Mindanao Daily A11 NEWS
friday | november 22, 2013
northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper
Protest... from page A1
For its part, the SAGCL announced in September it would start full-blown operations in 2017 after finding positive results in their feasibility study. The US-based large scale mining company cited in its feasibility study that the project will produce 100,000 tons per day of copper and gold and a mining rate at an approximate178,000 tons daily. Pedro Arnado, Chairperson of Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas- Southern Mindanao Region, said “small scale miners and farmers fear the devastating effects of the SAGCL operations to the environment and to the people’s livelihood in Pantukan.” In their position paper, the Gagmay’ng Minero sa Pantukan and Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Walog Kompostela (HUMAWAK)—an alliance of peasants and small-scale miners in Compostela Valley— demanded that the government should implement a “pro-people’s mining policy”, oppose and cease and desist all the large-scale mining operations of SAGCL; and stop the counterinsurgency operations an under Oplan Bayanihan by the 71st Infantry Battalion and 28th IB of the Philippine Army; these armies were said to be backing SAGCL interests in the area. Protesters were later disappointed after Pantukan Mayor Roberto Yugo refused to heed a dialog with them. “Please have the position paper received at our records section, and I will answer it in a proper forum. You should have proposed the schedule earlier,” Yugo told the protesters. In a news report, Yugo said he backs the $2billion gold and copper project as this would be beneficial for local constituents. Bellen Galleto, spokesperson of Save Pantukan Movement told Davao Today that Yugo’s move was “arrogant” and “inappropriate” for a public official. “We expected him to read our position paper and allow us to ventilate our grievances,” Galleto said. “We are protesting again because we truly fear that with the impact of natural disasters in our country, the open pit mining operations of SAGCL will ultimately destroy our environment. This is like a Yolanda in our midst,” Galleto said. She added that “With bare mountains as a result of large-scale mining, residents in low-lying lands will have to suffer once great disasters come upon us. ” Protesters said Pantukan town is already prone to geohazards, with a number of landslides in the past having claimed a high number of casualties. Meanwhile, proponents of the Kingking gold and copper open-pit mine project claimed the project will generate 4,000 to 5,000 jobs
with 1,700 direct employment during construction. Small-scale miner Rogelio Simbajon, however, belied the claim, saying that “once the operation will continue, 30,000 miners and their families will be displaced.” Abelino Gudin, 53, from Diat village, said that the local government of Pantukan should heed their demands. “If our local government will permit this, it is a downright and deliberate attack to our economic right as small-scale miners. What will happen to our families? We don’t have jobs or other means of livelihood.” Gudin added that “if we will excavate our own mining site, we can earn as much as P10,000 or even bigger if we will work hard in one day, but if we are merely employees of the company, we would be earning P500 daily or less, which can barely sustain our needs.” “Our families can live off with just a gram of gold, but if we allow the SAGCL to come to our midst, we would be merely contractual employees, earning very little,” he added. Juland Suazo, Spokesperson of Panalipdan-Southern Mindanao said the drilling operation of US-based firm in the mountains of Barangay Kingking in Pantukan town is “a proof that the Aquino government has no political will to alleviate the economic conditions of the people struck by typhoons Pablo and Zoraida in Compostela Valley province.” “SAGCL continues to pose grave threats to the people and to environment. Its operations would worsen the impact of storms and other natural calamities. Our communities would be more vulnerable if we allow large-scale mining operations of SAGCL to take place,” Suazo added.(Mart. D. Sambalud/davaotoday. com)
China... from page A1
between the two neighbors locked in a long-running territorial dispute. Ties between Manila and Beijing plunged into its lowest this year when the Philippine government took China to an international court to question its “excessive” claim over the resource-rich South China Sea. “We are thankful for the offer of China to send the Peace Ark Hospital Ship to support the relief operations,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. “The schedule and other details related to its deployment are now being coordinated with the concerned agencies.” The United States earlier announced a plan to deploy its hospital ship USNS Mercy, but Hernandez said the move is subject to the assessment of the victims’ needs. “There is an agreement in principle between the
Philippines and the U.S. that the USNS Mercy will be deployed at a time when it is needed most based upon the assessment of the needs of the Philippines,” Hernandez said. The U.S., a Philippine treaty ally, has been providing military and transport assets to accelerate the delivery of aid to remote areas. Hernandez said the Philippine government is “grateful” for Washington’s multimillion relief aid, which comes in the form of food, medical and military assistance. The United Nations earlier issued a US$ 301-million flash appeal for the Philippines while bilateral pledges of support from at least 51 international donors have reached P 12.9 billion or US$ 319.5 million. philippine news agency
Fight...
from page A10
should forgive as the Lord forgives.” T h e 2 7 -y e a r - o l d Rios meanwhile had no doubt he will beat Pacquiao, who turns 35 next month and has a record of 54 wins, five defeats and two draws in a pro-career spanning almost 19 years. The American, a for me r l ight we ight world champion, declared he was in the shape of his life and should not be written off as merely a a “tuneup” for Pacquiao, who needs a victory after consecutive losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez last year. “This is the best shape I have ever been,” Rios said. “I’ve been disciplined, I’ve been dieting, I’ve been doing every I have to do to win. I actually have followed the instruction of my corners, before I never did. “They think I’m no problem,” Rios said, looking at the Pacquiao entourage. “Sunday, I’ll be a problem. “I’m nobody’s tuneup fight. I’m nobody’s punching bag -- a punching bag don’t punch back. Sunday you’re going to find out I’m not going to stop. I’m a monster when I get in that ring.” The bout, dubbed the “Clash in Cotai”, takes place on Sunday, November 24 at 10:00am in Macau (0200 GMT), 9:00pm Saturday night on the US east coast. a b s cbnnews.com
Service... from page 7A
discipline is the order of the day. In business and politics, the growth of Davao City with the expanding middle class has given birth to rising demand for excellence in customers’ and government service.
Hotelier Jojo Ramos of the Royal Mandaya Hotel, who works as customers service associate, takes tab of the guests’ arrivals and never fails to greet them during his tour of duty. He calls the rooms and find out from the guests on how they are enjoying their stay. While at the Grand Regal Hotel, security is always tight but staffs are extra courteous since they are the venue and host to a government Pagcor Casino. At the Radisson Inn of the SM Prime Group, email reservations made online are confirmed with immediate response in real time. Visit the City Hall, courteous receptionists will usher you to the office of the City Mayor who is a tourist attraction himself. Service excellence has always been a factor in attracting clients and repeat business in any industry. It drives productivity and redounds to benefit the business. As Filipinos are noted for our hospitality culture, it should be easy to practice this trait with sincerity.
Side...
from page 7A
when the matter was lain before the SC to decide. With the people mounting the pressure and causing the creators of the pork barrel fund to eternally abandon this fund mainly intended for political patronage, then they would have realized that the other part of the battle against this evil is the battle against the people’s act of pestering the politicians to dispense political patronage to them. With the SC striking off the pork barrel fund, the people failed to see that the equally important aspect of the battle against political patronage is their commitment to stop soliciting such political patronage from the politicians. And political patronage is very much embedded in our political system starting with the way we elect our public officials. Getting elected to any elective position in this country is very expensive. A brother of mine who ran for a third term as village councilor in one of the barangays in Cebu City told me that it took a lot of money to get himself reelected. Now if elections in the village level which is supposed to be non-partisan is already costly, just think of the electoral races for higher posts. It is of public knowledge that nowadays for one to be elected mayor, governor and congressman, positions in the local level, millions of pesos had to be spent by the candidate to win. Even when the politician is not yet elected, political patronage plays a very important role already to ensure victory in the polls. Factually, a politician is sure of winning in the polls if he can outspend his foe and spending his
campaign logistics in the most effective and efficient way. This involves the politician’s need to engage the services of several political workers. And insurance in winning an elective post in our country means being able to buy certain number of votes to seal victory. More often than not, even the so-called diehard supporters of the politicians need to be bought by him because buying only the supporters of his foe might result in his losing his diehard supporters to his foe. This may sound funny, but this is the truth when we talk of elections in this country. But when the politician gets elected, the demand for him to continue dispensing political patronage does not subside but becomes more enormous because everyone who is considered by him as his constituent regardless of their political affiliation needs to be attended to by him also. Remember that the money spent by the politician to get himself elected has to be recouped so that he will have the money again for his reelection. In-between elections, however, the politician needs to dispense political patronage on a daily basis to his constituents. If this system is not changed, mind you, the evils of political patronage will surely rear its ugly head again even without the congressional pork barrel fund. The politician will surely find a way with which he could raise the amount he needs that he can dispense to ensure political patronage is perpetuated. This can only be prevented if elections are held at no cost to the politician with the election law against vote-buying strictly implemented. Political campaigns undertaken under the auspices of the elections body with all the candidates campaigning together is one system that’ll ensure that politicians are not made to spend a single centavo to get himself elected. But with the SC pulling the rug under the protesting people’s feet against the source of political patronage which is the pork barrel fund, the opportunity of truly transforming politics from political patronage had been lost. (Reactions at jelbacon@ yahoo.com or at jelbaconii@gmail.com. Read me also at www.raconteurme. blogspot.com)
Emano...
from page 1 by the body. 2 . Bre a st fe ed i n fa nt s exclusively from birth up to 6 months then give appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond for optimum growth and development. 3. Eat more vegetables and fruits everyday to get the essential vitamins, minerals and fiber for regulation of body processes. 4. Consume fish, lean meat, poultry, egg, dried beans or
nuts daily for growth and repair of body tissues. 5. Consume milk, milk products and other calciumrich foods, such as small fish and shellfish, everyday for healthy bones and teeth. 6. Consume safe foods and water to prevent diarrhea and other food and water-borne diseases. 7. Use iodized sa lt to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders. 8. Limit intake of salty, fried, fatty and sugar-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases. 9. Attain normal body weight through proper diet and moderate physical activity to prevent obesity and maintain good health 10. Be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic beverage and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases In support to the attainment of the millennium development goal #1 by 2015 (target is moved to 2016), the National Nutrition Council Region X through its Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) X is leading in the promotion of 10 NGF in the Region by way of spreading and introducing the messages to partners through our Local Nutrition Committees. E xcit i ng promot iona l events and activities region wide has been lined up this 2013 and in the coming years as part of the nationwide NGF Promotion and campaign designed to create awareness and promote behavior change in dietary practice of our general public. T he goa l of t he w ide dissemination of the 10 NGF is to improve the region’s nutritional status as these i mpac ts on produc t iv it y and quality of life of our population, through adoption of desirable dietary practices and healthy lifestyle. Governor Bambi Emano in the same vein has committed to end hunger and malnutrition in the province tapping the full support of its Provincial/City/ Municipal/Barangay Nutrition Committees (P/C/M/BNCs). “This day is a very good take off point for the PNC of Misamis Oriental under the leadership of Gov. Bambi Emano in our journey to end hunger and malnutrition in the province. The pledge to end hunger and malnutrition is a nation-wide advocacy of our national government. The LGU effort becomes more strategic efficient and effective if the governor himself personally commits to lead in cascading this advocacy campaign down to its municipal and barangay levels. We are excited that the governor himself is strongly advocating the promotion of t he Ne w Nut r it iona l Guidelines for Filipinos” Tondares concludes. “Food is a basic human need and is a right. The continuing problem of hunger and malnutrition deprives people of their basic human right and this is mora lly unacceptable.” The National Nutrition Council strongly advocates that Investing in Nutrition is Good Governance. The manual on the Guide for Local Chief Executives i n S ol v i n g Hu n ge r a nd M a l nut r it ion h ig h l ig ht s this advocacy. In region X, a number of LGUs has heeded to this call as evidence by increased LGU investing in Nutrition.