one mindanao - august 14, 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 Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

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

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

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

Copy Editors Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, 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 Advisers :

ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephoneno.(062)215-1480/925-0038Cellphoneno.0908-8843404E-mail:[email protected]@yahoo.comBlogspot:www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook:PIAWesMinInfoBliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’Building,AntonioLunaStreetCagayandeOroCity9000TelefaxNo.(08822)72-66-83Telephoneno.(088)856-8178/729-594Cellphoneno.0928-52043050917-3084969E-mail:[email protected][email protected]:www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)2/FKantoMotorsBldg.,QuimpoBlvd.,NewMatinaDavaoCity8000Telephoneno.(082)297-0991/301-8580Telefaxno.(082)297-0992/304-2044Cellphoneno.0917-7053606/0918-9202950E-mail:[email protected]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.KoronadalCity,SouthCotabato9506Telephoneno.(083)520-0249Telefaxno.(083)228-9736/228-9739/520-0100Cellphoneno.0921-6873373/0928-5204307E-mail:[email protected],[email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)ViceMayors’LeagueofthePhilippinesBldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephoneno.(085)341-5285/360-1239Telefaxno.(085)341-2370Cellphoneno.0917-7188834Email:[email protected],[email protected],phBlogspot:www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook:PIACaragaUpdates,PIAAgusandelNorte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

Cover Story

Miguel Braganza, a global Filipino

Southern Mindanao

Today’s issue...Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 322

page 4

Public Works and Highways Secretary Singson bares flood master plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas 9

Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa, Caraga Region

DILG, DSWD ink partnership in PODER Anti-Poverty Projects

2221

Angie Balen-Antonio, Caraga RegionPopcom pushes for Responsible Parenthood

Pag-IBIG partners with NJB Dev’t Corp for the generation of 195 housing units26

Lanao del Norte benefits from PRMF-AusAID 30

Western Mindanao

15 DA 12 pushes for profitable BFTs

Aida Agad, Central MindanaoBarangays prep to win Tampakan’s 2012 Outstanding BDIC

Public and private sectors meet to improve local economy in Mahinog29Homer R. Jajalla, Northern Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

Shahana Joy Duerme, Central Mindanao

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7 11

14

18

24

27

32 Tagum now part of anti-trafficking body 33 Jeanevive D. Abanga, Southern Mindanao

4 Tuesday, August 14, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryMiguel Braganza, a global Filipino

Miguel Braganza II is perhaps known as among the original Broadway cast of Miss Saigon under Cameron Mackintosh alongside Tony Best Actress awardee Lea Salonga. He is a dancer/choreographer with outstanding achievements in the United States. A scholar of the famed Alvin Ailey Dance Company, one of the most prestigious dance studios in United States where he studied classical ballet, jazz, Dunham, Martha Graham and Limon Dance techniques before jumpstarting a career as a Broadway performer from 1987 to 2006, He was chosen as among the 45 dancers from the 5,000 people who auditioned, Miguel performed for 5,000 Miss Saigon performances in worldwide tours. “It was great, it gave me a chance to travel the world and reconnect with artists and overseas Filipinos.” Miguel describes

his 14-year Miss Saigon experience. He also founded the MB2NY Art Earthique dance studio based in New York where he served as Director- Choreographer, performer and teaching artist. Among its former and current workshop participants had made it as casts of Miss Saigon, King and I, Annie National Tours and Metropolitan Opera Children Chorus. Miguel Braganza was born in 1956 in Tagum. He says his family were into agriculture having farmlands in Samal Island and Compostela. He attributes his artistic bent to his mom’s relatives who

An accomplished dancer in his own right, Miguel Braganza

is returning to his hometown hoping to pay back something to his mother country through his talent in dance.eating a dog.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

were musical and performance artists. “I remember when I was growing up in Claveria Street (Davao City) when my parents would discover that I was not in the house they would not find me in the streets but at the Davao Peuriculture Center where cultural presentations are held.” Miguel recounts his childhood love for the performing arts. Back then at an early age he realized his love for theatre. He also credited his elementary teachers for fueling his passion for dance and theatre by organizing folk dance presentations. He later took up Theater in Siliman University. He later went to Manila where he later became a faculty member of the Julie Borromeo Dance Arts Foundation. Despite being sojourned in the United States, Miguel is a fervent nationalist believing that he can help his country through his talent in theatre and dance. He helped form the Tanghalang Filipino with John Melegrito in Washington D.C. in 1987. Miguel also founded “Ballet Asia (Asian-American Dance Theater) where most members are fresh graduates from different parts of the world and has served as a springboard for many young dancers in New York City. He is the founding president of FILIPINOS IN THE ARTS IN AMERICA INC. (FILINARTS) which has staged numerous productions and performances as a tribute or fund-raising activity for the Filipino community. Among these included “Generatiion After”- tribute performances to great Filipino composers Levi Celerio and

Constancio de Guzman and “Amor L’Amour” – presented to the late Amor-Ilao Mcguinness, her last concert before she passed away. He also developed the ballet “Aurus Mindanao” (The Gold of Mindanao) which is based on the legend of the Golden Tara of Butuan which is displayed at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. Miguel says he has talked with Joey Ayala and Grace Nono into putting music into his play. In 2011 he attended the Global Summit Fiipino in the Diaspora. The summit aims to engage members of the overseas Filipino community in priority development projects in the Philippines by tapping into the vast reservoir of expertise and experience they have gained in their residence and employment.Attracted by the ideals he approached a cousin and asked if he could return to Davao to visit his birthplace.And after so many years of absence, Miguel reconnected with his roots through his vast expertise and experience in dance.

I want to bring Broadway into


t h e Philippines and bring

Filipinos into Broadway, says Miguel and his advocacy had yielded surprising twists and results.Miguel would later meet current collaborator Chin Bon Lu during his On The Way To Broadway workshop held in Marco Polo Davao. Chin Bon Lu is the President of the LCB Performing Arts Center Foundation who for many years had been trying to share the passion of performing arts to a younger generation of Dabawenyos.Their current collaboration is the show entitled Broadway Our Way which showcases excerpts from Broadway plays Aida, Ruthless, Billy Elliot, Sophisticated Ladies and Chorus Line.The two are also conducting workshops for talented young Dabawenyos which ran from June 9 up to September 2.“We aim to make Davao City as the center of Broadway musicals in Mindanao and also in the Philippines” says president and founder Chin Bon Lu describing the vision of his artistic partnership with Miguel.The Broadway show is slated to be held in Davao City this September 1 and 2 at

the CAP Auditorium in Davao City. And for Miguel this would be his newest endeavour which he has allocated time after retiring from performing. “The Philippines is my priority at the moment.” Miguel tells this writer.Despite retirement from performing Miguel is still active behind the stage currently being a scholar of the Applied International University

Applied Theater

Experience, one of the six global scholars (the only Filipino) He is currently developing his dance theatre proposal Juliet: Ghost of A Rose, a ballet piece based from Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet. It would be developed with the guidance of Russian Director Sergey Ostrenko (Shakespeare Directors Lab).In recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions he is the recipient of the 2012 TOFA (The Oustanding Filipino-American) at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Miguel is also slated to receive the Pamana Presidential Award in Malacanang Palace this year.


ACROSS THE NATIONShort-term flood mitigation projects worth P5-billion to be completed this year, says DPWH

Acting on President Benigno S. Aquino III’s directives to come up with a permanent solution to control flooding in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways said on Monday that

short-term flood mitigation projects worth P5-billion will be completed within the year.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson told a press conference in Malacañang that these short term flood mitigation projects, which forms part of the flood control

master plan, will entail the repair and rehabilitation of dike structures in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

“Well, ang matatapos agad diyan... ang mga pag-aayos ng mga nasirang

8 Tuesday, August 14, 2012

dike— (will be completed in) three to six months. Kasi ang iba namang nasira maiikli lang. Halimbawa, doon sa San Fernando, (Pampanga) ‘yung tinatawag nilang tail dike ay 50 to 70 meters lang. So it should be finished. But we have a long list of identified high impact priority projects worth P5-billion. ‘Yun ang unang-una naming bubunuin,” Singson said.

Aside from the aforementioned tail dike in Pampanga, Singson said that rehabilitation and improvement of the Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan river dikes as well as those located in municipalities along Laguna Lake such as Cainta and Rizal provinces are included in the short term flood plan.

He added that the water pumping system of Metro Manila is aging and needs proper upgrade to effectively drain out flood waters to the various tributaries around the metropolis.

“Ang tatanda na nitong mga pumping system ng Metro Manila and some of them are… The pumps that we’ve been using there are already obsolete. Wala na ngang spare parts na mabili riyan. So they need to be

upgraded,” Singson said.“Now, other immediate projects

are the upgrading of the pumping systems in Metro Manila which is the responsibility of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as well as clearing the waterways. This is a major intervention that needs to be done because the major cause of flooding is the overtopping, overflowing of the river systems,” he added. (rck)


The Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas was developed to address the massive flooding to protect the lives of the people as well as reduce damages to properties, said Secretary Singson during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.

The master plan will serve as the government’s road map and vision in managing floods until year 2035.

“Gusto ko lang ipaabot sa inyo kung ano ang natapos na naming master plan for Metro Manila and the surrounding areas, and this includes the whole Laguna Lake. Ngayon tinatapos pa

Public Works and Highways Secretary Singson bares flood master plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas

The Aquino administration has already framed a flood master plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas in a bid to reduce the vulnerability of Metro Manila and outlying provinces to flooding during heavy rains,

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said on Monday.

10 Tuesday, August 14, 2012

namin ‘yung Region III,” Singson said.“Ang total area na pinag-aralan na

namin ay 4,354 square kilometers and this includes the river basins of Pasig-Marikina and Laguna Lake. We want flood management on a river basin approach. Ibig sabihin ayaw naming pasundot-sundot sa downstream but look at the whole river basin and address the flooding on a permanent basis,” he said.

Singson said they also came out with the proposed target flood safety levels for mitigation measures.

‘Now, ang pinagbabasehan ng master plan is what we refer to as safety levels. Halimbawa, in the last ‘Ondoy‘, ‘yung tinatawag nating two-day rainfall event, ang pinakamataas na nangyari dito sa Pasig-Marikina... over the last several years was ‘Ondoy,’” he said .

“Dito naman sa Tullahan at saka Malabon, ang 45-year event, ‘Ondoy’ din; dito sa Meycauayan, it’s a 40-year event, ‘Ondoy’ din. Pero dito sa Laguna Lake the highest level happened in 1972,” he said.

He noted that the target flood safety levels of the master plan are set equal or slightly higher than the magnitude of the recorded maximum floods.

Singson explained that the target

flood safety level for Pasig-Marikina River is 100-year return period, Malabon-Tullahan (50-year), Meycauayan River (50-year), South Paranaque-Las Pinas River (30-year), Inflow Rivers to Laguna Lake (30-year) and Laguna Lake (60-year).

“So we’re upgrading our design standards pati na rin ang mga drainage systems sa mga siyudad. As we upgrade or as we improve or repair roads, sinasama na ang drainage system,” he said.

Singson assured that the project would be able to mitigate the risks of flooding in disaster-prone places in Metro Manila and other surrounding areas.

He, however, explained that there are still areas which remain to be prone to floods.

“That is what we refer to as a natural catchment or natural floodplain. Kahit na anong gawin natin dadaan at dadaan ang tubig riyan... and we saw that yesterday,” Singson said.

“Therefore, the intention is not to have any settlements in these floodplains. Dapat walang kabahayan diyan because they are expected to be flooded every time there’s rain,” he said. (js)


Next round of GPHL- MILF talksin 2 weeks, says Leonen

The next round of talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will

be held in two weeks.This time, the government is more

ready to deal with the most contentious issues to resolve the decades-old Mindanao armed conflict, according to Marvic Leonen, chairman of the government peace panel.

Leonen was apparently inspired by some progress in the just-concluded 30th exploratory peace talks in Kuala Lumpur.

Two of the most contentious issues

the two panels will discuss will be the power sharing and wealth sharing.

Leonen said “President Benigno Aquino III is very much involved, very much knowledgeable about all the issues that we discussed across this table.”

He said the GPHL panel will return to the negotiating table “in two weeks time, more ready to engage the MILF, with respect to the most contentious


issues that we have identified so far.”Leonen said: “I think I reflect the

position of this particular administration of the Republic of the Philippines in saying we are fully committed to understand the problem, first and foremost.

“And second, to try to find solutions with you – not unilaterally, but with you, in order to bring about this kind of justice that we want.”

Other GPHL panel members who joined Leonen were Miriam Coronel Ferrer, Senen Bacani, Yasmin Busran-Lao and Hamid Barra.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor in-charge Mujiv Hataman attended the last day of the talks as observers.

On the other hand, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal expressed the MILF’s commitment in settling the problems at the conference table.

Let me assure everyone, especially the government, that MILF is a reliable partner in peace making. And we are also a reliable partner in confronting the challenges ahead of us because one of the reasons is that we have the support of our people. And we know what we are doing now is not against what it was supposed to be – a good approach in solving the problem in Mindanao.”

In their joint statement, the panels “organized their respective Technical Working Groups on Power-Sharing and Wealth-Sharing.

They discussed and reached consensus on some issues on power sharing, revenue generation and wealth sharing arrangements.

“The parties note the progress in the discussion on a framework agreement,” the joint statement said.

The GPHL and MILF panels also condemned “the senseless attacks of the so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFF-BIFM), as well as the violent acts of lawless elements in several areas in Mindanao.”

The statement said: “The GPHL and the MILF denounce these aggressions or dirty spoiling by groups who will do everything to derail the peace process.

“The Parties will work together to ensure that these spoilers will not succeed as the Parties continue to push forward to bring just and lasting peace to our peoples and communities.”

Power and wealth-sharing

Among the most difficult issues being dealt with on the table are power-sharing and wealth-sharing which are laid out in the Decision Points on Principles signed by both parties in April this year.

TWGs for each panel were created to delve into the details of power-sharing and wealth-sharing and flesh out issues.


Power-sharing has three items: reserved powers for the National Government, exclusive powers for the new political entity which will replace the ARMM, and concurrent powers shared by the National Government and the NPE.

Reserved powers of the National Government include defense and external security, foreign policy, coinage and monetary policy, among others.

Meanwhile, wealth creation (or revenue generation and sourcing) is important to ensure fiscal autonomy of the NPE with capacity to have its own sources of revenues.

Spoilers in peace process

Both panels slammed the violent acts perpetrated by the BIFF-BIFM in various towns in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, and committed to ensure that these spoilers in the peace process will not succeed.

“It is our common knowledge that the spoilers are doing their part in trying to make the peace process very hard for us. There was sabotage on on-going MILF-Government peace negotiations,” Iqbal said.

Deles, in an earlier statement, underlined that the lawless group, not being part of the MILF, is not covered by any ceasefire agreement.

“This act of aggression of the BIFM is meant to derail the peace process between the government

and the MILF. We assure the public that these incidents will not affect the substantial gains that we have carefully and persistently built with our counterparts, foremost of which is the ceasefire mechanism that continues to hold on the ground and kept the peace for our communities,” she said.

Both parties expressed their gratitude to the President for his commitment to the Mindanao peace process,

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continued support in the facilitation of the GPH-MILF peace talks, and to the members of the MILF Central Committee chaired by Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for their continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Bangsamoro question.

They likewise thanked the members of the International Contact Group composed of representatives from Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources, Muhammadiyah, and The Asia Foundation. (PNA)


Farmers to help DA 12 in technology disseminationBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- Disseminating technology to rice farmers in Soccsksargen Region is not anymore the sole responsibility of agricultural technicians.


This after the Department of Agriculture (DA) – 12 employed the assistance of at least 75 trained farmers who will serve as local farmer technicians (LFTs) to teach other farmers to adopt technologies that could help boost their production.

Agri-Pinoy Rice Program Coordinator Rey Embahador, said the project is an initiative of DA 12 Regional Executive Amalia Jayag-Datukan to reach more farmers and consequently improve rice production in the region.

It is also aimed at increasing the technician-to-farmer ratio in the region. At

present, he said, one technician takes care of over 150 farmers.

E m b a h a d o r explained the 75 LFTs have been fully trained in all aspects of cultural management of rice, from land preparation to post-harvest management.

“In fact, they have already harvested at least 5 tons per hectare in three consecutive cropping seasons,” he said.

“Farmers are also most likely to adopt technologies and suggestions from their fellow farmers,” he reasoned.

On August 7, DA 12 and the FLTs signed a memorandum of agreement to formally commence the latter’s

service. As FLTs, Embahador

explained, FLTs will receive P3,000 monthly incentives, which will be given on a quarterly basis “upon submission of report and proof that they have conducted farmer field school or techno demonstration in their communities.”

He added, these FLTs are deployed to their place of residence in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani where average yield is about 3 tons per hectare.

North Cotabato was not included in the project because average yield of farmers there is about 4 to 5 tons/ha. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

DA 12 pushes for profitable BFTsKORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 encouraged ev-ery Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) operator to maintain and strengthen their respective BFTs in order to earn more profit.

DA 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia J. Datukan said that promoting BFTs in

enhancing profit is one of the means of the department to achieve a positive effect in the

community.“Aside from making

BFTs operational, it is better to make these

By Shahana Joy Duerme


centers useful and profitable,” Datukan added.

Also, the director suggested that it is good to have income generating projects for BFTs to become more beneficial.

To further help BFT operators achieve this goal and learn new technologies that are useful for their respective “bagsakan centers”,

DA 12 together with other BFT operators in the region recently conducted BFT Lakbay Aral to five Barangay Food Terminals in Soccsksargen region namely: City Food Terminal or Bagsakan Center in General Santos City and BFTs in Barangay Koronadal Proper, Polomolok South Cotabato, Barangay Biwang in Bagumbayan, Sultan

Kudarat ang Barangays Poblacion and Pangaoan in Magpet, North Cotabato.

The visit was intended to check the BFTs in the areas of sanitation, financial status, income generating projects, proper management and other factors that affect the centers’ progress.

Barangay Food Terminals are farmers’ market alternatives where affordable, fresh and good quality agricultural products are provided for the people.

These are one of DA’s initiatives in helping farmers manage their resources making these centers more profitable and useful in the economy. (SJDuerme-PIA12/PDRana-DA12)

Barangays prep to win Tampakan’s 2012 Outstanding BDICBy Aida Agad

KORONADAL CITY -- Each barangay continues to buckle down to work as the signal is up for the start of the search for this year’s Outstanding Baran-gay Development Information Center (BDIC) in nearby Tampakan town, a local official said.


The town’s 14 barangays are vying for the spot to earn the prestige and cash prize, said Efren Villarina, the area’s Community D e v e l o p m e n t Information Officer (CDIO).

One of the remaining active council in Soccsksargen region, the town’s information center goes for its 23rd year of being an active partner of the local government in building a well-informed community.

Villarina also said, every barangay strives

to put up a strong development information council to help residents informed on issues like peace and order, climate change and environmental issues as well as local government initiatives.

Barangay residents are also throwing support to their ‘informants’, the barangay development information officer (BDIO) to bring the name of their community in the top achievers in meeting up the criteria for the selection, Villarina said.

Tampakan is a 4th class municipality

in the province of South Cotabato with a population of 36,254 people in the 2010 census. It is also known as host to the largest copper mining project in Asia.

Presently, the town’s Community D e v e l o p m e n t Information Council (CDIC) is chaired by Sangguniang Bayan Member Atty. Ma. Theresa Penera-Deypalan.

Barangay Danlag was adjudged Outstanding BDIC in 2011. (ac agad PIA 12)


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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial and municipal officials of the provinces of

Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur are working on new strategies that would solve the problems of poverty and illegal logging which have been dogging the government over the last two decades.

DENR, LGUs join hands to end illegal logging in Caraga

“We are looking for solutions that would free the people in the upland communities of these poor

provinces from the shackle of poverty” DENR-Caraga Regional Executive Director (RED) Marlo Mendoza said.

by Eric F. Gallego


He said he government through convergence initiative has map out strategies that could solve the perennial problem of illegal logging in Caraga Region. The solution calls for the establishment of “Community Forest Clusters” in six locations where the families, mostly indigenous people, inside the forest area shall be involved in the protection and greening program. He said that each participating family shall be provided with Environment Incentive Cash Transfer (EICT) every month until the planted tree species such as falcatta, bagras, gmelina, acacia mangium that they have planted are ready for harvest. He said that under the program, the DENR will also bring-in a “woodmizer” cutting machine in the forest cluster area so that the community can produce the DENR-allowed lumber products in specified sizes required by the different Wood Processing Plant (WPP) for their veneer products. Mendoza said the local demand for veneer plywood products can be met sufficiently through this set-up without necessarily importing from other countries. He said that the Philippines has an average import of at least P 1 billion in raw materials for veneer products. The DENR official has already made positive steps recently by working it out with Governors Adolph Edward G. Plaza of Agusan del Sur and Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur to organize a technical working

group that will strengthen the program. “We are looking forward to the full implementation of this program pending the approval of DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje and the President,” Mendoza said. The illegal logging and poverty problems which are considered inseparable, have reduced the forest cover in the region being regarded as the timber corridor of the South” and the “last bastion of forest” in the country. Based on study conducted the University of the Philippine, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, the rate of deforestation in Mindanao’s rich forest resources is placed at 157,400 hectares per year over the last five years since the year 2000. The DENR 13 Forest Management Services, however, indicated that deforestation has accelerated in 2006 towards the end of the decade because of increase


unemployment and poverty incidence. The agency noted the rise of illegal logging activities particularly in the expired timber concession areas once operated by the PICOP Resources Inc. which covers an area of 46,399 hectares, the SUDECOR in Madrid, Surigao del Sur which have a concession area of 75,671 hectares, the ARTIMCO which has a concession area of 23,345 hectares in Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas,Tago,in Surigao del Sur, WDI with an area of 57,489 hectares in the towns of Talacogon, San Luis, La Paz, and Esperanza in Agusan del Sur and the VTC with a concession area of 33,630 hectares of forestland in the towns of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte towards the towns of Cantilan, Lanuza, Madrid and Carrascal in Surigao del Sur. “We see an incessant activities of illegal logging in these areas after the major timber license agreement holders have stopped operation and affected the lives of the people dependent on the industry” Mendoza said. He added that some of the workers and their dependents were forced to look for other means through illegal logging activities rather than suffer from starvation. DENR has strictly enforced Executive Order No. 23 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III on February 2, 2011 which bans the cutting of trees in the natural and residual forests. Nevertheless, some people have ignored the Presidential Order and went on a rampage of cutting trees in residual and

natural forest, according to Mendoza. In an intensive anti-illegal logging operation conducted by the Environment Law Enforcement Task Force “ Pagbabago” (ELTF) headed by Retired Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, a total of 4,879.45 cubic meters of illegal logs were confiscated in 2011. From January to July this year, a total of 4,860.11 cubic meters and 465,373.01 bd.ft of lumber/fitches were confiscated by the DENR-ELTF operatives in several incidents. It also dismantled 13 sawmill apparatus and filed four cases against the owners for violation of PD 705 otherwise known as Forestry Code of the Philippines.


DILG, DSWD ink partnership in PODER Anti-Poverty Projectsby Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa

BUTUAN CITY -- To reduce poverty incidence in Caraga Region, the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the Municipality of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to implement PODER 7, an anti-poverty project funded by Agencia Española Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). The MOA was signed after the project launching and municipal orientation in Surigao del Sur on July 23, 2012. Part of the event was the installation of the Municipal Area Coordinating Team for the project implementation.

Based on the agreement, DSWD will be responsible for allocating funds for the municipality to support the project implementation and conduct the monitoring and evaluation; and the DILG, through its municipal local government


Popcom pushes for Responsible Parenthoodby Angie Balen-Antonio

BUTUAN CITY-- The celebration of Family Planning month this August calls on all couples to be more responsible in planning the number, size and birth spacing of their children in line with President Aquino’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) emphasizing on responsible parenthood as among his administration’s priorities.

operations officer will be responsible for providing capacity building, training and coaching to the municipality concerned in good governance processes and systems. The DILG is also tasked to provide policy guidelines to the municipality as may be necessary to support the project implementation. DILG Director Lilibeth A. Famacion said: “Recipients of this project should aim for project completion and those barangays whose proposals are not prioritized should give way to other project proposals which are more necessary to reduce the poverty incidence in the given area.” DSWD Director Mercedita P. Jabagat said proposed projects submitted by Punong Barangays will undergo a prioritization system.“Those projects which are highly significant for a certain barangay based on the dire need of the community and which will answer the identified

problem in the area will be prioritized.” On the other hand, Mayor Honolulu Go of San Agustin signified his commitment in providing technical assistance for the end goal, which is the project completion. Mayor Go said that the municipality will provide support in a form of cash fund as a municipal counterpart to ensure that the implementation will run smoothly. In the MOA, it is provided that the LGU of San Agustin shall deposit the said counterpart to the Municipal Trust Fund Account intended solely for the whole project implementation. PODER, short term for Poder y Prosperidad de la Comunidad involves a participatory and criteria-based project implementation. PODER 7 is anchored in “Strengthening Community Involvement to Sustain Poverty Reduction Program” (SCISPRP). This anti-poverty project is part of President Benigno Simeon Aguino III’s advocacy towards “Bayang Maunlad”.


This year’s theme is “Responsableng Pamilya, Ngayon Na!” Commission on Population (PopCom), Department of Health (DOH), local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies are encouraging couples of reproductive age to seek comprehensive family planning information and services to dispel myths and misconceptions about family planning and adopt a method of their choice. PopCom-Caraga Regional Director Camilo S. Pangan pointed out that responsible parenthood is a shared responsibility between husband and wife while government and partner agencies have their roles too. PopCom is alarmed on the results of the 2011 Family Health Survey (FHS) which disclosed that poor access to family planning methods and fear of side effects were cited as key reasons for not using any family planning methods in Caraga Region.

Furthermore, the survey revealed that the use of family planning is lower among women from poor households than those in non-poor households (43.1% vs. 51.3%), and it decreases with the level of education. PopCom integrated the responsible parenthood and family planning in the Family

Development Session of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Porgram (4Ps) of the Departmetn of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as one of its strategies to reach-out Married Couples of Reproductive Age.


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As energy consumption keeps soaring against limited power generation plants year in and year out, power outages are inevitable. This is now the problem confronting the electric consumers in Mindanao where rotating brownouts are

ZANECO fights off rotating brownoutsBy Franklin P. Gumapon

Electricity has become an indispensable commodity nowadays

as people are getting dependent on electronic devices which are a mark of modern day living.


being implemented by electric cooperatives. The Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (ZANECO) was one of the electric cooperatives that observed power rationing over the limited power supply from the National Power Corporation (NPC) which operates hydro power plants in Lanao and Bukidnon provinces. In a recent interview conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) with ZANECO Manager Adelmo A. Laput, the latter disclosed that a rotating brownout had been enforced in the entire service area of ZANECO in 2010 and this prompted the management to look for other suppliers to address the problem. Manager Laput could not afford to see the power problem persist without doing anything to resolve it. He as well as his division chiefs and ZANECO board directors left no stone unturned just to spare the electric consumers from impending brownouts. Thus, starting January 2011 to the present the whole service area of ZANECO is enjoying steady supply of electricity. How did ZANECO do it? Laput said the management contracted with Therma Marine Inc. (TMI), a power

plant based in Davao, for additional power to offset the shortage. “Nagkinahanglan ta sa January, 30 megawatts, February-28, March – 30 ug April – 30. Amo na gitan-aw hangtud December,” Laput explained. (We need 30 megawatts for January, 28 for February, 30 for March and 30 for April. We are tracking it until December.) “Based on this, we made our nomination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which transmits power from source to electric cooperatives, with a maximum of 11.8 megawatts and a minimum of 10 megawatts per hour,” Laput added. Another thing that helped ZANECO improve its services particularly in ensuring stable and adequate power supply to the consumers was the enhancement training given to its personnel. The management sent some of its staff to the University of the Philippines (UP) to learn new techniques in forecasting to get appropriate solutions and approaches to solving power problem. “For me, you should have the right person to do the right forecast,” he said adding “you should invest money to develop him/her


Corazon Mamauag, Chief, Marketing and Enforcement Division-Pag-IBIG said Pag-IBIG will be financing the housing project while NJBDC will construct the said 195 housing units. “The Fund, as its partner through the Group Housing Loan Program, will provide the financing requirements of its target beneficiaries for individual housing loan” Mamauag was quoted as saying. Mamaug said Pag-IBIG hopes to continuously provide decent homes to its members and clients who are mostly teachers, private and government employees. The active lady marketing chief informed that “NJBDC used to be an accredited developer of the Fund who started delivery of mortgages in August 1993 when the Fund launched the Expanded Housing

Loan Program.” “NJBDC was the first recipient of the Fund’s Direct Developmental Loan Program, who availed of a P 5.9 MILLION PESOS loan, fully paid in 1995, with teachers, businessmen, private and government employees as beneficiaries of the one hundred seventy six (176) units,” Mamauag further informed. She said NJBDC is proposing to come up with 195 housing units; thus the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which formalized its partnership with the Fund. The MOA was signed by and between Pag-IBIG Fund, Zamboanga City Branch, represented by its Department Manager, Amorpatri B. Bajarla and NJBDC, represented by its President Nonito J. Bernardo. (JPA/PIA-ZBST)

so that he/she can help us operate effectively.” In a related development, Manager Laput also disclosed that certain investors are slated to put up hydro power plants in Zamboanga del

Norte and these will be operational by 2017. With this, ZANECO is optimistic that the energy requirements in the province shall be partly answered soon. (JPA/FPG/PIA9)

Pag-IBIG partners with NJB Dev’t Corp for the generation of 195 housing units ZAMBOANGA CITY - To help improve quality of life of its members and clients by promoting home ownership, the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG-Zamboanga Branch recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding with NJB Development Corporation (NJBDC) for the generation of 195 housing units thru the Group Housing Loan Program of Pag-IBIG.

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez


DOE appeals to LGU to help curb illegal acts in LPG industryby Apipa P. Bagumbaran

LGUs should take a strong public position on its support to stop illegal activities in the LPG industry, said Nilo Geroche of the DOE Mindanao Field Office during the Multi-Sectoral Advocacy Campaign on Downstream

Oil Industry held yesterday, August 8, at N Hotel, this city. He said the LPG industry is marred by unsafe and unfair practices which compromise the safety of the consuming public.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has appealed to local government units (LGUs) to help curb illegal practices in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry.

Pag-IBIG partners with NJB Dev’t Corp for the generation of 195 housing units


These practices, he said, include illegal refilling of cylinders and the use of uncertified and illegally manufactured cylinders, scrapped and dilapidated cylinders, and LPG cylinders with no tare weight markings, among others. Geroche said LGUs can help curb these illegal and unsafe practices by passing and implementing local ordinances supportive to the implementation of the department’s rules and regulations on LPG. We believe that LGUs has the police power to confiscate unsafe products and not issue business permits, he added. He further said enforcing closure of erring LPG establishments as recommended by the DOE and

supporting public awareness program on LPG safety are just some of the measures LGUs can undertake to stop illegal activities in the LPG industry. Meanwhile, the forum on downstream oil industry was the first leg of the multi-sectoral advocacy campaign in Northern Mindanao. The second leg is scheduled to be held in Ozamiz City on August 10. Such campaign is aimed at creating greater awareness on downstream oil industry among local government units, government information officers, local and national government agencies, LPG establishments, liquefied petroleum products (LPP) retail outlets, and the media.


Public and private sectors meet to improve local economy in Mahinogby Homer R. Jajalla

MAHINOG, Camiguin - Local government officials and leaders of private sectors participated last week in the Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) Sensitizing Workshop conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Queobe Eco Park and Training Center.

The workshop, the first in a series of four different workshops to be facilitated by the DTI, aims to identify and implement local projects to boost local economy, especially those that can be done from six months to one year.

DTI Provincial Director Joselito S. Enot said he sees the potential of Mahinog as an emerging growth area in Camiguin. He said the presence of the principal port in Benoni gives the municipality a competitive advantage


Lanao del Norte benefits from PRMF-AusAIDTUBOD, Lanao del Norte - Lanao del Norte is part of the second batch of provinces to benefit from the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF), a development initiative of the Philippine and Australian governments through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Lanao del Norte is one of the three provinces included in the last batch of beneficiary-provinces set to receive road infrastructure projects and human resources development trainings.

Together with Lanao del Norte in the second group are the provinces of Aklan and Davao del Norte. Through PRMF, the Australian government helps provincial

over other towns in the province. In addition to the port is the presence of tourist destinations like Mantigue island and zipline in Benoni lagoon, which can be compared to other prime destinations in the country. If fully tapped, these potentials can bring in more economic development in the town, he said.

Mahinog Mayor Alex Jajalla praised the DTI for introducing the LRED concept in Mahinog. LRED is a process by which stakeholders from both public and private sectors are mobilized to become partners in a joint effort to improve the economy of a locality and increase its competitiveness. “ L R E D

intervention is a big step to create more jobs, small business enterprises and income especially for our residents,” Jajalla said. To achieve this, he emphasized, both public and private sectors need to play key roles to drive the economic development of the town. (LGU Mahinog)


Lanao del Norte benefits from PRMF-AusAID

rehabilitate and maintain core networks in Visayas and Mindanao. PRMF also assists local governments put in place the governance systems that will enable them to sustainably maintain the roads over time. PRMF Team Leader Michael Saldon expressed appreciation with the dedication on how Lanao del Norte wholeheartedly embraced the PRMF program. “We’re so grateful to Governor Khalid Dimaporo for all his support,” he said. Being one of the latest province-beneficiary, Lanao del Norte is still on the initial stages of the program which entails numerous documentary requirements and capacity-building workshops aimed at promoting transparency, efficient and accountable governance by provincial local government units (LGUs). “More than the roads that will be constructed in the province, what is most important is the values transformation for the provincial leaders and officials. The essential values and competencies that

we get from these workshops will also be applicable in other areas of governance and public service,” said Provincial Administrator Joselito Quibranza. PRMF aims to boost the local economy by improving road transport so that more people will have better access to rehabilitated and maintained road networks, economic activity and public infrastructure and services that will improve their livelihood. Lanao del Norte was one of the invited LGUs during the public forum conducted last August 1 and 2, 2012 at N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City to share its PRMF experience. Other provincial governments present were Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental. Some key provincial partners of PRMF are Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Bohol, Davao del Norte, Guimaras and Surigao del Norte. The forum was also supported by the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao and DILG-Region 10. (VNL/PIO-LDN)


The City Government of Davao has allocated P1.7 Million for

its anti-tubercolosis program this year. According to Ashley Lopez, M.D. medical coordinator of the National Tubercolosis Program of the City Health Office and head of the Davao Chest Center said that the amount has remained constant for three years already. He said that the Chest Center

has purchased PPT (Purified Protein Derivative) solutions which are skin detection solutions for tracing children who had contacts with a TB patient. Part of the funds was also spent on purchasing N95 masks to help prevent spread TB. Citing the achievements of the City in fighting TB. Lopez bared that in 2011 that they had examined 16,951 symptomatic patients in the city. Symptomatic individuals are those which exhibit tuberculosis like symptoms like the presence of a whooping cough.The city also achieved a Case Detection Rate of 76% which is above the standard set by the World Health Organization target of about 70%. The City posted a Case Detection Rate of 1,510 patients from the 1,980 target. Lopez said that it is a far cry from decades ago when the Case Detection Rate was just 48 which was once recorded in 1976. He also said that there were

Davao City pours P1.7-M for anti-TBby RG Alama


2,642 cases which were enrolled for treatment of which 2,245 were cured. Or a cure rate of 85%. From 2009-2011 ages of Tubercolosis patients referred at the Davao Chest Center were of ages 15 years old to 64 years old with a sex ration of four males to 1 female. Lopez said that the City Government has been very active in its tuberculosis programs particularly as there are many ordinances which institutionalize

the fight against TB.One of its most recent ordinances the Anti-Spitting Ordinance passed in 2009 which is aimed at preventing the spread of tuberculosis. The City also provides free medicines for a regular Drug Susceptible Tubercolosis Directly-Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) treatment which runs up to six months. The total cost of that assistance is estimated at P15,000. (PIA/RG Alama)

Tagum now part of anti-trafficking bodyTAGUM CITY- The Tagum City government yesterday officially became part of the network of government agencies which work together to check human traffick-ing. Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Regional Prosecutor Antonio Arellano binding the commitment of the city government to the Regional Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (RIACAT)-Regional Integrated Action Network (RIACTION). In his message, Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy reminded the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) to make sure the legitimacy of recruiters while he also called on members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to

be “accommodating” in handling cases of human trafficking. Arellano revealed that Tagum City came in third among the cities which RIACAT-RIACTION had networked to strengthen preventive measures against and programs on human trafficking. RIACAT brought into the circle of RIACTION the cities of Davao and Panabo and the province of Davao Oriental. Republic Act 9208, known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 creates the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking with the secretary of the Department of Justice as the chairperson and the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the vice-chairperson. Among the mandated


members of the Council are the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. The Department of Interior and Local Government is among the mandated agencies to provide intervention programs on human trafficking. The law mandates the Council involvement of three representatives from non-government organization representing the women, the children and the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sectors. Aside from formulating a comprehensive and integrated program to prevent and suppress

trafficking in persons, the Council is also tasked to “coordinate the conduct of massive i n f o r m a t i o n d i s s e m i n a t i o n and campaign on the existence of the law and the various issues and problems attendant to t r a f f i c k i n g through the LGUs, concerned agencies, and

NGOs.” As RIACAT had seen the need to widen its alliance with other agencies of national and local governments, Prosecutor Arellano said the Council created a network to bring in members with whom the Council can work with in checking human trafficking cases. “We created RIACTION to expand our network and bring others to work with us,” he said in a press conference after signing the MOA with Uy. Meanwhile, Arellano had no categorical views on the vulnerability Tagum City to human trafficking but he had found it necessary to network with LGUs outside of Davao City where the international airport has become the hub of domestic and international flights.


“The possibility of a terminal to become a point of entry or exit of human trafficking increases, as the number of (air transport) destinations increases,” he said. Arellano targeted to involve all provincial and city LGUs in the Davao Region before the year ends. On the other hand, Interior and Local Government Tagum City Director Liza Mendoza said barangay residents had already been advised to report individuals found recruiting in their area. “If there are recruitments at the barangay level, that should be done with Public Employment Services Office. Without the PESO, residents should immediately report the recruitment to the barangay officials,” she said. Authorities are closely keeping watch on illegal recruitment as it

may end up in human trafficking which, under RA 9208, “refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation which includes at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.” (PIA-11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

did you know...That the word Kadayawan is taken from the Mandaya word Madayaw a warm and friendly greeting used to explain a thing that is valuable, superior, beautiful, good, or profitable.

one mindanao - august 14, 2012

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