one mindanao - september 29, 2011

2 Thursday, September 29, 2011

C O N T E N T SNATIONAL• Aquino secures $1.4B-investment commitments from Japan• Aquino commends gov’t agencies for good disaster response• Malacañang assures commitment to improve business and economic climate in PHL• Aquino to approve measures addressing global economic slowdown

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

• 160,000 displaced, 2 dead in Maguindanao floods• CATV operators play vital role in propagating government programs, says NTC-9 chief • Conflict-affected barangays in KALAHI-CIDSS towns to get P300-T each for peace projects• “Kurambos” project planning workshop held in Dapitan• SUCs makaangkon ug 10.1% budget hike sa proposed 2012 national budget

Northern Mindanao• PDEA-10 seizes more than half a Php1.0M worth of shabu• HDMF (Pag-Ibig) reiterates mandatory membership of all employees • Kapatagan, Lanao Norte is best-managed town in Region 10• BJM-10 intensifies its “Tulong sa Komunidad” Project

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

• NEDA cites Davao del Norte’s excellent dev’t plans • Zero work fatalities as DOLE-XI monitors construction sites• PCA sees promise in coco-water• Naval Eastern Mindanao Command Activates Five Coast Watch Center• Davao Norte farmers profit from growing cassava

Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN)

• USM pinangunahan ang pag-obserba ng World Rabies Day sa Bayan ng Kabacan• Surgical mission in South Cotabato extends beyond Sept. 29 • DENR 12 has new RTD for Land Management Service • Mahigit 50,000 pamilya apektado ng pagbaha sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) • 22nd Nat’l Stat month celebration set in Butuan• Caraga coops readies Cooperative Month celebration• PCA Caraga on war against Brontispa• Surigao City to craft Tourism Master Plan • DENR apprehends P1.2 million worth of illegal logs

OUR COVER

Today’s coverfeatures the

Press Freedom Monument

in honor of Filipino journalists slain for the past three (3)

decades

EDITORIAL STAFF

An Electronic News Magazine published daily by Philippine Information Agency (PIA)

Mindanao Clusters

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

Managing Editor ……......... ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region

Associate Editors ……....... OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII NOEMI A. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Regional Desk Editors …... Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora CL Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

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

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

3Thursday, September 29, 2011

Cover Story:Misamis Oriental honors Filipino Journalists

Elaine O. Ratunil

4The province of Misamis Oriental constructed a Press Freedom Monument in honor of Filipino journalists slain for the past three (3) decades.


The monument, located at the Vicen-te de Lara Park near the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) building and a radio station, was commissioned by Governor Oscar S. Moreno and done by prominent Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo. Moreno said the monument is a modest contribution of his administra-tion to press freedom and democracy and is a part of some Php25-million heritage project that would convert the De Lara Park, which is in front of the provincial capitol, into a heritage park. The only one in the entire coun-try, the monument is in the form of a tableau made up of three bronze-cast figures which pays tribute to the mem-bers of the Fourth Estate, most of them based in the provinces, who mostly lost their lives in the line of duty. Thus, the figures depict various aspects of a journalist’s job including radio broadcasting, reporting and pho-tojournalism. Placed at the left side of the fig-ures is a wall that holds more than 100 bronze plates, each containing the names of slain media practitioners, their news clubs and date of their death.

Cover Story:Misamis Orriental honors.......from page 3


Aquino secures $1.4B-investment commitments from Japan


President Benigno S. Aquino III reported securing $1.4 billion investment pledges following his four-day visit in Japan.

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In his arrival statement at the Ni-noy Aquino Interna-tional Airport Cen-tennial Terminal 2 Wednesday evvening the president said his official visit to Japan was aimed at build-ing stronger “strate-gic partnership” with that country. “Wala pong duda sa tagumpay ng ating biyahe: sa loob la-mang ng apat na araw dumalo po tayo sa tatlumpu’t anim na meeting at iba’t-ibang engagement, kung saan may $1.4 billion na halaga ng bagong mga negosyo’t ma-mumuhunan ang ti-yak na papasok mula sa Japan, ito po ay sa mga sektor ng ener-hiya, manufacturing, at mga serbisyo,” the president said in his speech. Through the trip, the President said he was able to reintro-

duce the country as a place ready for busi-ness where inves-tors can expect to be treated with with fair-ness and transparen-cy. The President also thanked Japa-nese Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for their warm welcome and continuing sup-port for the Philip-pines despite the dev-astating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. “Habang nakatu-tok sila sa recovery at reconstruction ng kanilang bansa, ma-nanatili sila sa pag-bigay ng Official De-velopment Assistance sa Pilipinas, bilang suporta sa ating Phil-ippine Development Plan at sa Public-Private Partnership program. Nakaka-galak ng kalooban ang ganitong uri ng

malasakit mula sa bansang Hapon,” the president said. After a meeting with Noda the presi-dent said the Philip-pines could expect improved mechanism for the entry of Filipi-no nurses and care-givers in Japan. At the same time, both countries have forged better coop-eration for enhanced disaster prevention and management as well as climate change response, the President said. He and Noda also singed a Forestland Manage-ment Project. The Philippines also got the support of Japan in maintain-ing peace in the dis-puted West Philippine Sea, President Aquino said. “Pareho naming kinikilala na magan-dang hakbang ang pagtanggap sa Guide-

Aquino secures......from page 7

9


President Benigno S. Aquino III praised government agencies that responded well to the devastation brought by Typhoon Pedring while he was on an official working visit to Japan.

Aquino commends gov’t agencies for good disaster response

The President, who arrived from Japan Wednesday evening, expressed sadness over the devastation by Typhoon Pedring. While in Japan,

the President said he remained in close con-tact with the members of his cabinet, particu-larly Executive Secre-tary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Vol-

taire Gazmin, and So-cial Welafre Secretary Dinky Soliman to know the situation in the country. “Talaga naman pong napakalakas ng

lines for the Imple-mentation on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” he said. Aside from eco-nomic issues, Presi-dent Aquino and Prime Minister Noda also discussed tour-ism and information technology and the need for the Philip-pines to strengthen its coast guard. The President

said his recent visits in the US and Japan have brought back the trust and confi-dence of the interna-tional community for the Philippines. “Sa naging sunod-sunod po nat-ing pagbisita sa ibang bansa, lalo pong naging malinaw at nanunumbalik na ang tiwala at kumpiyansa ng mundo sa Pilipi-nas,” the president

said. “At iyan naman po ang mithiin natin: na kapag narinig ang pangalan ng ating ban-sa, hindi kurapsyon at utak wang-wang ang tatatak sa kanila; sa halip, isang bansang marangal at maun-lad, isang bansa kung saan nangingibabaw ang kultura ng mab-uting pamamahala at pakikipag-kapwa,” he added. (AS)

Aquino secures......from page 8

10


Malacanang made it clear that the decline of the country’s ranking in an annual survey on the world’s economic freedom was based during the incumbency of the past administration as it assured that efforts

are underway to ensure the Aquino government’s commitment to improve the business and economic climate in the country.

Malacañang assures commitment to improve business and economic climate in PHL

11

Aquino commends.....from page 9

hagupit ni Pedring., ngunit gaya po ng ating pinatunayan nitong mga nagdaang mga bagyo:, kahandaan, disiplina, mabilis na pagresponde at pag-tutulungan ang susi upang malampasan ang unos na ito, at mailayo sa kapahama-kan ang buhay at ka-buhayan ng marami nating kababayan,” he said. “Saludo ako sa PAGASA sa pagbibigay ng tama at napapana-hong impormasyon: sa NDRRMC (National Di-saster Risk Reduction

Management Council), sa DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), maging sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at PNP (Philippine Na-tional Police), at sa iba pang katuwang na ahensya ng gobyerno, at sa mga lokal na pa-mahalaan sa kanilang ipinamalas na mala-sakit at pagbabayani-han.” The Chief Execu-tive said he hopes that these agencies will continue to work well to prevent loss of lives and to protect prop-

erties during typhoon seasons. “Umaasa akong lalo pang umigting ang ganitong uri ng kah-andaan at aktibong ba-likatan upang masig-uro na anumang banta o sakuna ang dumat-ing, matagumpay muli natin itong malalam-pasan,” he said. Based on latest reports, the death toll from Typhoon Pedring climbed to 35, while 45 were reported missing on Thursday as floods submerged thousands of homes in the coun-try. (AS)

In a statement released on Thursday, Presidential Spokes-

person Edwin Lacierda noted that the result of the 2011 Annual

Economic Freedom of the World Report was based on 2009 reports


Malacañang assures commitment to improve business and economic climate in PHL

under the incumbency of the past adminis-tration. The parame-ters used include size of government, legal structure and security of property rights, ac-cess to sound money, freedom to trade inter-nationally and regula-tion of credit, labor and business. In his statement, Lacierda also said that the Aquino admin-istration has taken steps, among others, to streamline the bu-reaucracy, level the business playing field, improve the business registration system and institute zero-based budgeting – all were part of the gov-ernment’s efforts in effecting reforms and improve the economic climate in the country. With these efforts in place, Lacierda ex-pressed high hopes that the country will improve its ranking in the next research to be

released.“We can reasonably ex-pect that the efforts of the Aquino administra-tion woul be factored in the next report, and the Philippines will rank higher,” Lacierda said. Both the Fraser Institute and the Heri-tage Foundation have indexes to measure and track economic freedom in the world. The Fraser Insti-tute’s annual report, The Economic Freedom of the World Index, is produced in partner-ship with the Florida State University and the Southern Method-ist University, and it analyzes five subcom-ponents to measure a country’s level of eco-nomic freedom. These subcomponents include the size of govern-ment based on expen-ditures and taxes; the legal structure and its protection of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to

trade internationally; and regulation of cred-it, labor, and business. The Heritage Foundation, in part-nership with the Wall Street Journal, pub-lishes the Index of Economic Freedom, which evaluates vari-ous subcomponents of economic freedom, in-cluding levels of busi-ness, trade, fiscal, monetary, and labor freedom; government spending; and proper-ty rights. Economic free-dom affects every as-pect of an individual’s life. Living in a society with high levels of eco-nomic freedom leads to higher incomes, lower poverty, less unemployment, lon-ger life expectancies, and cleaner environ-ments, among a host of other benefits. More economic freedom im-proves well-being and leads to a higher qual-ity of life. (JCL)

Malacañang assures.....from page 10


Aquino to approve measures addressing global economic slowdown

In a press brief-ing on Thursday, Bud-get Secretary Floren-cio Abad was asked by reporters about gov-ernment’s response on the impact of econom-ic slowdowns in the US and Europe particularly on the vulnerable sec-tors in the Philippines. “Whether you call it stimulus or additional expenditure programs what we have set out to do… and in fact the president is going to call a meeting soon to approve a number of proposals both com-ing from the Depart-ment of Finance and Department of Budget and Management and from the infrastructure departments. These

proposals is expected to further boost the spending over the next three months,” Abad told Palace reporters on Thursday. At the same time, the budget chief al-layed public fears on the major effects of the global slowdown on the economy saying the country is more re-silient than other coun-tries because of its ac-tive domestic economic activity. The Philippines is stronger compared to other countries which are more exposed to the global market’s fi-nancial instability like the US and Europe, Abad said. Those countries

are more vulnerable because their econo-mies are directed out-ward. But in the case of the Philippines it is less vulnerable because it’s not an export-oriented economy. The Philippine for the most part is deal-ing with its internal domestic economic re-quirement like prob-lems in governance, poverty reduction, and accelerating the do-mestic economy creat-ing much local activity, he added. The country has a lot of movement within the economy enabling it to generate a lot of growth and social ser-vices to the people, Abad said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III will soon approve several economic proposals aimed at boosting government spending in the next three months to shield the country’s vulnerable sectors from the impact of the global

economic downturn.

13


Aquino to approve measures addressing global economic slowdown “And so we do not

have that challenge of having to rebalance the economy unlike other countries which are really exposed ex-ternally so much more than us.” However, Abad ac-knowledged the weak-nesses of some sec-tors, particularly those exporting their prod-ucts like semiconduc-tors and the electron-ics industries. He said overseas Filipino work-ers may also be affect-ed if the dollar contin-

ues to weaken against the peso as a result of the global slowdown. This time how-ever, OFW remittances remain robust and the country must recog-nize the adaptability of the Filipino manpower that significantly sup-ports the country’s economy, he said. “But of course there are other up-sides in the economy. We still have to see because the situation out there is volatile. We are hoping that the

European Union takes a more decisive action with respect to Greece as well as other coun-tries like Italy, Portugal and Spain,” he noted. “In the case of the US it’s not so much as they are not mak-ing the right economic move as they are ap-plying partisan politi-cal decisions to purely economic problems, and therefore there are some mismatches in the options they are facing,” he said. (AS)

Aquino to approves.....from page 12

PHOTO RELEASE


PHOTO RELEASETOKYO, Japan –President Benigno S. Aquino III greets His Imperial Majesty Emper-or Akihito during the State Call at the Audience Room, Imperial Palace in line with his official working visit to Japan on Wednesday (Sep-tember 28). Emperor Aki-hito is the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan’s traditional order of suc-cession. He acceded to the throne in 1989, the year the Chief Executive’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino was invited to wit-nessed the emperor’s acces-sion to the Chrysanthemum Throne. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by Ben-hur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau).


PHOTO RELEASE


17

Close to 35,000 families involving some 160,000 individuals fled homes and in 13 other adjacent towns of Maguindanao amid rising flood waters spawned by heavy rains and aggravated by huge chunks of water

lilies clogging rivers crisscrossing this province, relief and disaster management officials reported Sunday.

160,000 displaced, 2 dead in Maguindanao floods


160,000 displaced...from page 16

ARMM Information Chief Ali Macabalang dis-closed that two children identified as Mujahad Dalagan, 13, and Cecil Mebpandi, 8, were con-firmed dead of drown-ing in two of inundated barangays in Pagalun-gan town as reported by Loreto Rirao, region-al director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the Autonomous Re-gion in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Chunks of wa-ter hyacinths spanning more than 300 hectares in the 220,000-hectare Ligawasan Marsh drift-ed along tributary rivers amid continuous rains that began six days ago and spawned floods in 14 towns of this prov-ince and parts of North Cotabato. The Army’s 6th In-fantry Division sent in Saturday 100 more sol-diers to complement troops and civilian vol-unteers converging since Wednesday to clear some 10-hectare size water lilies that clogged the passageway of Tavi-ran Bridge along Butilen river and forced water to

spill over to most of vil-lages. The four-day clear-ing works of dozens of volunteers had splin-tered a dismal portion of water lilies clogging the bridge, prompting ARMM Executive Sec-retary Naguib Sinarim-bo to call on Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Lu-walhati Antonino to lend giant water masters, which were due to arrive Sunday. Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, 6th Infantry Division com-mander, also on request of the ARMM executive, or-dered the establishment of a command center on the clogged riverbank to harmonize anew the seemingly disorganized clearing operations. “We need to clear the bridge of the water lilies before more rains come and push down larger chunks of hya-cinths to the structure,” Sinarimbo told super-vising military officials, even as he expressed fear of a possible col-lapse of the bridge un-der heavier pressure. Guided by Kabun-

talan-based military contingents, Sinarimbo, Director Rirao and ARMM relief officials witnessed the condition of the in-undated town hall, police station and all schools in this town. In an earlier re-port, ARMM’s Social Welfare head Pombaen Karon-Kader said sev-eral schools have also been submerged in the towns of Northern Ka-buntalan, Pagalungan, Montawal, Buluan, S. K. Pendatun, Sultan-sa-Barongis, Paglat, Datu Salibo and Datu Piang. Kader said her agency has been distrib-uting relief goods to the 154,750 displaced vil-lagers, even as she ex-pressed fear their supply would not suffice for a longer period especially when more villagers flee homes amid signs of con-tinuous rains. Assistance from the outside is need-ed, she said. Sinarimbo said he had asked officials of some United Nations’ hu-manitarian agencies to send in relief assistance. (AGM/RVC-PIA9 Ba-SulTa)


CATV operators play vital role in propagating government programs, says NTC-9 chief PAGADIAN CITY, September 29 (PIA) – “Cable television play an important role in the timely and relevant dissemination of government’s programs, projects, and policies.”

This was disclosed on Tuesday by Nation-al Telecommunications Commission (NTC-9) Re-gional Director Edgardo Celorico, Jr. during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on public-private partnership (PPP) between the NTC, PIA, and cable television (CATV) operators in Paga-dian City and Zamboan-ga del Sur at “10” Disco here. Speaking before CATV operators and mem-bers of the Zamboanga del Sur – Pagadian City Press Club, Inc., Celori-co said important events such as the aftermath of worst natural disasters that are happening today not only in our country but throughout the world can be seen thru television. Celorico said televi-sion can impart news of impending disaster, con-vey the effects of events that have taken place and

public service announce-ments for relief that need government’s immediate action. “Nakikita nating la-hat ang mga nangyayari sa Metro Manila lalong-la-lo na sa mga kalamidad, at kung ano ang ginawa sa gobyerno para matu-lungan ang mga tao (We have seen the events that are happening in Metro Manila and the action/re-sponse of the government in helping the people),” Celorico said. Halos lahat sa atin ay tumitingin sa gobyer-no. Inaasahan natin ang tulong nito panahon sa matinding kalamidad at emergency kaya kailan-gan natin ang medium ng komunikasyon para ma-paabot sa mga tao ang ginagawa ng gobyerno para sa kanila. (Almost all of us depend on the government. We expect government’s help during calamities and emergen-

cies, thus we need a me-dium of communication to inform the people on the government’s action),” Celorico opined. “A timely and rele-vant information dissemi-nation would help mitigate the effects of disaster in the community,” Celorico added. The NTC chief said “with the strong support and commitment of the ten (10) CATV operators in the province, I am con-fident that the public will be fully aware on the vital issues, programs, proj-ects and policies of the government.” Celorico said the MOA signing which is the beginning of partnership between the above-men-tioned parties will soon be replicated in the cities and provinces of region 9 to promote the govern-ment’s policy—the PPP espoused by President Benigno Aquino III.

by Gideon C. Corgue


Conflict-affected barangays in KALAHI-CIDSS towns to get P300-T each for peace projectsPagadian City, Sept 29 (PIA) -- Conflict-affected barangays (CABs) in KALAHI-CIDSS municipalities in Western Mindanao will be receiving a P300,000 grant for infrastructure and other development projects promoting peace through the “Pamana” project.

Ms. Connie Acosta, KALAHI-CIDSS moni-toring and technical assistance officer for the Mindanao cluster said that the P300,000 funds for CABs in the municipalities of Payao, Tungawan and Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay are an aug-mentation of funds for these communities to enable them to imple-ment peace-promoting projects. Pamana was tied up with DSWD’s com-munity-driven KALA-HI-CIDSS project since the two practically have the same objectives: to empower commu-nities, enhance gov-ernance, and reduce poverty – this time with special emphasis on barangays affected by conflict and violence. The KALAHI-CI-

DSS project, in divid-ing a municipal grant allocation (P500,000 x number of baran-gays in a municipali-ty), uses participatory prioritization mecha-nism – it is basically a criteria-based vote-casting by community representatives to de-cide which communi-ties receive funds for developmental proj-ects. In this manner, some barangays may not be prioritized due to the limited funds. Pamana ensures that all conflict-affected ba-rangays would have development projects, with or without priori-tization in KALAHI-CI-DSS. “In Pamana, we are giving focus to conflict-affected ba-rangays since devel-

opment is slower in these areas. Through this program, we hope that the people will have more initiative to participate in KALAHI-CIDSS activities that promote peace and development,” said DSWD assistant re-gional director Zenaida Arevalo. Community proj-ects for Pamana may be infrastructure, live-lihood trainings, and other peace-promoting activities such as dia-logues. The program is jointly implemented by the Office of the Presi-dential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP) and the Department of Social Welfare and De-velopment (DSWD). It is being imple-mented nationwide. (DSWD-9/ALT)


“Kurambos” project planning workshop held in DapitanDIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) - - Some 65 participants coming from the different offices of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte, the municipal government of La Libertad and the national government agencies (NGAs) based in the province turned up yesterday for the strategic planning workshop in Dapitan City on the “Kurambos” project.

by Franklin P. Gumapon

“Kurambos” proj-ect, which is a commu-nity employment and livelihood program ad-opted by the municipal-ity of La Libertad, has been supported by the provincial government and the 21 NGAs such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technol-ogy (DOST), Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Technical Ed-ucation and Skills De-velopment Authority (TESDA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Bu-reau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

(BFAR), Philippine Co-conut Authority (PCA), Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRM-SU), Dipolog School of Fisheries (DSF), De-partment of National Defense (DND), De-partment of Health (DOH), National Irri-gation Administration (NIA), Department of Social Welfare and De-velopment (DSWD), Department of Educa-tion (DepED), Philip-pine National Police (PNP), Department of Public Works and High-ways (DPWH)) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Through the help of DOLE the municipal leadership of La Lib-ertad headed by May-or Anjanette H. Sulit came up with the said project to provide em-

ployment opportuni-ties to its people. It was learned dur-ing the workshop that La Libertad has the po-tential to become one of the tourist destina-tions in the province as it has caves, waterfalls and most especially a big, rapid-flowing river suitable for white wa-ter rafting ventures. Aside from its natural attractions, the municipality abounds with exotic fruits like lanzones, marang, rambutan and many others. Canopy rides in between clefts and mountains can also be put up in the munici-pality, which is just a 30-minute ride from the shrine city of Dapi-tan, the tourism hub of Zamboanga del Norte.


SUCs makaangkon ug 10.1% budget hike sa proposed 2012 national budget

MANILA , September 29 (PIA) –Si Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad misupak sa mga alegasyon nga ang budget alang sa state colleges and universities (SUCs) gikunhoran ubos sa proposed 2012 national budget, hinuon, nadugangan pa ang ilang budget ug 10.1 porsiyento.

by Alma L. Tingcang

Matod pa ni Abad, ang proposed budget sa SUCs sa tuig 2012 anaa sa P26.1 bilyon, mas taas kaysa budget ning tuig nga P23.7 bilyon. Ubos sa maong proposed SUC budget sunod tuig, ang P23.6 bilyon maglangkob sa automatic appropria-tions nga gi-itemize kada SUC; P2 bilyon alang sa Miscellaneous and Per-sonal Benefits Funds (MPBF) alang sa unfilled positions sa SUCs; ug additional P500 milyon nga ihatag diha sa Com-mission on Higher Edu-cation (CHED) alang sa SUC development. “Mao kana ang tinuod. Walay giingon nga budget cut. Kung gipatin-aw nila nga ang budget cut mao ang di-perensiya tali sa ilang gi-propose ug ang giapil sa proposed budget, nan, ang tibuok kagamhanan

nakaangkon ug budget cut,” si Abad nagkanay-on. Kung gituman sa kagamhanan ang bud-get proposal sa tanang ahensiya, ang mahitabo mao nga modako pag-ayo ang 2012 proposed national budget ngadto sa P2.034 trilyon – mas dako ug P218 bilyon kay-sa proposed nga P1.816 trilyon, pamahayag ni Abad. “Apan ang mas ma-hinungdanon, ang pro-posed budget nagsupor-ta sa pagpalambo sa SUCs nga motubag sa 5 priority areas sa kagam-hanan alang sa paglam-bo ug panarbaho, diha sa agrikultura, fisheries, turismo, general infra-structure, semiconduc-tor and electronics, ug business process out-sourcing,” dugang pa-hayag ni Abad. Sumala pa kang

Abad, ang dugang P500 milyon ubos sa CHED –tag P250M matag usa alang sa maintenance ug operating expendi-tures, ingon man alang sa capital outlays, ihatag sa mga SUCs isip addi-tional funding sa mga kalihokan nga nagsupor-ta niining nasangpit nga priority areas alang sa pag-uswag. Siya miingon nga “ang administrasyong Aquino andam sa pa-ghatag ug dugang puhu-nan aron pagpalambo sa tertiary education gawas niining proposed P500 milyon ubos sa 2012 budget.” “Gimandoan sa presidente ang mga ahensiya sa kagamhan-an nga makig-partner sa private sector aron pagpalambo sa gikina-hanglan nga human re-sources niining priority areas,” siya miingon.


More than half a Php1.0M worth of sha-bu were confiscated in three (3) con-secutive buy-bust operations in the provinces of Bukidnnon and Lanao del

Norte, conducted last Sept. 26-27.

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PDEA-10 seizes more than half a Php1.0M

worth of shabuby Juliet Cagaanan


Regional Director Roberto S. Opeña of the Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency, (PDEA), region 10, said the op-erations was simulta-neously conducted with the serving of search warrants by the Provin-cial Special Enforcement Teams (PSET) of both provinces. He said last Sept. 26, about 8:00 a.m., the Bukidnon PSET conduct-ed a buy-bust operation, at the same time, serving Search Warrant Number 10-11 led by IO1 Randy T. Pulmano at Sitio San Miguel Barangay Lumbo, Valencia City, Bukidnon. The warrant was issued by Judge Mira-beaus A. Undalok of RTC Branch 8, Malaybalay City, against the follow-ing arrested suspects, who were all are residing at the afore-mentioned place: Monaraga Madali, who is listed as Prior-ity #7 Drug Personality in Bukidnon and Target Drug Personality of Op-erational Plan “DOS”), female, married, 33

years old. Naeim Yusop Namyama, Madali’s live-in partner, male, 28 years old, single and brother Kairama Yusop, male, 18 years old. Confiscated from the suspects were two (2) pcs. of large and one (1) piece medium-sized heat-sealed transpar-ent plastic sachet con-taining white crystal-line substance believed to be shabu weighing more or less 60 grams amounting to more than Php 600,000, and one (1) piece, each of round black plastic container, blue sling bag and small pocket-sized weighing scale. Another buy-bust operation conducted on or about 2:45 p.m. last Sept. 27, in Purok 3, Saray, Iligan City by the Lanao del Norte PSET led by IA3 Rey D. Pavil-lar which resulted to the arrests of Jennifer Agui-lar Alperito, a.k.a EPE, female, 35 years old, single, and Lucita Aguilar Alperito, Epe’s mother, a.k.a. Cita, female, 56

years old, widow, both residing at the above-mentioned place. Bought from the suspects by the PDEA Agent was one (1) pc. Small size heat-sealed transparent plastic sa-chet containing shabu. Also recovered from their possession and control were: four (4) pcs., small, one (1) pc. medium and two (2) pcs. big sizes heat-sealed transparent plas-tic sachets containing white crystalline sub-stance believed to be shabu weighing more or less 12 grams amounting to Php84,000, one (1) pc. pair of scissors, two (2) pcs. Forceps, one (1) pc. lighter and multiple pieces of small size open plastic sachets. Likewise, a follow-up operation conducted by same Lanao del Norte PDEA agents in Bacayo Mercy Celdran, Iligan City on or about 10:45 p.m. of Sept. 27, result-ed to the arrest of Ani-sah Magandia Macada-to, the shabu supplier of Epe and Cita Alperito,

PDEA-10 seizes....from page 22

24


female, 27 years old, married, jobless and re-siding at the aforesaid place. Macadato was ar-rested after delivering two (2) pcs. medium size heat-sealed transpar-ent plastic sachet con-taining white crystalline substance believed to be shabu weighing more or

less 10 grams of shabu with an estimated value of Php70,000 to PDEA agent who posed as buyer. Also recovered from her pos-session is one (1) unit Nokia 1280 cell phone. All these drug and non-drug evidences were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory for qualitative and quanti-

tative examination while the arrested suspects are now temporarily de-tained at Iligan City Po-lice Station and PDEA-10 Detention Cell for booking and documentation. Opeña said charges for violation of RA 9165 is now being readied for filing in the proper court against the suspects.

PDEA-10 seizes....from page 23

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 29 (PIA) --- The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), commonly known as Pag-IBIG, mandates the government and private employers to have their workers registered as HDMF members.

HDMF (Pag-Ibig) reiterates mandatory membership of all employees by Apipa Bagumbaran

This was reiterated by HDMF President Atty. Darlene Marie B. Ber-berabe, who said that the membership to the fund was made manda-tory with the signing of Republic Act 9679. Otherwise known as the Home Develop-ment Mutual Fund Law

of 2009, RA 9679 man-dates the membership of all private and gov-ernment employers and their respective employ-ees in the HDMF, re-gardless of employment status or nature of em-ployment, effective Jan-uary 1, 2010. She said member-

ship to the Fund shall be mandatory for all em-ployees, workers, pro-fessionals, officers and companies who are com-pulsorily covered by the Social Security System (SSS) and the Govern-ment Service Insurance System (GSIS). She, further, said

25


that uniformed mem-bers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penol-ogy (BJMP) are also cov-ered by the new law. Likewise, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipinos employed by foreign employers, whether deployed locally or abroad, are required to register as HDMF members. Meanwhile, Berber-abe said the HDMF has tied-up its database with

that of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Over-seas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Adminis-tration (POEA), among others, to enforce strict implementation of the RA 9679. She said they will be running after those erring employers who will be vi-olating the HDMF Law. Here in the city, a preliminary investigation is due at the City Pros-ecutors Office for the

case filed against a se-curity services company charged with various vio-lations of the HDMF Law including the refusal to register new employees, under registration of its actual number of em-ployees, and failure to remit contributions to the Fund. Also, the HDMF Ca-gayan de Oro Branch has filed another case at the Malaybalay City Prosecu-tors Office in Bukidnon against a company for its failure and refusal to remit monthly contribu-tions.

HDMF (Pag-Ibig)....from page 24


TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 29 (PIA) – In celebration of the 111th anniversary of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the municipality of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte was adjudged as outstanding agency based on its Pagasa Award.

Kapatagan, Lanao Norte is best-managed town in Region 10by Vincent N. Labial

The Pagasa Award is part of the annual Honor Awards program of the Civil Service Commission that recognizes gov-ernment officials and employees who have displayed outstanding work performance. The conferment of honor awards aims to motivate or inspire government employ-ees to improve the quality of their per-formance and instill deeper involvement in public service. This year’s search culminated with the recognition and con-ferment of awards to winning public ser-vants during the cele-bration of the anniver-sary of the Philippine Civil Service on Sept. 28, 2011 at the SM City Atrium, this city.

Mayor Benjie Ba-guio of Kapatagan was also declared as Outstanding Head of Agency/Local Chief Executive while the municipality was in-cluded in the Honor Roll on Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Implemen-tation by CSC Region 10. Last June 7, the Department of Social Welfare and Develop-ment (DSWD), region 10, also chose the coastal town of Ka-patagan as its pilot municipality for the implementation of the convergence pro-gram. The said program provides the three factors necessary to address extreme pov-erty: Social programs (supplied by 4Ps); In-frastructure projects

(supported by KALA-HI-CIDSS); and liveli-hood support (grant-ed by SEA-K). “We are thank-ful for this recogni-tion. This will inspire us more to continual-ly give the best public service to our people,” Mayor Baguio said. Several baran-gay officials from Ka-patagan were also on hand to witness the awarding ceremony and show their sup-port to Mayor Baguio. Meanwhile, Gov-ernor Khalid Dimapo-ro and Congress-woman Fatima Aliah Dimaporo of the 2nd District of Lanao del Norte also extended their congratulations to Baguio and his town officials on their latest feat in govern-ment service.


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 29 (PIA) - In line with its “Tulong sa Komunidad” Project, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), region 10, has once again intensified its effort in reaching out to communities, here in the region.

BJM-10 intensifies its “Tulong sa Komunidad” Projectby JOI Jesa Mae Sarah Sanchez

Responding to the appalling in-crease in the de-mand for blood due to the rising cases of dengue in the country, , Jail Sr. Supt. Abraham Pil Lintao, Re-gional Director of BJMP-10, directed his personnel to participate in the Bloodletting Activ-ity of the Civil Ser-vice Commission (CSC), last Sept. 8.

Just recently also, the BJMP-10, in coordination with the Depart-ment of Environ-ment and Natural Resources (DENR), region 10, heeded the call to under-take the “Trash-Free Seas.” No less than the BJMP-10 Regional Director, himself, headed the more than 20 BJMP per-sonnel who did the Coastal Clean-up

Drive at Lapasan, Cagayan Oro City. “True, our agency is facing an unprecedented crisis right now with four (4) of our comrades still fac-ing uncertainties in the hands of their captors, but this will not in anyway make us lose sight of the real essence of our duties and responsibilities as public servants,” Lintao said.


PHOTO RELEASES

Home Development Mutual Fund/Pag-Ibig Chief Executive Officer Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe bares new housing loan program for LGUs during the Pabahay Caravan held in Cagayan de Oro. (Ex-uperio S. Zagado Jr / PIA-10) Vice President Jejomar C. Binay turns-over a symbolic check to Mayor Vicente Y. Emano

for the Cagayan de Oro City Housing project during the Pabahay Caravan held in the city. (Exuperio S. Zagado / PIA-10)

Various stakeholders in Cagayan de Oro City join in the floral offering in remembering the souls of seafarers in the country during the celebration of National Maritime Week. (Rodolfo D. Mendoza PIA / 10)


PHOTO RELEASES

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay turns-over a symbolic check to Mayor Vicente Y. Emano for the Cagayan de Oro City Housing project during the Pabahay Caravan held in the city. (Exuperio S. Zagado / PIA-10)

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority Employees village in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. (Exuperio S. Zagado / PIA-10)

Major Noli P. Kanashiro, deputy spokesperson of army’s 4th Infantry Di-vision, presents to the media a landmines victim, Debeth A. Calinawan of sitio Mahaba, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur, who is now under treatment in Camp Evangelista hospital in Patag, Cagayan de Oro. (Rodolfo D. Mendoza / PIA-10)


The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) recognized the excellent performance of the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte in the implementation of the Provincial/Local

Planning and Expenditure Management (P/LPEM) project.

31

by Noel Baguio

NEDA cites Davao del Norte’s excellent dev’t plans

The P/LPEM was a technical assistance project assisted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and implemented by the NEDA. The significant outputs of the project include the Provincial

Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2008-2022, the Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP) 2011-2016 and the Feasibility Study on the Establishment of Davao del Norte Inter-

LGU Sanitary Landfill for Sustainable Solid Waste Management. NEDA-XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said her office was impressed by the conscientious effort and excellent performance of


Zero work fatalities as DOLE-XI monitors construction sites

NEDA cites.....from page 30

32

DAVAO CITY Sept. 29 (PIA)- There were no recorded work-related fatalities as the Department of Labor and Employment Region XI (DOLE-XI) has intensified its occupational safety and health monitoring of various workplaces and construction sites in the region.

the province in producing the documents. She revealed the project outputs earned outstanding reviews from the ADB Project Consultants and from the NEDA Central and Regional Office XI. The documents were also acknowledged by the Regional Development Council (RDC)-XI as one of Davao del Norte’s major contributions to the growth and progress of the Davao Region. “We are proud to say that Davao del Norte completed all deliverables, not only in a timely manner, but also producing high-quality outputs,” Dir. Lim said, during the project turn-over on September 28, 2011 at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan in Mankilam,

Tagum City. According to her, ADB Project Consultants Dr. Art Corpuz, who reviewed the PDPFP, and Dr. Norman Ramos, who reviewed both the PDIP and the feasibility study, “attested to the outstanding quality of the outputs.” Davao del Norte is among the pilot provinces that were selected for the implementation of the P/LPEM project nationwide, which commenced in 2008. It can be recalled that the province was cited as a model in implementing the project, as it earned the recognition of being the first province in the country to complete and submit its PDPFP to the national government. The NEDA

acknowledged the excellent leadership of Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario for the timely completion of the output documents. The governor thanked the ADB for its assistance, and the NEDA “for believing in our ability to deliver by making us one of the pilot provinces.” The plans, he said, allow the province to move closer to the realization of its vision, by providing the needed thrust to his development agenda known as P.E.O.P.L.E. “We are now in a better position to pursue better governance, he said, declaring that the Dabaonon people shall soon experience a more economically viable Davao del Norte.


Zero work....from page 31

33

According to Att. Joffrey Suyao, OIC regional director DOLE-X I the DOLE has monitored 86 construction sites and inspected 60 of these sites (as of August 2011). It has inspected 83 constructors and covered a total of 3,000 workers. Suyao said common violations found included no designated safety committee, no monthly report on illness and injury, no safety signages and no Red Cross trained first aider. The regional director said that they are mandating these project owners and contractor to comply with the OSH requirements.

Also starting May, the DOLE along with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Trade and Industry has partnered in a joint administrative owner which mandates applicants for building and construction permits to have their construction safety plan approved by the DOLE as pre-requisite for these construction permits. Also the DOLE has decentralized of the review and approval of construction safety plan in response to the complaints of contractors and project owners of

the unnecessary delay in the approval of the safety plans as it is centralized in the Bureau of Worker’s Condition based in Manila. In the old system, all safety plans will have to be reviewed and approved by a single agency based in Manila. But starting July, the DOLE regional offices will have the power to review and approve these plans. Suyao says that it will shave off 30 days from the usual application and approval process as the DOLE-XI is required to review and approve the said plan 5 days after DOLE-XI receives the document. (PIA/RG Alama)

PCA sees promise in coco-water

by Mai Gevera-Macapagat

DAVAO CITY September 29, (PIA) –The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region XI sees high potential of coconut water from matured nuts to reach the export market.

PCA regional director Lornito Orillaneda took the

good news of President Benigno Aquino about the $15 million

investment potential on “buko juice” that foreign markets are


PCA sees....from page 32

34

Naval Eastern Mindanao Command Activates Five Coast Watch Center by Albert D. Cahilog

DAVAO CITY- Five newly activated coast watch centers of the Naval Forces are now ready to serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the vast maritime waters of Eastern Mindanao to mitigate illegal activities in this part of the country.

eyeing to import from the Philippines. “ We have so much matured coconut water which is usually wasted. Instead of throwing it away, we are now teaching the farmers on how to process this coco water.” Orillaneda said. Thirty percent of the coconut content is water, thus, PCA constantly tells the farmers to make use of this part of the coconut. Buko juice is the coco water sourced from a young coconut. However, bulk of the coconut supply is

matured coconut. This gave hope to coco farmers as they could now also make money out of the matured nuts. PCA shares that a simple process of pasteurization is required to remove the oily portion of the matured coco water and turn it just like the popular “buko juice” or the coco water from the young nut. Studies showed that coco water is actually more nutritious than whole milk because it has less fat and doesn’t contain cholesterol. The coco

water is also better than processed baby milk since it contains Lauric Acid which is present in mother’s milk. It contains natural sugar, salt, and vitamins. O r i l l a n e d a thanked the investment opportunity brought by President Aquino as this would further encourage coco farmers not just to rely on copra product but also take advantage of the many uses of the coconut. “ The coconut is indeed the tree of life for nothing of its part is wasted.”, he said.


Naval Eastern....from page 33

The five coast watch centers namely: Coast Watch Station Kalamansig, Coast Watch Station Maitum, Coast Watch Station Maasim, Coast Watch Station Balut and Coast Watch Station Cape San Agustin were position in a strategic location equipped with highly sophisticated surveillance equipment to monitor water vessels believed to be involved in a maritime crime. C o m m o d o r e Philip L Cacayan AFP, Commander Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao said “the timing of this activity could not have been better as just recently, last September 6, his Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III signed the Executive Order No. 57 which created the National Coast Watch System. With the newly installed coast watch station, the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao could

now effectively employ its surface vessels, air assets, and special operation units to intercept, board and search, and apprehend any spotted suspicious watercraft within our territorial waters. Commo Cacayan AFP, further shared the statement of the Sec. Paquito Ochoa Jr, that the coast watch system will serve as the “Central Inter-Agency Mechanism for a more coordinated approach on maritime issues and maritime security operations to enhance governance of the country’s maritime domain.” The major government agency stakeholders in this endeavor includes the Philippine Coast Guard, National Police-Maritime Group, National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration,

NBI Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime. The establishment and completion of the five Coast Watch Centers is funded by the government of the United States of America to include technical expertise and its modern surveillance equipment. The coast watch station is activated through General Order No. 366 and will be manned by eight able and competent personnel. “I can only fully agree with the vision of our national leadership that an inter-government agency cooperation through the national Coast Watch System is a very viable solution in attaining a secured maritime environment that is vital in the economic prosperity of our nation.” Commo Cacayan further added.


Davao Norte farmers profit from growing cassavaFarmers here are gaining from cassava both as an alternative staple

and viable source of income.

Alfredo Sumatra, member of Mamacao Rural Livelihood Association (MRLA) said cassava helped sustain his family overcome hunger as they had been consuming the crop as their alternative staple. “There were times when we can hardly afford to buy even a kilo of rice, my family resorted to cassava as our substitute staple,” Sumatra said. Aside from being an alternative staple, cassava can offer better incomes for smallholders considering the growing demand of this crop as raw materials for feeds, beverage, and biofuel. “When we were given the opportunity to qualify and access funds from MRDP [Mindanao Rural Development Program], we proposed to venture into cassava production,” said MRLA chairman Benito Banquil. MRDP is a long-term poverty alleviation project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) aimed to improve rural incomes

through infrastructure and livelihood support. Through the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD), MRDP’s livelihood component, the association was able to access P250, 000 which were used to purchase quality planting materials and farm inputs. Marciano Balmes, one of the beneficiaries that availed himself of the planting materials and inputs had already earned at least P180, 000 in just one cropping season. “I planted the cassava seedlings I received as an intercrop to a five-hectare rubber farm. While waiting for my young rubber trees to be productive, I was surprised that was able to earn that much from cassava,” Balmes said. “Out of my income, I was able to acquire a two-hectare farm which now serves as an expansion for our cassava production. I also bought a multipurpose cab which now serves as our family vehicle,” he said.

Balmes said growing cassava over other crops has a lot of advantages which include minimal financing; not labor intensive, giving him enough time to venture in other economic activities; and there is a ready market for his produce. “Marketing of cassava is not a problem as traders which supply the country’s leading beverage company regularly come to our area to buy our produce,” Banquil said. DA director for Davao region Oscar Parawan in a recent cassava stakeholders’ forum said increasing demand for cassava requires to increase production from 9.52 MT per hectare to 21 MT ton per hectare in 2014. “We want our small holder farmers to seize this opportunity of which the Mamacao farmers in Kapalong have already an edge considering their successful experience in growing this cassava,” Parawan said. (Noel T. Provido/DA-MRDP)

36 Thursday, September 29, 201136 Thursday, September 29, 2011


Nakiisa ang Bayan ng

Kabacan sa La-lawigan ng Co-tabato sa pag-obserba ng World Rabies Day noong Set-yembre a-28, ngayong taon.

USM pinangunahan ang pag-obserba ng World Rabies Day sa Bayan ng Kabacan

USM pinangunahan ang pag-obserba ng World Rabies Day sa Bayan ng Kabacan

38


Ang mga akti-bidad ay pinangu-nahan ng University of Southern Mind-anao (USM) na nasa bayan, partikular na ng College of Vet-erinary Medicine. Nagsagawa ng anti-rabies vacci-nation sa loob ng campus ang Society for the Advance-ment of Veterinary Education and Re-search ng USM. Namahagi din ang mga estudyante ng College ng Vet-erinary Medicine ng USM ng bitamina para sa mga aso. I s i n a s a g awa ang pag-obserba ng World Rabies Day sa buong mundo kada Setyembre a-28 ng

bawat taon. Ito ay naglalayong mai-angat ang kaalaman ng sangkatauhan sa epekto ng rabies sa tao at mga hay-op, makapagbigay ng impormasyon at mga payo kung paa-no maiwasan ang rabies at makatu-long kung paano ito tuluyang mawala. Ang rabies ay itinuturing na isa sa pangunahing prob-lema sa kalusugan sa buong mundo. Ayon sa mga ek-sperto, mahigit 99% ng sanhi ng pagka-matay ng tao sa Af-rica at Asya ay sanhi ng impeksiyon mula sa kagat ng aso na mayroong rabies. (ac agad PIA12)

Ang mga

aktibidad ay

pinangunahan

ng University

of Southern

Mindanao

(USM) na

nasa bayan,

partikular na

ng College

of Veterinary

Medicine.

USM pinangunahan....from page 37


Surgical mission in South Cotabato extends beyond Sept. 29

Although its sur-gical mission here ends to-day, September

29, Maharlika Charity Foundation Inc.’s (MCFI) will still be extending free surgical service to indi-gent residents of South Cotabato next week.

by Dani Doguiles

“Doctors needed to

rectify five nerves of one patient which

took longer than expected,”

he said. Operation for

the remaining six strabismus

cases supposedly

slated yesterday was moved

today.

Officials of the MCFI yesterday decided to bring to Davao City at least 17 patients with strabismus (cross-eyed) on October 5 to 8 for

the procedures. This, ac-cording to Board Member Dr. Ervin Luntao, is in line with the char-ity foundation’s principle to leave

Surgical mission in South Cotabato extends beyond Sept. 29

40


no one unserved. Luntao explained that two volunteer eye surgeons of MCFI started opera-tions to correct stra-bismus yesterday. They were supposed to complete opera-tions for at least 11 patients. However, at around 5 p.m. only five were completed. “Doctors needed to rectify five nerves of one patient which took longer than ex-pected,” he said. Operation for the remaining six stra-bismus cases suppos-edly slated yesterday was moved today. Since the surgi-cal mission ends to-day, MCFI decided to move the procedures for 17 patients with

stradismus who were scheduled today to October 6 and 7. Op-eration will be done at the main office of MCFI in Davao City. Luntao said the charity foundation will shoulder the transpor-tation of the patients and their chaperons to Davao on October 5 and back to Kor-onadal City on Octo-ber 8. MCFI will also provide shelter dur-ing their stay in Davao for the operation. “In order that the provincial government can help, I will suggest that provincial LGU will provide allow-ance for the food of the patients,” he said. Although during the interview he has not yet consulted with

Luntao said the charity foundation

will shoulder the

transportation of the patients

and their chaperons

to Davao on October 5

and back to Koronadal

City on October 8. MCFI will

also provide shelter during

their stay in Davao for the

operation.

Surgical mission....from page 39

41


Besides the patients

with strabismus who will be served next week, MCFI

is also slated to

provide free operations for South Cotabato residents suffering

from goiter next year.

Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr., Dr Luntao said he is confident that the governor will ap-prove of his proposal. Besides the pa-tients with strabis-mus who will be served next week, MCFI is also slated to pro-vide free operations for South Cotabato residents suffering from goiter next year. During the listing of possible candi-dates for this week’s surgical mission, the offices of Board Mem-ber Luntao, Gov. Pin-goy and Vice Gov. Elmo Tolosa also registered candidates for goiter operations, for consideration in the surgical mission that MCFI will hold in Davao city tenta-

tively scheduled in the first quarter of 2012. MCFI’s surgical mis-sion in South Cotaba-to started on Sunday. Several rooms in-side the South Co-tabato Gymnasium and Cultural Cen-ter were turned into makeshift operat-ing rooms where indigenous peoples, indigent residents, and retirees were given free operation for cases of cata-ract, ptyregium, cleft lip/palate, strabis-mus, hernia (for chil-dren 5 years and be-low), and minor cyst.About 600 residents of South Cotabato and nearby Sultan Ku-darat province have benefited from free surgery. (PIA 12)

Surgical mission....from page 40


DENR 12 has new RTD for Land Management Service

The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR – 12) has new regional technical director (RTD) for Land Management Ser-

vices (LMS). RTD for Lands Geronimo L. Sequito in a turnover ceremony at the function hall of DENR 12 on Tuesday handed over to Sultan Kudarat Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Mor-akie P. Domanday the leadership of the LMS. During his ac-ceptance speech, Do-manday said that the new post has effec-tively transformed him from being a generalist to being a specialist. “I intend to run the LMS like Gerry (referring to Sequito), except when there is still room for

improvement,” he said. Domanday is a ca-reer service office officer. After thanking DENR 12 Regional Exec-utive Director (RED) Al-fredo S. Pascual for the trust and confidence by giving the RTD post for 9 months and his subor-dinates for the support, Sequito urged the LMS personnel to give the same level of support to the new RTD for lands. During his stint as RTD for lands, DENR 12 topped all 15 regional offices of the depart-ment in terms of accom-plishing most goals. After the ceremo-

nies at the regional of-fice, DENR officials and employees proceeded to the DENR provincial office in Barangay Mon-tilla, Tacurong City for another turnover cer-emony, this time Do-manday handing over to Sequito the leader-ship of DENR Sultan Ku-darat Provincial Office. Both Domanday and Sequito were designate to their previous posts on officer-in-charge status. On both occasions, RED Pascual emphasized that the latest change in leadership is part of orga-nizational development

DENR 12 has new RTD for Land Management Service

43


of the Department and that nobody did wrong. Pascual likewise urged DENR personnel to follow the command of the two officials.

The reshuffle was implemented by virtue of DENR Special Order No. 2011 – 689 issued on September 19 by the DENR Undersecre-

tary for Field Operations, Atty. Ernesto D. Ado-bo, Jr. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12/MCalungsod-Locsin/DENR 12).

Mahigit 50,000 pamilya apektado ng pagbaha sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao

Umabot na sa mahigit 50,285 na pami-lya ang lumikas sa kanilang mga tah-anan sa dahil sa pagbaha sa iba’t-ibang mga bayang sakop ng Lalawigan

ng Maguindanao. Ayon kay Magu-indanao governor Es-mael ‘’Toto’’ Man-gundadatu, nais niya umanong bumili na lamang ng dredger upang magamit sa dredging operation sa Liguasan Marsh at Rio Grande De Mindanao. Ayon sa kanya, kahit naalis na ang sampung ektaryang water hyacinths o wa-terlily na bumara sa Ta-

viran Bridge sa Baran-gay Taviran, ng Bayan ng Mother Kabuntalan, ay mataas pa rin um-ano ang lebel ng tubig baha sa ilang mga bi-nahang komunidad. Katulad ng mga kalapit na komunidad marami na ring nag-silikas na mga resi-dente sa mga maba-bang lugar sa Lungsod ng Cotabato dahil sa nararanasang pag-

taas ng tubig baha. Umaabot na sa labing anim na bayan sa Maguindanao ang apektado ng pagba-ha, kung kaya’t hini-ling na ni Governor Toto Mangundadatu sa Sangguniang Pan-lalawigan na magpala-bas ng resolusyon na nagde-deklara ng state of calamity sa Lala-wigan ng Maguindan-ao. (ac agad PIA12)

DENR 12 has new...from page 42


The Regional Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Caraga region will be spearheading the 22nd National Statistics Month (NSM) on October 2011 as the agency plays host in the celebration.

45

www.piacaraga.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

[email protected][email protected]

22nd Nat’l Stat month celebration set in Butuan

by Jennifer P. Gaitano


22nd Nat’l Stat...from page 44

46

National Economic and Development Au-thority (NEDA) Caraga Regional Director and Regional Statistical Co-ordination Committee (RSCC) Chairperson Car-mencita Cochingco said the theme for this year’s celebration is “Quality Social Protection Sta-tistics for Focused Tar-geting: Improving Out-comes, Changing Lives.” The activity will kick-off with a Mass on October 5, 2011, 6:15a.m. at Saint Jo-seph Cathedral here. A

motorcade will then fol-low and all government agencies and local gov-ernment units in the region will be hanging their streamers in their respective vehicles as support to the celebra-tion. Also, in the after-noon of the same date, the RSCC will be hold-ing the 5th Caraga In-ter-Agency/Local Gov-ernment Unit quiz bowl. The Caraga quiz bowl is a battle among the re-gional line agencies and the 10 LGUs of the re-

gion. According to Dir. Cochingco, the quiz bowl will challenge each par-ticipating offices/LGUs’ knowledge of the re-gion’s general statistics and economic data. Said Quizbowl is to be held at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort here while government agencies are encouraged to send two represen-tatives to participate in the battle of the brains’ competition.

Caraga coops readies Cooperative Month celebrationBUTUAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The Cooperative Month is once again celebrated by the cooperative sector, partner national government line agencies, local government units and stakeholders all over the Philippines during the whole month of October this year.

According to Co-operative Development Authority (CDA) Caraga Regional Director Man-uela Pelaez, said cel-ebration will kick-off on October 1, 2011 with

a tree planting activity that aims to plant 3,333 seedlings (666 persons will plant at least five seedlings per person). “Its objectives are to raise the level of pub-

lic awareness on the importance of coopera-tivism and improve our environmental integrity and climatic condition,” Pelaez stressed. On the same date,


PCA Caraga on war against BrontispaBUTUAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Caraga Regional office is on war against the deadly coconut leaf beetle scientifically known as Brontispa longissima, an invasive pest infesting coconut resulting to a significant loss of income of the coco farmers in the country.

Caraga coops....from page 45

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cooperatives in Surigao del Norte will also have their Thanksgiving Mass while cooperatives in San Jose, Dinagat Is-lands will kick-off with a parade and short pro-gram and followed with a coastal clean-up. The thanksgiving mass by cooperatives in Butuan is set on October 3 at the St. Joseph Ca-thedral, to be followed with the Motorcade going to the City Hall, where the program proper will be held with Mayor Fer-dinand Amante Jr. Butuan City’s activ-

ities for this celebration includes the Coop Moni-toring and Evaluation on Oct. 4 to the baran-gay cooperatives; Coop Sports Fest on Oct. 5 at the Timberlane; Coop Mobilization and Inspec-tion on Oct. 10-13 to barangay coops; Coop Managers and Treasur-ers Training Seminars on Oct. 11 at the Im-adejas Convention Hall; and Trade Exhibits for the whole month of Oc-tober. CDA with the Re-gional Cooperative De-velopment Council

(RCDC) are encouraging coop members in the provinces of Caraga to witness and participate in the said activities for the month-long celebra-tion. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Transformative Cooper-atives: Advancing Peo-ple, Planet, Prosperity and Peace” with a sub-theme “Kalinga ng Ko-operatiba sa Kalikasan”. The theme and sub-theme are anchored on the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2012 program thrust. (JPG)

by Aurell P. Arais

According to Tech-nical Staff Lourdito Sa-banpan of PCA 13, Car-aga Region is not spared from the virulent attack of Brontispa, affecting several coconut trees in Agusan del Sur, Surigao

del Sur and Agusan del Norte. No report yet of the infestation in Surigao del Norte and island municipalities such as in Siargao and Dinagat Is-lands.

In an interview with AgriPinoy Caraga, a radio program of the Department of Agricul-ture aired over DXMK FM Butuan, Sabanpan revealed that current-ly there are 2,205 non


PCA Caraga....from page 46

bearing and 894 bearing coconut trees infested with Bronstispa, or a to-tal of 3,099 coco trees infested in the whole re-gion. Caraga Region has a total of 28,057,605 standing coconut trees as of latest data. Brontispa is a flat and slender beetle. Its color is generally black ex-cept for the yellow-orange to red col-or of the neck and the basal portion of wing and gener-ally measures one centimeter long. It feeds on the soft tissues of coco-nut fronds enough to kill the coco-nut and is rapidly spreading in the country. S a b a n p a n said that Brontis-pa got an entry in the Philippines, presumably, in early 2004 via im-portation of ornamental palms. Meanwhile, Eduar-do Bamba, a laboratory technician said coconut infested with Brontispa, its young leaves appear

burned or scorched re-sulting from the feeding damage of the coconut leaf beetle. He said it causes great damage to seed-lings and mature coco-nut trees and ornamen-tal palms thereby killing

the young spears and if left unchecked the whole tree will die in a span of more or less a year. According to Sa-banpan, there are three ways to control the pest. The infestation might be controlled through the mechanical means such

as pruning, clean cul-ture and proper disposal of infested coco trees or parts or by chemical means through the use of insecticide. However, he said that PCA is advocat-ing the use of biological

control through parasitoid called earwig, a local natural predator of Brontispa that eats its larvae.

Bamba said that farmers need not to worry since the regional of-fice of PCA has its laboratory, mass producing the said natural predator against Brontispa. PCA is appeal-ing to the public to support the war against Brontispa

by being an informer or a spy through reporting to the nearest PCA office or the local government unit of any sighting of Brontis-pa-infested coconut tree so they can unleash the earwig, known as the Brontispa terminator as soon as possible.


City Tourism Offi-cer Roslyn Merlin said the crafting of tourism master plan is a manda-tory requirement under the Republic Act 9593 also known as the Tour-ism Act of 2009 which stipulated under sec-tion 37 sub-chapter 2 in that same law, requires every local government unit to formulate its own tourism plan as a guideline to all tourism related activities and projects. “This is really man-datory and so we have come up with this idea and jive with the cele-bration so we can move forward to formally de-

sign our own tourism plans with our priorities on its pipeline,” Merlin said. Just recently, City Mayor Ernesto Matu-gas issued an Executive Order No. 20 series of 2011 mandating the formulation of the said plan to visualize and set its goals and objectives for a sustainable devel-opment of tourism in-dustry in Surigao and to identify the necessary programs and activities under its priorities. Merlin said vari-ous stakeholders will participate the said for-mulation together with the tourism experts to

come up with a perfect masterpiece. The City of Surigao has offered various tourism potentials like beaches, caves, natu-ral sceneries and other natural potentials which would attract tourist ar-rivals. Being branded as the ‘City of Island Ad-ventures,’ the crafting of the tourism master plan enables them to cater additional tourist visi-tors and tourism inves-tors that will soon pro-vide additional tourism investments that will generate more liveli-hood opportunities for the Surigaonons.

Surigao City to craft Tourism Master Plan by NT Corbeta

SURIGAO CITY, September 29 (PIA) – Following the observance of the National Tourism Week and the celebration of World Tourism Day, the city government here is set to formulate the City’s Tourism Development Plan.


DENR apprehends P1.2 million worth of illegal logs by Eric F. Gallego

EO 23 is a decla-ration of a moratorium on the cutting and har-vesting of timber in the natural and residual forest and creating the anti-illegal logging task force. The order also prohibits the DENR from issuing logging contracts/agreements in all natural and re-sidual forest such as Integrated Forest Man-agement Agreements (IFMA), Socialized In-tegrated Forest Man-agement Agreement ( SIFMA), Community-Based Forest Manage-ment (CBFMA) and other agreements/contracts with logging components in natural and residual forest. Reports said the

task force has appre-hended a total of 82 pieces of illegal round lauan logs with a vol-ume of 128.38 cu-bic meters that were stockpiled at the Sta.Maria Quarry in Baran-gay Central, Manay, Davao Oriental. The task force also seized a 10-wheeler truck load-ed with undocumented logs at the quarry site. Initial investiga-tion also revealed that the illegal logs were al-legedly cut or gathered within the Asian Ever-green Integrated Forest Management Author-ity at Logdeck,Caraga, Davao Oriental. The task force are also verifying reports that Asian Evergreen IFMA

was registered to a congressman and sev-eral local officials in that area. According to the residents in the area, the hauling of illegal logs usually takes place during the night to con-ceal their operation. The discovery of the illegal logging op-eration in that area fol-lowed after a surveil-lance operations was made by the task force for several days. The raiding team was com-posed of the member-sof the 67th Philippine Army Batallion under Col. Reuben S. Basiao and some personnel of the CENRO in Manay, Davao Oriental.

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) – Some P 1.2 million worth of illegal logs and a truck, allegedly owned by some politicians in Davao Oriental were apprehended on Tuesday by the operatives of the DENR Anti-Illegal Task Force at a quarry site in Manay town, Davao Oriental in a continuing “search and apprehend” operation carried through Executive Order No. 23 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III on February 1, 2011.

one mindanao - september 29, 2011

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