Northern Mindanao Magazine 20160714 R10

The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016

Education is a powerful tool for change, says Iligan City solon

ILIGAN CITY – A community that is fully geared to new knowledge and technology offers enormous potential in three key ways.

These are promoting economic growth, creating jobs, and finding solutions to major challenges like poverty, lack of opportunity of the hinterland barangays, peace and order and job creation, said newly elected Representative Frederick W. Siao of the Lone District of Iligan City.

Siao is the guest speaker to the 48th Charter Anniversary of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) on July 12.

With the anniversary theme, “Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship” is timely and very relevant. This is within the priority framework of my legislative agenda in Congress for economic and social development, said Rep. Siao.

“To achieve this, the government cannot do it alone. We need the support of other stakeholders like MSU-IIT. We need to engage the stakeholders to realize the public-academe-private partnership,” Siao said.

Nowadays, research, innovation and entrepreneurship are the ways to go and I am seeing MSU-IIT as the leading university in this aspect. With this, we can say that MSU-IIT leads, the others follow, he added.

The representative further said the hour has come for a renaissance of Iligan with the help of MSU-IIT. And like any sector facing massive change spurred by technology, we are grappling with new paradigms.

It’s never too late, I am sure that together we can help our beloved city

attain its greatest potential.

With all of these, Siao said he is opening all doors of his office for a consultation and discuss thoroughly all possibilities on how to achieve common goals as he believes we can do this together if we work as team.

He quoted Mattie Stepanek’s “Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”

As public servant elected as congressman of Iligan City, this is his first public engagement with MSU-IIT to say thank you. MSU-IIT is his top priority for this term providing more scholarships to deserving students and exploring infrastructure programs that will benefit IIT in general.

Siao said, MSU-IIT has been part of his success in his first stint as city councilor of Iligan.

He became the chairman for the Sangguniang Panglunsod Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry.

The committee was able to forge a memorandum of agreement with MSU-IIT, particularly with the College of Business Administration and Accountancy, for a partnership on Entrepreneurship programs and other community development activities.

Further he said, he considered MSU-IIT as his alma mater already because of the Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as the 2nd Cohort Fellow, and being mentored with brilliant professors of MSU-IIT.

Siao in his final statement said, it has been my dream for Iligan to be known as New Investment Destination of Mindanao, the Knowledge Hub of Southern Philippines and the Emerging City for ICT/BPO industry and Agricultural Development.

Let us all work together as one and be a positive ‘Agent of Change’ for a better Iligan. I am looking forward to celebrate your golden year this coming 2018 with more partnerships and collaboration, said Siao. (LVG/ PIA-10 LDN)

SP earmarks P27.5M for acquisition of JNPGA relocation site in Lumbia CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The development of another relocation site in Cagayan de Oro city is in the offing.

The 18th City Council during its regular session on July 11 unanimously enacted Ordinance No. 13087-2016, appropriating the sum of P27.5 million to be made available for the full payment of the claim for just compensation of a lot located at Sitio Pahiron, Barangay Lumbia, for

the purpose.

Last year, the 17th City Council enacted Ordinance No. 12991-2015, authorizing Mayor Oscar S. Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), covering the

Offload: Some reminders to air passengers CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Immigration reminds passengers of some guidelines to avoid offload.

implementation of the Japan NonProject Grant Aid (JNPGA) of housing materials for the construction of 722 housing units and two multi-purpose buildings for the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Councilor Edna M. Dahino, chair of the committee on finance, budget and appropriations, said the project is long overdue.

She cited that concerned departments such as the City Engineer’s Office, City Assessor’s Office, in coordination with the lot owner inspected the area more than a year ago.

The councilor said she went over the paper trail and finds everything to be in order.

The project will give homes to the homeless people of the city, Dahino added.

EXHAUSTIVE STUDY

Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, Majority Floor Leader-Coalition, said it took the City Council two years to evaluate concerns and issues relative to the relocation project.

The project site covers an area of 10.1 hectares which already excludes the timberland, he clarified.

Councilors Leon Gan and Dometilo Acenas Jr. said the committee on subdivision had to look into problems and concerns such as the assessment of the lot.

A portion of the site is also considered by the DENR as timberland, Acenas added.

Councilor Nacaya acknowledged the exhaustive study done by the committee on subdivision to ensure that everything will be in place for the smooth implementation of the project.

(CDO Legislative Information)

In deciding whether to allow individuals to leave the country, immigration officials refer to the “Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers,” said immigration officer in a meeting of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) in northern Mindanao.

The guidelines, which were approved by the Department of Justice, was formulated in accordance with Republic Act 9208 or the AntiTrafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995,” as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 and other related laws.

Under the guidelines, which provide for definite parameters in the strict enforcement of immigration departure formalities intended for the prevention of trafficking in persons, illegal recruitment, and other related offenses, the bureau will automatically subject the following to secondary inspection:

Travelers without financial capacity to travel escorted/ accompanied by a foreigner who is not related to them.

Minor traveling alone or

unaccompanied by either parent or legal guardian without the required travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Previously repatriated irregular workers, in which case, travel may not be allowed without the clearance from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

Partners and spouses of foreign nationals intending to depart to meet and/or marry his/her fiancé without the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate.

Passengers traveling to countries with existing deployment bans, alert levels, and travel advisories and those in possession of a visa to the said countries.

Passengers who stayed abroad for more than one year during a previous departure from the country as a tourist/temporary visitor, intending to depart for the second and/or subsequent time.

Based on the guidelines, travelers are categorized according to purpose, whether as tourists, OFWs, or immigrants. They will be required to present documents depending on their travel purposes to prevent being offloaded. (EOR/PIA)