P11M worth of marijuana destroyed

Sunday, October 7, 2012

PHILIPPINE authorities have destroyed P11-million worth of fully grown marijuana plants and seedlings in
three northern provinces last week, an official said on Sunday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. said his agency and the
Philippine National Police (PNP) agents burned the plants during simultaneous marijuana eradication in
Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province.

The team, composed of agents from PDEA–Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) under Director Ronald
Allan Ricardo and PNP operatives from the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group
(RAIDSOTG)-CAR and the Provincial Police Offices in Benguet, Ifugao and Mt. Province, swept three sitios in
Bakun, Benguet: Sitio Dayag, Bulisay and Mabilig; Sitio Dalipey in Kibungan, Benguet; Sitio Puwal in Tinoc,
Ifugao; and Barangay Sinto in Bauko, Mt. Province.

Gutierrez said, however, that no cultivator was arrested during the operation, but the operating team was able to
seize 11 plantation sites covering a total of 6,650 square meters.

They uprooted 46,200 fully grown marijuana plants and 55,000 marijuana seedlings with a total worth of
P11,440,000 based on the value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

The marijuana plants and seedlings were destroyed on the spot.

“With this recent eradication operation, we continue to remind the public to stay away from illegal drugs and to
remain vigilant against illegal drug activities,” Gutierrez said. (SDR/Sunnex)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roxas vows to end corruption in PNP

Monday, October 8, 2012

MANILA -- A week after formally assuming his post, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II made his first official
visit to the Philippine National Police (PNP) with a promise to restore integrity and trust in the institution’s
tainted image.

In his speech during the PNP's flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame on Monday, Roxas said he will dismantle
the "image of abuses and corruption" of the police force and erase the people's doubts and worries on the
organization.

"There will be no bata-bata system during my watch. If you perform and deliver, you will have my support.
That is the basis of my leadership," he added.

Roxas said the PNP will implement a system wherein the upright employees will be rewarded while those who
violate their mandate will be punished. He urged the members of the organization to immediately correct any
police misconduct.
Roxas even dared the members of the PNP to report to him personally any shady action that they see in the
institution.

He vowed to investigate and resolve cases against erring policemen and file cases against them if evidence
warrants.

Roxas vowed to change the image of the PNP amid the corruption issues that recently hauled the police force.
Last month, reports of an overpriced rifle deal surfaced and raised questions on the procurement process of the
organization.

Also last month, several Metro Manila policemen were dismissed from service due to allegations of extortion.

Exactly a week ago, losing bidders in the P1.2-billion pistol deal filed graft charges against top officials of the
PNP, including its chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome. The organization has since denied the allegations
that the accused officials abused their authority during the bidding process.

Roxas's statements also came several days after the Office of the Ombudsman indicted retired PNP chief Jesus
Verzosa and seven other PNP officers for the anomalous purchase of 75 defective police rubber boats in 2008.

After these controversies, Roxas said the integrity and principles of the policemen will be tested again in the
upcoming 2013 midterm elections.

He said he hopes policemen will reject offers from politicians and remain committed to their job as law
enforcers.

"Nasa sa atin kung paano natin gagawing permanente ang bagong mukha ng kapulisan (The responsibility to
maintain the clean image of the police lies upon us)," he added. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

K to 12: For better, or for worst

Sunday, September 30, 2012

WHAT is K to 12? Is it a solution to the tremendous challenges of today’s millennium, or is it an additional

problem that needs to be addressed by everyone concerned?

The Philippine educational system has been suffering from various feedback, specifically when it failed to cater
to the needs of the Filipino students.

Check our new look and tell us what you think.

Many professional graduates in the country who have gone abroad for better employment have unfortunately
been required for further studies and trainings because they manifested some lack of educational background
and suitable trainings in their own respective field.

Unlike other countries that have 12-year basic education, the Philippine basic education has the least number of
curricular years - six years elementary and four years secondary. The 10-year basic education program has been
unable to give sufficient knowledge, skills and trainings needed to become competent graduates and workers.
In the National Achievement Test (NAT) conducted annually by the Department of Education (DepEd), the
result has been very low and most schools have not met the National Performance Standard (NPS) of 75
percent.

Moreover, most high school graduates have been discovered to have lack of basic skills and they could hardly
express their ideas and show comprehension in different angles of academic subjects in Tertiary Level. It
contributed to their frustrations, difficulties and failures. Hence, they preferred to discontinue their studies and
focused on other matters like working overseas, early marriage, or self-employment.

Also, graduates from the Elementary Level have found out to be inefficient in their high school subjects
particularly in Math, Science and English. So they could not survive in high school leading to failures and drop-
outs.

These are just some of the significant reasons why the DepEd’s curriculum specialists planned and indorsed the
implementation of the K to 12 curriculum effective this June. Most of them believed that adding two years in
basic education would contribute for the solution of the declination of skills on the part of the Filipino learners.

In the K to 12 program, the kindergarten level becomes compulsory. The primary level starts from Grade I and
ends at Grade 12. The secondary level starts from Grade 7 and ends at Grade 12. Grades 7 to 10 are considered
the junior high school, while Grades 11 to 12 are the senior high school.

Moreover, the grades that appear in the Form 138 of the students shall be using the descriptive rating instead of
using the quantitative type of assessment. This would help learners not to dismay upon looking their failing
grades. Interventions would be applied by the subject teacher for students with learning difficulties. This is to
decrease the number of failures and even achieve the zero failure rate in the school.

The main objective of the K to 12 curriculum is to achieve the DepEd’s goal of eradicating illiteracy rate in the
country. “No child is left behind.” Every Filipino has the right to receive quality education in order to become
an asset in all dimensions, competent, efficient, effective and productive citizen leading to a decent and
comfortable living.

The most interesting part concerning the K to 12 program is on its practical assistance for the poor but skillful
students. For instance, the student cannot afford to go to college; he is given an option or privilege to be
employed not as a professional but on technical job because his skills acquired and developed during his Senior
High School can be a guarantee for his qualification for a vocational employment.

Many people have raised their eyebrows as to whether or not this curriculum can solve the tremendous issues on
the Philippine basic education. Some doubt on its credibility to stand the test of time. It may not be able to solve
the existing traditional problem in education but it may add to another problem like financial burden to parents
and prolonging the agonies of the students to stay for a longer time in school. The rest have the idea of “wait
and see,” while others have been optimistic for its contribution for the achievement of quality education.

The K to 12 curriculum may become successful if all the people concerned work together for its
implementation. The implementers ought to be trained well since they could “make or unmake” the said
program. Assistance from different organizations is likewise needed, the parents should extend their positive
support, the students are needed to be enlightened about the benefits they could receive from the program and
the curriculum makers should be active for the promotion of its sustainability since the government has spent
millions of money for the realization of the said curriculum.

Hence, whether the curriculum can either bring “good or bad,” there would be no regret if everyone supports it.
After all, if it succeeds everyone shall be benefited. As the popular adage reminds everyone concerned: “In
Union, there is Strength.”
Army, Mindanao leaders welcome peace deal
Sunday, October 7, 2012

MANILA (Updated) -- Leaders of the business community and civil society in Mindanao expressed support
behind the forging of a draft framework peace agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Bronx Hebrona, regional governor for Southwestern Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI), said Mindanao traders were optimistic that the agreement reached in Malaysia would
eventually lead to a permanent peace deal.

Check our new look and tell us what you think.

“It is very heartening that prospects for a final peace agreement are getting brighter. An agreement finally looks
closer at hand. I am very confident that the MILF and the GPH will earnestly and sincerely rise above the
current realities and challenges to finally attain lasting peace in Mindanao,” Hebrona said.

“The peace dividend that will ensue will undoubtedly positively impact not only the business climate but
eventually the quality of life of all Mindanaons,” Hebrona added. “We, in the business sector in Mindanao, trust
that our brothers in the MILF and the administration of PNoy will pursue peace relentlessly until a final
agreement is signed.”

PCCI Vice President for Mindanao Ricardo Juliano echoed Hebrona’s observation, saying that a successful
peace agreement would benefit “not only Mindanao but the entire country as well.”

“We are fully supporting the peace process,” Juliano said. “We have high hopes for this administration.”

Mindanao civil society leaders, on the other hand, commended those responsible for ushering a “favorable”
atmosphere that led to the forging of a framework agreement.

“The signing of a GPH-MILF peace accord is an act of humility and should usher in graciousness and
agreements among people on the ground,” said EJ Matela, executive director of the Mindanao Land Foundation,
Inc. (MinLand), a non-governmental organization based in Kidapawan City.

“Thoughts of real peace, justice and prosperity thus become more real and attainable,” Matela added. “Our
prayers and thanks to our leaders and all the people who are working hard to make this magnanimous act
possible.”

Matela is a Minland Foundation past director for post conflict and rural services.

For her part, Aveen Acuna-Gulo, an official of the Cotabato-based Institute for Autonomy and Governance that
is handling a European Union-funded project for Indigenous Peoples in the Autonomous Region for Muslim
Mindanao (Armm), said the time was ripe for the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the
MILF.

“I see that there has been no environment such as this current one that favors a signing; everything is positive,”
said Acuna-Gulo.
“To keep my support attuned to my current work, let me say that ‘I am confident that the issues affecting the
Indigenous Peoples in the Armm are very much in the radar screens of both panels, and there has to be a first
step -- which is the signing of a peace agreement,” Acuna-Gulo explained. “The work of empowering the
Indigenous Peoples in the Armm continues.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) likewise welcomed the framework peace agreement saying it hoped
the accord would bring “sustainable growth and unhampered development” to Mindanao.

Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Rear Admiral Miguel Jose Rodriguez said
the military will continue to support all peace initiatives and peace-building efforts of the government.

Rodriguez added that consistent with the goals of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan (IPSP
Bayanihan), “the military, in cooperation and with the support of the concerned agencies and non-government
organizations, will exhaust all the avenues leading to peace and resolving conflicts.”

Peace advocates from the Church, academe and youth sectors in Mindanao also lauded the framework
agreement.

Fr. Angel Calvo, a Claretian priest and well-known Mindanao peace advocate based in Basilan Province, said
President Benigno Aquino III would be fulfilling his family’s legacy and advancing the national interest once a
final peace agreement is reached.

He noted that the late Senator Ninoy Aquino reached out to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during
his term while the late President Corazon Aquino personally met with MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari to advance
the cause of peace in Mindanao.

The United States government also welcomed Sunday the agreement between the Government of the
Philippines and MILF.

President Aquino announced Sunday that the government and MILF forged a framework agreement that
provides the foundation for a lasting peace in Mindanao. Below is the draft agreement between the Philippine
government and MILF.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hero dog 'Kabang' to fly to US for surgery

MANILA, Philippines – A dog who lost her upper snout after saving two children from being hit by a tricycle in Zamboanga City will leave for the United States

Monday evening to undergo surgery.

The hero dog, Kabang, is set to leave Manila for Los Angeles, California at 11 p.m. via Philippine Airlines flight PR-102.

She will be accompanied by veterinarian Dr. Anton Mari Lim for her "maxillofacial reconstructive surgery" at the University of California Davis Veterinary Medical

Teaching Hospital.

Lim said many people here and abroad were touched by Kabang's story. They contributed the $20,000 needed for the hero dog's surgery.

Animal rights groups such as Animal Welfare Coalition, Network for Animals and Animal House are expected to give Kabang a send-off party at the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport Terminal 2.