‘First time mo?’By EARL O. CONDEZA of Davaotoday.com

DAVAO City--Many Participants in Davao’s Mil-lion People March were first-timers and found the march-rally “inspiring” and “educational”. Melba Tambakan, part time worker for the governments National Anti Poverty Commission(NAPC) said Joining the Protest is “Lingaw siya og kanang maka inspire kaydaghan kaayog nga nagkahiusa gyun para i-bolish and See TIME,page 15

PAGASA said Agaton is slowly moving towards the Surigao prov-inces at just 5 kilometers per hour MANILA (UPDATED)

Tropical depression “Aga-ton” has maintained its strength as it remained almost station-ary, state weather bureau PA-GASA said Saturday morning.

PAGASA said Agaton is slowly moving towards the Surigao provinces at just 5 kilometers per hour (kph).

It was still packing maxi-mum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center.

BASKETBALL – Greg Slaugh-ter poured in a career-high 23 points to lead Barangay Ginebra past GlobalPort in the PBA Phil-ippine Cup, 108-92, at the Arane-ta Coliseum on Friday.

The former Ateneo center also tallied 13 rebounds while playing in tandem with another tower, Ja-peth Aguilar, who finished with 21 points.

With the win, the Gin Kings nabbed the first of two twice-to-beat bonuses in the quarterfinals.

Other Ginebra players also shone against the Batang Pier. Mac Ba-racael fired a total of 18 points, while LA Tenorio registered a double-double of 10 markers and 11 assists.

Napanatili ng Bagyong Agaton ang kanyang lakas, ayon sa PAGASAAquino Promises:

A mid-term assessmentWhat has President Aquino done to fulfill his promises on health care and the environment? A lot, it seems, judging by his performance in the last 3 years.

Aquino has made at least 14 promises covering health and the environment since he became president in 2010.

Police officers and employees of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) cover their heads as they come out of their offices during an earthquake drill at Camp Karingal in Quezon City on Fri-day. Geologists have warned that the Marikina Valley Fault is due for a major earthquake.

2 NORTHMIN NEWS WEDNESDAY| AUGUST 28, 2013

Ass editor: ROLANDO N SUDARIA •Email: Rolando_sundaria2000@yahoo.com

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PhilHealth, PCSO boards got bonuses despite GCG disapprovalMANILA - Is the Gov-ernance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) toothless?

On Friday, the GCG reiter-ated that it has not granted or authorized any increase in the compensation, bo-nuses, allowances and oth-er benefits in GOCCs.

GCG Chairman Cesar Vil-lanueva said the GCG has denied the applications of GOCCs for an increase, citing the moratorium on any increase as provided by Executive Order No. 7.

He said that the unauthor-ized allowances, bonuses and benefits were a result of “practices or existing rates carried over” from the Ar-royo administration.

“Our evaluation shows that since September 2010, no increases on new benefits were authorized within the GOCC sector as a result of President Aquino’s EO 7 mandating a moratorium on increases in salaries, allow-ances, incentives and other benefits within the GOCC sector, save in instances only when the President has

Therefore, the bulk of the COA reported unauthor-ized allowances, bonuses and benefits amounting to P2.3-billion granted to 30 GOCCs relate to practices or existing rates that were carried over from the previ-ous administration and were therefore inherited by the GOCC governing boards appointed by the current administration.” The GCG has received the explanation of GOCCs under it that ad-dresses the points raised in the COA report on the al-leged unauthorized release of allowances, bonuses, and

Therefore, the bulk of the COA reported unauthorized allowances, bonuses and benefits amounting to P2.3-billion granted to 30 GOCCs relate to practices or existing rates that were carried over from the previous adminis-tration and were therefore inherited by the GOCC gov-erning boards appointed by the current administration.” The GCG has received the explanation of GOCCs under it that addresses the points raised in the COA report on the alleged unauthorized re-lease of allowances, bonuses, and benefits.

TOOTHLESS TIGER?In the case of PhilHealth, Vil-lanueva said the GCG has not approved any increase in sala-ries, allowances, and benefits amounting to P1.6 billion de-spite a formal board resolution from PhilHealth due to Presi-dent Aquino’s moratorium on increases.

COA issued a notice of disal-lowance on such an increase, citing the lack of presidential approval.

On PCSO, Villanueva said the GCG refused to issue a post facto clearance for the grant of P51.85 million covering weekly draw allowances and cost of living allowances for its officers and employees and P2.53 million covering sala-ries, salaries and allowances received by the board.

The grants, Villanueva said, were a “carry-over from the

Villanueva said, were a “car-ry-over from the practices under the previous adminis-tration.”

He said that the GCG denied the grant of a performance based incentive for the PCSO board in 2012 for failing to comply with COA’s notice of disallowance.

But even with GCG’s dis-approval, cash had been re-leased and had already been enjoyed by the concerned boards.

Despite this, Villanueva took exception to insinuations that the GCG has ended up becoming toothless or a pa-per tiger, saying that GOCCs still need to get clearance for such benefits.

Failing to comply makes concerned officials liable for

MORE GOCCs TO BE ABOLISHEDMeantime, more GOCCs are up for abolition as part of government’s desire to streamline the GOCC sector, according to GCG Commissioner Rainer Butalid. From 158 GOCCs, there are now 120 currently operating.

Dellosa initially planned to bring the media to the warehouses in Pasig and Parañaque where the used clothes are stored but opt-ed to show the boxes in the bureau instead due to time constraints.

“Di lang ito warehouse napadlock namin. Meron pang dalawa. Isa sa Pasig at Paranaque, mga ukay-ukay. Umaabot 800 box-es of ukay-ukay. Bawal iyan. Alam natin galing sa abroad ini-import sa atin. Illegal used clothing,” he said.opted to show the box-es in the bureau instead due to time constraints.abroad ini-import sa atin. Illegal

The GCG has received the explanation of GOCCs under it that addresses the points raised in the COA report on the alleged unau-thorized release of allow-ances, bonuses, and ben-efits.

The GCG is standing by the COA report and has ad-vised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respective COA resi-dent auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallow-ance covered in the COA report.”

“Hindi namin sinasabing tama sila (GOCCs). In fact,

Therefore, the bulk of the COA reported unauthorized allowances, bonuses and benefits amounting to P2.3-billion granted to 30 GOCCs relate to practices or existing rates that were carried over from the previous adminis-tration and were therefore inherited by the GOCC gov-erning boards appointed by the current administration.” The GCG has received the explanation of GOCCs under it that addresses the points raised in the COA report on the alleged unauthorized re-lease of allowances, bonuses, and benefits.

The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respective COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.” Villanueva said, were a “car-ry-over from the practices under the previous adminis-tration.”ditors, pointing out that

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 WEDNESDAY| AUGUST 28, 2013

Ass editor: ROLANDO N SUDARIA •Email: Rolando_sundaria2000@yahoo.com

WESTMIN NEWS

Much still needs to be done, PNoy saysThe GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respective COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.” Villanueva said, were a “car-ry-over from the practices under the previous adminis-tration.”ot a single final notice of

The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is

The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is

The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is not a single final notice of disallowance covered in the COA report.”The GCG is standing by the COA report and has advised some of the GOCCs to clear matters up with their respec-tive COA resident auditors, pointing out that “there is

4 OPINION WEDNESDAY| AUGUST 28, 2013

Ass editor: ROLANDO N SUDARIA •Email: Rolando_sundaria2000@yahoo.com

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Japan WWII soldier who hid in PH jungle for 30 yrs, diesHiroo Onoda waged a guerilla cam-paign in Lubang IHiroo Onoda waged a guerilla cam-paign in Lubang Island near Luzon until he was finally persuaded in 1974 that peace had broken out.

Leaflet drops and other efforts to convince him the Imperial Army had been defeated were unsuccess-ful, and it was only a visit from his former commanding officer, who ordered him to lay down his arms, that brought an end to his war.

Onoda was the last of several dozen so-called holdouts scattered around Asia, men who symbolized the as-tonishing perseverance of those called upon to fight for their em-peror.

Trained as an information officer and guerrilla tactics coach, Onoda was dispatched to Lubang in 1944

TOKYO - A Japanese soldier who hid in the Philippine jungle for three decades because he did not believe World War II was over, has died in Tokyo aged 91.

Hiroo Onoda waged a guerilla campaign in Lubang Island near Luzon until he was finally per-suaded in 1974 that peace had broken out.

Leaflet drops and other efforts to convince him the Imperial Army had been defeated were unsuc-cessful, and it was only a visit from his former commanding officer, who ordered him to lay down his arms, that brought an end to his war.

Onoda was the last of several dozen so-called holdouts scat-tered around Asia, men who sym-bolized the astonishing persever-

Trained as an information officer and guerrilla tactics coach, Ono-da was dispatched to Lubang in 1944 and ordered never to sur-render, never to resort to suicid-al attacks and to hold firm until reinforcements arrived.

He and three other soldiers held firm to that order long after Ja-pan’s 1945 defeat.

Their existence in the Philip-pines became widely known in 1950, after one of them emerged and returned to Japan.

The remaining men continued to survey area military facilities, attacking local residents and oc-casionally fight with Philippine forces.

One of them died in the 1950s.

Bea Rose’s father belies accusations, asks daughter to apologizeMiss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago is now in controversy with her father coming out to belie her allegations that he abandoned their family.

Paul Valencia Santiago, a councilor of Mandaon, Masbate, said via Facebook that her allegations about the matter made on “Buzz Ng Bayan” last Jan. 5, are false and malicious.

“To set the records straight, I never abandoned my children,” he posted, describing her daughter’s al-legations as “cheap gimmick.”

Though he admitted being estranged for sometime with his children, it was only allegedly due to his ex-wife, Ophelia Monterde, whom he accused of “brainwashing” his children into believing that he left them.To set the records straight, I never aban-doned my children,” he posted, describing her

He also belied that he had asked forgiveness from his first-born when she came home to pursue a ca-reer as beauty queen, even as he insisted that he has good relations with her if only until he denied her P300,000 purportedly to spend for “facial en-hancements” as part of her career efforts.

“I told her I could not produce such a big amount as I was then running for councilor and I needed to have funds to support my campaign... (but) from then on, she turned cold,” he related.

Santiago expressed disappointment over her daughter whom he said has “metamorphosed into a Frankenstein.”

“I regret to say that in falsely depicting about her family history through live TV coverage, Bea re-mains insatiable... she is no better than Salome

5VIEWS/OPINION WEDNESDAY| AUGUST 28, 2013

Ass editor: ROLANDO N SUDARIA •Email: Rolando_sundaria2000@yahoo.com________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Beyoncé: There is no gender equality Such pollution has had serious ramifications for China’s public health, with one recent study showing air pollution alone having caused 1.2 million premature deaths. The more developed economies of the world may think of looking down their noses at China for such lax environmental policies, but that would be hypocritical, especially since the United States, for example, was in a very similar position just four decades ago. As recently as the 1970s, air pollutants such as sulfurSuch pollution has had serious ramifi-cations for China’s public health, with one recent study showing air pollution alone hav-ing caused 1.2 million premature deaths. The more developed economies of the world may think of looking down their noses at China for such lax environmental policies, but that would be hypocritical, especially since the United States, for example, was in a very similar position just four decades ago. As recently as the 1970s, air pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and tiny, lung-clogging particulates were present in the air of both the United States and Japan at the same levels they are in China right now. Japan’s first air pollution controls in 1968 and the 1970 passage of the landmark Clean Air Act in the U.S. marked the beginning of a multi-decade period of tighter pollution regulations – and the policies have been effective, to a degree. Emissions of sulfur and nitrogen ox-ides fell by 15 percent and 50 percent, Such pollution has had serious ramifications for

The Run the World (Girls) singer produced the article in response to The Shriver Report’s findings that “42 million women in the USA are either living in poverty or are on the brink of living in poverty”.

And it was clear that the mother-of-one had done her homework.

“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet,” the superstar wrote.And it was clear that the mother-of-one had done her homework.

“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet,” the superstar wrote.

“Today, women make up half of the US workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 per cent of what the average working man makes.”

The singer, who re“Today, women make up half of

The Run the World (Girls) singer produced the article in response to The Shriver Report’s findings that “42 million women in the USA are either living in poverty or are on the brink of living in poverty”.

And it was clear that the mother-of-one had done her homework.

“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet,” the superstar wrote.

“Today, women make up half of the US workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 per cent of what the average working man makes.”

The singer, who recently celebrat-ed her daughter Blue Ivy’s sec-ond birthday with husband Jay Z, claimed that unless people speak up, nothing will change.

She not only encouraged women to demand bigger pay packets, but also called on men to demand

The Run the World (Girls) singer produced the article in response to The Shriver Re-port’s findings that “42 million women in the USA are either living in poverty or are on the brink of living in poverty”.

And it was clear that the moth-er-of-one had done her home-work.

“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet,” the super-star wrote.The Run the World (Girls)

Investing: Features China’s Green AwakeningIn the last four years, China has surpassed the United States to be-come the world’s largest manu-facturer and relieved Japan of its bragging rights as the world’s second-largest economy. But those economic strides have come at a cost. On some days, the air pol-lution in major Chinese cities is severe enough to shut schools and ground airplanes. In the first half of 2013, 38 percent of China’s 456 cities experienced acid rain. Near-ly 30 percent of the groundwater and 60 percent of the country’s

In the last four years, China has sur-passed the United States to become the world’s largest manufacturer and relieved Japan of its bragging rights as the world’s second-largest econo-my. But those economic strides have come at a cost. On some days, the air pollution in major Chinese cities is severe enough to shut schools and ground airplanes. In the first half of 2013, 38 percent of China’s 456 cit-ies experienced acid rain. Nearly 30 percent of the groundwater and 60 percent of the country’s surface wa-ter was ranked either “poor” or “very

In the last four years, China has sur-passed the United States to become the world’s largest manufacturer and re-lieved Japan of its bragging rights as the world’s second-largest economy. But those economic strides have come at a cost. On some days, the air pollution in major Chinese cities is severe enough to shut schools and ground airplanes. In the first half of 2013, 38 percent of Chi-na’s 456 cities experienced acid rain. Nearly 30 percent of the groundwater and 60 percent of the country’s surface water was ranked either “poor” or “very poor” quality in a 2012 government

But a green decade in China will prove a boon to many more. “Investment in the [waste treatment] sector is not just defensive (against) economic cycles, it is also exciting with sustainable earnings growth,” the Credit Suisse analysts wrote. As China’s relentless urbanization continues, efforts to contain the environmental impact will continue as well. Officials plan to spend 244 billion yuan ($40 billion) to add 159 kilometers of sewer pipe by 2015, doubling the network’s total size compared to 2011. The country also needs new incinerators to handle the increasing amounts of trash an expanding middle class