one mindanao - january 14, 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 ARTISTSMARY MAY A. ABELLON, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. 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

Pagadian diocese spearheads annual fiesta

Cover Story

By Claro A. Lanipa

today’s news

Internal revenue allotment 62% higher since 2010

15

42 Zambo under state of calamity due to ‘critical’ water supply

By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy

President Aquino inaugurates Aboitiz power’s new coal plant in Davao

18 23 NorMin gets P52.3M support from DOLE bottom-up budgeting

24 Ozamiz City gets over P1.3 M DOLE BUB, livelihood projects

30 Kidapawan enforces speed limits in major thoroughfaresBy: Danilo E.Doguiles 33 DILG intensifies BUB

water project in Dinagat IslandsBy Leslie Ann M. Bantasan

SOCCSKSARGEN

CARAGA

INFOCUS

WESTERN

NORTHERN

1118

21

31 40

NATIONAL

By: Glenford C. Labial

By: Apipa P. Bagumbaran

36 Search for outstanding teachers info campaign set in ButuanBy Jesusa Fudalan-Tiu

28

26 New city jail warden vows to rid Ma-a Jail of contraband

SOUTHERN By: Lei Garrett I. Miraflor

27 Public urged not to accept old bills in transactions

By: Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

By: RG Alama

4 January14, 2016One Mindanao4 January 12, 2016One Mindanao

5January 14, 2016 One Mindanao

Pagadian diocese

spearheads annual

fiesta By Claro A. Lanipa

5

6 January14, 2016One Mindanao

W ith the theme “Señor Sto. Niño: Tuburan sa Gugma, Kalooy ug Kaaghop nga nagpasinati sa Panalangin ug Grasya (Señor Sto. Niño: Source of Mercy and Kindness through His Blessing and Grace),” the diocese of

Pagadian has kicked off Friday its annual fiesta celebration which will culminate on Jan. 17.

7January 14, 2016 One Mindanao 7

W ith the theme “Señor Sto. Niño: Tuburan sa Gugma, Kalooy ug Kaaghop nga nagpasinati sa Panalangin ug Grasya (Señor Sto. Niño: Source of Mercy and Kindness through His Blessing and Grace),” the diocese of

Pagadian has kicked off Friday its annual fiesta celebration which will culminate on Jan. 17.


Rev. Fr. Allan Onden, parish administrator, said “the opening salvo aims to inform and make the people/devotees aware that a series of activities for the weeklong celebration already started. The rituals were presented and performed at the city’s wharf area by the Melengas Dance Ensemble of the Zamboanga del Sur National High School. The weeklong celebration would also bring to mind how the wooden image of Señor Sto. Niño was brought to the Philippines specifically here in the city which led to the birth of “Pangadyian Festival.”

Fr. Onden explained that this year’s fiesta celebration was also anchored on last year’s theme, “The Year of Mercy and Compassion,” and this year’s theme, “Year of the Eucharist and the Year of the Family” as declared by the Roman Catholic Church headed by Pope Francis.

This year’s theme was sub-divided into nine sub themes for each Novena Masses, as follows: “Senor Sto. Nino: Kalig-on sa Nanalipod sa Kinaiyahan” (Strength in the Defense of the

Environment), “ N a g p a t u b o sa mga bili sa Kinabuhi sa Pamilya” ( E n h a n c i n g the Values of Family life), “Dalangpanan sa mga Kabataan nga Hinikawan” (A Refuge of the A b a n d o n e d Children), “Nag-uban kanato sa Bayhon sa Pan sa Kinabuhi” (Our companion as a bread of life), “Prinsepe sa Pakigdait ug Kalinaw” ( Prince of G o o d w i l l and Peace), “Mahigugmaon ug Maggiloy-on sa mga Tigulang ug Sinalikway”(Loving and Merciful for the elderly and the less fortunate), “Tigpanalipod batok sa Pag-abuso sa Tawhanong Dignidad” (Protector against Abuses of Human Dignity), “Dalangpanan sa mga Tawo nga adunay Balatian ug Kabilinggan” (A Refuge of the sick and


differently abled persons).

Different groups and parishes were designated to sponsor the novena masses such as the city government offices together with the San Jose Parish in Pagadian City; the civic and professional organizations with the San Isidro Labrador Parish of Danlugan, Pagadian City; the business community and the Our Lady

of Fatima Parish, Balangasan, Pagadian City; the provincial government offices together with the Vicariate of Baganian Peninsula; the law enforcement agencies and the 1st Infantry “Tabak’ Division, Philippine Army Chaplaincy Office; the institutional services groups with the San Pedro Parish, Pagadian City; the Department of Education (DepEd) regional, provincial and

10 January 14, 2016One Mindanao

city divisions with the Vicariate of Salug Valley; the national government offices together with the Vicariate of ARMS (Aurora, Ramon Magsaysay, Midsalip and Sominot); and the wharf area group with the Sto. Nino Cathedral Parish Community for the “Bisperas” (eve) of the feast day celebration.

In every novena masses a “Pangadyian Sayaw Pasalamat” follows to be participated in by the following Sinulog contigents: Sta. Lucia National High School,

Saint Columban High School, Gaisano Capital, Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and Trades, Comprehensive National High School, Pagadian City Science High School and the Holy Child Academy.

The Regatta 2016 and street dancing competitions are also among the lined up activities for the weeklong “Pasalamat” (thanksgiving) celebration. (FPG/CAL/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)


MANILA-- The National Economic and Development Authority has projected that the sustained reduction in the country’s poverty incidence in terms of population will be between 18 percent to 20 percent for 2016, from 26.3 percent in 2009, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.

CCT program drastically cut number of poor families—PNoy


This reduction in the number of poor households in the country is due to the implementation of

pro-poor programs, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, the President said

photocredit to: mb.com

One Mindanao12 January 14, 2016

during a conference on sustaining the gains of the CCT, held at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

He noted that according to the preliminary result of the latest round of assessments conducted

by the National Household Targeting System, almost 1.55 million CCT families, or more than 7.7 million Filipinos, have been lifted out of poverty.

He said he believes the CCT is an effective tool to fight poverty and the administration

filephoto: philstar.com


has proven that. “With enough political will, the right and prudent concentration of resources and funds, and the proper implementation of a solution borne out of our correct identification of problem, massive transformation can take place,” he said. One of the key expansions to the CCT program involved covering households with children in high school, based on the finding that those who graduate from high school earn 40 percent more than those who merely attained some elementary education.

Just last year, the President said, the first batch of the 4th year high school student beneficiaries of CCT graduated. Of the 333,673 graduates, more than 13,400 finished with honors and various awards.

Students who choose to enroll in technical-vocational programs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be further enabled to go beyond being casual workers without security, he added.

President Aquino pointed out that if a student joins the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, where a monthly salary of P18,000 is already considered at the low end, he will earn P234,000 in a year. If he is given the maximum tax deduction, his annual income tax will be at P7,900, the President said, adding that for TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program, the government invests about P7,155 for every scholar.

“In the first year of employment alone, the investment of government would be paid back in full, with profit,” he said.


The Chief Executive further noted that 10.18 million children are benefitting from the CCT, 1.9 million of whom are in high school. Citing a May 2015 study of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the UNICEF, he said that despite the increase in population, the number of out-of-school youth decreased from 2.9 million in 2008 to 1.2 million in 2013.

The government has raised

the CCT’s budget allocation from P10 billion in 2010 to P62 billion in 2015, allowing it to increase the number of beneficiaries from 786,000 poor households in 2010 to nearly 4.4 million poor households and homeless families in five years.

For 2016, the Aquino government has further increased the program’s budget allocation to P62.7 billion to cover 4.6 million households, including those who have graduated from extreme poverty and are considered “near poor”, or those who are at risk of sliding back to an impoverished state with just one catastrophic disease or natural disaster. (PCOO/PND)


MANILA -- The improvement in revenue collection continues to impact positively on the finance of local government units (LGUs) with the total Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) share released to LGUs amounting to P428.62 billion in 2016. This represents a 10 percent increase over the 2015 IRA share and more than 60 percent compared to 2010, according to Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad.

Internal revenue allotment 62% higher since 2010


“On top of the CCT, KALAHI-CIDSS, PhilHealth, and the innovative Bottom-up Budgeting projects, the increase in IRA can only mean more capacity for LGUs to provide social services and local infrastructure projects for local communities,” Abad said.

The budget chief further said that the Aquino administration’s meaningful devolution thrust has resulted not only in more national government resources being transferred to local governments, but also greater participation of LGUs and local communities in the national decision-making. He added that, “Efficient tax collection and our policy of building the capacity of LGUs to serve as partners of the national government in the implementation of projects have made this possible. This means more gains in terms of infrastructure build-up and social services in local communities.”

For this year, a total of 43,593 LGUs received a share of the IRA in the 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA) amounting to P428.62 billion, or 14.28 percent of this year’s total budget. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs shall have a 40 percent share from the national internal revenue taxes on collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current year.

The following is the breakdown of the IRA shares from 2010 to 2016:

Abad also said that since 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been automatically and


comprehensively releasing the IRA of LGUs at the start of every year, without any conditions or actions required from LGUs. This policy is better than the one mandated by the 1991 Local Government Code requiring releases to be made only “on a quarterly basis” (as referenced in Title III, Section 286).

This has been further enhanced with the adoption by the DBM and the Department of Finance of the policy of direct release, which would allow the IRA share of LGUs to be released directly from the Bureau of Treasury to the bank account of LGUs, Abad said. (DOLE)

filephoto: philstar.com

18 One Mindanao January 14, 2016

President Aquino inaugurates Aboitiz power’s new coal plant in Davao

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur - President Benigno S. Aquino III inaugurated here Friday Aboitiz Power Corporation’s 300-megawatt (MW) base load power plant that aims to address Mindanao’s concerns for stable power supply.

photo credit: northboundasia.com


In his speech during the inauguration of the new coal plant, the President said the situation in Mindanao has made it obvious that the region needs more base load power.

He admitted that while he believes in developing renewable energy, the country at this point cannot wean itself completely from relying on coal-fired power plants to stabilize the supply of electricity.

However, he said, the ultimate goal is to achieve the right energy mix with no less than 30 percent of the country’s energy source derived from renewables.

“When this plant becomes fully operational, we can count on it to consistently produce 300 megawatts of base load power, which means that this capacity can be tapped into anytime, rain or shine, with very minor fluctuations,” he said in his speech.

“To emphasize just how significant this is, this plant’s dependable capacity is roughly

equivalent to one-fifth of the Mindanao grid’s highest peak demand in 2015—and it is already delivering power to areas at the end of the grid, such as Sarangani, General Santos, and the Zamboanga peninsula.”

The President further said that apart from all the projects that have come to fruition during the current administration, the private sector has committed to undertake at least another 11 power projects in Mindanao that will come online between 2016 and 2020, which are envisioned to produce at least 675.30 MW, more than enough to cover the projected increase in demand for those years.

President Aquino thanked Aboitiz Power and Therma South Inc. “for being an early believer in the potential of Mindanao”.

Noting that he has less than six months in office, the Chief Executive vowed to fulfill his government’s promise to leave Mindanao in a better situation by maintaining its commitment to peace and by developing the region’s infrastructure to attain inclusive growth.


“If we continue working together—both public and private sector alike—we can truly give rise to a Mindanao that reaches its full potential, and prove, once more, that nothing is impossible to a united Filipino people,” he said.

The P35-billion power plant currently supplies base load power to more than 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao, providing electricity to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan, Kidapawan, Tagum, Koronadal, Digos, Pagadian and Cotabato.

It also supplies energy to the Davao region, the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan and Surigao; the Zamboanga Peninsula; and parts of Bukidnon and Misamis.

Aboitiz Power is the holding company of Aboitiz Group’s investment in power generation, distribution, retail and power services. PND (as)(PCOO)

photo credit: rappler.com

21January 14, 2016 One Mindanao21 January 12, 2016One Mindanao

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE – The Lanao del Norte contingent collectively known as ‘Land of Beauty and Bounty’ will be performing a Maranao war dance-inspired routine in the Free Interpretation category of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City on January 17, 2016.

By: Vincent N. Labial

Lanao del Norte to showcase Maranao war dance in Sinulog 2016


This will be Lanao del Norte’s eight-straight participation in the world-renowned festival of Cebu--the Queen City of the South. “This year’s grand presentation is the result of the unanimous decision of the province’s organizing committee when we had our post-Sinulog evaluation last year,” said Provincial Information Officer Lyndon Calica. The Lanao del Norte contingent will be showcasing the ‘Sagayan’ a Maranao war dance performed to ward off evil spirits. The dancers of the contingent will be performing a modernized version of the Darangen, a Maranao epic story, depicting two warring groups that were eventually reconciled and united by Bai-A-Labi who succeeded in bringing lasting peace. This is one biggest contingent sent by the provincial government in its annual participation of the Sinulog Festival. “We have more than 400 individuals comprising our Sinulog delegation. It consists of 96 dancers, 20 ritualists, 200 propsmen, and 35 instrumentalists. We also have teams providing support for our Sinulog performers like our medical personnel, documentation team, carpenters, drivers, food personnel, working committee and even our own internal security group,” said Provincial Tourism Head Minda Regis. Provincial Governor Khalid Dimaporo will again lead the

contingent. Dimaporo is the lone Muslim leader joining the biggest cultural festival in the country. “Through our continued participation in the Sinulog, we want to show to the entire country that in Lanao del Norte there is unity between the Muslims and Christians, that we are a peaceful and progressive province,” said Gov. Dimaporo. Dimaporo added, we also want to underscore the trade relations we have with Cebu City that has contributed much to the fast-paced development of Lanao del Norte. Dancers of the contingent are composed of public school students from Bansarvil National High School of the coastal town of Kapatagan. The chief choreographer of the ‘Land of Beauty and Bounty’ contingent is Mark Eric Debalucos. Reigning Ms Lanao del Norte Diana Therese Mejorada will be the lead dancer of the Lanao del Norte performers. She will be joining this year’s Search for Sinulog Festival Queen.


NorMin gets P52.3M support from DOLE bottom-up budgeting

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To facilitate employment in empowered communities, the Department of Labor and Employment-10 (DOLE-10) released P52.3M to the Local Government Units (LGUs) for the implementation of 49 Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) projects in cities and municipalities in Northern Mindanao.

By: Glenford C. Labial

DOLE-10 Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante said, “We see to it that we intensify our participation in employment generation as our primary mandate. It is also our goal to develop and capacitate all LGUs and civil service organizations (CSOs) in the implementation of BUB projects to respond to the different needs in the communities.” The release of these funds to LGUs is subject to the following governance conditions: a) not receiving an adverse report from the Commission on Audit (COA); b) compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy; and c) submission of their LGU Public Financial Management Improvement Plan. In 2015, the following provinces received BuB projects: Bukidnon-31 livelihood projects with 12,021 beneficiaries from Baungon, Damulog, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Lantapan, Libona, Malaybalay City, Maramag, Talakag and Valencia City. Lanao del Norte-4 projects

with 122 beneficiaries from Balo-I, Kauswagan, and Linamon. Misamis Occidental-7 projects with 367 beneficiaries from Calamba, Lopez Jaena, Ozamiz City, Plaridel, and Tudela. Eastern Misamis Oriental-4 projects with 683 beneficiaries from Gingoog City, Sugbongcogon, and Tagoloan. The Province of Western Misamis Oriental was released with some 3 projects benefitting 271 beneficiaries of Cagayan de Oro City. DOLE-X has financially assisted some 14,464 beneficiaries for its BUB livelihood grants for the entire region. The BuB projects were jointly identified by the LPRAT composed of Mayor or the Local Chief Executive and the Planning Officer of the LGUs and local CSOs through a participatory planning and budgeting exercise and a landmark reform, because the Philippines is the first country in the world that has implemented participatory budgeting at the national


The DOLE programs include DOLE Balik Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program and the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) Projects of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Ozamiz City on 7 December 2015 at the City Hall Lobby, Ozamiz City. DOLE -10 Misamis Occidental PFO Head Leonardo G. Rodrigo led the turnover of the kabuhayan kits, which were formally distributed to the project beneficiaries. The turnover ceremony was graced by Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog, Sr. and facilitated by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Judith R. Halasan. The event was likewise attended by

the different barangay officials served by the projects. DOLE-10 Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante said that the identified projects were Livelihood Projects for Women on Food Processing and Cookery as proposed by the 51 beneficiaries of the Federated Women Association of Ozamiz City in the amount of ₱300,000 and ₱880,000 worth of electrical, welding and cookery starter kits to 60 constituents of the Federation of Rural Urban Poor Organization of Ozamiz City Inc. (FRUPOOCI). In addition, food preparation starter kits and skills training were granted to 18 Distressed Pinay OFW

Ozamiz City gets over P1.3 M DOLE BUB, livelihood projectsOZAMIZ CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10, (DOLE-10), through its Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Office released a total of ₱1,360,000 in the form of training and starter kits for the implementation of DOLE programs.

level. DOLE-X conducted the capacity building on project making cum project monitoring and evaluation to strategize on-time submission of proposals in order to fast track the

implementation of livelihood projects. As a result, BuB was recognized for its outstanding efforts to deepen citizen engagement in the budget process.

By: Lei Garrett I. Miraflor


Returnees of DOLE Balik Pinay Balik Hanapbuhay Livelihood Program amounting to ₱180,000.

Bulk of the participants consisted of pedicab and motorcab drivers, women laborers and OFWs, numbering about 129 in total. Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) is implemented as a reform program of the National Government with the objective of attaining the Philippine Development Plan’s goals of inclusive growth and poverty reduction. It aims to further capacitate the community to be part of the planning process as well as promote good governance through government accountability. “Through the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) process,

organizations of all basic sectors most especially workers in the informal economy can acquire livelihood skills to help them obtain gainful employment and initiate livelihood projects”, Agravante said. On behalf of the 51 barangay recipients, FRUPOOCI President Rosemarie L. Decena expressed her gratitude to the DOLE and the city government of Ozamiz City in bringing livelihood projects to the poor and disadvantaged families in their locality. “All of our hard works had paid-off. Free education and a Training kit at the end of the course is a life-changing blessing. This is an answered prayer,” said Decena.


New city jail warden vows to rid Ma-a Jail of contrabandDAVAO CITY- A new city jail warden has vowed to rid the Ma-a City Jail with drugs and other contraband. Paying his courtesy call at the session Tuesday of the Sang-guniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw, Jail Superintendent Jonathan La-bate, warden of the Ma-a City Jail said clearing the jail is the great-est challenge to his leadership now. He assumed management of the city jail only in December 2015. Labate said just like other jails in the country, he remains unsure if the city jail is indeed drug-free. “I will not promise, but I will do my best to make the jail zero in drugs, any contraband, zero in all forms of illegal items inside such as cellphones, wines and cigarettes in adherence to the smoking ordinance of the city,” he said.

He also described the city jail to have a land area at 600 square meters, with a building having 42 cells which house 2,525 inmates. Labate said that ideally, the jail can only house 383 inmates. “To ease the congestion, we conduct livelihood and religious activities in accordance with the program to reform and rehabili-tate the inmates by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology with the support of non-govern-ment organizations,” he said. Labate said the jail has 2,077 non-Moro inmates and 448 Moro detainees. He said that out of the 2,525 inmates, 1,200 are registered voters. Labate also revealed that there are 45 high risked detain-ees composed of drug lords, syndicate leaders and hard core criminals. He said the detain-ees are 11 high-profile alleged


offenders from the local govern-ment units like vice mayors and councilors of various towns and barangays, members of the po-lice and Armed Forces. “Members of the BJMP only act as their guards,” Balate point-ed out. He also revealed that 28 de-tainees are already serving their

respective sentences, especially those who have to stay for three years below. “70 percent of the cases filed against the detainees are drug-related while some were in-volved in crimes against persons like murder, rape and robbery,” he said. (Joey Sem G. Dalump-ines)

Public urged not to accept old bills in transactionsDAVAO CITY- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has urged the pub-lic not to accept old bills in their transactions. Guesting at Biz Talk media forum held at Big 8 Hotel in Tagum City yesterday (Jan, 12), Dorothy Joy Diaz of the Economic and Fi-nancial Learning Center BSP re-gional office said that these old bills are demonetized effective after December 31, 2015. The New Design Series of banknotes which were issued from 1985 to 1993 have already been superseded by the New Generation Currency (NGC) is-sued in 2010. Diaz said that the public if in possession of these notes would have to surrender them to the banks and exchange them for the newer notes. Jerome Villadolid, cash op-

erations department of BSP-XI said that for smaller amount of notes they can be exchanged at the banks. While those for big-ger value cash exchanges they can surrender the old notes at the BSP office in Davao City. Dai-ly banking transactions is until 2 p.m. NGC features more security features to prevent counterfeit-ing and are more durable than the NDS. Diaz said that the BSP hopes to get the estimated P61-billion NDS cash still in circulation, though she says not all of this amount are active as some are destroyed by calamities or kept in alkansyas or piggy banks. She urged the public to ex-change these bills as they will be of completely no value by January 1, 2017. (RG Alama)


South Cotabato eyes multimillion coffee project with PRDPBy: Danilo E.Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Jan. 14 -- With the cassava granules project already going strong, the provincial govern-ment of South Cotababo is turning its focus on boosting the coffee industry in the province and neighboring areas.


Justina Navarrete, provincial agriculturist, confirmed in an interview that its proposal to the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) for a mul-timillion coffee production and marketing project is already on the final phase and could be approved this year.

Navarrete noted the actual cost of the project, which will be funded under PRDP’s invest-ment development component, I-REAP, is not yet certain at the moment.

I-REAP (Investments for Ru-ral Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity) aims to strengthen and de-velop viable agri-fishery based enterprises through efficient value chains of key agricultural and fishery products in targeted project areas by providing tech-nical, financial and infrastruc-ture support.

If approved, the coffee pro-duction and marketing project will be managed by the Tupi Coffee Growers’ Association, Inc. (TUCOGAI) based in near-by Tupi town. Navarrete, how-ever, emphasized, other cof-fee growers in South Cotabato and neighboring areas will also benefit from the project.

During the 2nd Regional Coffee Congress in General Santos City last September, Dr. Dante Eugenio, president of the SOCCSKSARGEN Coffee Alliance told Philippine Infor-mation Agency the proposed coffee investment project could do good not only to farm-ers in South Cotabato but also to growers in Sultan Kudarat province where the bulk of cof-fee production in SOCCSKSAR-GEN Region comes from.

Data from the Philippine Sta-tistics Authority indicate that SOCCSKSARGEN Region pro-duced 28,000.20 metric tons of dried coffee berries in 2014, making the region the top cof-fee producer in the country.

Of this volume, 22,613.06 metric tons were produced by farmers in Sultan Kudarat province.

In 2014, PRDP green-lighted the cassava granules produc-tion and marketing project pro-posed by the provincial gov-ernment of South Cotabato and partner organizations.

The Php 39-million cassava project, the first to be given funding under the I-REAP com-ponent of PRDP, is being im-plemented by the Samahang Nayon Polo Multipurpose Co


Kidapawan enforces speed limits in major thoroughfares

operative based in Polo-molok town, this province.

I-REAP projects are funded by the World Bank with counter-part equity of 20 percent from

the proponent local government unit and 20 percent from the national government. (DEDogu-iles-PIA 12)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Jan. 14 — Motorists travers-ing the Kidapawan in North Cotabato be aware: The city govern-ment is enforcing speed limits within its jurisdiction.

By: Danilo E.Doguiles

Speed limits of 30 to 80 kph are mandated by the City Or-dinance No. 15-1061 entitled An Ordinance Enacting the Kidapawan City Public Safety, Security, Peace and Order Code of 2015.

This ordinance, according to a report from the City Informa-tion Office aims to check ac-cidents involving motorists and pedestrians.

Per Article L Section 69 of the mentioned ordinance 30 kph speed limit will be enforced from the Landmark to Cross-ing Balindog, Pinantao, Estanol Subdivision in Sudapin and Mag-saysay.

Speed limit of 60 kph should

be observed from Crossing Pinantao until the boundary of Sibawan as well as from Cross-ing Estanol to Ilomavis, Crossing Magsaysay to Junction and from Crossing Balindog to Kilometer 114 in Paco.

From Kilometer 144 to Ba-rangay Patadon, motorists should be traveling at speeds not exceeding 80 kph.

These speed limits cover all types of vehicles from mo-torcycles to trucks and buses. (DEDoguiles- PIA 12 with re-port from the Kidapawan City Information Office)


BJMP Caraga personnel undergo drug testing By JO2 Orlando V Montalban

BUTUAN CITY -- Top regional officials, wardens and jail non-com-missioned officers and non-uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Caraga have themselves tested for illegal drugs on Tuesday, Jan. 12 by the personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga. BJMP Caraga regional director J/SSUPT Ester G. Pepito had already submitted herself in the drug test conducted at the

BJMP national headquarters last Jan. 8 during the 4th quarter management conference. The first to submit himself


to drug testing in the region was the assistant regional director for administration and operations, J/SSupt Dario Campos, followed by the regional office chiefs of offices and personnel assigned to the jail bureau’s regional headquarters. A total of 46 personnel undergo the test. J/SSupt Pepito reiterated the call of the officer-in-charge of the BJMP, general Deogracias Tapayan that BJMP top management and regional offices personnel need to undergo the random drug testing to ensure that there is moral ascendancy over the men in the field units. She added that there should be no one excused

from the test. The result of the test is expected after three days according to PDEA chemist, Daisy Jane Lor. Personnel who are tested positive of illegal drugs use will face administrative sanctions such as but not limited to dismissal from the service. Moreover, this is also done following the directive of the Interior and Local Government secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento to clean the ranks of the BJMP. In 2015, six BJMP personnel in the region were investigated for drug-related cases. Three of them have been dismissed from the service.


DILG intensifies BUB water project in Dinagat Islands

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had laid menus of projects to be decided by the grassroots level. One of which is the provision of a potable water supply to the barangay through the Bottom-up Budgeting or BuB. BuB is a process where the government and the constituents come together to formulate the plan and budget of cities and municipalities for poverty reduction. It puts emphasis on deepening the participation of stakeholders from the civil society organizations and the grassroots community. BuB seeks to amplify the voice of the grassroots. It aims to empower the grassroots through active participation in articulating their

needs and determining what projects are responsive to their needs. The municipalities of Dinagat and Cagdianao were the beneficiaries of the water project. From the municipality of Dinagat, Brgy. Justiniana Edera was among the beneficiaries. The barangay is composed of four ‘puroks,’ it is geographically situated at the mountainous area of the municipality, if you go to the peak of the barangay you can barely see the municipality

file photo: DILG Caraga

By Leslie Ann M. Bantasan


proper. The main livelihood of the said barangay is farming, hat and mat weaving. Long before, residents of the barangay rely on deep wells and rivers to supply there needs for water. They were having trouble collecting water especially during summer months because deep wells dried up. They also experienced falling in line just to collect water. It is time consuming and requires a lot of physical effort. The Potable Water Supply Project amounted to P735,000.00 (DILG Counterpart: P700,000.00 and LGU Counterpart: P35, 000.00) targeted the whole population of the barangay. Its main objective is to provide safe and quality potable water supply. It shall give more household access to safe water. Its water spring is located two kilometers away from the barangay proper. “Sa unang panahon tulo ka kab-anan namu sa atabay, ug wala pay seguridad sa amu pag-inum, karun nagpasalamat mi ug dako kay naa na sa amu barangay ang tubig, dali rami makapunta sa amu tagsa-tagsa ka trabahoan, ang mga babae nga maglala ug banig ug kalo, ug mga lalake nga

mag-uma, sa mga babae nga dili na maglisud sa pagpanglaba (Years back, the residents are in agony fetching water. We only have three available deep wells that dry up during hot season, and because of this scarcity, the residents especially the mothers would fall in line which impedes their daily activity and their livelihood, we are thankful for this project because now the women can proceed with their hat and mat weaving, the men can go to their farms early, the women also can now easily wash their clothes),” Barangay captain Concordio E. Sundo narrated. The residents are now grateful and had appreciated the benefits that the project had provided them. “Dako kay mi ug pasalamat kay kadaadlaw daghan nami mabuhat nga kalo kay dili naman mi magpila sa tubig (We are thankful for this project because now we can finish their hats early and we no longer make lines just to get water from deep wells),” said Myrna O. Longos, 54 years old, a resident of the said barangay. Concepcion M. Ladion, 64 years old, a mat weaver, stated that she can now finish different chores as the water is accessible


right inside their house. “I am thankful to the government for their response to our needs,” she said. In the Municipality of Cagdianao, two barangays were also given potable water supply, the barangay Cabungaan headed by barangay captain Virginia Ensomo Erno was provided potable water supply amounted to P2,000,000.00 (DILG Counterpart: P1,700,000.00 and LGU Counterpart: P300,000.00). “Ang sitwasyun sa unang panahon kada purok iya-iya nang water source, pag-abut sa BuB project sa intero barangay naay 20 ka tapstand na-locate sa mga nagkumpol-kumpol nga mga residente, mas duol na ang supply sa tubig ngadto sa mga kunsomante (Before the project, the water source is located at the different puroks, after the BuB water project was implemented, there are 20 tap-stands installed which is located at the household clusters, now the access of water is very near),” said barangay captain Erno. The residents of the said barangay can finally focus their attention to their family and work. “Maglinya kami nang alas 2 sa kadlawn, arang nga mga

container ug gagmay na galon, kuman makatulog na kami nang marajaw kay jaun naman sa taas sa amo balay (We woke up early in the morning, as early as 2:00 AM to acquire water and catch up with others who are also waiting in line, but now that the project was completed we no longer get up early because the availability of water is within our house),” shared Torcuatina Lipao, 73 years old. Barangay Maatas was also given potable water project. brgy. captain Jerlie Erno too was grateful of the project. “Sa una nga panahon, sa 193 households, naa ray duha ka tapstand, kaabtan cla ug alas 12 sa gabie. Karun nga naabtan kami sa BuB nga gikan sa DILG nga funding, aduna na kami 25 ka tapstand sa barangay. Mao na krun ang uban nagpakabit na sa ila balay. Komportable na sila sa tubig (Long before, Barangay Maatas had tremendously experienced shortage of water, 193 households shared only two tap-stands, thus made them wait in line until 12:00 midnight, now that we have received the BuB project from DILG funding, we have installed 25 tap-stands in the barangay),” he said.


The residents of these three barangays are in admiration and are appreciative of the local chief executives, to DILG and to the BuB Program.

Now that the project was realized, the lives of the Dinagatnons are made easier, towards inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Search for outstanding teachers info campaign set in Butuan By Jesusa Fudalan-TiuBUTUAN CITY– With the aim to inspire more teachers in their own field to excel, the Metrobank foundation will be holding a series of information campaigns (ICs) on the Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT). In the city, the IC is scheduled on Thursday, January 14 in the afternoon at the Agusan National High School. Said activity, according to DepEd Butuan City schools division superintendent Arsenio T. Cornites, Jr. aims to discuss the search requirements and processes and the giving and sharing of winning tips from former winners. Participants to the said IC are the 13 Central School Principals from the 13 Districts and a teacher from each district, preferably Master Teacher/most senior teacher who has a winning potential to join and to participate in the search, said Cornites. The implementation of the search has been implemented

since 1985 in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).


ZAMBOANGA CITY– In her State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday, Mayor Maria Isabelle G. Climaco-Salazar called the attention of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco), to “shape up” and not be a “stumbling block to the city’s progress.”

By Felipo David G. Malcampo

Zambo mayor to Zamcelco: Shape up, don’t be stumbling block to city’s progress


“To the board or directors and Management of Zamcelco, the city under my leadership is moving so fast, you have to shape up because it is your primary obligation not to be a stumbling block to the city’s progress,” the mayor sternly said. “We all agree that sufficient power supply is an indispensable strategy for economic development,” Mayor Climaco-Salazar emphasized, likewise maintaining that it is a necessity to have stable 24-hours supply of electricity to ensure the residents’ good quality of life. “Our current power situation will never improve if we remain idle and not make things happen.” She called on the leadership of Zamcelco to be “accountable” to the member-consumers, “to improve its administrative and technical capacities to effectively address” the power situation. Since 2015 and the previous years, Zamcelco has been heavily lambasted by member-consumers due to the persisting daily rotational six to eight-hour blackouts in the city. It was only during December 2015 when the cooperative was able to acquire additional load from the Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) through a provisional

authority granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) when the power situation normalized with almost zero blackouts. Meanwhile, the mayor shared that the local government had already looked into a long term solution to address any possible power issues in the future. “Zamboanga will soon be the hub of Southeast Asia’s largest solar power plant,” she said, sharing that she has already met with Ecoglobal Inc., an international firm, which will soon invest in a solar plant, and eventually wind energy in the Zamboanga Ecozone and Freeport Authority. This project is targeted for completion in March, this year. This development is seen to eventually make the city self-sufficient in electricity with up to 300 megawatts of power supply.


By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy

ZAMBOANGA CITY– During its maiden session Tuesday, the city council here has declared Zamboanga City under a state of calamity after the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) sought council’s approval to affirm its report on the receding water flow at the Pasonanca diversion dam, which is now at a critical level. ZCWD requested the approval of the city government per recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on to declare the city under a state of calamity in order to allow the

agency to establish contingency plans with the use of the calamity funds. In his letter to Mayor Climaco, ZCWD General Manager Leonardo

Zambo under state of calamity due to ‘critical’ water supply


Vasquez said other action plans have been lined up for execution during emergencies, require the necessary funding that will be sourced from the calamity fund. The water level at the Pasonanca diversion dam, a barometer on the state of the city’s current water supply, stood at 74.10 meters compared to its normal level which is 74.20 meters based from recent reports. ZCWD has even imposed water rationing in the city effective Jan. 8 due to the continuous decline in the water level.

The rotating water services interruption is only one of the few mitigating measures that the water firm is undertaking to ease the effects of “one of the worst if not the worst El Niño phenomenon compared to that of 1997-1988,” in a press release issued by the city. “The city council put into consideration the need to mitigate the impact of the dry spell on the residents and the agriculture sector and other concerned sectors,” Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde also said.

one mindanao - january 14, 2016

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