OUR COVER
MinDA, Banana growers extend bananas, food packs to EV Nora CL Molde Caraga Region
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Today’s news... NATIONAL
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Guiuan town seeks alternative livelihood for typhoon victims
CENTRAL MINDANAO
Tacurong City receives commendation for riparian zone program
18-day campaign to end violence against women kicks off
CARAGA REGION
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222 Taclobanons avail free charging service PhilHealth Tacloban, Ormoc offices now open to serve; issues policy on fortuitous events
NORTHERN MINDANAO
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Tangub City prepares for the Christmas Symbols Festival 2013
Rutchie C. Aguhob
Tangub Rewards: Search for Best Class/ Section in Writing ang Reading is on Rutchie C. Aguhob
SOUTHERN MINDANAO
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Overwhelming support to call for volunteerism in the typhoon Yolanda relief operation noted
WESTERN MINDANAO
DepEd-9 conducts IP education forum Franklin P. Gumapon
PNP-Zambo. Sur extends aid to typhoon victims in Tacloban City Gideon C. Corgue
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 73
COVER STORY
MinDA, Banana growers extend bananas, food packs to EV
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he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) have donated around 6,000 boxes of bananas and 9,000 food packs to the typhoon victims in Eastern Visayas. MinDA Sec. Luwalhati Antonino, in a phone-patch interview aired over Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA’s) Power FM, said the distribution is part of the agency’s humanitarian initiative dubbed “One Mindanao for Visayas,” which aims to augment relief and rehabilitation efforts for areas
ravaged by Typhoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas and intensify assistance to the victims of one of the strongest typhoons recorded in history. “This initiative has also provided Mindanawons the opportunity to extend personal contributions as an expression of gratitude for the support the entire country and the international communities had extended when Mindanao was also ravaged not long ago by
Manager Cecil Trino, who led the distribution since Wednesday in Leyte, said they were able to distribute around 3,000 food packs to the town of Mayorga and 1,300 boxes of bananas to Palo. “Each box can benefit at least 10 families. Practically, at least 60,000 families will benefit from these donations from Davao-based company, Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. and other PBGEA members,” said Trino. Also, Trino said they are set to distribute today around 700 boxes of bananas to Tacloban Typhoons ‘Sendong’ and ‘Pablo,’” City and 800 boxes in Tanauan, Antonino said. Leyte. MinDA Caraga Area
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Guiuan residents in Eastern Samar start to rebuild lives
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esidents of this town are starting to pick up the pieces three weeks after the devastation wrought by typhoon “Yolanda,” one of the world’s strongest storms.
The local government here is focusing on clearing debris and rehabilitation of damaged houses. Sangguniang Bayan Secretary and Operations Center Spokesperson Rectito Melquiades said the clearing FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
operations here were already 70 percent complete as of Thursday. “Several private companies were lending us heavy equipment to clear municipal streets and other areas. We gave priority to the
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main streets,” Melquiades said. He said they no longer have problems in delivering relief goods and reaching all islands in Guiuan as they have cleared all road blocks already. There have been at least seven rounds of relief goods distribution in coastal barangays and four islands of Guiuan such as Suluan Island, Homonhon, Tubabao and Manicani, the official said. Citing official report, Melquiades said that the local relief center in Guiuan has served 14,193 families in 60 barangays. He said they are trying to limit the distribution of relief goods due to reports of hoarding and they want people particularly fishermen and farmers to go back to work. “We have sufficient supply of relief goods but we don’t want them to just rely on us. They need to go back to work and provide for their families,” he said. The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative has also started repairing toppled electric posts to meet the deadline set by the Energy department to restore power in entire Eastern Visayas by December 24. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
As for the bunkhouses, the Department of Public Works and Highways has started to build temporary shelters in five towns and islands in Eastern Samar. Thirty-five bunkhouses will be built in Guiuan, three in Victory Island, three in Campoyong, two in Salug, two in Tubabao and one in Lupok, according to Melquiades. Several police officers stationed at an outpost in Barangay Mercedes have also started rebuilding their office. Some district hospitals are also operational as Melquiades assured of sufficient supplies of medicines. Big establishments, however, are not yet operational as looting remains a concern to residents here. Melquiades said they are expecting business and trade to normalize soon as police forces have already been augmented in the town. At least 100 people died here due to Typhoon Yolanda. At least 16 persons died in the small island of Victory alone. PND
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Guiuan town seeks alternative livelihood for typhoon victims
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he municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar is now focusing on finding alternative livelihood for displaced residents three weeks after super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) battered this town.
While there have been continuous relief and rehabilitation efforts, municipal disaster risk reduction management operations center spokesperson Rectito Melquiades said one of their major concerns is the livelihood of the people. “Around 80 percent of our 47,087 population is dependent on fishing while 20 percent is into copra production,” said Melquiades. Among the proposed alternatives for affected residents here are seaweed farming and poultry raising, he said. He related that some 500 seaweed farmers have been affected by the typhoon but he is optimistic that they could go back on their feet. “We encourage farmers and fishermen to go back to work,” Melquiades said. Damage in seaweed farming was initially pegged at P1.2 million. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Partial losses in the fishery sector have been placed at P375.7 million. These include P162 million in motorboats; P4.4 million for non-motorized boats; P75 million in fish cages/pen; P40 million fish corals; P90 million in gilnet; P1.1 million in fish pot/trap; and P2 million for fish shelter or payao. In livestock, the initial damage was pegged at P42.678 million covering P20 million for matured swine; P14.044 million for growing swine; P5.76 million for cattle; P1.584 million for poultry; P750,000 for carabao; and P540,000 for goats. Partial damage to crops was at P27.681 million affecting some 5,150 farmers. Melquiades also said some international humanitarian organizations have been hiring skilled workers here to assist in medical missions. Other residents are tapped for clearing works particularly in hospitals.
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PBSP, Metrobank donate 2 school buildings in Central Mindanao
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he Philippine Business for Social Project (PBSP) in coordination with Metrobank, turned over Thursday a one-storey, two-classroom school building each to the Tamontaka Elementary School here and Pebpoloan Elementary School in Carmen, North Cotabato. The building costs P1.3-million each as subsidized by Metrobank under the PBSP’s Build-A-Classroom project. In simple ceremonies held at the Tamontaka school here, MetrobankMindanao Area head Alex Untal led other bank representatives in the handing over the structures’
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certificate to local education officials. Representatives from Pebpoloan Elementary School in North Cotabato were also present to formally receive their building donation from the bank executives. Over 1,000 grade-schoolers from the Tamontaka and Pebpoloan public
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schools witnessed and cheered as the turnover rites took place. “We are very much thankful that our school was chosen as a recipient of the school building project,� Omar Kabi, a six-grader at Pebpoloan Elementary School, said. PBSP officer-in-charge Maryjay Infiesto said that apart from Cotabato City and North Cotabato, six of 10 similar school building projects have been turned over so far in other parts of Mindanao that includes Zamboanga City. She also noted the ongoing construction of a two-storey,
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four classroom building in a far-flung village of Davao City. Plans are also underway for the construction of PBSP school projects in the Yolanda typhoon-devastated areas of Visayas early next year. PBSP and Metrobank earlier inked an agreement covering the construction of 24 building projects in nine public schools nationwide. Metrobank is an active member of PBSP, which influences the business sector to adapt corporate social responsibility in their core business and promote business strategies to address poverty.
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TESDA continues accreditation of YBL drivers By: Oliver Ross V. Rivera KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) office here is continues assessment and certification to drivers of the region’s largest bus fleet, Yellow Bus Line, Inc. (YBL). In a session held earlier today, 10 YBL drivers went through proficiency testing, which covered oral and written competency assessment as well as hands-on driving examination. RDC private sector representative for Transport and TESDA-12 Accredited Driving NC III Trainer and Assessor Nestor Lumawag said 46 YBL drivers are scheduled to undergo through their assessment before the end of 2013. “Since 2011, 80 YBL bus drivers have already received their Driving NC III accreditation from TESDA,” Lumawag added. According to YBL Safety Officer Eustaquio Dela Cruz Jr., accreditation is a way of ensuring the riding public that Yellow Bus Line drivers FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
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are competent to take the wheel. Meanwhile, one of the drivers, Raul Almazan said that the assessment is not only for compliance, it also serves as a refresher course for them to improve their driving confidence and skills.
Yellow Bus Line, Inc. has a fleet of more than 200 buses that ferry passengers travelling the routes from Isulan in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato via Koronadal City, General Santos City to Davao City. (ORVRiveraPIA12)
Tacurong City receives commendation for riparian zone program By: Danilo E. Doguiles TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat -- The city government of Tacurong was declared most Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) for its remarkable support in the riparian zone management program for disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation.
Its Barangay Baras was also recognized to have one of the most outstanding barangay riparian zone management councils in Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. The LGU received a plaque of recognition while Barangay Baras received a certificate and P15,000 prize from the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA). Awards were handed during the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Summit on November 21 at the Provincial Capitol in Isulan town. LGU-Tacurong, through its Office for the Development of Cooperatives, City Planning and Development Office, and City Environment and Natural Resources FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Office are taking active role in the rehabilitation and protection of the Kapingkong River and other tributaries. Since 2009, planting of trees, bamboo, and vetiver grass have been a regular activity of the LGU. These activities are sustained through the help of AVLDA, nongovernment organizations, national line agencies as well as land owners and other stakeholders. At the launching of the initiative in June 2009, some 3,300 bamboos and trees were planted along river banks and creeks of 10 barangays in Tacurong. In July 2010, an Agroforest Nursery Development Project in
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Barangay Baras was established. Three months after, 4,000 bamboo cuttings were planted in identified riparian zones. Another massive tree, bamboo and vetiver planting was held in October last year.
Riparian zone management program implementation is one of the key elements of Tacurong City’s DRRM Plan. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with EBuenacosa and JLBillano— LGU Tacurong)
18-day campaign to end violence against women kicks off By: Danilo E. Doguiles
TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat -- With Men Oppose Violence Against Women and Children Everywhere (MOVE) on the lead, the local government here kicked off on Monday the 18-day campaign to end violence against women. The event, which was anchored on the theme, “End Violence Against Women (VAW) Now! It’s our Duty,” was held at the city grounds. Among those who gathered to push for the advocacy to protect the rights of women were employees of the city hall, delegations from the different barangays in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO), Sultan Kudarat Water District (SKWD), Notre Dame of Tacurong College (NDTC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and others. Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla, Vice Mayor Joseph Jorge Lechonsito, city councilors, and other key r o Psyche Sucaldito, chair of the gender and development committee of the Sangguniang Panglungsod explained that under the signed Republic Act 10398, November 25 of every year is declared as the “National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.” The law also mandates key agencies to conduct activities that would raise public awareness regarding VAW, she said. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
To formally kick-off the event, Mayor Montilla, Vice Mayor Lechonsito, Councilor Sucaldito, and Councilor Charito Collado led all participants in the the lighting of candles. In her message, Mayor Montillla emphasized that opposing violence against women is everybody’s duties. All citizens regardless of status, she added, has the capacity to help end violence against women. The 18-Day Campaign to End VAWC is a yearly campaign spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women along with the national Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. The event, which runs from November 25 to December 12 focuses gaining support for the prioritization of VAW services and providing public access to these services. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with AFMDimaano-LGU Tacurong City)
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China hospital ship accommodates Team Mindanao visit By:Venus L. Garcia
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Hospital Ship of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, a state-of-the-art hospital designed for a special mission across nations, has arrived in the Philippines last Sunday and has allowed the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Team Mindanao cluster and media to visit their ship.
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It was learned that they already have performed three successful surgeries. Nine were taken cared in the intensive care unit (ICU). Nothing is being compromised with its proper accomodation. Free treatment and free provision of food. They were able to tour around and get acquainted with its medical staff. Team Mindanao leader and PIA Northern and Northeastern Mindanao cluster head Abner Caga also got the privilege to try one of its modern equiment that is used for cardio test. He was grateful for the good result of the test. The team has witnessed the sincere and humble act of its Mission Command Rear Admiral Shen Hao who personally assisted the patient with care. The 2-months old baby Chamsey Ann Quer who was brought there for treatment of gum swelling was well atended by a specialist. The moment the patients arrived at the ship, the receiving nurses diligently performed a patient assessment. After a while, the medical team went to the flight deck since their heli-ambulance is about to fly to send back to Tacloban City the discharged patients.
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Also, the ship is providing comprehensive medical assistance. The staff set up a field hospital to take screening for patients. Three medical teams are sent to disaster stricken areas to conduct evaluation and epidemic prevention. Wards are categorized into common, isolation, burn, and critical. It has eight operating rooms with four beds inside, two ICU rooms, two dental clinics, and 300 ward beds. Hao was proud to say about the features of their ship as being advanced and comprehensive. Professionalism, sincerity and enthusiasm of doctors and other staff are kept. “The concept carried forward by our Hospital Ship are ‘peace, development, cooperation, winwin.’ Our current mission here in the Philippines got support from military navy and our operation is smooth so far,” declared Chief of Maritime Hospital Senior Captain Sun Tao.
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222 Taclobanons avail free charging service By: Nora L. Molde
TACLOBAN CITY -- A total of 222 survivors of the super typhoon Yolanda availed the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Team Mindanao’s free charging service. Since Thursday, the team has already conducted three free charging service to three separate locations of the city. The first venue was located at the RTR Plaza where a simultaneous Diskwento Caravan was also held, initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry Region 8. The second venue was at the city astrodome, one of the largest evacuation centers in the city, and the third venue was at Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in the municipality of Palo, Leyte. With a span of five hours, the team was able to serve and cater around 105 residents last Wednesday. On Thursday, a total of 117 residents FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
availed the service for a period of six hours. While the free charging is ongoing, the team was able to provide technical assistance to the survivors by teaching them how to utilize their cellphones as FM radio. Aside from cellphones, the evacuees were able to have their flashlights, lamps, laptops, portable radios/speakers and other electronic devices fully charged. Also, during the free charging service at the astrodome and PSHS, the kids and adults have also enjoyed watching free film shows featuring comedy hit movies.
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PhilHealth Tacloban, Ormoc offices now open to serve; issues policy on fortuitous events By: Kenneth Po
TACLOBAN CITY -- In just two weeks after Typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation announced that its local health insurance offices in the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc are now up and running to serve the health insurance needs of members and non-members alike.
PhilHealth fulfilled its promise to open the two leading offices Monday, November 25, after suffering from heavy damage from strong winds and storm surges. “We are back in operation in these two major cities for the benefit of our members and partners, thanks to our resilient FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
and dedicated team in Region VIII,� PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla said. PhilHealth earlier assured the public that at least seven of their local health insurance offices and service desks in Southern Leyte, Samar and Biliran are still up and running despite the severe damage and
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very unusual situation that their employees are in. “These offices can perform membership registration and verification concerns (without online inquiry due to power outage) and receiving of benefit claims and premium contributions, except for the service desks,” Padilla said, adding that members and partners can contact their Yolanda Action Center at (02) 441-7425 to 26 for PhilHealth’s disaster recovery, rehabilitation and support efforts in the area. The PhilHealth Chief also said that to institutionalize their response during fortuitous events of such magnitude, PhilHealth has issued a policy that will serve as their template
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of response to ensure continuing health care benefits during such “acts of God”. In its Circular 34, s-2013 dated November 15, 2013, PhilHealth will pay claims of members and non-members and accredited and non-accredited hospitals and professionals during such events. “We will even extend filing period for claims to 120 days from date of discharge, make exemptions to the less than 24hour confinement rule, and even reimbursement for destroyed claims,” Padilla stressed. The Circular also allows for extension of deadline of premium payments and/or existing coverage as prescribed by PhilHealth, among other.
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Dominga Mallonga DOST-Caraga Regional Director
for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.ph DOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph
Dominga Mallonga DOST-Caraga Regional Director
for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.ph DOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph
Human trafficking hotline 1343 rescues 259 victims by Apipa P. Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Two hundred fifty-nine (259) victims were rescued through the help of the government’s human trafficking action line 1343 as of July 31, this year. Philippine Information Agency Regional Office 10. Cruz said 241 actual cases were brought to the action line and handled by the members of the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). He said 71 of the cases were on human trafficking, 66 cases on illegal recruitment while eight were mailorder bride cases. The 1343 action line, he said, is a 24/7 hotline that attends This was disclosed by Ariel T. and responds to calls requesting for Cruz of the Commission on Filipino assistance or reporting suspected Overseas (CFO), during the ‘Talakayan human trafficking activities. sa PIA” held on November 23 at the FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
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Data from the CFO shows that the 1343 action line has registered over 17,000 calls as of July 31 this year since its inauguration in 2011. Those who want to report trafficking-related cases can dial 02 then 1343, Cruz further said. The guesting of CFO representatives in “Talakayan sa PIA” was one of the activities under their annual community education program in the region to assist prospective migrants in making decision regarding settling abroad and prevent them from becoming victims of human
trafficking. The CFO as a member of the IACAT disseminates information to raise public awareness on the various issues concerning migration, intermarriages, illegal recruitment, and scheme of human traffickers, Cruz said. Aside from the “Talakayan sa PIA,” the CFO also conducted school symposia, pulong-pulong with nongovernment organizations, local government units and community leaders in the provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental.
Tangub City prepares for the Christmas Symbols Festival 2013 by Rutchie C. Aguhob
TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental - Preparations are on-going for the Christmas Symbols Festival 2013, here, with its grand opening on Dec. 1, to be highlighted by a fireworks display. At the moment, the city’s different sectors are getting their acts together and working round the clock to put up their respective Christmas symbols/structures to catch up with the opening, said Atty. Philip T. Tan, City Mayor of Tangub, “The Christmas Symbols Capital of the Philippines.” He said the festival aims to uphold the spirit of Christmas in the hearts of the Tangubanons and their neighboring communities and FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
enhance their ingenuity, creativeness and resourcefulness, aside from promoting the city to be a tourist destination every yuletide season. Meanwhile, he said to spice up the festival, the city has come up a contest in seven (7) categories: Category A for 16 clustered government agencies with the theme: Tangub City Celebrates Christmas Around the World, Part 2.” Category B for the Arches Contest participated by 27, out of the city’s
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barangays, of which 16 are highway and 11 are interior barangays with the theme: “Landmarks of Countries Around the World,” and Category C for the Lantern Contest which is open to all other barangays that did not participate in Category B. Category D1 for the Most Lighted Business Establishment in the Public Market, particularly, the Dried Fish and Vegetable Section, Meat and Fish Section, “Tuba (Coconut Wine)” and Video-K Section, Dry Goods and Fruit Section, “Painitan (Snacks/Eatery) Section and Tobacco Section. Category D2 for the Most Lighted Private Business Establishment to enhance their façade, Category E
for the Most Lighted Barangay and Category F for the Most Lighted House in the Barangay, for all highway and interior barangays, which have entries under Category B or the Arches Contest. Lighting of the Christmas symbols will start at 5:30 p.m. and turning off will be at 12:00 midnight, except on special occasions and in case of rain, lighting will be done 30 minutes, after the rain stops. Judging of the symbols will be done in three (3) separate occasions, Dec. 1, Dec. 16 and Dec. 30, with different sets of judges, using the ranking system, Mayor Tan added.
Tangub Rewards: Search for Best Class/ Section in Writing ang Reading is on by Rutchie C. Aguhob
TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental – The Department of Education, Division of Tangub City (DepEd-Tangub) in coordination with the Local Government Unit announces this school year’s conduct of “Tangub Rewards.” The Tangub Rewards is a search for the “Best Class or Section in Writing and Reading, Tangub Responding Challenges, Reaping Awards,” Dr. Victoria V. Gazo, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS), said. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
All elementary schools within the division are qualified to join the contest that aims to encourage and inspire pupils, teachers and school heads to work for exemplary academic performance on a class level.
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“The contest can actually be a tool for team-building, as the recognition is given to the whole class and not to an individual pupil, such that everybody in the class will endeavor to team-teach and help all their classmates to be able to read and write,� Gazo said. Meanwhile, she said the contest will be in three (3) levels: the School Level Search held this month and the District and Division Level Searches to be held in January and February, 2014, respectively. The School Level Search was done last Nov. 7 for Cursive Writing in Grade 2 and Enhanced Writing and Journalism in Grade 5, and Nov. 8 for Reading, Mother-Tongue Based (MTB) in Grade 1 and Reading, English in Grade 3. The weighted scores in the first round is 30 percent while that of the
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second round is 70 percent and the top five (5) classes in each district with a cut - off mean percentage score (MPS) of 60 percent up shall be declared winners in their respective districts. On the other hand, classes with an MPS of 60 percent up shall be considered qualifiers for the Division Level Search and the teachercoaches of the classes which shall be proclaimed winners shall automatically be proclaimed as Best Teachers in their respective districts. For the Division level search, only classes with a total MPS of 75 percent and above shall be declared winners and the over - all top 5 highest classes from the four (4) districts with an MPS of 75 percent up shall be declared as division winners, SDS Gazo added.
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DAR-11 enlists 31 farmers as agrarian reform beneficiaries in DavSur town by Carina Cayon
MALALAG, Davao del Sur – The municipal office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Malalag, Davao del Sur recently enlisted some 31 landless farmers in a barangay here as beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER). Esther Geyrozaga, OIC-municipal agrarian reform officer of Malalag, said the farmers who are mostly into vegetable production are from Barangay Pitu of said municipality. George Melga, one of the 31 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), expressed his gratitude to the Almighty and to DAR for giving them the opportunity to own a land which they would nurture to make their life better. Geyrozaga said Melga now owns a half-hectare farm lot which was formerly part of the 20-hectare FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Marcial Estate which was subjected to Mandatory Land Acquisition in early 2009. She said the ARBs received photocopies of their Certificates of Landownership Award (CLOAs) in a simple distribution ceremony, adding that original copies of the titles were deposited at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) being the paying arm of all compensable CARPcovered areas. She explained that the original copies of CLOAs will be handed over to the ARBs as soon as full-payment of the land value is already secured which is pursuant to DAR Administrative Order No. 5 series of 2005. Prior to the distribution, Geyrozaga said she comprehensively explained the duties and obligations of the ARBs as the new small land holders, the obligation to pay annual amortization to the LBP and the transfer of tax declaration and
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payment of annual real estate taxes. She also urged the recipients to take good care and make the land productive because “however small the parcel is, if properly cultivated, it can sustain generations.� She emphasized that acquiring the land from its former owners was never easy. After assessing the needed
support services for agri-production, a non-traditional type of irrigation system was identified as priority need and a crop house (an indigenous green house) model was also recommended to be put up in the area, Geyrozaga stated. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)
Overwhelming support to call for volunteerism in the typhoon Yolanda relief operation noted
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DAVAO CITY – An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region noted the overwhelming support from the people in Davao Region on the relief drive for the typhoon Yolanda stricken areas in the Visayas.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, DSWD11 regional director Priscilla Razon said the response from various private and public organizations was greater than the support given on the relief operation for assistance for the victims of typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte in December 2012. She said volunteers reporting to the inter-agency relief operation center at the depot of the Department of Public Works and Highways would average at 700 to 1,370 daily. Razon said DSWD has been receiving assistance for food and water provisions for the volunteers from the restaurants and hotels initiated by the tourism sector of the city. “Comparing it with our experience with typhoon Pablo, where we also appealed for repacking of relief good, volunteers for the typhoon Yolanda swarmed to as-
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sist us,” she said. Razon said people come in families to help. She said the heightened participation can be attributed to the awareness of the public to truly help the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Razon said that the DSWD 11 started transporting relief goods to Visayas on November 12 with 10,800 relief packs. She said a total of 70,362 relief packs from Davao Region were distributed to the areas ravaged by typhoon Yolanda. “We are currently slowing down the relief operation from Davao Region since we already exceeded the budget earmarked for Region XI. We will continue with our operation when more funds will be handed down,” Razon said. She said volunteer work continues as part of the DSWD mandate to prepare for at least 5,000 food packs which might be distributed at any given time in responding to disasters anywhere in Region 11. (PIA-11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines photo from the facebook page of DSWD-XI)
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Pagadian City holds “Walk for Rice” By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA)-9 in collaboration with the city government here held Wednesday a “Walk for Rice” to highlight the culmination program of the National Rice Awareness Month celebration.
Some
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800
participants composed of national and local
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government officials and employees, academe, and non-government organizations joined the walk around the city’s main streets that ended with the culmination program at the city gymnasium. In his welcome address, Councilor Christopher Ariosa, committee on agriculture chair, said “to sustain sufficient rice production, let’s join hands and help each other toward achieving progress and development not only for our own self but for the betterment of every one particularly our children and our children’s children.” As the chair of the agriculture committee in the city council, Ariosa expressed his commitment and support to the government’s program, which is anchored on the theme “Sapat na Bigas, Kaya sa Pinas,” and encouraged everyone to stay united. On the other hand, Mayor FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Romeo Pulmones whose message was read by City Administrator Prixio Daniel, said “the government’s effort to attain rice sufficiency is a laudable and encouraging vision, but to achieve this there is really a need for the cooperation of everyone, the farmers, policy makers and the consuming public.” “Let’s not entrust this program only to the farmers or just leave it to the government to achieve rice sufficiency in country; everyone has to do his part,” Pulmones added. “Today we are culminating the celebration of National Rice Awareness Month, but the pursuit to attain rice sufficiency continues. Let us help each other because none other who will benefit from this program except us in this present time and let us also prepare for the generations to come,” Mayor Pulmones concluded.
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DepEd-9 conducts IP education forum By Franklin P. Gumapon
PAGADIAN CITY – To engender a meaningful education for indigenous peoples (IPs) in the region, the Department of Education (DepEd)-9 has conducted here recently a forum on Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) with school superintendents, education supervisors, representatives from the different government agencies and private organizations as participants. The forum tackled the national IPEd policy framework in pursuance of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 otherwise known as RA 8371, which seeks to design a curriculum appropriate for the IPs. With an “indigenized curriculum,” the subjects are discussed from IP perspective in relation to their cultural heritage, customary laws, traditions, beliefs and practices. DepEd also aims to come up with an IPEd curriculum that reflects and integrates indigenous knowledge, system and practices. Engr. Aphli Dave I. Lampayan, a full-blooded Subanen working for the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Zamboanga del Sur, said a total of 110 ethnolinguistic groups are found in the different parts of the country and most of these tribes are in Mindanao. He, however, lamented that these IPs remain the poorest sector in the society. Based on the 2010 census, the IPs in the country accounted for 14 million. In Zamboanga Peninsula, the FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
dominant IP group is Subanen. This tribe can be traced in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and even in Misamis Occidental of region 10. Other ethnic groups living in the region are Badjaos, Yakans, Kalibugan,Tausugs and Samals. The forum was capped by a declaration of commitment among stakeholders for IPEd.
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PNP-Zambo. Sur extends aid to typhoon victims in Tacloban City By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) has collected some 500 kilos of relief goods for the victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” in Central Visayas region particularly the hardest hit Tacloban City. In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Senior Superintendent Sofronio Ecaldre, police provincial director, said that as a show of sympathy and support to typhoon victims, he directed the PNP personnel in the 24 municipalities through the chiefs of police to give in-kind assistance to the victims. The relief goods include sacks of rice, boxes of canned goods, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
mineral water, instant noodles and used clothing, Ecaldre told the PIA. Ecaldre said that ZSPPO’s initiative helps raise consciousness of each policeman that his role is not only confined to protecting the lives and properties of the civilians but also to “doing humanitarian services in order to alleviate the agony and hunger of people in distress.” “A helping hand is the best thing that we can share to them at times
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like this,” said Ecaldre, who is also a victim of super typhoon Yolanda as his houses in Baranagay Sagchan in Tacloban City and Barangay No. 5, Salawahan, Eastern Samar were all wiped out by the typhoon. His family members were spared from the nature’s wrath, though. Ecaldre said the relief goods that they had collected would be shared to the typhoon victims in Central Visayas and the Zamboanga crisis. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
“The packed foods will be shared to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City,” Ecaldre said adding that immediate priorities of the victims are food and water. “The used clothes will be transported to Zamboanga City for the war victims there since houses were burned by the MNLF rebels and they need clothes,” Ecaldre explained.
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