The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Product Safety and Quality Foundation, Inc (PPSOF), to jointly monitor and control the spread of substandard and unsafe products in the market.

The said alliance between the government and private sector groups is part of the policy of seamless government promoted by DTI Secretary Mar Roxas “Because of our limited - resources, we need to maximize our capabilities by forging links with parties that support our endeavors and principles,” Roxas reiterated,

The Couples for Christ (CFC), Zamboanga City has declared this week as Gawad Kalinga (GK) Week in preparation for the “June National Build 3” on May 31 and June 1, 2003.

National Build through GK intends to “bring glad tidings to the poor (Luke 4:18-19)”, by instituting and spearheading the construction of low-cost, yet comfortable houses.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in celebration of World Environment Day on June 5 and Philippine Environment Month, will conduct a motorcade around the city together with representatives from various government agencies, non-government organizations, local government units, schools and industrial group. The theme for the celebration is Water: Two Billion People Are Dying For It!

Participants to the motorcade will assemble at the DENR-9 Regional Office in Pasonanca Park starting at 6:00 AM as the said motorcade will start at exactly 8:00 AM. From the assembly site, the motorcade will pass through Pasonanca Road - Sta. Maria Road-turn at Gov. Camins Road-turn left towards Baliwasan Moret Road - turn right at Cesar Climaco Avenue- turn left at Gov. Lim Avenue passing City Hall - turn left towards the whole stretch of Veterans Avenue- then turn left to Gov. Ramos Road- then straight to Murok, Upper Pasonanca where it will end.

Greetings from PRC Zamboanga, kindly allow us to respond to recently aired complaints about the ongoing application for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Since our Office and the PIA had been furnishing you copies of press releases in relation to such exam application, many are made aware that the deadline is set today, May 30, 2003. We hope that many are also aware that in said press releases and announcements that ran every 3 weeks from the start of application on February 1, these contain a corresponding appeal for the public to file their applications early. We even conducted a 10-day outreach program called “Viaje de Servicio” where we facilitated LET applicants in Ipil, Dipolog, Dapitan and Pagadian. A sufficient turn out though there could have been more, this program was well disseminated and coordinated with participating mayors and governors of local government units (LGUs).

The death of some MNLF integrees in the hands of the MILF rebels is a statement that the ongoing arms conflict in Mindanao is a fight between terrorists and those who oppose it, and not a fight among religions or ethnic groups.

This was underscored during a press conference by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes where he disclosed that some MILF integrees were killed after government forces pursued MILF rebels who retreated to the all-Muslim communities of Old Munai and New Munai in Lanao del Norte where the rebels burned seven schoolhouses.

A nice and cheerful friend and incidentally an old hand in the port of Basilan (Isabela) expressed his reaction to the issue on “PPA sleeping on its right” with concurrence to the observation pointed out on the particular topic. Thanks for the unexpected comment, Chay.

Oh! Yes, the PPA is still sleeping on its right as far as the jurisdiction over the area reserved for port facility as declared in Presidential Proclamation No. 83 series 1984 is concerned. But not of course, the employees who are so concerned with the conflict.

Market Vendors’ Cooperative will soon have access to credit for microfinance and developmental projects from a P25 million fund allocated for the use of the National Vendors Confederation of Cooperatives (NAMVESCO).

“The SB Corporation, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, has allocated the said amount to benefit the members of NAMVESCO, a federation of 46 market vendors cooperatives nationwide.

In last Friday’s issue (May 23, 2003) of DZT, the Office of the Executive Director, ARMM Social Fund For Peace and Development Project formerly the SZOPAD Social Fund headed by Mr. Nazrullah Manzur had advertised 23 vacant positions to staff the Fund Management Office here in Zamboanga and field offices in Marawi and Jolo. With that publication, the office of Director Manzur will be expecting many applicants who will submit their application letter hoping that they would be considered for the various positions needed depending of course on their qualification and competence.

We say that the move taken by Director Manzur to published the different positions and the qualification requirement is a commendable move as selection of personnel shall be done on the most transparent basis. Walang palakasan. People who are interested to apply provided they meet the qualification standard may send in their application and be afforded the opportunity to compete with others on the basis of fair selection process.

Only fools don’t change their minds. Once a politician always a politician. Whether he or she be young or old. They say one thing, they do the other the day after.

If Palawan attracts the world’s icons of power and glamour like John F. Kennedy Jr., Al Gore, Princess Diana and Russel Crowe, why aren’t we?

With its diversified species of flora and fauna, pristine natural scenery, spectacular dive spots and exquisite off-shore islands, Palawan is indeed every artist’s and traveller’s dream. Thus, the 10-day-trip in the province left me, and the rest of the ALPHA Camera Club (Association of Lovers of Photography and Arts, a Makati-based organization) in a trance.

Humility can be best considered as the mother of all virtues. It is (he healing formula of resolving any human misunderstandings with each other. It can break the wall of pride that separates man to His creator. And eventually teaches man to be on his knees to adore and worship his Divine Master.

It is humility that puts every human being in an equal footing with his fellowmen. For it is through humility that all kings learn to be a brother to their subjects, than being their master.

The MILF had it coming. Not the terrorist tag, but the dogs of war. The MILF has sown terror in almost any place they deemed too weak and defenseless, like Siocon, or ideal targets for propaganda mileage like Davao. In all of these, they aimed at helpless civilians.

In retrospect, government was never remiss in extending its hands in friendship and reconciliation for all along it recognized the separatists elements as revolutionaries. But for each handshake is a stab in the back. Despite this acts of treachery, the government offered an unprecedented gift of autonomy.

Belated birthday wishes to my brother Jim

All of God’s blessings is my wish for him

His rule was so absolute, his word so feared, his regime so brutal that nothing in Iraq has been spared the devastating touch of Saddam Hussein. From the oil industry to education, the army to the economy, a country once one of the most advanced in the Arab world lies in ruins.

Such is the legacy of Saddam, the man who sought to ensure his place in history through military conquest and grandiose schemes such as rebuilding Babylon with bricks stamped “In the era of Saddam Hussein”, mimicking the achievements of the legendary King Nebuchadnezzar.

The Youth in Media for Dialogue and Peace (YMDP) is a special youth organization operating under Silsilah Dialogue Movement. It aims to gather idealistic, talented and high-spirited youth to work for peace in a special way and that is through responsible media. It is noted that the group has attended several media-related seminars and trainings conducted by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. Philippine Movie Director, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Silsilah President, Fr. Sebastiano D’ Ambra, PIME and City Councilor Beng Climaco are the group’s consultants and advisers.

Moreover, members of the YMDP are presently attending the special study week on “Fraternities and Sororities: Venues for Interreligious Dialogue.” Members of different fraternities and sororities, youth leaders, school administrators and religious leaders are presently gathered at the Oasis of Dialogue Training Center, Pitogo, this Citym, for the said special study week.