one mindanao - september 10, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDExecutive Editor …….. EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE Officer-in-charge, PIA Caraga Region

ELAINE O. RATUNIL Officer-in-charge, PIA Region X

Regional Desk Editors Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Jorie C. Valcorza, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ............... Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior Layout Artists : Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Adviser :

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: ro9_pia@yahoo.com mimibern17@yahoo.comBlogspot: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

Northern MindanaoGraces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969E-mail: pia10_pd@yahoo.com r10_pia@yahoo.comBlogspot: www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)Ground Floor Kanto Motors Bldg.,Quimpo Blvd., New MatinaDavao City 8000Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950E-mail: efelbanbuena@yahoo.com

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506Telephone no. (083) 520-0249Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307E-mail: r12_pia@yahoo.com, pia_xii@yahoo.com

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: piacaraga@gmail.com , pia_caraga@yahoo.com,phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur Twitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

Cover Story

Mambajao celebrates La Fiesta de San Nicolas

Northern Mindanao

Today’s issue... Monday, September 10, 2012 Vol. 2 No. 18

Philippines and other 20 member-economies of APEC reaffirm commitment to improve supply-chain by 2015 8

Apipa P. Bagumbaran, Northern MindanaoInvestments in NorMin reach P9.81B in 2Q of 2012 16LGU sponsors ‘Walk for a Cause’ for street children19 Jezereel Billano, Central Mindanao

Northern Mindanao4th CMO Battalion celebrates the Virgin Mary’s Birthday

Tacurong City is Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards 2012 regional winner20Dani Doguiles & Jezereel Billano, Central Mindanao

PIA-Caraga discusses Dev-Com to Comm. Arts studes in Butuan City23Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

Social Dev’t Committee tackles gov’t fuel procurement25 Jennifer P. Gaitano, Caraga Region

Zambo braces for Fiesta Hermosa 201229 Jocelyn P. Alvarez, Western Mindanao

New tertiary hospital to open in Davao 31 Rudolph Alama, Southern Mindanao

4 ONE MINDANAO Monday, September 10, 2012

Mambajao is the capital town of the province, where most of the island’s tourist destinations also lies. Known to be deeply religious people, the residents of Mambajao continue to celebrate grandiosely their devotion to their patron saint. For the town, they commemorate year after year this thanksgiving, every 10th day of September in honor to Saint Nicolas. This custom takes many by

surprise as besides the traditional merriment, everybody goes home happy and full. Sumptuous food flows ateverybody’s table ready for the take, the good thing here is, doors are open even to strangers. This has been the common practice here among locals, for they believe that the act exemplifiesthe true essence of thanksgiving-choosing not the people we share our blessings with. The festivity opened as early as August 31 with a “PistaDagan 2012 “ (Fiesta Fun Run 2010) and a street party dubbed as “Hudyaka” which is scheduled nightly up until the actual day of the feast.

A10-day fun filled activities kick-off

Mambajao’s 157th devotional fiesta celebration.

Monday, September 10, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

A nightly presentation consisting of plays, songs and dances entertained the townsfolk. This year’s presentations were theater-inspired like performances on the Sound of Music, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The King and I, Phantom of the Opera, and the Dalagang Bukid. Students, private sector group and government employees’ work together to come up with a more interesting, lively and exceptional production each year. The celebration also features a unique fashion show termed as “Trashion” or turning trashes in to fashion, as a way of awakening people’s cooperation in the local government’s campaign on waste management, specifically,

on reducing plastic use in the municipality. Other activities propped includes the search for singing ambassador, fire and rescue drill exhibition,drum and lyre competition, ground demonstration, interschool speech contest, medical mission, and the Little Miss Mambajao Pageant. To cap the festivity, one lucky beauty will likewise be crowned as the Miss Mambajao 2012.

6 Monday, September 10, 2012

ACROSS THE NATIONPresident Aquino and other 20 leaders of APEC agree to strengthen food security

President Aquino and the other 20 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreed to strengthen food security through the implementation of the Niigata Declaration

and the progress made in the Kazan Declaration on Food Security.The agreement was contained in the

APEC Declaration issued by the 21 member economies of APEC recently (Vladivostok

time) at the conclusion of the 20th APEC Leaders’ Meeting at the APEC Conference Center here. The APEC Leaders’ Meeting

Monday, September 10, 2012 7

ACROSS THE NATIONPresident Aquino and other 20 leaders of APEC agree to strengthen food security

has for its theme “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper.”

“To advance this work, we are committed to increasing sustainable agricultural production and productivity, considering the diversity of environmental conditions world-wide and positive externalities of agriculture, further facilitating trade and developing food markets, enhancing food safety improving access to food for vulnerable groups and improving farmer’s welfare,” the APEC leaders said.

They vowed to implement measures to help ensure sustainable marine ecosystems managementandcombatingillegalfishingand associated trade adding that sustainable agricultural growth is a “priority for all our economies.”

The APEC leaders also expressed the belief that deeper involvement of the relevant private and public sector stakeholders into APEC’s food security efforts will contribute significantly in addressing their sharedgoals.

To promote their food security goals, the APEC leaders agreed to take the following steps:

-- Supporting the effective and multi-faceted work of the Food Safety Cooperation Forum;

-- Encouraging further cooperation and dialogue among the economies on undwrstanding, recognition and

capacity building regarding the benefitsof harmonizing domestic regulations on food safety and quality with international standards consistent with the World Trade Organization Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade and on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures;

-- Striving to improve domestic food safety systems by implementing previous control measures, building information sharing networks,strengthening laboratory capacity, and building regional capacityto respond to high priority food safety hazards and minimize food safety incidents;

-- Exploring ways to improve economic and physical access to food for vulnerable groups including those facing an emergency due to natural and anthropogenic disasters, encouraging exchange of best practices on the provision of food for vulnerable populations, including through social and school feeding, strengthening sustainable social protection and social safety nets; and

-- Enhancing cooperation to combat illegal,unreportedandunregulatedfishingand associated trade, working towards sustainable management of marine ecosystems, improving capture fisheriesmanagement and sustainable aquaculture practices, and facilitating sustainable open andfairtradeinproductsoffisheriesandaquaculture. PND (rsda)

President Benigno S. Aquino III and the other 20 world leaders made the reaffirmationoftheircommitmentthrougha joint declaration at the conclusion of the 20th APEC Leaders’ Meeting on Sunday (Vladivostok time) at the Far Eastern

Federal University on Russkiy Island here. “We welcome the adoption of a more

systematic approach to addressing existing chokepoints in supply chains through targeted capacity-building and concrete steps towards making supply chains more

Philippines and other 20 member-economies of APEC reaffirm commitment to improve supply-chain by 2015

The 21 member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), including the Philippines, have reaffirmed their commitment to achieve 10 percent improvement in supply-

chain performance by 2015 in terms of reduction of time, cost, and uncertainty of moving goods and services through the Asia-Pacific region.

Monday, September 10, 2012 9

Philippines and other 20 member-economies of APEC reaffirm commitment to improve supply-chain by 2015

reliable,resilient,safe,efficient,transparent,diversified and intelligent, and directofficialstoadvancethisworkin2012tobecompleted by 2014,” the declaration stated.

Noting that the reliability of supply chains is crucial to facilitate trade, maintain sustainable development, and ensure economic, energy, food, and environmental security in the region, the APEC leaders encouraged continued discussion with the business community and other relevant stakeholders on the diversificationof transportation routes inthe region and resiliency planning to build

themostefficientsupplychainnetworks.The APEC leaders agreed that it is also

crucial to advance the discussion on the technological enhancement of supply chains with a view to promoting greener, smarter, moreefficientandintelligentsupplychains.

They also voiced support for continued discussion with the business community and other relevant stakeholders on Authorized Economic Operators programs, in line with the World Customs Organization/APEC SAFE Framework of Standards. Recognizingthesignificanceoftraveland

tourism in job creation, economic growth

anddevelopment in theAsia-Pacific, theAPEC leaders commended the efforts of APEC Tourism and Transport Ministers in encouraging the facilitation of international travel to assess the liberalization of air transportation services and to improve safety and security of tourist products.

It was cited that terrorism is a serious threat to economic growth, security, stability and supply chain reliability, thus they reaffirmed their commitmentsto implement the APEC C o n s o l i d a t e d C o u n t e r -Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy. They also supported deeper c o o p e r a t i o n and capacity building across the Strategy’s priority areas of secure trade, travel, finance,and infrastructure to make regional c o m m e r c e

more secure, efficient, and resilient.TheAPEC leadersalso reaffirmed the

importance of enhancing preventative measures, emergency preparedness, disasterresiliencyandfosteringofscientificand technical cooperation among APEC economies, communities and businesses.

“We recognize the importance of easing the mobility of relief assistance in the aftermath of disaster to minimize casualties,” the APEC leaders said. PND (CO)

‘Bangsamoro Juridical Entity’ no longer being considered in peace talks, says Deles

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles today clarified that the term and the concept of a “Bangsamoro

Juridical Entity (BJE)” was no longer being considered in the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In an interview, Deles clarified that that she never issued a

statement published in a national daily newspaper Wednesday which

Monday, September 10, 2012ONE MINDANAO 12

quoted her as saying that peace negotiators “have agreed in principle to adopt Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) as a replacement for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” at the 31st round of Formal Exploratory Talks between the government and the MILF in Malaysia.

Deles said present peace negotiations were guided by the signed Decision Points on Principles as of April 2012, where among the principles agreed by the parties is to “work for the creation of a new autonomous political entity (NPE) in place of the ARMM.”

The government and the MILF panels agreed on the term “NPE” and not “BJE” to refer to the autonomous entity they aim to establish in a peace agreement for a political settlement of the decades-old conflict, Deles explained.

Deles relayed her disagreement to reference in news reports that she was using the term BJE. “I am a bit nervous, because we know that the term BJE carries perception about territory and the lack of consultations.”

The peace adviser appealed to news writers: “If you’re going to write a follow-up, just put that into context. Or else the various stakeholders we are consulting with may raise the question why we are going back again to discussing BJE.”

“The ongoing peace talks have moved forward and we have learned from the mistakes of the

past,” Deles said, explaining why the peace panels no longer refer to the previous concept of BJE which was used in the unsuccessful Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in 2008 during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Definitely, the ongoing peace process is guided by the principle of the ‘consent of the governed’, transparency, inclusivity, and learned lessons from the past,” Deles said. “In essence, the welfare of the people are the center of talks in establishing genuine autonomy in the south to resolve to bring just and lasting peace in the country.”

“The public, including the media, should be guided by the Decision Points document which was made open to the public for them to understand the status, direction, and substance of the peace negotiations,” Deles said.

It will be recalled that the BJE concept that was included in the MOA-AD signed between the government and the MILF during the Arroyo administration was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

“On the geographic coverage of the proposed NPE, the two parties have not yet agreed on the mode and scope of jurisdiction for the autonomous entity, so the more it is not true that the parties agreed on an expanded territory,” she explained.

CSC-10 to check compliance of gov’t agencies on Anti-Red Tape Actby Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - The Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Northern Mindanao will be monitoring government agencies and offices on their compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) especially on the creation of a Citizen’s Charter.

“We just received instructions to revalidate all government agencies in the region if they have accomplished their own citizen’s charter,” CSC-10

Regional Director Lourdes Clavite-Vidal said during the “Talakayan sa PIA” held on September 6 at the Philippine Information Agency.

4th CMO Battalion celebrates the Virgin Mary’s BirthdayCAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City - The Army’s 4th Civil-Military Operation “KASALIGAN” Battalion celebrates the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s at the battalion headquarters at 6 a.m., Sept. 8.

She said all government agencies including local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations that provide frontline services are mandated to draw up citizen’s charter under the ARTA. A citizen’s charter identifies the frontline services offered, the step-by-step procedure for availing a particular service, the employee responsible for each step, the amount of fees, the documents to be presented by the client and the procedure for filing of complaints in relation to requests and

application. Those found to have not complied will be reported to CSC Central Office for filing of appropriate administrative cases, she added. She called on all government agencies in Northern Mindanao especially national line agencies without citizen’s charter at the regional level to comply. She urged these agencies to request their central offices to cascade their citizen’s charter down to the regional level.

The celebration was highlighted with the holy mass officiated by Rev. Remil Magusara followed by a simple breakfast. All soldiers and family members, Catholic and from other denominations, joined the celebration. September 8 of every year for Roman Catholics is a marked date for the birthday of the Blessed Mother. It is celebrated by offering a mass, offering of flowers and lighting of candles. Today, the celebration has evolved with doing civic activities

such as feeding, tree planting, cleanliness drive and run for peace. “We are forever grateful to Mama Mary for all the blessings we have, and we will continue to ask our petition to her for our love ones, for other soldiers’ safety, for our unit accomplishments and for our country’s peace and development. May the blessed Mother Mary always guide and protect all of us,” Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C Osias IV, commanding officer of “KASALIGAN” Battalion and spokesperson of 4ID said.

Investments in NorMin reach P9.81B in 2Q of 2012 by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - A total of P9.81 billion was invested in Northern Mindanao for the second quarter of this year as monitored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The amount is higher by 138 percent, compared to the P4.12 billion investments poured in the region in the same period last year. Reports from the DTI Regional Office 10 show that investment surges in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Misamis Occidental pulled the overall performance of the region, despite the negative growths in Camiguin and Lanao del Norte. Misamis Oriental shared 71 percent of the total investments, posting P7.04 billion and followed

by Bukidnon with P2.32 billion or 24 percent. Investments in Misamis Occidental amounted to P265.12 million while Lanao del Norte and Camiguin posted P153.14 million and P20.29 million, respectively. Director Linda O. Boniao of DTI-10 said investments in Misamis Oriental included the additional investments of Coca-Cola Bottlers in Villanueva town involving expansion and procurement of additional equipment; additional construction and expansion of tourism and business-related facilities such

Paseo del Rio and Centrio of Ayala; and development of new real estate lessors. Construction of power plants in Valencia City and expansion of plantation areas for banana, pineapple, and carrot including building improvements and acquisition of production machineries for these agri-based products were among the top investments in Bukidnon. Boniao said other investments recorded in the province were improvements of facilities of Dahilayan

Adventure Park, hospital expansion, new building construction of manufacturing and trading companies, and agricultural development or expansion of the One Town One Product (OTOP) of Talakag. Investments in Misamis Occidental were mostly derived from firm level monitoring and business name registration, where most of the firms monitored or classified were under the service sector.

Additional investments in the provinces were construction of school building, apartment and hospital. Meanwhile, investments in Lanao del Norte were derived from the establishments of amusement park, commercial space leasing, gasoline stations, transport rental, pension house and farm supply while investments poured in Camiguin were mostly tourism and OTOP-related projects.

DOH - Soccskargen organizes regional inter-agency dengue task forceBy Cathy Apelacio

GENERAL SANTOS CITY-- A region-wide interagency dengue task force has been organized to synchronize government actions in its fight against dengue .

“We see the pressing need to organize a task force as dengue impose a significant health, economic, and social burden on the population,” a statement from the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 12 said.

Dr. Jebie Areen Biron, regional epidemiology and surveillance unit head of DOH-CHD-12 said “sustainable solutions to dengue control” needs collaboration among national line agencies and local government units (LGUs) directly involved in addressing dengue-related problems.

Describing dengue as mosquito-borne disease transmitted by a bite of an infected day-biting female Aedes aegypti, Biron underscored the need for key players to synchronize their actions as possible.

“Dengue infection is systematic and dynamic disease having a wide clinical spectrum that includes both non-severe and severe clinical manifestations,” she said warning parents to always be vigilant for Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) as worst case

scenario of the disease.The task force

members are composed of DOH-CHD as lead agency and convenor, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Dept. of Education (DepEd), Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the LGUs/local health offices.

Being the lead agency, the health department will be responsible for the prevention and control of dengue in the region by innovating measures and programs on dengue.

It will also continue the conduct of “active surveillance, monitoring and follow-up of dengue case.”

The DILG, having mandate over LGUs will mobilize the barangays and the communities to contribute to dengue prevention and control by ensuring the implementation of clean-

up drive or the ABKD.The ABKD (Aksyon

Barangay Kontra Dengue) is a government strategy that seeks to search and destroy the nestling ground of dengue-carrier mosquito to be undertaken weekly.

In a resolution creating the task force, DepEd will see to it that school premises are well secured providing children “with good sanitation and sound environment, undertake clean-up drive in schools and carry out the dissemination of information on dengue, health warnings and advisories throughout the year.”

The DSWD, on the other hand, has been tasked to help in the referrals of patients especially the indigents with sanitation and health modules to be included in all its training activities.\

The DOH also enjoined the DENR to help in the implementation of environmental sanitation and coordinate and cooperate with the agency for effective and safe control of mosquitoes.

Setting up an

early warning system in monitoring the population of mosquito and undertaking scientific and technological research and development on dengue has been assigned to DOST, being the authority on the area.

Dr. Biron also emphasized the importance of implementing the ABKD in every household, school and the community, in general saying it is effective in

dengue prevention and control.

As member of the task force, the LGU is also responsible for the weekly monitoring and reporting of dengue cases and deaths and in allocating funds to implement dengue prevention and control activities in its area of responsibility.

For the period January 1 to August 25, 2012, the Regional Health Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH-CHD reported

2,554 dengue cases for SOCCSKSARGEN, which is 24% higher than the same period of last year with a total of 24 deaths.

Of the total cases, Cotabato province accounts for 40%, South Cotabato 21%, and General Santos City, 15%.

S O C C S K S A R G E N stands for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

LGU sponsors ‘Walk for a Cause’ for street childrenBy Jezereel Billano

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -The local government of Tacurong City yesterday spearheaded “Hataw and Walk for a Cause Alay sa mga Batang Lansangan,” a fund-raising event for street children in celebration of the 112th Philippine Civil Service Commission anniversary.

Joining the LGU were participants from 601st Brigade-Philippine Army, Task Force Talakudong, Philippine National Police, Department of Education, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Department of

Trade and Industry, Tacurong National High School, Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology and Sultan Kudarat Water District, among others.

P a r t i c i p a n t s walked a distance of approximately 3

kilometers from the city grounds to STI building, vice versa.

Hon. Psyche Sucaldito, author of the project Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan, announced that the activity was able to raise P10,000.

The project, which started in July 2012, now has almost 30 beneficiaries who are under the care of the City’s Crisis Center-Social Welfare and Development Office.

Kids who stopped schooling are now attending classes under DepEd’s Alterative Learning System (ALS) while kids who have not attended school are taught by CSWD staff to read and write.

One beneficiary thanked the LGU and the participants during the program.

“Dahil po sa inyo, makakamit ko na ang pangarap kong makatuntong sa kolehiyo at makatapos

ng pag-aaral,” he said. The said beneficiary will be enrolling for college education next semester.

“We are preparing for the future of these kids. We want to guide them so that they won’t be ‘future problems’. If they get the good guidance,

future public servants may yield from this group,” said Mayor Lina O. Montilla.

In 2011, City of Tacurong was adjudged as Region XII’s Most Child-Friendly City by the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children.

Tacurong City is Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards 2012 regional winnerBy Dani Doguiles & Jezereel Billano

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Tacurong City, the City of Goodwill has achieved yet another milestone for being adjudged as winner of Region 12 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012-City Category.

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is an award conferred by the Department of the Local Interior and Local Government (DILG) to a province, city or municipality for reason of exemplary performance in a d m i n i s t r a t i v e governance, social governance, economic governance and e n v i r o n m e n t a l governance.

These five performance indicators are assessed using the Local Governance P e r f o r m a n c e Management System or LGPMS. This system allows DILG to qualify LGUs’ performance in implementing programs that are appropriate to constituents’ needs.

Seventy percent of the Gawad Pamana

ng Lahi contenders’ total score is based on the results of LGPMS. Fifteen percent is attributed to the awards and recognitions received, and the other 15% is derived from innovations.

During the regional validations on July 10, 2012, the LGU presented one of its best innovations dubbed as 2-Million City Aid to Barangays. All 20 barangays in Tacurong are given P2 million each year on top of their IRA shares through the said innovation.

This involved a 40-million pesos appropriation in the city’s annual budget every year since 2002.

This demonstrates the City’s aim to facilitate equal distribution of resources regardless

of political affiliation. It also enables each barangay council to develop their capacities in identifying and implementing n e c e s s a r y development projects. Barangay councils are required to submit financial and procurement plans to designated authorities.

As the regional winner, the City will be Region XII’s entry to the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi National Level. South Cotabato and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat will also represent the Region in the Provincial and Municipal Categories, respectively.

A w a r d i n g Ceremonies are tentatively scheduled on October 10, 2012.

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Health office, sports office in Agusan del Sur to conduct medical missionby David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO), through the D. O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) technical personnel, is conducting medical outreach. The activity started this morning at the provincial capitol in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and anyone could avail of the free blood pressure taking,

sugar testing, and shistosomiasis examination with free medicine. Included in the program of activities lined up by the Provincial Health Office and the D. O. Plaza

Memorial Hospital today are the demonstration of exercises introduced by the Department of Health for healthy lifestyle and the video presentation on the prevention and control of various diseases. “This afternoon, the Provincial Sports Coordinating Office (PSCO)through our provincial sports

coordinator Danilo Garcia will join the PHO by demonstrating various exercises at the provincial sports gymnasium where different equipments and facilities for all body exercises are found and ready for anybody who wish to use them for free,” Nanette Cabanos of the ProvincialHealthOffice, said.

PIA-Caraga discusses Dev-Com to Comm. Arts studes in Butuan Cityby Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY --Personnel from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Region have discussed the essence of developmental communication to government information officers. Speaking before the communication faculty and students of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), PIA-Caraga officer-in-charge Nora Molde and Regional Operations Chief Robert Roperos oriented participants on the thrusts and programs of the agency where developmental communication is the slant of stories and information disseminated to the public.

Molde said because of the agency’s type of information as well as the dissemination strategy using technology-based facilities such as web-based electronic communications like the website, blog sites, social networking sites, and electronic newsmagazine, the agency has become significant in the region,evidenceofwhicharethesignificantnumbers of recipients in the electronic

newsmagazine and text blast, or the Short Messaging Service (SMS). When asked what benefitsthe agency can get with the developmental communication and information disseminated to the public, Roperos said since developmental communication is focused on informing the public with positive and empowering news and information, a positive image for the country will be promoted in all corners of the globe. “By projecting positive image for the country, our tourism industry will definitely boost as morelocal and foreign tourists will be interested to visit the country, thus, improving the economic condition of the people,” Roperos said. Meanwhile, Mark Louie Desoloc who is the subject instructor expressed his gratitude to PIA personnel for sharing their expertise

and actual experience in the field of informationdissemination through d e v e l o p m e n t a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n . He added that the subject Communication and Society teaches students taking up communication course on the role of communication in the society, the impact of communication to the society and the effects of communication

in the lives of the people. Desoloc further said it also teaches the history, contributions, and the effect of mass media, whether broadcast or print. “The concepts and other information will guide the students to learn the foundation of communication for them to become compassionate, committed, and competent mass communicators,” Desoloc said.

Paris Gaballo of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga said the study aims to inform government agencies the present situation of the fuel procurement practices of the government based in Butuan City, the issues and concerns raised and the recommendations to address such issues. “The study is limited to fuel procurement practices among selected national government agencies and gasoline stations in Butuan and the issues and concerns thereof,” Gaballo said. The said study’s aim is for decision makers of regional line agencies and

local government units in Caraga region to recognize the issue on the fuel procurement practices of both the government and the suppliers. There is also a need to review, assess and evaluate procurement procedures since this issue does not only apply to fuel procurement but also to supplies and materials and other goods and services that each agency buys. For a government office, thefuel procurement types are on cash basis, cash deposit, and credit basis. Gaballo explained that in cash basis, thedriverorfinanceofficeroftheagency

Social Dev’t Committee tackles gov’t fuel procurementby Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, -- The Social Development Committee (SDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) discussed the study on the government’s fuel procurement during its meeting held recently in one of the local hotels in this city.

will request for cash advance every time the vehicle needs to be refueled. With this, prices of the fuel, diesel or gasoline, will be based on the prevailing pump price on the day of purchase. For cash deposit basis, an agency willdepositafixedamountonagivensupplier for any time period, and the drivers will simply withdraw. The agency shall be billed to replenish the deposit, and the price will depend on the agreement between the agency and the supplier. Also, for credit basis, it was learned that the agency will withdraw from a fuel supplier, and the supplier will bill the agency either at the end of the month or after two weeks. Since it is on credit basis, the price of fuel is normally higher than the prevailing pump price on the day of withdrawal. Gaballo also said that based on the findings of the study, issues andconcerns raised when transacting with the gasoline stations are the following: 1) No contract, only purchase order; 2) Delayed payment; 3) Delayed billing; 4) Storage fee; 5) 6 percent withholding taxes; and 6) Corruption. It was also revealed that when a governmentofficetransactswithgasolinestations here through a credit basis, the price is higher than its regular price. It can be recalled that in 2009, the Regional Development Coordination Staff(RDCS)oftheNEDACentralOfficeconducted a survey on oil prices of big three oil companies, Caltex, Petron

and Shell, among the major cities in the country. Butuan City registered the one of the highest average retail price of regular gasoline and diesel products for the period of April and May in 2009. Gaballo further said there is still a need to revisit Republic Act 8479, or the “Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998,” for the government to have more participation in the industry. Agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are mandated to oversee and regulate these government functions/operations are requested to conduct or investigate these reports. With this study, the SDC are coordinating with the concerned government agencies to discuss all issues and concerns for appropriate actions to solve this matter.

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The seminar was sponsored by the Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PCCIFI). Professor Jimmy Williams of the University

Pagadian Chamber sponsors Family Enterprise Seminar PAGADIAN CITY - Around 40 local businessmen gained new insights on the trends, strategies, and dynamics of entrepreneurship during the recent Family Enterprise Seminar held in one of the hotels here.

By Alma L. Tingcang

of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB) discussed the topic “Professionalizing the Family Corporation, Attracting, Retaining and Motivating Professional Managers while Ms. Emily Manos-Pascua tackled the issue on Balancing Family Dynamics and Business Practice. Ms. Manos-Pascua is a young and successful entrepreneur based in Cagayan de Oro City and operates the Jollibee, Greenwich and Chowking branches in Iligan City. “Entrepreneurship is not magic, it’s nothing mysterious and it has nothing to do with genes. It’s a discipline and like any discipline, it can be learned,” Professor Williams quoted the famous writer and author

of several books on business, Peter F. Drucker. A brainchild of the PCCFI with its president Ms. Mercedes Lourdes S. Quisumbing at the helm, the chamber scored a successful undertaking paving the way for a more positive business outlook in the city. “We encouraged local businessmen to attend, especially so that most of them are engaged in the family business. It turned out to be a very substantive and enlightening discussion.

Mayor Celso Lobregat recently convened concerned parties to finalize the series of events for the celebration which will commence October 1 up to October12-the fiesta day. City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Covarrubias said, “the other day, Mayor presided over a coordinating conference to finalize preparations for Fiesta Hermosa, a series of activities starting from October 1 leading up to October 12, fiesta day and declared a holiday in Zamboanga.” Covarrubias emphasized even as Zamboangueños look forward to the celebration “the mayor has reminded residents not to forget the true meaning of the event which is to pray and to honor La Virgen del Pilar,”

The lady IO said series of city and private groups sponsored activities were lined up for the event such as : the Regatta, a sail boat race at the R.T. Lim Boulevard; Mascota competition, a contest of beautiful Zamboangueño-made gowns; agri-trade fair, an exhibit of agricultural products at the Plaza Pershing; dance sport competition; Pesca Kita, a fishing competition at the Paseo del Mar; Wow sardinas, a sardine-eating spectacle at the R.T. Lim Boulevard; float parade and the street dance competition among others. “The festival is also packed with sports activities such as golf, table tennis, dart, basketball and others as well as art exhibits and beauty pageants for both adults and children,” Covarrubias enumerated.

Zambo braces for Fiesta Hermosa 2012By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Anchored on the theme “Fiesta Hermosa 2012...Mas Alegre na Zamboanga (it’s more fun in Zamboanga)”, the city gears up for the grandest event in Zamboanga -the feast day of Nuestra Señora de La Virgen del Pilar in October.

DAVAO CITY- A higher percentage of women are jailed in drug cases as compared to men based on re-cords from the Bureau of Jail Man-agement and Penology in Region XI. BJMP regional director Senior Superintendent Amelia Talento said that about 85% of women at the Davao City Jail are involved in drug cases. This is compared to about 46% of male inmates which

are facing drug-related charges. Talento said that poverty is driving most these women to commit these crimes particularly drug pushing particularly selling shabu. She said that these women are driven because they are the ones who have seen the need to augment the needs of the family. Talento said that the women’s role of determining the needs

of the family gives her the best position to determine that the current finances being provided the breadwinner usually the husband will not suffice thus the need to take extra income.“Sila na ang kumikilos para madagdagan ang kita ng pamilya.” (They are the ones moving to increase the earnings of the family) Talento said.

More percentage of women in drug casesby Rudolph Alama

More percentage of women in drug cases

Based in BJMP figures of the 152 females inmates at the City Jail about 129 are facing drug charges, this is compared to male inmates where 775 male inmates out of 1337 are facing drug cases in courts. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency –XI Regional Director Emerson Rosales admits that drug business is a family affair. “Not only is the father involved in the drug-trade but also the wife and the children.” Rosales said.

Rosales said that he witnessed these circumstances during their arrests conducted where they would arrest family and kin being involved in the drug trade. Rosales bared that there is a 53% increase in the number of persons apprehended as compared to last year. Drug-related arrests from January to August 2012 tallied 391 persons as compared to 255 person arrested in the same period last year.

New tertiary hospital to open in Davaoby Rudolph AlamaDAVAO CITY- A modern tertiary medical center is slated to open its doors to the public this September 16. The Metro Davao Medical and Research Center owned by a consortium of Filipino-Chinese businessmen in situated in the old Cuison Hotel along J.P Laurel Avenue, a bustling thoroughfare which is home to modern shopping malls, gleaming corporate high-rises, condominiums and spanky new hotels. Dra. Yvette Yenco-Tan, medical director of the facility said that the investors decided to venture into building a hospital during the 2010 dengue outbreak in the city, seeing the lack of hospital beds for dengue cases. The hospital will have a 152 bed capacity and has at least eight wards.

She said that the hospital will include a research center for the conduct of clinical research. It will also be a wellness center with more than a hundred spaces will be available as doctor clinics serving an array of medical disciplines like family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, paediatrics, EENT, (Ear, Eyes Nose and Throat), dermatology among many others. Dra. Tan said that the new hospital has invested in modern medical equipment like the Philips TU 22 Vision 2012 ultrasound and the Philips IE 33 Vision 2012 ultrasound used as a cardio-dedicated machine. The hospital is also looking into generating 400 new jobs particularly medical professionals. Dra. Tan said that they are currently

interviewing applicants citing that they received around 2,000 applicants. The hospital also aims to be less expensive than other hospitals in terms of charges.Architect Daniel Briones who are among the builders of the hospital said that the old Cuison Hotel building which has become an eyesore due to decades of neglect will become an important landmark again in the city.

He said that the old Hotel structure built in the 1970s and whose structure is twice as strong as compared to modern buildings has been retrofitted to suit the requirements needed for the hospital. The old Casino Filipino building is now a four-storey hospital clinic while the hotel’s swimming pool is now the site of a modern eight storey medical building.

Facts and figures

88% percent of increase in Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-XI (PDEA-XI) operations as compared to the past year.

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