Outgoing Senator Grace Poe visits this Saturday the art exhibits of the Anakbanwa at the MacArthur House in Dagupan City. Poe in her 11 years as member of the Senate has been known as supporter of arts in the Philippines (Photo Credit: Dagupan City Police Station)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan —On the recent regular session of the provincial legislature, it approved a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon V. Guico III to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio relative for the secondment of Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos as President of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC).
Authored by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, the resolution stated
that the PPC needs the services of a highly competent and technically
proficient person who will serve as a consultant and interim president.
Gov. Guico
Hence, “Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos, a professor at the Department
of History and Philosophy, College of Social Sciences of the University of the
Philippines Baguio, has been identified to qualify for the position at the
PPC.”
The resolution moreover cited that “Dr. Rovillos is willing to be
seconded to the PPC for the period from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025,
and hereby accepts and agrees to perform the duties as President as stipulated
in the terms of the secondment.”
The PPC is a public, non-sectarian, non-partisan technical-vocational,
and higher educational institution operating primarily under the subsidy of the
Provincial Government of Pangasinan.
As stated in a letter sent earlier by Gov. Guico to Prof. Corazon Abansi,
Chancellor of UP-Baguio, the former cited that the province is currently
vigorously carrying out programs and projects that are deemed pivotal toward
the realization of the present administration’s strategic initiatives in
various areas such as social and economic development, public policy and
governance, infrastructure, culture, heritage, and education.
The establishment of the PPC, the governor stressed, aims to prepare the
youth for immediate employment in the province’s immediate communities and
beyond.
“We are now in the process of developing academic programs in three
areas/fields: agricultural entrepreneurship, sustainable local governance and
program/project management, and creativity and design,” Gov. Guico
stated in the letter. (Ruby R. Bernardino, Photo by Joey Olimpo/PIMRO)
By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA
Hindi ninyo ba napansin na sa huling pagawad ng Seal of Good Local
Governance (SGLG) na kinikilalang gold standard sa lahat ng mga papuri sa mga
local government units sa probinsiya, siyudad at mga bayan, kakaunti lang ang mga
pumasa o sumali noong nakaraang taon?
Tingnan ninyo kung ilang porsiyento lang ang pumasa: 28 out of 82 provinces, 64 out of 149 cities, and 401 out of 1,485 municipalities sa buong Pinas. Sobrang liit ng mga nanalo mga kabayan: Halos one-third, more than one-half at almost one-fourth lang passed those in the provinces, cities and towns, respectively. Napa Inglis tuloy ako, hehehe!
Buong yabang na pinagmamalaki ng mga alkalde at gobernador ang pagawad na
ito sa pamamagitan ng naglalakihang tarpaulin na winawagayway nila sa mga
public places na nagsasaad kung gaano kagaling ang pamamalakad nila noong 2022 para makamit ang karangalan noong 2023.
PROVINCIAL GOV’T
Nakausap ko ang isang mataas na opisyal ng lalawigan (province) na kaya
nilang manalo ng SGLG pero pinili nilang di na tugunan ang mga kinakailangan para
sila ay mabigyan ng Gold Standard.
Ito ang seven governance areas needed na dapat makamit bago manalo:
Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection; Peace and
Order; Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Protection; and
Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
“Tingnan ninyo ang requirement sa Disaster
Preparedness, dapat 70% ng 5% (ayon sa sinasaad ng Local Government Code) na budget kada taon sa kaban ay dapat tuparin,”
ani ng mataas na opisyal sa akin.
Ang 5% ng isang probinsiya na
merong P5 billion na annual budget ay P250 million. Ang 70% niyan na kailangan
gastusin sa Calamity Fund or Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) ay
P175 million.
Ilan ang award pag nanalo ang isang province sa SGLG? P4 million laang
mga katoto, sobrang barya lamang! Talo ang kaban ng P171 million!
Iyang mga concern na iyan na dapat bilhin o gastusan ay training, life-saving
rescue equipment gaya ng life jackets, speed boat, vehicles, others.
Taon taon ay dapat mabili o magawa iyang mga nakasaad sa sinulat ko sa
itaas. Paano kung noong taong 2019, 2020 at 2021 ay nakabili na ng life jackets,
speed boat, vehicles?
Di ba extravagance at duplicity na sila? Baka malunod
ang mga taga LGUs sa dami ng mga gamit na iyon, hahaha!
CITY GOV’T
Ang siyudad na merong P1 billion na budget noong year 2022 ay kailangan
gumastos ng P35 million o 70% sa P50 million (5% LDRRMF) niya
Magkano ang parangal sa Gold Standard? P2.3 million lang. Talo ang kaban ng P32.7 million!
MUNICIPAL GOV’T
Ang bayan na merong P400 million na budget noong year 2022 ay kailangan
gumastos ng P15 million o 70% sa P20 million (5% ng LDRRMF) niya.
Magkano ang award sa SGLG? Isang measly P1.8 million lang. Talo ng P13.2
million ang LGU.
PALAOS NA ANG SGLG AWARD?
Mukhang palaos na itong SGLG kasi madami na ang hindi nanalo at ang suspetsa
ko ay may parehang argumento ang mga punong ehekutibo na wag na sumali sa Gold Standard ex-ex na ito dahil malaki
ang talo sa savings na mas mabuti pang e realigned sa social services, kalsada at iba pa para
makatulong sa maraming maralitang constituents.
Pag maraming mahihirap na natulungan ang Punong Ehekutibo, e di maraming
botong makukuha sa kanyang reelection.
Aanhin mo ang gold standard kung matatalo ka rin lang sa susunod na
eleksiyon dahil hindi naman naiintindihan ng karamihan ang bigat ng dating ng
gantimpala na iyan. Sa kanila, di nila makakalimutan ang libreng gamot,
ospitalisasyon at pamasahe na limang daang peso papunta sa mga kamag anak
nilang namatay sa ibang probinsiya o siyudad.
Sabi ko nga sa mataas na opisyal: Isang mayamang bayan na talo sa SGLG at
isang sobrang hirap na bayan na may ipinagyayabang na Gold Standard, iyong tao
mas pipiliin iyong mayaman dahil marami silang benipesyo kesa mapunta lang ang
malaking halaga sa Calamity Fund na paulit ulit na lang na pinapagawa ng
Department of Interior & Local Government.
SGLG Gold Standard, palaos na ba Secretary Benhur Abalos?
By Mortz C. Ortigoza
MANAOAG, Pangasinan – The aggressive anti-narcotics campaign of the mayor here bore fruits when a high official of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) awarded the 16 village chiefs here the certificates that their turfs are illegal - drug free.
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NARC-FREE. Manaoag
Mayor Jeremy A. Rosario (extreme left) and officials from the Philippines Drug
Enforcement Agency leads by Provincial Director –IA V Rechie Q. Camacho during
the awarding of the 16 villages represented by their Chairmen as narcotics
free. The fete is held at the Municipal Health and Wellness Hall in the Presidencia de Manaoag. |
The barangay chairmen received recently from PDEA Provincial Director –IA V
Rechie Q. Camacho their certification. Camacho was assisted by Mayor Jeremy A.
Rosario, Municipal City Anti-Drug Abuse Council Focal Person Aldrin M. Aquino,
Local Government Operations Officer – VI Shiela E. Velasquez, Municipal Health Office Overseer Dr. Ela Camille Baltazar and PEMS Fidel B. Mejia (who
represented this town’s Chief of Police Major Napoleon M. Eleccion, Jr.)
The 16 narcotics - free villages here are Bisal, Bucao, Calaocan, Lelemaan,
Licsi, Lipit Sur, Matulong, Mermer, Oraan East, Oraan West, Pantal, Parian,
Santa Ines, Sapang, Tebuel and San Ramon.
The fete for these villages have been held at the Municipal Health and Wellness
Hall in the Presidencia de Manaoag.
There are still ten villages here that are not yet cleared by the PDEA but
Mayor Rosario is hell bent to make them narcotics free in the soonest possible
time.
By Mortz C. Ortigoza
SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – Supporters of outgoing Senator Grace Poe are calling her to run against reelectionist Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas on the May 12, 2025 local and national elections.
“May tama si Rachel kay Grace
Poe. Taga Malasiqui siya tapos ang kalaban kinikilalang taga vote-rich San
Carlos City at anak pa ni Fernando Poe, Jr (Congresswoman Rachel will have a
run for her money. She came from Malasiqui while the challenger is a recognized
daughter of the vote –rich San Carlos City and movie icon Fernando Poe, Jr. who was the favorite son of the
city),” according to
political kibitzer Pido Montoya and his friends in Calasiao’s town about this
possible battle royal between the famous Senator and the well-entrenched Congresswoman.
Since time immemorial, those running for the district electoral position
like the membership of the provincial board won hands down against their rivals
from the five towns because they come from the landlocked most populated local
government unit.
The 87 villages’ San Carlos City leads in the number of votes with 119,
210 electorates (Comelec 2021) while the towns of Calasiao had 59, 823 voters,
Malasiqui possessed 79, 795 electorates, Bayambang had 76, 343 voters, Mapandan
(data unavailable) and Sta. Barbara possessed 51, 281 electorates.
When Poe ran for the senatorial races in 2013 and 2019 and on her failed
presidential bid in 2016, she got an overwhelming votes from the city because
people there recognized her as their own.
On her May 13, 2019 senate reelection, Poe got over 22 million votes in the
country, coming in second, only behind fellow Senator Cynthia Villar.
Whenever she dropped by in Pangasinan for a whistle stop in her
senatorial bids and presidential campaign, she met the siblings of her father
and kin from Barangay Kawayan Quiling here at a famous restaurant in this city.
“Pero alam niyo, ilang beses na
akong pumupunta dito sa Pangasinan, kasi alam naman ninyong kababayan ninyo
ako; alam naman ninyo na si FPJ, ang kanyang pinagmulan ay Pangasinan, kaya napaka-proud
si FPJ sa Pangasinan,” she
crowed about her father - affectionately called by the masa as “FPJ” the King of the celloluid screen - in a
hustling in the 2019 Senate race in Bayambang as published by Northern Watch Newspaper.
It is not common to see a senator of the Republic running for the membership
of the House of Representatives after his or her consecutive two terms or 12
years’ limit in the upper chamber.
Former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Loren Legarda, Ralph Recto, Pia
Cayetano and Allan Cayetano ran and won
too their congressional seats in the past.
It needs only for Senator Poe to be registered voter and a resident for
at least one year in the 3rd Congressional District – the most
populated among the six congressional districts in Pangasinan - if she wants
to elected for the lower chamber.
Poe is a present resident of Quezon City while Arenas was originally a
resident of Makati City before she ventured and won in the 2007 congressional
election. She was succeeded by her mother socialite Baby Arenas in June 30,
2013 in the same post. She replaced her in June 30, 2022 congressional
election.
Before becoming a senator, Poe was the Chair of the Movie and Television
Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in October 10, 2010 to October 2,
2012 under the administration of President Noynoy Aquino.
After her mother replaced her as the solon of the district, Arenas was
appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to become the Chair of the MTRCB in January 20, 2017 to October 1, 2021. Many believed the appointment ensued
through the intercession of former President Fidel V. Ramos – a major supporter
of Duterte and Arenas’ mother best friend.
By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA
The press conference called recently by Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III thwarted the possible perception of the business communities that the huge local government became the “bad guy” when corporate behemoth’s Manila Water Company, Inc. and its subsidiary’s Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc. (MWPV) had unilaterally terminated on December 31 its P8 billion contract with the Pangasinan Provincial Government (PPG). The undertaking was supposed to be the 25 years Bulk Water Supply and Purchase Agreement (BWSPA) to the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta and the towns of Binmaley, Calasiao, Lingayen, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag Sta. Barbara, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Villasis.
 |
| Manila Water Company, Inc. |
Upon listening attentively to the governor and his Legal Chief Atty. Baby Ruth F. Torre explained the legal sides of the PPG at a presser held at the Urduja Ceremonial Hall, the contract that started to be negotiated in 2016 under the administration of former Governor Amado Espino, III was shrouded with irregularities.
The Governor
deplored that the withdrawal of the corporation put into a bad light his
administration even most of the agreements ensued during the administration of
his predecessor former Governor Amado Espino, III.
“Sumulat sila actually we are set to meet sometimes this January. Bakit parang lumabas sa press na parang nag default ang province. It’s a bad impression to a lot of our friends, business sectors. We’re kasi opening ang province for several investors tapos biglang sasabihin na na terminate”.
TIME LINES
The following are the time lines how the BWSPA was conceptualized and ended on non-conclusion:
September 2016: The year when Manila Water Co. said efforts to push for the water project began when the consortium submitted an unsolicited proposal to Pangasinan
November 2018: It was followed by the initial evaluation of the Pangasinan Public-Private Partnership Selection Committee (PPP-SC) before the Notice of Acceptance was issued in November 2018.
June 28, 2019: The provincial lawmaking body issued Resolution No. 380-2019 entitled: “Confirming and Approving the Terms and Conditions Embodied in the Certification of Successful Negotiations between the Consortium of Manila Water Philippines Ventures, Inc. and Manila Water Company, Inc. and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan in the implementation of the Pangasinan Bulk Water Supply in the Province, and to Proceed with the Other Processes and Hereby Granting Authority to the Honorable Governor to Sign Pertinent Documents Concerning said Project”.
July 3, 2019: The Certificate of Successful Negotiation was entered into by the Consortium and the PGP represented by Provincial Administrator Lawyer Nimrod Camba – the Chairman of the PPP – SC.
December 31, 2022: With the active assistance of the Concessionaire, the stipulation was for the PPG to obtain and execute on or before of this date the BWSPA for Phase 1-A in Villasis and Urdaneta as Schedule 6;
January 1, 2023 - In the event the BWSPA was not secured in Villasis and Urdaneta by December 31, 2022, the Concessionaire shall not be compelled to commence construction by January 1, 2023. That if no new or amended Agreement is executed on or before December 31, 2023 and the parties do not agree to extend the period for renegotiation, this Agreement is deemed terminated pursuant to Section 8.8.
IRREGULARITIES
Provincial Legal Officer Torres opined the following irregularities on the Agreement:
* The
confirmation and approval of the Certificate of Successful Negotiation came
before the execution of the said certification;
* Because of
the above, Provincial Administrator Camba does not have the authority to
represent the Province and to sign the Certificate of Successful Negotiation;
* Although Camba was the Chairman of the PPP –
SC, Section 13 of the PPP Code states that all recommendations of the PPP-SC
shall be submitted to the Governor for consideration and approval.
* No proof of publication of the invitation
to Apply for Eligibility and Submission of Comparative Proposals to PPP Provision
happened;
* No payment of Performance Security Bond upon
inquiry in the Office of the Provincial Treasurer;
* The Notice of Award was issued prior to the signing of the PPP Contract (concession agreement). Under the PPP Code, only after the signing of the PPP Contract by the Governor that the PPP-SC shall issue the Notice of Award to the PSP. However, the Notice of Award was issued by the PPP-SC on September 30, 2021 while the Concession was entered on January 14, 2022.
Could not Force LGUs, They have Independent Water Board
Guico found
impossible to obligate the nine and five local government units with the BWSPA
on or before years 2022 and 2027, respectively.
“Pero medyo mabigat kasi itong condition na
ito na kailangan 100% oblige iyong mga water district na kumunek dito. Mahirap
iyon na kitaan sila. They have their own board, di ba? They’re autonomous and
from the LGU din”.
He added that the local governments could not be forced to enter into a contract just like the corporations.
GUICO STILL WANTS THE PROJECT
The P8 billion project – probably the second biggest PPP in Pangasinan after
the P34 billion 43.29 kilometers Joint Venture and Toll Concession
Agreements inked by the San Miguel Corporation with the PPG -
would create an infrastructure to source water from Agno River using the
riverbank filtration technology.
The
project was also estimated to deliver a billed volume of 200 million liters per
day to 1.4 million residents of Pangasinan by the 25th year.
Despite the lopsided agreement entered by the then
Espino Administration, Governor Guico still believed on the project of the
Consortium.
“We want the project. We believe in the project but umaangal kami dahil sa mga lumalabas na diyaryo we are not pointing at them. Reputable company ito”.
When this
writer asked the Governor that after this brouhaha if he was still optimistic
that he could still renegotiate the BWSPA with the Enrique Razon leads
corporation.
“Sana, it’s really up to them. More of we will be welcoming this kind of investment. Open kami, hindi kami nakikipag-away,” he answered.
LOOK AT OTHER PLAYERS, TOO
“Are there other players on this water
concession,” this writer posed.
“Wala pa, wala pa. Sana maraming players so that we can select the best proposals,” the Governor retorted.
My
unsolicited advice to the Governor is not only to limit on the renegotiation
with the Manila Water Company, Inc. but talks with other big players of the
trade like the Metro Pacific Water, Maynilad Water Services, San Miguel Corp –
Korean Company K-Water Resources Copt (concessionaire of the Bulacan Water
Supply Project) so that he could get the best concession for his constituents.
By Mortz C. Ortigoza
Acorda sued his fellow PMYer with violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code or the Unlawful Means of Publication as amended by the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
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| President Ferdinand "BBM" Marcos, Jr. (left photo) and former President Rodrigo Duterte (right top photo) and daughter's Vice President Sara Duterte while holding their polboron (powdery Spanish shortbread). Lately, pro Duterte vloggers have been opining about Marcos caught in a video snorting a powder cum cocaine. |
Parroting what
Maharlika - a fire breathing pro-Rodrigo Duterte’s lady vlogger –, Macanas had
been harping on his YouTube videos’ General’s Opinion that Acorda, military
Chief- of- Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr. and presidential sister Senator
Imee Marcos have confided with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to
step down from power after a video of him sniffing cocaine have reached the
generals.
Macanas used the word “polboron (powdery Spanish shortbread)” as the crack that President had been consuming.
NARCS
When Acorda
reacted earlier on Macanas dragging his name in persuading Marcos to resign in
the YouTube Video entitled: Good News!
AFP, PNP Generals Convincing PBBM to Resign? (NOTE: Dear readers please take note of the question mark after the last word of
the title because that will play a major role in the finding of probable cause
and the merits by the prosecutor and the judge).
I spent some hours watching the retired General and Maharlika’s other
anti-Marcos videos.
In one of the
videos, Macanas kept citing Maharlika – an Ilongga based in the United States –
about a video of a polboron video being showed by the generals to their
colonels – who are members of the Philippines Military Academy.
Maharlika was more acerbic than the monotonous commentary of Macanas - typical of men in uniform - that she interchanged the polboron on her videos as narcotics the president snorted with Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. in the Palace. The illegal drug peddler, Maharlika added, was Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Susmariosep!
Macanas (PMA
Class of 1983) said the Generals would not forward the allegedly incriminating
video to the colonels - who upon seeing them become restive – with a fear that
they could disseminate it to the public.
What kind of logic was it?
HIGH ON COKE?
A livid Maharlika
assailed Kuting (her other reference to Marcos) by not meeting the generals who visited him on December 28 at
the Palace because according to her he was high on dope.
“Kung ako ang Commander-in-Chief Pasko iyan.
Okay? Pasko di ba? Iyong mga Generals na iyan okay lang na meron tayong party
na kahit man lang saang lupalop ng mundo talagang na merong sini-celebrate na
Christmas party. At the fact na Dec 28 iyon palangga kung ako ang Commander- in-
Chief ninyo tatratuhin ko kayong tao, hero, at bayani kahit may naramdaman
akong sakit o high ako sa polboron – but definitely kung high ako sa polboron
si Kuting ako, di ba?” the woman vlogger at You
Tube hit the President.
Somebody from Malacanang, Maharlika said, however gave each of the generals an envelope that contain wads of money as Christmas gift from the President.
FORMER PRES. DUTERTE AS MASTERMIND
Former
Senator Antonio Trillanes – rebuked Duterte as the mastermind on this video’s
brouhaha.
“Aside from these personalities that are closely allied with Mr. Duterte they also have the motivation. They have the opportunity and in fact as it is the daughter of the former President –Vice President Sara Duterte is the Constitutional successor of whether it is through resignation, impeachment, (military and police) withdrawal of support, people power, coup d’état. All of these things are on the table for Mr. Duterte so that he could get back into power,” the former coup plotter turned Senator told the host of ANC TV after Acorda sued Macanas.
My take on
this hullabaloo: The Generals, Maharlika, Macanas and whoever should post publicly the
video to prove its authenticity otherwise it was another ploy by the enemies of
the President to agitate the people to hate him and could cause gullible
members of the military and police to rise in arms against the power that be.
That video showing the President sniffing cocaine or meth could be likened to Duterte’s threat to then Senator Leila de Lima that he would show to the public how she and her driver-bodyguard copulate. Until Duterte stepped down from the presidency in June 31, 2022 no sex video of De Lima with one of her countless lovers (who were drivers and bodyguards) has been exposed by the President.
US. INTERVENES TO PROTECT MARCOS
Furthermore,
if there is a putsch by the soldiers and the cops to install Duterte (who is
vulnerable to be sued with mass murder of civilians during his stint) or his daughter’s
Vice President Sara Duterte (who faces a suit in the Supreme Court because of
her receipt last December 2023 of the P125 million in
confidential funds deemed illegal by authorities and a probable impeachment bid by some congressmen allies of Marcos
because of the sum), what happened in the deadly December 1, 1989 coup's God Saves the Queen could be repeated again.
I’m not
talking here how the thousands of renegade soldiers under cashiered Army Col.
Gringo Honasan gutted to the ground the national economy because foreign investors
shunned the country beleaguered by countless failed military takeovers, I’m talking here about the intervention of the United
States who cowed those soldiers when those lethal U.S F-4 Phantoms started
taking off from Clark Air Base in Pampanga – then an American leased base - and
flew around Metro Manila and the nearby provinces to deter the adventurism of
the messianic complexed coup plotters.
I even told
former President Fidel V. Ramos – who used one of my columns’ FVR Irks by Benguet’s Guv Long Speech in one of his published
books – about how former U.S Vice President Dick Cheney remembered the 1989 Golpe when Ramos – a West Pointer - was
then the Secretary of National Defense and one who prodded President Corazon C.
Aquino to call the Americans to save their government.
At Page 173 of the 563 pages hardbound of Cheney’s memoir titled In My Time he said: “For one thing, President Aquino made it clear that she would publicly deny having made the request. Asking the United States to bomb Filipino citizens, even if they were rebels, would not go over well inside her own country. But we were committed to defend the government of the Philippines and needed to come up with a show of strength to discourage the rebels”.
DUTERTES THREAT TO THE U.S INTEREST IN THE SCS
In case the
soldiers and the cops try to unseat President Marcos and those men-in-uniforms
allied to him could be overpowered by the enemies of the state, Uncle Sam and
his long sophisticated stick could deal with them. The Yanks would not allow
the Dutertes - as my hypothetic premise – to return in power because they would
be detrimental to the U.S interest against the menacing saber rattling Mainland
China.
South China
Sea (SCS) hosts $5.3 trillion worth of goods being transited annually,
with $1.2 trillion of that total accounting for trade with the U.S.
The older
Duterte when he was the president of this country for six years cozied up with the top apparatchiks of the Communist Party in Beijing while his vice president’s daughter has these deafening silences on the countless
encroachments and occupation by the Chinks of our islands and shoals in the SCS and the
harassments of the Chinese Coast Guards and its militia ships on our coast guards
and civilian ships that bring provisions to our Marines at the ghost ship's BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.
