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Bill banning single-use plastics filed

A BILL calling for the phase-out of single-use plastic products has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Bill No. 8692, or the “Ban on Single-use Plastic Products,” proposed to prohibit enterprises from manufacturing, importing and selling single-use plastics.
The bill covers plastic packaging, such as grocery bags; food packaging and containers, water bottles, straws, cups, and sachets.
“The bill seeks to ban single-use products and to encourage manufacturers and consumers to use more sustainable and environmental-friendly products,” Rep. Winston T. Castelo of Quezon City’s 2nd district said in the explanatory note of the bill.
The measure calls for a ban within one year after its effectivity and requires a phase-out plan to be drafted within three months.
Aside from banning plastic use in food outlets, retail establishments, and similar enterprises, the phase-out plan also includes programs to raise awareness and promote recycling among consumers and manufacturers.
It also covers the “collection, recycling, and proper disposal by the manufacturers of single-use plastic products already in circulation.”
The bill proposes to establish recycling centers at the local government unit level.
The bill tasks the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Finance to oversee the phase-out.
The bill proposes to fine violators P50,000 on the first offense, P100,000 and a one-year suspension of business permit on the second offense, and P200,000 and the cancellation of business permit on the third. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

After the holidays: Some FX guidance for your travels back home

The Christmas and New Year holidays are over! Just when you become comfortable with a daily schedule of wake up-eat-do nothing-sleep, reality returns and it’s always a struggle to get back to your old routine.
For those who spent their holidays travelling overseas, it’s time to wrap up those itineraries, pack all the souvenirs you will hand out as pasalubong and prepare for the journey home.
If you’re coming home from a trip and still have excess money on hand, make sure that you are aware of the rules with regard to the amount of cash that you are allowed to carry during your travels.
The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), under its Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions (FX regulation) does not restrict or limit the amount of foreign currency that a person may bring in or take out of the Philippines. However, if the amount exceeds $10,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currency, it must be declared in writing using the prescribed Foreign Currency and Other FX Denominated Bearer Monetary Instruments Declaration Form. The form is available at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) desk at the arrival/departure areas of all international airports and seaports. A copy of the form may also be downloaded from the BSP Web site under MORFXT Forms, Annexes and Appendices (Annex K).
If you are traveling with children, each child traveling with a parent or guardian is allowed to bring into or out of the Philippines up to $10,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currency without a written declaration. If the amount to be hand carried by each person is in excess of $10,000 or its equivalent foreign currency (e.g. the child is not of age or is incapable of handling currency), the total amount to be transported should be declared in writing using the prescribed form, indicating the allocations per person or traveler. In such a case, the child/children must likewise be physically present with the parent or guardian upon Customs inspection.
For travelers carrying pesos, FX regulations only allow resident or foreign travelers to and from the Philippines to bring or electronically transfer Philippine notes, coins and other monetary instruments in an amount not exceeding P50,000. An authorization from the BSP is required for any amount in excess of the limit.
If you are traveling with children, each child is also allowed to bring up to P50,000 as long as each person (parent/ guardian and child) does not hand-carry more than that amount. If any child is not of age or is incapable of handling currency, then the total amount of pesos allocated for that child shall be hand-carried by the parent or guardian but it should be ensured that: (a) the child is physically present with the parent or guardian upon Customs inspection; (b) the total amount allocated per person, inclusive of the allotment for the child, should not average more than P50,000; and (c) the allocation per person is fully explained to authorities by the parent or guardian.
The above limit does not include the peso amount of the International Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) refunded to outbound exempt passengers during the implementation of said IPSC refund. These passengers are exempt under Philippine laws from payment of travel tax, airport tax and other travel related taxes or fees. Such passengers include (a) the Philippine Sports Commission and its delegations or representatives under Republic Act No. 6847, or The Philippine Sports Commission Act; and (b) Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under Republic Act No. 10022, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, provided that the refund is made prior to departure at airports or other ports of exit.
Failure to comply with the rules shall subject the violators to sanctions, including confiscation of the currency or monetary instruments involved. Strictly speaking, under Section 36 of Republic Act No. 7653, any person that willfully violates the Central Bank Act or other pertinent banking laws implemented by the BSP or any order, instruction, rule or regulation issued by the Monetary Board, shall be punished by a fine ranging from P50,000 to P200,000, or by imprisonment of 2-10 years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Though it is legal in the Philippines to bring in or take out local or foreign currency in amounts more than the above limits, proper declaration and authorization must be done or secured beforehand to avoid any problems during your travels. Unless there is a good reason to carry that much money, it might be better off to travel with less cash and make use of available ATM machines or credit cards as needed.
People who dedicate most of their time to work and other responsibilities outside of work deserve to have a vacation where they can relax and spend quality time alone or with family and friends. I hope the readers of this column have had a chance to do that over the holidays.
The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co. The content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.
 
Nestine P. Buisan is a senior consultant at the Tax Services Department of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine
(02) 845-27 28
nestine.p.buisan@ph.pwc.com

PNP forms task group to go after mall bombers

THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City) has activated special investigation task group (SITG) South Seas to track down the perpetrators of the Dec. 31 bombing at a shopping mall in Cotabato City.
PRO-SOCCSKSARGEN Director Eliseo T. Rasco, in a statement on Wednesday, said they are working with the military and other government agencies for the “speedy solution” of the “terrorist act” that left two people dead and 34 others injured.
Philippine National Police chief Oscar D. Albayalde earlier ordered the creation of the SITG to focus on the blast that took place at the South Seas Mall at around 1:49 p.m. last Monday.
Mr. Rasco said the SITG-South Seas aims to “bring the suspects to justice and put them behind bars.”
Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, in an earlier statement, described the incident as “not just another terroristic act but an act against humanity. I cannot fathom how such evil exists in this time of merry making of our fellow Cotabatenios.”
The military, for its part, said it is on top of the situation following the bombing of a shopping mall in Cotabato City on New Year’s Eve.
“Our field units are already monitoring all threat groups and contingency measures are already in place to prevent terror attacks that could endanger both Filipinos and foreigners and affect economic activities, said AFP chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr. “Internal security operations are also ongoing to pursue known targets, suppress armed groups, and protect communities all over the country.”
REACTION TO UK ADVISORY
Mr. Madrigal also said, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines respects (the) United Kingdom’s issuance of a travel advisory to warn its citizen on the possibility of terror attacks in some parts of the country.”
For his part, Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año said “it is not right to generalize” the threats in Mindanao.
“It is not right to generalize the existence of threat in the whole of Mindanao. We admit the existence of terror groups and CPP/NPA/NDF but they are isolated in certain areas of Mindanao only and the National Intel Community issues periodic advisory,” said Mr. Año, a retired AFP chief.
“Under martial law, the LGUs, AFP,and PNP are doing their best to ensure the protection and safety of all tourists and constituents. We will intensify military and police operations in those concerned/affected areas of Mindanao,” Mr. Año also said, referring to the state of Mindanao under martial rule since 2017. The military has been pushing for its extension anew, on the face of persistent terror threats.
For his part, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said, “No, we don’t have indications that there will be other bombings. The British advisory is an automatic and default warning of governments to their nationals like we also do when these things happen in other countries.”
He added, “It is normal and ordinary. We hear about these advisories all the time.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo, for his part, said, “Authorities are already investigating the incident. In the meantime, we call on everyone not to speculate as this may only sow unnecessary fear and panic among our people.”
And the United States Embassy, for its part, said in a statement, “The United States and the Philippines are longstanding #FriendsPartnersAllies, and we stand ready to provide continued support for the peace process in the southern Philippines.” — reports by Tajallih S. Basman and Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Palace: Duterte just testing Catholic Church doctrine of Holy Trinity

By Camille A. Aguinaldo
Reporter
MALACAÑANG clarified President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s recent remarks describing the Catholic Church’s teachings on the Holy Trinity as “silly,” saying that the President was merely putting “to a test” their validity.
In a statement on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said the President’s statements was “his way of shaking long held religious tenets and beliefs” of the Catholic Church, which make individuals “cling to religion as an opium,” rather than “molding them into being righteous individuals.”
“In so doing, the President puts to a test the validity of the religious rituals bordering (on) fanaticism as against the practice of genuine spirituality as taught by the different personifications of one God,” he said.
In his Dec. 29 speech in Kidapawan City, Mr. Duterte maintained that there’s only one God and described the Catholic Church’s teachings of God being divided into three divine persons as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as “silly.” He also mentioned his dislike of the Church’s belief in saints.
“There’s only one God. It’s Allah. God the Father, period. There is no other God for me. Only one God. Other have Saint Catalina, Saint Ana, Saint Tomas, Saint Sebastian, Saint Rodrigo….I don’t know them,” he said in Filipino.
“They pray to God, they also pray to the saints….There’s only one God, period. You cannot divide God into three. That’s silly,” he added.
Mr. Panelo said the Church and its believers should take the President’s “unorthodox narratives” as a way to strengthen their faith, rather than taking these as an offensive remark.
He also said the President “endeavours to be creative” to convey his messages to the public, which he said has been effective as public opinion survey has showed.
“In making those unconventional discourses, the President is mindful on any consequential erosion of his public support. His intention being to initiate an intellectual discussion for the faithfuls’ enlightenment and spiritual awakening which could lead them to tread the path of uprightness so necessary in the moral regeneration of a nation so abundant with religiosity but wanting in spirituality,” Mr. Panelo said.
Mr. Duterte has criticized anew the Catholic Church in his recent speeches, questioning several of its teachings and criticizing its leaders for meddling into how he runs the country. The Church, for its part, has been critical of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, which they said has led to thousands of killings.

Registered foreigners advised to report to BI

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) reminds all foreigners registered under the bureau to go to the immigration office nearest them starting this January until March 1 for their annual reporting to the bureau.
The procedure is required under the 1950 Alien Registration Act. Non-compliance may result in fines or cancellation of registration.
Foreigners registered with BI hold immigrant or non-immigrant visas and an alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card). They are required to present their original ACR I-Cards and valid passports and pay a P300 annual report fee and P10 legal research fee.
BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said registered foreigners who are currently out of the country are also asked to report to the bureau.
“Foreigners who are out of the country during the annual reporting period may make the report within 30 days from the date of their return to the country, provided they have valid re-entry permits,” Mr. Morente said.
“Two months is a long time. There is no reason for foreigners to miss the annual report. Those who will fail to comply will be sanctioned,” he warned.
Foreign nationals below 14 years old are exempted from appearing personally before the BI and their parents or guardians should report on their behalf. Senior citizens or people aged 65 years old and above are also exempted but are required to pay fees and fill out forms.
BI Alien Registration Division Chief Jose Carlitos Z. Licas also urged foreigners to file their annual report early.
“It has always been an issue that people file on the last few days of the annual report period, making the process burdensome for everyone,” Mr. Licas said. “We are urging foreigners to avoid (the) deadline rush by making their report earlier.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Typhoon Usman death toll reaches 85

THE DEATH toll from landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by a tropical depression climbed to 85, officials said on Wednesday, and 20 people were missing as rescuers slowly reached cut-off communities. The casualties, including young children, were mostly killed when their homes collapsed in landslides after days of heavy rain in several provinces in the central Philippines, said Ricardo B. Jalad, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). “If we don’t recover the missing or we recover them dead, that is 105 deaths, which we hope not,” Mr. Jalad said. The tropical depression named Usman, which weakened into a low pressure system before leaving the Philippines on Sunday, brought heavy rain that triggered landslides and flooding in the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions.
RELIEF OPERATIONS
While search and retrieval operations are still ongoing, relief services are continuing for the 6,637 families composed of 24,894 individuals who are in 170 evacuation centers. NDRRMC said another 12,132 affected families are outside the evacuation centers. NDRRMC said more than P4 million worth of assistance have been provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units, and non-government organizations.

typhoon Usman relief operations
Relief operations
Rice and other supplies are distributed to areas affected by typhoon Usman in Eastern Visayas such as towns in the provinces of Samar and Northern Samar. — OCD-EASTERN VISAYAS

The province of Oriental Mindoro has also declared a state of calamity, following Albay, Sorsogon, and the town of Bulan in Sorsogon. Such declaration gives local officials access to emergency funds.
DAMAGE
Bicol, with a population of 5.8 million, was the hardest hit, with 68 killed in intense rains and landslides. Damage to agriculture in Bicol, which produces rice and corn, was estimated at P342 million. Rescuers, including the police and military, used heavy-lifting equipment to clear roads leading to landslide sites and entered flooded communities using rubber boats. “The sun is already out, with occasional light rains. We hope floods will subside,” Ronna Monzon, a member of the operations personnel at the disaster agency in Bicol, told Reuters. Damage have been identified in 95 road sections and three bridges, with 57 roads and one bridge already passable as of Wednesday. Of the 104 areas that experienced power interruption in the regions of CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol, and Eastern Visayas, supply has so far been restored in 55 cities and municipalities. In terms of houses, 41 were reported totally damaged and 28 partially destroyed. Majority of the totally damaged homes were in Northern Samar at 31. About 20 tropical cyclones hit the Philippines every year, with destroyed crops and infrastructure taking a toll on human lives and weighing down one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. — Reuters and Marifi S. Jara

Davao Business Bureau expects over 39,000 permit renewals

THE DAVAO City Business Bureau is expecting more than 39,000 business permit renewals this year, with processing to start Thursday, Jan. 3. “Our office issued a total of 39,514 business permits last year so we expect more or less the same number of businesses that will be renewed this 2019,” Business Bureau Chief lawyer Marissa M. Torentera said in an interview. Renewal applications will be processed at the bureau’s office at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building and a satellite center at the Almendras Gym. Both sites will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays this month. “We are urging business owners to renew their business permits early to avoid the long lines later on,” Ms. Torentera said. — Carmencita A. Carillo

Davao City marks 17th year of zero firecracker-related incident

THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) city recorded zero firecracker-related incident during the 2018 Christmas and New Year’s eve celebrations, marking 17 years of the strict observance of the ban on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. “We thank the residents of Davao City for their cooperation and support on the firecracker ban,” DCPO Director Senior Supt. Alexander C. Tagum said in a statement. City Ordinance No. 060-02 of 2002 prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, use as well as the transport of pyrotechnic devices and explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of the city. Former Davao City mayor and now President Rodrigo R. Duterte, initially banned the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in 2001 through an executive order. To welcome the new year, Davao City holds a Torotot Festival every Dec. 31, where people gather and simultaneously blow their horns at midnight. The last festival also had competitions on the biggest horn, torotot-inspired costume, and a torotot dance. — Carmencita A. Carillo

NCR police reports lower crime rate in the capital

THE NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported a decline in crime volume in Metro Manila in 2018. Index crimes, which are crimes against person and property, went down by 21% to 14,633 in 2018 from 18,524 in 2017. Crimes against persons — murder, homicide, physical injury, and rape — also dropped to 5,585 from 7,620 during the period in review. Murder cases decreased to 738 from 1,542. Meanwhile, crimes against property — robbery, theft, and carnapping — stood at 9,048 last year, 17% lower than 2017’s 10,904. The NCRPO’s crime clearance efficiency improved to 76% from 67%, while crime solution efficiency also increased to 55% from 47%. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Peso climbs on US-China news

THE PESO strengthened against the dollar on Wednesday driven by political and economic developments abroad.
The local unit closed the first session of the year at P52.515 versus the dollar, 6.5 centavos stronger than its P52.58-per-greenback finish last Dec. 28, 2018.
This was the peso’s best close in almost a month or since it ended at P52.32 per dollar last Dec. 3.
The peso opened Wednesday’s session at P52.50 versus the US currency, which was also its best showing for the day. Meanwhile, it slid to as low as P52.63 per dollar intraday.
Trading volume thinned to $580.05 million from the $664.4 million that switched hands last week.
A foreign exchange trader said in a phone interview that the peso strengthened versus the dollar in the morning session, mimicking the strength of other emerging market economies on the back of “strong US-China news.”
In a congratulatory message on Tuesday marking the 40th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald J. Trump that cooperation is the best choice for both countries, Reuters reported.
The world’s two biggest economies agreed last month to a 90-day temporary ceasefire in imposing tit-for-tat levies against each other’s imports.
Officials from Washington are also reported to travel to Beijing early this month to discuss trade-related concerns to the Chinese government.
“After that, the news turned negative [which was about] the decline in growth worldwide,” the trader added.
Meanwhile, another trader attributed the peso’s strength to the uncertainty in the US due to its government’s shutdown, which weighed on the dollar.
“[The shutdown] strengthened demand on other safe-haven demand such as the yen,” the trader added in a text message.
For today, the first trader sees the peso moving between P52.55 and P52.75 versus the dollar, while the other gave a P52.40-P52.50 range.
“The local currency might find more boost on bets of softer Philippine inflation data,” the second trader noted.
Meanwhile, other Asian currencies fell on Wednesday, shrugging off broad US dollar weakness as gloomy factory surveys added to worries about cooling regional and global growth.
Leading declines in the region, the Indonesia rupiah dropped 0.% to 14,475.00 per dollar. The currency weakened about 6% against the greenback in 2018. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal with Reuters

Shares end higher in thin trade on inflation bets

SHARES FIRMED up on the first trading day of the year amid thin volume, as investors looked ahead to the release of likely slower inflation data for December.
The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) gained 0.31% or 23.18 points to end at 7,489.20 on Wednesday. The broader all-shares index also went up 0.06% or 2.82 points to 4,520.67.
“It was sort of a good start for the year since we ended up. If you look at the turnover value, we were only at P3.2 billion, but still we ended on the positive side,” A&A Securities, Inc. trader Jeng T. Calma said in Filipino during a phone interview.
“Hopefully the index can sustain this trend in the coming days. It was able to touch the 7,500 mark earlier [on Wednesday], so hopefully we can achieve that level given that inflation is seen to have slowed down in December.”
The PSEi hit a high of 7,540.26 intraday, but failed to sustain this until closing bell.
Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco also attributed the PSEi’s rally to expectations of a slower headline inflation print for December, adding that the thin trading was due to investor caution over global events.
“Value traded was lethargic at just P3.356 billion as many chose to stay on the sidelines, in lieu of global concerns, particularly the fears of a global economic slowdown to subside first,” Mr. Tantiangco said via text.
A BusinessWorld poll of seven analysts yielded a median inflation estimate of 5.7% for December. This falls within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ estimate range of 5.2-6% announced last week. If realized, this would be the slower than November’s six percent record.
Sectoral indices were equally split between gainers and losers. Property led advancers, jumping 2.37% or 86.08 points to 3,714.06, followed by mining and oil which climbed 1.78% or 145.93 points to 8,346.43. Services also went up 0.53% or 7.75 points to 1,450.46.
Meanwhile, financials fell 0.65% or 11.60 points to 1,768.25; holding firms dropped 0.32% or 23.92 points to 7,317.89; while industrials slipped 0.08% or 9.40 points to end at 10,941.96.
Some 717.58 million issues switched hands, resulting in a value turnover of P3.36 billion, lower than the previous session’s P5.67 billion.
Net foreign outflows also slimmed to P4.58 million yesterday from the P198 million posted on Dec. 28.
Advancers outpaced decliners, 96 to 85, while 44 names remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, markets in the United States rallied on the last trading day of 2018, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.15% or 265.06 points to 23,327.46. The S&P 500 index climbed 0.85% or 21.11 points to 2,506.85, while the Nasdaq Composite index also picked up 0.77% or 50.76 points to 6,635.28.
Despite the uptick last Dec. 28, all three US indices went down on an annual basis at 5.63%, 6.24%, and 3.88%, respectively. — Arra B. Francia

School leadership and bullying

A few days before Christmas, I, like many others, was shocked to see Facebook videos purportedly showing an Ateneo high school student using his martial arts skill to assault and humiliate a schoolmate inside a restroom. The videos were disturbing not only because of the humiliation and physical harm inflicted on the victim, but more so because of the way the young man appeared to take pride in bullying his schoolmate not only in plain sight of others but also on video.
Shortly after, Ateneo administrators announced the dismissal of the student following its internal policies and after due investigation. Rightly, I think, the school administration extended its support to the families of both the victim and the perpetrator to help them move forward after the incident and its aftermath. After all, why be mean-spirited to a young man who has been shown the error of his ways and now has the rest of his life to undo his mistake and improve himself?
What happens now? It will take more than the very public punishment of one high school student in a high-profile case to change the bullying cultures that exist in many schools. Admittedly, bullying is a systemic and complicated problem with many causes working together. Thus, it cannot be totally prevented in schools because students have their own minds and can choose to be abusive when they please.
However, school leaders (teachers and administrators) have a critical role in making the school culture as inhospitable to bullying as possible. Bullying undermines the essential mission of schools to form well-adjusted and productive citizens. Victims usually develop mental health problems for life, including low self-esteem, depression, and, in some cases, suicidal tendencies. Also, young people who behave as bullies in school can very well become bullies later on in their workplaces, from the frontlines all the way to corporate boardrooms.
Bullying can happen in all schools. Students differ in abilities, personalities, appearance, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some with power over others (say, due to physical superiority or membership in a popular group) may treat those unlike them in demeaning and hurtful ways, whether in person or over social media. Thus, school leaders have to think carefully about how their approach may be enabling or preventing bullying. To believe that bullying is not a problem because the administration does not receive reports is a mistake. The culture of silence among students is so powerful that most cases are never reported to any adult.
The worst thing leaders can do is to condone bullying. Sweeping bullying under the rug sends the worst message young people can get from their school: “Bullies can get away with anything because the leaders are more interested in keeping up appearances than making the school safe for everyone.” This betrays the trust of the students and their parents, who count on the school as a haven for learning and development. The bad effects of such a betrayal on young people cannot be exaggerated.
Needless to say, leaders must ensure compliance with the Anti-Bullying Act. This means having an anti-bullying policy, reporting and discipline systems, and formal educational programs for all on the dynamics of bullying. However, leaders should avoid doing this mechanically because doing so sends a weak message that can be drowned out by the other operational concerns of the school. After a while, the compliance approach could become just another “program” to be trotted out during accreditation or to convince parents and the public of the school’s concern.
Beyond compliance, leaders need to add strong leadership to make sure that substance wins over form. They must visibly and consistently build a culture of positive relationships, mutual service, and valuing of diversity in the school. This means giving diverse students ways to understand and appreciate each other as persons with unique gifts. It also means showing students how to resolve their differences through dialog and principled compromise.
The message that “Every student is worthy of respect” must override the tendency of schools to lavish recognition on its achievers. In line with this, leaders should encourage outstanding students to serve others and to share their gifts with schoolmates who are less capable.
Leaders need to spend time listening to the real concerns of students. This will help them to better guide young people to harmoniously co-exist for their mutual growth and happiness. Building a dignity-centered culture cannot be done through policies and formal teaching alone. It requires engaged leaders who will role-model caring and respectful behavior and focus their attention on day-to-day relationships among students and the rest of the school community. This will enable the school to truly achieve its educational mission.
 
Dr. Benito L. Teehankee is full professor in the Management and Organization Department and coordinator of the Business for Human Development Network of De La Salle University.
benito.teehankee@dlsu.edu.ph

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