among the top cooperatives of the Cordillera.
    The list would surely also include Carl James Martin, a rising athlete in boxing whos is from Cababuyan.  In the area of beauty pageants, lately a lass of Hingyon ancestry (particularly from Cababuyan), Janah Rhyl Lumidao was recently crowned as Miss Baguio and is to represent the city in a national pageant.
    Surely, the list would be long with names of those in the police and military service, business, and in the many other areas of civic duties and activities.
    Hingyon was created as a municipality by virtue of Republic Act 239 on September 12, 1982.  It was formed from former barangays of Banaue – O-ong, Cababuyan, and Ubuag, and former barangays of Lagawe – Umalbong, Mompolia, Bantinon, Piwong, Anao, Hingyon, Bitu and Namulditan.  Cababuyan has since been divided into two barangays thus at present, the municipality has a total of twelve.
    The Hingyon municipal fiesta is celebrated during the dry season in April and was rebranded as Gotad ad Hingyon during the time of former mayor Alex Kindipan.  Gotad ad Hingyon has always been a cheerful and lively event, especially that it has become lately a tourism.  And certainly it should be in that same spirit to greet i-Hingyons this month of September for the municipality’s foundation day.      Cheers to fellow i-Hingyon!  Happy Foundation Day!                                                                
 
 

Undergrads with more than 5 years work experience can get bachelor’s degree

EDUCATION UPDATE

Edjen Oliquino

The House of Representatives on late Monday approved on final reading a bill that seeks to allow undergraduates who have been working professionals with more than five years of experience to earn a bachelor’s degree.
    With 251 affirmative votes, the lower chamber passed House Bill 9015, or the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act, wherein working professionals who, for some reason, were either unable to finish or completely unable to step into college to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
    The ETEEAP program, operated by virtue of Executive Order 330 signed by the late then-President Fidel Ramos on 10 May 1996, allows working professionals to still earn a bachelor’s degree without going through traditional schooling methods.
    Under the House-approved measure, senior high school graduates, post-secondary technical-vocational graduates, and college undergraduates who have become professionals with an aggregate of five or more years of work experience could obtain a college degree.
    The legislation requires that undergraduates utilize the knowledge, experiences, achievements, and skills they acquired via their employment to earn academic credits, which would then be deducted from the overall number of units or credits necessary for graduation.
    Undergraduates are also required to fulfill the requirements of Section 10 of the Alternative Learning System Act (RA 11510), to obtain certification from the Department of Education.
    Undergraduates of at least 23 years of age and with at least five years of work experience are eligible to apply under the program.
    Other requirements include a completed ETEEAP Application form, certification of passing the DepEd’s accreditation and equivalency assessment, employment certificates, birth certificates, resume, curriculum vitae, service record or employment certificate, and job description signed by the employer and a transcript of records.
    The Commission on Higher Education, which will spearhead the provisions of the proposed law, will be given additional powers and functions in relation to the ETEEAP.

Something rotten at BeGH/‘Undemocratic Baguio Charter’

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

EMPLOYEES of Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad, Benguet are calling the attention of the Dept. of Health (DOH) and Gov. Diclas to immediately release the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of doctors, nurses, janitorial workers and guards who worked in risky conditions at BeGH during the Covid-19 period in 2020 to 2022.
    They said they have been waiting for the release of their HEA to no avail and would want an investigation why this is so. Some authorities are reportedly forcing them to sign quit claim papers so they will not pursue release of their HEA without receiving a single centavo.
    These people should be compensated for their hard, dedicated and risky work during the Covid-19 period. They are wondering where the funds went. Some are also asking if the HEA or Ayuda is taxable since this is what they are being told.
    Who are the persons responsible for this mess?
    Attention Provincial Board. A probe on this matter may unearth a Pandora’s Box which some authorities wouldn’t want to happen considering the BeGH is under the provincial government.
                ***
 (I would like to share this time a statement of Geraldine Cacho, chairperson of Tongtongan ti Umili- Cordillera Peoples Alliance (TTU-CPA) on the controversy regarding the Baguio City Charter):
Baguio City became a chartered city in 1909 as a direct result of the American colonial government’s goal of making a hill station in Northern Luzon. However, more than marking its territorial boundaries, the old charter became a formal precedent to what turned out to be a long-standing land problem in the city. With the townsite sales applications aimed at becoming the primary source of funding for the chartered city, ancestral lands were effectively snatched from original Ibaloi settlers. Further complicated by the rapid increase of commercial activity, privatization, and deteriorating ecology and carrying capacity, the worsening implications on the different sectors of the city demand a review of the old city charter. 
    This year’s Baguio City Charter Day is a reminder of the city’s unresolved issues that has festered throughout the years. In concurrence with the people of Baguio, Tongtongan ti Umili – Cordillera Peoples Alliance (TTU-CPA), calls for the need to repeal the Republic Act 11689, and asserts the crafting of a city charter that genuinely reflects the identity, aspirations, and demands of the people of Baguio.
I. Undemocratic
After Baguio Representative Marquez Go lobbied for his version of the Revised City Charter in 2021, the people of Baguio with its local city council raised an alarm as the Revised City Charter (Republic Act 11689) lapsed into law without any public consultations or exhaustive review of the proposed revisions. Besides the lack of stakeholder participation in its crafting, Go’s revised charter was found to be injudiciously detached from the issues that the city faces at present, adding no substantial rectification nor improvements from the previous version.
    The task of revising a century old charter requires the utmost participation of the stakeholders that would be most affected by its consequences. Bypassing a fundamental and crucial step can be maliciously construed as actively excluding the public’s involvement, especially considering that the revised charter was practically railroaded. The lack of proper and thorough consultation disallows the people of Baguio from registering their insights regarding the actual implications of the ambiguous provisions and other sectoral concerns that could have been relieved in the new charter.
    The insistence that a plebiscite is unnecessary not only undermines the people’s democratic participation, but also ignores the historical context and colonial inception of the original charter. It is a brazen irony to railroad the revision of the City Charter and pass it off as a move for the progress and welfare of the city and its people, when the 1909 Charter was enforced in a similar manner during the American occupation. Going through the process of consultation and involving the public would have been the opportunity to do right by the people of Baguio.
II. Poorly crafted
The bulk of RA 11689 is directly lifted from the Local Government Code (LGC), making it a repetition of already mandated regulations padded with vague provisions and generic statements that in no way addresses the complex and multi-faceted character of the City.
The statement on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) is perfunctory, to the extent that it appears to trivialize the City’s problems on cultural, ecological, and economic sustainability. With the expected results of the most recent UNSDG set by 2030, it is apparent that the Revised Charter lacks comprehensive and long-term development framework and objectives.
    Perhaps most fundamental to a city charter is the specification of the metes and bounds of the territory, which RA 11689 failed to incorporate a provision on. The lack of an updated and definite territorial boundary causes existing boundary disputes to persist and may cause friction between the local government unit and other adjacent municipalities. This is a vital part of a city charter that must be defined instead of relying on the obsolete boundaries set by the old charter.
Furthermore, the Camp John Hay Reservation (CJHR)’s land area, titled under the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), increased from the original 570 hectares to 625 hectares in the Revised Charter without any justification provided for such expansion. Communities that predated the arrival of the CJHR and BCDA are declared trespassers in their own spaces and facilities as the CJHR and BCDA encroach and overstep their jurisdiction.
    The undue declaration of the land area of the CJHR undermines Resolution 362 Series of 1994 which sets the 19 conditionalities in which the Master Development Plan of CJHR can operate. The refusal to honor these conditionalities disparages the efforts of the people who lobbied for this resolution and aggravates the dispute of the surrounding 13 barangays with BCDA. With the Revised Charter legalizing the expansion and giving BCDA full authority over the CJHR, regulation from the local government is reduced – placing the affected barangays in an enduring dilemma and even in the threat of displacement.
     Recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City in a case filed by the BCDA petitioning for businesses within the John Hay Special Economic Zone not duly registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to be exempted from tax and permit fees. The petition was dismissed for lack of merit. Consequently, the BCDA filed a motion for reconsideration, now including in their supporting documents the provision in the Revised City Charter, implying that the expanded 625-hectare land area of CJHR and BCDA affirms the separation and distinction of the territory from the Baguio Townsite Reservation. This illustrates how the poorly crafted charter can be exploited, and counter the position of the City to exercise its power of taxation among others.
    In addition, the Revised Charter yields the proceeds of townsite reservation sales to national government funds instead of the City Treasury Office. This introduces a handicap to the city’s operations and capacity to pursue development initiatives and removes the city’s jurisdiction over its territories. 
 With the many insufficiencies and discrepancies of RA 11689, it is apparent that the effort to introduce an updated charter is lacking the genuine resolve to be of service to the constituents of Baguio and the City itself. Not only is the Revised Charter contradictory to local laws, it also contains provisions that could potentially harm the City if not urgently addressed.
III. Towards a charter for the people
While the old charter detached Baguio from its origins as an Ibaloi settlement, RA 11689 perpetuates the injustice as it fails to acknowledge this distinct aspect of the City. Any attempts of “preserving and restoring the historical heritage and value of the City” will be remiss and insincere as long as there is no recognition of the history, particularity, and evolving identity of the umili. Baguio City is now home to indigenous communities from other parts of Cordillera as a result of decades of migration, in addition to non-Igorot migrants from all over the country –a fact that should be recognized and addressed in the new charter.
    The Revised Charter’s provision on Ancestral Lands also relinquishes the City’s responsibilities to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in resolving decades-long pending ancestral land claims. Both formal and informal settlers are threatened by demolition while construction of high-rise condominiums and commercial infrastructures encroach on the already limited space of the city. Moreover, the City draws back on its services as the education center of the North as seen in the forsaking of the BIBAK lot as an affordable student dormitory for indigenous youth.  Along with conflicting territorial boundaries and the unjustified expansion of Camp John Hay Reservation, the Revised Charter only complicates the already convoluted land issue of the city. 
    Revising the 1909 Charter is less about improving and updating the document, but more of a chance to craft an entirely new charter that will genuinely benefit the City and its people, with all its demands and particularities considered. Ambiguous goals patterned from short-sighted programs does not compensate for the counterproductive provisions laid out in the Revised Charter. It should have been a given that a charter places the most priority on peoples’ rights and welfare. 
    The new city charter must be aligned with the umili’s genuine interest, providing concrete and lasting solutions to Baguio’s challenges regarding carrying capacity and limited resources while actively pursuing pro-people development.

 

Sedentary time in children linked to heart damage in young adulthood

 WELLNEWS

Victor Dumaguing MD

Amsterdam, Netherlands : Hours of inactivity during childhood could be setting the stage for heart attacks and strokes later in life, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2023.1 The study found that sedentary time accumulated from childhood to young adulthood was associated with heart damage – even in those with normal weight and blood pressure.
    “All those hours of screen time in young people add up to a heavier heart, which we know from studies in adults raises the likelihood of heart attack and stroke,”2 said study author Dr. Andrew Agbaje of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. “Children and teenagers need to move more to protect their long-term health.”
    This was the first study to investigate the cumulative effect of smartwatch-assessed sedentary time in young people and cardiac damage later in life. It was conducted as part of the Children of the 90s study, which began in 1990/1991 and is one of the world’s largest cohorts with lifestyle measurements from birth.3
    At 11 years of age, children wore a smartwatch with an activity tracker for seven days. This was repeated at 15 years of age and again at 24 years of age. The weight of the heart’s left ventricle was assessed by echocardiography, a type of ultrasound scan, at 17 and 24 years of age and reported in grams relative to height (g/m2.7). The researchers analysed the association between sedentary time between 11 and 24 years of age and heart measurements between 17 and 24 years of age after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationship including age, sex, blood pressure, body fat, smoking, physical activity and socioeconomic status.
    The study included 766 children, of whom 55% were girls and 45% were boys. At 11 years of age, children were sedentary for an average of 362 minutes a day, rising to 474 minutes a day in adolescence (15 years of age), and 531 minutes a day in young adulthood (24 years of age). This means that sedentary time increased by an average of 169 minutes (2.8 hours) a day between childhood and young adulthood.
    Each one-minute increase in sedentary time from 11 to 24 years of age was associated with a 0.004 g/m2.7 increase in left ventricular mass between 17 to 24 years of age. When multiplied by 169 minutes of additional inactivity this equates to a 0.7 g/m2.7 daily rise – the equivalent of a 3 gram increase in left ventricular mass between echocardiography measurements at the average height gain. A previous study in adults found that a similar increase in left ventricular mass (1 g/m2.7) over a seven-year period was associated with a two-fold increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.4
    Dr. Agbaje said: “Children were sedentary for more than six hours a day and this increased by nearly three hours a day by the time they reached young adulthood. Our study indicates that the accumulation of inactive time is related to heart damage regardless of body weight and blood pressure. Parents should encourage children and teenagers to move more by taking them out for a walk and limiting time spent on social media and video games. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘If you can't fly, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. But by all means keep moving
    From a Filipino perspective, your columnist shares the nostalgic experience of fellow baby-boomers who went to elementary and secondary schools with memories of playing outside the house with a lot of physical activity like patintero, hide and seek, and being assigned cleaners of the classroom- energetic playful scrubbing the floor, erasing the blackboards at the end of the day. Oh well, as the song goes, ‘those were the days my friend”,

WELLNEWS

Victor Dumaguing MD

Smokers who start below age 20 are more addicted and find it difficult to quit

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands --  Researchers urge governments to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 22 years or higher as study finds it becomes less addictive and easier to quit as people get older. The research is presented at ESC Congress August 25-28, 2023 attended by 30,000+ doctors, researchers, and other health professionals from 175 countries making it the biggest annual professional convention in the world.
    In 2020, more than one in five people worldwide used tobacco. Tobacco kills up to half of its users. Smokers below the age of 50 years have a five-fold higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with their non-smoking peers. The legal age to purchase tobacco is 18 years old in many countries but in some nations there are no age restrictions. It is estimated that nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by age 18, and 99% first try smoking by age 26.
    This study examined the relationship between the age of smoking initiation, nicotine dependence and smoking cessation.     The study included smokers who had visited a smoking cessation clinic in Japan. Participants completed the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) which asks questions such as “How soon after you wake up do you smoke your first cigarette?”, “Do you find it difficult to refrain from smoking in places where it is forbidden” and “How many cigarettes per day do you smoke?”. Scores for each answer were added up for a total score indicating a nicotine dependency of low (score 1-2), low to moderate (3-4), moderate (5-7) or high (8 or higher).
    Participants were divided into two groups based on the age they started smoking (less than 20 years old and 20 years or older); 20 years was used as the cut-off as it is the legal smoking age in Japan. Carbon monoxide in the breath was measured to indicate the number of cigarettes smoked in the past 24 hours. Smoking cessation was defined as no tobacco smoking in the past seven days and an exhaled carbon monoxide level less than 7 ppm.
    The researchers analysed the associations between nicotine dependency and successful smoking cessation according to the age participants started smoking. The analyses were adjusted for sex and age at the time of attending the smoking cessation clinic.
    The study included 1,382 smokers, of whom 30% were women. The average age when attending the smoking cessation clinic for the first time was 58 years. Some 556 smokers started smoking before age 20 (early starters), while 826 smokers were 20 years of age or older when they began smoking (late starters).
    Early starters reported a higher number of cigarettes per day (25) compared with late starters, who smoked 22 cigarettes per day. Those who started early had higher respiratory carbon monoxide levels compared with those who started late (19 vs. 16.5 ppm, respectively) and higher FTND scores (7.4 vs. 6.3, respectively). Less than half of early starters (46%) successfully quit smoking compared with 56% of late starters, for an odds ratio of 0.711 after adjusting for sex, age at clinic visit and smoking cessation aids – indicating that early starters were 30% less likely to successfully kick the habit compared with late starters.
    Participants were further divided into four groups according to the age they commenced smoking (17 years or less, 18 to 19, 20 to 21, and 22 or older). In the four groups, FTND scores were 7.5, 7.2, 6.7 and 6.0, respectively, showing that those who start smoking aged 22 or older were even less nicotine dependent.
    Study author Dr. Koji Hasegawa of the National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan said: “Our results show that starting smoking early is linked with higher nicotine dependency, even in young adulthood. The study indicates that increasing the legal age to buy tobacco to 22 years or older could lead to a reduction in the number of people addicted to nicotine and at risk of adverse health consequences

Trimming, not killing trees, exec says/ Mayor wants youth in decision-making

 CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas explained the department’s tree trimming program that covers trees in parks and roads.
    He said that contrary to the perception that the procedure was rash and will result to the “killing” of trees particularly at Burnham Park, the CEPMO’s tree ground reduction or trimming process is scientific and therefore safe and beneficial for both the trees and the residents. 
     “Let us understand that these trees are now over 50 years old and like humans, humihina na rin ang kanilang tuhod and tree ground reduction or trimming is one technique to reduce the weight they are carrying,” Diwas explained.
    He said ground reduction reduces the risk of the trees getting damaged or sustaining breakages during strong winds and rain during typhoons.
     “When the size of a tree’s canopy is reduced, the surface area exposed to strong wind is also reduced.  This allows the tree to withstand the inclement weather,” Diwas said.
    He said controlling the height of a tree also helps prevent the chances of it getting toppled at the height of typhoons and cause damage to life and property.  It also prevents accidents in parks and public places.
    The process also has aesthetic purpose as trimming improves the appearance of trees in the long run.
     “Like us humans who need to have our crowning glory trimmed regularly for good grooming, our trees also need proper and regular pruning to improve the tree’s structure and direct new healthy growth.
    ***
    The city government will open more doors to enable the city's youths to participate in decision-making processes on the city's strategic programs. 
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong directed the inclusion of youth representatives in the membership of the various city boards, committees and other bodies to give the sector the opportunity to take part in deliberations and give suggestions on the programs, projects and activities of the city. 
    Among the bodies being considered are the city school board, solid waste management and health boards and information and communication technology council. 
    "We have to give our youths all the opportunities to get involved in the decision-making on matters affecting our city," the mayor said. 
    He said the youth of today are more innovative and connected with information because of modern technology. 
"They have the power to bring fresh ideas to the table and to challenge the status quo when it no longer serves the greater good," he said 
    The mayor said the youths have to imbibe the development goals that the city is now pursuing including sustainability, innovation and resiliency. 
    "There is no better time than now to give them leadership responsibilities.  Our youths should no longer be regarded as future leaders because they can be capable leaders now," the mayor said. 
    "This is why every chance we get to include and involve them, to engage and interact with them and to support them, we do so without any hesitation," he added.
    The mayor said the youths need to build their knowledge and capabilities in government work both executive and legislative functions as well as conflict resolutions and other aspects of governance. 
    More importantly, good leadership values especially integrity and accountability need to be ingrained in them to really become good stewards of the nation.

CITY HALL BEAT
Aileen P. Refuerzo

Batang Pinoy tryouts on/ Mayor on youth’s role in BSK polls

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government through the City Sports Development Office is now conducting try-outs among athletes to select the city’s contingents to the forthcoming 2023 Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games which will be simultaneously conducted on Dec. 17-22 in Metro Manila.
    Sports Division Chief Gaudencio Gonzales said there will be 25 events for the two competitions  namely archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball (3x3), boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, esports, football, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu and kickboxing.
    Around 500 athletes are expected to make up the city’s delegation to the two sporting competitions.
    Batang Pinoy is a national youth sports meet for athletes aged 17 years old and below while the PNG is a national multi-sport tournament for athletes 18 years old and above conducted to select the national pool of athletes to represent the country to international sports competitions.
    The Dept. of Interior and Local Government said the conduct of the two sports meets under the auspices of the Philippine Sports Commission is by virtue of Kautusang Tagapagpaganap Bilang 44-1998 at 163-1994.
A total of 149 cities and 82 provinces from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are expected to join the two tournaments             
 ***
Mayor Benjamin Magalong engaged with the youth and stressed on the importance of their active participation in the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30, 2023.
 “Your vote matters. And collectively, your votes can bring about the change you seek. It is not just a privilege; it is a duty--- one that will determine the course of our local governance for years to come,” the mayor told the youth participants to the forum and workshop, “Gen Z Votes: Inspiring Change Through the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections” last Sept. 4 at the Plaza Lodge Hotel.
    The two-day activity was organized by the Ateneo School of Government, through a non-partisan, pro-democracy coalition to increase awareness and encourage greater participation in the upcoming BSKE.
    The mayor said that to be able to select the best leaders, the Gen Z (referring to the generation of people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s as defined in Merriam-Webster dictionary) must do their homework:
    "Research the candidates and understand their platforms; attend debates and forums; ask questions; and engage in discussions before they vote for their respective leaders."
    The mayor also underscored the youth's increasing role in shaping today's society.
"As we look at the political landscape, it becomes increasingly evident that the torch of leadership is already in the hands of your generation.  The decisions made within our barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan have profound impact on our daily lives," he said.
    "By participating in these elections, you are not merely casting your ballots, you are becoming active agents of change.  You are the architects of the future you wish to see, the ones who will ensure that our neighborhoods are safe, that our environment is protected and that our voices are heard..;
    "Your generation is known for its innovation, its global perspective and its commitment to justice and equality.  You are more connected than any generation before you, with information at your fingertips.  You have the power to bring fresh ideas to the table and to challenge the status quo when it no longer serves the greater good.” – With a report from Mileyvonne Tiamzon