Baguio honors centenarian from Mt Prov

 
By Liza T. Agoot

BAGUIO CITY -- City officials honored centenarian Verina Monchiking Fakingas, as part of efforts of the city government to give due recognition to city residents who achieved significant milestone in their lives.
    Under Resolution No. 621, series of 2020, signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, city legislators stated that despite her age, the latest city centenarian has a reported good eyesight and she only takes Vitamin C as food supplement without any other medication.
    Fakingas was born on May 15, 1920 in Latang, Barlig, Mountain Province, the youngest of three children in their family.
She was not reportedly given the opportunity to enroll in formal education due to financial constraints as her family - then farming in the remote village.
    The council disclosed that she got married to Marcos Fakingas at age 37 and the couple was blessed with four children: three girls and a boy.
    Based on her profile, Verina reportedly tended their farm and took care of their children while Marcos worked as a soldier.
    According to the council, the Fakingas family eventually migrated to the city when their children reached college and settled at San Luis Barangay.
    The council recognized that because of the couple’s hard work, three of their children became teachers by profession.
    However, Verina’s husband died on February 25, 1995 due to an illness that left her alone to support her family.
    At present, Verina has 17 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
    The council said Verina was not able to go to school and acquire formal education, she remains proud that her three children graduated from college and most of her grandchildren are either accomplished in life or are gainfully earning.
    The council added that the city’s latest centenarian be awarded the privileges pursuant to the pertinent provisions of         Ordinance No. 45, series of 2016, as amended, which states that qualified beneficiaries of the centenarian recognition are permanent residents of the city for at least five years up to the date of the award of recognition and the beneficiaries should have reached the age of 100 at the time of the awarding and they should be personally present to receive the award of recognition to be personally given by the city.
    Further, the Baguio centenarian shall receive a plaque of recognition and a congratulatory resolution of the city; cash award of P10,000 and regular monthly visit by government health personnel for check-up and other incentives.
    The funding for the benefit of the centenarian will come from savings from the budget of the City Social Welfare and Development Office and succeeding funds will be incorporated in the annual budget of the said office.
 

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DOLE to Covid-affected workers: Apply for funds P236 million available

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- The Dept. of Labor and Employment urged private sector workers displaced or affected by the Covid – 19 pandemic  to apply  for fund aid under the  CAMP or Covid – 19 adjustment measures program under  Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.
    Deadline of application is Dec. 10, 2020.
    Applications must be submitted online  through https://reports.dole.gov.ph/.
    DOLE Cordillera regional director Exequiel Ronie Guzman, in a press conference here said for CAMP under Bayanihan 2, displaced workers in tourism and education sectors can also apply for the program. This new component is   in partnership with the Dept. of Tourism, Dept. of Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
    Guzman said the regional DOLE office has an allocation of P149 million for the formal sector workers while DOT Cordillera  has  P87 million for the tourism sector. 
    Another P49 million is allocated for the education sector.
    DOLE Cordillera data showed to date, there were only 7,188 beneficiaries paid with a total disbursement of P35.94 million for CAMP 2.
    Assistant DOLE regional director Jesus Atal said CAMP is a safety net program that provides one-time financial support of P5,000 to affected workers in the formal sector due to the Covid - 19, whether due to temporary or permanent closure of establishments or implementation of a flexible working arrangements.
    For CAMP 2, Atal said priority beneficiaries were micro, small and medium enterprises   and other establishments who applied but did not receive any financial assistance under Bayanihan 1 as well as   new MSME applicants. 
    For the education sector, Atal said displaced workers, either teaching or non – teaching personnel in private and public education institutions,  can apply for the financial assistance.
    For the tourism sector, CAMP 2 covers displaced workers in DOT – accredited primary or secondary tourism enterprises, LGU – licensed primary enterprises and members of qualified community – based tourism organizations including tour guides.
    Under CAMP 1, the Cordillera DOLE office reported 25,734 formal sector workers in  the region  received assistance with a total disbursement of around P128.67 million.
    For more information about CAMP2, interested individuals  can visit the DOLE – CAR Regional Office or any DOLE provincial office nearest  them.
    Guzman said as of Nov. 27 data, a total of 5,206 establishments involving 80,424 workers were affected by the pandemic.
The number included 966 establishments  with 20,808 workers  that implemented flexible working arrangements (reduction of workdays, rotation of workers, implementation of forced leave and tele-commuting or work from home)  while 4,204 establishments involving 59,6016 workers  implemented temporary closures.
    For more information about CAMP 2, interested  individuals  can visit the DOLE – CAR regional office or any DOLE provincial office nearest  them. – PIA No. 3, 3 cols

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39 top wanted persons arrested in Cordillera

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Police Regional Office-Cordillera reported the arrest of 39 wanted persons, five of which were on the list of the top most wanted persons in a one-week manhunt operation.
    Deputy chief regional information officer Capt.Marnie Abellanida told newsmen of the 39 arrested wanted persons, Baguio recorded the highest number of arrests with 17, followed by Ifugao with seven, Abra and Benguet with five each, Kalinga with four and Mt. Province with one arrest.

    Abellanida said two on the TMWP list were arrested separately in Abra while another two were nabbed in different locations in Baguio City.

    In Abra, Jayson Pagal Sotelo, 33, was arrested in Barangay Naguirayan, Pidigan for rape with no bail recommended while Jonel Millare De Mesa was arrested in Lingtan, Bangued.

    Sotelo was listed as No. 9 TMWP (provincial level) while De Mesa was listed as No. 1 TMWP (municipal level).

    In Baguio City, Juver Baculi Dela Cruz, 33, was arrested in San Carlos Heights Ext., Baguio City for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) while Alquin Bautista Doctolero, 58,was arrested in Kayang Extension for estafa. 

    Dela Cruz was listed as No. 6 TMWP (station level) while Doctolero was listed as No. 4 TMWP (station level).

    In Benguet, Felipe Paciteng Munoz, 39, was arrested in Poblacion, Kibungan for violation of Republic Act 9165 with no bail recommended. Munoz was listed as No. 9 TMWP (regional level).

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Asipulo gov’t to returning folks: Check travel rules

By Marcelo Lihgawon

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- Residents of this town who are planning to come home during the holiday season were advised to check first protocols set by the municipal Coronavirus – 2019 task force amid Covid-19, town officials said.
    Individuals or families coming home to Asipulo from other provinces shall coordinate with the Municipal Health Office through mobile number 09951340624 at least three days prior to travel.
    A certificate of acceptance shall be requested by relatives of individuals who wish to come home from the MHO three days before travel day to give time for the MHO to determine the availability of quarantine areas.
    All returning residents must have travel authority from their point of origin to be checked at the border checkpoint and they must undergo the 14-day mandatory quarantine either at the municipal quarantine facilities or at home. In case of home quarantine,   health workers will inspect the house if appropriate for isolation.
    For those who opt to stay at the quarantine facility, their families or relatives shall provide their essential needs such as but limited to food, beddings, cooking and eating utensils and others.
    The municipal government can only provide a seven-day food supply consisting of rice and canned goods   for each adult.
After the 14-day mandatory quarantine period, a certificate of completion may be requested from the MHO.
    “The above mentioned protocols are set to keep every Asipulonians safe this holiday season,” the MCTF stated. – PIA Ifugao Cordillera

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P2.2-M marijuana burned in Benguet

KIBUNGAN, Benguet -- Marijuana plants worth more than P2.2 million were recently discovered, uprooted, and burned by the anti-illegal drugs unit of the Benguet Provincial Police Office in the hinterlands of this town.
    Col. Elmer Ragay, provincial director, said a total of 11,000 fully grown marijuana plants were discovered in three plantation sites in the area on Nov. 24, with a total land area of 2,000 square meters and worth more than P2.2 million.
    Ragay said combined operatives of Kibungan Municipal Police Station, Intelligence Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit of Benguet Provincial Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  uprooted some 5,000 marijuana plants worth P1 million which were cultivated in a 500 square meters communal land at Sitio Basi, Barangay Tacadang.
    In Sitio Legab and Botbot, both in Barangay Kayapa, Kibungan, Benguet, more than 6,000 marijuana plants worth P1,206,000 planted in a 1,500 square meters land area was destroyed by personnel of the Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company.

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La Union village under ECQ; Covid-19 cases up

By Joanne Namnama P. Dilim

SAN FERNANDO CITY -- Due to increasing number of residents infected with Covid-19, Barangay Pagdalagan in this city was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for 14 days.
    Eden Sicat, head of information dissemination section of the city government, said the imposed ECQ in Barangay Pagdalagan is effective from until Dec. 16.
    “Karamihan ng mga bagong positibong kaso ng COVID-19 sa lungsod ay naitala sa Barangay Pagdalagan kung kaya isasailalim ang nasabing barangay sa ECQ alinsunod sa Executive Order No. 149-2020 na napirmahan kaninang umaga ni City Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto,” Sicat said in a media briefing.
    The said Order was based from a resolution from the City Inter-Agency Task Force and recommendation from the City Health Office after the village has recorded nine Covid-19 active cases and one fatality.
    Eden Sicat, head of the information dissemination section of the city government of San Fernando bared spike in number of cases particularly in Barangay Pagdalagan and measures the city government shall be implementing in the containment of the virus.
    She said the city incident management team was activated to ensure  proper and strict implementation of ECQ guidelines in the said village.
    “May close coordination po ang city government sa barangay officials ng Pagdalagan pati na din po ang ibang peacekeeping forces sa karatig-barangay,” she said.
    She added city police shall mainly man quarantine border checkpoints.
    Under ECQ, all residents and non-residents as well as establishments located within Barangay Pagdalagan shall have restricted movements.
     As such, the City Social Welfare and Development Office and General Services Office shall lead in the distribution of relief goods to all 1,368 households in Pagdalagan.
     “Ang bawat relief pack ay naglalaman ng 10 kilong bigas, canned goods, mga gulay, at hygiene kits na sapat sa kanilang pangagailangan sa 14 na araw,” Sicat said.
     She added: “Patuloy na pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng city government ang banta ng Covid-19. Hindi namin pababayaan ang mga mamamayan sa laban na ito. Siniguro ng city government na walang maiiwan sa hamon ng Covid-19.”
     Meanwhile, part of the containment strategies in Pagdalagan village was target testing in Purok 1, 2, 6 at 7 where clustering of cases occurred.
     “Ipinapamadali na rin ni Mayor Dong ang pagbili ng karagdagang 5,000 test kits,” she said.

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ASF affects swine of 27 barangays in Cagayan

By Liezle Basa Inigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The provincial government has confirmed that 27 barangays have reported cases of African Swine Fever (ASF).
    Acting Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Noli V. Buen said the conduct of obtaining blood samples from pigs is on, particularly in nine neighboring towns where ASF cases were reported.
    The areas with ASF are Calantac, Agani, Pinopoc, Masin in Alcala; La Suerte, Bayabat, Monte Alegre, Centro, and Manalo in Amulung; Liwan Sur and Lanna in Enrile; Baculud, Iguig, and Warat in Piat; Parog-Parog, Palao, Maguirig, Iraga, Cadaanan, Gadu, and Nangalisan in Solana; Dagupan, Malalinta, Palca, Bubung in Tuao; Sta. Clara and Florishing in Gonzaga town, and barangay Masical in Baggao.
    A total of 2,621 pigs were culled and excavated to control the spread of the ASF virus. About 618 farmers or hog raisers were affected.
    The Provincial Government continues to distribute financial assistance to hog raisers. A hog raiser with three slaughtered pigs will be paid only 3,000 per pig because there will also be a P5,000 assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
    The Provincial Government of Cagayan provided financial assistance through the PVO, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Treasury Office.
    The setting up of checkpoints to be manned by personnel from the Philippine National Police, livestock technicians from Municipal Agriculturists, livestock technicians of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), TFLC and Marines Battalion Landing Team 10, will be strictly enforced to ensure that ASF does not spread in the province.

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Baguio tones down Christmas activities

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY-- – The traditional merry-making in the city during the Yuletide season will not be as festive this year as the city government decided to tone down the activities for the month-long celebration of the Christmas in Baguio.
    Supervising city tourism operations officer engineer Aloysius C. Mapalo said the city will have limited activities for the annual Christmas celebration in Baguio in view of the community quarantine protocols to prevent the possible surge in Covid-19 cases.
He said events started with lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at the top of Session Road Tuesday preceded by a walkthrough of the Christmas Highland Story courtesy of the City Planning and Development Office.
    Session Road was closed to vehicular traffic on Dec. 1 for the walkthrough of the Christmas highland story to be in strategic areas along the city’s main thoroughfare capped by the lighting of the Christmas tree.
    Mapalo said the city is also considering pushing through with the annual New Year countdown to welcome the year 2021 despite the prevailing health pandemic to light up the toned-down revelry.
    He said the city government has to take the lead in complying with the prescribed health and safety protocols, especially during the Yuletide season where there will be numerous gatherings among families, clans and organizations to celebrate even with the mandated limitations.
    Previously, the city government, in partnership with the private sector, had lined up numerous crowd-drawing events for the month-long Christmas in Baguio as added attraction for residents and visitors spending their Yuletide break in the city.
Mapalo said many visitors who have already made reservations in accommodation establishments in the city this year-end break will boost the efforts of the city government to gradually, safely and responsibly revive the tourism industry that spurred many of the city’s economic activities.
    One of the major city events that had been cancelled was the traditional lantern parade of the St. Louis University (SLU) that usually coincides with the lighting of the Christmas tree.
    Mapalo expressed optimism that with the easing up of the community quarantine guidelines in the coming months, the city ‘tourism industry will recover and regain its vibrance.

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Baguio residents oppose DITO telecom operations

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY --The city council summoned representatives of Dito Telecommunity Corp. to explain their plan to install a rooftop cell site in Bakakeng Central Barangay in light of the complaints of some residents therein.
    In their petition letter, residents said they oppose installation of a cell site on top of the house of their neighbor, Jessie Faroden.
    They claimed the presence of a cell site in the neighborhood will be dangerous to their health because of the radiation it will emit.
    John Carlo Sibayan, a representative of Dito Telecom, said proximity to cell towers does not cause adverse health effects.
    To support his claim, Sibayan cited the certificate of safety evaluation issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Dept. of Health for a proposed cell site located in Batac City, Ilocos Norte which has the same equipment that will be used in the proposed sell cite in Bakakeng Central.
    The document stated the public will not be exposed to levels exceeding the limits if one considers the prescribed safe distance.
    A perimeter fence must be constructed to prevent access of the public to the antenna, the document also specified.
    On Sept. 3, the FDA issued a statement assuring the public a safety evaluation is conducted prior to the installation of antennas.
    The city council said they will still seek the assistance of the DOH regarding the matter.
    Sibayan said part of their social responsibility is to conduct information campaigns to assure the community that the installation of a cell site is not a threat to public health.
    Sibayan also assured the residents that the cell tower’s structure and design are subject to the inspection and approval of city engineers and architects.
    A public consultation was conducted in Bakakeng Central Barangay on September 17, Sibayan said.
    However, Chinami Abecin, one of the petitioners, claimed they were not invited.
    The city council then advised Dito Telecom to conduct a wider and more inclusive consultation with the constituents.
    Dito Telecom was granted barangay clearance for the installation and operation of telecommunication facilities in 22 barangays including Bakakeng Central.
    The ideal number of sites for the entire Baguio City is more than 50, Sibayan said.
    Dito Telecom is currently working it out with the Local Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals (LZBAA) of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) for their zoning clearance before they can apply for a building permit.
    Dito Telecom is the third telco player allowed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to operate in the country challenging the duopoly of PLDT and Globe Telecom. It promises to bring in 5G to the country, an upgrade from the current 4G network provided by Smart Communications and Globe Telecom.
    Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan told Dito Telecom representatives to get in touch with the city government and lay out their plans first before proceeding with the project.
    “The officialsof the City Government of Baguio have the right to know about these projects to be implemented in the city. We should be informed so that we can be of help in any way we can. Transparency is very important,” Olowan said.
    According to several council members, Dito Telecom’s project commencement was a matter of concern as the city government has recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with the National Transmission Corp. for the implementation of Project Lightning which will provide gigabit-speed broadband services through power lines.
    The city government has also inked a MOA with the Dept. of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the rollout of free public WIFI in partnership with three private companies.
    The council referred the matter to the committee on public utilities, transportation, and traffic legislation chaired by Councilor Benny Bomogao for study.
    In an interview, architect Donna Tabangin, CPDO chief, echoed the sentiments of the city council.
    Tabangin said social acceptability was an essential component in the process.
    She said all telecommunications companies should comply with all requirements of the local government unit.
    The CPDO chief said telcos cannot bypass nor railroad the local zoning board when choosing a location for the installation of their facilities.
    A meeting with all telcos operating in the city is set on December 4 to remind them about matters concerning the procedures set forth by the city government.

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Lower House committee sets Cordi autonomy consultations

By Marlo Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – The House of Representatives’ committee on local government chaired by Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Villanueva has started deliberations on the proposed law establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera under House Bill 5687 filed by all Cordillera congressmen and House Bill 7778 filed by Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Yap.
    Rep. Villanueva committed the full support of the 18th Congress House of Representatives committee on local government in conducting regional consultations and finally getting a bill passed into law establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.
    “We have so much work to do but we have one objective in mind, in this 18th Congress, we will pass the enacting law for the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera,” he said.
    Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. said the current attempt at Cordillera autonomy is more acceptable to the people of the region as it is a product of intensive public consultation among stakeholders from community leaders, government agencies, and civil society organizations.
    Dalog said Cordillera autonomy will bring the region to national attention with the promotion of multi-cultural and economic policies including sustainable development through management of natural resources based on indigenous knowledge of the region’s unique environment.
    Alluding to the region’s history, Rep. Jesse Allen Mangaoang of Kalinga said “Cordillerans once divided on autonomy are now united in the quest for self-determination.”
    The provinces and chartered city that comprise the Cordillera region today were once divided between Regions 1 and 2 from 1972 to 1987 during a period of rapid change and development in the country.
    Failure of the past attempts at regional autonomy were attributed to poor information dissemination and a lack of readiness and unity among the provinces. Mangaoang said.
     “We are more than ready, our effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic using our traditions, culture of sharing, ingenuity and resilience showed our readiness for self-governance. The Cordillera region has become one of the best performing regions in the fight against Covid-19 this demonstrates an unquestionable capacity for self-determination.”
    Baguio City Rep. Mark Go said times have changed since the failed attempts in 1990 and 1998.
    He said information on Cordillera autonomy had been a continuing discussion.
    He added engagement with the public on this issue has been consistent in the decades since and up to the present.     Technology has afforded the Cordillera region, with its historically remote and isolated villages, a better opportunity to disseminate information among its stakeholders, he said.
    Cordillera Regional Development Council Vice Chair and National Economic Development Authority Cordillera Regional Director Milagros Rimando said unlike in the past, there had been convergence of stakeholders that expressed their support for Cordillera autonomy. Statements of support were received from Cordillera local government units, indigenous peoples’ mandatory representatives, and private sector. Support also came from various national agencies and Cabinet secretaries who recognized the Constitutional mandate of Cordillera autonomy and its necessity to address various development and security concerns in the region.
    Rimando said Cordillera autonomy must be granted in accordance to the 1987 Constitution as well as the Sipat peace agreement of 1986 between the Philippine Government and the Cordillera Tribal leaders.
    She added the Cordillera Regional Development Plan has always focused on the attainment of Cordillera autonomy primarily to address inappropriate national policies and program standards imposed in the geographically-unique and culturally diverse region.
    “We need to grab this opportunity now, the time is very, very right”, said CLG chairperson Villanueva. “We cannot approve this very important piece of legislation in a single sitting.”
    The committee, through Rep. Villanueva, created a technical working group composed of Cordillera congressmen led by Reps. Go and Dalog and the regional directors of the Cordillera regional line Agencies, to ensure the constitutionality of the filed bills and ensure no laws conflict with it.

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CAR posts 206 Covid-19 recoveries, 22 new cases

By Liza Agoot 

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has logged 206 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) recoveries on Friday, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in the region.
    The recoveries were recorded in Baguio City with 114 while Benguet Province had 92.
    The region has 4,740 total recoveries out of the 5,214 total cases and 58 deaths since March.
    Meanwhile, Baguio continues to implement measures to further curb its Covid-19 infections.
    There were 10 new cases on Friday, the lowest daily record logged in the past three months.
    The city saw a spike in cases starting September as a result of a series of mass testing conducted by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the National Task Force against Covid-19.
    The increase was also due to the effective contact tracing which maintains an average ratio of 1:37 for every positive Covid patient.
    With the local transmissions happening where the city's geo-tagging analysis showing BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay) cases spread among the local government units, Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday issued stricter entry protocols for residents of the LSTT towns from Nov. 21 to Dec. 4.
    The mayor said the same restriction was proven effective when it was done in Itogon last Nov. 3 to 15 when Covid-19 cases in the town spiked to 74 on Oct. 22 to as high as 149 on Nov. 1 -- mostly workers in the mining companies.
    While Covid-19 cases in Baguio are relatively higher compared to the nearby municipalities, Magalong said the border restriction is meant to mitigate the spread of infection by limiting inter-municipal movement.
    Magalong said the restricted access will also give time for the LGUs to implement expanded testing for them to determine Covid hotspots and assess the effectiveness of the current response measures.
    “As members of the BLISTT it goes without saying that we will all extend the necessary and vital assistance to each other to ensure that expanded testing is conducted,” Magalong said. (PNA) 

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Mt Prov town free from Covid

By Liza Agoot 

SADANGA, Mountain Province -- This remote town in the border of Kalinga and Mountain Province remains free of Covid-19.
Ignacio Pangket, executive assistant of Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan, during the second session of the Regional Dagyaw 2020 "Usapang Gobyerno: Coping and thriving with Covid-19 IP concerns”, on Thursday in Baguio City said they hope to sustain the status and continue to be free of the virus.
    Pangket said instilling discipline among the residents has contributed to the Covid-free status of the town.
    “Our people always observe the minimum health standards set by the DOH (Department of Health),” he said.
    He also said among the priority interventions of the local government unit is to strictly limit the entry of travelers in their jurisdiction.
    “This is still in effect in our town,” he said.
    He said since the declaration of the Luzon-wide lockdown in March, the residents’ observance of the cultural practices related to lockdown contributed to the safety of the people.
    He said the natives of Sadanga has a “Te-er”, which enjoins residents to stay home and solemnly observe “rest period” and allow the ritual to ward off illnesses to take effect.
    Pangket said when the elders declare the te-er, everyone is mandated to adhere to and observe the traditional practice.
    For the Sadanga people, it is taboo not to follow the Te-er because it is the elders saying so and there exists another cultural practice that defines the dos and don’ts or the “inayan” that was passed on by the elders.
    In essence, violators of rules declared by the elders are fined or penalized thus making people follow.
    The official said that while people are at home observing the quarantine, they did not worry about survival and food because cultural practices also dictate that those who have more must share with those who have less or none, that it is why people did not insist on going out.
    “Our society, our people have the inner resources like values of justice, fairness, industry, solidarity, ecological worldview and built-in or indigenous mechanisms which the government can tap in order to effectively address the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Pangket said. -- PNA 

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No Covid cases, Abra wants travel restriction

BANGUED, Abra -- Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos urged suspension of unnecessary travel to the province from Dec. 1 until Jan. 15 next year to lessen spread of Covid-19.
    Bernos sought the Regional IATF's approval of the request for suspension of the issuance of travel authority for locally stranded individuals and people with no essential or necessary transactions in or indispensable travel to the province from Dec. 1 to Jan. 15, 2021.
    Bernos, said this, while repairs are being done at barangay isolation facilities.
    The request's approval remains pending before the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.
    Abra no longer has active Covid-19 cases, the only province in the whole Cordillera Administrative Region without Covid-19 since Nov. 17.
    The governor urged observance of minimum health and safety protocols in the province despite it now having no active cases.
    The province had 105 recoveries and two deaths from a total of 107 cases since March.

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NEDA: 60 Cordi candidates for top Covid-19 volunteers

By Marlo Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – The regional steering committee technical working group on the search for outstanding volunteers led by National Economic Development Authority Cordillera staff listed over 60 submissions for the 2020 National Search for Outstanding Covid-19 volunteers.
    With the call of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency for national nominees, NEDA-CAR aims to nominate up to three volunteers for the national award and recognize more volunteers at the regional level.
    The submissions include volunteers in food preparation, packing, and distribution, assistance in the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) aid, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) preparation and distribution, volunteer activity coordination, information dissemination, data encoding and management, health consultations, among other relief assistance.
    Nominees were evaluated on: number and type of beneficiaries, duration of volunteer work, commitment to volunteerism, motivation for volunteering, and difficulty of volunteer work. The period covered is March to September 2020 like peak of the nationwide community lockdown.
    PNVSCA, an attached agency of NEDA, aims to recognize individuals who have contributed their own personal time and resources in contributing to the Covid-19 response. It is hoped that the recognition of these individuals would
 help promote good practices in responding to the pandemic and encourage the spirit of volunteerism among the citizens of the country. The most outstanding volunteers for the regional and national levels will be announced in December 2020.

 

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Balancing Baguio’s economy and Covid-19 regulations

EDITORIAL

BAGUIO Tourism city chief Aloysius Mapalo said the OCTA research about the OCTA research on high Covid-19 rates in the summer capital was generally accurate but some factors were not mentioned.
    “OCTA data were taken during the first half of November, when Baguio was doing aggressive targeted testing of contacts. So expectedly, spike in cases were discovered in the clustered outbreak areas and therefore, a high attack rate. What was not explained, is that if the testing were random, the attack rate may be low.
    “The report does not include or even mention the mitigation and control management strategies employed by our local government and health officials, including the immediate strict isolation and quarantine measures of positive cases. This should have been the more important narrative.
    According to Mapalo, OCTA data “did not include more recent numbers of cases, particularly starting Nov 14, that is now declining due to the effective response on the discovered clustered outbreaks. If those will now be considered, our attack rate for the period week of Nov 14 to 20, is only 4.05% - below the risk threshold of 5%.
    “Now, what is more risky? ...in a place where cases are identified and controlled, or in a place where you don’t even know if the person beside you is positive (because they are not even testing)? I think the people know… we are now experiencing a surge in travel requests for this coming long weekend and towards December from tourists. Don’t worry, all of them are required to be Covid negative,” Mapalo said.
    Granted no one outside Baguio who comes in as a tourist is not infected with Covid-19, can we also guarantee their safety if they will not be infected in Baguio and bring the virus out to the lowlands?
    Baguio’s economy needs to be stabilized, but then, it is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. It seems, the city had become an experiment in controlling the deadly pandemic and balancing it with economic factors like opening the night market and welcoming tourists while restricting Benguet folks from coming in. This generated controversy between Baguio and Benguet officials and the story could be read at the front page of this newspaper.

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Of PWDs and POSDs

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- For the nth time, the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) under the city mayor’s office is under question, after its personnel allegedly accosted a Person with Disability (PWD) this time.
    There were instances in the past when POSD personnel were faulted for going out of bounds of their assigned tasks as enforcers of peace and order in the streets of Baguio but no cases were ever filed in the regular courts.
    The reasons were obvious. Understandably, court litigation costs extra money and needs extra time, two necessary elements which are not readily available especially when the complainants are ordinary persons such as vendors, porters, PWDs, among others.
    This time, a showdown in the city council is expected as Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw called for an investigation on the alleged violation of human rights of a visually impaired man by a POSD personnel.
    The PWD known as Madino Codasi who was accosted and issued a jaywalking citation ticket last week, is also set to sue the POSD personnel in court, with the help of volunteer lawyers, evenwhile the case was submitted to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
    Councilor Allad-iw, a PWD rights supporter claimed Codasi, an itinerant flower vendor in the city who hails from Northern Benguet is nearing total blindness and has to cross streets with a buddy. Together with a companion who was carrying a heavy load of flowers, they allegedly jaywalked.
    Medically, Codasi’s right eye condition is totally blind while the left eye can only see shapes and shadows. Councilor Allad-iw said, Codasi had to come home to undergo a serious eye operation that disrupted his status as an OFW. He now had to do odd jobs such as selling flowers to make ends meet.  
    While crossing, the POSD personnel called Codasi and his buddy on a megaphone that was blurting out unclear sounds, approached them and scolded the two with bad language, Allad-iw said. But even after explaining their side and showing his PWD ID, the citation tickets were still issued.
    Councilor Allad-iw was also told that before being accosted by the POSD who was identified in the citation ticket as a certain N. Wanas; it was obvious that Codasi and his buddy were not sure if they were the ones being called via the megaphone.
    They were treated wrongly and were told unsavory words as if they were not humans, and given that they may have jaywalked, they should not be treated that way, Allad-iw said.
    Furthermore, POSD Wanas even questioned the blind man why he did not sign the ticket on the space provided for, even when the latter already informed him that he was blind.
    On the other side, naturally the bosses of the POSD would say that the acts of their men were just and lawful, to the extent that they come up with rosy reports that would protect their personnel.
    In the report that attempts to justify the POSD actions against Codasi and his companion, it dragged the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) under the City Mayor's Office, saying that the said office admits that abuse by the “use of the PWD cards to gain undue advantage over others or for circumventing rules amongst their community is not uncommon.”
But that is exactly the reason why we issue IDs to these sectors because of their defects. That is the advantage these sectors of society get. We understand that they are treated differently because of their defects.  
    If that is not so, we should then stop honoring the IDs of PWDs, even the IDs of Senior Citizens because the holders are abusing the use of their cards to gain undue advantage.
    Or maybe persons with no physical defects should be given PWD IDs and those who have yet to reach the age of 60 be issued Senior Citizens IDs so that we will all be at par with the real PWDs and Senior Citizens. And the persons with defects will no longer gain undue advantage.
    The report that attempted to justify the POSD actions over Codasi and his guide was good and one-sided. It is also understandable that both the POSD and PDAO have to take the side of the office that gives them power and logistics. Both offices under the mayor’s office have to protect and not destroy each other, hence all their reports are sanitized to appear rosy to the head office.
    By the way, a petition to remove the POSD head on the grounds of maltreatment, harassment, official misconduct, and abuse of official position was also launched online, but that is another story.
    Well, pictures sent through the FB messenger of a person pointing a gun’s barrel to his mouth and a big knife to his face is something that cannot be considered as normal. That is described as “ada sayad na” (things are not running smoothly).
Codasi’s case is not the first that the city council tried to probe because of allegations of wrongful acts committed by POSD personnel. In June of 2014, ambulant vendor Oscar Caranto of Basista, Pangasinan allegedly died in the hands of POSD men. 
    Caranto was allegedly mauled June 24 at the POSD office at the public market then later at the main police station by POSD men. He died June 27 at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
    In 2019, taho vendor Benedick Seño also came in conflict with POSD men who apprehended him by force after asking for his vendor’s permit.
    The POSD men backed off when Seño decided to leave, but the POSD personnel who accosted him earlier opened the rear door of the taxi and grabbed his taho containers.
    Seño then went out of the taxi to stop the POSD men from taking the containers. They wrestled but the POSD men outnumbered Seño and took away his taho containers whose contents were scattered on the ground.
    At the city council, Seño narrated the life of itinerant vendors who have to put up with the POSD, a testimony that showed the POSD men were operating according to unlegislated and unwritten rules. In short, the POSD was operating outside the law.
    Indeed, the cases of Codasi, Caranto, Seño and the unpublished abuses by POSD men in the past should be the basis for the city council to legislate rules of engagement to be followed by all POSD personnel.,.
    It is time, the city council passes a law that will be the legal basis for the creation of the POSD, including the qualifications and standards of its personnel, or get rid of them altogether. At present, its operation is not backed by an approved ordinance, not even an administrative order.
    In the past, persons claiming to be POSD workers were seen accosting just anybody that caught their attention, including vendors, comboys (porters), jueteng collectors, among others.
    A dozen of them were also used to terrorize the peaceful turnover of management of the Asin Hot Springs at Barangay Nangalisan in Tuba and grab its operation by force, despite an agreement between the parties concerned.
    They were also scattered at the night market along Harrison Road acting like they were the bosses of the stall owners. I think they were also seen distributing and posting campaign material during elections which was outside their job description. 

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Laying to rest ‘victims’ of headhunting in Mt Province

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Warriors engaged in headhunting forays in Mountain Province and other parts of the Cordillera had been extolled as heroes in the olden days.
    It was a cultural practice then but considered by modern society as abhorrent.
    Some sectors like the religious are now trying to remove the stigma and have started a “cleansing” and “laying to rest’ victims of headhunting in this capital town and the province.
    Hereunder is an article sent to us about the matter:
    In a historic act and an attempt to recompense the horrific mistakes of the cultural past, Bishop Valentin C. Dimoc,     Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe, presided a burial mass for the remains of humans displayed at the Bontoc Museum which he refers as victims of violence on Nov. 21, 2020.
    The remains are the skulls of people who have been victims of head hunting, a cultural practice associated with bravery, masculinity and revenge in some Mt. Province indigenous tribes in the olden times.
    "These victims of violence, of revenge, represent all the other victims of cultural violence. Now, these remnants of the past, these deemed human trophies, will be buried," starts Bishop Dimoc. "The culture of the past have an impact to the present, and so it is imperative now to show an evidence of a dialogue of the Catholic faith and our operative, our living culture," he pointed out.
    The bishop said his desire to finally lay the human remains, which include human jaws attached to the khangsa (gongs), is anchored to the fact that culturally, Igorot people give due respect to the dead, consequently to their remains. Now that Christianity is embraced, human dignity is given more reverence by people.
    "It is beyond question that our museum should truly be a window of our culture in the past. But, being a living museum, it should also be a reflection of our culture, our faith, at present," he said. "The museum should not keep displaying a culture of the past, that which embodies violence and revenge, but of now - an evangelized community who have deep respect for human life and dignity of the human body," argued the bishop.
    He said that he is being disturbed that every time there are occasions, olden gongs ornamented with human jaws are being brought out and used in celebrations. "Material cultures, like the gongs, reflect what happened in the past. As people of the Christian faith, are we not disturbed that we use material cultures that represent violence?" Dimoc said. He said these "human trophies" should be afforded proper actions.
    The Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe urged folks, which include families, LGUs, communities and anyone who still possess gongs and other material culture that represent violence and revenge, to do the same.
    "If we truly believe in Jesus, that we belong to one family of God, then we should also respond materially. As Christianized indigenous peoples, we should act accordingly," the bishop said.
    The historic event was attended and witnessed by Provincial Governor Bonifacio Jr. Lacwasan, members of the Holy Family, Funyag, teachers and student-representatives of the Vicariate Schools of Mountain Province, and Bontoc community elders.

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The price of security

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz

A little over a week after Joe Biden’s election as president, he made several calls to world leaders.  When asked what he’s been telling them, Biden replied: "I'm letting them know that America is back. We're going to be back in the game." Biden in particular spoke with leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Australia and pledged to work with and improve diplomatic ties, countries that are part of the Indo-Pacific region, which his predecessor President Donald Trump had special relations.  They also are treaty allies of the United States who have mutual defense agreements to come to each other’s defense if attacked by another country.
    But what is interesting is that one other country with mutual defense agreement with the U.S. whom Biden did not call was Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.  I wondered why?  This didn’t seem like an inadvertent oversight on the part of Biden or Biden’s transition team.  
    Indeed, the Philippines’ relationship with the U.S. has not been as it appears to be.  A lot of it is caused by Duterte’s anti-American behavior, which has oftentimes rubbed the wrong way.
    Could it be because Duterte on February 15 had said that Donald Trump deserved to be re-elected, praising Trump’s reaction to his decision to end a decades-old military agreement with the United States, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)?  The VFA is very important to the overall U.S.-Philippines alliance, which sets out rules for U.S. soldiers operating in the Philippines.  Without the VFA, the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) are deemed useless and unenforceable because the Philippine Constitution bans the stationing of foreign troops on Philippine soil.  The signing of the VFA in 1997 allowed American forces to be deployed in the Philippines after the Philippine Senate failed to renew the U.S. bases agreement in 1991. 
What went wrong?
From 1991 to 1997, no American troops were stationed in the Philippines.  In 1995, China occupied Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in the Spratly Islands, saying that China will use it as shelter for fishermen.  Unable to defend the reef from Chinese incursion, the Philippines let it go.  
    China gradually developed the reef and in 2014, built an artificial island around it and transformed it into an air and naval base.  Recently, China is reportedly building a submarine harbor at Panganiban Reef, which is only 135 nautical miles from Palawan Island.  Currently, two other reefs in the Spratlys have been militarized into air and naval bases. 
When Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016, he favored closer ties with China and Russia.  He said it was time for the Philippines to be militarily independent.  During his state visit to Beijing in October 2016, Duterte announced his “separation” from the U.S. and sought to strengthen ties with China, he said,” I've realigned myself in your [China] ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world - China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way.”  But as it turned out nothing came out of Duterte’s braggadocio.   It was all air. 
Interference
In March 2020, Duterte said in a televised press conference, “To the Filipinos (in America)... if this comes out, vote for Trump. And they say that I am interfering? Of course, I am interfering.”  In endorsing Trump, Duterte said he was intentionally interfering with America’s politics as a way of getting back at US legislators who have been meddling with the Philippines’ internal issues. 
    It was a bad decision for Duterte to endorse Trump.  First of all, Duterte’s endorsement of Trump was dangerous because if Trump loses it would put Duterte at odds with Biden.  While it did draw support for Trump from thousands of Filipinos, it didn’t help Trump win the election simply because Filipinos are not American citizens.  However, some may have convinced their relatives in the U.S. to support Trump.  But the four million Filipino-Americans, who are mostly Democrats, supported the Biden-Harris ticket. 
    On June 2, 2019, Duterte decided to temporarily suspend his February notice of termination of the VFA to November 2020 with a possible extension of another six months.
    On November 11, 2020, Duterte extended once again the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA by yet another six months, “to enable us to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense,” the announcement said.
Lame duck
With Trump becoming a lame duck president after his election defeat, president-elect Biden would inherit the problems that have caused frictions between the U.S. and the Philippines for the past 70 years, which are mainly the Philippines’ belligerence towards perceived American interference in Philippine internal affairs.  
    Biden’s anti-American stance would also hurt US-Philippines relations.  That’s probably the reason why Biden did not call Duterte when he called other Asian allies after winning the election.  Just guessing.
    But given the weak national defense capability of the Philippines and China’s creeping adventurism in the Philippines, the Philippine government doesn’t have a choice but to kowtow to American political and economic interests.   It didn’t help the government’s defense community when Duterte said the country couldn’t afford war with China over disputes in the South China Sea.   "China has the arms—we do not have it. So, it's simple as that. They are in possession of a property.... So what can we do?” he added.
    Well, Mr. President, be reminded that the Philippines has the best capability to defend itself from foreign aggression: the MDT, VFA, and EDCA.  And they cover any Philippine territory or even ships in any ocean around the world.  China cannot touch us.  We’re untouchable only because of our defense agreements with the U.S. But there is a price for security.   The Philippines cannot exercise total sovereignty.  
    But it is a small price to pay among interdependent nations.  Heck, there are U.S. military forces in Japan, South Korea, Germany, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, Turkey, and several other U.S. allies around the world.  Yet, they are all sovereign countries with independent governments.  By they all have a little price to pay to secure their borders from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
    President-elect Biden has a plateful of foreign policy challenges.  So when he calls foreign leaders to discuss stronger diplomatic ties, foremost in his mind is the security of America’s allies.  America provides the security umbrella over the Free World.  And Biden with his extensive foreign policy experience would serve America’s role as the guardian of freedom.  He’ll restore world stability and peace among nations. (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
 

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Monitoring establishments /Market development update

CITY HALL BEAT
Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government has tightened its monitoring of business establishments to ensure compliance with the health and safety protocols against Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while the city is in the thick of reopening its businesses and industries to help people recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.
     Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier sought a dedicated team to undertake the inspections to check against laxity in the implementation and observance of the health measures as he reminded anew both businessmen and their patrons not to let their guards down as the COVID threat has remained.
    The task force composed of City Health Services Office, the Public Order and Safety Division and members of the contact tracing team set out to work last week.
    City Permits and Licensing Division Head Allan Abayao said erring establishments were issued notices of violations with corresponding penalties and were advised on the remedial and corrective measures they can undertake to ensure compliance and avoid succeeding offenses.
    The monitoring will be done consistently and continuously.
    The mayor earlier said there is a need to ensure that restaurants, grocery stores, accommodation facilities and others are consistently compliant with the prescribed minimum health standards and protocols to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in work places as in the previous incidents experienced by the city.
   *** 
The city government will enlist the participation of the private sector in the market development project negotiations with Original Proponent Status (OPS) holder SM Prime Holdings Inc.
    City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said this is to ensure the representation of the stakeholders particularly the market vendors who will be represented in the upcoming deliberations by Federation of Market Cooperatives-Baguio Retailers Savings and Credit Cooperative auditor Cristine Inso and Baguio Market Vendors Association (BAMARVA) director Angelita Gayados.
    They will be part of the pool of advisers and consultants who will join the negotiating committees composed of members of the Public-Private Partnership for the People selection committee (P4SC) headed by Dela Peña.
    The pool also includes Councilor Francisco Roberto Ortega, Advisory Council member Edgardo Nevada, Baguio City Host Lion’s Club president Nikko Jayson Go, Rotary Club of Baguio Summer Capital president Steve Cating, outstanding woman leader Emerita Fuerte, Philippine Chamber of Commerce auditor Rowena Tabanda and national artist Eric De Guia.
    Dela Peña said two committees had been formed, the technical which he will chair and finance to be helmed by City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente but they are considering the inclusion of a socio-economic team to join the round of talks.
He said the city is meticulously preparing its negotiating terms aware that this stage is the most crucial part of the Public-Private Partnership process.
    The whole process should be completed within 80 days and only 45 days is allotted for negotiation proper.
     As the process goes, once the city mayor and the P4SC had constituted the negotiation panel and set the terms, the panel invites the OPS holder to meeting  to introduce the members and approve the terms of the city government while SMPHI will also present their own terms.
    The negotiation panel will then set the ground rules and both sides must agree on the working term sheet or matrix and calendar of negotiation meetings and once done, a series of negotiation meetings will ensue the next 45 days.
    After every negotiation, both parties should agree on entries to the matrix with the final output every meeting to serve as minutes,
    After all final outputs and agreements, a public consultation will be conducted on the agreed terms.  Then a challenge terms of reference will be drafted based on the final agreed terms preparatory to the next stage which is the Swiss challenge where other companies can participate.
    The city will then select the best proposal from the pool and which SMPHI has to top.  The process will go on until an offer cannot be surpassed anymore and declared the winner.
    Dela Peña said there is no assurance that the negotiation to be conducted with SMPHI will succeed.
    “We are not saying that negotiations are always successful as they can also fail," he said adding that when that happens, the city will move on to find other offers subject again to P4 ordinance rules.

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Baguio housing for beneficiaries

BAGUIO CITY — The Dept. of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has granted the city P255 million that will allow it to proceed with a socialized housing project that would create a permaculture community.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Arch. Dona Tabangin said the city was the first local government in northern Luzon to secure a grant from the government to implement its socialized housing project at a 1.8-hectare property within the city.
Tabangin said that, under the grant, the city would be able to build eight structures that could accommodate 270 socialized housing units with provisions for road networks, bio-filtration plant, and solar farms on the roofs.

Permaculture is a holistic approach to regenerative living that highlights individual and community responsibilities for sustainability, and focuses on choice, values, ethics and the way in which human beings interact with the natural world.

Tabangin said only 40 percent of the land will be the built up area, with the remaining 60 percent being devoted for green spaces to help in bringing back the greenery in the city.

Initially, the city will be putting up two structures with 64 socialized housing units that will be offered for residents in identified high risk areas that need to be relocated to safer grounds.

The Irisan permaculture community will be the first of its kind socialized housing project not only in the Cordillera but also in northern Luzon, and will be the model for similar projects to be established in other parts of the country.

One of the major projects of the city is for the establishment of decent socialized housing projects for members of the city’s informal sector, and residents living in identified high risk areas that warrant their relocation to safer grounds.    

Tabangin explained that the preparation of the plans and specifications of the socialized housing project is a combined effort of the City planning and Development Office, the City Engineering Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office, and the City Buildings and Architecture Office, as all the issues and concerns relative to the same shall have been addressed.

The implementation of the project will be done in partnership with the DHSUD and the National Housing Authority (NHA), which are the lead agencies in the implementation of government-led housing projects in the country.

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