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O UR COVER Butuanons unite to establish IT-BPM & be the ‘Next Wave City’
Johny S. Natad Caraga Region
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Today’s news... Page 7 14 Page 11
NATIONAL
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WESTERN MINDANAO
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CARAGA REGION
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Aquino readies P3.9 billion funds to speed up rehabilitation efforts for affected communities in Zamboanga City
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Zambo City standoff affects neighboring towns Mary May A. Abellon
DAR-Agusan Norte conducts orientation on National Greening Program Gil E. Miranda
Aclan farmer-beneficiaries receive land titles from DAR
NORTHERN MINDANAO
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JICA River dike project to take off SP to accredit 10 POs
SOUTHERN MINDANAO
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Agreement forged to assist Bangsamoro communities Joey Sem G. Dalumpines
CENTRAL MINDANAO
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N. Cotabato, Davao based BPO to hold series of job fairs
Shahana Joy Duerme
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 26
COVER STORY
Butuanons unite to establish IT-BPM & be the ‘Next Wave City’ By Johny S. Natad
S
ome 320 participants of the Information and Technology Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and ITPreneurship Road Show in the Next Wave Cities held at Almont Inland Resort here are supporting the Caraga Information and Communication Technology (ICT) council and Butuan City government’s move to make the city declared as the ICT “Next Wave City” (NWC) in the country. “The ICT roadshow inspires us to continue our courses so we can be part of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry soon. It is a very good opportunity for us to work in the BPO
especially when such business will become available in Butuan. Thus, we are supporting the plans of our city government to promote Butuan as the ‘Next Wave City’ and establish call centers and other BPOs in the city,” said Aubrejean, Jean, Rembie, Michel and Rizel respectively, the participating Caraga State University (CSU) students on the ICT roadshow. The IT-BPM industry players who joined the activity have also expressed their support to make Butuan as one of the identified cities in Mindanao to be
part in the NWC categories. Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim emphasized that the IT-BPM has brought significant impact to the Philippine economy. “The IT-BPM has already generated millions of direct and indirect employment in the past few years,” he said. Information Technology and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) Executive Director for Finance and Shared Services Ronald Arambulo said that the IT-BMP institutions continue to create awareness/ exposure through international outsourcing, conferences, talent development programs in cooperation with academic and government institutions. “We encourage the ICT council to communicate with us, to National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and DOST
so we can talk how could we help promote the ICT development in the city,” Arambulo said. On the same occasion, Benjie Marasigan, President ofAnimation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) bared the willingness and support for the IT internship program in partnership with the academic and government institutions. Meanwhile, Arnold Faelnar, Caraga ICT representative from DTI Caraga said that DTI Caraga has been part of the region’s ICT promotion since 2001. “The DTI-Caraga continues to support and promote the ICT in the region by assisting in the strengthening the council with the help of other
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government agencies like the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA), National Computer Center (NCC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), among others. We are optimistic that the city of Butuan will be declared soon as the “Next Wave Cities” in the Philippines, Faelnar said. NCC Regional IT Coordinator and Caraga ICT Secretary Treasurer Melody Cocon bared that the NCC has been always supporting the promotion of
the ICT council and Butuan city government in the challenge to be the declared as one of the ICT hub in the country by assisting LGUs’ capability building training and upgrading networks and websites. Also, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., promised to put in place the infrastructure for a contact center with a Malaysian company. He also said Butuan is the most peaceful city in Mindanao & among the most competitive cities in the country. “We are optimistic that more investments will be coming in and more Butuanons will be employed. We will do our best to increase the employment rate especially in IT-BPM industry,” he said. The two-day ICT Roadshow in Butuan, which culminated on Friday, Sep. 20, is a venue for the government, the industry players and other stakeholders to know the many opportunities in the IT industry such as entrepreneurship and job opportunities.
Aquino says attaining peaceful and prosperous country rests in the hands of citizens, especially the youth
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resident Benigno S. Aquino III said attaining the goal of establishing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country rests largely in the hands of the Filipino citizens, especially the younger generations. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
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“As future leaders, the youth must be guided to become responsible, conscientious individuals who are ready to perform their respective roles in society,” the Chief Executive said in his message to the Philippine Society of Young Good Citizens on the occasion of “I Transform! Young Leaders Convention: Believe, Excel, Serve, Transform! (B.E.S.T) Mindanao Wave.” The Philippine Society of Young Good Citizens opened on Friday the four-day convention which has for its theme: “United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDGs): Global Action. Innovation. Peace and Solidarity” at the Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases, Davao City. “Your government considers the involvement of our youth crucial in this time of our revitalization, as their idealism and energy serve as fuel to sustain us on the straight and righteous path,” the President said. “May you all emerge from this event more passionate and committed in our collective responsibility to improve FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
the lot of our people. May integrity, excellence, and compassion continue to characterize all of our pursuits, that we may bequeath a better, more equitably progressive Philippines to future generations,” he stressed. The activity aims to give young Filipinos the avenue to share innovative ways to address pressing social problems at the local level using the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The “I Transform...” campaign was launched in September 2012 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol where 650 youth leaders representing 130 organizations were participants.
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Aquino readies P3.9 billion funds to speed up rehabilitation efforts for affected communities in Zamboanga City
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he Aquino government is readying the P3.9 billion funds to speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the communities affected by the attacks of forces loyal to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari in Zamboanga City, a Palace official said on Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the government will be releasing additional funds for the affected communities in Zamboanga City. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
“Siguro po’y napansin ninyo kahapon ‘yung sinabi ng Pangulo (Benigno S. Aquino III) na meron pong tinatayang 3.9 billion pesos na kakailanganin para makatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan sa Zamboanga City,” Valte
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said. Valte said government officials were already mobilized to assist the residents who were displaced following the MNLF-Misuari faction attacks. “Una po, kasama diyan iyong continuing relief assistance for shortterm para doon sa 23,794 families na apektado doon sa Zamboanga City. Ano iyong computation dito ‘nung continuing relief assistance? Ito po iyong 250 pesos per pack per family for 30 days or one month,” Valte said. “Susunod po diyan iyong balikprobinsiya program. Tina-target po natin dito iyong 2,125 families or 10 percent ng total number of displaced families in evacuation centers at para po ito doon sa transportation and other incidental assistance,” Valte said. Valte said the government is allocating a total of P10.63 million for the displaced families qualified for the Balik-Probinsya program. “Lalabas po ng 5,000 pesos each for the families
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amounting to 10.63 million pesos,” she said. Valte said the government will be allocating educational assistance funds for the students who are residing in the affected barangays. “Isa pang programang tinitingnan natin para po doon sa ating mga kababayan doon ay iyong supplementary feeding program... iyong cash-for-work or cash-fortraining, for all affected families at the rate of 75 percent of the daily minimum wage in Region 9 for 30 days, kasama din po diyan. Iyong construction ng bunkhouses for all families with totally burned down or damaged houses,” she said. President Aquino remains in Zamboanga City until the crisis ends. He is presently in Zamboanga City to preside over a series of meetings with concerned cabinet secretaries and officials, to assess the situation and provide the needs of displaced residents.
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BFAR, CDA in ARMM partner to promote fishing coops in region
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he Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday inked an agreement to rid the region of bogus fishermen cooperatives. The memorandum of agreement stated, among others, that the CDA-ARMM assist in the organization and speedy processing of registration and other applications of fishermen and seaweed producers’ cooperatives or related multi-purpose cooperatives in the ARMM. “This is a way of ‘check and balance’ of fishing coops in the region for proper handing of financial assistance,” Janice Musali, BFAR-ARMM officer-in-charge, said. An estimated 90 fishing cooperatives exist in the region, Musali said. Acting CDA-ARMM chief Abdulrashid Ladayo Sr., for his part, said the agreement FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
is being initiated for proper accreditation and budgeting of ARMM fisherfolk’s cooperatives by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for inclusion under the region’s annual appropriations. Ladayo noted that legitimate cooperatives could receive an allotment of some P150,000 monthly for trainings and other related development activities. In addition, he said the national government is giving an incentive of P2million to cooperatives excelling in their respective field of endeavor. Ladayo said his office is currently managing 1,173 cooperatives across the region.
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Zambo volunteers risk lives to keep evacuees safe, nourished by Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - For one meal, eight sacks of rice and 1,500 cans of sardines are prepared by about ten volunteer- cooks at the evacuation center in the Zamboanga City High School’s main campus in barangay Tetuan. The viands would of course vary, but the amount of food prepared remains the same.
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There are 2,295 people currently at this center, who are mostly residents of nearby barangay Mampang and Arena Blanco, where the gunfights and explosions have been intermittent but unremitting. Janet Mohammad who is in charge of the food preparation committee said that the cooks, mostly women have been doing this for an entire week now on a daily basis. On regular days, you would see them in teachers’ uniform, reporting to work at about 7:00 p.m. and leaving at 9:00 p.m. But now, they have been coming in as early as 5 a.m.; some leave after suppertime at about 9:00 p.m. Some would stay overnight. Pacifico Dela Cruz, the schools administrative officer said that the evacuees started arriving Thursday last week when the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front and government forces was at its peak. At one time, bullets would zoom past the vicinity and hit the school buildings. In spite of the risks, the school teachers have never missed a day in preparing the food. But cooking is only one of their tasks. Dela Cruz shared that in addition to the 15 teachers, 17 more volunteers composed of students and members of the school’s alumni association are also assisting the evacuees. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
Some of them, deputized as “peacekeepers” and armed with twoway radios are assigned to patrol the place alongside the soldiers. The volunteers work round-the-clock, who are in rotation for day and night shifts. They are always on alert since the conflict area is merely within earshot. Arturo Cabidog Jr. of the City Legal Office has been volunteering since Thursday last week. He is responsible for the arrest of two suspected MNLF men, who came to the evacuation center claiming to be evacuees. Doubting about their responses to his interview, Cabidog asked them to open their bags. He discovered suspicious documents that had orders to “inflict injury if they refused to walk.” He immediately reported his discovery to the police, who took the two to the Tetuan Police Station for questioning. Dela Cruz said that the evacuees in this center are properly taken care of. City Social Welfare personnel
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are present to ensure that their psycho-social needs are met. Day care service is also provided for the children. Meanwhile, at the neighboring evacuation center at the Immaculate Concepcion Archdiocesan School, 1,298 persons are accommodated. Here, members of the Knights of Columbus Centennial Council are assigned in different committees to see to it that the evacuees are safe and their needs addressed. In addition to the KoC, members of the local Youth for Christ and the Tetuan Parish Youth Ministry help in preparing seventy kilos of rice for every meal as well as the viands, and distributing this large number of food to the evacuees. Their kitchen is located at the nearby St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, where one stained glass window was hit by a stray bullet. Like in the ZCHS center, the volunteers here work round-theclock. Sister Marian of the Biblical Apostolate says that other Tetuan
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residents help them prepare the food, among others, and that most do not go home for the sake of their displaced brothers and sisters in need. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports that as of this time, there are 56 evacuation centers scattered all over the city with over a hundred thousand registered evacuees. The number continuous to increase as each day passes. The tremendous task of feeding and caring for these people remains and is increasing. Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar had earlier expressed concern over the supplies and resources from the donors. “It is a reality that resources are depleting,� she said. But one good thing about Zamboanga in the midst of this crisis is that the city will never run out of good, caring and noble hearts who risk their lives to help those who are victims of the tragedy.
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Zambo City standoff affects neighboring towns byMary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY - The ongoing crisis in Zamboanga City following the violent attacks by rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari faction has also taken toll on neighboring towns and cities in the region.
MNLF fighters stormed the bustling city of Zamboanga last Sept. 9, taking civilians as human shield, prompting most establishments to close shop. The city, which is home to the regional offices of the Department of Budget FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
and Management (DBM), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), PhilHealth, Philippine National Police, Department of Tourism (DOT), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR),
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Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is now busy taking care of evacuees which now account for more than 100 thousand. The standoff is causing a ripple effect on other places in the region. Dipolog City, for instance, which is eight hours travel from Zamboanga City has also been affected by the standoff, as certain food chains get their supplies from Zamboanga. City Treasurer Sancen D. Caroro said that the release of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to the city government might be affected since the Department of Budget and Management would have to download the money through its regional office in Zamboanga City. To avoid any delay in the payment of the salaries of its employees, the city government has used its local income for the purpose. “The salaries of FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
employees are from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) received by the LGU as a revenue share from the national government. It will come from the DBM in Manila and be downloaded to its regional offices. Since, the DBM regional office is in Zamboanga City and due to the recent crisis, we may receive it late,” Caroro said in an interview. In another instance, a customer of one of the food chains here said most of the menus were not available since the ingredients have to come from Zamboanga. On the other hand, the scheduled Sept. 22, 2013 DOST-Science Education Institute’s 2014 undergraduate scholarship exam on for Zamboanga City and the nearby provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi including in the cities of Dipolog and Pagadian was postponed due to the ongoing armed conflict in Zamboanga City.
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NICP encourages infotech champions to work for ICT development by Johny S. Natad
BUTUAN CITY -- An official of the National Information Communication Technology Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) inspired the information and communication technology (ICT) leaders in Caraga to continue their support to sustain ICT development programs.
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“NICP recognizes the power of inspired and empowered volunteer ICT champions. Its collective strength through its ICT councils spread across the Philippine islands is vital to sustaining the positive change brought about by Information and Communication Technology. Join us in NICP and be an ICT change agent in your community,” said NICP president and Davao ICT council president Lizabel Holganza during the ICT Roadshow in the Next Wave Cities in Butuan City, Thursday morning. Holganza bared that the organization has been working with different ICT councils in the country to strengthen ICT sectors in partnership with the information technology – business process management (IT-BPM) institutions. “Through the years, NICP has
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served as the unified voice for the Philippine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector. Its advocacies reflect the aspirations of stakeholders championing ICT development in the countryside,” Holganza said. Holganza added that the organization has been collaborating with government agencies in order to help strengthen the ICT sector in their respective areas of responsibility and creating jobs for the Filipinos. “Realizing the potential of the ICT industry as an economic driver for key cities, ICT has become a point of convergence for many initiatives of NGAs such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor & Employment, and Technical Education Skills Development Authority. These agencies have worked with ICT councils in their territories for industryspecific programs to close in on gaps and create locations that can compete for ICT development and business process outsourcing opportunities,” she added. The NICP is the umbrella organization of all ICT councils in the entire country. They are present in at least 42 locations outside Metro Manila.
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DAR-Agusan Norte conducts orientation on National Greening Program by Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY -- The Agusan del Norte Agrarian Reform Office in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted an orientation on the continuing implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) to two organizations in agrarian reform areas in Las Nieves on September 11. The project covers two organizations, namely, San Isidro Farmers Association (Sanifa) and Kahugpongan sa Katawhan sa Subait (KKS) in Rossanim and Katimalibon agrarian reform communities (ARCs), respectively. According to Ester T. Cabalan, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
DAR OIC-Chief, DAR intensifies its effort to implement NGP to alleviate poverty among agrarian beneficiaries in agrarian reform areas within the municipality of Las Nieves. Cabalan further said that ARBs can generate additional sources of income through caring
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and maintaining responsibly planted seedlings to ensure acceptable survival rates. Rodelio Mendez, DENR forester, said ARBs are provided with fruit and forest tree seedlings to raise as well as the technical know-how and financial support. The Sanifa and KKS have pledged an estimated 25 hectares each to be planted with different
species of trees or any high valued commercial crops with an average of 1,667 seedlings per hectare. The activity is in support of the National Greening Program (NGP) of President Aquino as mandated by Executive Order No. 26 that aims to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land nationwide within a period of six years.
Aclan farmer-beneficiaries receive land titles from DAR
BUTUAN CITY-- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte has recently distributed 136 hectares of farmlands in Barangay Aclan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to 75 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) held at Aclan covered court on September 13. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
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Nasipit Mayor Enrico R. Corvera handed out the Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) assisted by Aquino W. Gambe, on behalf of Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba; DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Andre B. Atega; Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Lolita V. Empanado, and Aclan Barangay Chairman Bobby L. Nanol. Atega congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries and encouraged them to take care and work hard FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
to progressively develop the land they now owned. Meanwhile, Mayor Corvera commended DAR for intensifying land distribution and congratulated the new landowners and urged them to fully develop the land and pay their obligation to the local government. Nanol, meanwhile commented that farmerbeneficiaries were very grateful for the land that they have been cultivating are now their own.
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Day 2 ICT ROADSHOW IN THE
E NEXT WAVE CITIES
908 Pantawid Pamilya grantees enjoy DSWD’s livelihood program by Manuel M.Borres
LANAO DEL NORTE – As of August 31, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 10 through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has released P4,640,000 to 908 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Matungao, Lala, Salvador, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo all in Lanao del Norte province. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
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provides capacity building to improve the socio-economic status of program participants. Recipients are beneficiaries under Sets 1 and 2 of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program whose grants will end on December 31, 2013. “It is expected that these beneficiaries will be self-sufficient by then and will be able to provide the needs of their family members despite the absence of the conditional cash transfer of the national The Sustainable Livelihood government,� Atty. Araceli F. Program (SLP) of DSWD is a Solamillo, DSWD FO 10 Regional community-based program which Director said.
JICA River dike project to take off by CdeOSP
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The first phase of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) river dike project will take off soon here. This was revealed by the representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the recent joint committees on finance, on tourism and on public works. The DPWH was among those invited by the joint committees chaired by Councilors President D. Elipe, Lourdes Candy Darimbang and Alden Bacal, respectively, to shed light on projects being implemented in the city. DPWH engineers said the Notice of Award was given last August 28. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
The needed equipment and materials are already in place at the project site. It was learned that the P46 million project will be completed in seven months. According to the DPWH, Phase 1, which will take an eight-meter setback from the existing wall, will affect a big portion of Duaw Park. As can be recalled, Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and other officials of JICA visited Cagayan de Oro and said they will extend help so the city can get back to its feet and
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move forward after the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Sendong. The river control project is just one of the many projects of the city
aimed at preventing future floods. JICA will do all the works in providing the city with a better river control project starting this year.
SP to accredit 10 POs by CdeOSP
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Ten more civil society organizations have qualified to be members of the City’s Local Special Bodies (LSB).
The City Council during its regular session on September 16 presided over by Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas was slated to adopt a resolution accrediting and re-accrediting the Camoda Multi-Purpose and Transport Service Cooperative; Carmen Motorela Operators and Drivers Marketing Cooperative (CAMODMACO); Greenfield Homeowners Association, Inc., Elena Homes Homeowners Association, Inc.; CDO Federation of Elders (CAFÉ), Inc.; A Foundation for Growth, Organizational Upliftment of People, Inc. (GROUP); MAKASAKA MO, Inc,. Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FURPOOR); Mahayag Neighborhood Homeowner’s Association Inc.; and Purok 2A Gusa CDO Residence Association Inc. The resolution was favorably endorsed by the committees on subdivision and landed estate chaired by Councilor Alexander FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
Dacer, on urban and rural poor chaired by Councilor Leon Gan, on agriculture and fisheries chaired by Councilor Annie Daba, on public utilities and on senior citizens, both chaired by Councilor Roger Abaday, and on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Ramon Tabor. The committees took cognizance of the endorsement of different barangays, the certificates of registration from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC); financial statements and track records of these organizations, among other requirements, before acting on their requests for accreditation. This is in line with Memorandum Circular No. 201370 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Article 64, Rule XII of the Rules and Regulations implementing the 1991 Local Government Code.
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DavNor embraces semi organic farming technology by Jean Abangan
ASUNCION, Davao del Norte- Region XI, the province of Davao del Norte has the widest area of rice fields applied with semi-organic farming technology. Bony dela cruz, national social and water area coordinator (SWAC) of the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) revealed this information Wednesday (Sept. 18) during the Harvest Festival staged
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as among the highlights of the 65th founding anniversary of the Municipality of Asuncion. “Davao del has widest area of EMRC,� he told a crowd of Asuncion farmers during the Harvest Festival Program held in barangay Cambanogoy, Asuncion and attended by Provincial Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario, Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, provincial department heads, municipal officials, and municipal office heads. Dela Cruz added that 27 towns in the Davao Region were already given funds for the farming technology. Dela Cruz revealed that the municipality of Sto. Tomas applied EMRC in 400 hectares of rice fields in November, 2012 to February 2013 cropping season while the municipality of Braulio E. Dujali applied the same technology in 100
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hectares in the same period. The application of EMRC in Davao del Norte widened during the recent cropping season (June to September) with Sto. Tomas expanding its area coverage to 300 more hectares of rice fields. Asuncion recently followed the technique, applying it to 250 hectares of the same crop, New Corella, 250 hectares and Tagum City had 100 hectares covered with EMRC technique. Dela Cruz revealed that three more towns in Davao del Norte were preparing to apply the EMRC technology to rice fields in the next cropping season: the municipalities of Carmen, 700 hectares, Kapalong, 250 hectares and Panabo, 250 hectares. EMRC technology is expected to substantially bring down the cost of rice farming through using
organic fertilizer (vermicast) in about 50 to 50 ratio mixture with inorganic fertilizer. It also applies rice straw decomposition technique and vermi tea to control pests, among other environmentallyfriendly ways of rice farming. In a separate interview, rice farmer Imelda Pascual of Concepcion, Asuncion, Davao del Norte said she had saved much on farm inputs particularly fertilizer and pesticides. The last cropping season, she spent about P20,000 but this current cropping she spent about P15,000.00 to P17,000.00. She also cast worries on health due to pest control because she now uses vermi tea which is organic concoction instead of using chemical pesticides. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)
did you know... that a farmer using organice fertilizer can save up to P3,500 per hectare as compared when using chemicals
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Agreement forged to assist Bangsamoro communities DAVAO CITY- The Bangsamoro Development Agency and the Community and Family Services International formally forged a partnership agreement highlighting the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program’s support for the operations of the project management team to implement the SAJAHATRA Bangsamoro Program in partnership with the government to deliver education, livelihood and health services to Bangsamoro communities. Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan of the BDA which will be the implementing agency and Vladimir Hernandez of the Community and Family Services International which will be the trust fund recipient signed the program partnership agreement in behalf of their respective agencies. The signing was witnessed by Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of the GPH Task Force on Bangsamoro Development, Matt Stephens, a secretariat member of the Mindanao Trust Fund/ World Bank and Dr. Taugan Kikay, team leader of the Project Management Team. Undersecretary Montalbo said the agreement only shows that the peace talk between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
government is very much alive. He said the agreement sends the signal that this government will not waver in its efforts to bring the peace process for the Bangsamoro to its fruition. Montalbo said the joint undertaking of the GPH and the MILF to bring development projects to MILF- identified beneficiaries through the Sajahatra Bangsamoro puts in place another building block in the solid foundation that will anchor our work on normalizing the various conflict-affected communities in the Bangsamoro. “Through projects on health, education and livelihood, we hope to be able to begin the task of rebuilding the lives of individuals and communities affected by armed conflict, even as the completion of the Annexes leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement continues,” he said. Montalbo expressed confidence that with the agreement of working together to bring peace dividends to the Bangsamoro communities, Bangsamoro men and women working in the program would learn governance and enhance their capabilities in understanding the intricacies of government bureaucracies, the detailed
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complexities of government financing and auditing, and the process of obtaining decisions from policy and decision makers of government. He said that with the support of the MTF, a core group of Bangsamoro men and women working with on the Program will have hands-on experience on what it will be like to implement government projects.
“Through their interaction with government agencies, they will understand and learn the ropes in bringing government projects to beneficiary communities. It is our hope that these learnings will serve well the goal of putting in place a fully functional and effective new political entity in 2016 called Bangsamoro,� Montalbo said. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
regional gallery
Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo T. Uy [second from right] leads the kick-off ceremonies for the emergency shelter program in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley province.
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Search for 2013 rice achievers begins
By: Danilo E. Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Barely six months since it honored the country’s top performers in rice production and released a total of P110 million as rewards to the awardees, the Department of Agriculture has kicked off the search for the 2013 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards (APRAA).
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Amalia Jayag-Datukan, regional executive director of DA 12, said, the search which aims to strengthen participation to rice production among local government units recognizes highly performing provinces , cities and municipalities. Besides LGUs, APRAA also awards model irrigators’ associations and agricultural extension workers for their contributions to the attainment of the department’s Food SelfSufficiency Program, particularly in rice production. Director Datukan disclosed that the top ten rice-producing provinces will each receive P4 million worth of project grants while the top 48 municipal and city LGUs will each receive similar grants amounting to P1 million. On the other hand, 10 irrigators associations will each receive projects worth P1 million while three small water impounding systems associations will each get P500,000 as projects. All over the country, 500 extension workers will get incentive of P20,000 each. At the 2nd APRAA on March 15 this year, Nueva Ecija, Isabela and Pangasinan led the list of top rice producing provinces, which also included Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Kalinga, La Union, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, and Zamboanga del Sur. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
Of the 48 top performing municipal and city LGUs, four were from Soccsksargen Region, namely: Tulunan, Midsayap, and Kabacan in North Cotabato and Lambayong in Sultan Kudarat. Moreover, of the 500 outstanding extension workers, 37 were from Soccsksargen Region. Information from APRAA National Secretariat indicated that the evaluation for the awards will cover the wet (September 15, 2012 to March 15 2013) and dry season (March 16 September 2013). The top provinces, towns and cities, IAs, and SWISAs will be chosen based on the following: incremental rice harvest and average yield per hectare over 2011 levels, increase if any over 2012 target, amount of budget devoted to rice projects and initiatives, number of farmers benefited, and degree of rice seed utilization, among other criteria For more details and further guidelines, feel contact the AgriPinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards regional secretariat @ these telephone numbers (083)5200460; (083)381-0092 and (083)520-0628 or visit the regional office at Zulueta Street, Koronadal City and look for Ms. Cecilia S. Parcon. (DEDoguilesPIA 12/LMSalvo-DA 12)
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N. Cotabato, Davao based BPO to hold series of job fairs By: Shahana Joy E. Duerme KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato --The provincial government of North Cotabato is set to hold A series of job fairS in partnership with Concentrix, a business process outsourcing (BPO) agency based in Davao City.
The recruitment activity will be headed by the Provincial Human Resource and Management Office (PHRMO) and will be held in four municipalities. The venue includes Midsayap on September 24, Kabacan on September 25, M’lang on September 26 and President Roxas on September 27. According to North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, this initiative is in response to the public’s clamor for access job opportunities. Same agency took part on the jobs fair last August in line with the province’s Kalivungan Festival. “We aim to provide our constituents especially the fresh graduates the opportunity to get high-paying jobs and in the process, decrease the unemployment problem in the province.” Mendoza said. The BPO agency will be entertaining over 500 applicants who will have the opportunity to become call center professionals. Rosemarie Beltran, Concentrix senior human resource head explained that their agency offers a competitive salary package, health benefits, relocation packages and a great work environment to qualiFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
fied applicants. She emphasized that applicants must be a graduate of a four-year course or two-year vocational course, conversant in English, confident, and is willing to be assigned in Davao City. Beltran is hoping that the job fair this month will turn out to be as successful as the one held last August. PHRMO records indicate that at least 33 applicants were hired on the spot out of 166 hopefuls during the job fair last month. Because of this, Gov. Mendoza promised that the provincial government will continue to venture with meaningful projects to help the constituents. In addition, she called upon all the job seekers from the different municipalities to take advantage of this activity. On the other hand, interested applicants are encouraged to visit the PHRMO at the provincial capitol in Amas, Kidapawan City or call at 064-278-7037 for more information. (SJDuerme-PIA12/JSta. Cruz-N. Cotabato Provincial Government)
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