one mindanao - february 4, 2016

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Telefax no. (08822) 72-66-83Cellphone 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]

SOCCSKSARGEN RegionBautista 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)J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTSDOMINIC SANCHEZ, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERSSEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE EDITOR EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western &Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

Sarangani hosts SRAA 2016Cover Story

By: Catherine T. Apelacio

today’s news

Gov’t, fisheries sector targets improved performance in new fisheries industry plan

9

23 Lamitan Mayor Furigay delivers State of the City Report

By: Alfonso T. Ruda

Bangsamoro peace process continues despite non-passage of BBL—Ferrer

12

30 Camiguin posts decline in teenage pregnancy

33 Bank donates funds for Chinese street postsBy: RG Alama

36 Kidapawan City declares State of Calamity due to El NinoBy: Danilo E.Doguiles

By: Herzon F. Gallego

By: Greg Tataro Jr

By: Jorie C. Valcorza

15

17

DENR Caraga reviews joint operating manual

SurSur treasury chief cites “amnesty” as cause of poor tax collection on real property

SOUTHERN SOCCSKSARGEN

CARAGAINFOCUS NATIONAL

WESTERN NORTHERN

6 1214

22 28 34

26 DOH culminates Goiter Awareness Week celebration in Dapitan

By: Rene V. Carbayas

31 P20M worth of farm mechanization assistance turned-overBy: Joanne L. Olson

4 February 4, 2016One Mindanao

By: Catherine T. Apelacio

The SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) Meet kicked off Wednesday (February 3) with the Department of Education (DepEd) Sarangani Schools Division hosting the

event.

COVER STORYSarangani hosts SRAA 2016

Some 6,000 participants coming from nine Divisions of General Santos City, Koronadal City, Kidapawan City, Tacurong City, Cotabato City and the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sarangani join the event.

At a press conference also held yesterday, Sarangani Schools Division Superintendent Isagani Cruz said the province is all set for its hosting of the SRAA of which most of the events will be staged in Kiamba.

Cruz said other events will also be held in neighboring town Maitum.

In 2006, Sarangani also hosted the SRAA but all events were held at the Sarangani Capitol Sports Complex in Alabel.

5February 4, 2016 One Mindanao

The spread of other sports competition to other municipality, Board Member Cornelio Martinez Jr., chair of the Committee on Youth, Sports Development and Drug Abuse, explained was “to improve facilities of each town in Sarangani.”

The provincial government has already spent some P2.3 million from its Special Education Fund for the ground preparation and refurbishment of sports venues and schools used for billeting.

The meet will focus on various events ranging from athletics, individual events, basketball, softball and soccer.

Cruz, however said the

swimming competition will be held in South Cotabato Sports Complex.

Aside from being a venue for showcasing sports talent of elementary and secondary students, it also serves as stepping stone for local athletes to be enlisted to the National Sports Competitions.

The yearly SRAA Meet aims to promote “sports as an integral part of Basic Education for the holistic development of the S O C C S K S A R G E N athletes to become responsible and globally competitive.”

One Mindanao6 February 4, 2016

Malacañang to wait for Congress’ nod on proposed SSL 4

MANILA -- The Palace will await Congress’ final decision on the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 4, a Palace official said Wednesday.


“Weawaitthefinaldecisionof Congress on the proposed SSL 4 that is still pending with the bicameral conference committee,” Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma. Jr. said. The bicameral conference committee on the proposed SSL 4 remained deadlocked as lawmakers adjourn for the election campaign. Lawmakers will go on recess this weekend.

The House of Representatives has not changed its stand, rejecting the Senate version of the draft SSL 4 “because there is no funding for it”. The lower house version would have the pay hike cover the 1.527 million workers in the bureaucracy, including the military and uniformed personnel (MUP), such as those from the Philippine National Police, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The Senate version includes an indexation of the pension of 211,584 MUP retirees to the envisioned salary increase of active-duty personnel. The House conference rejected the Senate version because of the funding problem.

On the alleged “scrapping” of the Magna Carta benefits inSSL 4, Secretary Coloma quoted Budget Secretary Florencio Abad as saying last January 25 that “the Magna Carta benefitsof scientists, social and health workers, and other government employees shall not be repealed in the proposed SSL 2015”. “There is no provision in the proposed law that would diminish or remove the existing Magna Carta benefits of ourgovernment personnel. In fact, SSL 2015—as in the previous SSL 3—recognizes the Magna Carta benefits as among the


authorized incentives in the total compensation framework,” said Secretary Abad. On the non-passage of important legislation, Coloma emphasized that the government has worked hard to pass those priority bills. “The administration has done its part in pushing for the enactment of priority legislation, such as the FOI (Freedom of Information) and anti-dynasty bills. As representatives of national and local constituencies,

our legislators’ actions are based on their appreciation of their costituents’ sentiments,” he said. Coloma said the Palace affirms its support for theprinciples of FOI and the need for an enabling law to implement the constitutional provision regarding political dynasties. “We trust that our people willreflecttheirsupportfortheseprinciples when they cast their votes in the next elections,” he added. (PCOO/PND)


QUEZON CITY-- With the completion of a national fisheries plan, the fisheries sector can hope for a more developed, globally-competitive and sustainable Philippine fisheries in the coming years.

Gov’t, fisheries sector targets improved performance in new fisheries industry plan

Hundreds of stakeholders and industryfromfourmajorfisheriessub-sec to rs - -aquacu l tu re , marketing, post harvest, and

capture fishing--together withthe Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquagic Resources (DA-BFAR) launched


today, Feb. 3, 2016, the updated Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP) 2016-2020 during the National Fisheries Industry Summit at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

“We recognize that the CNFIDP 2016-2020 reinforces initiatives implemented during this administration, which include efforts to protect whatever is left of our pristine resources;

to rehabilitation and restore degraded aquatic habitats; and to curb illegal and destructive methodsoffishingandfarming,”Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said.

The fisheries industry plan,which was crafted through a series of consultation-workshops in the last quarter of 2015, contains the sub-sectors’ targets andactionplansforthenextfiveyears.


For capture fisheries, thecommercial fishing stakeholderstargeted a five-percent annualgrowthbyexploringnewfishinggrounds while the municipal fisherfoldapprovedhikingannualproduction by one percent; aquaculture subsector agreed on increasing production of emerging, high-value species and key species such as bangus (milkfish), tilapia, shrimps,seaweeds, and shellfish; thepost harvest group settled on reducing post-harvest losses from 25 percent to 15 percent and; trade and marketing acceded to increase quantity and value of traded fisheryproducts for domestic and export consumption.

Aside from improving the economic condition of basic sectors including the artisanal fisherfolk, Alcala stressed thatinclusive growth can only be achieved when the resources had been fully restored, protected, and managed. Also, during the

summit, BFAR has awarded 252 community fish landing centers(CFLCs) to the local government beneficiaries. The agency also unveiled the four national development programs for shellfish, crab,broodstock and the CFLC program, which will establish more centers in coastal communities this year. Meanwhile,thePhilippineMilkfishIndustry Group, in cooperation with BFAR, is holding the First Bangus Congress from Feb. 3 to 5 to bolster the growth of the localmilkfishindustry.Accordingto Alcala, bangus has high potential in the international market because of its savory taste. Among the notable guests who attended and expressed support to the fisheries sectorwere Sen. Cynthia Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda, LGU chiefs, government officials, and non-government organizations and the private sector. (BFAR)

12 One Mindanao February 4, 2016

Bangsamoro peace process continues despite non-passage of BBL—Ferrer

QUEZON CTY-- Government of the Philippines Chief Negotiator Mirriam Coronel-Ferrer said that the Bangsamoro peace process will continue even though the 16th Congress closed sessions Wednesday (3 Feb) without passing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

photo credits to: inquirer.com


“The collective inaction of our legislators to complete the deliberation on the BBL did not, and will not, stop the momentum of the Bangsamoro peace process,” Ferrer said in a statement on Wednesday. “At this low point, we call for sobriety and perseverance.”

Ferrer said the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) from which the proposed BBL was created, “remains a signed document that binds the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to their respective obligations in order to seal the peace…”

FerrersaidtheCABreflectsthe “diverse interests” of stakeholders concerned in the creation of a Bangsamoro region and promotes social justice through equal distribution of wealth in Muslim Mindanao.

She added that CAB also provides mechanisms for the transformation of conflict-affected areas to safecommunities, decommissioning of MILF weapons, and remove biases that allowed the huge gap of the majority of Filipinos with minority populations.

“It took a long time to get to this set of practical steps,” Ferrer said. “We need to take away the fear and distrust of the Bangsamoro for our country to become whole.”

She urged politicians and the public to study the history of conflictinandthepeaceprocessof Mindanao to understand the peace efforts the government has undertaken.

“As members of the GPH negotiating panel, we will do everything in the remaining time we have to ensure that the infrastructure for implementing the peace accord are fully functional so that the next administration will be in a good position to carry forward the full implementation of the agreement,” Ferrer said. (PRC-PIA)


DAR extends P24.8M to ARBOs of Surigao Norte, Dinagat Islands By: Daryll M. Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - A total of P24,856,589.00 has already been extended by the Department of Agrarian Reform - Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) to its assisted agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) through its project Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) since it started last 2012.


DENR Caraga reviews joint operating manualBUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is reviewing the guidelines for the operationalization of the Joint Regional Committee on Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), DENR, Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to keep tract of the operations.

By: Herzon F. Gallego

This is what Ma. Elizabeth L. De Guzman, the provincial agrarian reformprogramofficerI of DAR-SDN made known during the ARBO assessment on ARCCESS project last January 27, 2016 at the Philippine Gateway Hotel, this city. The ARCCESS benefits 11ARBOs in both the provinces of Surigao del Norte and the Dinagat Islands. Out of 11 ARBOs, nine are from Surigao Norte and two from Dinagat Islands. Forthefirsttime,afterfouryears of implementation through DAR-SDN’sProgramBeneficiariesDevelopment Division, the said ARBOs were tasked to assess on their experiences and impression on ARCCESS. They assessed the four

components of ARCCESS which are common service facilities, agri-extension services, business development service, and progress project monitoring. In general, the recipient ARBOs were more than glad that they were able to access government services through ARCCESS implemented by DAR. They said that the project really helped in augmenting the income of their organizations and increase the productivity and income of their members especially the agrarian reform beneficiaries. PARPO De Guzman hoped that the ARBOs will be able to sustain the project to further serve other ARBOs and their neighboring barangays.


The operating manual which involves the four regional heads namely, Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo, CESO IV of the DENR, Regional Director Julieta A. Ragandang, CESO III of DAR, Regional Director Atty. Pinky Grace Pareja-Pabelic of the NCIP and the LRA-Register ofDeedsofficer-in-chargeSusanB. Afable were signatories to the document. The manual paves the way for the creation of a Joint-Regional Committee that will address or resolve conflicts that affect the

implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, Indigenous People Rights Act, Public Land Act, and Land R e g i s t r a t i o n Act/ Property R e g i s t r a t i o n Decree in relation to their respective mandates. The DENR, under the guidelines, has jurisdiction over all lands of the public domain (i.e. agricultural

lands, forest or timber lands, national parks, and mineral lands) except those placed by the law and/or other issuances under the operation jurisdiction of other government agencies. The DENR is also responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources as may be provided by existing laws.


SurSur treasury chief cites “amnesty” as cause of poor tax collection on real property

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – The Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) in Surigao del Sur has directly linked “tax amnesty” as the primary cause of failure for its concerned staff to hit the “Revenue Generation Program on Real Property Taxes” in 2015. Crispa Geli, PTO in-charge, bared in her report on Monday’s flag ceremony program that“the amount of P50,399,794.18 was collected or 68.28% only as against our target which is P79,085,293.39.”

However, she said that “As of December 31, 2015, the total amount of P1,001,485,448.48 was collected or 98.56% as against its target,” citing earlier “an estimated amount of P987,029,328.00 for General

By: Greg Tataro Jr

photocredit: Philippine-propertynet


Fund and Special Education Fund as available for appropriation” based on the plans and programs for calendar year 2015. As part of their 2015 Annual Accomplishment Report, Geli presented that apart from real property tax collection, their main task included the collections on business tax, fees and charges, as well as economic enterprise. The province has 17 municipalities to rely on its real property tax collection campaign, but only two had surpassed their assigned targets—Carmen and Tagbina posting 202.74 percent and 101.39 percent of cumulative collection as of December 2015, respectively, based on the data

provided. In this regard, Lingig town was at the rock bottom of the list by only achieving 27.92 percent. Geli hinted concerned officialsexplained they were affected by theoutcomeofboundaryconflictwith the adjacent province—Davao Oriental. Tax amnesty generally bred poor collection, the treasury chief pointed out in a follow-up interview. Geli also clarified thatalthough tax amnesty was implemented last year, extension of Provincial Resolution No. 232 series of 2014 only took effect until June 30, 2015.


Baliguian town to receive P3-M financial aidBy Franklin P. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – A financial assistance worth P3 million will soon be given by the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte to Baliguian town after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) authorized Governor Roberto Y. Uy to sign a memorandum of agreement with Mayor Albina A. Esmali to effect the granting of said amount.


In its last regular session, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved Governor Uy’s request for the provincial governmenttoextendafinancialassistance to Baliguian town.The amount will be used as the municipality’s counterpart fund for the construction of a farm-to-market road from junction national highway in barangay Mamawan to barangays Diculom and Milidan.To ensure judicious utilization of said financial aid, theprovincial government requires

the municipal government to submit regular liquidation reports according to government accounting rules and regulations.In a similar development, the provincial government also aims toextendfinancialassistancetoall municipalities and cities of the province to help improve the living condition of the people in the area.Zamboanga del Norte had been tagged as the poorest province in the country more than a decade ago.

Lamitan Mayor Furigay delivers State of the City Report By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – Lamitan City Mayor Rosita U. Furigay delivered her State of the City Report on January 28 to the public, presenting her multi-million-worth of accomplishments of various programs and infrastructure in 2015.“Likening our leadership and governance to that of a parent keen on building a house with strong pillars, capable of withstanding external and internal pressures of everyday

life, we have rallied everyone towards envisioning and working together for an Abante (Forward) Lamitan City,” the mayor said as she opened


her more than an hour report.Mayor Furigay presented the accomplishment, achievements, and projects for 2015 before distinguished guests which include Congressman Jim Hataman-Salliman,LGUofficials,officialsfromthesecuritysector,religious leaders, members of CPAF clan, partner-NGOs and other sectors.The accomplishments were attested by various recognitions and accreditations from different government agencies by championing good governance practices, engaging citizenry participation, and advocating transparency.For two consecutive years, the ARMM Regional Gawad Kalasag Award was conferred to Lamitan

City in 2014 and 2015, which cited as the Best Prepared City in the ARMM Region for its outstanding performance in disaster risk reduction and management and for its existing local disaster coordinating teams.A certification of Seal of GoodHousekeeping was also given in 2014 by the DILG and the city had also begun working to attain the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG). Actually, Lamitan is the only LGU so far in ARMM to have beenrecognizedandqualifiedforthe SGLG.Furigay said that in a recent letter from DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, Lamitan has already complied four out of six criteria for the SGLG seal, namely:


social protection, peace and order, environmental management, and business-friendliness and competitiveness.The chief executive cited that the fast booming economy, infrastructure development, and peace and order were made possible through the enormous support of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, Congressman Jim Hataman-Salliman, the City Council led by Vice-Mayor Roderick Furigay, barangayofficials,andthepeopleof Lamitan.Funding allocations were poured in to support its health programs and facilities, such as birthing facilities, sponsored PHILHEALTH cards for indigents and senior citizens, TB centers for drug-resistant patients, dental supplies and equipment, and improved service capacity of Rural Health Units, among others.Millions of funds were also allocated for several infrastructure and services in education, agriculture, public works, youth development, other social

development programs, support to cooperatives, environment protection, tourism development, peace and security, and disaster preparedness, among others. While most of the infrastructure projects were completed, a number of multi-million projects are still ongoing acquired from Land Bank loans, namely: construction of Infirmary andBirthing Facility (P15-M), construction of City Gymnasium (P35-M), construction of two-story commercial complex—Business Center (P44-M), and construction of six multi-purpose center and covered court (P15-M).Responding to the public’s clamor for a stable power supply in Lamitan and after careful study and series of consultations, the city also purchased four units 5MW Caterpillar Power Generator sets. Furigay said that this will boost the city’s business and economic enterprise and hasten its vision of Abante Lamitan City.The mayor also cited the ongoing projects from DPWH-ARMM under the Basilan District Engineering


Office through the initiative ofRG Hataman with an estimated total cost of 420.4 million pesos. Millions of pesos are also in store for 2016 infrastructure projects for Lamitan.“Clearly, we are at a stage where we are still gearing up to becoming a progressive, peaceful, and self-sustainable city that we envision.

We still have a lot of work to do,” she said.Mayor Furigay asked Lamiteños to continue to dream and make things happen and that previous successes should serve as inspiration to face the future with the same level of dedication and optimism.

DOH culminates Goiter Awareness Week celebration in DapitanBy Alfonso T. Ruda

DAPITAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health-9, in collaboration with the National Nutrition Council culminated its week-long celebration of Goiter Awareness Week at Dapitan City Resort Hotel, here.


Global Iodine Network Executive Director Dr. Teofilo San Luissaid Dapitan City was chosen to be the site of the 2016 Goiter Awareness Week culmination activity to highlight the problem affecting the province and region 9 concerning Iodine DeficiencyDisorders.(IDD)Based on the 2013 National Nutrition Survey (NNS), Zamboanga Peninsula has poorest Iodine Nutritional Status measured by urinary iodine concentration among school children coupled with the fact that region 9 has the highest prevalence of Iodine DeficiencyDisorder at 41%, lowest iodization utilization per household with Zamboanga del Norte among them.San Luis pointed out that of the 22,000 households surveyed nationwide with 1,139 participants from region 9, ZamPen registered the lowest iodine excretion among school-aged children. He stressed that the school-age is the very indicator of the situation in the entire community.

The NNS also showed that only fifty percent (50%) of thepopulation in the region is aware that the consumption and regular utilization of iodized salt will effectivelypreventthedeficiency.Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Health Officer Dr. Eduardo E.Luayon admitted the low utilization of iodized salt in the province and urged stakeholders to maximize and sustain advocacy campaign. He also stressed the importance of iodized salt especially among school-age children and lactating mothers.In 1995, a law was enacted to support the implementation of the Universal Salt Iodization program in the Philippines. Republic Act 8172 or an Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide requires all salt being used, sold or traded for human and animal consumption must be iodized.Under Proclamation No. 1188 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the 4th week of January has been declared as Goiter Awareness Week. This


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY– Officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) visited the Linabu Agrarian Multipurpose Cooperative (LAMPCO) in Linabu, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental and toured their coco sugar processing plant on Thursday, January 21, following the official launching of Project ConVERGE (Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment) earlier in the day.

By: Ressan Nash N. Alonto

DAR, IFAD officials visit MisOr ARB Coop


Linabu is one of the 91 agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in 11 ARC clusters that will take part in the six-year project. Among those who joined the activity were DAR Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects HermanOngkiko,DARCentralOfficeProject Management Service (DARCO-PMS) Director Maria Celerina Afable, DAR-X Regional Director Faisar Mambuay, DAR-X Assistant Regional Director for Operations Teresita Depeñoso, DAR Misamis Oriental Provincial Agrarian Reform Program OfficerIIZoraidaMacadindang,IFADManager for Southeast Asia Benoit Thierry, and IFAD Country Program OfficerYolandoArban. According to LAMPCO general manager Maria Virgenia Pejoro, the main enterprise of the cooperative is their coco sugar production. The cooperative was registered with the Cooperative Development Authority on June 24, 1997 with 48 members. As of date, their membership grew to 360 members. The cooperative has 28 active suppliers of coco sap, 48 coco sap gatherers, and 26 workers in the cooperative. At the start of the project, their production was at 3 kilos a day, then grew to 10 kilos a day, then increased to 50 kilos a day, until they produce up to 9 tons a month. Lately, they reduced their production to 3 to 6 tons a month because of dwindling supply of the coco sap due totheprevailingElNiňophenomenon

in this part of Mindanao. Pejoro also said that their coco sugar product can now be seen in malls such as SM and Metro Gaisano-Cebu, and they have 3 bulk buyers in Manila. They also export their products to Japan. With the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that provided equipment and short-service facility programs to the cooperative, their product is now Halal-certified,whichenablesthemtoexport their coco sugar to the Middle East. Thierry expressed hope that the activity will go far beyond the coco sugar production and would be a value chain and that the farmers would be abletoprofitfromit. USec. Ongkiko said the LAMPCO is the first cooperative of agrarianreformbeneficiariestohaveventuredinto coco sugar in the country with the help of other government agencies. He said, “Ang pagsama-sama namin sa gobyerno ay tulong sa mga organisasyon. Ang pakay po ng DAR, DTI, PCA at ng DA ay hindi lamang ang pagtaas ng kalidad ng produkto o kaya yung productivity. Ang puno’t dulo ay tataas ang income ng bawat miyembro ng organisasyon.”


Camiguin posts decline in teenage pregnancyBy: Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – The cases of teenage pregnancy here in the province is reported to post significant decreases.

From year to 2011 to 2014, the provinces have recorded a total of 1,155 teenage mothers. TheProvincialHealthOfficebaredthat that in 2015 they only recorded some 152 cases, significantly lowerwhen compared to the 209 cases in 2014, and 331 monitored teenage pregnancies in 2013. The governor attributed the decrease to various interventions initiated in partnership with the Commission on Population (POPCOM). He said apart from the regular reproductive health sessions conducted to high school students, responsible parenting and family planning topics were also incorporated in the family development sessions at the community level.

Last year, the province launched the Kalalakihang Tapat sa Resposibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya (KATROPA), reaching 750 fathers with an aim of educating men on their responsibilities towards their wives and children, including some important provisions of RA 9262 or commonly known sa Violence Against Women And Children (VAWC) law.

A school-based teen center is also established at the Mambajao National High School (MNHS) on December 2014. This center is now actively operating as haven for student where they can freely learn and share their experiences with their teachers and friends by organizing peer counselors. Just last year, the You-4-You (U4U) Teen Trail was also launched, an online and mobile technology that bring critical information directly to the youth. It is highly interactive and designed to br bring information in the form of games, movies, songs, and dances.


P20M worth of farm mechanization assistance turned-over By: Joanne L. Olson

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY – Fomenting its farm mechanization assistance, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned-over nearly P20 million worth of farm machineries and equipment to farmer associations (FAs) and organizations and local government units (LGUs) throughout Northern Mindanao, this town on January 26, 2016. A total of 1 unit mini four-wheel drive tractor, 9 units water pump and engine set, 10unitspowertiller–floating(turtle),50units power tiller – hand tractor (riding), 21 units mechanical rice transplanter, 27 units mechanical rice thresher, 5 units cassava grater and 6 units mobile corn mill were formallyentrustedtoproject-beneficiaries. In her message, Engr. Roxana H. Hojas, assistant regional director of DA-RFO 10, stressed the rationale in the conduct of a mass turn-over ceremony. Since the agency is keen to help out its clienteles, she highlighted that the activity is an imperative, so as to ensure that the technical specifications of theprojects sought will perfectly suit to the needs of the proponents and fast track its implementation, at the same time. Dir. Hojas also underscored that the downpour of farm machineries and equipment are geared towards reducing farmers’ production cost, bolstering their farm efficiency and warranting timelinessof farm operations that would ultimately augment farmers’ income and livelihood.

“We just hope kaning mga interventions/projects makatabang sa inyo, makapalambo sa inyong panginabuhian ug matabangan nato ang atong nasud. Ug dili moasenso ang atong nasud kon dili molambo ang atong kaugalingon,” (We just hope these interventions/projects will help boost the development of your livelihood and help the community as well. Our country will never attain progress, if we also don’t succeed individually) she said. Cited projects were materialized through funding from the department’s banner programs: Agri-Pinoy Rice and Corn, where each FA/organization or LGU counterparted 15% of the total project cost per unit while the DA shouldered the rest (85%). With the exception of some 55 projects, these were given full grant to qualifiedproject-recipients. In which, majority of these were handed-over to the different LGUs to form part of their machinery pool in support to their quick response initiatives for El Niño.


Public warned on LPG-filled butane cansTAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) cautioned the public not to patronize butane canisters containing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for any use.

DTI XI Information Offi-cer Jenny Mendoza emphasized during the recent Makigsayod sa Kinaiyahan ‘Serbisyo Para sa Masa’ radio program that LPG filledcanisterspostarisktotheconsumers as it may explode or causefire. Mendoza stressed that the butane canisters are made of tin only and is thinner than the re-quired steel tanks for LPG. “Since the canisters are not fit for LPG, it may explode en-dangering their families and even their community,” she said. She also said that the DTI have partnership with the De-partment of Energy (DOE), as well as the LPG marketers as-sociation, to monitor this illegal practice. “If you have any information of any backyard refilling, kindlyreport it to our office or to the

DOE,” she added. Mendoza urged the consum-ers to be more vigilant on the goods they purchased. (PIA11, Michael Uy)


Bank donates funds for Chinese street postsDAVAO CITY- Banco de Oro has donated funds, part of it now being used for Chinese sign posts to be put up in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue inside Davao City’s Chinatown District. “We are targeting to finishthe installation by the second quarter of this year.” Said Jasper Huang of the Davao City China-town Development Council. Banco de Oro and the DCCCDC has signed a memoran-dum of agreement (MOA) for the promotion of the Davao City Chi-natown. The bank donated P3.5 million as sponsorship to be used by DCCCDC for its projects. One of the projects is the installation of Chinese themed street posts of which 63 will be installed in the main thorough-fare of Ramon Magsaysay. Huang said the posts are powder-coated red-color posts with a distinctive dragon figure at the top of thepost reminiscent of the Chinese street posts in Ongpin, inside Manila Chinatown. Apart from the posts the other planned projects include a coffee table book and a dragon boat which will be used by the

dragon boat team. At 44 -hectares Davao Chi-natown is said to be the biggest Chinatown in the world. It is the home to many Chinese mercan-tile establishments and other businesses. Meanwhile the DCDCC will be holding the celebration of Chinese New Year’s eve celebra-tion at Rizal Park instead of the having it in Magsaysay Avenue. Huang said the accessibility of Rizal Park being in the middle of the city will attract more crowds to celebrate the salubong of the Chinese New Year which heralds thearrivaloftheyearofthefire-red monkey. (PIA/RG Alama)


Cloud seeding results in rains — DA 12 By: Danilo E.Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb 4 — Several areas in SOCCSKSARGEN Region and neighboring provinces have reported rain showers attributed to the ongoing cloud seeding sorties con-ducted by the Department of Agriculture 12.


Citing report from South Co-tabato’sOfficeoftheProvincialAgriculturist (OPAG) and the DA 12’s Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, Regional Executive Director Amalia Jay-ag-Datukan said that light to moderate rain were recorded in Koronadal City, Banga, Norala, Tampakan, Sto. Nino and Lake Sebu and heavy rain areas of Polomolok, Tboli and Tupi on January 26 and January 27. It has also rained in General San-tos City.

Since January 27, rain show-ers have also been observed

in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Ba-gumbayan, Kalamansig, Colum-bio, Lambayong, President Quirino, Lebak, Esperanza and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat as well as in the municipalities Kiamba, Maitum, Glan, Malapa-tan, Alabel and Malungon in Sa-rangani.

Similar reports were also reported in some parts of Anti-pas, Arakan, M’lang, Pikit, Mid-sayap, Kidapawan City, Carmen, and Makilala in North Cotabato, Director Datukan said.

RED Datukan noted that some places outside of SOC


Kidapawan City declares State of Calamity due to El Nino

CSKSARGEN Region have also benefitedfromDA12’scloudseeding activities with light to heavy rains reported in Bansa-lan and Magsaysay in Davao Del Sur and some areas in Maguindanao and Bukidnon in the past few days.

Said reports, she pointed out,wereconfirmedbydatafrom the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geo-physical and Astronomical Ser-vices Administration (PAGASA); records from rain gauges in municipal local government units as well as a reports and messages from cloud spotters and netizens.

On Tuesday, February 2, based on posts from netizens ontheofficialFacebookac-

counts of DA 12, moderate to heavy rains were reported in pars General Santos City; Ban-ga, Koronadal City, Polomolok, and Tupi in South Cotabato and Maasim in Sarangani

DA 12 began cloud seeding as a mitigation measure against ongoing dry spell on January 23.

The plane hired for the sor-tiestaketwotofourflightseach day to disperse salt on “seedable”clouds.Eachflightcosts Php45,000.

As of February 2, 147 bags of salt have been used in the cloud seeding sorties. At the beginning of the cloud seeding operation, DA 12 stocked 900 bags of salt for the operation. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Feb. 4 - The Sangguniang Pan-lungsod here has approved two resolutions placing this city under a state of calamity due to the El Nino phenomenon.Approved during a special session on Tuesday morning were Res-olution No. 16-029 and Resolution No. 12-030.

By: Danilo E.Doguiles


Both legislations call for the approval of declaring the city under the state of calamity and authorizing City Mayor Joseph Evangelista to use a portion of the Php4-million Local Disas-ter Risk Reduction and Manage-ment Fund for the implemen-tation of the El Nino Calamity Intervention program

Last week, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council passed a resolution ad-dressed to the SP to declare a state of calamity, considering the damage that dry spell has wrought on the city’s agricul-ture sector.

City Agriculturist Nesmari Es-pejo, in his report, said over Php 30 million damage to crops have been recorded from farm-ing villages in this city.

This translates to more than 11,000 families or about 25% the number of the city’s total population affected by the dry spell,ascertifiedbytheCitySocial Welfare and Development Officeinaseparatereport.

The dry spell has affected the livelihood of mostly tenant and marginal farmers, laborers, and indigent workers, as stated in SP Resolution number 16-030.

With the approval of both mentioned SP resolutions, the

City Government can now fa-cilitate the Food for Work Assis-tance under the El Nino Calam-ity Intervention Program.

Heads of the indigent fami-lies affected by the dry spell will help the City Government in its Anti Dengue, Rat Tail and Anti- Black Bug Campaigns as well as Canalization of water ways go-ing into the farming villages.Inreturn,eachbeneficiary

will receive 13 kilograms of rice from the City Government for the services rendered under the intervention program. (DEDogu-iles-PIA 12 with report from Kidapawan City Information Of-fice)

38 February 4, 2016One Mindanao

one mindanao - february 4, 2016

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