𝐁𝐃𝐏 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 ...

 

... 𝐠𝐢 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧-𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐠𝐲. 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧

Duna nay sementadong “Farm to Market Road (FMR)” ug “Solar Street Lights” ang Brgy.Bagong Silang, Maragusan nga gi turn-over dayon sa mga katawhan sa barangay pipila ka adlaw human ang Construction and Installations mismo nila ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy  ug Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola.

Kining mga proyektoha apil sa gatusang mga proyektong imprastraktura nga gipaspasan pagpatrabaho sa probinsya gamit ang dakong pundo nga gihatag sa Davao de Oro ni Pang. Rodrigo Roa Duterte pinaagi sa National Task Force (NTF) – ELCAC ug Oplan Pagabago ELCAC.

Sa milabayng Huwebes (Marso 10,2022) nag-uban sila si Gov. Tyron Uy ug Mayor Maricel  Colina-Vendiola ug mga kauban nga sila si 66th IB Commander Julius Munar, RPSB Team Leader Police Master Sergeant Leonilo Vicere, ug ang  Municipal ug Brgy. Officials pagtunol sa bag-o lang nahumang sementado nang “Farm to Market Road (FMR)” ug “Solar Street Lights” ngadto sa mga katawhan sa Brgy. Bagong Silang.

Human niini gi turn-over sad nila dayon niadto gihapong adlawa ang laing tulo ka mga BDP Funded Projects nga sementadong karsada, Solar Street Lights, ug School Building sa Brgy.Coronobe nga sakop gihapon sa lungsod sa Maragusan.

Ilalom sa maayong pagdumala ni Gov. Tyron Uy ug SP Members sa pagpanguna nila ni Vice Gov Maricar Zamora ug Papa Gov Senior BM Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy ang PLGU Davao de Oro nakapangayo sa kauluhan og P1.3 Bilyones pundo sa BDP para sa 65 deklarado nang insurgency free barangays sa probinsya nga nakabahin og tag P20 Milyones diin kasagaran niini gigamit sa probinsya pagpatrabaho sa mga proyektong imprastraktura nga sa pagkakaron aduna nay ubay-ubayng nahuman. (Gilbert M. Cabahug PAO-IPRD DdO)

How to watch 70th Miss World finals via Upstream PH

Miss World Philippines Tracy Maureen Perez

by Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

     After a long wait, The Miss World 2021 Coronation Night is finally happening as it pushes through this month after being postponed last December 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Our Philippine bet Tracy Maureen Perez is ready to conquer greater heights and show the world that we can get the crown this year as she is set to compete with 40 contestants who are aiming for the Miss World 2021 crown. 

 

    The Cebuana beauty queen already had a great start, as she secured a spot in the Top 30 after winning the 2nd round of the Head-To-Head challenge, and was named one of the Top 5 finalists for the Beauty With A Purpose challenge, where she highlighted the importance of empowering single parents. 

     Miss World 2021 is set to crown a new queen at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico this March 17, 8am, Philippine Standard Time. 

   And to give our supporters the best viewing experience, the coronation night will be streaming live online and commercial-free via Upstream PH. 

    Streaming also starts at 8 am. You can purchase tickets for only P149 on that day. 

     Time to show our full support once again and witness Miss World 2021 coronation night anytime, anywhere, brought to you by Upstream PH! Follow Upstream PH on Facebook, Instagram and www.upstream.ph to get the latest updates about the live-streaming and how to get tickets!

Diesel prices up by P13.15/liter; gasoline by P7.10/liter

by Myrna M. Velasco, Manila Bulletin

Filipino consumers will need to swallow a ‘very bitter pill’ when it comes to their fuel expenses this week, as the price of diesel products will be on historic astronomical rise of P13.15 per liter, as announced by the oil companies.

Gasoline prices will also be increased by P7.10 per liter, while kerosene prices, a key commodity for critical industries, including aviation, will drastically climb by P10.50 per liter.

As of press time, the oil companies that already announced their price hikes effective Tuesday, March 15, include Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation; Chevron Philippines, which is retailing Caltex brand at its stations and Cleanfuel. Their industry rivals are still waiting for the price trends of other companies – especially the cost adjustments to be enforced by industry leader Petron Corporation.

 

The price upticks at the domestic pumps could be attributed to the wild rally in prices in the world market last week – as international benchmark Brent crude surged to as high as $131 per barrel; while Dubai crude, which is a reference pricing for Asian markets, surged to $122 per barrel because of the niggling Ukraine-Russia war.

For this week, prices have been steady at softer level of $110 per barrel for Brent crude, and Dubai was still hovering also above $110 per barrel – fundamentally declining from last week’s record spikes since 2014.

Given the anticipated surge in pump prices this week, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that they pleaded to the oil firms “to take a cut, reduce their industry take,” which essentially entails that they must strive for lower margins in their products’ pricing.

He said the Department of Energy (DOE) is “reviewing the pricing mechanism,” with him emphasizing that the cost components are being fleshed out across the value chain “so we can see where we can potentially reduce prices or how we can minimize the increase.”

The energy chief similarly disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte was calling for a meeting Tuesday, March 15. “We’re going to discuss with DOF (Department of Finance) that we are asking for the deferment or suspension of the excise tax.”

The stand of the DOE on the excise tax suspension is aligned with the wishes of the players in the oil sector, although the other major weight to muster in that tug-of-war is the finance department.

Fernando L. Martinez, chairman of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA), sounded off that if the excise taxes will be immediately suspended, the heavy blow of this week’s big-time hikes could be diffused – because that will entail cost reduction of P10 per liter for gasoline; and P6 per liter for diesel products.

 

“It means to say, the price increases due for implementation on Tuesday, March 15, will be mitigated, so there’s no need to explore for alternative measures,” he noted.

Martinez added the oil firms are supporting “the targeted subsidy to jeepney drivers, bus operators as well as for the fishermen, because the government can also cut its expenses with that – and the P5.0 billion subsidy can be easily recovered with VAT (value added tax) collections.”

He explained that when the Expanded VAT Law enforcing 12 percent tax rate on petroleum products was enacted in 2005, “the product cost as basis then was just at P25 landed cost; but now, our pump prices are at P60 to P65 per liter, so with higher VAT collections, there is now a leeway to suspend the excise taxes because with higher prices, the government will also have higher VAT collections.”

‘IT’S SUMMER!’

‘IT’S SUMMER!’ – Residents join tourists in enjoying the cool and clear water of Bolinao Falls 2 in Pangasinan, which saw the huge influx of visitors for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out two years ago. (Zaldy Comanda, Manila Bulletin)

𝐁𝐃𝐏 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

The newly constructed development projects worth PhP20-M opened more opportunities to the residents of Barangay Bagong Silang and Coronobe in the municipality of Maragusan following the separate turn-over ceremony on March 10, 2022. 

These projects include concreting of farm-to-market roads, solar street lights, and the construction of a school building with three (3) classrooms funded under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy congratulated the residents and said that the high-impact projects will provide better economic opportunities, and contribute significant mechanisms in achieving the goal for quality education for all learners. 

He also commended the collective efforts of the national and local government agencies as well as the troops of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police for their unending support to end the insurgency. 

Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola gave thanks for bringing the government projects to the upland barangays as it drastically changed the lives of the people in the area. 

“The residents could now safely travel at night because of the solar street lights and have better access roads in transporting their farm produce to the town proper", Vendiola said. 

She also added that the school building is expected to benefit hundreds of students once face-to-face classes resume.

The BDP is a hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of empowering former conflict-prone communities through development projects. In Davao de Oro, sixty-five (65) barangays have benefited from the aforementioned program which consists of infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Gracing the ceremony were Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina, LTC Julius M Munar, Battalion Commander of 66th IB, RPSB Team Leader PMSg Leonilo B Vicere, and municipal and barangay officials. (Rheafe Hortizano -Provincial Information Office, Photos by Jonie Cadiz)

Mein jetziges Leben auf den Philippinen - my present life in the Philippines

 

Es ist einfach erklärt: als Rentner mit der Familie ist es wunderbar. Wir sind bereits seit 24 Jahren hier und  haben viele arbeitsreiche Jahre auf den Philippinen hinter uns. Ich arbeite gelegentlich immer noch etwas: wer rastet der rostet. Aber, wir leben in Frieden.

It's easy to explain: as pensioner with my family, it's wonderful. We have been here for 24 years now and got many busy years in the Philippines behind us. We still work occasionally. The one who rests rusts!!! And we live in peace!

Judging and being merciful

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“BE merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged…For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 9,36-38)

We need to process these words of Christ slowly if only to conform ourselves to them, something that given our human condition is most likely very difficult if not impossible for us to do.

More than processing them slowly, we first have to pray, asking for grace, for definitely the possibility of us following this divine indication can only take place if we have God’s grace. If we simply depend on our good intentions and best human effort, forget it! We can never give life to these words.

We have to understand that our ability to forgive and to judge properly can only take place when we are with God. For this we have to follow as closely as possible the example of Christ who, out of love for us and in spite of our grave sins, was and continues to be willing to bear our sins and to offer forgiveness.

We have to remember that if we truly have to be ‘another Christ’ as we ought to be, we have to know how to be merciful the way Christ, the fullness of God’s revelation to us, was and continues to be merciful to all of us.

And how was Christ merciful to all of us? First of all, being the son of God, he emptied himself to become man. That way, he already adapted himself to our wounded, sinful condition. He identified himself with us so that we would have a way to identify ourselves with him. He preached the truth about God and about ourselves. 

He gave preferential attention to the sick, that is, the sinners. He was always ready to forgive, his mercy and compassion having no limits—“not only seven times, but seventy times seven times.” (Mt 18,22) He taught about loving the enemy and living it. He did not mind all the insults and mockeries that were poured on him just to accomplish his mission of saving us.

And in the end, he assumed all our sins without committing sin by dying on the cross. In that way, he dealt death to all our sins, and with his resurrection he offered us a way for our own salvation and reconciliation with our Father God. He was thoroughly magnanimous.

And so, we just have to learn to forgive and move on. This is what we should do if ever we become a victim of some offense by someone. We should be quick to forgive and then move on, focused on doing what we are supposed to do. We should avoid getting stuck with the offense, wallowing in anguish, complaints and hatred, and keeping resentments, grudges and desires for revenge.

Let’s remember that all of us have sins that need to be forgiven also. And as Christ said it clearly, we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others. “If you will forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses,” he said. “But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you for your offenses.” (Mt 6,14-15)

We have to develop the proper attitude in this particular issue because, truth to tell, we cannot avoid being offended by others just as neither can we avoid offending others also. That’s part of our human condition here on earth.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Inbound travelers may present negative COVID-19 antigen results — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Foreigners and returning Filipinos may now present negative laboratory-based antigen results to enter the country, Malacañang announced Friday.

Filipino and foreign nationals arriving from abroad may present a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin, said acting deputy presidential spokesperson Michel Kristian Ablan.  

“Previously, they have to show negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours. Now, it is either of the two: RT-PCR or antigen,” he said.

Ablan also announced that Hong Kong or Macau passport holders are allowed to enter the Philippines without visa provided they stay for a period not exceeding 14 days.

The Philippines has been progressively easing entry rules and scrapping pandemic restrictions after a sharp drop in COVID-19 cases. The country reopened its borders to foreign tourists in February.

Metro Manila and 39 other areas are under Alert Level 1—or the “new normal”—until March 15.

The virus has infected more than 3.6 million people in the country, with over 57,000 deaths, according to latest government data. — Gaea Katreena Cabico

Let's move onwards ....

 

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐝𝐎'𝐬 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲

It's women empowering women day when various women groups converged and shook the earth of the provincial capitol grounds in celebration of the Women’s Day held during the 24th Founding Anniversary of Davao de Oro.

Behind Davao de Oro's golden times are women. For 24 years, women played a crucial part in the province's outstanding governance with recognitions in the regional and national stage. DdO has produced necessary outcomes for its people, and behind its successes are dynamic women leaders.

More or less 3,000 women all over the province flocked in the Provincial Capitol Grounds. Various women organizations took part in the celebration namely; Indigenous People’s Women, Muslim Women, Women Professionals, Women Farmers, Philippine National Police (PNP) Ladies, Rural Improvement Club, League of Local Lady Legislators, Armed Forces Women, ComVal Ladies Club, and Women from the eleven (11) municipalities of Davao de Oro.

On the same day, through the Provincial Women Development Council (PWDC) in partnership with the International Women’s Peace Group, is the ground breaking ceremony of the first ever IWPG (International Women Peace Group) Monument that will soon stand as marker of the province’s desire for peace and harmony.

The spirit of competitiveness and sportsmanship filled the air on the later part of the day as fifteen (15) groups competed in the “Zumbayanihan” zumba dance contest. The stage flared up  when each group showcased their moves on the beat of the zumba music while the crowd cheered up for their teams. The Department of Education-Davao de Oro Women won as the champion, Mabini Women as the 1st placer and AFP Women got the 2nd spot.

Moreover, Chairwoman Sholai Lim gave the accomplishment report of the PWDC during the “The Women in Motion: Accomplishment Report of the Provincial Women Development Council,” recognizing the countless achievements of women and girls in various fields and uphold their significant contributions in Davao de Oro.

The fun-field and productive day commenced after the awarding ceremony, and raffle items were availed by the participants, plus a hundred thousand peso (100k) cash prizes courtesy of Senior Board Member Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy.

The Women’s Day Celebration was also attended by Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Senior Board Member Arturo "Chiongkee” Uy, Vice Governor Maria Carmen Zamora, Board Member Vivencia Secuya, Board Member Atty. Dyud Lopoz, Board Member Kris Caballero-Rañon, Former Gov Atty. Jose Caballero, Vice Mayor Atty. Madel Malone-Cervantes, Congresswoman Claudine Bautista Lim of the Dumper Partylist and Miss Karla Estrada of the Tingog Partylist. (JA-PAO IPRD, photos J. Cadiz)