one mindanao - september 11, 2015

Davao student leaders present “TreeVolution of the Young” to Pres. Aquino

President Aquino extols tourism-public works convergence program

PIDS, MinDA formalize new development

partnership13

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Cover Story

National

Caraga

Northern

SOCCSKSARGEN

Western

InFocus

By: ICRC

By: Danilo E. Doguiles

By: Alma L. Tingcang

By: Grace Montallana

By: Rutchie C. Aguhob

By: Carina L. Cayon

OUR

CO

VER

2,700 evacuees in SurSur receive aid

Dads declare portion of Macabalan as under state of calamity

City LGU disposes ‘valueless records’

No extension to October 31, 2015 deadline, says COMELEC

DILG Sec Roxas keynotes 24thMinBizCon

GSIS to hold stakeholders dialogue in Surigao City

Tangub Dad thanks President Aquino for Panguil Bay Bridge

contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No. 16

By: Greg Tataro Jr.

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 Region

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)

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 ARTISTS EMMANUEL D. TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EDITORIAL BOARD

EXECUTIVE 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

4 September 11, 2015ONE MINDANAO

The student leaders from seven public elementary schools here on

Wednesday led around 500 graders including their teachers in a tree

planting activity dubbed as “TreeVolution of the Young,” that aimed at

helping mitigate the impact of climate change.

5September 11, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

The student leaders from seven public elementary schools here on

Wednesday led around 500 graders including their teachers in a tree

planting activity dubbed as “TreeVolution of the Young,” that aimed at

helping mitigate the impact of climate change.


The officers of theSupreme Pupil GovernmentDistrict Federation of DavaoCentral District launched the“TreeVolution of the Young” at Tigatto, Buhangin in DavaoCity where the pupils planted2,000 seedlings of mahogany,narra,cacao,jackfruitandotherfruittrees.

The participating schoolswere Teodoro Palma GilElementary School, BoltonElementary School, CesarioVilla-Abrille Elementary School,DonaPilarL.MarforiElementarySchool, Kapitan TomasMonteverde Sr. ElementarySchool, Magallanes ElementarySchool,andWirelessElementarySchool.

“Our goal is to contribute, no matter how small, in saving

Mother Earth and in making our environment more livable.

Especially because we, the younger

generat ion, w i l l

inherit this earth,” stated SPGfederationpresidentJirojunnJuriLopoz.

“What we are doing now is to provide a healthful environment for the future generation,” emphasized Lopoz, a Grade 6pupilleaderofTeodoroPalmaGilElementarySchool(TPGES),whotook the initiative of upholdingthecarefortheenvironmentasa platformandadvocacyof theschool’sstudentgovernment.

The “TreeVolution of the Young” planting event gainedtheinterestofPresidentBenignoAquino III who was personallyinvited by Lopoz in a visit toMalacanangonJune30thisyear.

Thoughhewasnotable to


personallyjoin theevent inthe morning ofSeptember9,Pres.Aquinotook time in the afternoon tohear the reportofLopozduringthe “Visit to the TreeVolution of the Young” at TPGES wherethe President also answeredquestions from student leaderswhichwerefocusedonissuesontheenvironmentandKto12.

Lopoz happily reported tothe President what transpiredduring the tree planting, andthanked him for giving “much importance to our invitation.”

HetoldPres.AquinothattheSPGofficersadoptedthetheme“SPG Saves the Environment,” “because we believe that as young stewards, there’s a lot that we can do to help save and protect Mother Earth.”

The pupil leader said thataside from planting trees, theSPG officers also agreed toimplement two other majoractivities such as cleaningthe surroundings and helpingrecycle and segregate wastes

by giving trash bins in everyschool.

Lopoz also included in hisreport thatbefore thePresidentarrived,theyoungtreeplantingparticipants have joined theOneMillionFilipinoYouthVoicesCampaign spearheaded by theClimateChangeCommission.

“Upang ipaabot ang aming pakikiisa sa kampanya para sa kalikasan,”hesaid.

The Department of Scienceand Technology Region XIand B-Leaders


ProgramofUSAIDprovided thepupil governmentbody learningmaterialsonclimatechange.

The Davao City Mayor’soffice also committed to givetrashbinsineveryschoolwithintheDavaoCentralDistrict.

“Indeed, the spirit of Kabayanihan is very much alive and present,”Lopozstated.

The “TreeVolution of the Young” tree planting activitywas jointly supported by the

Mindanao DevelopmentAuthority,Department

of Education andDepartment

of Environment and NaturalResources.

MinDA Secretary LualhatiAntonino and Climate ChangeCommissionSecretaryMaryAnnLucilleSeringalongwithDavaoCity Councilor Leonardo AvilaIII haveheeded the call of theyoung environmentalists andjoinedthetreeplantingactivity.

BothSecretarieslaudedtheinitiative of the student leadersand their show of care for theenvironment.

“I’m so proud of our young people today. They are now aware and conscious of what the environment needs right now. Sila din naman ang makikinabang nito,” Antoninosaid in an interview during thetreeplantingevent.

“I’m so happy of this initiative of the youth, because I come from Mindanao… What we’re actually doing is preparing for the future,”Seringstated.

Shesaidthatplantingtreesisoneofthe15ways

to Low


EmissionDevelopmentS t r a t e g i e s(LEDS) which CCC ispromotingthroughthe“One Million Filipino Youth Voices,”inpartnershipwiththeUSAgencyfor International Development(USAID).

The “TreeVolution of the Young”gained inspiration fromthe TreeVolution: GreeningMindaNOW, a massive treeplanting activity jointlyorganizedbyDENRandMinDAin September last year thatsuccessfully facilitated theplantingoffourmilliontreesinsixregionsinMindanao.

The event presentlyholds the Guinness WorldRecord for Most Trees PlantedSimultaneously at MultipleLocations, beating the recordofIndia.

“The TreeVolution was a good experience, it benefited a lot people. We’re hoping that it would give birth to more events like this,” DENR-XI regionaldirectorJoselinMarcusFragadasaidashelauded

the student leaders’ projectcentered on the protection fortheenvironment.

Hesaidtheurbanareawasgiven to the grader plantersto provide easy access and forthem to readily monitor in thefuturewhattheyhaveplantedatpresent.

“Pwede nilang balikan at tingnan kung tumubo ang mga puno na tinanim nila,”headded.


Philippines No. 1 in budget transparency in ASEAN

MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) yesterday celebrated the results of the 2015 Open Budget Survey (OBS), which gave the Philippines the highest score for budget transparency in Southeast Asia. Thecountryalsoranked2ndinAsiaand21stintheworldforitstransparentandopenbudgetmanagement.

Accordingtothe2015OpenBudget Index, the Philippines’scorewentupto64,surpassingthe National Government’s own

target of 60, and bringing thePhilippines within the group ofcountries with “significant” or“substantial”transparency,whichincludesSouthKorea.

“We’re elated that theIBP has recognized thetremendous improvement


in budget transparency andparticipation under the Aquinoadministration. Reforming thebudget has been a formidabletask to date, and the last twoyears have been especiallychallenging for the DBM. YettheOpenBudgetSurveyresultsare a resounding affirmationof our reform efforts,” Budgetand Management SecretaryFlorencio“Butch”Abadsaid.

The results this year alsoshowa significant improvementin the Philippines’ score, whichwas48outof100in2012.Theaverage score among countriessurveyedforthe2015OBIisat48,makingbudgettransparencylevels in the Philippines above-averageonaglobalscale.

Spearheaded by theInternationalBudgetPartnership(IBP), the OBS is a biennialsurvey that measures thestate of budget transparency,participation, and oversight incountriesaroundtheworld.

“The independent nature ofthesurveyandthethoroughnessofitsmethodologymaketheOBSa highly credible standard forbudgettransparency.Sometimes,theDBMreceivescriticismforitsopenness initiatives under theAdministration,includingBottom-Up Budgeting. We believe theIBP’spositiveassessmentof thePhilippines will balance out thatcriticism. After all, transparent,


accountable, and participatorybudgetingshouldnotbeopposedor condemned. It should becelebrated and encouraged,”Abadsaid.

The OBS gauges budgettransparency on the basisof public availability andcomprehensiveness of the eightEssential Budget Documents:the Pre-Budget Statement, theExecutive’sBudgetProposal,theEnacted Budget, the Citizen’sBudget,theIn-YearReports,theMid-Year Review, the Year-EndReport, and the Audit Report.Accordingtothe2015OBIreport,all of these reports were fullypublishedbythePhilippines.

The survey also measuresthecountry’sbudgetoversightbythelegislatureandthesupremeauditinstitution(SAI),aswellastheextentofpublicparticipationinthecountry’sbudgetprocess.(DBM)


President Aquino extols tourism-public works convergence program

SAMAL ISLAND, Davao Del Norte -- President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the ‘convergence program’ of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which generated a number of infrastructure projects spread across 15 regions. PresidentAquinoreportedina speech here Wednesday thatthis joint venture by DOT and

DPWHhas so far produced463tourism roads in 75 out of thecountry’s81provinces.


“Malaking ambag po itosa paglago ng ating lokal atpambansang ekonomiya,”President Aquino said, notingthe significance of having avibranttourismindustrygivenits‘multipliereffect’totheeconomy.

The Island Garden City ofSamalcircumferentialroadherethat President Aquino inspectedduring his visit Wednesday isamong the many projects co-fundedbyDOTandDPWH.

President Aquino saidonce the road becomes fullyoperational, it would furtherease traveling for tourists whoare lookingforwardtodowateractivities and nature trippingin the island’s famous touristspots,leadingtomoreeconomicopportunities for the people ofDavao.

“Tiyak po, kapagnapapakinabangannanangbuoang kalsadang ito, higit pangmakukumbinsi ang marami natalagang ‘it’s more fun in thePhilippines,’ lalonadito sa inyosaDavao,”hesaid.

With the success of theprogram, President Aquinoproposed an additional P24-billiontothebudgetoftheDPWHto complete other tourism roadprojectsinthepipelineby2016.

The government has so farallocated P60.48 billion for theTourism Road InfrastructureProgramofDOTandDPWHfrom


2011to2015.

In Davao del Norte alone,overP9billionwasspentbythegovernmentfortheimprovementofroads,bridges,farm-to-marketroads, ports, irrigation, andflood control projects, PresidentAquinosaid.

These developments,especially in the accessibility ofthecountry’stourismgateways,helpedencouragemoredomestictravelers from the DOT’s initialtargetof37.5millionin2011to51.7millionin2015.

In terms of internationaltourist arrivals, the averageannual rate also increased by8.3percentfrom2010to2014,which is 6.7 percent highercompared to the figures from2001to2009.

“Malinawponakongkretongpatunay ang ating DOT-DPWH Convergence Programsa transpormasyong hatid ng

DaangMatuwid,patinaangmgasektor na alam nating kapaki-pakinabang sa taumbayan,”PresidentAquinosaid.

President Aquino wasin Mindanao to check onthe government’s ongoingprojects aimed at bolsteringinfrastructures to reinforce thecountry’stourismindustry. Prior to visiting Davao, hewent to Ozamiz City, MisamisOccidentaltoupdateitsresidentson the P5.1-billion Panguil BayBridgeprojectwhichwillconnectTangub City to themunicipalityofTubodinLanaodelNorte.

While in Davao City,President Aquino also tookthe opportunity to meet localexecutivesalliedwiththeLiberalParty in a so-called “gatheringof friends” event to promotethe candidacy of its standard-bearer, outgoing Interior andLocal Government SecretaryManuelRoxasII.(PCOO/PND)


PIDS, MinDA formalize new development partnership

DAVAO CITY -- State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and Davao-based Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) formalized their new development partnership on September 4, 2015, during the 1st Mindanao Policy Research Forum held at the Waterfront Insular Davao.

On behalf of theirrespective institutions, PIDSPresident Dr. Gilberto Llantoand MinDA Executive DirectorUndersecretary Janet Lopozagreedtojoinforcesinpromotingthe conduct of policy researchandknowledge-sharingactivitiesin support of Mindanao’sdevelopmentneeds.

The memorandum ofunderstanding signed by Llantoand Lopoz also includes theestablishment of the MindanaoKnowledge Center (MKC), a

knowledgehubofsocioeconomicstudies conducted by highereducation institutions inMindanao.

The MKC is envisioned toserve as a knowledge resourcefor local policymakers incrafting policies and programsthat will enhance Mindanao’scompetitiveness under theAssociation of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) EconomicCommunity and help achieveinclusiveandsustainablegrowthforMindanaoans.(PIDS)

17September 11, 2015 ONE MINDANAO 17

Tacurong launches “I Vote Good” advocacy for #Election2016

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, Sept 11 -- Tacurong City has rolled out on Tuesday, September 8, “I Vote Good” advocacy campaign ahead of the filing of candidacy in October.

By Danilo E. Doguiles


Headlinedbytheslogan“IMatter,MyVoteMatters,”theadvocacyforresponsiblevot-ingiscarriedoutundertheUgnayanngBarangayatSim-bahan’s(UBAS)partnershipforgoodgovernancehere.Accordingtoareportfrom

theLGUTacurongCity,theac-tivity,whichwasspearheadedbylocalUBASTechnicalWork-ingGroupwasparticipatedbynearly1,000individu-alscomposedofnational,cityandbarangayofficials,mem-bersofinterfaithgroups,pu-rokofficers,chapelleadersandGinagmay’ngKristiyanongKatil-ingban(GKK)members.Asaresponsiblevoting

campaign,theadvocacyaimstoinculcateinthemindsofthevotersthevaluesduringelec-tionsbyrenouncingvotebuyingandsellingtocurbcorruptionanditsvariationsandbyvotinggoodcandidatesintooffice.“Avoteforgoodisavotefor

GodbychoosingthewayofGodduringelections,”thereportreads.Thelauchingstartedwith

amassattheNuestradelaCandelariaParishfollowedbyaparadetoTacurongCityCul-tureandSportsCenterforthelaunchingprogram.

AtthethelaunchingprogramRev.Fr.SalvadorR.Robles,ex-plaintheIVoteGoodAdvocacyusingtheacronymL.A.S.E.R.ascriteriaforselectingcandi-dates:L-standsforLifestyle.Does

yourcandidateliveamodestlifestyle?Doeshe/shehavenounexplainedwealth?A-standsforActions/Accom-

plishments.Doesyourcandidatehaveatrackrecordofcompe-tenceandservant-leadership?Promotetransparencyandac-countabilityinoffice?Supportpoliciesthatbringdownthecostofelectricity,improvefoodpro-duction,accesstoeducationandhealthcare,andraisethequal-ityoflifeofFilipinos?Notusehispositionforthebenefitofhisfamily&friends?Notusehispositiontocreate/preserveapoliticaldynasty?S-isforSupporters.Isyour

candidate’sfamilysupportiveofgoodgovernance?Doesyourcandidateholdhissupportersaccountableforunlawfulorim-properacts?E-isforElectionConduct.

Doesyourcandidatecomplywithelectionslaws?Notbuyingvotes?Notoverspend/usepub-licfundstogetelected?R-standsforReputation.


City LGU disposes ‘valueless records’

Haveareputationforhonestyandintegrity?Nothavearepu-tationforengagingincorruptpractices?Notspendheavilyonmediatocultivateafalseim-age?“TheIVoteGoodCampaignis

adifferentkindofLaser.Ifcutsthroughdestructionsofpropa-ganda,politicaladvertisements,gossipandpopularitybyfocus-ingonthemostcriticalissuesinthecandidates’journeytowardsintegrity,”Fr.Roblessaid.Engr.EsterValdez,chiefofthe

LocalGovernmentMonitoringandEvaluationDivisionofDILGRegionalOffice12commend-edtheUBASTWGforbeingthefirsttolaunchthe“IVoteGood”Advocacyintheregion.TacurongCitywasalsofirst

intheregiontoforgeUBASin

February26,2015,whichVal-dezaddedhasledtonotabledevelopmentssuchasincreaseinnumberofattendeesduringsynchronizedbarangayassem-blies.MeanwhileOICCityElection

OfficerDindoEpinoalsoex-pressedappreciationfortheIVoteGoodinitiative.Hestressedthatpeople’s

votecouldchangeanationPriortothelaunchingon

Tuesday,theNuestraSenoradelaCandelariaParishthroughitsParishSupremePastoralCouncilhasalreadyconductedinformation-educationcam-paignsforIVoteGoodadvo-cacyinits45chapelsand573GKKs.(DEDoguiles-PIA12withreportfromLGUTacurongIn-formation)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Sept 11 -- For the first time, the city government of Kidapawan “valueless records disposal on Monday.

Accordinginformationfromthecitygovernmenttheclear-ingrecordsismandatedbyRepublicAct9470or“AnAct

toStrengthentheSystemofManagementandAdministration

ofArchivalRecords,Establish-ingforthePurposeofNationalArchivesofthePhilippinesandforotherPurposes.”MayorJosephEvangelistaini-

tiatedtheactivityasoneof


thestepsfortheestablish-mentofthecitygovernment’sownarchivingandrepositorycenter.EarlierinMarchthisyear,the

MayorcorrespondedwiththeNationalArchivesofthePhilip-pineswiththeCityLGU’splanofconductingitsfirstevervalue-lessrecordsdisposal.Asapre-requisiteforthedis-

posal,theLocalGovernmentsubmitteditsinventoryofre-cordsfromallofficesindeter-miningwhicharetoberetainedanddisposedoff.TheNAPapprovednotonly

thecityLGU’srequestbutitalsoprovidedthefinallistingsofre-cordsthatneedtoberetainedanddisposedunderRule31,Article47c-dofRA9470.TheCityLGUthengathered

thelistingsrequiredbytheNAPfromallofficesoftheCityHallforrecordsdisposalaweekbe-forethescheduledactivityonMondayafternoon.Facilitatingthedisposition

ofvaluelessrecordswereCityLegalOfficerAtty.JosePauloEvangelista,Mr.RonaldoFe-rariza-RegionalHeadoftheNationalArchivesofthePhil-ippinesandMrNickZamoras,CPA-StateAuditorIIIoftheKidapawanCityCommissionon

Audit.Valuelessrecordsincludedin

therequiredlistoftheNAPfordispositionweregatheredfromtheOfficesofthecitymayor,generalservices,market,ag-riculturebudget,SangguniangPanlungsodcecretary,planninganddevelopmentoffice,Over-landTerminal,humanresource,treasury,assessor,socialwelfareanddevelopment,assessor,andengineering.Theactivitygeneratedmore

than4,000kilogramsofval-uelessrecords,whichweredumpedattheCityLGUSani-taryLandfillinBarangayOnica.ValuedRecordsretainedinthe

NAPlistarenowbeingkeptatCityHallandwillbeusedasref-erenceforpolicymakingdeci-sions,(DEDoguiles-PIA12withreportfromKidapawanCityIn-formationOffice)


Caraga hosts 1st River Basin Summit in PHBy: Maria Catherine M. Gonzaga

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Office in collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) held the first-ever River Basin Summit in the Philippines on September 3-4, 2015 in one of the convention centers here. ThesummitwasfocusedontheAgusanRiverBasinwhichisconsidered as the third largestRiver Basin in the country witha total drainage area of 11,936.55km2and350kilometersriver length. It originated from

the mountains of Pantukan inCompostella Valley traversingnorthward all the way to theButuanBayinAgusandelNorte. “IamverymuchimpressedaboutthisveryfirstRiverBasinSummit in the country and this


group has already set a highstandardfortheotherriverbasinsummits to follow,” ExecutiveDirector of the DENR CentralRiverBasinControlOffice(RBCO)JacobMeimbanJr.said. “The summit aims topopularizeandcreatetheAgusanRiver Basin Master Plan. OnesignificantoutputofthesummitisthecreationoftheofficialARBOrganization headed by BishopJuan de Dios D. Pueblos. Thisis a good start in putting intorealization the plans for thebasin,” said Agusan River BasinTechnical Working Group head

ForesterMaritessM.Ocampo. A total of 220 participantsfromRegionsX,XIandXIIIgracedtheeventbringingwiththemthehopesoffinallysucceedingwiththe finalization of the AgusanRiverBasinMasterPlan. TheguestsduringtheeventincludeNationalAdvisoryCouncilWorldWideFundPhilippinesvicechairmanJoseMariaLorenzoTan,MinDA chairperson Luwalhati R.Antonino, Dir. Tamayo, AgusandelNortegovernorMa.AngelicaRosedellAmante-Matba,andDir.Meimban.

2,700 evacuees in SurSur receive aidBy: ICRC

MANILA -- Around 2,700 people fled their homes in Surigao del Sur, Eastern Mindanao, in the aftermath of armed violence last week. To support them, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provided relief items on September 8.

photo: ICRC


The displaced families,mostly from Lianga and SanMiguel municipalities, tookshelter at the provincial sportscentreinTandagCity,wheretheyare finding it difficult to meettheirbasicneeds,havinghadtoleaveeverythingbehind.

“We abandoned our homeoutoffear,”said39-year-oldLitaTejero, amother of eight, fromSan Agustin municipality. “Lifeattheevacuationcentreishard.Werelyonaid.Theunpredictableweather is also a concern,” sheadded. Working closely together,

theICRCandthePRCdistributedhousehold items, such asjerrycans,blanketsandsleepingmats, and hygiene kits to easetheplightofevacuees.ThePRChasalso setupa soupkitchen,serving hot meals to evacueesonceaday.

“Armedviolenceoftenresultsin thedisplacement of civilians,including women and children.Awayfromtheirhomes,theymustsubsist in fear and uncertainty.Wehopethatnormalitywillsoonreturntotheareasallowingthedisplaced families togoback totheirhomes,”saidTimothyYates,

photo: ICRC photo: ICRC


GSIS to hold stakeholders dialogue in Surigao City By: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has set a “Stakeholders Dialogue” at the Philippine Gateway Hotel in Surigao City at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on September 25.

Belen Talita, GSIS SurigaoCity branch manager, toldGovernor Johnny Pimentel in aletterdatedAugust27,2015,that“The dialogue aims to provideanupdateontheinitiativesandreforms undertaken by GSIS,andtofosterclosertiesbetweenGSISanditsstakeholders.” InheropeningstatementofthesamelettertheGSISbranchchief indicated that “As part of

its thrust to promote serviceresponsivenessandtransparency,the GSIS Board of Trustees isinstitutingconsultativemeetingswithitsmembersandpensionersnationwide.” Talitaalsoinformedthatthedialoguewouldbeconducted,noless, by “President andGeneralManagerRobertG.VergaraandotherGSISexecutives.”

headoftheICRCsub-delegationinMindanao. TheICRCremindsallpartiestothearmedviolenceoftheneedtorespecthumanlifeanddignityatalltimes.Civilians–regardlessof their religion, ethnic group,genderorpoliticalbeliefs–andtheir property must be sparedfromtheviolence.

The ICRC is a neutral,impartial and independenthumanitarianorganizationwhosemandateistoprotectandassistpeopleaffectedbyarmedconflictandothersituationsofviolence.Ithashadanestablishedpresencein the Philippines for over 60yearsandapermanentpresenceinMindanaosince1986.


Zambo, Basilan youth train on reproductive health and rights

By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy

ZAMBOANGA CITY – More than 50 students from various high schools in Isabela, Basilan and Zamboanga City were trained here on September 9-11 on reproductive health and rights.


Commission on Population(POPCOM)-9 Regional DirectorReynaldoWongsaiditisvitalthatstudents familiarize themselveswith the existing laws thatsafeguard their reproductivehealthandrights. “Asweraisethestudents’levelofunderstandingandknowledgeabout gender sensitivity, wealso equip them with life skillsto become empowered andeffectiveadvocatesofadolescentreproductive health and rights,”Wongsaid. The students wereaccompanied by the school’sguidancecounselors,whowereinthesamewaycapacitatedinthetechniquesandskillstobecomeeffective advocates, providers,facilitators and moderators ofactivitiesandotherservicesthatpromoteadolescentreproductivehealthandrights. Dir. Wong explained thatadolescence isacritical journeyfor teens from childhood toadulthood. “This is the stagewheretheywillexperiencebodilychangeslikephysical,emotionalandevensocialbehavior.Assuch,they also become vulnerable tohumanrightsabuses,particularlyin thedomainsof sexualityand

reproductivehealth,”saidWong. According to Wong,young individuals who enteradulthoodhealthyandequippedwith cheerfully establisheddispositionsgainbetterchancesat leading productive lives inadulthood.“Thereversecanhavedetrimental consequences thatcouldlastalifetime,”hestressed. Theactivityisacollaborativeeffort of the Commission onPopulation, US Agency forInternational Development(USAID) Mindanao Healthproject, Department of Health(DOH),DepartmentofEducation(DepEd), Department of SocialWelfare and Development(DSWD), Western MindanaoStateUniversity(WMSU),UnitedNationsChildren’sFund(UNICEF),and Human Development andEmpowerment Services, Inc.(HDES). The same training andworkshopwillalsobeconductedfor Zamboanga del Sur andPagadianclusteryouthadvocatesonSeptember15-17;Zamboangadel Norte, Dipolog and Dapitancluster on September 23-25;andZamboangaSibugayclusteronSeptember28-30.


No extension to October 31, 2015 deadline, says COMELEC

By Alma L. Tingcang

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - The Commission on Elections here has set the deadline for registration of voters on October 31, 2015, with no extension.

This was learned from Ms.MonyeenCrestita G. Magallon,Election Officer III of COMELECIpilinaninterviewwithPIA. Magallon said total numberofregisteredvotersasofJuly20,2015ElectionRegistrationBoard(ERB) hearing was 42,412 with64clusteredprecincts.Accordingto the lady chief, 4.9 percenthavenobiometrics. WiththesigningofRepublicActNo.10367into law on February15, 2013 by PresidentBenignoSimeonAquinoIII, the absence ofbiometrics in a voter’sregistration record hasbecome an additionalgroundfordeactivation. Voters who wouldfailtosubmitthemselvesfor validation betweenMay6,2014toOctober31, 2015 would cause

COMELEC to deactivate theirregistration record. This wouldmean that these deactivatedvoterswillnotbeallowedtovoteintheMay2016elections. Pursuant to RA 10367,validationistheprocessofdigitallycapturing a voter’s photograph,fingerprints and signature tocompletehisregistrationrecord.


“Those voters who are inthe list with no biometrics willbedeletedfromthelist,sowhatwill appear on the election daycomputerized voters’ list areonly the registered voters withbiometrics,”Magallonsaid. “COMELEC Ipil is openfrom Monday to Friday whileevery Saturday, we go to far-flung barangays to conductregistration. To date, we havecovered20barangays,”accordingtoMagallon. ShesaidonApril20,2015,

during the ERB hearing, about11,000 registered voters weredeletedfromthelistduetofailuretovoteforthepast2elections. “The filing of certificates ofcandidacywillbeonOctober12-16, 2015 and to give time forCOMELEC to receive COC, thecontinuing registration will besuspendedon thesedates,”sheinformed. ThisispartoftheCOMELEC’sdrivetoregistermorefirst-timevoters and reach out to thosewholackbiometricsdata.

DILG Sec Roxas keynotes 24thMinBizCon By Grace Montallana

DIPOLOG CITY - “There can be no peace without progress and there can be no progress without peace,” Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas saidin his keynote address at the close of the 24th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) held here.

Roxas acknowledged theimportant role of MinBizCon asthe premier exponent of peaceandprosperitytoattainthevisionof the national government forMindanao before businessmen,members of the PhilippineChamber of Commerce andIndustry, Inc. (PCCI), localofficialsandinvestors.

Mindanaoasalandofpromisehasalotofpotentialbuttherearecertainbarriersinreachingitsfullpotentialtobefreeandbecomeapeacefulsegmentofourcountry,accordingtothesecretary. He challenged the businessleaderstoconsiderstabilityandcertainty of the place to avoidturmoilinconductingtheir


business. Roxas also cited theBangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)which is still being deliberatedin the Senate. “This chapter isnowthesubjectof fulland freedebateofyourlegislators,yourrepresentative in the hall ofcongress and the senate of ourrepublic.Thisisthetimethatthiseffortforpeacedoesnotcometopass,’’Roxasstressed. He made mention of thethousands of innocent civilianswho were displaced,members of PNP-SAF44,andsoldierswhodiedduringtheconflict.“Thisadversely affect tradeand investment as wellastourisminMindanao,”Roxasadded. On the otherhand, he gave amacroperspectivetounderscorethe importance of

achieving peace inMindanao as socio-economicupl i ftmentwas achieved underAquino’spresidency. He compared the5 years of Aquinoadministration withP260-billion of capitaloutlayfor Mindanao,to the only P130-billion provided bythe two previousa d m i n i s t r a t i o n s

combined.“This is real money,these are real projects for theprosperity and development ofMindanao,”saidRoxas. Meanwhile, thesedevelopments has establisheda good business climate in thispartofthecountry.“Muchcanbedonebythebusinesscommunityin our country today and inparticular,hereinMindanao.”headded.. “ThefutureofMindanaoisin


Ozamiz City Airport gets P675M budget for 2015

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – Some P675 million have been programmed by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for the improvement of the Ozamiz City Airport (OCA), this year.



TakenfromDOTC’sCalendarYear Infrastructure Budget for2015, the programmed amountwillbespentfortheconstructionof theNewTerminalBuildingoftheOCA,undertheCivilAuthorityof the Philippines (CAAP), Engr.Edwin Luching, OCA manager,said. Of this amount, P200million or 29.62 percentwill bespent for the continuation ofasphaltoverlayofthe1,400mx45m airport runway, and P145millionor21.48percent,fortheextensionofrunwayfrom1,900m.to2,100m. Meanwhile, P125 million or18.52percentwillbeusedforthelot acquisition for runway strip

width correction and extension,landside area, access road androadrightofway(RROW). P83millionor12.29percent,on theotherhand,willbeusedfor the construction of NewPassengerTerminalBuildingandUtilities,whileP50millionor7.40percent,willbeusedforthesitedevelopmentoflandsidearea. About P32 million or 4.74percent will be used for theconstruction of new CHB FenceandP30millionor4.44percent,for the construction of accessroad,andanotherP30millionor4.44percent,fortheconstructionofthedrainagesystem,Luchingalsosaid.

Dads declare portion of Macabalan as under state of calamityCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In view of the fire incident that hit Barangay Macabalan few weeks ago, the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas during its regular session on September 7 adopted a resolution declaring a portion of Parola, Macabalan as under a state of calamity.

Legislators likewiseauthorizedthebarangaytoutilize

itsLocalDisasterRiskReductionand Management Fund for


assistancetoaffectedfamilies. This is in response toResolution No. 24-2015 of theBarangayCouncilofMacabalan. According to the barangay,13housesweretotallydamagedand eight houses partiallydamagedduringtheAugust8fireincident,whichaffectedsome48families. The barangay has decidedtodisburseneededappropriationchargeableagainstthebarangay’scalamity fund as financialassistance for the affectedfamilies,ascitedinthebarangayresolution, which was reviewedand favorably endorsed by thecommittees on barangay affairsand on laws and rules chairedbyCouncilorsYanLamLimandRamonTabor,respectively.ORDINANCE Meanwhile, the committeeonbarangayaffairs isreviewingOrdinance No.001-S-2015 ofBarangay Carmen, imposingthe registration of the chassisand body numbers of trisicadsoperatingwithin the jurisdictionofthebarangay. TheCityLegalOfficealreadysubmitted to the committee itsfavorable opinion on the saidordinance considering that it isintendedforthegeneralwelfareoftheresidents.

Inhislettertothecommittee,Atty.Donald Delegencia, OICof the City Legal Office citedSection 391 (1) of RepublicAct 7160 otherwise known asthe Local Government Codeof 1991, which provides that“Sangguniang Barangay, as thelegislativebodyofthebarangay,shall “enact ordinances as maybe necessary to discharge theresponsibilities conferred uponby law or ordinance and topromote the general welfare oftheinhabitantstherein.” However, according tothe legal officer, the barangayordinanceshouldbepostedinthebulletin board of the barangayandotherpublicplacesbeforeitsimplementation. The barangay ordinancerequires trisikad owners andoperatorstoregistertheirunits,the chassis and body numbersand both should be visibletogetherwiththeplatenumbersoftrisicad. It provides that for failureto register their units, ownersand operator will be penalizedwithP500plusP100perdayasstoragefee.Iffoundtamperingwith the chassis and bodynumbersofunits, theoperatorswill be penalized with P1,000.(ELB/CdeOSP)


In his welcome remarksuponthearrivalofthePresidentat the Sinanduloy CulturalCenter, morning of September9,2015,thecitymayorsaidtheconstruction of the PBB is notonly for the constituents of theprovince, but also for those ofLanaodelNorte. The President attended thebriefingonthemajorinfrastructureprojectsimplementedinMisamisOccidental by Secretary RogelioSingson of the Department ofPublic Works and Highways(DPWH). Oncecompleted,P5.1-billionproposed 3.6-kilometer two-lanePBBwillreducetraveltimebetweenthetwoplacesofTangubandTubod,LanaodelNorte,from2.5hourstoonlysevenminutes. “This has long been ourdream.Andweareverythankfulthat this dream of ours willfinally be fulfilled under youradministration,” the city mayor

toldthePresident. Ontheotherhand,GovernorHerminia M. Ramiro andCongressmanHenryS.OaminalthankedthePresidentoftheP7.24billion-worth of infrastructureprojects implemented in theprovincesince2011. The briefing was attendedbymorethan5,000individuals,consisting of members of theSangguniang Panglalawigan,Sangguniang Panglungsod, andSangguniang Bayan, MunicipalDisaster Risk Reduction andManagement Councils and non-government organizations,amongothers.

Tangub Dad thanks President Aquino for Panguil Bay BridgeTANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental – Atty. Philip T. Tan, City Mayor of Tangub, thanked President Benigno S. Aquino III, for making the Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) “a dream come true.”
