one mindanao - february 15, 2013

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDWestern Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: 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: [email protected] [email protected]: 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected], [email protected]

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: [email protected] , [email protected],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

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

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern & Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director - PIA Caraga Region OIC Regional Director - PIA Region X

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

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII ELAINE O. RATUNIL Officer-in-charge, PIA Region X

Regional Desk Editors Franklin P. Gumapon, 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 Retchie Tolinero, PIA Region X

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

Editorial Advisers :

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Philippine Information Agency

Director General

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

Cover Story

Kalilangan Festival 2013 celebrates cultural convergence of Gensan’s tri-peoplePops Gumana-FruylanCentral Mindanao

Today’s issue... Friday, February 15, 2013 Vol. 2 No. 126

page 4

Aquino defends achievements, says ad-dressing social problems, unemployment takes time

8

NOEL B. NAJARRO, Caraga Region

PhilHealth Caraga ready for Sunday’s nationwide run15

PhilHealth revs for ‘PhilHealth Run’ on its 18th anniversary

60 pairs wed on Valentine’s Day in Mahinog

DA distributes P321 -M worth of farm machineries in Soccsksargen Region

Jennifer P. Gaitano, Caraga Region14

21

25

EHomer Jajalla, LGU Mahinog, Northern Mindanao

Danilo E. Doguiles, Central Mindanao

GPH Peace Panel leads FAB info-drive in N. Cotabato 27

Joey Dalumpines, Southern Mindanao

DOH promotes four o’clock habit amid climate change33

13 establishments in Zanorte violated FTL in 2012, says DTI Alfonso T. Ruda, Western Mindanao30Danilo E. Doguiles, Central Mindanao

6 10 12 19 23 28

Friday, February 15, 20134

Kalilangan Festival 2013 celebrates cultural convergence of Gensan’s tri-people

The country’s Tuna Capital is celebrating this month

a unique festivity that brings together in harmony the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the city’s tri-people.

CoVer StoRy

This year’s Kalilangan Festival is a showcase of the cultural abundance out of the mutual respect nurtured for many years by the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslims and the Christian populations who lived in the area.

“Because we are united, we want to highlight the peaceful coexistence of our tri-people, despite differences in culture, that makes Gensan successful,” said Festival Director Dr. Mary Lynn Abiera. The 16th Kalilangan Festival held its soft opening last Saturday (February 9) at the Oval grounds with a theme: “Tri-People in Unity, Excellence in Harmony.” Abiera said part of its opening salvo include the unfolding of events and other attractions like the agri fair, plaza bazaar, carnival, food galore and mini zoo.

By Pops Gumana-Fruylan

Friday, February 15, 2013 5

Kalilangan Festival 2013 celebrates cultural convergence of Gensan’s tri-people

She explained that organizers of the month-long gaiety are also working on creating a family-friendly atmosphere in the area where visitors could enjoy the various lined-up activities in store for them while learning the city’s heritage and culture. A pavilion for the Sine Sine sa Kalilangan will also be set up, showing films from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for public’s information and entertainment. “We want to inculcate to our people that our culture is very important because it guides us to what we are in the future,” she emphasized.Meanwhile, Abiera disclosed that the city government is in close supervision to ensure the success of the Kalilangan Festival 2013 as it is vying for the Hall of Fame in the country’s Best Tourism Event under the Culture and Arts Category. “Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio has tapped the different local and national government agencies in

t h e city to mobilize whatever help they could extend for a smooth celebration of this year’s festival,” she explained.Kalilangan Festival won the said prestigious award given by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) for two consecutive years, from 2011 and 2012. Moreover, the city mayor is also encouraging the public to “revisit and appreciate” the thriving culture in the area as the city also celebrates its 74th Founding Anniversary. The celebration of Kalilangan Festival 2013 will end on February 27 with Salubungan “Parada ng Lahi” as the highlight activity featuring a reenactment of events when Gen. Paulino Santos and other pioneers arrived here in 1939.Other closing activities also include the “Kadsagayan” or the glamorous street dance parade and showdown of the traditional tri-people’s dances and the simultaneous Disco sa Kalye.

6Friday, February 15, 2013

ACROSS THE NATIONPresident Aquino visits International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna

President Benigno S. Aquino III visited on Thursday the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to get an update on the progress of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between the Department of

Agriculture (DA) and the institute with the aim of enhancing their collaboration in support for the Philippines’ Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP).

Upon his arrival here, the chief executive was welcomed by Dr. Emerlinda Roman, IRRI Board of Trustees chair, Dr. V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI Deputy Director General for Communications and Partnerships and other IRRI officials.

The President’s visit coincided with

the celebration of the 2013 National Year of Rice. Also in attendance were Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad.

The President also visited the IRRI to help highlight the important role of the


research in boosting the country’s rice production.

During the visit, President Aquino was given an overview of the IRRI’s history since 1960, and an update on the collaboration between the DA and IRRI to support the (FSSP).

Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman and Dr. Achim Dobermann made a presentation on IRRI’s research agenda at the Board Room located at the FF Hill Building at the IRRI headquarters. They presented a statistic to the President showing no slowdown in global rice consumption and discussed with him the global per capita rice consumption and the productivity and proficiency growth.

They, likewise, briefed the President on the various IRRI programs such as Home of the Green Revolution, the new breeding products, mechanized diversified cropping systems, ecological intensification platform at IRRI, Solar bubble dryer prototype, the new business models for smallholder farming, training of extension agronomists from Africa, among others.

Sec. Alcala and Dr. V. Bruce J. Tolentino also conducted a presentation regarding several programs and initiatives launched through IRRI-Philippines partnership such as the Green Revolution, Restoring Ecosystem resilience to control inspect

pests, Alternate Wetting and Drying Rice Knowledge Bank, among others.

“The Philippines is more focused than ever before on improving productivity in its rice sector to meet its rice self-sufficiency targets,” Dobermann said in a statement.

“We are also working closely with Philippine agencies to develop real-time maps of rice production. So, at any point of time, we will able to tell the state of the nation’s rice crop,” Dobermann said

Sec. Alcala and Director General Robert Zeigler of the IRRI signed in December, 2012 the MOA which aims to support the delivery research and extension services of the FSSP. The program is aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in rice and other food staples by 2013 – the National Year of Rice.

Under the FSSP, the DA aims to strenghten national resilience to impacts of climate change in attaining the objective of meeting the domestic requirements of riceit his year.

The President’s visit to IRRI was highlighted by a tour to the IRRI’s International Rice Genebank that conserves more than 117,000 different types of rice, including nearly 10,000 from the Philippines. The rice seed preserved in the International Rice Genebank is the source of valuable traits for the

8Friday, February 15, 2013

development of new and improved rice varieties for future generations.

A total of 101 bred varieties have been released in the Philippines suited to irrigated, rainfed, upland, low-temperature and saline environments.

The collaboration between the IRRI and the Philippines has helped enhanced the Philippines’ excellent international

standing and impact in agricultural research productivity.

The Philippines was the first country to get the IRRI’s Nutrient Manager for Rice Mobile and App that deliver site-specific nutrient management advice to farmers via their mobile phones. PND (js)

Aquino defends achievements, says addressing social problems, unemployment takes time

President Benigno

S. Aquino III defended Thursday the gains that his administration has achieved saying that addressing poverty and unemployment can’t be done overnight.


Critics of the government said the current economic gains of the government have not trickled down to impact and alleviate the conditions of poor Filipinos.

But the President said, in an interview during his visit here that there is no quick fix in addressing these concerns. For instance, he said that to solve the problems in unemployment, the government must invest on education and training people to get necessary skills for them to get employed.

“Gusto natin hindi lang may trabaho, pero gusto natin magandang trabaho. Para maging maganda ang trabaho kailangan ng edukasyon.

‘Yung edukasyon hindi naman puwede overnight,” the President said noting that thisgovernment thrust will take some time.

But the good thing is that the Department of Education has started to carry out the K to 12 program and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has intensified its initiatives to train more people.

So as a result, based on the recent statistics, the President said a lot of people belonging to the self-employed

category have decreased in number because many of them have gone back to school as a result of the enhanced government skills programs.

“So nabigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral, magkaroon ng kaukulang talento o skills na mas magandang trabaho ang mapapasukan,” he said.

Another good development on the country’s economy includes the improved retail sector sales figures, the President said adding that the retail sector reported a double-digit increase in sales year-on-year.

It only means, the President said, that the public’s purchasing power has improved recently owing to better jobs and economic conditions.

Instead of criticizing the government on its achievements, the President said government critics must present to the people their platform of government in a healthy public discourse.

The President visited San Pablo City Friday to endorse the administration’s candidates for the midterm elections in May. He appealed to the people to support his candidates, the candidates of Team PNoy, so that he could continue the reforms he started in government. PND (as)


DoE confident Mindanao power shortage addressed soon

The Department of Energy (DOE) is confident that power shortage in Mindanao will be addressed by the interruptible load program (ILP).

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said 12 entities have received Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approval and pointed out that the approved ILP participants “can even

run now.”He said nine other ILP participants

have pending ERC approval.“Hopefully they will get the approval

before the elections,” he said.


Under ILP, private companies that have power generators need not tap electric distribution utilities (DUs) for their need but instead use their own facilities.

In turn, they will be paid by the DUs based on the fuel and oil used in running the generators and on the depreciation of the equipment.

The 21 ILP participants are projected to unload 160 megawatt capacity from DUs in the area.

Petilla said the power shortage in Mindanao will also be addressed once the 300-megawatt power plant of Aboitiz Power in Davao opens within the first quarter of 2015.

“From now until 2015, that’s the question - what do we do,” he quipped.

Another solution eyed to address power shortage in Mindanao is the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market

(IMEM).Under this system, big entities

that own generators can be tapped to provide electricity to power cooperatives.

Petilla said the funds for the IMEM program is already with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) but PEMC cannot start the program due to lack of ERC approval.

“I’m quite sure they’re (ERC) also aware of the problem of Mindanao and they are even assuring PEMC that they will prioritize the approval of the budget. The money is already there, what we’re asking is a go signal to touch it,” he said.

The DOE chief said ERC has set a hearing for the IMEM budget on February 20, 2013.

“We will push for the approval (of the budget) within the same day if it’s possible,” he added. (PNA)


Butuan holds mass wedding for 153 couples on V-Day

BUTUAN CITY -- One hundred and fifty-three couples who had been together for number of years had their marriage legitimized through a mass civil wedding rites on the “Day of the Hearts” at the Guingona Park, this city.

www.piacaraga.blogspot.com h t t p : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k .

by NOEL B. NAJARRO


The colorful mass wedding activity dubbed as “Minyoay Ngani Butuan” was among the highlights of the local city government’s celebration of the “Valentine’s Day”.

Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. served as the solemnizing officer.

The Thursday morning mass wedding was the third initiative of such

kind being conducted by the Butuan city government, to give legitimacy to the couples’ union as well as to their siblings. The couples who have been living-in for some years but had not undergone or had no chance of a formal wedding for financial or other constraints had been prioritized.

Pag-IBIG provided the wedding rings, the reception, their honeymoon venue as well as a house and lot to be won by a lucky couple.

Judith Calo, the city local civil registrar, said that the oldest of the newly married couples were 50 years old while the youngest were 18.


In time with the 18th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation

on Thursday, Sychua added that there are already 2,216 registered runners in Caraga from the 3,000

by Jennifer P. Gaitano


BUTUAN CITY -- The run, anchored on the theme “PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection,” will be held in 18 regional offices nationwide on Feb. 17. These are: Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Butuan, and Marawi, said Johnny Sychua, PhilHealth-Caraga regional vice president.



target for the simultaneous run on Sunday.

Sychua also announced that a series of activities are set from February to March to celebrate its 18th year.

Among the activities include the Hospital Visitation (interaction with the patient-beneficiaries); Bloodletting in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross; Basic Training on Photography; and PhilHealth Employees Night.

It was also learned that a

“PhilHealth Express” will soon be launched in Surigao City for fast services. In Butuan City, it will be situated in Langihan.

Meanwhile, PhilHealth emphasized that they are still accepting registrants until February 16, Saturday.

With this, PhilHealth hoped for the support of the general public for this endeavor which will benefit the sexually and physically abused children.

PhilHealth Caraga ready for Sunday’s nationwide runby NOEL B. NAJARRO

BUTUAN CITY -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Caraga is ready for Sunday’s PhilHealth-DOH Nationwide Run 2013 dubbed, “Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection.”


Ms. Parley Buyan, Philhealth Caraga information officer, announced this during the press conference Thursday morning in the occasion also of the agency’s 18th anniversary celebration.

“As of 10:00 a.m. 2,260 had registered to participate in the run on Sunday. This means that we have achieved 75.5 % of our targeted participants which is 3,000 runners,” she said.

During last year’s February run, Philhealth-Caraga was able to gather 3,483 participants. She said they are confident to hit this year’s target having extended the registration deadline until Saturday.

Dr. Johnny Sychua, Philhealth Caraga executive vice-president, said that the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City and the

Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila, a maternal and newborn tertiary hospital, have been chosen as national beneficiaries for this first simultaneous nationwide running event.

In the Caraga region, the Bethany Home and the GESU Eucaristico Children’s Inc. (GECI) were also identified as the regional beneficiaries. Both centers are non-stock, non-profit non-governmental organizations which provide shelters, rehabilitation and therapeutic services for physically and sexually-abused women and children.

Sychua said that PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH) are government partners in bringing universal health care and support mother and child’s health which is one of the country’s commitments to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

This year’s nationwide run, he said, is expected to assemble 180,000 professionals and amateur runners nationwide in 19 sites in the country. The simultaneous run will be held in Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Laguna, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi, Butuan and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Runners may enlist in the 3-kilometer, 5K, 10K and 18K for a very minimal registration fee.

Friday, February 15, 2013 17This is a free ad


For the list of Philippine holidays in 2013 through Proc. No. 459, just visit the PIA-Caraga Blogspot at www.piacaraga.blogspot.com for the copy of the said proclamation...


Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Malindang pass Asean assessment by Lina D. Calvez

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in the province of Bukidnon and Mt. Malindang in the province of Misamis Occidental garnered good ratings in the management effectiveness study of ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) conducted by Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) last year.


The ACB has declared 30 protected areas in the Asean region as Heritage Parks and four of those are from the Philippines, including Iglit-Baco in Region 4 and Mt. Apo National Park in Region 11. In her report to DENR 10 Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan, Technical Director (RTD) Belen Daba of Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services said Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Malindang got 81 percent and 80 percent, respectively, in the study conducted by ACB of Asean Heritage Parks. The five leading AHPs in the ACB Assessment were the following: Taman Negara Pahang, Malaysia (93.3 percent); Kinabalu, Malaysia (89.4 percent); Khao Yai National Park, Thailand (87.2 percent); Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia (84.4 percent) and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore (82.7 percent). Mt. Kitanglad AHP ranked no. 6 and Mt. Malindang AHP, no. 7 in the management effectiveness study. The Iglit – Baco National Park garnered 72.2 percent effectiveness score. The assessment of AHPs was made to identify challenges and opportunities in general faced by these parks. It was also conducted to provide an updated condition and

status of AHP management in Asean member-states. According to the Asean Centre for Biodiversity, AHPs are “Protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the Asean region.” It was gathered that there were six elements used to assess the management effectiveness of the AHPs. These comprise context, planning, input, implementation, output and impact. Context refers to the legal status of the protected area and planning includes management plan, zonation, maps, regulation and park design. Input involves human resources, equipment, infrastructures, budget and resources, among others. Implementation refers to boundary demarcation, maintenance of equipments, education and awareness program, involvement of local and indigenous people, monitoring and evaluation, activities related to tourism and visitors, training and collaboration with other institutions. Indicators under output include wildlife habitat and environment service, as well as prevention of AHPs from illegal extraction of natural resources. Impact refers on how the AHP could provide economic benefit to local people and how the current condition was compared to the time when AHP was gazette. The member states of Asean are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.


60 pairs wed on Valentine’s Day in Mahinogby Homer Jajalla, LGU Mahinog

Mahinog, CAMIGUIN- A total of 60 couples from the municipality of Mahinog said “I Do” on Valentine’s Day, in a biggest mass wedding event held at the Roman Catholic Church here.

The event was sponsored by the Provincial Government of Camiguin, which provided the meals, gift items, marriage license fees, and church stipend for the participants. Governor Romualdo said the mass wedding aimed to help unmarried couples who have no finances to spend for a church or civil wedding, legalize their union and receive the holy matrimony. The Municipal Government of Mahinog co-sponsored the event through the processing of the required documents, venue, and other wedding preparations. Dubbed “Kasalan ng Mahinog,” the mass wedding, which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Scott Escanilla,

was believed to be one of the largest in the province in recent history. “This is the biggest wedding that I ever officiated,” the parish priest of Mahinog said. The couples and their families were very grateful to the Governor for sponsoring the event and making their wedding possible. Aside from Mahinog, another mass wedding was also held in Catarman town today. Romualdo said, after this very first Kasalan sa Mahinog, he assured there would be another one that would be held in the near future not only in Mahinog but also in other municipalities of Camiguin.

4P beneficiaries get P18.5M seed capitalby Oliver Badel Inodeo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - A total of P18,523,000 seed capital from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been released to 3,435 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries in Lanao del Norte province recently.


These beneficiaries come from 181 Self-Employment Assistance sa Kaunlaran Areas (SKAs) in the province organized by Project Development Officers of SLP, in coordination with Pantawid Pamilya field workers. Under the livelihood program, beneficiaries are allowed to get loans ranging from P5,000 to P10,00 for their livelihood projects, Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, DSWD Field Office 10 Regional Director, said. These loans, which are community-based that do not bear any interest and do not need any collateral, are payable in one year so that others can also borrow under the same set of arrangements, Solamillo said. In Kapatagan town, the 57 SKAs with 1,035 members received P5,772,000 while the 41 SKAs with 865 members in Lala were granted P4,442,000. The Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of the interior municipalities ofNunungan, Salvador,

and Sapad received P400,000; P1,330,000, and P875,000, respectively. Meanwhile, Sultan Naga Dimaporo town beneficiaries with 50 SKAs have P5,704,000 for their seed capital loan. These beneficiaries, according to their project proposal, will be engaging in different types of livelihood projects such as handicraft making, hog fattening, cooking, buy-and-sell, among others. The SKA members are all Pantawid Pamilya Set 1 grantees.

Aside from the 4P beneficiaries, qualified to borrow are those listed in the National Housing Targeting System (NHTS), Solamillo added. To ensure the success of the SLP, a five-component program that starts with a partnership-building with the community, local government units have been developed by DSWD. Included in the process is the social preparation involving a Participatory Livelihood Issue Analysis and Value Chain Analysis, as well as Financial Literacy and Self-Awareness for the beneficiaries. Capacity-building, including a Business Development Service and three to five-day trainings for the beneficiaries follow, after which the funding for the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) comes about. For sustainability of the program, DSWD-10 extends technical assistance and equips the beneficiaries with a management tool which the beneficiaries themselves implement.


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- There are more road networks now in Mindanao, driving more economic opportunities for the rural people especially farmers.

DA-MRDP builds more roads, opportunities in MindanaoBy Sherwin Manual, DA-MRDP


Lealyn A. Ramos, program director of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) said the program has completed a total of 489.10 kilometer farm-to-market (FMR) roads amounting to P995.23 million, among other projects under the rural infrastructure (RI) component.

“As the completed FMR measuring a total length of close to 500 kilometers and constructing over 800 kilometers more we are not just creating a network of community linkages but also generating jobs and other opportunities in many rural areas,” Ramos said.

In the program’s report during the recently conducted World Bank review mission in Davao, the rural infrastructure component reflected that 71% of its 495 subprojects were FMRs; while communal irrigation projects account for 14%; potable water systems, 8%; bridges, 6%; and

postharvest facilities mostly solar dryers and warehouses only 1%.

“These roads stimulates agricultural production by providing access to markets. It also facilitates in the transition from subsistence farming to market-oriented production, which we expect as we scale-up famers in the value-chain of various commodities,” said Ramos, who is also the regional executive director of DA office in Northern Mindanao.

Roads, Ramos added, also increase rural non-farm enterprise and even creates off-farm income thus providing further economic even employment opportunities.

She said that for a long time, Mindanao badly needs roads that link communities especially the remote places to town centers, and the partnership of the local government units and the program has created impressive impact to respond this problem.

Ramos added the

infrastructure projects have benefitted over 400,000 farmers who for the longest time had to endure bad road conditions and inaccessibility.

“Despite all these, we understand more still needs to be done. The output of our partnership with the local government units and the DA regional field units as forefront of implementation are a little achievement for the bigger need of better and more road networks,” she said.

These roads have also improved the rapid and easy access of the residents to hospitals, increased attendance of children at school and enhanced the LGUs delivery of social services.

“Some LGUs testified that with better roads they could actually conduct office caravans in remote areas where all the divisions of the LGU go from barangay to barangay,” Ramos said.(Sherwin B. Manual/DAMRDP)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Department of Agriculture in Region 12 turned over on Monday more than P321 million worth of farm machineries, equipment and other assistance to over a hundred ben-eficiaries.

DA distributes P321 -M worth of farm machineries in Soccsksargen RegionBy Dani Doguiles

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and DA 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan led the distribution ceremony during the Ulat ng Bayan and Farmers’ Heart Day at DA 12’s research station in Tupi, South Cotabato.

Director Datukan said that the distribution of farm machineries is in accordance with the national government’s efforts to achieve Food Staples Self-sufficiency Program (FSSP).

Recipients included at least 79 farmer associations, 37 individuals, 7 local government units and 2 state-run schools in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani,

Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City and Cotabato City.

Under the department’s Agri-Pinoy Palayan Program, DA 12 handed to beneficiaries 40 hand tractors 20 floating tillers, 35 shallow tube well engines, and 7 mini four-wheel drive tractors.

Meanwhile, the Agri-Pinoy Maisan program distributed three cassava granulator-cum-shredders, two moisture meters, two disc harrows, one 90-horsepower four-wheel drive tractors , two village type corn-on-cobs dryers ; eight hermetic cocoons at two shredders.

Agri-Pinoy High Value Crops Development

Program (HVCDP) also turned over to beneficiaries 13 power sprayers; 1, 700 cans of onion seeds; 35 plastic water drums; 1,800 meters of HDPE pipes; and 14 knapsack sprayers.

HVCDP also delivered one hand tractor with complete accessories to LGU of Malungon, Sarangani; and one 35 HP 4-WD tractor to LGU-Tupi in South Cotabato. These machines were granted under the DA’s 85-15 counterpart scheme where DA pays for 85 percent of the machine’s cost.

The Organic Agriculture Program, on the other hand delivered 3 1.5 ton-capacity shredders the


LGUs of Kidapawan City, General Santos City and Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat.

DA also gave three chillers and two chest type freezers to two barangay food terminals in Glan, Sarangani.

“Let us always remember that the primary objective of the Aquino administration is to achieve food staples self-sufficiency,” Sec. Alcala told the over 2,500 farmers in

attendance at the event in Tupi.

He also lauded Region 12 for its contribution to the FSSP.

Proof to this, he explained, is the 128 percent rice self-sufficiency level that Soccsksargen Region has achieved in 2012.

Data from the Agri Pinoy Palayan Program indicated that the region produced 1.275 million metric tons of rice last year.

“This means that

Region 12 contributed 31.89 percent of the total production in Mindanao and 7.14 percent of the total production in the entire Philippines,” Alcala said.

Because of this achievement and other accomplishments of the regional field office, the secretary added, DA 12 was allocated P1.29 billion budget this year, 62 percent higher than its 2012 budget of P739 million.


Before the event in Tupi, Sec. Alcala also distributed assistance to the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the launching of the Sajahatra

Bangsamoro Program at the Bangsamoro Leadership and M a n a g e m e n t Institute in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Aids included a 90HP

4-wheel drive tractor, 300 bags of certified palay seeds, 300 bags of white open-pollinated corn seeds, 30 cans of assorted vegetables, and 3 goats. (DEDoguiles-

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The GPH Peace Panel led an informa-tion drive on Tuesday, February 12, regarding the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) in Pikit town, North Cotabato.

GPH Peace Panel leads FAB info-drive in N. CotabatoBy Oliver Ross Rivera

GPH Peace Panel Chairperson Miriam Coronel Ferrer graced the consultation at-tended by mostly by barangay officials and residents.

Pikit, a municipality under the 1st district of North Cotabato has 11 barangays included in the proposed Bang-samoro territory.

Discussions covered the coverages of the FAB. The panel also an-swered questions and clarified issues raised by the participants.

Among the issues aired during the discus-

sion was the normaliza-tion and the call to in-tensify moves to disarm armed groups in the area.

Prof. Ferrer assured them that the govern-ment and the Moro Is-lamic Liberation Front (MILF) panels have al-ready laid down mech-anisms to address the concerns regarding armed groups.

These mechanisms are being discussed by both sides and will be included in the annexes of FAB, Ferrer added.

Along with the gov-ernment chief negotia-

tor in the conduct of FAB info-drive are OPAPP Undersecretary and Presidential Adviser on Muslim Concerns Yas-min Busran-Lao, former Agriculture Sec. Senen Bacani and some mem-bers of Ceasefire Com-mittee and Ad Hoc joint action group.

The consultation and info-drive was orga-nized by Peace, Recon-ciliation and Unity Chair-person and N. Cotabato 1st District Cong. Jesus Sacdalan. (ORVRivera-PIA12/ RRBautista-N. Cot. 1st Congressional District Office)


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Some 21 elementary schools under the Pagadian City schools division have each received P5,000 for their performances in the field demonstration on Saturday in commemoration of the Chinese New year.

Mayo Samuel S. Co told the participants gathered at Plaza Luz, the city’s regular venue for the Chinese New Year celebration, that each school would receive a prize from the city government.

City gov’t. gives away prizes to elementary schoolsBy Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY - A total of P105,000 has been allotted by the city government as a prize to elementary schools participating in the Chinese New Year celebration.


City gov’t. gives away prizes to elementary schools

“I am absolutely impressed with your performance. And as a token of my gratitude for your full support and active participation during the annual Chinese New Year celebration, I am ordering City Tourism Officer Judith Jugarap to release P5 thousand to each contingent,” Co announced before a throng of 2,000 elementary pupils wearing colorful traditional Chinese costumes. Co also acknowledged the contribution of the Department of Education (DepEd) to the city’s development. “The DepEd has been very instrumental to the development of the city as what it has become today.

We cannot make the Chinese New Year celebration successful without DepEd’s help,” Co declared. Following the five-hour playground demonstration was a program which was highlighted by the dragon and lion dance, gift-giving, fireworks display, dancing fountain show and many others. Among those who attended the event were city schools division superintendent Dr. Felix Romy Triambolo, Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on education chair councilor Bienvenido Culve, City Tourism Council chair Dr. Priscilla M. Fernandez, division supervisors, school principals and trainers.


Mr. Julius Salaveria, Customer Welfare Division Chief, DTI-Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office based in Dipolog City said that “of the 13 violators from the province, six were able to immediately reopen their businesses after correcting their mistakes, while the remaining 7 violators were formally charged in court.” Salaveria further disclosed that of the seven establishments, only two were penalized for their failure to rectify their violations amid repeated warning from the DTI. They were ordered closed and meted out a penalty of P45,000.00. Twenty-one establishments, on the other hand, were penalized for their violations under the price tag law while 23 firms were found violating certain regulations under sales promotion, and four others under the business name law. DTI-ZN also reported that a total of P154,000.00 of fines were meted out to erring establishments for their violations of certain provisions of Department Order No. 2 series of 2007 on Philippine Law on Standards. The DTI, whose mandate

includes the protection and promotion of consumer welfare bared that 46 of the violators were from Zamboanga City, 13 from Zamboanga del Norte and the rest were from Zamboanga Sibugay. DTI has collected a total of P195,000.00 from penalties of various violations. DTI is now calling on the consumers to be vigilant and urges them to report to appropriate authorities any unethical practices or violations they may notice with the establishments. DTI exercises jurisdiction over cases involving consumer product quality and safety; deceptive, unfair sales acts and practices; consumer products and service warranties; price tag; mislabeling/fraudulent advertising; service and repair shops; advertising and sales promotion. Among those falling under the Department of Agriculture (DA) are quality and safety, and labeling and packaging of agricultural products, while food, drugs, cosmetics, and devices and hazardous substances fall under the Department of Health (DOH).

13 establishments in Zanorte violated FTL in 2012, says DTI By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - Thirteen business establishments in Zamboanga del Norte were among the 94 business establishments in Zamboanga Peninsula which violated the Free Trade Law(FTL) in 2012, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).


DAVAO CITY- A group of mass communication students from Ate-neo de Davao are calling for vol-unteers and book donors to their Tulak adBOOKasyon project which will be held this Saturday (Febru-ary 16.) Charles Tolosa one of the organizers of the event said that the project aims to use push carts to collect books at Dona Vicenta Subdivision. The collected books will be donated to Davao City’s Balay Pasilungan street

children center. Tolosa said they are looking for volunteers to push the carts and help collect the books during the one-day activity. Aside from volunteers the group (Redplate Productions) is also looking for push carts, currently the group has 10 push carts to be used during the event. He said this is a pilot project and Dona Vicente was chosen

as the homeowner’s association of the middle-class residential community were open to the idea of students going around houses to collect books.Tolosa said they are also calling on the public to donate books mostly children books and unused text books. The activity was inspired by 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida who utilized pushcart classrooms to teach streetchildren in Cavite. (PIA/RG Alama)

Students book cart project needs volunteers, books


DOH promotes four o’clock habit amid climate changeDavao City- An officer of the Tropi-cal Disease Unit of the City Health Office urged households to be more serious in destroying breed-ing grounds of dengue-carrying-mosquitoes by cleaning their home and surroundings regularly amid changing weather condition. Elizabeth Banzon, public health nurse and head of the Tropical Disease Unit said the residents still need to do better the four o’clock habit which calls for regular cleaning inside and outside the houses particularly the possible breeding areas of mosquitoes. She said that based on their random surveillance, there are houses which are clean in both inside and outside, but disc racks and water dispenser are left unattended. Banzon said dengue-carrying-mosquitoes breed on clean water. She said in some hotspot-areas, mosquitoes dwell in open plastic containers. “We detected an increase of dengue-incidence in the city’s third district that is why we are intensifying our information campaign,” Banzon said. She said that there was one mortality out of the 343 dengue-fever cases monitored in January

2013, compared to nine deaths monitored during the same period in 2012. The conditions, she said, was attributed to the continuous rainfall in December 2012 to January this year. Banzon said there was only one death, out of the six dengue cases reported in February 2013, which is far lower than the five deaths incurred in the same period on 2012. She stressed that the dengue fever can be addressed through prompt consultation with the doctor and proper fluid management on the patient. Banzon said parents must not take for granted even the slight fever of their children. She also urged residents to avail of the chemical treatment of curtains and mosquito nets being given free by the CHO to ward off mosquitoes. “Chemically treated curtains and mosquito nets will last for six months, a good protection for households from mosquitoes,” Banzon said. She also identified the dengue-fever hotspots in the city such asTalomo North, Talomo South, Calinan, Tugbok, Baguio, Bunawan, Agdao, Barangay 5-A and 8-A.

by Joey Dalumpines

one mindanao - february 15, 2013

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