PIA REGIONAL OFFICES IN MINDANAO
Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) P. Urro Street, San Francisco District Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016 Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038 Cellphone no. 0908-8843404 E-mail : r9_pia@yahoo.com mimibern17@yahoo.com Skype : hnb_r9pia
COVER STORY : Lamitan’s Lami-lamihan, a festival of “harvests”
NATIONAL
• Palace elated over improved business confidence as indicated by latest survey of Bangko Sentral • President Aquino receives winners of the 2011 Magsay say awards
Northern Mindanao
Graces’ Building, Antonio Luna Street Cagayan de Oro City 9000 Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83 Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594 Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969 E-mail : pia10_pd@yahoo.com r10_pia@yahoo.com rutchiecabahug@yahoo.com
Northern Mindanao
Southern Mindanao (Davao Region) 2/F Kanto Motors Bldg., Quimpo Blvd., New Matina Davao City 8000 Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580 Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044 Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950 E-mail : efelbanbuena@yahoo.com
• More NorMin youths benefit from government internship program • NBI-10 nabs smuggling suspect Bigcas for illegal possession of firearms • Malaybalay steps up efforts to protect consumers vs. fraudulent trade practices • Standard safety programs can help prevent accidents - DOLE • BJMP expects 800 outdoor enthusiasts in Hike/Run Challenge
Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)
Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St. Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Telephone no. (083) 520-0249 Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100 Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307 E-mail : r12_pia@yahoo.com pia_xii@yahoo.com
• Kadayawan framework eyed for future stagings • DavSur mayors support RH Bill • Army sees Bayanihan completion by next year • Serbisyo Caravan pooled gov’t services in varied types • P10-M MRDP road to stir rural economy, boost farmer’s income
Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN)
Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg., J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City Telephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239 Telefax no. (085) 341-2370 Cellphone no. 0917-7188834 Email: piacaraga@gmail.com pia_caraga@yahoo.com,ph
• N. Cotabato pushes for environment-friendly Kalivungan Festival • Sarangani officials eye for PDAF’s new scheme • Sarangani Muslim employees hold Grand Iftar at Capitol • Pagtutok sa Early Recovery Plan ng ARMM patuloy • DOH bus tuloy na tuloy na ang biyahe sa South Cotabato sa Setyembre • Kaso ng dengue bumaba sa ARMM
OUR COVER Today’s cover features the Lami-lamihan Festival of Lamitan City, Basilan.
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In This Issue...
Story on page 3...
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Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)
• PDEA-13, police raid alleged drug lab in Surigao City • RTWPB-Caraga sets schedules of Public Consultations for Wage Increase Petition • Gov. Plaza receives gawad sa kaunlaran awards from AFP • PIA Surigao Norte partners RMN-Surigao in bloodletting activity • City Director Carillo to create Discipline Zone in Butuan
Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)
• Tawi-Tawi gears up for 38th founding anniversary; promotes vast tourism potentials • U.S. Embassy Launches VISAtisfied Voyager as new Visa blog • Saving our farms, securing our staple food
Friday, August 26, 2011
cover story...
Lamitan’s Lami-lamihan, a festival of “harvests” by Rene V. Carbayas
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n June 26, 2011 Lamitan City in Basilan marked the 28th Lami-lamihan festival with grandeur and hope as Lamiteños harvest the labor of the past. Lami-lamihan or merry-making in today’s celebration displayed the colorful traditions and culture of the Yakans of Basilan as showcased in the hand-woven tapestry, traditional music, songs, dances, and rituals. While, many Yakans and Lamiteños, especially among young people,
have embraced modernity, locals kept in mind their treasured traditions. Thanks to the annual celebration of the festival that kept young generations attuned with their culture and way of life. It is, however, uncertain how many of the young genera4
Friday, August 26, 2011
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Cover Story: Lamitan’s Lami-Lamihan... from page 3
celebrating Lami-lamihan. “As we celebrate Lami-lamihan, we rekindle the good values among the youths as they indulge in bad habits, like drugs, alcoholism, and worst crimes against the State; such as drug-pushing, banditry, and kidnapping,” Furigay said. “Celebrating Lamilamihan reminds us that Floral offering to the monument of Datu Kalun, founder of Lamiin the past our youths tan in Basilan, held during the 28th Lami-lamihan festival. indulge themselves in tions today in Lamitan tions of his people while good values that we perare culturally educated about their traditions and customs. This year’s theme, “Perpetuating the grandeur of the past in a humane and progressive society,” is fitting enough to bring to the consciousness of the young about the beauty and richness in values of the Yakan culture. For Mayor Roderick Furigay, the theme Locals and guests enjoy the food during the Duwaa and floreflects the aspiraral offering at Datu Kalun Park in Lamitan, Basilan celebrating Lami-lamihan festival.
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Cover Story: Lamitan’s Lami-Lamihan... from page 4
petuate the grandeur of celebrate the Lami- high-ranking official to the past in a progressive lamihan with much ar- be the keynote speaker society,” he recalled. dor notwithstanding the of the celebration. The mayor chal- good news of our city- Brig.Gen. Romeo lenged the elders to hood as this is a cel- Calizo, AFP Command always be on guard to ebration that promotes Center chief, was also protect the good val- our peoples heritage surprised to be invited ues in the community. and cultural identity,” as keynote speaker. He He, further said there invited peocould be ple to join two poshim in the sible reapursuit of sons. the dream “ F i r s t , for a better maybe and peacethey got ful Lamitan interestCity. ed with F o r our battle Vice-Maycry that or Arleigh is winEisma, the ning the Civic parade during the 28th Lami-lamihan festival in Lamitan City, years that peace. It’s Basilan. passed were not anymore significant to all Lamite- Eisma said. winning the war, emergños, historically. It was He, likewise, urged ing as victors in [armed] when the status of city- the people to continue conflict but rather winhood of Lamitan sees to preserve its cultural ning the peace,” he exits numerous reversals identity in spite of the plained. until it was finally pro- fast-changing times. He said that the claimed with finality by The festival is basi- second reason could be the Supreme Court as cally cultural in nature. due to his being a “conconstitutional. One would be fascinated tingent of Lamitan”, the “Lamiteños must enough having a military first place that he set 6
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Cover Story: Lamitan’s Lami-Lamihan... from page 5
his feet on in the past years, while assigned in Basilan. In his keynote address, Calizo took note of the respect and tribute given to those involved in spearheading the development of Lamitan and in transforming to what it is now. He said that the current generation enjoys the fruits of the harvest as he cited the many projects that changed the landscape of Lamitan, like the installation of CCTV cameras around the city and various infrastructures, among others. He said the meaning of Lami-lamihan depends on the leaders. “It is a way of gathering the people together and unite them, kahit na hindi magkakilala unit-
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(From left) Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, Congressman Jim Hataman, and BGen Romeo Calizo enjoy watching the civic parade during the 28th Lami-lamihan festival in Lamitan City, Basilan.
ed pa rin tayo towards the attainment of peace and development.” Meanwhile, Basilan Congressman Jim Salliman-Hataman salutes Lamiteños for the creativity and dedication to preserve its culture. He said that his office is willing to support individuals who would explore or venture on Yakan literature, culture, and arts. He looks forward to the day when a Yakan and or a Basileño will document or write about the Yakans, citing
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that many literatures or documentaries about the Yakans were written by other people. The Lami-lamihan festival 2011 completes another annual celebration of the harvests of the past as it continues to cultivate the seeds of respect, peace, and development. The harvest that Lamiteños will continue to enjoy gives hope for a future where people are culturally grounded, while facing the challenges of the modern times. (RVCPIA9 BaSulTa) Friday, August 26, 2011
Palace elated over improved business confidence as indicated by latest survey of Bangko Sentral
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PFalacanang welcomed on Friday the latest results of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey showing improved business confidence index despite the recent US credit rating downgrade and the ongoing debt concerns in Europe.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, “We are encouraged by the results of the third quarter Business Expectation Survey of the BSP showing a 34.1 percent increase in business confidence in the current quarter and a 53.9 percent increase in the next quarter.” “The increased optimism displayed by businesses is a sign of confidence in the Aquino administration and in the renewed vitality of the Philippine economy, which Friday, August 26, 2011
puts us on the path of surmounting the challenges posed by recent events that indicate economic instability in Europe and in the US,” he said. Laicerda said, “The results of the BSP survey show that the vigor of an economy is as much dependent on the optimism displayed by businesses, as it is on fundamentals and sound economic policies.” “We want to build on this optimism; and in the next few years, our administration will continue to expand
the reforms we have already instituted and the firm foundations we have put in place to realize the administration’s vision of sustainable and equitable economic growth,” he said. The higher business optimism is based on expectations that the domestic economy will remain resilient despite the recent US credit rating downgrade and the ongoing debt concerns in Europe, according to the BSP. (JS)
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President Aquino receives winners of the 2011 Magsaysay awards
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resident Benigno S. Aquino III received this year’s winners of a prestigious award-giving body that recognizes personalities and groups whose lives and work paint a portrait of remarkable change and achievement, addressing issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity and transforming their societies for the better.
President Benigno S. Aquino III was all smiles as he poses with this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardees during a courtesy call at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace Friday (August 26). The 2011 Magsaysay awardees include Tri Mumpuni of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia; Nileema Mishra from Bahadarpur, Maharashtra, India; Koul Panha of Cambodia; Hasanain Juaini from Indonesia; Harish Hande of Bangalore, India and Auke Idzenga of Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI) from Negros Occidental, Philippines. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is being given by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) to personalities and groups whose lives and works paint a portrait of remarkable change and achievement, addressing issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity and transforming their societies for the better. Also in photo are RMAF Vice Chairperson Emily Abrera, Chairperson Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista and President Carmencita Abella. (Photo by: Jay Morales / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
The winners, composed of five individuals from Cambodia, India, Indonesia and a group from the Philippines, paid a courtesy call to President
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Aquino at the President’s Hall of Malacanang Palace, Friday. They were gladly congratulated by the Chief Executive along with Presidential Spokes-
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person Edwin Lacierda. The 2011 Ramon Magsaysay awardees include a Filipino group, the Alternative Indigenous Development Foun 9
Friday, August 26, 2011
President Aquino receives... from page 8
dation, Inc. (AIDFI) that was given recognition for their collective vision, technological innovations and partnership practices to make appropriate technologies improve the lives and livelihood of the rural poor in the country’s upland communities and elsewhere in Asia. Harish Hande from India was given recognition for his passionate and pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor through a social enterprise that brings customized, affordable, and sustainable electricity to India’s vast rural populace, encouraging the poor to become asset creators. The holistic, community-based approach to pesantren of Hasanin Juaini of Indonesia creatively promoted values of gender equality, religious harmony, environmental preservation, individual achievement and civic engagement among young students and their communities. Koul Panha from Friday, August 26, 2011
Cambodia was honored for his determined and courageous leadership in a sustained campaign to build an enlightened, organized and vigilant citizenry who will ensure fair and free elections – as well as demand accountable governance from elected officials – in the country’s nascent democracy. Nileema Mishra from India, was recognized for her purpose-driven zeal to work tirelessly with villagers in Maharashtra, India organizing them to successfully address both their aspirations and adversities with collective action and heightened confidence in their potential to improve their own lives. The efforts of Tri Mumpuni from Indonesia was honored for her determination to promote micro hydropower technology, catalyze needed policy changes and ensure full community participation in bringing electricity, as well as the fruits of development to the rural areas of her country. Established in 1957,
the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It celebrates the memory and leadership example of the third Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and is given annually to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same sense of selfless service that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader. The winners, dubbed as Asia’s living heroes, join 284 other laureates who have received the region’s highest honor to date. Each of them receives a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late President Ramon Magsaysay and cash prize. The awardees will be formally conferred the Magsaysay Award during the Presentation Ceremonies to be held on August 31, Wednesday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (jcl/)
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More NorMin youths benefit from government internship program by Apipa Bagumbaran CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 26 (PIA) --- Some 1,704 youths in Northern Mindanao, have been benefited by the Government Internship Program (GIP), this year. This was bared by Eddie Cuaresma, Cluster Head, National Youth Commission (NYC), Northeastern Mindanao, during the recent Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meeting, here. Data gathered by NYC show that the province of Camiguin posted the highest GIP enrollment with 420 youths, excluding the 140 GIP-enrolled youth in Mambajao town. Next was Malaybalay City in Bukidnon with 300 youths, followed by Gingoog City and Cagayan de Oro City with 260 and 250, respectively. The data also show that in Bukidnon, the local government unit (LGU) of San Fernando had 139 GIP beneficiaries, while Lantapan had 79, and Manolo Fortich and Valencia City had 75 and 41, respec-
tively. The GIP is NYC’s contribution to the poverty alleviation program of the government which provides young and deserving individuals with necessary skills related to youth development, Cuaresma said. It aims to initiate the youth to public service to draw their support and understanding of government programs and projects and serves as a recruitment mechanism for potential public employees. Students and out-ofschool youths (OSY), who are 18-25 years old, are the targeted clientele of the GIP, which involves all departments and agencies of the national government, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and the
LGUs. College and/or vocational students are to be recruited by the government agencies on the basis of their major or minor fields of discipline, while OSY, preferably those less fortunate but deserving ones, shall be involved in the field work of government extension programs and projects in their communities. Under the GIP, the government agencies will provide the youth interns with stipend of not more than 75% of the applicable minimum wage. They may also provide meal or transportation allowances which can be sourced out from the GO budget, as may be provided by law, and subject to the existing laws of accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 11
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More Normin... from page 10
However, the youth participant shall be accommodated only once in the year-round implementation of the program for a maximum period of three (3) months and
a minimum of two (2) months, upon completion of which, he/she will receive a “Certificate of Completion” to be issued by GO involved. Meanwhile, Cuares-
ma has encouraged the LGUs’s in Northern Mindanao to come-up with an ordinance adopting the GIP to be able to help more youths in the region. (PIA-10)
NBI-10 nabs smuggling suspect Bigcas for illegal possession of firearms by: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY. Misamis Oriental, Aug. 26 (PIA) – Smuggling suspect Lynard Allan Bigcas has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), here, and has been turned-over to the proper authorities.
He was arrested, exactly a week after a Warrant of Arrest (WOA) for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions was issued by Judge Jose U. Yamut, Sr. of the Regional Trial Court, 10th Judicial Region, Branch 11, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, last Aug. 18. Bigcas was socializing with friends at Rhodelsa Circle, near the alternate bridge, here, when apprehended, said Atty. Wenceslao Galendez, NBI-10 Investigation Agent, said. Per the WOA signed by Judge Yamut, the bail for Bigcas’ release is fixed at Php80,000 which maybe furnished by the accused, either by depositing the amount with the
nearest collector of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or provincial, city or municipal treasurer, in accordance with Section 14 ( cash bail). He can also do it by furnishing a bond approved by the RTC Judge, in accordance with Section 19 (corporate surety) and Section 11 (property bond) of Rule 114 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure. It can be recalled that last May 3, joint operatives of NBI, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the warehouse in Talakag, Bukidnon, owned by a certain Robert Omullon wherein 19 cars and motorcycles
were successfully recovered from the premises The raid was made on the strength of a Search Warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Talakag, Bukidnon, after which, another operation was simultaneously conducted on the rented house of Bigcas in Barangay Kauwsagan, this city, where 10 more cars and motorcycles, including some firearms and ammunitions, were found. Subsequently, last May 9, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the recovered cars and motorcycles, thereby, acquiring jurisdiction over them. A congressional inquiry was, thereafter, 12
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NBI-10 nabs... from page 11
conducted on the alleged smuggling activities of Bigcas chaired by Cong. Rodolfo Fariñas. However, Bigcas testified that he brought all the imported motorcycles through “Balikbayan” boxes, thereby, evading the payment of taxes and duties. He was also required to present proof of his ownership over the confiscated motorcycles. As to the MV’s, Bigcas alleged that he acquired all of them locally. Last May 19, a case of smuggling was filed by the BOC against Bigcas before the City Prosecu-
tors of CDO and the Province of Bukidnon. The Bukidnon case was later withdrawn and filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Manila. However, the CDO case remains to be heard by the City Prosecutor’s Office here in the city. In close coordination with BOC-X, NBI-10 is conducting an in-depth investigation on the alleged smuggling activities of Bigcas in CDO. Meanwhile, NBI-10 has turned-over the actual physical possession of the following MV’s for disposal and upon subsequent issuance of a WSD
to BOC-X, last Aug. 17: Martin Brother’s Chopper with chassis # 1M9HW28808D830003 and Chevrolet Tahoe with chassis # 1GNNEC13Z34R110174 and engine # 317018133648925. Dodge |Charger with chassis # 2B3KA43G37H86607 and Ranger Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV), color red, chassis # 4XAVH76A48D330033. Yamaha YZF450 with chassis # JYACJ1077A015220 engine # J324E-015271 and Yamaha YZF285 with chassis # JYACG25C06A012137 engine # E-G342E-024206. (PIA-10)
Malaybalay steps up efforts to protect consumers vs. fraudulent trade practices by Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Aug. 26 (PIA) – The Malaybalay City Price Coordinating Council (MCPCC), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), convened recently to adopt the Action Plan crafted by the newly installed Price Monitoring Board (PMB). City Mayor Ignacio Zubiri said the project forms part of the initiative of the city government to combat deceptive and fraudulent commercial practices. “We are committed to ensure that consumers should be protected through the licensing and regulation of many businesses and services here,”
he said. Despite differing systems and policies for the protection of consumers, the PMB reached a consensus on the need to pass an ordinance to impose penalties to price manipulators, weekly market price monitoring, and implementation of the price tag law. The PMB, likewise,
underscored in the plan, the regular calibration of the “Timbangan ng Bayan” (market weighing scales), installation of huge price monitoring boards at conspicuous areas in the public market, and verification of the consumerlodged complaints. DTI Provincial Director Ermedio Abang, meanwhile, said informa 13
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Malaybalay steps... from page 12
tion exchange, communication and joint action will combat misleading and unfair commercial conduct.
“Businesses, consumers, the government and their representatives should devote special attention to the development
of effective enforcement of consumer protection policies and laws,” Abang further said. (PIA 10)
Standard safety programs can help prevent accidents - DOLE by Jorie C. Valcorza
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 26 (PIA) – Industries have to put in place standard safety programs to help prevent or eliminate accidents from happening.
This was the message of Asst. Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10) to the private occupational safety groups during the opening of the Regional Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Summit held at the Pearlmont Inn, this city, Aug. 2526. “We will continuously work and support our partner safety organizations, so that, together we may be able to inculcate to workers, as well, as to the management side, that safety is non-negotiable,” Cano said. Anchored on the theme: “Sustaining and strengthening safety, health, and environment in the workplace,” the sumFriday, August 26, 2011
mit aims to enhance compliance to occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, as well as, promote greater stakeholder participation in the OSH advocacy. Together with DOLE and the Occupational Safety and Health Center, region 10 (OSHC- 10), the activity was initiated by the three (3) established safety organizations in the region: Occupational Safety and H e a l t h Network, region 10 (OSHNet-10), Safety Organization of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon, Inc. (SOPIMOCdeOBuk) and the Association of Safety Practitioner of the Philippines, Inc., region 10 (ASPPI-10).
Engr. Teodoro V. Cahoy, president of OSHNet-10 Inc said that this is the only gathering where all safety organizations in a region have worked together in bid to increase public awareness especially among small medium enterprises (SMEs). “The good turnout in attendance shows that most industries in the region are (OSH) conscious,” he said. Among the participants of the summit were, medical professionals and safety practitioners from the different industries in the region who will be sharing their best safety practices and studies on addressing regional concerns and issues such as OSH challenges in
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Standard safety... from page 13
agri-business, hospitals, and emergency preparedness in the Information and Technology (IT) sector. The summit opened with the unveiling of booths and exhibits, followed by plenary sessions and will close with presentations on resolutions related to OSH the signing of the pledge of commitment. Meanwhile, OSHC Executive Director, Ma. Terista Cucueco commended its partners for realizing the big gathering, citing it, as an initial step to best expand the net-
working between the government and nongovernment organization (GO/NGO). “Through this copartnership we will find ways to multiply all our efforts and this summit that we are having now, is the fruit of our partnership,” she noted. Likewise, Dr. Gilbert B. Gille, President of the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine, Inc. invited interested companies to join any of the three safety organizations in the region, assuring help and necessary assistance.
“We give free lectures or seminars to the corresponding companies as part of our advocacy awareness and with that we also recommend to them, to apply for accreditation to the government sector like DOLE,” Gille said. “We are not sleeping on our obligations as safety and health practitioners in the private sector and we are moving together aggressively with the government sector that’s why we are here,” he added. (PIA 10)
BJMP expects 800 outdoor enthusiasts in Hike/Run Challenge by Jeza Mae Sarah Sanchez MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- Some 800 outdoor enthusiasts are expected to take part in the “Jail House Rock 8-K Hike/Run Challenge,” which will kick off this coming Sept. 25.
“The first of its kind in region 10, the activity primarily aims to source out funds to strengthen even more the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of inmates in Malaybalay City Jail,” Sr. Insp. Guy Jason Reyes, Jail Warden, said.
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“Optimistic as we are, we also hope that this would help transform the public perception of jails and on that process transform the inmates’ perception of themselves,” the Jail Warden added. Souvenir jerseys
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will be made available. Prizes will be also be given for winners in every category. Interested participants may sign up at registrations sites at Malaybalay City Plaza, Bukidnon. (BJMP/ PIA-10) Friday, August 26, 2011
Kadayawan framework eyed for future stagings DAVAO CITY Aug 26 (PIA)—A framework that will serve as guide for future Kadayawan Festivals is being eyed by the recent Kadayawan 2011 organizers. “We want to put in writing the feedbacks of the other sectors.” Lisette Marquez, festival director of the Kadayawan 2011 which is handled by the Duaw Dabaw Foundation, a private sector group tasked to oversee the annual festival. Marques said that they are currently holding post-event evaluation meetings to review the way the festival was handled. The festival director added that the festival was a huge success despite admitted lapses, shortcomings and limitations, “We are so happy that despite the limitations the Kadayawan Festival happened as it is.” Marques said. Among the aspects they wanted to revisit is the guidelines of the Hiyas ng Kadayawan a pageant participated by Friday, August 26, 2011
female representatives from the ten recognized indigenous tribes in Davao City and is touted as a showcase of indigenous culture and diversity. She said that among the comments in the Hiyas ng Kadayawan were of the candidates wearing westernized attire like high heels. “We’d like to see if we are moving too fast or being modernized” Marques said. A consultation will be in place to be participated by different sectors particularly from the indigenous people’s community and the media. These and among the many feedbacks will be encapsulated into a framework which Marques hopefully said will be like a manual for holding the festival. She said that if cho-
sen again to handle next year’s Kadayawan they would apply the lessons learned in this year’s Kadayawan event. For his part, Davao City Police Office chief Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera, will recommend utilizing Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from the various schools in the city during Kadayawan as he noticed that there are not enough warm bodies for crowd control as they were using regular police, military and civilian volunteer units. “Our security manpower was not enough compared to the crowd attendance.” Aspera said. He added that major festivals like Cebu ’s Sinulog have been deploying ROTC cadets for crowd control. (PIA 11/ RG Alama) FMG/RGA
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DavSur mayors support RH Bill
by Carina L. Cayon
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Aug. 26 (PIA) – The League of Municipalities of the Philippines Davao del Sur Chapter declared support for the approval of the Reproductive Health Bill, denoting an initial adherence to its commitment to address health concerns in the province. The LMP-Davao del Sur came up with this declaration during the Provincial Health Summit which discussed several health issues including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals on reducing child and maternal mortality, AIDS, Tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases. LMP-DavSur vicepresident Mayor John Johnson of Don Marcelino town was the one who raised a motion for the body to prepare a resolution in support to the RH Bill which is currently pending on second reading and interpolation in the Senate and House of Representatives (HOR). Hagonoy Mayor Franco Calida, LMP-DavSur board member, seconded the motion with no objection from the body. Johnson told the Philippine Information Agency that the LMP’s resolution would add to the needed endorse-
ment and backing up of the said bill. The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPDF) provided an update on the status of RH Bill at the 15th Congress during the Health Summit. PLCPDF national advocacy manager Ernesto Almocera said that as of last week there were ongoing plenary debates and interpolation at the HOR. Almocera bared that a number of authors and supporters have signified support to vote for the bill after the inclusion in the priority list of Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). RH Bill, he said, has 98 co-authors with a total of 138 supporters out of 285 HOR members, implying a gain of 48 percent in favor, while 37% against and 15% neutral and/or still undecided.
At the Senate level, Almocera said the Bill pending on 2nd Reading, has completed the period of sponsorship by Senator Pia Cayetano on June 7 and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Aug 1 and 17. He presented the balance of support in the Senate that showed 57% are in favor and 13% are anti-RH Bill, while 30% are still undecided/neutral. Almocera also revealed that the RH Bill is getting more support from advocates, and that 72% of the country’s population supports the Bill’s provision on family planning according to survey. PLCPDF and other health group advocates attested to the signing of the joint declaration of commitment by majority of the municipal mayors of the LMP-DavSur chapter who vowed to strengthen the implementation and its support to health pro 17
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DavSur... from page 16
grams. The forging of commitment was done together with other health advocates from the League of Provinces of the Philippines, House of Representatives, Department of Health and other development partners during the Health Summit on August 19 in Digos City.
“We declare our unwavering commitment to ensure that every Filipino is healthy and productive,” stated the joint declaration, anchoring from a premise that the Filipino families deserve health services beyond political division and bias. The LMP sponsored the first Health Summit which would roll out to
other 79 provinces in the country, according to LPM-DavSur chapter president and LMP National secretary general Mayor Roel Paras of Malalag. The Summit bannered the theme “Usapang Lokal para sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan.” (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon) FMG/CLC
Army sees Bayanihan completion by next year by Mai Gevera-Macapagat
DAVAO CITY, Aug 26 (PIA) - Oplan Bayanihan under the area of responsibility of the 10th infantry division has liberalized more than 500 barangays and immersed 60 percent of its target areas. In Thursday’s Hermes Club at Pearl Farm Marina, 10th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia reported this accomplishment disclosing the army’s intention of completing their immersion next year. Oplan Bayanihan was launched during AFP’s celebration of its 75th anniversary last December 21, 2010. It replaced the four-year Oplan Bantay Laya II of the Arroyo administration. It took effect from January 1, 2011 up to the end of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s term in 2016, comFriday, August 26, 2011
ing into force amid the impending peace talks between the government and communist rebels. Oplan Bayanihan is people-center, people-focused. Instead of purely focusing on military operations, we are bringing in peace development outreach programs and linking these with the programs of other national and local agencies.”, he said. Segovia explained that the Oplan Bayanihan is done by phases, spending a specific period of time in a certain area. The 10th ID start-
ed its efforts in Mawab, Compostela Valley Province as this is the future home of the said division. The province of Compostela Valley is also identified as a priority area for the army’s peace and development projects and programs. The official admitted though that liberating the Paquibato area in Davao City is a challenge for the military as this is considered an isolated case. However, this part is a priority of the military for its Oplan Bayanihan in the coming year. “ Hindi agad na
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Army sees... from page 17
babago ang pag-iisip ng iilan pero isolated case lang naman ang Paquibtao. We are just asking the public for a little patience.”, he added. Despite the recent call of the CPP-NPA-NDF for a suspension of military operation, Segovia
stressed that he army cannot stop its mandate of providing peace and order in the community. “There will be no suspension of peace and development efforts as well as military operation. But if they call for suspension for the release of the abducted ci-
vilians, and if it is clear that the suspension is only for a given time, then possibly we will wait for the order from the higher office to come.” , he said. (PIA/Mai Gevera-Macapagat) FMG/FMG
Serbisyo Caravan pooled gov’t services in varied types by Jeanevive D. Abangan
DAVAO CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) - Mothers carrying bags of goodies on their way home; farmers with either seeds or tree seedlings; fisherfolks with their fishnets; people holding either birth or marriage certificates. These were some of scenes that Regional Director Achilles Gerard Bravo of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies (ARENA) XI saw at the end of the day’s Serbisyo Caravan in Boston and in Cateel towns of Davao Oriental, held from Aug. 4 to 5, 2011. In delivering the Serbisyo Caravan accomplishment report at the Hermes Club, Bravo described the hauling of government services as a triumph in bringing together government agencies to serve the people in hard-to-reach towns of Davao Oriental.
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“It was the first time that we were able to bring together 47 national government agencies and governmentowned and controlled corporations. We’ve not done that in Davao City,” he said. Bravo bared the Serbisyo Caravan conducted last Aug. 4 to 5 in Boston and in Cateel of Davao Oriental, mobilized 250 members of the staff of the participating agencies and brought together 55 regional directors.
XI, the Serbisyo Caravan pooled together the services of the departments of budget, labor and employment, agrarian reform, social welfare and development, education, environment and natural resources, science and technology, trade and industry, justice, agriculture, health, interior and local government, energy and public works and highways. It also enlisted the participation and support of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bureau of Participating agencies Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Com Hoisted as the ban- mission on Audit (COA), ner project of ARENA Professional Regulation
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Friday, August 26, 2011
Serbisyo Caravan... from page 18
Commission (PRC), Commission on Population (PopCom), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Statistics Office (NSO), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) , Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Public Attoryney’s Office (PAO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), Regional Soils Laboratory, National Food Authority (NFA), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), PhilHealth, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Home Dev’t Mutual Fund (HMDF), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao Regional Hospital (DRH). Government financial institutions such as the Land Bank of the Friday, August 26, 2011
Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and Quedancor also volunteered their services while the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the National Police Commission together with the Philippine National Police provided security during the event. Caravan likened to fiesta Bravo might not have yet figured out the total number of beneficiaries but he likened the event to a town fiesta. He was informed that beneficiaries were already at the town gym as early as 1:00 in the morning for the formal opening ceremonies of the caravan. Interviewed mothers who were Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries from Brgy. San Vicente, Cateel, Davao Oriental confided having left their home at around 1:00 a.m., and traveled at wee hours in the morning towards the poblacion for the Serbisyo Caravan. They rode in a truck along with 67 other Pantawid Pamilya Program beneficiaries
of their barangay, just to get their cash assistance. While still qeueing to get their cash assistance, they planned to buy food, clothing, vitamins and other items they would take home for their children. During the twoday roll out of government services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) pulled the most number of beneficiaries. Based on ARENA data provided by Bravo, total of 930 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Boston, Davao Oriental were paid out of cash assistance amounting to a total of P2,211,200 released by Land Bank while 1,924 beneficiaries in Cateel were paid of their cash assistance which totaled P3,555,500. DSWD XI Regional Director Ester Acebedo Versoza in an interview said DSWD paid out in advance a total of P236,808 Rice Subsidy through cash-forwork to 78 beneficiaries in Boston. DSWD targeted to
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Serbisyo Caravan... from page 19
children, farmers, fisherfolks, persons with disability, and poor families in the Davao Oriental sortie of Serbisyo Caravan. Other than the Rice Subsidy Through Cash For Work and the Pantawid Pamilya, DSWD also brought along other prime programs such as Supplementary Feeding, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Services for Persons with Disability. Services given In quantifying its Serbisyo Caravan services, BFAR revealed having brought a total of P432,577.33 worth of mud crab project, fishing paraphernalia, tilapia fingerlings to poor and marginalized fisherfolks in Boston and Cateel, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed assorted vegetable seeds, grafted durian seedlings, corn seeds and had given away technoguides for vegetables and fruit production. DA also rendered anti-rabies, hemosept and hog cholera vaccina-
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tion services while DOLE released sets of fishing equipment to three fishing communities in Boston and seven fishing villages in Cateel. Bravo noted as unexpected the high turn out of clients who came to get birth, death and marriage certificates from NSO, and that he considered as among the milestone accomplishment the distribution of 3,969 Philhealth cards to beneficiaries who had been identified through the National Household Targetting System. The caravan also touched lives of ailing people. Before the Serbisyo Caravan rolled out to Boston and Cateel, DRH earlier set a surgical mission on August 01 at Cateel District Hospital. Seven patients were operated from goiter; 10 from hernia and hydrocele; and 84 from (nonmalignant) cyst. Such surgical mission got a P40,000 worth of medical support from the Department of Health (DOH) and P100,000 from the Southern Philippines Medical Center. DOH stretched fur-
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ther its resources as it also gave out a total of P30,000 worth of medicines in Boston and in Cateel. DOH regional director Dr. Teogines Baluma also made a timely deed of handing over a check worth P35 million to Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon for hospital enhancement purposes. The 1370th Dental Detachment of 10th Infanty Division had its separate dental outreach benefitting 100 dental patients in Boston and 106 in Cateel. Agrarian reform beneficiaries also had their hey-day during the caravan as the Department of Agrarian Reform distributed 43 certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) benefitting 192. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also handed over land titles aside from distributing seedlings. Information services Other agencies staged lectures, dialogue, consultation and 21
Friday, August 26, 2011
Serbisyo Caravan... from page 20
information services. Among those which brought along such types of services were DBP, DOE, PAGIBIG, CHR, DepEd, CHED, CSC, SEC, COA, PRC, PopCom, OWWA, NCIP, LTFRB, DOJ, PAO, TESDA, NIA, PCA, ATI, Regional Soils Lab., FIDA, DPWH, DILG and NFA. Others went out to do actual inspection such as the CHR which did jail visitation; MARINA which con-
ducted ocular inspection of motorbanca; DepEd, site inspection of schools with classroom problems and distributed raincoats to pre-school children; and LTO, conducted emission test on motor vehicles. During the caravan, teachers and other professionals also took advantage of having their PRC licenses renewed with PRC which also gave out a total of
4,000 used pencils in Boston and in Cateel. DOST conducted food processing, soapmaking and technoclinic; DTI handled on-site business name registration and business consultancy; NFA renewed licenses of grains retailers; while Quedancor restructured past loans and condoned penalties of 100 borrowers. (PIA 11/jda)
P10-M MRDP road to stir rural economy, boost farmer’s income by Noel Baguio
KAPALONG, Davao Norte, Aug. 26- Officials and residents of the barangays of Dagohoy in Talaingod town and Semong in the municipality of Kapalong are happy with the new road project with bridge component funded by the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP).
They were one in saying that the 2-kilometer farmto-market road, which include a 36linear meter RCDG bridge that will connect the two needy barangays will truly stimulate development and increase farmer’s incomes along the way. Governor RodFriday, August 26, 2011
olfo P. del Rosario, Kapalong Mayor Edgardo Timbol and Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa, Deputy Program Director of the MRDP-2, led the groundbreaking of the P10.2-M project on August 25, 2011. The project is expected to be completed on March
20,2011. Dagohoy Barangay Captain Rolando Piquero said his remote barangay stands to benefit most from the project, as the road will significantly reduce transport costs for the produce and increase the selling price for the harvests of his people.
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P 10-M MRDP... from page 21
He bared the new road will cut the distance of his barangay to the market by about eight kilometers. “Dali na pagpagawas sa among mga produkto ug dako-dako na ang masave sa among mga farmers (It would be easier to transport our products and our farmers will be saving a lot on hauling expenses),� he shared. He further said school children who used to cross the river and trudge along muddy trails to get to school will then be more excited to go to school after the project is completed. He also revealed somebody had even asked him about the price of agricultural lands in his barangay, as soon as news on the new project came out. Gov. del Rosario affirmed the ben-
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efits of the project, pointing out that the road will not only connect the farmers to the buyers, but will also bring so much opportunities and hope to the dead-end barangay of Dagohoy. He said that after the road is established, other services will surely follow, as health, education and other services, as well as business opportunities become more accessible. More than the implementation of the project, Gov. del Rosario said what is more important is the profit that the farmers will gain from the project. The governor bared the province is posed to received more than P150 million worth of projects from the MRDP. Engr. De Mesa asked the LGU and the contractor
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to properly implement the project, taking cognizance of the target date of completion. He said the performance of both the LGUs and the contractors are important in getting the nod of the World Bank to fund the third phase of the MRDP, in order to facilitate the financing of the remaining excess demand of LGU proposals amounting to P6 billion. He also commended the governor for taking responsibility of half of the amount being asked as counterpart of the LGUs. The LGUs are supposed to raise a counterpart of 10 percent for the project, but the province offered to provide the five percent, in order to ease the burden of the cities and municipalities. (PIO/PIA) Friday, August 26, 2011
N. Cotabato pushes for environmentfriendly Kalivungan Festival by Dani Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, Aug 26 (PIA) -- The provincial government of North Cotabato is pushing for minimal use of plastic products in the celebration of its Kalivungan Festival and 97th Foundation Anniversary that started August 26 and will culminate on September 1. Gov. Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza, a strong advocate of the environment awareness and protection , the provincial board, along with the organizers of the festival activities have urged exhibitors and caterers to refrain from using plastic bags and Styrofoam in packing or selling their products. Mernie S. Commendador, coordinator of the festival’s food bazaar “Kumbira sa Kapitolyo” said this move has been welcomed by the caterers who will be joining the Kumbira. Caterers have Friday, August 26, 2011
promised they will be using boxes as packaging materials for their packed lunch while others would use banana leaves as food wrappers. Those who said they cannot do away with using Styrofoam food containers vowed they will make sure their wastes are properly disposed. This campaign was spearheaded by the technical working group of the Solid Waste Management Board of the province. Recently, the provincial board also passed a resolution prepared by Board Member Vicente C. So-
rupia, Jr. , chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources of the SP urging all government units to implement appropriate measures to regulate the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam as packaging materials. Gov. Mendoza, told the residents of the province that the anniversary celebration is “an opportune time for us, Cotabateños to demonstrate our concern and involvement in protecting our Mother Earth for future generations”. (PIA 12/ICDC)
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Sarangani officials eye for PDAF’s new scheme by CT Apelacio
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, August 26 (PIA) - Local executives in Sarangani have resolved to share a specific percentage as their counterparts to ensure success of projects implementation in the province. The scheme is was unanimously “weekly medical outbelieved to sustain agreed including the reach” to serve indithe development and new scheme for fund- gents living in distant implementation of ing projects under barangays. projects benefiting the Priority Develop- Sarangani has seven the people and help- ment Assistance Fund municipalities. ing them improve (PDAF). Meanwhile, their quality of life. Pacquiao through Malungon Mayor Isagani Palma, the congressional of- Reynaldo Constatino, municipal informa- fice will share under LMP Sarangani Chaption officer of Malun- his PDAF Php40-M or ter president, said the gon told PIA General 70 percent of the to- PDAF’s new scheme Santos City that the tal agreed fund while has undergone conofficials led by Saran- Php8-M or 20 per- sensus among maygani Congressman cent will come from ors after Dominguez Manny Pacquiao will the provincial gov- and Pacquiao extendrelease Php52-M fund ernment and the re- ed a unifying hands allocation for socio- maining Php4-M or 10 to each other early economic projects in percent will be shoul- this year. the province by next dered by the munici- Palma said “PDAF year. palities. serves as source of According to He also com- fund by small-scale him, the plan was mitted the release but significant projthreshed out in a of another Php7-M ects which cannot be meeting among Pac- to sustain the health included in large-scale quiao, Governor Migs services in Saran- projects that are beDominguez, and the gani. ing funded by the naLeague of Mayors in But Pacquiao said tional-led agencies.” the Philippines (LMP)- this will only be real- (CTA/PIA General Sarangani Chapter, ized if each munici- Santos City) where the amount of pal government will fund to be released pledge to undertake a
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Friday, August 26, 2011
Sarangani Muslim employees hold Grand Iftar at Capitol
by Cocoy Sexcion ALABEL, Sarangani, August 26 (PIA) - Muslim employees, Muslim leaders from SOCSARGEN and provincial officials gathered for the 3rd Grand Iftar celebration Thursday (August 25) at the Capitol gymnasium. The provincial Grand Iftar was organized by provincial Muslim employees in partnership with the provincial government said Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, one of the organizers. “We are conducting it during the last week of the month of Ramadhan,” she added. Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadhan. It is one of the religious observances of Ramadhan and is often done as a community, with Muslims gathering to break their fast together. “We in Sarangani are very particular about highlighting our cultural practices especially extending a hand in cultural Friday, August 26, 2011
sensitivity,” Governor Migs Dominguez said in his inspirational speech. He said Ramadhan “is a time for us to reflect, a time for us to thank our Lord, our God, our Allah for the blessings he has bestowed on us. It is also time for us to look at our families and thank them for always being around especially in times of need.” “Being your father of the province and you as my family, I thank you also for always being around me,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Sittiehawa Morohamsalic, human resource management officer of the province, said the celebration of Iftar clearly shows that there are no biases or
cultural discrimination happening inside the Capitol as she presented the 150 Muslim employees of the province. “From department heads down to rank and file and almost all departments have Muslim employees. As long as you are qualified, you will be hired regardless of tribe,” Morohamsalic said. On the other hand, Alimudin Hassan Al Hadj, of Rajah Muda, Royal House of Sugoda Buayan, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the provincial government for hosting the event. “It just proves your full concern in Muslim welfare,” he said. (PIO Sarangani/PIA General Santos City/CTA)
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Pagtutok sa Early Recovery Plan ng ARMM patuloy
COTABATO CITY, Agosto 26 (PIA) - Hindi pinababayaan ng liderato ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ang kapakanan ng mga naging biktima ng kaguluhan noong 2008 na umabot sa 8,000 pamilya. Kasalukuyang tinatasa ng ARMM ang implementasyon ng Early Recovery Plan na siyang nagpapatupad ng mga programang naglalayong matulungan ibalik sa normal ang kabuhayan ng libou-libung pamilyang apektado ng pagsiklab ng karahasan noong 2008. Ayon kay ARMM executive secretary Naguib Sinarimo 195 ang tinarget na return sites ng Early Recovery Plan para sa 8,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sa rehiyon ang patuloy na pinupursigeng mahanapan ng paraan para ipatupad. Sa ulat, 46 priority return sites ang tinayuan ng pabahay sa pamamagitan ng core shelter pro-
gram ng DSWD gayundin ang tulong pangkabuhayan para sa mahigit dalawang libong pamilya ng IDPs ang naisakatuparan simula noong nakaraang taon na nagsisilbing haom dahil sa kakulangan ng pondo. “Ngayon ang hamon sa atin kailangan natin mapunan ang natitirang return sites na hindi kasama doon sa prayoridad dahil ang mga IDPs na nandoon sa ibang return sites ay humihingi ng tulong na kahalintulad sa ibinigay natin doon sa priority na 46,” ani Sinarimbo. Ang pagpapatupad ng nasabing plano ay nagsisilbing hamon sa liderato at iba’t ibang ahensiya sa autonomous region sanhi
ng kakulangan sa pondo. Ang ginagawang pagrerepaso, ayon kay Sinarimbo, ay upang makita ang implementasyon ng plano at malaman ang mga problema sa pagpapatupad dito upang palakasin at lalong mapabilis ang pagrekober ng mga IDPs. Para kay Sinarimbo, naging matagumpay ang pagsasakatuparan ng Early Recovery plan sa pagbaba ng bilang ng IDPs sa mga evacuation center sa rehiyon. Ito aniya ay bahagi rin ng paghahanda ng transition committee para sa pagsasalin ng pamumuno sa mga maitatalagang OIC sa ARMM caretaker government. (pbchangco/PIA Cotabato City)
DOH bus tuloy na tuloy na ang biyahe sa South Cotabato sa Setyembre
KORONADAL CITY, Agosto 26 (PIA) -- Tuloy na tuloy na ang pagbiyahe ng “Lakbay
Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) Bus ng Department of Health sa South Cotabato sa darating Setyembre 22 at 23. 27
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Friday, August 26, 2011
DOH bus.. from page 26
Sinabi ni Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., provincial health officer ng South Cotabato noong Miyerkules na partikular na pupuntahan ng LBK Bus ang Barangay Aflek sa bayan ng T’boli na napili dahil pinakamadali itong puntahan ng mga residente sa malalayong barangay sa lugar. Layon ng naturang mobile health station ng DOH na makapagbibigay serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga liblib na lugar sa tulong ng mga lokal na
pamahalaan. Kabilang na serbisyong pangkalusugan na nakatakdang ipamahagi ng LBK ang pre-natal care at child health, Habang isinasagawa ang libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan , isasagawa naman ang mga pagtuturo sa mga residente sa iba’t ibang mahahalagang impormasyon hinggil sa kalusugan ng mga at kanilang mga anak sa pamamagitan ng mga nakahandang lecture. Ang mga bata naman ay masisiya-
han rin dahil may mga laro nanakahanda para sa kanila. Ayon kay Dr. Aturdido, target ng naturang health bus na makapagbigay ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa hindi bababa sa 500 pamilyang may mga anak na limang taong gulang pababa sa sampung barangay ng T’boli. Naunang itinakda ang pagbisita ng LBK sa South Cotabato noong Hulyo 6 at 7 subalit ipinagpaliban ito. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)
Kaso ng dengue bumaba sa ARMM KORONADAL CITY, Agosto 26 (PIA) – Mas mababa ang kaso ng dengue sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) kumpara sa ibang rehiyon sa buong kapuluan, ayon sa opisyal ng regional health office. Ayon kay ARMM regional health secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, mababa umano ang kaso na naitala sa rehiyon, kabilang na ang 40 kasong naitala sa Lanao del Sur. Batay sa ulat ng Department of Health (DOH) 77 ang naiulat na namatay sa 11,260 na kasong naitala sa buong Friday, August 26, 2011
bansa. Ang national Capital Region (NCR) ang mayroong mataas na bilang ng mga pasyenteng mayroong dengue. Kahit pa man mababa ang kaso ng dengue sa rehiyon, pinapayuhan pa rin ni Dr. Sinolinding ang mga residente ng ARMM na manatili pa ring mapagbantay sa mga pag-
babanta ng dengue at magpatuloy sa pag-obserba ng “4 o’clock habit” ng paglilinis sa mga bakuran upang tuluyang maipalayo ang lamok na nagdadala ng dengue. (ac agad PIA12)
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PDEA-13, police raid alleged drug lab in Surigao City by FEAbkilan
SURIGAO CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) - Operatives of Philippine Drug Enforce-
ment Agency (PDEA-13) and Philippine National Police-Surigao City seized chemicals, several paraphernalia and equipment allegedly used in the manufacturing of illegal drugs from a clandestine chemical laboratory in Surigao City, Friday morning. PDEA Caraga offi- a certain Taiwanese his house. cer-in-charge Director national identified as He also said they Joel Plaza said the raid Yang Kai and Filipino- will now coordinate at Sitio Kabugwason, Chinese Luis Lim rent- with the Bureau of ImBrgy. Ipil at around ed the house of Rod- migration to validate 5:30am failed to arrest ulfo Retorta sometime the identity of the susthe alleged occupants in March 2009. pects. of the house for it was Plaza further re- As of press time, already abandoned vealed that it was Re- thorough investigaeight months ago but torta who actually tion is still going on by they were able to re- informed PDEA yester- the PNP’s Scene of the cover chemicals and day, Aug. 25 thru the Crime Operatives. equipment allegedly Philippine National Po- (PIA-Surigao del used in manufacturing lice after he noticed a Norte) shabu. number of parapher Plaza said nalia and chemicals in
RTWPB-Caraga sets schedules of Public Consultations for Wage Increase Petition by Maria Rebecca Ayaton
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) headed by Chairperson Ofelia B. Domingo of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga has approved and set the schedules of the public consultations/hearing in the region to review the Wage Order No. 10 and the petition filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) for P75.00/day wage increase during the board meeting.
According to Earl Caraga Board Secre- tations/hearing will be Dela Victoria, RTWPB- tary, the public consul- held in different prov 29
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RTWPB-Caraga sets... from page 28
inces of Caraga. The date and venue of the initial consultations/hearing of petition will be as follows: on Sept. 13 at Paso de San Francisco Suites, Agusan del Sur; on Sept. 14 at Paper Country Inn (PCI), Mangagoy, Bislig City; on Sept 15 at Villa Luisa Hotel, Tandag City; on Sept. 16 at Hotel Tavern, Borromeo
St.,Surigao City; on Sept. 20 at Brgy. Aurello Gym, San Jose, Dinagat Province and on Sept 22 at Luciana Convention Center, J.P. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City. The said consultations will start from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. except on the last day of hearing which will start from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
RTWPB-Caraga encourages interested parties to attend the public consultations and to submit a position/opposition paper on or before the mentioned dates in their office located at Nimfa Tiu Building, JP Rosales Ave., Butuan City. (MRA with reports form DOLE13/PIA-Caraga)
Gov. Plaza receives gawad sa kaunlaran awards from AFP
by David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Aug. 26 (PIA) - Agusan del Sur Governor
Adolph Edward Plaza receives the “Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award”, the second highest distinction award bestowed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to civilian and government officials in the country.
Col. Rodrigo Diapana, 402nd Brigade Commander, who himself was recently awarded being the best brigade under the 4th Infantry Division, handed over to Gov. Plaza the Plaque of Recognition in time with the celebration of the latter’s birthday on August 21 in recognition of his exemplary performance in alleviating Friday, August 26, 2011
the economic condition of the people in Agusan del Sur. “Our basis in giving the honour to Gov. Plaza are his administration’s dedicated and sincere efforts in implementing the socio economic programs of the provincial government like the Baka alang sa Kalambuan sa Agusan del Sur (BAKAS), the Agu-
san Goat Program (AGP), ISDA, PRUTAS, the Boosted Utilization of Grains in Agusan del Sur (BUGAS) and other livelihood programs that the people of Agusan del Sur now enjoy. I would like also to mention the governor’s efforts in the construction of Hawilian, Esperanza-Bukidnon road that made the transport of agricultural
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Gov.Plaza receives... from page 29
products of the area to the market easier and cost-saving, the construction of Agusan-Davao Maharlika highway, and the support that Gov. Plaza extended to the programs of the AFP in our joint effort to attain lasting peace,” Col. Diapana said. Col. Diapana also counts on various trainings of the civilian auxiliary forces geographical units (CAFGU) that the army have conducted that are now deployed in various municipalities in the province, where the
provincial government have shouldered the expenses on food and other incidental expenses. “We also acknowledged the provincial government’s financial assistance extended not only to civilian victims during our encounter against the country’s aggressors caught by cross fire, but also to the military casualties and wounded. Aside from that, the provincial government never failed to extend assistance during the conduct
of our joint medical outreach with other agencies from time to time,” Col. Diapana added. A day before and on the day of the governor’s birthday celebration, the joint teams of the AFP, the provincial government, the provincial health office, the Philippine Red Cross and other agencies again conducted medical outreach in the municipalities of San Francisco and Bayugan where hundreds of people were served. (PIAAgusan del Sur)
PIA Surigao Norte partners RMN-Surigao in bloodletting activity by Susil Ragas SURIGAO CITY, August 26 (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency – Surigao del Norte Information Center has partnered with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Surigao for the conduct of bloodletting activity on Sunday, August 28, 2011. The event, which ties have already con- cines. coincided with RMN’s firmed their participation The said event is 59th anniversary cel- in the activity. proudly supported by ebration, will promptly Tiu said aside from Power Cell Herbal Capstart at exactly 8am at the bloodletting activity sule, Manila Mining CorRMN-DXRS station, Km. other services to high- poration, Cagdianao 1, this city. light the event include Mining Corporation, Gay D. Tiu, Station free legal consultation, and LPC Fish Trading. Manager of RMN Surigao medical-dental mission, (SDR/PIA-Surigao del said some local fraterni- and giving of free medi- Norte)
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Friday, August 26, 2011
City Director Carillo to create Discipline Zone in Butuan by: PSUPT Martin M Gamba Camp Rafael C Rodriguez, Libertad, Butuan City, Aug. 26 (PIA) – Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) Director PSSUPT JOSE VELASQUEZ CARILLO signed the Letter of Instruction (LOI) 21/2011 signalling the green light for the implementation of the “Discipline Zone” in Butuan City.
Said LOI will serve as the guidelines in the creation of Discipline Zone in the city streets of Butuan. It involved the conduct of Security and Traffic Operations, Anti-Littering/CleanUp Drive and Pedestrian and Motorist Discipline Advocacy. PSSUPT Carillo intends to institutionalize said LOI to resolve the problems of Traffic Congestions, Illegal Vending and Littering by utilizing all available PNP personnel of Butuan City Police Office and its resources. Uniformed personnel will be sent in the streets for traffic control and police visibility together with the City’s LTTMO and Barangay Tanods. Director Carillo said that by implementing the Discipline Zone, he wanted to instill in the minds of motorists, pedestrians and commuters the value of discipline among citizens as a mean to attain public order and Friday, August 26, 2011
enforcing traffic laws and ordinances with “Zero Tolerance”. PSSUPT Carillo has also coordinated with the LGU, barangay officials, LTTMO, School Adminitrators, PTAs and Drivers/Operators Associations of Butuan to work together to implement city ordinances and traffic laws such as Illegal Terminals, Loading and Unloading Zone, Obstruction in the Flow of Traffic, Illegal parking, Disregarding Traffic Lights, Throwing of Garbages anywhere, Illegal Peddlers and Smoking in Public Places in the Discipline Zone. The Discipline Zone will initially cover the area in the vicinity of Libertad in front of Butuan City Police Station 3, Sacred Heart Kindergarten School and Saint Joseph Cathedral along JC Aquino Avenue going to Butuan City Elementary School at AD Curato Street, Butuan
City. Director Carillo intends for the public to give emphasis on the observance of law rather than its enforcement and urged them to help the PNP in its endeavor. It can be recalled that on August 19, 2011, PSSUPT Carillo headed a briefing at BCPO Conference Room attended by BCPO personnel, BCPS 1 personnel, PO1s undergoing FTP, LTTMO personnel and Honorable Ryan Anthony B Culima, Butuan City Councilor wherein Director Carillo disscused in the briefing the Orientation on Implementation of Discipline Zone within the city of Butuan and scheduled a dry run on the third week of August 2011 covering the areas of Montilla Boulevard crossing JC Aquino Avenue to AD Curato catering the butuan City Elementary School and Agusan national High School. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
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Tawi-Tawi gears up for 38th founding anniversary; promotes vast tourism potentials by Nonoy E. Lacson ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 26 (PIA) – The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi steps up its preparation for the upcoming celebration of its 38th founding anniversary next month dubbed “Kamahardikaan sin Tawi-Tawi” as it centers its preparations for the promotion of the province’s ecotourism potentials.
Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said the province will showcase this year the many impressive tourist destinations and tourism potential sites to domestic and foreign tourists during the anniversary celebration of Tawi-Tawi. “Showcasing the eco-tourism potentials and products of the province during the holding of the 38th founding anniversary is very important during the affair, and this is the very reason why I asked them to center their preparations on the eco-tourism potentials of the province,” Sahali said. Adding that TawiTawi’s founding anniversary is one of the most appropriate ac-
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tivities to showcase the eco-tourism potentials to the visiting tourists. “We only need a serious and aggressive promotion of our tourism attractions, destinations, and potentials, and add more colors to the celebration to get the muchneeded boost in the tourism field,” Sahali pointed out. He assured tourists who wanted to visit this capital town during the celebration that the province has many good hotels and resorts where they can be accommodated during the duration of their stay. Tawi-Tawi was previously part of the province of Sulu, and on September 11, 1973, Presidential De-
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cree No. 302 was issued separating TawiTawi from Sulu, with this town as the seat of the provincial government. Sahali said that most of the people in this province belong to the Sama cultural group, and within this group are subgroups, and were named based on the location of the individual. The Sama Sibutu are those from the Sibutu-Sitangkai Island Group, Sama Simunul are those from the Simunul-Manuk Mangkaw Island Group, and other subgroups. While those who belong to the Jama Mapun are largely found in the Cagayan Mapun and Turtle Islands Group. 33 Friday, August 26, 2011
Tawi-tawi gears... from page 32
Many of the people from the Turtle Islands and Cagayan Mapun are conducting their marketing in Sabah, since it is only some 14 kilometers away from the island, Sahali explained. The Badjao – also called “Sama Dilaut” – population is diminish-
ing due to diseases and migration to other areas in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, he claimed. The Tausog or Tau Sug, Orang Suluk or Aa Suk are migrants from the Sulu province and came to Tawi-Tawi in search for better livelihood opportunities
or run away from the seemingly unending conflict and violence in Sulu, he added. Fishing and agaragar (seaweed) farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of TawiTawi, the governor said. (RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)
U.S. Embassy Launches VISAtisfied Voyager as new Visa blog
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 26 (PIA) – The U.S. Embassy in Manila is pleased to announce the launching of its official visa blog, VISAtisfied Voyager.
In a press statement, the US Embassy said the blog aims to provide timely and relevant information to members of the public interested in learning about the Nonimmigrant and Immigrant visa processes. Each week, blog posts will examine topics relevant to visa applicants. Readers are welcome to post comments and questions
about applying for U.S. visas. The blog is also a venue for visa applicants to provide feedback and share their experiences when they have applied for a U.S. visa. A team of visa experts from the U.S. Embassy’s Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa units will be the moderator of the blog, and inquirers can expect a quick response to their
visa questions. With the launch of VISAtisfied Voyager, US Embassy Manila hopes to start a dialogue with applicants and provide them with up-to-date news and information. “Please note, however, that U.S. Embassy Manila will not be able to respond to queries about individual visa applications on VISAtisfied Voyager”, the embassy added. 34
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U.S Embassy... from page 33
Questions about individual nonimmigrant visa applications should be directed to consmanilaniv@ state.gov. Questions about individual immigrant visa applications should be directed to ivmanilareplies@state. gov. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently noted that the Internet
has become the public space of the 21st century, and as the percentage of Filipino internet users increases, we want to be available to them in all forms of media. The launching of the VISAtisfied Voyager visa blog is part of the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to providing excellent customer
service to thousands of Filipinos who will apply for visas to travel to the United States. The embassy invites Filipinos to visit VISAtisfied Voyager at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/. (US Embassy/RVCPIA9 BaSulTa)
Saving our farms, securing our staple food by Iskak L. Paguital ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 26 (PIA) – The current weather abnormality, which is being made more destructive by man’s excesses in exploiting our natural resources, raises concern over the sufficiency of our staple food—rice. Flooding submerged several towns in the country, and Mindanao is not spared. The loss of vast forest covers is being blamed for the unprecedented level of flooding in some parts of Mindanao. This calamity is a stark reminder on the need for political will to find remedy to save our farmlands from greater harm in the future. So far what we are witnessing are palliative measures such as the “flood-diversion channel” in Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao. For one, bald mountains and hills are always
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there for all to see; nothing substantial is being made to reforest them. The people don’t even care. Our government has set a goal to achieve rice self-sufficiency. In recent decades there were, apparently, urgent need for the state’s rice importation and distribution on account of existing rice production-consumption deficit of around seventeen percent annually. The easiest remedy used was importation. Shortage of rice – the most strategic commodity, socially and po-
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litically - has been a perennial concern of our government except during the brief period of rice exportation to Indonesia in the ‘70s. Although Maguindanao is a mainstay top ten rice- producing provinces of the country, the rest of the ARMM areas are net rice-importer. Growing food stuff in the region is being affected substantially both by man-made and natural calamities – the armed conflict and the perennial flooding and also draught. Global warming starts to make its presence felt 35
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Saving our farms... from page 34
with the erratic weather in some months of the year. Regional Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and FisheriesARMM, Atty. Lomala Balindong, in a meeting with the Agriculture department’s workforce, noted that several decades ago the province of Lanao del Sur had the capacity to send surplus rice to neighboring provinces in northern Mindanao. Now it meets its shortfall from elsewhere. Water, just enough of it, is the crux of the matter. Decades ago, Lanao Sur is home to massive irrigation projects such as the Rugnan Irrigation system, the operation of which has not been sustained mainly on account of subsequent national agricultural policy shifts after the ‘70s. Lanao’s irrigation infrastructure comes out, apparently, as sub-priority of a nearby region that handles it. And, again, flooding hits the vast rice fields in the province further setting us back from our target production this year. In the 1970’s, the Marcos government launched an intensive drive to end our country’s rice importation thru a national rice production pro-
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gram called “Masagana 99.” This program saw the massive nation-wide construction of irrigation systems following the then “Green Revolution” production paradigm which was a global effort to avert impending famine. The global effort focused on revolutionizing production of Maize and Rice, the staple food of most of the vulnerable peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. For rice, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based at Los Baňos, Laguna was established by the Ford Foundation in the ‘60s and tasked to develop the “Miracle Rice”, early maturing, short-stature, high-yielding but chemical and irrigation-dependent rice varieties. Its natural agricultural policy consequence was the introduction of massive irrigation systems and a national rice production program prescribing heavy and sustained use of inorganic fertilizer and other chemical inputs. Today, however, the Department of Agriculture has taken a “paradigm shift” to organic farming. Most of our country’s farmers are among the world’s
small-scale producers who work marginal lands in the tropics and are the most vulnerable to climate change phenomena such as drought and flood. They are among those who can least withstand drop in income from their fields and are least capable to adapt to changing conditions. Consequently, global food production policy has been calling for a multipronged approach which includes use of more marginal areas, sustainable intensification of farm production and ecological farming systems, among others. In rice production, the approach now includes the use of indigenous rice varieties as well as drought and flood resistant varieties to help achieve the illusive rice sufficiency. Decades of rice production policy dependent on “Miracle Rice” and its later generations had reduced the local rice farmers’ production resiliency. Indeed, the regional autonomous government, with its unique circumstances—natural and man-induced—needs to look incisively into the matter and act appropriately. (DAF-ARMM/ RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)
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