Over P13B needed to modernize ‘outdated’ PH air traffic management system

 

Published January 2, 2023, 8:32 AM

by Aaron Recuenco, MB

More than P13 billion is needed to upgrade the country’s air traffic management which the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) describes as an outdated system that needs to be upgraded to a better system.

Currently, the CAAP is using the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management, or the CNS/ATM system, which was introduced to the civilian aviation sector in 2010.

It took eight years and P13 billion borrowed from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) before the CNS/ATM system was used by the Philippine aviation sector, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista.

And with the technical glitch on the CNS/ATM that occurred on Sunday, Jan. 1. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Bautista said there is a need to modernize the system being used by the CAAP.

“We can still use it but we need to upgrade this to a better system. So if we talk about the budget, it’s more than P13B billion now considering we had this five years ago. We will need a huge amount of money for this,” Bautista told reporters in a press briefing on Sunday.

The technical glitch, which the CAAP traced to power outage on Sunday morning and eventually to the power surge that damaged equipment on the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC), affected around 65,000 domestic and international airline passengers from nearly 300 flights,

The ATMC serves as the facility for controlling and overseeing all inbound and outbound flights and overflights within the Philippine airspace. It went down at 9:49 a.m. on Sunday due to a power outage that resulted in loss of communication, radio, radar, and internet.

The system glitch at the CAAP-run Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) was fully restored at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.

The upgrade of the air traffic management system in the country is deemed essential especially that Marcos administration is banking on the full revival of the tourism sector as part of the economic recovery from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

So how outdated is the Philippines’ outdated air traffic management system?

Bautista said: “If you compare it with Singapore for one, there is a big difference. They are at least 10 years ahead of us.”

SWS: Most Filipinos with high hopes for 2023

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

(SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS)

Ninety-five percent of Filipinos will be welcoming 2023 “with hope rather than fear,” according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released on Friday, Dec. 30.

“This is two points above the 93 percent recorded in 2021 and similar to the pre-Covid 96 percent in 2019,” SWS said in a statement. 

The nationwide survey, which was conducted from Dec. 10 to 14 with 1,200 respondents, found that only 5 percent of Filipinos will enter the new year with fear—down by two points from 7 percent in 2020 and 2021.

“Compared to the end of 2021, hope for the coming new year rose from 93 percent to 97 percent in Balance Luzon, and from 90 percent to 95 percent in the Visayas,” SWS said.

“It fell slightly from 95 percent to 93 percent in Metro Manila, while it stayed at 93 percent in Mindanao,” it added.

74% of Filipinos to change themselves for the better. 

The survey also found that 74 percent of Filipinos said they would change to better themselves in the coming year, while 20 percent said they would not change anything.

The remaining 6 percent did not give an answer.

“Of those planning to change for the better in 2023, 31 percent mentioned resolutions related to health, such as improving overall health (9 percent), stopping/lessening drinking (7 percent), having a healthier diet (4 percent), stopping/lessening unhealthy vices (4 percent), stopping/lessening smoking (3 percent), exercising/being more active (1 percent), having a healthier lifestyle (1 percent), and recovering from illness (1 percent),” SWS said.

“Two percent gave other health-related personal changes, such as weight management, sufficient sleep, and physical checkups,” it pointed out.

Meanwhile, 27 percent plan to focus on social and attitudinal wellness, such as having more patience (3 percent), stopping bad behaviors/habits (3 percent), improving self in general (3 percent), improving behavior/attitude (2 percent), avoiding stress (1 percent), improving family relations (1 percent), and being happy (1 percent), among others (industriousness, studies, kindness, self-confidence, better family life, stronger faith, etc.).

Sixteen percent plan to focus on their finances, such as finding a job/starting a livelihood (5 percent), working harder (5 percent), saving money (3 percent), and not borrowing money anymore (1 percent), among others (spending habits, payment of debts, earning more wealth, etc.).

Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, Janine Gutierrez still among TC Candler’s most beautiful

by Stephanie Bernardino

Making it again to this year’s TC Candler’s Most Beautiful Women list are Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, and Janine Gutierrez.

3rd time Hall of Famer Ivana, however, is now down to the sixth spot.

Liza is 23rd. 

Janine went up several notches from 78 to 51.

Fil-Am star Bella Poarch is at the 80th spot this year.

Victoria’s Secret model Jasmine Tookes is number one on the list.

The world famous 100 Most Beautiful Face list has been published annually by TC Candler and the Independent Critics since 1990. In recent years, the list has garnered over 12 billion social media impressions and hundreds of millions of views. It is widely considered to be the most internationally recognized and prestigious list of its kind. 

“The list has been acknowledged / personally thanked by over 750 celebs that have been included on the lists over the years. Unlike most other annual beauty rankings, the 100 Most Beautiful Faces List is not a popularity contest and it is definitely not country specific. It is not about the hottest or the most famous celebrity. Rather, the list attempts to inform & broaden public opinion, instead of reflecting it,” the text in the description of the video read.

“The list introduces new faces to countries they ordinarily would not reach. The Independent Critics search far and wide, listening to the many millions of suggestions submitted by the public over the past couple of decades, and they then put together a list representative of the modern ideal of worldwide beauty. Aesthetic perfection is only one of the criteria. Grace, elegance, originality, daring, passion, class, poise, joy, promise, hope… they are all embodied in a beautiful face,” they added.

According to the organization, they select only 100 faces out of the approximately 160,000 celebrities (which works out to less than 0.001%).

“It is a thankless task, as no individual will ever agree with all the choices,” they related.

They maintained: “Over 50 countries are represented on the annual list. That number seems to go up every year as the public participation grows and expands. This diversity relies heavily on public suggestions from almost every corner of the globe.”

“Of course, lists are always very subjective… you will disagree with some of the choices, but perhaps you will find a new favorite. We hope you enjoy the list. Watch the video and please like, comment, share and subscribe.”

Sports in 2022: World Cup-bound Filipinas keep making history

As they continue to scale new heights, the Filipinas seized 2022 as their year. 

Luisa Morales - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women's national football team kick-started the year on the highest possible note, clinching the country's first-ever berth in the FIFA Women's World Cup in January.

Alen Stajcic had just been appointed head coach for a couple of months by the beginning of 2022. He then he steered the Filipinas to the 2023 FIFA WWC —  set in Australia and New Zealand next year — after the team beat Chinese Taipei 1-1 (4-3) on penalties in the quarterfinals of the AFC Women's Asian cup in Sydney.

The Filipinas sent the Philippine football community on high as they punched their ticket to the elite tournament.

But that was only the beginning for what would be a monumental year for the Filipina booters, who broke ceiling after ceiling in the months that came.

In May, they out with their best performance in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, taking home the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over Myanmar.

It was the program's first podium finish in the biennial tournament since 1985 when the squad also ended up third in the competition.

Worth noting is the fact that there were only three nations that participated in the women's football competition of the SEA Games that year.

The Filipinas didn't stop there as they ruled the AFF Women's Championship in July.

Marking the first ever championship for any Filipino side in football, the Filipinas first dethroned Vietnam before beating powerhouse Thailand in a thrilling final, 3-nil, in front of a packed home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Pumping life into the ever-budding football community in the country, the Filipinas quenched the thirst of fans who have long been waiting for a crown in Manila.

Though the Filipinas capped off competition with the AFF Women's Championship, the team continued to be busy until the end of the year.

In preparation for the World Cup, the Nationals figured in multiple training camps and international friendlies against the likes of Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Chile, among others.

Coming up with positive results all throughout the year, the vision is optimistic for the Filipinas' campaign in the World Cup slated in a couple of months.

They also end the calendar year with a program-best No. 53 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

As they continue to scale new heights under the watchful eye of Stajcic, the Filipinas seized 2022 as their year. 

With a historic campaign to build momentum on, the Filipinas can only hope to bring the energy into the new year.

The Filipinas return to action as early as February when they compete in the Pinatar Cup 2023 in Spain against higher-ranked European teams.

1 dead, 3 missing in Davao landslide

By Ruth Palo

December 30, 2022 30

DAVAO CITY: A resident was killed while three others were missing after being buried in a landslide caused by heavy rains the past two days in Barangay Don Salvador Lopez, Mati City in Davao Oriental on Wednesday, December 28.

The Mati City Information Office reported that the landslide happened around 11 a.m. at Purok Sangay, leaving a village road impassable to vehicles.

The landslide isolated seven other districts — Upper Cangusan, Lower Cangusan, Cangusan Proper, Tabon-Tabon, New Camotes, Sta. Cruz and Biasong.

Teams from the local disaster risk reduction and management office, police, military, Bureau of Fire Protection, and City Social Welfare Development Office are in the area to conduct search and rescue operations.

The victim was identified as Cristituto Magmusa Paglanson, 62.

Welcome 2023 with a super divas sing-off this New Year Sunday on ‘ASAP Natin ‘To’

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Let’s kick off 2023 with a bang, as your favorite Kapamilya stars and guest artists bring you the freshest world-class acts on stage, featuring a must-watch Super Divas sing-off, a pop collab from Darren and Alamat, Andrea and Maymay’s dance-off, plus treats from Sarah G, Moira, Nobita, and much more this New Year Sunday only on “ASAP Natin ‘To” on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.

Welcome the new year with a showstopping Super Divas sing-off from Morissette, Nina, Klarisse de Guzman, and Regine Velasquez alongside Elha Nympha, Fana, and Lara Maigue as they belt out the best birit hits of 2022. Plus, tune in to Sarah Geronimo’s fresh performance in the latest edition of “Sarah G Specials.”

Keep the party vibes flowing with a highly requested P-Pop collab from Alamat and Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren, plus a sizzling dance showdown from Andrea Brillantes and Maymay Entrata in the latest edition of “Clash Dance.” 

Meanwhile, celebrate the unstoppable spirit of Filipino talents as we usher in the year with a mix of upbeat acts from Alexa Ilacad, KD Estrada, Kice, Enchong Dee, Jameson Blake, Angela Ken, and the whole ASAP family with special guest performer Nik Makino. Also joining the all-star New Year’s celebration is Janine Gutierrez.

Say hello to 2023 anew with a fierce solo K-Pop dance cover from ASAP’s Queen of the Dancefloor herself, Kim Chiu.

Don’t miss a senti hits medley from Moira dela Torre alongside Anji Salvacion, Jeremy G, Ryssi Avila, Ann Raniel, Bryan Chong, Janine Berdin, plus balladeers Ogie, Martin, Jed Madela, and Jason Dy. More fresh musical treats come your way from OPM band Nobita, plus a collab from Gary Valenciano and Khimo Gumatay.

And usher in the year with more stellar duet performances from ASAP icons Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Martin Nievera, Erik Santos, Morissette, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez with Sheena Belarmino, Jason Dy, JM Yosures, Klarisse de Guzman, Sam Mangubat, Reiven Umali, and Darren in “The Greatest Showdown.” 

Let’s welcome 2023 the right way with a star-studded afternoon party from the country’s longest-running musical variety show, “ASAP Natin ‘To,” this Sunday, 12 NN on local TV via Kapamilya Channel, Jeepney TV, A2Z, and TV5, online through Kapamilya Online Live and iWantTFC, and worldwide via TFC.

Viewers who use any digital TV box at home, such as the TVplus box, only need to rescan their device to watch “ASAP Natin ‘To” on TV5 and A2Z.

Jose Rizal: The words of this Philippine hero live on

by Alexa Basa

• Rizal grew up to be skilled in both arts and sciences, and is better known as the author of his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
• Rizal also contributed to La Solidaridad, a newspaper that pushed for reforms. His famous essays in the newspaper were the Sa Mga Kadalagahan Sa Malolos, Bulakan, Filipinas Dentro De Cien Años (The Philippines Within a Century), and Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos).
• Other written works of Rizal are Mi Retiro (My Retreat), Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), and an annotated edition of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
• The country continues to pay tribute to his heroism through the many monuments, shrines and places that are named after him.
• No one can miss Rizal in a regular day in the Philippines, starting with his face on the one-peso coin, a main avenue in any city or town named “Rizal Street,” major sports venues, university, elementary and high schools, even hospitals that carry his name.

PHILIPPINE HERO – Dr. Jose Rizal, who used nonviolent means for advocating reforms, was executed by a firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 after being convicted of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy.
(Photo by Library of Congress website/Manila Bulletin file photo)

Jose Rizal, a Philippine hero who stood up against Spanish colonizers by choosing the pen and not the sword to fight injustice, is the focus of tributes as the nation commemorates his 126th death anniversary on Dec. 30, a non-working holiday.

Rizal’s life was short. At the young age of 35, Rizal was executed by a firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan after he was found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy.

I first “met” Rizal through a small, thin book that I read when I was a kid. The book—titled Talambuhay ng mga Bayani—tells the short biographies of Filipino men and women who contributed to the country’s independence from Spanish colonizers. I learned the story about the hero from a summary of his life from his birth to death. I was very young then and I remember trying to memorize the details, especially his complete name. 

Rizal (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda) was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh among 11 children—two sons and nine daughters—of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.

RIZAL MONUMENT -The Rizal monument stands at the Rizal Park, more popularly known as Luneta Park, in Manila. 
(Manila Bulletin File Photo)

He grew up to be skilled in both arts and sciences, and is better known as the author of his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Rizal also contributed to La Solidaridad, a newspaper that pushed for reforms in the country. His famous essays in the newspaper were the Sa Mga Kadalagahan Sa Malolos, Bulakan, Filipinas Dentro De Cien Años (The Philippines Within a Century), and Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos).

Among Rizal’s popular written works are Mi Retiro (My Retreat), Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), and an annotated edition of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.   

Rizal’s written works are proof that the pen and paper are powerful tools to influence opinion and to bring reform as they inspired people to take action. He chose the pen as a peaceful way to advocate reforms without causing bloodshed.

Rizal’s talent and skills exceeded what is expected from one person. Aside from being a writer, Rizal was an “architect, artist, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian,” according to joserizal.ph website.

The country continues to pay tribute to his heroism through the many monuments, shrines and places that are named after him. No one can miss Rizal in a regular day in the Philippines, starting with his face on the one-peso coin, a main avenue in any city or town named “Rizal Street,” major sports venues, university, elementary and high schools, even hospitals that carry his name. There have been many essays and stories published about him, and films and television shows produced about his life.

In Manila, Rizal Park, popularly referred to as Luneta Park, is the main venue for family gatherings, festivals, shows, exhibits, and dozens of tree planting activities held every so often to celebrate any occasion.

It is also at Rizal Park where a 12.7-meter monument stands with honor guards 24-hours a day.

Near that monument, in a small corner of Rizal Park is the site of where the national hero was executed on Dec. 30, 1896.  A diorama of the execution showing Rizal and the soldiers stand in that plot of land to remind locals and foreigners of our hero. 

If you want to pay your respects to our hero today, visit Rizal Park.

Unique New Year's traditions around the world

New Year traditionsShutterstock.com

by Asaël Häzaq

Whether with family, friends, or on your own, the transition to the new year is a unique and often awaited moment. From South Africa, France, China, to Spain, each country has its own traditions and its own way of celebrating the New Year's eve. But does everyone celebrate the New Year on January 1? Between customs, challenges, rituals and history, here is an overview of some unique New Year traditions.

Canada's polar bear plunge 

In Canada, the passage to the new year is no less than a challenge. Following the example of the polar bear dive, the most daring people will be kicking off the year by running into freezing cold lakes, oceans and dive into the Canadian icy waters (temperatures are close to 0 degrees or barely positive). After the cold plunge, the most courageous ones take part in a 100-meter race. Then comes the reward: a hot drink.

New Zealand's New Year with a fanfare

In New Zealand, the changeover to the new year can be heard in every street. As soon as midnight has passed, New Zealanders take to the streets with pots and pans and other kitchen utensils to make as much noise as possible. A popular and cheerful fanfare to celebrate the transition to the new year.

Denmark' carousel of plates

In Denmark, they don't take out the pots and pans, but the crockery. Plates, cups, saucers, etc., everything works, as long as the dishes are chipped or damaged. They will end up smashed against the door of the house on the evening of December 31. This ritual is believed to bring happiness and success and to chase evil spirits. The more broken plates there are, the more effective the ritual is said to be.

Colombia's traveler's instinct

Get your suitcases out, the Colombians say! In Colombia, one of the New Year's traditions is all about those who love to travel. At midnight, Colombians go around their neighborhoods carrying an empty suitcase. Besides being a call to discovery, this small nocturnal tour is supposed to herald a prosperous year of travel and adventure.

Spain's 12 midnight grapes

Do you have grapes? 12, to be precise. In Spain, the tradition is to eat 12 grapes when the clock strikes midnight: one grape for each month. Eating the 12 grapes is believed to bring luck and happiness for the whole year. The tradition is so popular that it is broadcast on national TV networks. Thousands of Spaniards also gather at the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's iconic square, to celebrate the arrival of the new year by eating the lucky grapes. But keeping up with the 12-second limit is a challenging task. The one who manages to eat the 12 grapes in rhythm will have good luck for the whole year. The smartest ones opt for seedless grapes, which are easier to swallow.

France's midnight kiss

At midnight on December 31, according to French tradition, people toast and kiss their beloved under a mistletoe tree. This custom, however, rarer nowadays, can still be seen in romantic movies. One can be satisfied with a simple kiss or more if both feel like it, and toast to the new year.

Poland's twelve midnight dishes

On the New Year's eve, Poles prepare a generous meal made up of twelve dishes in reference to the twelve months of the year. The carp has a special place among all the dishes; it is the staple of the traditional meal, and its scales are also a sign of good luck. According to the custom, you should keep a few scales in your wallet. They are believed to bring luck throughout the year.

The year in Ecuador goes up in flames

In Ecuador, the bad things of the past year end up in smoke. Ecuadorians make human-sized puppets, some with the faces of unpopular personalities. At the stroke of midnight, the puppets are burned, taking with them all the bad things of the past year, according to tradition. This custom helps to turn the page of the past and start a new year.

Brazil's 7 lucky jumps

This tradition will delight swimmers and intrepid people. On New Year's eve, Brazilians gather on Copacabana beach. At midnight, they jump into the water fully dressed and try to hop over 7 waves. With each hop, they make a wish or express their gratitude. At the water's edge, the tradition requires that one dresses in white (a symbol of luck and peace) to offer offerings to the goddess of the sea. Wicker baskets containing mirrors, jewels and sweets are sent to float on the water. If the baskets return to the shore, it is a bad sign, meaning that the goddess has refused the offering. The unfortunate rejected ones would then face 12 months of misfortune. If the baskets continue their journey on the sea, then the good news is that they will have 12 months of prosperity.

Russia's wishes go into bubbles

In Russia, people write their wishes on a small piece of paper which is then burned. However, be wary not to throw the ashes away. Instead, you are advised to recover and sprinkle them in your glass of champagne. Then, at midnight, you must drink the glass in one go. The ashes thus ingested are said to ensure that the wishes will come true in the year.

The New Year is not always on January 1st

New Year's Eve does not always fall on December 31. In some countries, celebrations take place on some other day of the year.

South Africa's great January 2 Carnival 

It is called the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. Back in the 19th century, when slavery was still rife in Cape Town, black people were not allowed to celebrate New Year's Eve on December 31, the day reserved for whites. The then slaves used their day of rest, January 1, to celebrate the New Year. This holiday used to be known as Coon Carnival or Kaapse klopse. But the term is no longer used in South Africa as it is considered disrespectful. The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival brings together thousands of people. Singers and dancers parade in festive and colorful costumes. Trumpets, banjos and drums echo through the streets of the city.

Thailand's April Water Festival

In Thailand, there is no holiday on December 31 as the new year is celebrated on April 12. Songkran is a festival celebrating the Buddhist New Year and the beginning of the rainy season, 3 days before the beginning of the year (in April, therefore), it's the water festival. According to tradition, water is said to have purifying virtues and to repel bad luck. On that day, Thai people zealously spray each other with water cannons and other water pistols. Tourists are also sprayed, as well as temples and Buddha statues.

China's January 22, 2023, New Moon

The NongliXinnian (Lunar New Year) will take place on January 22, 2023, with celebrations between January 21 and February 5. The new year will be under the sign of the water rabbit and will last until February 9, 2024. Among the traditions surrounding the celebrations are 7 traditional dishes: fish, Chinese ravioli, spring rolls, glutinous rice cakes, sweet rice balls, longevity noodles, and lucky fruits (orange, mandarin oranges, grapefruit, amongst others). The particularity of all these foods is that their pronunciation is synonymous with luck, happiness, and abundance. For example, the word "fish" (yú) sounds like the word "abundance". In the Chinese tradition, eating these foods would mean good luck for the whole year.

Article translated from Tour du monde traditions atypiques pour le Nouvel An

The importance of a healthy family life

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

WITH the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we are reminded of our duty to make our family life as healthy as possible. And by healthy, we mean that we animate our family life with the love that reigned in the Holy Family.

Lest we think that animating our family life with love is something purely theoretical if not impracticable, we have to realize that there are specific and concrete things we can do to make our family life vibrant and healthy. 

Obviously, a healthy family life means that time is spent with the family. There have to be customs and practices where the family can be together. It would be good if, for example, all the members can take some meals together, like dinner, after which a little family get-together can take place. 

This is important because that’s the way all the members can truly know each other and monitor developments as they come. Life offers endless situations, conditions, challenges, trials, etc. Everyone in the family, but especially the parents, should help one another go through these varying circumstances properly.

With time together, they can see each other’s strengths and weaknesses, peculiarities and idiosyncrasies, and would be in better position to help in some way for the proper growth of each one.

One of the things we can do is first of all to teach everyone as early as possible to be always thoughtful, mindful and caring of one another in the family. This will require some training that ideally should start when the children are still small. Of course, the parents take the primary role in this regard.

Let’s remember that the child is the father of the man. How the child is, how he is trained, will show the kind of man he will be when he grows up. Thus, virtues should be imparted and learned as early as possible. 

Children, for example, should be taught how to serve the others, how to deal with the unavoidable differences and conflicts among themselves. They have to learn how to educate their emotions and effectively blend the different faculties and powers they have, so they can attain some degree of inner harmony and move toward human maturity.

Most important, of course, is to train them to develop a working life of piety. As early as possible, children should learn how to pray and how to maintain an intimate relationship with God that is also translated into their proper relationship with others. Obviously, some practices of piety have to be inculcated in them in a way that is most attractive and that befits their conditions.

There has to be a way of regularly assessing how each one is growing. It should be a way that is clear about what criteria, standards and norms to use. With the many confusing things that are at play in the world today, it might be prudent to seek professional and expert advice in this regard.

What is clear also is that to make family life healthy, we have to use both human and supernatural means. Everyone has to be taught to use both reason and faith, feelings and intelligence, study and work on the one hand, and prayer, sacrifice, recourse to the sacraments, ascetical struggle on the other. 

The natural and the supernatural, the material and the spiritual, the temporal and the eternal have to blended properly!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

29 RIDOs in Davao de Oro complete DdOT-KD program

On Wednesday, December 28, a total of twenty-nine (29) former Illegal Drug Offenders for Reforms (IDORs) who are now Reformed Illegal Drug Offenders (RIDOs) successfully graduated from the Davao de Oro Transformative Programs Kontra Droga (DdOT-KD). They received their certificate of completion during the Culmination Ceremony at the Activity Hall, Provincial Capitol, proving that they have changed and no longer use illegal drugs.

Of the 62 IDORs, only 29 RIDOs enrolled in the 2nd batch of the program and completed it. The other 33 dropped out, some were arrested, tested positive for illegal drugs, or passed away as a result of accidents, shootings, and other tragedies. The 2nd batch beneficiaries started their intervention last November 8, 2019, during the kick off ceremony at the Social Hall, Provincial Capitol. The delay of the culmination ceremony was due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, represented by Executive Assistant III Fr. Nick Consencino, stressed to the RIDOs the significance of continuing to abstain and stay away from illegal drugs and setting an example for those people who are still in the situation to also reintegrate into the society.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer/ Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) Secretariat Dr. Mary Cyril G. Pasaol also underscored to the RIDOs to avoid the people contributing to the triggers for them to go back to the dangerous deeds. She added that the government is always willing to help in improving their quality of life.

Alyas Karen, a RIDO, expressed gratitude in her speech to the  local and national government units and various stakeholders for the support provided to change their outlook on life, enabling them to return to the folds of the community and no longer use illegal drugs.

Aside from the Certificate of Completion, the 29 RIDOs also received a TESDA certificate on Mushroom making as well as 25 kilos of rice assistance and an emergency kit.

Further, a total of 58 RIDOs, out of 60 IDORs enrolled in the first batch that commenced on July 5, 2019, also completed the program during the culmination ceremony at the Social Hall, Provincial Capitol on December 19, 2019. This sums up a total of 87 RIDOs that completed the intervention since the program started in 2019 up until this year.

The DdOT-KD program of the provincial government, administered by the PADAC chaired by Governor Gonzaga, is a six-month community-based treatment for Plea Bargaining Cases or IDORs. Such provisions include rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration, through structured activities and sessions including psychosocial interventions, restoring family relationships, spiritual guidance and counseling, among others. (Jaynus Fernandez, Photos by A. Dayao)