one mindanao - september 23, 2015

PCGA 308th squadron spearheads coastal cleanup in Pagadian

APEC economies urged to provide more diversified financial instruments for small, medium businesses

Retired generals express support for

government’s initiative for peace in Mindanao

9

15

11National

Western

InFocus

By: Claro A. Lanipa

contents

7 1113

Volume 5 * Issue No.24

Martial Law falls on Sept. 23 not Sept. 21

Irresponsible owners remain a concern in rabies vaccination campaign

Guidance counselors play big role in career path of students – CHED

By: Michael Uy

President Aquino signs law establishing a sports academy in Surigao del Norte

1921

26

23

Cover Story

Northern

SOCCSKSARGEN

Southern

By: Jasper Marie O. Rucat

By: Danilo E. Doguiles

OUR

CO

VER

DepEd Ozamiz holds Division Schools PressCon

24

By: PNA

18

23

Surigao Norte organizes PopDev Club3031

CaragaAll systems go for 21st Siargao International Surfing CupBy: John Glenn A. Platil28By: Susil D. Ragas

By: Rutchie C. Aguhob

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 23, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story

President Aquino signs law establishing a sports academy in Surigao del Norte

photocredit: gov.ph

photocredit: siargaoislands.com photocredit: skyscraper.com

By: PNA

5September 23, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

President Benigno S. Aquino III on September 18 signed into law the establishment of a sports academy in the municipality of Dapa in Surigao del Norte province.

Under Republic Act No. 10683, the Siargao Island Sports Academy and Training Center will be constituted as the primary sports development and training center for Surigao del Norte and its neighboring provinces.

The province, in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), was tasked to “take the necessary steps

to upgrade, improve and modernize existing facilities, equipment and personnel, and integrate them into the newly created sports academy and training center”.

It was also tasked to “create the necessary training programs and competitions, as well as the system by which the facilities shall be maintained and

photocredit: YAHOO PH


photocredit: siargaoislands.com

managed in order to accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Act”.

The construction, establishment and operation of the sports academy will use funds from the provincial government, as well as those that may be granted by the PSC and the Office of the President.

“In addition, grants and endowments may be obtained from local or foreign sources intended for sports development,” RA 10683 stated.

The Secretary of Education

will immediately include in the department’s programs the operation of the Siargao Island Sports Academy and Training Center, the funding of which will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The PSC, in coordination with the Department of Education, Surigao del Norte’s provincial government, and Dapa’s municipality, was given 90 days to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the Act after its enactment into law. (PNA)


Pres. Aquino leads 17th Philippine Quality Awards conferment ceremonies

MANILA -- President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday led the 17th Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) conferment ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace. In his speech during the ceremony, the President said he was pleased to know that recipients of this year’s awards came from several sectors. “Today, we are recognizing more than just financial or operational decisions that have paid off. We are recognizing your

pursuit of quality in the most profound sense of the word—because it does not only mean a stronger institution, a larger share in the market, or a higher quality of performance, but an infinitely higher quality of life for more Filipinos,” he said. This year’s awardees come


from the sectors of electronics, packaging, and education, including a government agency. The PQA Recognition for Proficiency in Quality Management was conferred on ROHM Electronics Philippines, Inc., SMC Yamamura Fuso Molds Corporation and STMicroelectronics, Inc.; while the PQA Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management went to the Department of Science and Technology - Region II, Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila, and Lyceum of the Philippines - Laguna.

The PQA, the country’s highest level of recognition given to organizations for performance excellence, was patterned after the prestigious Baldrige Performance Excellence Program of the United States.

The award is being managed by the Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) and its Pool of Assessors consists of leading Philippine business, public sector, education, and health care experts, and individuals selected from industry, professional, and trade organizations; government agencies; and other non-profit groups.

Assisting the President during the awarding ceremony were DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo; DTI Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr.; Development Academy of the Philippines President and PQA Award Administrator for Public Sector Antonio Kalaw, Jr.; Philippine Society for Quality Vice President and PQA Administrator for Private Sector Ma. Tesera Bagaman; PQA Board of Judges Chairman Cristino Panlilio; and PQA Award Foundation President Angelito Sarmiento. (PCOO/PND (ag)


APEC economies urged to provide more diversified financial instruments for small, medium businesses

ILOILO CITY -- The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have been urged to provide diversified financial instruments that would suit the changing needs of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.

Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Doris Magsaysay-Ho, on Tuesday said broadening the range of financing instruments available to MSMEs is key to achieving financial inclusion and will help these enterprises expand their businesses. Ho, who is also the president and chief executive officer of

A. Magsaysay Inc., made the statement during the APEC SME Finance Forum at the Iloilo Convention Center here.

“We have seen the fruits of our work in the form of economies benefiting from higher levels of trade and investments, lower tariffs, ease of doing business, and our people having wider and cheaper sources of goods and

10 September 23, 2015ONE MINDANAO10 September 23, 2015ONE MINDANAO

services,” she said.

“Unfortunately, many MSMEs are unable to access financing, thus stifling their ability to grow their businesses, pursue innovation, or comply with minimum standards to enable their participation in local supply chains, much less, global value chains,” she added.

The ABAC chair mentioned the need for a new financing service that would help startups in the region promote innovation.

“We need financing instruments that will provide financing for startups, as well as financial innovation that responds to the changing business models,” said Ho. She further noted that since the Asia-Pacific region is prone to natural disasters, which impact business operations, MSMEs need to be equipped with “responsive financial instruments that will

allow them to mitigate disaster risks for them to recover quickly.”

“We see the great need for financial instruments, such as micro insurance for business continuity and catastrophe bonds, to help communities in their reconstruction,” Ho said.

The ABAC chair also called for digital financing solutions in the region to allow deeper penetration of financial service providers in the market.

“The business models of digital finance are changing the environment for lending, savings, insurance and payments in a way that warrants more attention by policymakers. The economic evolution brought about by the digital revolution affords us options that we have never had before,” Ho said. (PCOO/PNA (kc)


Retired generals express support for government’s initiative for peace in Mindanao

MANILA -- President Benigno S. Aquino III met with members of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) in Malacañang Palace on Monday to thresh out their concerns regarding certain provisions of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“At the end of the meeting that lasted for more than two hours, (AGFO president) retired Lt. Gen. (Edilberto) Adan thanked the President and reiterated that, despite the reservations they expressed on provisions of the draft BBL, they fully support the government’s initiative to build enduring peace in Mindanao,”

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a media briefing at the Palace yesterday. Last September 14, the AGFO published a full-page statement in a major daily on their position regarding the draft BBL.


The AGFO delegation was led by Adan, who previously served as Philippine Army commanding general and as Department of Foreign Affairs undersecretary for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), as well as former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa.

“The President thanked them for accepting his invitation to the meeting and asked them to air their concerns. He said that the baseline from which the peace negotiations started were the provisions of RA (Republic Act) 9054 or the Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” Secretary Coloma said.

Coloma noted that most of the questions revolved around the implementation of the decommissioning and normalization process, which was clarified by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.

According to Coloma, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad also explained that the budget allocation for the proposed Bangsamoro region was based on historical need, as reflected in

the existing budget of the ARMM.

Asked if the generals accepted the explanations, Coloma said, “Ang mahalaga dito ay nagkaroon ng malayang talakayan. Naihayag nila ‘yung batayan ng kanilang posisyon, iyong kanilang mga concerns. Naipaliwanag din ng Pangulo kung saan nanggagaling ang posisyon ng gobyerno.”

“At dahil nagkaroon ng malayang palitan ng pananaw, sa aking palagay ay mas nagkaroon na ngayon ng pagkakaunawaan sa magkabilang panig hinggil sa kanilang posisyon at mahalaga ang tinukoy ni General Adan doon sa pagtatapos ng pagpupulong na bagamat meron silang mga agam-agam o reserbasyon, sa kabuuan ay lubos silang sumusuporta sa pagsusulong ng prosesong pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao,” he added.

Also present during the meeting were National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri. (PCOO/PND (ag)


ISABELA CITY – Basilan will soon experience better internet connectivity with the setting up of free public Wifi dubbed “Juan Konek” initiated by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO)-9.

DOST-ICTO launches digital initiatives in Basilan

By: Rene V. Carbayas


The DOST-ICTO introduced various initiatives related to digital technology at the Provincial ICT Multi-stakeholders Forum last Sept. 7 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall, Capitol Bldg. this city. Mito-on M. Ibra, area project manager for free Wifi project, said the bidding process for the Wifi provider is already underway. He said that as soon as there are takers, the project would immediately be implemented in Mindanao. He said that some 16 sites in Basilan were already selected to set-up the first phase of the free public Wifi. They include public high schools, rural health units, town halls, and State Colleges in Lantawan, Tipo-Tipo, and Maluso municipalities. Meanwhile, Vice-Governor Keemhar Jay R. Sakkalahul expressed concern over the very slow internet connectivity in the province nowadays. He believes that this is a perennial problem in the entire country as the Philippines has the poorest internet signal in Asia. Ibra said that the government had been talking already with the telecommunications company to address the problem of internet speed so that the country can

catch-up with its neighbors. He assured further that the government is relentless in its efforts to upgrade the internet services in the country. “Walang saysay kung ganoon kabagal ang internet natin. Kakainin nito ang oras natin. Kung hindi ito ma-upgrade, magkakaroon ng adverse effect sa ating ekonomiya. Mapag-iiwanan na tayo (It is futile to have a slow internet. It will eat our time. If this will not be upgraded, it will have adverse effect on our economy. We will be left behind.),” he said. Maria Teresa M. Camba, ICTO-Mindanao Cluster 1 Director said that an ICTO provincial office will be set up at the Provincial Capitol Hall to fast track its delivery of services for the people of Basilan. “We’re here to bring good news. We’re here to bring the benefits of Information and Communications Technology to your province. ICT is very important. It has changed the way we do things. It has changed the way we communicate. It has changed the way we worked. And it has changed even the way we play,” she said, adding that ICT also changed the way people do business.


PAGADIAN CITY – In support of the International Coastal Clean-Up Day, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 308th Squadron in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 led on Saturday a cleanup activity along the coastal barangays in the city.

She hopes that after the forum the Basilan ICT Council will be organized that will work closely with ICT particularly in promoting ICT industry in the province. The initiative, she said, seeks to widen people’s benefits on the use of ICT, especially those in the rural areas and students in the public schools. ICTO also introduced the Tech4ED project that will be established throughout the archipelago. Roderick Cruz, Tech4ED Project Focal person said that the project is a massive effort of the government to bring the nation, especially the rural countryside, into the

mainstream of inclusive growth and development takes off. As a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, it aims to establish 42,000 Tech4ED Centers (1/village) using cost-effective Green technologies. These will open rural communities to government services, learning channels, agricultural technology, employment and product market opportunities. At the forum the Provincial Government of Basilan and the ICTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of Tech4ED Centers in Basilan.

PCGA 308th squadron spearheads coastal cleanup in Pagadian

By Claro A. Lanipa

DENR-9’s Development and Conservation Division (DCD) chief Tito Gadon said the international clean-up day is being observed every third Saturday

of September each year and this year’s theme is “Bayanihan para sa Karagatan.”“This is a continuing activity; this is a fight against environmental


emphasized. “What we are doing today is not only here in the city or in the Philippines but is also being done in the entire world. There are also agencies, civic groups and other concerned peoples organizations around the globe doing the same thing in their beaches and coastal areas at this very moment,” Gadon added. “Why the entire world? Why the Ocean Conservatory Group initiated this event? It is because we want to protect and preserve our oceans and seas,” Gadon explained. “Fifty percent of the earth’s oxygen consumption comes from the ocean,” Gadon pointed

out. The oxygen we breath, fifty percent of it comes from the ocean, and the rest comes from trees and plants.” Another essential factor, Gadon cited, is that the ocean maintains our global temperature. One factor that causes damage or increases the temperature of our oceans, is that people continue to pollute and destroy it by way disposing of their garbage in the

rivers and shores that will eventually go to the oceans. “And because of this, we are presently experiencing the so called Climate Change Phenomenon precisely because our oceans are getting warmer and warmer,” Gadon pointed out. “Since we were the


one who disposed of our garbage and destroyed our oceans and seas, we have the responsibility to clean it. Hopefully what we do or learn today will become a passion and do it regularly or daily. With our small contribution, our world will be preserved and our resources will be conserved,” Gadon urged. Meanwhile, PCGA 308th Squadron director and board member Captain Edilberto Adlaon expressed his gratitude to all the participants who responded positively to the call to participate in the noble activity. “We are not here not just to collect the garbage, but our

main purpose is to instill in our minds that littering our garbage is not good for all of us, much to the next generations. This is an advocacy program. Let us not only count how much garbage we gathered but let us put in our minds the importance of cleaning our oceans and seas,” Adlaon stressed. The cleanup activity was participated in by the national and city government employees, PCG, AFP, PNP Maritime Group, BFP, PRC, civic and fraternity groups, students from the different schools and barangays folks of the 12 coastal barangays in the city.


Filipino family cmte celebrates 23rd Filipino Family Week

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the theme, “Gender Equality and Children’s Rights in Contemporary Families,” the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) in northern Mindanao celebrates the 23rd Filipino Family Week on September 19-30 through conducting various activities.

By: Recthie T. Paculba

As a kick-off, the City Social Welfare and Development

(CSWD), in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-


Guidance counselors play big role in career path of students – CHEDCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) during the 3rd Northern Mindanao Career Advocacy Congress on 18 September in Cagayan de Oro City shares that guidance counselors in schools have big role to play in helping students to choose the right career for them.

A guidance counselor may make or break K to 12 since by Grade 10, a student must choose his or her track, said supervising education program specialist, CHED region 10, Natalie Igot. She said that there will be no enrolees for 1st year college

next year 2016 or in SY 2017. In order to address job mismatch posed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), guidance counselors must go beyond the student and extend to family as guidance counselors. In fact,

By: Jasper Marie O. Rucat

day Saints, headed the fun walk held at the Rodelsa Circle on September 19. A Eucharistic celebration and motorcade were held on the following Monday at the Kiosko Kauswagan attended by various government agencies and civil society organizations. Other scheduled activity for this year’s celebration include the Nutrition Forum that will highlight Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga (Family Meals are Important) which will be spearheaded by the

National Nutrition Council. According to the United National Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Social Policy and Development, the yearly celebration of the Filipino Family Week aims to raise awareness as well as mobilize support for action to ensure gender equality and rights of children within families and prevent family violence through fair family frameworks and a variety of program interventions.


in higher education, they can network with tutors and teachers, among others. Factors to be considered in making sure students go to the right direction in their careers are the aptitude test and fitting of jobs. Guidance counselors must study carefully how to use National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) and assess whether students have the aptitude to take the rigors of the courses of jobs they wish to take for example in Agribusiness among others, Igot said. Igot even said that counselling must start from Kindergarten. If at an early age they don’t understand for example Agriculture, there will still be problem with employment. The challenge for guidance counselors is to produce brightest students to stay here in the country. Igot said “Education is a potent force to true development.” In fact, she said that our number one export is human resource. However, CHED has developmental packages designed for K to 12 transition where teachers are sent to trainings or further studies meantime there will be no enrolees for 1st year college in the next two years.

Meawhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) already sets out career guidance campaign and early registration campaign for incoming Senior High School (SHS) students through DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2015 – August 28, 2015. The policy mandates that in Career Guidance Program, they must assist SHS entrants in making informed decisions regarding their choice of SHS track particularly whether in Academic, Technical-Vocational Livelihood, Sports and Arts and Design. They must also promote awareness in the importance of choosing a track that suits their skills and interests that matches the available resources and needs of the society; and ensure that all SHS entrants are registered in the SHS program in SY 2016-2017. In terms of career advancement for guidance counselors, Republic Act (RA) 9258 is a law that is Professionalizing the Practice of Guidance and Counseling and Creating Professional Regulatory Board; there will also be Promotion of International and Local Trainings sponsored by organizations through DepEd Advisories.


Held at the Ozamiz City National High School ( OCNHS), this city, the DSPC was part of the 2015 Division Festival of Talents and pursuant to Republic Act No. 7079, Dr. Rebonfamil R. Baguio, schools division superintendent (SDS), said. Otherwise known as “The Campus Journalism Act of 1991,” RA 7079 mandates DepEd to sponsor periodic competitions, press conferences and training seminars/workshops for student-writers and teacher-advisers of student publications, Baguio said. Participants of the DSPC were first place winners of the different events in journalism, during the school level press conferences in all public/private elementary and secondary schools of the city. Particularly, the individual events, on September 17, both English and Pilipino, included the following: News Writing/’Pagsulat

ng Balita, Editorial Writing/Pagsulat Editorial, Feature Writing/Lathalain, Sports Writing/Balitang Sports, Copy Reading/Headline Writing/Pagkokopya at Pagwawasto ng Sipi, Editorial Cartooning/Kartung Editoryal, Digital Photojournalism/Pagkuha ng Larawang Pampahayagan and Science and Health/Pagsulat ng Pang-Agham at Kalusugan. Collaborative Desktop Publishing for elementary and secondary, as well, as Radio Broadcasting, each with seven members, also in English and Pilipino, also took place on September 18. Top three winners in the individual events and first place winners in the group events, secondary will represent the division in the Regional SPC, except for the Collaborative Publishing team, elementary level, who will be selected among the journalists registered in all the events, Baguio added.

DepEd Ozamiz holds Division Schools PressConBy: Rutchie Cabahug-AguhobOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – To harness the students’/pupils’ potentials in journalism, a two-day Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) was conducted by the Department of Education, Division of Ozamiz City (DepEd-Ozamiz), on September 17-18, this year.


A report from the IGACOS Police Precinct identified the victims as Kjartan Sekkinstad, yacht port manager, a Norwegian, John Risdel 68 years old, Robert Hall both Canadian nationals and his girlfriend identified only by her name as Tess, a Filipina. The report said the suspects initially looked for the victims and searched for them in every yacht. Steven and Kasucka Schuck who detected the commotion jumped from their boat and escaped but they sustained head wounds. Both victims were treated in a local hospital in IGACOS. Superintendent Samuel Gadingan, provincial director of the Davao del Norte Police Office

said they haven’t monitored the movement of the perpetrators until the incident happened. He said they have already coordinated with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard to seal the exit points of the Davao Gulf area. The suspects were seen fleeing towards Compostela Valley area. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DAVAO CITY, Sept 22 (PIA) - Authorities are now studying the CCTV grab while tracking down twenty armed men onboard two speedboats following the abduction of three foreign nationals: a Norwegian and two Canadian and a Filipina 10:30 pm Monday in a yacht port at the Holiday Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camud-mod, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Local police probes the IGACOS abduction


According to the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, Martial Law was declared on September 23, 1972 contrary to the popular notion that it was on September 21. The Gazette based its post to the research of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), who produced papers containing timeline leading up to the Martial Law and even up to the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship, which were taken from the point of view of the people who lived through the events that had unfolded. The actual date was based on the full implementation of the martial law, which is after the nationwide address of President Marcos at 7:15PM of September 23.

Although Proclamation No. 1801 was dated September 21, historians have different views as to the actual date of its signing. David Rosenberg writing in the Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars (“The End of the Freest Press in the World,” Vol. 5, 1973) and Raymond Bonner in his book Waltzing with the Dictator emphasized that Marcos signed the proclamation in the morning of September 23. Meanwhile, Bangkok Post in a series of articles called “The Aquino Papers” chronicled that the President signed it on September 17 postdated to September 21. The full text of the briefer and comprehensive timeline can be viewed at the websites of the Official Gazette and the Presidential Museum and Library. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

DAVAO DEL NORTE- September 23, 2015 marks the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Martial Law falls on Sept. 23 not Sept. 21


Castration, spaying of pet dogs to highlight World Rabies Day celebrationBy Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Sept 23 -- The Office of the Provincial Veterinary in South Cotabato will be conducting cas-tration and spaying of dogs during the celebration of the World Rabies Day on September.

Dr. Flora Bigot, acting pro-vincial veterinarian, said this

year, the World Rabies Day celebration in the province will


be held at the Banga Cen-tral Elementary School in near-by Banga town.

“In line with our campaign to control the growth of the popu-lation of dogs in the province, the OPVet will be conductinng castration of male dogs and spaying of female dogs,” Dr. Bigot said.

Castration or neutering in-volves the removal of the tes-ticles of animal. Spaying on the other hand, refers to the re-moval of the reproductive or-gans of a female animal. Both procedures are meant to cur-tail the heat cycle of the ani-mals and prevent them from reproduction.

Four veterinarians from the OPVet will conduct the surgery procedures in the said event.

“We can accommodate as many as 30 male dogs for castration and five female dogs for spaying. Only five dogs can be accommodated for spaying because it is a major surgery, it is similar to a cae-sarian operation,” the provincial veterinarian said.

In the past years the OPVet conducted mass vaccination and spaying in the municipalities of Sto.Nino, Surallah, and Polo-molok in the past few years.

For castration, a male dog should be at least 4 months old.

Dr. Bigot, however, requested dog owners to bathe their pets before these are brought to the venue. The animals should also be refused food starting in the morning of the World Rabies Day celebration.

“One side effect of anesthesia is vomiting. If dogs are fed in the morning, they might choke on the food they have eaten in the morning if they vomit,” Dr. Bigot explained.

Besides castration and spay-ing, free vaccination of pet dogs against rabies will also be conducted.

The OPVet team will also hold rabies awareness orien-tation with school children who would also serve as their am-bassadors to reach out to par-ents on their responsible own-ership advocacy.

The K-9 unit of the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office will also attend the event to conduct a lecture on proper handling of dogs as well as ori-ent students on methods of disciplining dogs and similar matters.

The 2015 World Rabies Day celebration in anchored on the


Irresponsible owners remain a concern in rabies vaccination campaign By Danilo E.Doguiles

theme: End Rabies Together. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

KORODANAL CITY, South Cotabato, Sept 23 – Uninvolved dog owners have remained a concern in the continuing anti-rabies vaccination program of provincial government here, according to an official of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

Dr. Flora Bigot, acting pro-vincial veterinarian, lamented that despite the very minimal fee for rabies vaccination and provincial vaccination team go-ing house-to-house, there are still pet owners who would re-fuse to have their dogs vacci-nated against the fatal disease.

“There are even dog owners that would frankly tell us that they would rather spend for last two digits (illegal numbers game) than spend for the vacci-nation,” lamented Dr. Bigot.

Based on Provincial Ordi-nance No. 5 series of 1995, pet owners are required to pay only P10 per pet for the rabies vaccination.

“The amount is very mini-mal compared to the thousands of pesos you could potentially

spend once your unvaccinated dog bites a family member or other persons. Having your dogs vaccination also puts you at ease that your dog is protected for one year,” she emphasized as she urged pet owners to be responsible.

A dog should be at least 3 months to be subject to rabies vaccination. This is repeated every year.

If done in private clinics, a shot of rabies vaccine costs around Php200. A six-in-one vaccine, which also include an-ti-rabies vaccine could cost Php650.

Records from the OPVet in-dicated that from January to August this year, some 26,285 dogs have been injected with rabies vaccines.


Areas covered include mu-nicipalities of Sto Nino, Sural-lah, Banga, Tupi, Tampakan and Norala. At present, the vaccina-tion team is conducting rabies vaccination in the barangays of Polomolok town.

“The number of dogs vacci-nated comprised only about 50 percent of the total population of dogs in the province,” Bigot said. “We need to reach at least 70 percent of the popula-tion to be rabies free.

The provincial veterinarian also noted that those who are interested may see their mu-nicipal livestock technician who have been trained to administer vaccines.

They may also write the Of-fice of the Provincial Veterinar-ian for a special vaccination campaign if the number of ani-mals would warrant the visit of the team.

For 2015, the provincial gov-ernment of South Cotabato has allotted P862,500 for the purchase of rabies vaccine in 2015.

Apart from vaccines pur-chased using the said fund, the provincial government also received 3,000 doses of ra-bies vaccine from the Bureau of Animal Industry of the De-

partment of Agriculture.Dr. Bigot warned that rabies

is fatal.She said, rabies virus is

transmitted via bite wounds or contamination of wounds with rabies-infected saliva.

Bites from the neck to the head are most critical, she added because the location is nearest to the brain, which is the target of the virus.

“Once bitten, a person should wash the bite wound with soap under running water for at least 5 minutes followed by washing with disinfectants or alcohol. It is also important that the person should imme-diately see the nearest animal bite center,” she emphasized.

In Koronadal City, the Ani-mal Bite Center is situated at the Out-Patient Division (OPD) of the South Cotabato Provin-cial Hospital.

This year, South Cotabato OPVet has already recorded one case of rabid dog in a subdivision in Polomolok town, which Dr. Bigot said, was im-mediately contained. (DEDogu-iles-PIA 12)


BUTUAN CITY -- Benefit disbursements for Social Security System (SSS) members in this city and the rest of Northern Mindanao reached P1.98 billion for the first six months of 2015, reflecting an increase of 14 percent from the P1.73 billion released for the same period last year.

SSS NorMIn reports increase in benefit payments By: SSS

SSS Assistant Vice President for Mindanao North Division Edwin M. Alo said the payments for regular pensions of about 95,400 SSS pensioners in the area, which amounted to P1.78

billion, comprised 91 percent of the total benefit disbursements from January to June 2015. “The six-month pension total for North Mindanao was 15 percent higher than the


P1.55 billion we disbursed here for the first half of 2014. This increase was bolstered by recent SSS benefit enhancements, particularly the five percent across-the-board SSS pension hike that took effect just last year,” Alo said. Upgrading members’ benefits is among the key reforms implemented by current SSS management within the past five years. Effective September 2013, the SSS increased Employees Compensation (EC) pensions across-the-board by 10 percent and doubled the previous P10,000 EC funeral benefit to P20,000. Following the EC increases, the SSS announced a five percent across-the-board pension hike that benefited nearly two million pensioners under the Social Security (SS) program effective June 2014. The SSS also increased its P20,000 SS funeral benefit to a variable amount of up to P40,000, depending on the members’ number of monthly contributions and average monthly salary credit. Alo reminded workers of the advantages of active SSS membership, which entitles them and their beneficiaries

to benefits for various contingencies such as sickness, maternity, partial and total disability, old age or retirement, and death. Lifetime pensions for retirement, disability and death are provided by SSS. Butuan City is among the three North Mindanao locations covered by the SSS Regional Visit headed by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. on September 21 to 23. The other two stops are Agusan del Sur and Surigao, where de Quiros and a panel of top SSS officials are scheduled to meet with employers and other SSS stakeholders in the area on September 22. The SSS North Mindanao Division is headquartered in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City. Apart from its CDO hub office, the division also supervises the operations of 10 SSS branches, including Butuan, CDO-Lapasan, Camiguin, Gingoog, Iligan, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Surigao, Tandag and Valencia. It also oversees SSS Service Offices in Robinsons Place Butuan, Robinsons CDO and San Francisco, Agusan, as well as SSS Representative Offices in Cabadbaran, Trento and Dapa.


Surigao Norte organizes PopDev ClubBy: John Glenn A. PlatilSURIGAO CITY, SURIGAO DEL NORTE -- 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. With the theme, “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies,” the one-day activity aims to sustain and promote values supportive population and development education among in-school youth, comprising of high school students and their coaches stemming from different municipalities. Gov. Sol F. Matugas, in her message read by provincial administrator Atty. Premolito Plaza, said that her administration is determined to fight for justice, value the right of life, liberty and property and envisioned a decent life for everyone. She said that right planning is the foundation of a happy and contented family and conjugal life. Matugas also said that the welfare of the children is always a paramount concern because family is an inviolable institution. Marital and filial obligations include the duty to provide the needs of the children, she added.

“It is a reality, my dear friends, that when there are only few children in the household, say two to four kids, there is a greater possibility of satisfying all their needs in every aspect of human life. But when you have a dozen children, hard labor is not enough. The monthly income that you earn from your job may also be inadequate because family size has a direct effect and bearing on this subject matter,” Matugas said. “Besides, we are all aware of the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, abortion and pre-marital sex. These issues hound us and thus, affect us in one way or the other, since we are all part and parcel of Philippine society. That is why we need to educate the youth through the conduct of various fora, dialogues and convergence. We need to teach them how to form intelligent decisions and how to act with prudence and caution,” Matugas added.


All systems go for 21st Siargao International Surfing CupBy: Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, SURIGAO DEL NORTE -- It’s all systems go for the province’s biggest international event, the Siargao International Surfing Cup held on Thursday, Sept. 24 in Gen. Luna, Siargao Island. Governor Sol F. Matugas said that the province will bring the tournament to the professional surfers, after the surfing organizer - the Asian Surfing Champions made the competition part of the World Surf League qualifying series. As it celebrates its 21st year, Gov. Matugas said the tournament is expected to be attended by more than 60 surfers from the various parts of the world, “as we have also

increased the prize money to $50,000.00.” Surfers from Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Europe have already confirmed their participation. This year’s event will start with a registration of participants on Sept. 23 and the formal opening will be on Sept. 24 at 3:00 p.m. to be held at Cloud 9, Gen. Luna.

one mindanao - september 23, 2015

Documents