by admin | Dec 9, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
By: Ben Emata
It is surprising but so many people around the world now are getting insane, crazy or diving into the world of stupidity. Imagine them hurling explosives, mass shootings, fighting, bickering, ambushes, and many kinds of deadly skirmishes that never happened some years ago. Wholesale killings, I mean murder by the dozens are ordinary happenings now and it seems nobody is worried much less horrified bout it. They don’t happen just in foreign lands but right in our own soil specially in Mindanao.
Something must be wrong somewhere that needs world and local leaders to discuss about. Everyone around the world must get involved too for safety. I am so concerned because as I read news report, it looks everyday is just another day of massive killings. I look at it as foolish and unnecessary – – a thing that we must stop. From European countries, to the Americas, Asian and everywhere are bloody encounters that result to chaos and confusions. Why are these happening? Is peace so elusive now that it flies far and vanish into thin air?
What is happening to the intelligence of people that it seems there is failure of understanding by one another? Have we returned to those era or moments when we truly belonged to the kingdom of the animals and we fight at first sight? Or this is God’s way of controlling over population worldwide. We know for a fact that because of modern medical science, technology and skills, man lives longer than ever. Comparing to the olden days when people die of simple infections, today heart, kidneys and other vital organs could be replaced and patients get off from the hospital in a few days. Many people used to die with dog bites but ironically now in some places, man bites a dog and even eats it.
I urge people to be aware of what is happening around the globe, Be ready and avoid places where explosions or activities of terrorism may strike. If we noticed, the favorite areas for the terrorists to strike are the crowded ones, the places where a lot of people converge or any place where wholesale murders can take place. Let us be alert. We can combat terrors in our own way. We don’t have to rely on our soldiers to protect us because they are not around most of the time. We must defend ourselves by our own method, initiative and style. We must remember that lightnings strike when we we do not think of it.
If terrorism around have joined us as part of our lives, then let it be but we have to learn how to take care of our lives and survive from its danger and effects. We can adjust to our environment and emerge smiling. Caring for ourselves must be given emphasis everyday for safety specially our young ones who sometimes are careless and ignorant about survival. We can preserve life. Above all, let us ask our Almighty God for guidance and protection all the time. He is supreme and loving and no one else. BEN EMATA Bennex News Service.
by admin | Dec 5, 2015 | Editorial
Election heats up this early and the journalists take on the mission of information nevertheless.
In fact, journalist watch groups said the Philippines is the world’s third most dangerous place for media practitioners.
In its “Killing the Messenger” report, the London-based International News Safety Institute (INSI) said 14 journalists were killed in the Philippines last year. This is next to Syria with 20 journalists killed and Iraq with 16.
Also late last year, bullets effectively silenced three radio commentators in Mindanao within two weeks. Not one killer has been apprehended. In the Philippines, particularly here in Bohol, newspaper reporters as well as radio commentators are never immune to the death threats; three Boholano journalists have been proof of that.
In fact, this is still this persistent belief that broadcaster Chairman Mao Lim died because a hitman did him in following his attacks against drug protectors.
In a place where anyone can buy radio time and where part-time commentators attack or malign their enemies on air with no one organization to police them, the probability of death soars high.
With people still too juvenile to see that newspaper writers are just messengers. Those slighted by these perceived attacks, often resort to hiring professional killers to “silence” the commentator or news reporter, which is never really resolved.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said that killing of journalists in the Philippines has remained unabated even during the present administration. “The apparent apathy of the government toward killings and attacks against press freedom emboldens attackers to inflict harm as they go unpunished,” the NUJP said in its Facebook page.
Now this hypes up a huge bit with elections looming.
For certain, politicians now want nothing but good image to go with their names. The same is true with governments.
Unfortunately however, journalists who still keep a high regard for their ideals keep the mission, as the loyalty to the public is never diminished by the flurry of campaigns.
Of course, with government fast becoming a cabal of dirty men whose inadequacies often see print or getting broadcasted, silencing these journalists become the first order of the day.
The silencing however comes in phases, depending in the gravity of the situation.
More so often, it starts with the critic ganged up by hacks whose ideals are paid by a few hundred pesos.
And the more crooked journalists are not into the pay; the media ID is as potent as a gun.
When journalists also gallivant into other sources of income, they often end up lumped in a baying bark team.
Then there is always that threat of libel. For governments, it is pressure in the weirdest form of threat.
Journalists especially news writers are, by job rules, never allowed to opine. The least they could do is quote a source, them being messengers of truth. So, a paper, or a broadcaster always relies on a source.
When a libel is cast over a journalist or a news organization, it is always a red flag.
This would always be seen as threatening the public’s access to information.
by admin | Dec 3, 2015 | National News
The latest edition of ISO 9001, ISO’s flagship quality management systems (QMS) standard, has just been published.
This concludes over three years of revision work by experts from nearly 95 participating and observing countries to bring the standard up to date with modern needs, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) says.
With over 1.1 million certificates issued worldwide, ISO 9001 helps organizations demonstrate to customers that they can offer products and services of consistently good quality, declares ISO, adding that it also acts as a tool to streamline their processes and make them more efficient at what they do.
Acting ISO Secretary-General Kevin McKinley explains: “ISO 9001 allows organizations to adapt to a changing world. It enhances an organization’s ability to satisfy its customers and provides a coherent foundation for growth and sustained success.”
The 2015 edition features important changes, which Nigel Croft, Chair of the ISO subcommittee that developed and revised the standard, refers to as an “evolutionary rather than a revolutionary” process. “We are just bringing ISO 9001 firmly into the 21st century. The earlier versions of ISO 9001 were quite prescriptive, with many requirements for documented procedures and records. In the 2000 and 2008 editions, we focused more on managing processes, and less on documentation.”
“We have now gone a step further, and ISO 9001:2015 is even less prescriptive than its predecessor, focusing instead on performance. We have achieved this by combining the process approach with risk-based thinking, and employing the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle at all levels in the organization.”
“Knowing that today’s organizations will have several management standards in place, we have designed the 2015 version to be easily integrated with other management systems. The new version also provides a solid base for sector-quality standards (automotive, aerospace, medical industries, etc.), and takes into account the needs of regulators,” Croft elucidates.
As the much anticipated standard comes into being, Kevin McKinley concludes, “The world has changed, and this revision was needed to reflect this. Technology is driving increased expectations from customers and businesses. Barriers to trade have dropped due to lower tariffs, but also because of strategic instruments like International Standards. We are seeing a trend towards more complex global supply chains that demand integrated action. So organizations need to perform in new ways, and our quality management standards need to keep up with these expectations. I am confident that the 2015 edition of ISO 9001 can help them achieve this.”
The standard was developed by ISO/TC 176/SC 2, whose secretariat is held by BSI, ISO member for the UK. “This is a very important committee for ISO,” says Kevin McKinley, “one that has led the way in terms of global relevance, impact and utilization. I thank the experts for their hard effort.”
ISO 9001:2015 replaces previous editions and certification bodies will have up to three years to migrate certificates to the new version.
ISO 9000, which lays down the concepts and language used throughout the ISO 9000 family of standards, has also been revised and a new edition is available.
The Philippines is a member to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards as the country’s National Standards Body.
For more information on the BPS functions and services, visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph. For more information on the ISO, visit http://www.iso.org/
by admin | Dec 2, 2015 | National News
BSP MANILA, December 1 (PIA) –Over the mounting complaints of the hard to distinguish colors of the New Generation Currency (NGC) which the central bank is circulating as legal tender, a key official of the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas(BSP) said it is high time that people should read and not just look.
In 2010, the BSP started replacing the New Design Series (NDS) of banknotes which started circulation in 1985.
As the BSP is slowly demonetizing the 30 year old NDS, the NGC replaces it as legal tender, explains BSP deputy governor DiwaGuinigundo, at a forum held at the central bank’s conference room, December 1.
The NGC is still using generally the same color schemes as the NDS, with a little bit of tweaking, brightening up the colors, BSP said.
But with the new development, the central bank has accordingly received complaints about the hard to distinguish colors that are now being used.
Complaints bared that the P500 bill, which is yellow can be easily taken as P20, which is close to being orangey. The blue P1000 is also having an uncanny appearance of the P100.
But, BSP Deputy governorGuinigundo downplayed the issue saying “there is an extra zero in P1000.”
“The solution is a society that reads, we need to teach our people to read and not just look at the colors, Guinigundo urged information center managers from all over the country gathered at the BSP.
Pressing for proof on his claims, the deputy governor pointed out that dollar economies only have green banknotes, and still they do not have problems.
We have simply added the colors of the banknotes to help people determine the money, he noted.
Unless one is so drunk or visually incapacitated, he can not really be expected to correctly identify the money, Guinigundo added.
Among the new colors are bright orange (P20), bright red (P50), ube (P100), bright green (P200), bright yellow (P500) and bright blue P1000.
As this floods the markets, the older NDS become unacceptable as legal tender for daily transactions starting January 1, 2016. On this date, only the NGC would be used for daily transactions, Guinigundo said.
Over this, authorities are asking people to spend their old banknotes now before they can not be accepted as legal payments come January 1.
Failing to do that, holders of old banknotes would have to exchange such in the banks, as these financial institutions are still mandated to accept the notes for exchange until the end of 2016. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Dec 1, 2015 | National News
With the guessing game on whether Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will run or not now settled, the new guessing game is: who will stick with the other three presidential aspirants?
At least two analysts have predicted that Duterte’s entry will disrupt the existing political configurations particularly in Mindanao.
Mon Casiple said Duterte’s last-minute entry into the presidential race “has changed the political equation, ensuring a free-for-all among five candidates next year.”
Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political Reform, predicted that Duterte “will certainly get the Mindanao and Cebu votes.”
Meanwhile, Malou Tiquia of PUBLICOS Asia Inc. went even farther, predicting that Duterte will be a “game-changer”.
Tiquia, who hosts “Agenda” on CNN Philippines, said Duterte will take support away from Poe and Roxas.
Duterte caught political watchers in the National Capital Region by surprise when he stormed into the lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
The tough-talking Davao mayor cornered the nod of one-third of the the respondents, posting a commanding 34%, dislodging erstwhile topnotcher Sen. Grace Poe who fell to second with her 26%.
Vice Mayor Jejomar Binay dropped to third, four percentage points behind Poe at 22% while administration bet Mar Roxas plummeted even farther to fourth at 11%.
Sen. Miriam Santiago brought up the rear with 7%.
It will be recalled that many Mindanao politicians who had earlier express support for Duterte’s candidacy eventually settled for other candidates when the latter refused to beat the deadline last Oct. 17.
Duterte’s re-entry now poses headaches for the former as Mindanao and even Cebu are experiencing a sudden surge of regional pride.
In Davao provinces, rival politicians have already opened contact lines with the mayor’s camp to express support for his bid. Even former Speaker Prospero Nograles has openly declared his support for Duterte in spite of their bitter and protracted political rivalry in Davao.
Sources in the Duterte camp note a similar scenario shaping up in other Mindanao provinces and some areas in the Visayas particularly Cebu.
As the campaign period draws near, one question lurks on many people’s mind: who will be brave enough to go upstage and sit beside the other presidential candidates at the risk of antagonizing Duterte fanatics?
It won’t be a simple act because in doing so they put their candidacies on the line in the southern regions who see in Duterte their first real chance of finally seeing one of their own in Malacanang. (CHITO A. FUENTES)
by admin | Dec 1, 2015 | National News
This holiday season when gift checks are sometimes used in making purchases for officemates and friends, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) once again reminds the public to make sure that the gift certificates they bought from stores or retailers do not have expiration dates.
Under DTI Administrative Order No. 10-04 titled “Guidelines on the Issuance, Use and Redemption of Gift Checks, Certificates or Gift Cards,” all suppliers, issuers, distributors and sellers are prohibited from issuing or selling certificates or cards with expiry dates.
Though not legal tender like real money, gift certificates are good as cash, thus, DTI intends to regulate its use to protect consumers and ensure that they are not unduly deprived of their money.
The DTI identifies gift checks, certificates and gift cards as an instrument issued by a supplier to an individual, partnership or a juridical entity for monetary consideration evidencing a promise by the issuer that consumer goods or services will be exchanged in favor of the bearer upon presentation of said gift certificate/ check/ card to the value, credit, specific good, service or event shown in the instrument.
DTI added that all gift checks/certificates/cards with no expiry dates shall be redeemable until used by the bearer.
Commercial establishments or suppliers, however, may refuse to honor gift checks under two basic circumstances, according to the DTI order:
· when the gift certificate/check/card is lost due to no fault of the supplier; and
· when the gift certificate/check/card is mutilated or defaced due to no fault of the supplier and such damage prevents the supplier from identifying the security and authenticity features thereof
Certain gift certificates with expiry dates are usually given to consumers without cost or are given as gift, after buying a product or service.
To increase the public’s awareness on their rights and responsibilities, the DTI regularly conducts free seminars on Fair Trade Laws (FTL) through it s provincial offices. Topics for discussion include, among others, Price Act of the Philippines, Product Standards Law, Business Name Registration Law, and the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
For queries on the schedule of the FTL seminars, interested persons may call the nearest DTI Office. In Central Visayas, those interested may call DTI Cebu at (032) 255-7082, DTI Bohol (038) 412-3302, DTI Negros Oriental (035) 255-4781, DTI Siquijor (035) 344-2238.
by admin | Nov 30, 2015 | Editorial
A local weekly, not the Bohol News Today plastered in its front page, the unspeakable and the unmentionable.
The long rumored presence of a death squad here in Tagbilaran has been brought out of the hush-hush circles into the open. Now, not only did this paper muster the courage to shake off a popular belief that God-fearing Boholanos would always value life, it also exposed the apparent overwhelming support for the unconventional way of sweeping the dung off the streets.
The death squad uses a rather expensive modus in sweeping off the social dirt: through a hail of bullets.
The victim whom the paper cited, comes from a prominent family. He bit the dust and hugged dirt this time, even though as reported, he was less of a drug user and pusher but more of into getting things in his own creative way.
There are two things we need to get across here: First, this paper has finally blurted out what everyone kept mum about. Second, that this paper called it well-funded, means it can only be funded by those who have the means. On this, the police said these are perpetrated by rivals in the business.
So, can we say that even thievery is now a business and it can get you shot by your rivals? Maybe, if he got shot for drugs, we may have to believe so, the business being very lucrative.
But if the poor guy was like the one in Rizal street, or the spirit leaving the body near Coke, or the kid shot in front of Capitol, then it’s an entirely different apple and the paper was a tad close to saying what we deemed as honest appraisal of the killers and their mastermind.
This revelation, makes our world now less lonelier.
When we have been vocal about our belief that we have created our Frankensteins, we have only our people to blame. We have to tell you this, and we aint telling you nothing since then.
Well, it is just that we pity out law enforcers who stake their necks down the line everyday.
We then believed the police and their fastidious task of putting the drugs genie back in the bottle. It’s as daunting a task as a ton of cunning wont work with a genie all too powerful in and out of the bottle. So the vaudeville of arrests and raids have escalated into the death of several police officers and all these are the least publicity that an investment hungry Bohol needs.
So, the death squads come to even up the score.
What is just sad is the insinuation roughly puts us admitting that there is already a breakdown in the justice system.
You let loose a death squad and you will have more police work on the line.
The worse thing is, with the police staking out all their reputation and their balls, it seems this would be them again who would be dampening up the blame.
by admin | Nov 30, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
Delivery of quality basic services to every Boholano constituents is the primary concern of the Provincial Government of Bohol in adopting the Purok system in the locality.
The Prosperity team for Countryside Development Program under the Purok System creates a Sectoral Committee for easy delivery of services to the public. This Sectoral Committee volunteers should have adequate capacity to perform their task and role in community development and sustainability. To achieve this goal, every Sectoral Committee volunteer should undergo series of trainings and other capacity development on socio-economic programs of the Provincial Government, internalize and share the spirit of leadership and volunteerism as a means to community development, impart skills on active listening, creative active responses and assertiveness, know and internalize the roles, functions and responsibilities of sectoral working committee volunteer and provide participants with a training guide on how to capacitate the sectoral committees in the purok. These are the essence of the 3-day Trainer’s training capacity development of purok sectoral working committee this coming November 27-29, 2015 at Camp Bernido, Tagbilaran City.
Maricres M. Anunciado
GO-SEEM
by admin | Nov 28, 2015 | Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza
Embedded computing enthusiasts have reason to celebrate in November 2015. Raspberry Pi Foundation, the developer and manufacturer of the Raspberry Pi embedded computers, announced the immediate availability of the latest model of the Raspberry Pi series of products. The Raspberry Pi Zero is available for $5 per unit and the specs are quite decent for the price:
A Broadcom BCM2835 application processor
1GHz ARM11 core (40% faster than Raspberry Pi 1)
512MB of LPDDR2 SDRAM
A micro-SD card slot
A mini-HDMI socket for 1080p60 video output
Micro-USB sockets for data and power
An unpopulated 40-pin GPIO header
Identical pinout to Model A+/B+/2B
An unpopulated composite video header
A very small form factor at 65mm x 30mm x 5mm
Eben Upton, Raspberry Pi Founder, announced the availability of the Raspberry Pi Zero on his blog at https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-zero/ on November 26, 2015. He said that the cost of the computer is important in increasing the chance that people will get involved in programming.
The Raspberry Pi Zero runs on Raspbian, an operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution. The application possibilities on a Raspberry Pi Zero are endless. As long as the application doesn’t required extensive processing power, very large memory or lots of fast storage, it can be done on the Raspberry Pi Zero.
This development comes at the time when the buzzword “Internet of Things”, essentially a machine-to-machine network, is very popular. In the very near future, it will be possible to link up various appliances, equipment, devices, sensors, cameras and many other things so that these can perform many tasks in an automated manner based on the user’s input or pre-defined behavior. One of the barriers of the Internet of Things is the cost of the processing unit. At $5 each, the Raspberry Pi Zero may be the wrecking ball to break this barrier.
In education, it can be used to help students learn about programming and interfacing of computers to external inputs and outputs. For hobbyists, this could enable them to tinker with more applications that may eventually lead to very useful ones.
As of this writing though, most of the online stores that sold the Raspberry Pi Zero are out of stock already. Upton expects that supply will be able to catch up with demand soon.
The $5 computer: Raspberry Pi Zero.
by admin | Nov 28, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
In an earnest effort to enhance food sufficiency and sustainability likewise boost the morale of the farmers, the Municipal Agriculture Office with the full support of its municipal mayor, Engr. Christopher B. Tutor, made it best to successfully host the 2nd Farmers Day, today, November 28, 2015 at the Municipal Plaza.
The activity was opened with a parade participated by the local farmers, fisherfolk and women sectors. It was followed with a short program integrated with the coronation rites of the Hari sa Kaumahan and Rayna sa Panimalay as well as the mass Oath Taking ceremony of the farmers, rural improvement club and fisherfolk associations’ officers.
Techno-demo, “pinaka” contest, distribution of fingerlings were also conducted in the afternoon. Showcasing of booths by participating barangays was also done during the same period.
Among the special guests during the said event were Mayor Tutor together with the Sangguniang Bayan members and barangay captains, Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio, ATI-7 Center Director, Mr. Fortunato Cosap of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, Director Leo Bongalos, Provincial Director of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Board Member Elpidio M. Jala who mostly expressed full support to agriculture.
In his message, Mayor Tutor encouraged the local stakeholders to make said affair a yearly activity as agriculture is something of great importance to everyone’s life. He said he is open to opinions or suggestions which can improve said sector and is willing to extend support to rural-based organizations that have project proposals intended for agro-fishery-based income generating projects. He also emphasized that one has to do all means to avail of any possible grant or services which can improve his life so that he will not be blaming the government once he experienced misery due to poverty.
Likewise, Dr. Daquio boosted the farmers’ spirit by recognizing their importance to the society being the one who produce foods for them. She also emphasized that they should not consider their job as something of low worth but be proud instead to introduce themselves as farmers#30.Judith S. Villamor, MPIO-Candijay
by admin | Nov 28, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
Candijaynons from all walks of life mingled with some visitors today, November 29, 2015, for a special celebration which marked the 161st founding anniversary of its state and prime church in town, the Saint Joseph Parish.
Candijay was said to have been officially institutionalized as a town the same day with the Roman Catholic Church, the Saint Joseph Parish of barangay Poblacion, last November 29, 1854.
Spearheaded by its active local chief executive, Engr. Christopher B. Tutor, the Local Government Unit set two-day activities intended for such milestone. It was opened with a Farmers Day on the first day which was attended mostly by members of the rural- based organizations composing farmers, fisherfolk and women association. A local Inter-High School Volleyball competition was also exhibited along with such affair.
Just on the date of the founding anniversary, a Holy Mass was being celebrated. It was followed with a Grand Parade, short program, field demonstrations on mass dances and drum and lyre corps which made up the whole morning session. In the afternoon, another set of Volleyball games were also conducted.
The said event was ended with the lighting of trees commencing the LGU’s Christmas celebration, a Live Band Presentation by Super dad’s Band, a Dance Performance by the AV Dance Academy and disco#30.Judith S. Villamor, MPIO-Candijay
