Mindanao Daily Davao (August 29, 2013)

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Dads ask DBM solons’ pork barrel projects

Volume II, No. 074

web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com

Thursday

August 29, 2013

D

By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA of DavaoToday.com

AVAO City––Councilors are asking the Department of Budget and Management to furnish them a list of projects funded under the controversial pork barrel or the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) given to the city’s three district representatives.

FULL STORY ON/p.10

Why no anti-pork rally in Bukidnon?

By Walter I. Balane of MindaNews

FLUVIAL PARADE. Local residents, and visitors watch as participants paddle up the stream of Cagayan de Oro River during yesterday’s Fluvial parade that serves as one of the highlights of the annual fiesta celebration of Cagayan de Oro City in honor of its patron, Saint Augustine. Mindanao Daily News photo by Rolando Sudaria

3 hurt, 1 dead in Agusan landslide BUTUAN City––A landslide caused by continuous heavy rains in a mining area killed one and caused injury to three other victims Tuesday night at a remote village in Agusan del Norte, a police report said.

The landslide occurred at sitio Tabon, Barangay Tagmamarkay, Tubay Agusan del Norte, as reported by the village chief Delia See slide, page 15

Cebu Pacific Air pushes for Open Skies with Japan THE Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) advocates for Open Skies between the Philippines and Japan in the upcoming RP-Japan Air Consultation Talks, to be held on September 1113, 2013 in Tokyo.

In its position paper submitted to the Philippine Air Consultation Panel last August 15, 2013, CEB recognized the government’s efforts in increasing capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),

such as minimizing general aviation traffic. It emphasized though that should NAIA capacity become rapidly available, Philippine carriers will not be able to

mount flights because of the lack of seat entitlements.

Seat entitlements have to be given first by countries such as Japan, so airlines like CEB can increase flights to or add destinations internationally. An Open Skies agreement will speed up this process and allow CEB to immediately expand its Japan operations. CEB currently operates from Manila to Osaka thrice weekly.

Japan, once one of the most protective aviation

MALAYBALAY City––In the runup to the August 26 nationwide anti-pork barrel protest dubbed Million People March, Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. issued a memorandum encouraging officials and employees of the various local government units to join and support the nationwide protests.

But when President Benigno Simeon Aquino III agreed to abolish the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) on Friday, Zubiri aborted the local rally.

On August 26, while Filipinos around the country, including Overseas Filipino

QuickLook

DBM clarifies news reports on PDAF under PNoy/p.6 Workers in some offshore sites, made noise against the pork barrel, the supposed venues for the event in the province, the Freedom Park and the Capitol Grounds, were empty except for athletes practicing for sports fests.

Malaybalay Bishop Jose Cabantan told See rally, page 15

See pushes, page 15

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thursday| august 29, 2013 Asst editor: ROLANDO N. SUDARIA • Email: rolando_sudaria2000@yahoo.com

higalas icon - (From left) Icon of Fisherman, Farmer, Col. Apolinar Velez, Saint Augustine, Emmanuel Pelaez and Maximo Suniel among the 18 Higalas Icon march in the primary street in Cagayan de Oro on August 27. Higalas Icon represent the people who is part of the making this Cagayan de Oro City boom. Photo By Rolando Sudaria

1st Higalas Icon trooped in Kagay-an Festival

By Irene Joy B. Dayo Staff Reporter

As part of the educational fiesta set by this year’s fiesta committee, headed by Ms. Eileen San Juan, 18 giant icons were strolled in the streets of Cagayan de Oro during the Higalas Parade on August 27, 2013, the day before the fiesta proper.

These introduced icons represent those important cultural and religious figures that have been part of the city’s past and rich heritage.

First two represented icons were the male and female Higaonons. They symbolize

the original and first residents of the city and considered as forefathers of the city people.

Next was Datu Salangsang.

He is a Higaonon leader who ruled the river communities in which the city rooted from.

There was also an icon of Augustinian Recollect Fray Agustin de San Pedro. Way back, he is the one who established the town now called Cagayan de Oro City. San Agustin’s icon followed. He is the first city doctor and the city’s patron saint.

The icon of San Agustin’s mother, Santa Monica was also paraded. She is the patron saint of abused women.

Icon of Birhen sa Cota, the defender in times of disaster and calamity, also graced the parade.

Followed after the female icons was Tirso Neri, a revolutionary leader and the first mayor of Cagayan de Misamis, the city’s old name.

He served as mayor during 1901-1903 and also the one who opened the streets of current Divisoria.

Colonel Apolinar Velez’ icon was also displayed. In history, he led the Filipinos during the Battle of Makahambus that resulted in the victory of the Filipinos.

Archbishop Santiago

Hayes, SJ, followed Colonel Velez. He is a Jesuit who rebuilt the city of Cagayan de Oro after the World War II. Icons of Ronaldo Tiano, Nestor Tiano and Apollo Tiano were also exhibited.

They fought the Japanese way back the old times and were considered as war heroes.

They are also known as the Tiano Brothers.

Next in line was the icon of Maximo Suniel, the last mayor when Cagayan de Oro is still a municipality and he is also the first city mayor.

He served from year 1948 to 1953.

The icon of country’s sev-

enth vice president Emmanuel Pelaez was also paraded. He is known to be the public servant who authored the city charter. He also served the country from 1961-1965.

Along with these icons, giant figures of the farmer and fisher folk of Cagayan de Oro were also exposed. They are considered as heroes who sustain and supply food for the city residents.

Last paraded was the emblem of the City Tourism, the white-water rafter. This icon is the only contemporary figure displayed. It represents the city people’s resiliency over “Sendong” days.

According to San Juan, this Higalas parade is one of the features of the Kagay-an Festival dubbed as Higalaay.

The purpose of this is to relive in the mind of young city individuals and to typical residents as well about the old Cagayan de Oro and also the heroes who fought for the city.

78 contingents from different schools and offices in the city joined the parade.

It started 7am at Rodelsa Circle, this city. It paused at the Kiosko Kagawasan for the presentation, and ended at the Limketkai East Canopy, in front of the East Concourse.

Fluvial procession offer also for Sendong victim

By Irene Dayo Staff Reporter

City residents had once again crowded at Duaw Park and the edge of Cagayan de Oro river, to witness again the fluvial parade on August 28, 2013. It was led by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma. As practiced, this

is made as one of the highlights of this year’s Kagay-an Festival themed as “Higalaay.”

18 Barangays participated in the fluvial parade. These are Barangays 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, 23, Consolacion, Puntod, Macabalan, Bonbon, Kauswagan, Carmen, Bulua, Macasandig and Nazareth.

23 other private institutions, government offices and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) attended the event.

More than 300 individuals rode the boats which displayed figures of San Augustine, Sta. Monica, Birhen sa Cota and other brangays’ respective patron saints.

The parade was opened through a flower-offering and prayers at Barangay Macabalan intended for the victims of typhoon Sendong.

This event is organized not only to give tribute to how this river provided life but also to remind the public of its value.

The city government would like to relive in the minds of the city people that there is the need to be responsible stewards of the shared natural resources and biodiversity.

The parade routed from Macabalan to Duaw Park situated on the riverside area under Ysalina Bridge. Representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) also joined in order to secure safety among participants. Officers of Philippine National Police were also visible around Duaw Park to give protection on the onlookers.

The participating boats are fully inspected by the MARINA before they were allowed to attend the fluvial parade. The ornaments of their boats are also simplified by using only flower decorations for economical purposes.

After the solemn parade, the participants proceeded to the St. Augustine Cathedral for the concluding mass.

fluvial parade - Visitors and resident of Cagayan de Oro witness again the fluvial

procession at Cagayan de Oro river on August 28, 2013 one of the highlight event of Kagay-an Festival 2013. The event also offer to the victim of typhoon Sendong hit the city almost two years ago.

Photo By Rolando Sudaria

472 Hajj readies for Mecca pilgrimage ILIGAN City - The Lanao del Norte Hajj contingent of 472 Muslim pilgrims, bound for Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj (a Muslim’s pilgrimage to Mecca) were given vaccines for flu and meningococcemia.

This is in compliance with the requirement of the Saudi Arabian government for issuance of hajj visas.They were treated with the vaccines on August 26, 2013 at Crystal Inn, Brgy. San Miguel, Iligan City.

The mass vaccination activity was led by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte (PGLDN) through its Provincial Community Affairs Office (PCAO) and Provincial Health Office, in cooperation with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

The first batch of pilgrims will depart for Manila on Sep-

tember 15 for their international flight to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while the second batch is set on September 20, 2013.

The vaccination is part of Lanao del Norte’s Hajj program presently implemented by Governor Khalid Dimaporo.

“Although most of the pilgrims present here are from the Muslim-dominated towns of Lanao del Norte, there are also a few Muslims from Iligan City and Lanao del Sur who are availing of our Hajj program,” PCAO Staff Mina Tanggote revealed.

Under PGLDN’s Hajj program, the pilgrims were assisted in by the provincial government in securing their passport, getting their vaccination, booking of their boat trip to Manila, booking of their hotel accom-

modation while awaiting their flight schedule and booking of their international flight to Mecca.

“This is much easier for us because everything is already prepared and we don’t have to go to Cagayan de Oro City for our requirements. We are thankful to the Dimaporo family because of their assistance to Muslims in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur,” expressed Monique Dimapunong of Pantar town.

Governor Khalid Dimaporo is giving his full support in the Hajj program. The pilgrimage program of the province was also implemented during the term of Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo and Rep. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo when they served as local chief executives of Lanao del Norte. (VNL/ PIO-LDN/LVG, PIA-10 LDN)

thursday | august 29, 2013

Asst editor: ROLANDO N. SUDARIA • Email: rolando_sudaria2000@yahoo.com

Developments

DENR-10, CDO step up massive reforestation CAGAYAN de Oro City - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Cagayan de Oro City are moving forward with the implementation of a new law seeking to reforest some 3,000 hectares throughout Cagayan de Oro City, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the devastation inflicted by typhoon “Sendong” in 2011.

President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act (RA) 10452 mandating the DENR to plant trees in 3,000 hectares of public land in Cagayan de Oro to protect its people and its environment from floods and landslides.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said validation team has been formed and identified the areas to be covered by the massive reforestation program in the city, as mandated under RA 10452.

Paje reiterated that the law complements the Aquino administration’s forest policies— the National Greening Program (NGP) and the total log ban—

aimed at fighting the adverse effects of climate change.

The program, he said, will also include former concession areas covered by timber license agreement earlier issued by the government.

Agustilo Obsioma, DENR-10 Technical Director for Forestry, said the ground mapping and validation of

these areas, using the global positioning system (GPS) technology, would take at least two weeks.

Meanwhile, DENR10 and City Local Government and Natural Office, here, just finished the draft of the implementing rules and regulations of IRR of RA 10452, draft work and financial for cal-

endar year 2013 with a cost estimate of P37 million, gantt chart and organizational set up.

According to the DENR, Cagayan de Oro’s forestland area covers 20,702 hectares or about 48 percent of the city’s total land area of 42,246 hectares. (Edwin Ilogon Dael/CLENRO/ PIA10)

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Centrio Ayala Mall join Kagay-an Festival 2013 As we celebrate Kagay-an Festival, local artists gather for a festivity of music and bring you Kagay-an Festival’s LOKAL MUSIK FEST! Catch different amazing bands from Aug 25-29 8-11pm at the Centrio Garden!”

“Hello shoppers! Centrio Mall celebrates the Kagayan Festival offering you big discounts on our very first Kagay-an Fiesta sale! Hold on your favourite clothes and visit Centrio Mall on August 24-28 for your exciting shopping adventure!”

Thrill seekers be ready as Centrio Mall explores to the very first ADVENTURE FAIR EVENT. The one stop shop for all the outdoor activities and Pasalubong goodies in Northern Mindanao. See you there on August 27 to 29 at the Centrio Mall Activity Center!

4 Mindanao Daily northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Caraga news

thursday | AUGUST 29, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA • Email: mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com jayfels30@yahoo.com.ph

AGUSAN DEL NORTE l AGUSAN DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL NORTE

AgSur officials hit Karapatan for sowing lies

By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN, Regional Editor

S

AN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur- Provincial officials here have lambasted human rights group Karapatan in Davao City for sowing lies to the media about the real score on the plight of the evacuees from Loreto town during the four-day stand off at the provincial capitol early this month.

In a statement distributed to local newspapers, the Provincial Crisis Management Committee (PCMC) led by Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza expressed dismay by what they claimed as ‘black propaganda”

circulated by Karapatan to the media by twisting the facts in the events that really transpired at the provincial capitol while more than 400 displaced residents sought refuge from August 2 to 5.

“Karapatan had, wittingly or unwittingly, twisted the facts and sown outright lies to the events that unfold during the crisis deliberately aimed at advancing their selfish ends at the expense of putting the provincial government of Agusan del Sur in bad light,’ the statement said.

The statement was referring to the stand off as a result of failed negotiations between the displaced residents from the remote Kauswagan village and the provincial officials to resolve the arrangements for their supposed return to their strife-torn village.

To point out their stand on the issue, the PCMC ,

in their statement, cited in details the timeline of events that occurred during the crisis “to set the record straight”.

PCMC particularly cited that the crisis that happened at the capitol was not their own making but a sinister instigation by Karapatan Southern Mindanao to make it appear in the eyes of the evacuees that they were the villains or the “bad guys” in the “theatrical show” that the human rights group has produced during the four-day stand-off.

Instead of going straight home on board trucks as agreed by leaders of Kahugpungan Alang sa Kalamboan (KASAKA) , the

statement said , the evacuees were herded by Karapatan members who accompanied them towards Bankerohan in Davao City.

“They deceived us and reneged the signed agreement between KASAKA in behalf of evacuees and Gov. Plaza in behalf of the provincial government and Karapatan has a lot of explaining to do,” said Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. As agreed, the displaced Loreto residents should return home on August 5 after Plaza gave in to their demands that they do not want the provincial government to provide them transportation

and police escorts.

Provincial officials were surprised that press statements they believed were prepared by Karapatan and carried by local newspapers in Davao City which claimed that the evacuees went straight to Davao because they feared for their lives after Gov. Plaza ordered them to return home and dialogue with the military.

“The media hype which Karapatan spread to various media outlets were all pathetic lies and runs counter to the real incident that took place during the crisis situation at the provincial capitol,” the statement said.

Knights of Columbus sponsors speech joust for Rizal Day rites

By PAT SAMONTE Regional Editor

BUTUAN CITY – The Fr. Michael J. McGivney Assembly ACN 2869, an association of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus here, will sponsor a PREPARED SPEECH CONTEST for high school students to highlight the celebration of the 117th death anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal on December 30, 2013.

The contest, which is one of the Assembly’s programs on Patriotism, is scheduled

YOUNG BLOOD – A youth leader calls for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel on August 26, 2013 at Luneta Park in Surigao City, mentioning Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco T. Matugas (1st District) and former Rep.Robert Ace Barbers (2nd District) as among those who gave pork barrel funds close to 45 million in 2007-2009 to dubious NGOs. (MindaNews photo by Roel N. Catoto/asf)

on December 28, 2013 at 2 pm at the Agusan del Norte Department of Education Social Hall, Gov. Jose A. Rosales Avenue here. The champion contestant will deliver his/her winning piece during the 117th Rizal Day celebration on December 30, 2013 at the Guingona Park here.

This was learned from SK Roy A. Rosales, Faithful Navigator of the Assembly and SK Vicente R. Busico, contest chairman.

Cash prizes will be given to the winners, as follow:

Champion - P7,000.00 plus Gold Medal 1st Runner-up - P5,000.00 plus Silver Medal 2nd Runner-up - P3,000.00 plus Bronze Medal Consolation prizes of P2,000.00 will be given to non-winning contestants.

The coaches/mentors will guidelines will be forwarded also receive P1,000.00 each. to high schools in Butuan Invitations and contest City.

Extortion suspect arrested

By PO2 Alexander C. Calanza

CAMP RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – A 19-year old resident of Kaskag, Camias St., Surigao City w a s ar re s t e d af te r a l legedly extorted money from Punong Barangay Norlito Rubio Tilod of Puerto Princesa, Basilisa, Dinagat Islands Province.

Police identified the suspect as Junbie Entendez Atentido, who has reportedly been sending

extor tion messages by cellular phone to Tilod since August 23, this year.

The arrest was made a s a p o l i c e op e r at ive , d i s g u i s i n g a s T i l o d’s nephew, gave Atentido a bluff Smart Padala reference number for some P10,000 to be drawn from at Prime Hub, Borromeo Street, Surigao City.

Strategically posit i on i n g t h e m s e l v e s at said establishment, the operatives then collared Atentido, who was re-

portedly been threathening to kill Tilod and his family should he fails to cooperate.

Atendido was arrested on August 24 by memb e r s of S O T G , l e d by Police Inspector Joel D. Cabanes.

During investigation, the suspect revealed he was getting instructions from a certain Roberto Madronado Cabalhin, a provincial jail inmate.

It was further reported that on May, June and

July, this year, Surigao City Police Station has received information about the series of ex-

tortion cases victimizing prominent businessmen in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat

Islands, with a certain Kumander Jerry Gonzalez as the perpetrator. (ACC/ MMG/asf )

Solon commits more TESDA scholars

By Robert E. Roperos

SURIGAO DEL SUR – First District Rep. Philip Pichay has committed to provide more TESDA scholarships, believing that skilled manpower can lead to economic development.

“If you are trained by TESDA, you become a skilled individual. If people are trained, they can cause sustainable development on your respective communities,”he stressed, Pichay vowed to allocate P2 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for TESDA scholarships in 2014, adding that for the remaining months in 2013, he has already allocated some P500,000 for

the purpose.

April Anne delos Reyes from Surigao Doctors’ College, a C4TP Housekeeping NC-II graduate, said that aside from the skills she acquired from the training, she also learned values from their trainers.

“Aside from learning, we also enjoyed what we’re doing that’s why we learn fast,” delos Reyes related.

Underscoring what the government has positively done on his life, John Glaizelle Siman, an NC-II Driving and NC-III Automotive C4TP graduate, was grateful to government for shaping up the aspirations and expectations of the people in nation-building.

Rene Dumanhog, a SMAW NC-II graduate

from Bayabas, Surigao del Sur expressed his thanks and gratitude to TESDA and DSWD for giving him the opportunity to finish the Tech-Voc program.

His right foot was amputated months before the training, but because of determination and with God’s help, he managed to hurdle the course.

C4TP is a joint undertaking of TESDA and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisting disadvantaged youths, through trainings, and further helping them find job.

This is in support of the poverty alleviation program of the national government. (RER, TESDA-Caraga/asf )

Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA • Email: mindanaodailnews@gmail.com jayfels30@yahoo.com.ph

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thursday | august 29, 2013

GenSan to tap experts from MSU to solve flooding

City Councilor Rosalita Nuñez, chair of the city council’s committee on city land use, urban planning and development, said Tuesday the state-run university has a pool of environment and urban planning experts that could help the city government effectively address the pe-

rennial flooding in some parts of the area during the rainy season.

She said the university could specifically assist the city in drawing up sustainable management strategies on the problem by way of extensive studies, researches, data gathering and analysis.

“A lasting and fast solution to the city’s flooding problem indispensably requires the aid of such knowledgeable entity.

Its recommendations for a sustainable drainage system and other proactive schemes shall be incorporated in the existing flood management strategy of the city,” Nuñez said.

To expedite the move, Nuñez filed a proposed resolution during the council’s regular session requesting MSU General Santos to look

into the perennial flooding in various parts of the city during the rainy season and recommend possible solutions to the problem.

The measure was referred to the city council’s committee on city land use, urban planning and development for further studies and consultations.

Nuñez, who is a former city mayor, said an earlier assessment showed that the advent of increased urbanization and inadequacy of drainage facilities in the city, aside from climate change and high rainfall volume, caused the city’s flooding problems.

“It has interfered with the economic use of lands in the farming sector, destroyed structures like bridges within floodways and affected traffic flows in lowly-elevated roadways

of the city,” she noted.

The official said the problem, if not effectively addressed, could cause more significant damages to properties, further endanger the lives of local residents and eventually hamper the city’s economic activities.

“The effect of the floods within the city’s jurisdiction may seem trivial as tasked government agencies just perform the usual repertoire of doing social works but in reality, however, it actually inflicts financial losses considering the thousands and millions of pesos spent by the city government virtually every year in aiding the flood victims,” she added.

Last month, around 290 families were affected by severe floods that swept portions of Purok Kindat

and Purok Bulaong Extension in Barangay Labangal and Purok Silway Fatima in Barangay Dadiangas West.

The floods mainly affected communities near the banks of the Silway River, which flows to Sarangani Bay and serves as the main outlet of several river-tributaries from the upland areas in nearby South Cotabato province.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera earlier said the local government had initiated negotiations with urban planners for a study and development of a comprehensive drainage system for the city.

The mayor said the study will cover barangays and communities traversed by various waterways that have experienced severe flooding during the rainy season.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 12 earlier identified barangays Baluan, Buayan, Bula, Calumpang, Siguel, Lagao and Sinawal as highrisk to flooding.

The seven villages were among the 340 communities in Region 12 that were found to be highly vulnerable and will likely become “uninhabitable” during floods.

MGB said most of these areas are part of a flood plain and are vulnerable to heavy flooding after just two to three hours of rains fur to the lack of substantial storm drainage.

Other areas in the city that are considered as flood-prone are barangays City Heights, Apopong, Labangal, Dadiangas North and Dadiangas West. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Environment personnel in South Cotabato province are pushing for the immediate installation of permanent Army outposts or detachments in several upland villages in Tampakan town due to the worsening illegal “banlas” or sluice mining activities in the area.

Lourdes Jumilla, senior environment specialist of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), said Wednesday their latest assessment showed that illegal mining activities in Tampakan have intensified anew and the extent of the sluice mining area has widened in the last several months.

She said the illegal mining area now covers vast areas of Sitio Campo Kilot in Barangay Pula Bato and parts of the neighboring

Barangay Tablu.

Jumilla, who headed the PEMO team that inspected the area late last week, said they found a number of bunkhouses and illegal mining equipment, specifically big water hoses stretching about a kilometer long, installed within the area.

“The (banlas) operations already destroyed a significant area of the mountains there and triggered some landslides that affected some roads in Barangays Tablu and Pula Bato in the past several weeks,” she said in a radio interview.

Banlas mining, which is considered a highly-destructive mining method, involves the pouring of large amounts of water using high-pressure water jets on a mountain’s surface to extract the rocks containing the gold ore, and then pan

them with mercury.

The use of the illegal mining method, which was first uncovered in a mining village in T’boli town, has increased in the last several years in several small-scale mining areas in Tampakan.

Jumilla said the illegal mining activities have caused the accumulation of loads of silt along the rivertributaries of the critical Topland and Marbel Rivers.

She said the two rivers, which traces their headwaters to the uplands of Tampakan, traverses Barangays Pula Bato, Liberty and Buto in Tampakan as well as Magsaysay, Concepcion, Bo. 4 and Namnama in Koronadal City.

Aside from the accumulation of silt, which have been causing severe flooding in the lowland communities traversed by

the two rivers, local environment personnel had found traces of mercury in several river-tributaries in the area.

Jumilla said they already recommended to South Cotabato Gov. Daisy AvanceFuentes, who heads the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, the immediate installation of Army out-

posts and the deployment of more troops in the area to avert the illegal mining activities She admitted that they could not regularly monitor the illegal activities in the area due to the lack of personnel.

A task force led by PEMO had conducted a number of random inspec-

tions in the “banlas” mining areas in the last two years and even made some arrests but the illegal activities still persisted.

“The situation in the area is now quite alarming and we really need the permanent presence of our troops there to stop these illegal activities,” she added. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

By ALLEN V. ESTABILLO

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY - In a bid to resolve the city’s flooding problems, a city council member here has proposed for the conduct of extensive studies on the area’s drainage systems by experts from the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus here.

*‘Banlas’ mining getting widespread in SouthCot*

Bakwit? No, they are members of the Salazar family on their way home to Barangay Bagolibas in Aleosan, North Cotabato after a day in their farm in Barangay Pagangan.

(Mindanews Photo by Keith Bacongco)

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thursDAY | august 29, 2013

Opinion

Editor: RUEL V. PELONE Email: ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com

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Pork by any other name?

WHILE President Aquino said that the PDAF would be abolished, he instructed the Senate and the House of Representatives to “find a new way to deal with the needs of constituents ‘in a manner that is transparent, methodical and rational’ and ‘not susceptible’ to abuse.” In other words, pork barrel is here to stay; only the name would change.

Here we go again. Malacanang. once again, is going through the rigmarole of renaming “pork bar-

rel” into something else. But like a lot of people are saying, “Pork by any other name is still pork.”

What is it this time? As someone suggested, why not BADAF, which is an acronym for “Benigno Aquino Development Assistance Fund” or BACON, which stands for “Budgetary Allocation for Collaborative Outreach Nationwide”?

It is time to get rid of PDAF, which is the number one cause of corruption. While P-Noy might be “prudent” in spending his pork

Guest editorial

barrel funds, who knows what the next president would do? He or she might not be as “prudent” as President Noynoy.

President Noynoy, to chop the P27-billion pork but keep the P1trillion bacon is not only unfair, it is unconscionable. You are now at the crossroads of your political life; You can follow a “daang matuwid” (straight path) or take a detour to a road that would lead you to ignominy.

Mr. President, it’s time to act… resolutely.

Corruption offspring of greed

WHY is there corruption of the individual and of society? There is corruption because inherent in every human being is the evil called greed. And society as a whole feeds on greed thus giving evil a heyday in past and present societies.

But humans are wont to accept that part of their humanity is their tendency to surrender to the lures of evil called greed. This denial mood only reinforces the institutionalization of greed in society.

Sadly, however, humanity’s vehement refusal to see things this way only resulted in the further deterioration of society’s moral fabric resulting in its corruption by greed. Evil thus emerges as the victorious force against good or even against God. The multi-billion pesos

A deeper view Jesse E.L. Bacon II scam involving government funds more specifically the congressional pork barrel fund tells us in no uncertain term that this is the result of corruption fueled and propelled by greed.

But greed, we should remember, does not only manifest in the corruption committed against public funds. Greed also manifests in our secret or overt desires for things we were made to believe we badly needed

such as the latest model of our favorite mobile phone brand, the latest flat television units, the latest fashion and accessories, the latest car models, the latest in everything.

We should be aware that these latest in everything comes every six months or every year thus making us slaves to our desire to have the latest model of anything and everything.

Have we realized that

in ensuring that our desire for the latest model of everything is made possible by the presence of giant malls that are sprouting like mushrooms all over the country? But do we look at this present phenomenon as the institutionalization of greed to ensure it is always fed without us even knowing or realizing it?

Why would fugitive Janet Lim Napoles be obsessed to have 28 houses, 31 luxury vehicles, three yachts, several landholdings, owning expensive personal belongings such as the latest signature clothes, shoes and other accessories, to mention just a few of her inner desires?

Does she spend just a day in every house she owns?

Does she use different See GREED, page 14

DBM clarifies use of PDAF under PNoy THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) countered news reports claiming that allocations for Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) “more than doubled” under the Aquino Administration from the previous administration.

According to DBM, PDAF allocations under the Arroyo administration were intended to fund only “soft” projects under the category of education, health, liveli-

hood and social services, including scholarships, basic health care services, small infrastructure projects and training programs.

On the other hand, “hard” projects—intended for roads, bridges, schools and other infrastructure under the category of public works—were classified as Congressional Allocations for Various Infrastructures including Local Projects (VILP), which were under the Department of

Statement

Public Works and Highways and were not lodged under lawmakers’ PDAF. In 2011, however, the Aquino administration reformed this budget system and consolidated both “soft” and ”hard” projects under the PDAF. The VILP was likewise eliminated from the National Budget.

This facilitated not just efficiency in the management of congressional allocations for socio-economic programs, but also better transparency and account-

ability in the use of PDAF. This move was also designed to curb the common practice of so-called “Congressional insertions” where legislators lobbied to agencies for the inclusion of more projects in their respective districts during budget deliberations.

According to the budget agency, a fair and accurate comparison of PDAF use between the two Administrations would involve comparing PDAF See clarifies, page 14

Editor: RUEL V. PELONE Email: ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com

Views/Opinion

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thursday | august 29, 2013

Good eyesight, key to good children’s education LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Train the child in the way that he should go and he will never depart from it when he goes old…” (Proverbs 22:6, the Holy Bible).

-oooGOOD EYESIGHT, KEY TO CHILDREN’S CAPACITY TO LEARN: Classifying the intelligence levels, or, maybe, the capacity to learn, of millions and millions of very young Filipino school children across the country has taken a very important, if greatly interesting, twist, as the National Capital Region of the Department of Education is finding out.

Kakampi mo ang batas Atty. Batas Mauricio With the help of wellmeaning friends from here and abroad, particularly from a group of socio-civic spirited citizens composed of medical doctors and professionals which goes by the name of Physicians for Peace Philippines, Metro Manila education officials are real-

izing that, having a good eyesight, or, conversely, having problems with their eyes, play a vital role in the child’s interest and ability to absorb and understand what is being taught to him and his school mates.

Now, it is no longer a simple matter of the school

children being taught how to read and write, or even add or subtract. With the help of Physicians for Peace under the leadership of its executive director, Lyne Abanilla of the Manila Bulletin, it has become a matter of determining, first and foremost, the eye condition of the children through free refraction, and then giving them free eyeglasses to correct their sight defect or impairment, through a program called “Save the Sight of a Child”.

-oooQC SCHOOL CHOSEN FOR “SAVE THE SIGHT

Think A Minute Jhan Tiafau Hurst

Yes means stress THINK a minute.

Are you a “yes man” or woman? Do you always say yes to every body who asks you for a favor and help? Some of us just can’t say no to others. The problem is our ‘yes’ often means stress—to us and our family. Many times saying yes to one person means saying no to someone else like your own mate and children.

Of course, we need to care about others and try our best to help those who need it. But we must also know our limits and that we cannot always say yes to everybody who asks us for help. Learning to sometimes say no to others will mean yes to your own family and responsibilities, which will help lower the stress in your

Trust

SPECIAL Gospel of the day: Juan16:12-15(August26, 2013-Monday) John 16:12have yet many things to say unto you, but ye “cannot bear” them now: Romans 11:33-34-O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? This is a “clear presentation” that we could not “fathom the fullness and mystery” of God but despite of this, He revealed Himself to us through His creation. Romans 1:20-For the “invisible things” of him from the creation of the world are “clearly seen,” being understood by the things that are made, [even] his “eternal power” and Godhead; so that they are “without excuse.” There are “mentalities” that “to see is to believe” but this is contrary to the “standard of God.” John 20:29-Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: “blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.” Do you believe in God although you never see Him by your naked eyes? Hebrews 11:6But “without faith” [it is] “impossible to please” [him]: for he that cometh to God

See STRESS, page 13

Biblical reflection

Bro. Edcel L. Closas must “believe” that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that “diligently seek him.” There are many things that are “not clear” to us but later on, God reveals to us the whole truth if we will “trust and believe in His existence.” Take note, “faith” is our “connection to God” and it matters if how “strong our union” with Him. This means “little faith has a lesser connection and great faith has a greater union to our Creator. Luke 17:5-And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Remember, God never reveals everything unless we will believe on Him: SPONSORED:Neneth - Bobong Balino- Dr. Edith, PhD- Tony Jordan - CDO. St. Peter Calungsod, pray for us! Listen: Radio Ultra AM-1188-3:00 PM Sunday: #0928414949009266607505: Question – Prayer request

See freedom, page 14

OF A CHILD”: This kind of a vision correction program among the young was officially launched in Metro Manila schools last August 27, 2013, after two postponements caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Maring and the monsoon rains the week before. The school chosen to be the pilot testing ground for the program is the Kamuning Elementary School in Scout Torillo, Quezon City.

Eye defects, it turned out, disabled many students from seeing clearly, thereby removing or greatly diminishing their capacity to read

and fully appreciate what their teachers were teaching them. Once they were given corrective eyeglasses, however, their capacity to understand their lessons vastly improved, making them eager pupils from then on.

Using this lesson, the Physicians-for-Peace Philippines has embarked in an effort to weed out eye defects among young school children. In various places in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Abanilla had been bringing more eyeglasses, and an increasing See Good, page 14

8

Business

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thursday | august 29, 2013

Editor: Nelson Constantino Email: nelconstant@gmail.com

P6.9B M’nao flood control project OK’d

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

THE national government is set to build P6.9 billion worth of flood control projects in the Mindanao River Basin to counter floods that, in recent years, have submerged many parts of Central and Northern Mindanao Regions.

A press statement from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) released over t he weekend sa id that river basin, covering a rea s i n t he prov i nces of Maguindanao, Sout h Cotabato, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, as well as Cotabato City.

Mr. Singson was quoted as saying that the projects would include dredging, dike construction, and cutoff channel widening in identified areas.

“The projects must be implemented the soonest to mitigate recurring flooding that has been displacing t hou sa nd s of resident s and damaging livelihood and properties in the area,

especially during torrential rains,” he said.

Luwalhati R. Antonino, MinDA chairwoman, said President Benigno S. C. Aquino III and the governors of the four provinces -- Emmy Lou Ta liño-Mendoza of North Cotabato, Esmael G. Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Daisy AvanceFuentes of South Cotabato, and Suharto T. Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat -- met two weeks ago when the Public Works chief made the commitment.

Mr. Singson added that the projects “are not merely band-aid solutions to the perennial flooding” in the river basin.

MinDA said the projects,

By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

anchored by Jun Clerigo.

T h e l aw m a k e r s a i d t hat si nc e b e c om i ng a congressman in 2007, he had diverted his PDAF allocation for “soft” projects to “hard” projects.

“Sof t” refers to noninfrastructure and small inf rast r uc ture projec ts, while “ hard ” means big infrastructure projects.

Romarate said allocations for soft projects may be diverted to hard projects, but doing the opposite is prohibited and can be a basis for a malversation case.

Based on the Commission on Audit report for 20072009, Romarate got a total of 95 million from his PDAF and was categorized under Va r iou s I n f r a s t r uc t u re including Local Projects.

The report did not name him as among the lawmakers who allegedly gave their PDAF to dubious NGOs. He promised to show this week all the documents

Surigao lawmaker favors scrapping of PDAF SURIGAO City – Surigao del Norte 2nd Dist. Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate, Jr. on Monday declared he is in favor of abolishing the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.

Romarate’s statement came amid mounting calls for t he abolition of t he controversial fund, which has undergone close public scrutiny after reports that at least P10 billion of it allegedly went to ghost projects over a period of 10 years.

He sa id gover n ment agencies are capable enough of handling development projects, adding the job of lawmakers is only to make laws.

Roma rate voiced his opinion on the PDAF over RPN-DXKS, in a program EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late NOLASCO LOOR, who died long time ago and is the owner of a parcel of land located at Kinabcaban, Mahinog, Camiguin, covered by Tax Declaration No. 03000001695 designated as Lot No. 697 GSS-10-000045, containing an area of 2,949 square meters, is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, made and executed namely: PURISIMA LOOR, wife of the late NOLASCO LOOR, ANGELITA L. RAYON, ANGELITO LOOR, CHITO LOOR, MERLITA QUINGKEÑO, JESUS LOOR, LINO LOOR, VERONICA LOOR and MARIA LOOR, all of legal ages, widow, married, single respectively, all Filipinos and all residents of Kinabcaban, Mahinog, Camiguin, are the only surviving heirs. That for and in consideration of the sum of EIGHTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 80,000.00) Philippine Currency in hand paid with our entire satisfaction from AEK NOEL REUSSORA, do hereby SELL, TRANSFER and CONVEY a PARCEL OF LAND containing an area of 2,949 square meters. As per Doc. No. 81; Page No. 18; Book No. 77; Series of 2013; under Notary Public of ATTY. VITO M. CARILLO. MDN: AUG. 22, 29 & SEPT. 5, 2013

pdaf | page 13

which were recommended to the Public Works department, would include the dredging and widening of a 7.7-km cutoff channel for floodwaters from the Ambal-Simuay River to be diverted directly to Illana Bay without passing through the Rio Grande de Mindanao, to protect the populated areas of Cotabato City and the municipality of Su lta n Kuda rat i n Maguindanao.

“The dredging of Rio Grande de Mindanao and construction of [a] dike along the Tunggol cutoff channel in Pulangui River will also protect the Tunggol Bridge that connects the Davao-Cotabato national highway and the adjacent communities,” Ms. Antonino said.

Also to be constructed, she added, was a riverbank protection system for the Allah River so that flooding in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, might also be prevented.

mindanews file photo

M i n DA h a s also pushed “nonstructural solution projects” to stop the

floods in the area.

I n 2 011, M r.

Aquino issued Executive Order 50,

mandating MinDA to formulate programs and coordinate with other agencies in the

CAGAYAN de Oro Cit y 2nd district Rep. Ruf us Ro d r i g u e z on Tu e s d ay defended the pork barrel funds as he ca lled it an “equalizing force” by the lawmakers in helping their constituents.

He even criticized people and government officials who wanted the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or “pork barrel.”

“Sa mga nagsulti nga i-abolish, siguro wala sila kahibalo sa ilang gisulti kay wala man sila makakita kung gi-unsa sa usa ka congressman ang iyang pork barrel,” Rodriguez said.

“Perhaps , t here is a Congressman who squandered his pork barrel regrettably. However, the fault of one Congressman i s not t he f au lt of a l l Congressmen,” Rodriguez said.

“Kining pork barrel mao kini ang equalizing force bisag layo ta sa Manila, like taga Mindanao, makakuha

CIVIL CASE NO. 2013-095 FOR: JUDICIAL DECREE OF DIVORCE

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: Llk 1, Lots 33-34, Montana Vista Village Lumbia,

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Rodriguez

ug P70 million, da kong tabang kini alang sa mga projects sa atong distrito,” Rodriguez added.

Rodriguez said that he used his PDAF not only to help marginalized people but also from small construction of schools’ pathways to bigger infrastructure projects.

“Dili nato malikayan na naay mo-critizise niana, pero ang sa ato tinooray n a p a g s e r b i s y o m a n ,”

Rodriguez said.

To prove h i s p oi nt , Rodriguez enumerated the various important projects that his office have initiated under Cagayan de Oro City’s 2nd district.

“We have conc re te d almost all of the barangay roads under the 2nd district.

Apart from the continuous infrastructure projects, the Congressional office of the 2nd district in Cagayan

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’A CTRCUTT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City IN RE: JOINT PETITION TO APPROVE AND REGISTER THE DIVORCE BETWEEN SPOUSES DOUGLAS M. OSMEÑA AND BELLA L. LUCOB-OSMEÑA, DOUGLAS M. OSMEÑA AND BELLA L. LUCOB-OSMEÑA,

Petitioners. x---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ ORDER

Whereas, On August 20, 2013, this Court issued an Order directing the petitioner to effect service of summons by publications upon respondent EVELYN NEELY Y ZOILON in a newspaper of general circulation in this city once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of petitioner; WHEREAS, the petitioner is a Muslim, the respondent is his wife they having married on January 29, 1996 at the Regional Trial Court-Branch 8, Dipolog City.

WHEREAS, petitioner filed this petition against the respondent for divorce, for violation of Article 52 of P.D. 1083 or the Muslim Code; WHEREAS, the respondent separated from the petitioner and from that time, no communication whatsoever took place between them hence, petitioner is compelled to pursue divorce against her.

NOW THEREFORE, you respondent EVELYN NEELY Y. ZOOILON is hereby summoned and required to file with this Court, within 15 days from the last date of the publication of this summons, you comment/ answer to the petition furnished copy to the petitioner’s address at c/o MONER SHARI’A CONSULTING OFFICE at Camague, Tubod, Iligan City, Philippines.

You are reminded of IBP-OCA Memorandum/Policy Guidelines dated March 12, 2002 to observe restraint in filing a motion to dismiss and instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the answer/ comment. Should you fail to answer/comment to the petition within the aforesaid period, the court shall proceed to receive the evidences ex-parte upon which judgment shall be rendered therefrom.

Iligan City, Philippines, August 20, 2013.

(Sgd.) NASRODING A. ALI

Clerk of Court

(Sgd.) HON. OSOP M ALI

Presiding Judge

Or EVELYN NEELY Y ZOILON 4538 Marina Park Drive, Fort Myers Florida 33905, U.S.A. GREETINGS:

MDN: Aug. 29, Sept 5 & 11, 2013

de Oro City also extends daily medical assistance to patients at the governmentowned Northern Mindanao Medical Center here,” he said.

He said that his office ex tends P50 0 to P1,0 0 0 dai ly cash assistance to indigent constituents for their medical needs.

Rodriguez also said that his Congressional district has sent 3,000 scholars to various state and private run colleges and universities here and abroad.

“What would happen to t hem if t he PDAF is abolished,” he asked.

Rod r ig uez ex pressed the apprehension that if t he PDA F is abol ished, the development plans for Mindanao would be in chaos.

He said that the abolition of the PDAF would be unfair for the people of Mindanao i n ter ms of sha r i ng of development a ssista nce coming from the national government.

“It’s not the right time to abruptly abolish the PDAF,” he added. (PNA) NOTICE

CIVIL CASE NO. 2013-110

Before this court is verified Joint Petition for the approval and Registration of the Divorce filed by the petitioners and alleging among others:

That petitioners are husband and wife respectively in a marriage performed under civil rites February 29, 1992 at MTCC Branch 1, Cebu City, they converted to Islam faith, of which conversions to Islam were Registered with this court, both of them can be served with summons and other legal processes relative to this case at 54 Carlock Street, Cebu City and Purok I, Magoong Limamon, Lanao del Norte respectively;

That said marriage did not last long, due to lack of love and affection until the relationship manifested incompatibility and sustained misunderstanding between petitioners and reached the point of irreconcilability and they separated for more than eight (8) years already, since 2004 they decide to live physically in bed and board thereby executed Divorce Agreement in order to formalize their separation; Since their separation, they had never been communicating or supporting either financially or emotionally to each other, neither minding each other’s affairs; Petitioner’s seek judicial decree of divorce thereby surviving their marriage bond on February 29, 1992 so that they will have free hand to do what a single man or woman could do without marital burden; Reconciliation between them had already been diligently employed but all proved futile.

WHEREFORE, finding this joint petition to be sufficient Inform and substance set the initial hearing of this case on September 13, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at which time, date and place, any interested party may appear and show why the petition should not be granted. Let copy of this Order be published in a news paper of General Circulation in the City of Iligan one week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

SO ORDERED.

Iligan City, Philippines, this 27th of August, 2013,

MDN: Aug. 29, Sept 5 & 11, 2013

rehabilitation and eventual development of a program for the basin.

Rodriguez defends ‘pork barrel’

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT 4th SHARI’A CIRCUIT COURT 4th Shari’a Judicial District Iligan City ARTHUR WILLIAM NEELY Petitioner,

-Versus-

EVELYN NEELY Y. ZOILON Respondent.

X-------------------------------------------------------/

WATER WORLD. Floodwaters inundate villages along the mighty Agusan River during a typhoon in February, 2012. The government is spending P6.9 billion flood control projects in the Mindanao River Basin to avert similar disaster in the future.

NOTICE is hereby given that a parcel of Land identified as Lot No. 8475, embraced w/ OCT No. P-13702, w/ an area of 2,748 sq.m., covered under Tax Dec’l No. 1214559, and Lot No. 8482, embraced w/ OCT No. P-8612, w/ an area of 2,898 sq.m., All located at Soro-Soro, Mambajao, Camiguin, owned by VICTORIANO MONTALBA, widower, also resident of Soro-Soro, Mambajao, Camiguin arrived into decision together w/ his (8) eight childrens of legal age to consolidated the said (2) two parcels of land, into (1) one lot and subdivided to (8) eight lots, adjudicated in favor to his said (8) eight children (referred as second party), and Victoriano Montalba (refer as first party), now , the subject of DEED OF PARTITION, executed under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. VITO M. CARILLO, Per Doc. No. 325; Page No. 17; Book No. 77; Series of 2013.

MDN: AUG. 22, 29 & SEPT. 5, 2013

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thursday | august 29, 2013

STATEMENT THE REAL SCORE ON THE CRISIS AT THE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL We are saddened by the continued black propaganda of human rights group Karapatan that have been circulated through the media about the real incidents that transpired during the fourday stand off when some residents in Loreto town sought refuge at the Provincial Capitol to ask for government intervention on the ongoing hostilities happening in their remote villages.

Contrary to what the human rights group’s commitment to uphold the truth and protect the rights of all, Karapatan Southern Mindanao had, wittingly or unwittingly, twisted the facts and sown outright lies in the press statements on the events that unfold during the crisis that occurred on August 2 up to August 5, 2013, deliberately aimed at advancing their selfish ends at the expense of putting the provincial government of Agusan del Sur in bad light.

The committee convened again and decided to send a medical team from the Provincial Health Office to treat the sick evacuees and provide them medicines. Food was also served. Eight little children were found out to have coughs and fevers that they were brought to D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital for further medical attention.

August 4, 2013(Sunday) The PCMC conducted another meeting with the presence of Commission on Human Rights, Caraga Region of which an agreement was reached with Mr. Lumapay, Luz Loreto from the women’s sector and Ryan Alabe, youth representative.

prepare and return home the following morning. To his great surprise, Mr. Lumapay together with Luz Loreto of the women’s group and Ryan Alabe, youth leader based in Kauswagan, came to see the governor. In a much cordial talk and a little bit of discussion on livelihood on farming to which Gov. Plaza has committed full support, the discussion dwelt mainly on their yearning to return home and lead back a peaceful and normal lives. Without hesitation and following his humanitarian gut feeling, Gov. Plaza , right there and then, agreed with the request. In the presence of everybody, Mr. Lumapay agreed to meet the Crisis Committee on Thursday, August 8, 2013, to pursue the peace dialogue initially agreed at the Barangay hall in Kauswagan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.

The agreement provides that the evacuees to return to their respective villages on the following All the staff of Crisis Committee with the assisconditions; tance of personnel from Provincial Police Office, As members of the Provincial Crisis Manage- 1. The return shall be facilitated by the Provin- helped the displaced residents to embark on ment Committee (PCMC) of Agusan del Sur we cial Government of Agusan del Sur and the three Elf trucks and the van for the lactating would like to set the records straight with facts the Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur mothers and infants on their travel back home to based on the timeline of events: by providing them transportation facilities, Loreto. The Catholic nuns offered to accompany lodging and food till they settle safely at their the returning residents. All was well that ends well, so to speak.

August 2, 2013 (Friday) places of residence; The PCMC was immediately convened at 2. That the local government units of Loreto and around 1:30 PM to address on the plight of the Agusan del Sur thru the Local Chief Execudisplaced Loreto residents who arrived at the tives together with Mr. Lumapay shall ensure Capitol grounds in the morning along with little the peaceful and safe return of the residents; children accompanied by KARAPATAN- Southern Mindanao based in Davao City.

3. That after their safe return, a dialogue between and among different stakeholders includAccording to the residents, they fled their homes ing the residents of the affected areas shall for fear of being caught in the crossfire in the be held in Barangay Kauswagan, Loreto, ongoing hostilities between the elements of the Agusan del Sur to develop a Memorandum 26IB, Philippine Army and the New People’s Army. of Understanding to achieve peace and development.

The displaced residents led by KASAKA Chairman Richard Lumapay who were accompanied Immediately after the signing, the signatories by representatives from Karapatan, Anakpawis, proceeded to the gym so that the chairman of MISFI, College Editors Guild-UP Mindanao, the KASAKA can relay to the displaced residents KWG Media, California, USA went to see Pro- the outcome of the meeting. Unfortunately, Mr. vincial Administrator Nanoy Ronquillo in his Lumapay together with the members of the Crisis office where they handed a letter which listed Committee was refused entry at the covered court.

400 residents in the four Barangays in Loreto The main door was secured by the displaced resiwho were displaced and that they are calling dents reportedly upon instruction of people from on the provincial government to intercede in Karapatan. their demand for the immediate pull out of Army soldiers in their four villages.

From outside, Mr. Lumapay was explaining the content of the agreement. While Vice Gov. SanHowever, upon verification and cross checking tiago Cane Jr. was talking, some young Karapatan from the Community Based Monitoring System activists hurled invectives insinuating residents not (CBMS) data of the province, only 147 adults to go home. During the negotiation, the children and children are from the municipality of Loreto. were gathered behind the closed glass door. To avoid untoward incident, the crisis management In another meeting with PCMC in the afternoon, committee decided to suspend the negotiation for Mr. Lumapay together with Rev. Jury Jaime of the meantime to give way for a peaceful means of United Methodist Church insisted they would not resolving the issue. return home unless the military pull out will be acted upon. The committee persuaded them to With sobriety and restraint, the Crisis Committee return to the evacuation center in Loreto where has also appealed to arapatan, Anakpawis, MISFI, they will be taken cared of by the municipal College Editors Guild-UP Mindanao, KWG Media, government but they refused claiming they also alifornia, USA, the groups which they learned joined feared Mayor Dario Otaza whom they accused the displaced residents, to respect he decision of of being the leader of the dreaded Bagani tribal KASAKA leaders and give them total independence warriors which sow tension and fear in their to manage their own affairs. villages.

August 5, 2013 (Monday) A military official explained to them that the Bagani forces are actually CAFGU militiamen There was a lull in the negotiations the whole organized to protect them from NPA atrocities. morning but the situation has been volatile. Gov. Adolph Edward G. Plaza was anxiously waiting The Committee visited the displaced residents at his residence in Patin-ay hoping that KASAKA in their temporary shelter at the Covered Court leaders and their support NGOs would be able to of D.O. Plaza Sports Complex to check on the see the light and come to negotiating table. condition of the displaced residents. Committee members noticed members of Karapatan By 2:00 PM, the support groups led by Atel Hijos, from Davao City mingled with the evacuees. A chairperson of women’s rights Gabriela in Caraga reliable information disclosed that the human region along with Catholic nuns belonging to Misrights group was there to instigate the evacu- sionary Sisters of Mary, bishops of United Church ees not to return homeless there is a military of Christ in the Philippines and Iglesia Filipina pull out. It was the same group which refused Independiente went to see Gov. Plaza in his resito give the complete list of names of evacuees dence for a dialogue. An agreement was reached and denied government health workers to freely in principle that they would agree to assist the ask some information about their health condi- displaced Loreto residents to return home under tion instead provided them persons they prefer their terms which was that they would provide their to be interviewed. own transportation.

August 3, 2013(Saturday)

In the presence of some local journalists, Gov. Plaza was saying that he expects the residents would

The ensuing incident to which the Crisis Committee realized the morning after that the evacuees were herded, not to their place of origin, but to the Barangay Hall in Bankerohan, Davao City was something that Karapatan has a lot of explaining to do.

We want to make this clear that the crisis at the Provincial Capitol was not of our own making but obviously the result of sinister instigation of Karapatan Southern Mindanao whose selfish ends was to make it appear from our very own residents of the province that we are the villains or the “bad guys” in the “theatrical show” that they produced during the four-day stand off. The media hype which Karapatan Southern Mindanao spread to various media outlets were all pathetic lies that runs counter to the real incident that took place during the crisis situation at the Provincial Capitol.

MDN: Aug. 29, 2013

10

Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

thursDAY | august 29, 2013

Davao News

MARCH FOR TRUTH. Students from Ateneo de Davao University gathered at Freedom Park as they joined the Million People March Davao to Rizal Park. The AdDU Samahan Central Board led the call to students to wear black to protest the stealing of people’s money. Davaotoday.com photo by Mart Sambalud

Dads ask DBM solons’ pork barrel projects

By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA of DavaoToday.com

DAVAO City––Councilors are asking the Department of Budget and Management to furnish them a list of projects funded under the controversial pork barrel or the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) given to the city’s three district representatives.

The resolution was filed by second district Councilor Diosdado Mahipus who said the Council’s move “requires courage … to support the questioning of the pork barrel funds which is now being admitted by the DBM and the COA (Commission on Audit) to have been squandered by national lawmakers,” he said.

The councilor said the resolution is for the “interest of transparency and good governance” and in line with clamor of Davaoenos who joined Monday’s nationwide anti-pork barrel protest.

The resolution calls for DBM to release the list of PDAF projects of former representatives Prospero Nograles (District 1), Vincent Garcia (District 2) and Ruy Elias Lopez (District 3).

The current representatives are Karlo Alexei (son of Prospero Nograles) for District 1, Mylene Garcia-Albano (sister of

Vincent) for District 2, and Isidro Ungab for District 3.

Each member of the House of Repreesentatives receive a PDAF allocation of 70 Php million annually, which will be divided to “hard” projects such as construction of infrastructure and highways, and “soft” projects such as scholarships and medical/hospital assistance to indigents.

The Council also added in its query PDAF projects from Senators that were allocated for Davao City.

Mahipus said in particular they would look into the P760 million project of asphalting and gravelling of roads, and P500 million worth of medical assistance to “indigents.”

Third district representative Isidro Ungab, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, was implicated in the Janet Lim-Napoles scam where he allocated funds for a farmers’ NGO called Kaupdan para sa Mangunguma Foundation, which was one of the 20 bogus NGOs managed by Napoles.

Ungab denied the allegation saying records from COA and Department of Agriculture would show that the farmers benefitted from the project. (JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA/ davaotoday.com)

Lawmaker to use ‘pork barrel’ in sports programs

By LOLITO T. DELOS REYES

TAGUM City, Davao del Norte––Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Antonio Rafael “Anthony” del Rosario promised to allocate a portion of his pork barrel to support sports in the grassroots level during the opening of the 2013 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Qualifying Leg Tuesday at the new Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center (DNSTC) in Barangay Mankilam here.

Del Rosario, a former co-team owner of the Davao Eagles basketball team in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), said that he also wants to make the province a sport-

ing capital in the region by creating sports activities and clinics.

Del Rosario, a former vice governor, already has his own sports program dubbed as the AGR Sports for the Kids.

“It’s more fun to compete here in Davao del Norte”,

said the son of incumbent Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario.

The governor, on the other hand, hosted a welcome dinner for the heads of the delegates and coaches Tuesday night at the DNSTC clubhouse.

“This is our gift to our people to attain health and wellness as every day goal; and a unique contribution to peace through sports,” said Gov. del Rosario.

He thanked all the working committees that positively collaborated for the event which unfolds on August 31.

“Above all, I thank God Almighty for giving us this one fine evening to renew programs | page 14

Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE Email: amediante@yahoo.com

Lifestyle

thursday | august 29, 2013 EDITOR: shaun alejandrae yap uy

Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

11

A JULY -

TOYOTA DONATES P1M FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS IN LAGUNA. Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) contributed a total of One Million Pesos for the recent monsoon-related rehabilitation projects in Laguna – a donation of 500 Thousand Pesos was given to the City Government of Santa Rosa and the same amount for the Provincial Government of Laguna. The donation was made through TMP’s social and humanitarian arm Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF). In photo are (from left): TMPF president David Go, TMP president Michinobu Sugata, and Santa Rosa City mayor Arlene Arcillas.

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Filinvest Land Inc. – Zamboanga, FERNDALE International School and Jollibee partnered for a worthy get-up-and-go with their “Walk and Run for a Cause” last August 18 and 21 in Zamboanga City.

With the theme: “One Mind, One Heart, One Voice”, the August 18 affair was participated by High School k ids started with a 5AM walk and run from Jollibee Veterans Avenue with the final rendezvous at Villa San Ignacio – FILINVEST Clubhouse.

SPED kids, Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 students with their parents joined the August 21 event.

Dance competitions were held among students in preschool, intermediate and high school levels at the basketball court culminating with a basketball game between the high school varsity team and the parents.

In between competitions, guests relaxed in the clubhouse with food, fun and games

I inti

provided by Jollibee while brokers toured others around Villa San Ignacio.

Students, parents and guests had a grand time under the hosting and guidance of masters of ceremonies Joe James M. Alob and Brave Angelo Cayanong, The walk-run for a cause was just one of many in a series of events hosted by Villa San Ignacio which puts it in the mainstream of Asia’s Latin City.

Earlier last May, Villa San Ignacio participated in a job fair at WMSU in coordination with DOLE and the business sector. This was followed by a series of week-end open house events for the whole month of May where guests were invited to take a firsthand look and

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Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Mindanao Daily News’

clifford’s

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) -Make the choice to help out today -- even if it’s inconvenient! Your energy is best spent on those who can clearly tell you what they need, though, so do try to ask probing questions.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) - Splurge on that toy or gadget or expensive meal -- you know you deserve it! Just don’t make a habit of it unless you’ve got a trust fund or some other means of replenishing your bank account.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19) - Someone may need your help today -- so cast a wary eye out for those who may not know how to ask for your assistance. Rack up that good karma, as it may come in handy sooner than you think!

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) - You can see more deeply into other people’s souls today -- which may start to feel a little freaky after a while! Try not to worry too much about it, as things are sure to go better for you as a result.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) - Today is all about clarity, so try to make sure that you’re speaking slowly and listening carefully to make sure that everyone is on the same page. You may be the key to communication once again.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) - You need to spend the day in productive pursuits -- but the good news is that what you want to do is more or less what you need to be doing. That’s rare, but you should be able to keep it up for a while!

If you like to greet your friends or just wanted to have some text mates through our publications, just text this number : 09269919077 or you can message it to our FB Fan Page ( Mindanao Daily Fan Page ) -- Gud afternon mnd henge aku nang txt frnd txtmate...im jaymark (09268230227) -- hello sa mga taga cilrai macabalan, specialie sa mga vute dadto na sila NINA JAVA, ZEEBEE UG JANEY (JB) GUBALANE ..

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LUZ TORRES NILO who celebrate her bday last August 23 .. wish u all the best in life goodhealth and happy always.. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH...frm: mama, cle mel, cousins, daddies and mommies..

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Social Section

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thursday | august 29, 2013

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VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) - You’re used to handling details with relative ease -- but right now, you may find that things are more confusing than ever! Try not to worry too much about it, as this phase doesn’t last for long.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) - Today requires a certain amount of flexibility -- which could mean that you need to handle multiple jobs, deal with a horde of complainers or just flit from one chore to the next like a hummingbird.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) - You need to make something happen today -- and you’ve got the energy to do just that. It’s a good time for you to tap into your deepest ambitions and see what seems easiest to pull off.

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CROSSWORD puzzle across 1. Changes 7. Units 11. Actress Villaroel 13. Bravo 14. Three (comb, form) 15. North or South 17. Actinium symbol 18. _Kapital 20. Scold 23. Mom’s partner 25. Exercised political franchise 26. _Shaddai 28. Restrict 29. _Colores 30. Ecclesiastical agent 32. Pen point 34. Glossy paint 36. Head covering 38. Musical tone

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Mindanao Daily NEWS 13

thursday | august 29, 2013

northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Puntian Elementary School Getting Hi-Tech

By Daisy C. Uayan - School Principal 1, Puntian Elementary School

August 2, 2013, Puntian Elementary School,Quezon 11 District received the DepEd’s Computer Package to implement e- classroom program. This eclassroom will be used by the students from kindergarten up to grade six on scheduled basis. This is a DepEd project that makes the public school teachers able to teach using technology. The students and teachers given the opportunity to learn in a computer aided teaching-learning process. The Puntian ES e- classroom is handled and managed by its ICT coordinator ( teacher ), Sherwin A. Hermetanio.

In August 15,2013, the Microtrade trainer, Marvie Pelecio trained 5 teacher

Stress... from page 7

life and home. Remember, you’re the only father or mother your children have; if you don’t do your job of loving and teaching them, then no one will. Then our family life at home becomes a tense, angry mess instead of a peaceful and happy place.

So each time someone asks us for a favor and help, we must look carefully at their request and decide if doing this for them is actually helping them. You see, if we never let others take responsibility for themselves and their own problems, then we’re not really helping them to become responsible and successful, since we’re always doing their job for them. So just being a “yes man” or woman is not always the kindest thing, nor is it being a true friend.

Other times, when someone asks you to do them a favor, you don’t need to answer them right away. You can tell them that you’re not sure and you’ll answer them later. This way you have time to think about it and check your own schedule and responsibilities first.

Maybe you can help this

PDAF... from page 8

pertaining to the use of his PDAF since 2007.

H e s a i d t h e P DA F wou ld somet imes bring him headaches because if he would give an allocation for one area, the others would demand for projects too and would feel bad if he could not accommodate such demand.

He added it is better

including the school principal on how to use the facilities in teaching the pupils inside the e-classroom. Why e- classroom ? Teaching and learning today’s school can be quite challenging for teachers and students alike. Today there is a much greater need for technology use in the classroom. Technology use is rapidly growing and is becoming a great to use in the classroom. In an article applying technolog y to school it states “ Traditional methods of teaching no longer capture student’s attention (Cdd,211). In today’s classrooms it seems that grabbing the student’s attention is getting harder.

Integrating technology in the classroom is effective and very useful in getting

other person, but at a different time then they asked.

Or, you can help them if they’ll take care of the job or errand you won’t be able to do because you’re helping them. Often, people will still be thankful for your help.

So have you been stressed because you’re always saying yes? You realize you’re giving too much time and energy to helping everyone who asks you for a favor or help, and your family’s been hurting since you’re neglecting your responsibilities to them. Just ask Jesus Christ to forgive you. Jesus will help you learn how to wisely choose when to say yes and when to say no.

Just Think a Minute.

Flooding... from page 16

The official said the problem, if not effectively addressed, could cause more significant damages to properties, further endanger the lives of local residents and eventually hamper the city’s economic activities.

“The effect of the floods within the city’s jurisdiction may seem trivial as tasked government agencies just perform the usual repertoire of doing social works but in to abolish the pork barrel because it is a source of graft among lawmakers.

Based on the COA report, Surigao del Norte 1st Dist.

Rep. Francisco T. Matugas and former Surigao del Norte 2nd Dist. Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers (2nd District) downloaded close to P45 million from their PDAF to dubious NGOs. The Coalition of Surigaonon Against Pork

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the attention of the students because the lessons become more interesting, meaningful and digital.

There are often times when pencil and paper resources become boring and useless.

Students at this generation surely enjoy if technology is brought to the picture especially if they are involved in using it. In addition, incorporating technology in the classrooms for most school systems is preparation for real life. Because society is becoming more technologically advanced,school system have to keep up with trends to better prepare the students for life outside school.

References: http://www.ehow.com/ about 6322026 importaqnceusing-gadgets-teaching-

school.htm1#ixzz2cKZNisrE o’Niel,Harold. “ A learners View,” Technology Applications in education.N.p.,2003.

Web.15 Jan. 2012 P a t h : h t t p : // w w w.que stia .com/ PM.qst?a=o&d=104944386 Technology in School : Apply ing Technolog y to School ,N.p.,Web:15 Jan.2012.Path: http://techclasblogspot. com/2011/02/applying-technology-to-school-in-1996. html.

Using technology of Today in the Classroom of today.Ed. Eric Klopfer, Scot Osterweil,Jennifer Groff, and Jason Hass. N.p., 2009 web.18 Jan 2012. <http://education.mit. edu/papers/GamesSimsSocNets_EdArcade.pdf>.

reality, however, it actually inflicts financial losses considering the thousands and millions of pesos spent by the city government virtually every year in aiding the flood victims,” she added.

Last month, around 290 families were affected by severe floods that swept portions of Purok Kindat and Purok Bulaong Extension in Barangay Labangal and Purok Silway Fatima in Barangay Dadiangas West.

The floods mainly affected communities near the banks of the Silway River, which flows to Sarangani Bay and serves as the main outlet of several river-tributaries from the upland areas in nearby South Cotabato province.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera earlier said the local government had initiated negotiations with urban planners for a study and development of a comprehensive drainage system for the city.

The mayor said the study will cover barangays and communities traversed by various waterways that have experienced severe flooding during the rainy season.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 12 earlier identified

barangays Baluan, Buayan, Bula, Calumpang, Siguel, Lagao and Sinawal as highrisk to flooding.

The seven villages were among the 340 communities in Region 12 that were found to be highly vulnerable and will likely become “uninhabitable” during floods.

MGB said most of these areas are part of a flood plain and are vulnerable to heavy flooding after just two to three hours of rains fur to the lack of substantial storm drainage.

Other areas in the city that are considered as floodprone are barangays City Heights, Apopong, Labangal, Dadiangas North and Dadiangas West. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

Barrel, the group that led yesterday’s protest in the city against the PDAF said the fund has been a source of corruption.

I n a s t at ement , t he

group said the pork barrel has engendered patronage politics, as the lawmakers wou ld pr ior it i z e t he i r supporters in the allocation of projects.

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Mindanao Daily NEWS

thursday | august 29, 2013

northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Programs... from page 10

the bond of friendship, the bond of sportsmanship,” he said.

A sumptuous dinner was served with music at the poolside to relax them for the upcoming competition.

The Del Rosarios are

behind the renovation of the new P248-million sports center that had undergone a series of huge improvements.

According to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia, the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center, which has an oval track, football field,

airconditioned indoor gym, swimming pool, warm-up pool and softball/baseball field, is so far the best venue of the annual Batang Pinoy.

“You are so very lucky to have leaders like the governor and congressman,” said Garcia, who said that sports events like the Batang Pinoy “create pathways for the youth that will teach them values like teamwork and respect that will last a lifetime.”

Batang Pinoy is launched to address the need for a grassroots sports program centered on values formation in the practice of sports and fair play for the youth aged 15 years old and below.

A total of 23 sporting events are participated in by more than 2,000 athletes, coaches and technical officials coming from the six regions - IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Greed... from page 6

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cars every day? If this is not greed, as I used to say here, please tell me what is.

But did the Bishops, at least some of them, of the Roman Catholic Church not display the same taste when they asked former President Gloria Arroyo to gift them with sports utility vehicles in exchange for their all out support to her discredited and corruption-laden administration?

This just shows that greed bites even the princes of the church. Greed like the dengue carrying mosquito can bite anyone because greed is inherent in every human being.

The problem is that we look at greed as present only among our public officials. Did we not welcome the move of the SM Group, the Ayala Group and the Gokongwei Group when they built their super malls in our respective localities? Did we not feel out of this world when we fail to visit any of these malls with regularity?

Have we even looked at the establishment of these malls a living monument of their owners’ greed and as a means of reinforcing our own greed? Did these super malls not offer us easy access to make true our desires to have the latest model of anything and everything?

But did we ever question how much these super malls displaced or put out of business the smaller stores that we used to go to for our needs in the past? Honestly, we never cared as long as the satisfaction of our own greed is readily met by these super malls.

Did we ask or even question the policies of these super malls that undoubtedly manifest greed such as their hiring policies for personnel where about 98 percent are terminated every five months to run around legal requirements for regularization of employees?

Did we ever question the consignment policy adopted by these super malls where suppliers are paid three to four months after their goods are sold? What does this policy mean? This policy means that these super malls will have to earn more income first from the suppliers’ own money before returning to them their money. If this is not greed, what is?

But no one is raising a howl about this type of greed. We are only so focused with the greed proved by the corruption that is happening in government when corruption because of greed is very much a part of ordinary life. If we want to fight corruption, let us fight greed first that is in all of us because only then will we ever have the moral ascendancy to fight social greed resulting in the corruption of society.

Let us not forget that greed is evil. Can we allow our own selves and society as a whole to be lorded over by evil? Your answer to this query is as good as mine.

•• (Reactions at jelbacon@ yahoo.com or at jelbaconii@gmail.com. Read me also at www.raconteurme. blogspot.com)

Clarifies... from page 6

numb ers under t he Aquino administration— which includes both “soft” and “hard” projects—with the combined figures of the previous administration’s PDAF and VILP allocations, which accounted for “soft” and “hard” projects, respectively.

It must be noted that under the previous administration, Congressiona l

Allocations through PDAF and VILP registered more significant increases yearon-year, versus PDAF allocations during the Aquino administration, which managed to keep the fund within the P24-billion range.

The DBM also noted that Congressional Allocations— whether expressed through PDAF and VILP under the previous administration or PDAF alone under the Aquino administration— increased over the years because of the creation of additional 10 districts during the last year of the Arroyo administration.

Under the Aquino administration, only one new municipality has been created so far.

The budget department also cited earlier reports quoting former Budget Secretary and now-Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya, who said that the PDAF ceiling of P70 million for Congressmen and P200 million for Senators was “institutionalized” in the National Budget only under the Aquino administration.

“President Arroyo could choose who and how much to give to each congressman or senator which explains why some have more than others in the COA (Commission on Audit) report. But under this administration, everybody gets the P70 million or P200 million every year,” Andaya was quoted as saying.

Update: For FY 2007, the combined figures for PDAF and VILP under the General Appropriations Act amounted to P23.02 billion.

Please note as well that the VILP allocation remains intact under the current administration, and was not eliminated.

We also wish to clarify that only one district—not municipality—was added to the roster of districts in the House of Representatives under the present Administration.

We wish to clarify as well that while the VILP is still an item in the DPWH budget, this fund no longer includes Congressional Allocations. source: dbm . gov. ph

Good...

corrective glasses of their own pupils. The records of the children found with defects are then forwarded to Abanilla, who would then approve the issuance of the glasses.

Indeed, the whole exercise is turning out to be much more than a mere giving away of free eyeglasses to the youth. It was in fact a confirmation of a commitment from sociocivic and charitable leaders to provide children with a brighter future. For, every child whose eye defects have been corrected acquires the opportunity to learn better, and therefore capacitate himself or herself to reach beyond the poor and squalid surroundings he had been born to.

-oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com

from page 7

number of eye doctor volunteers, to conduct the refraction and the examination of the eyes of the children.

-oooBRIGHTER FUTURE FOR CHILDREN: These efforts are actually a part of a program which Abanilla and her colleagues at the Physicians-for-Peace and Rotary International have called as the “Save the Sight for a Child ”, an objective of which is empower teachers of pupils who are in public elementary schools across the country to know whether their wards are suffering from eye defects or not.

This program is now furiously, albeit slowly, being realized. The doctorvolunteers are now teaching teachers with the rudiments of eye refraction, and how to list down the needed

What is K to 12 Basic Education Program

By Daisy C. Uayan - School Principal 1, Puntian Elementary School

Gone were t he days when the Philippine economy was next only to Japan.

That was from the top.

Presently, it’s the opposite. We can find the rank of our country at the bottom part of the most global rankings.

The neglect and deterioration of the country’s educational sector is associated with its economic situation.

It is hoped this K to 12

program will eventually bring back the prestige of Philippines economy. This new basic education curriculum aims to ensure that every student acquires the important knowledge and skills they need to become productive members of the society.

The K to 12 program covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High

School and two years of Senior High School [SHS]) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop life long learners and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

It ’s sa l ient feat u res are: Streng thening The Early Childhood Education (Universal Kindergarten), Making Curricu-

lum Relevant to Learners (Contextualization and Enhancement). Ensuring Integrated and Seamless Learning (Spiral Progression), Building Proficiency through Language (Mother Tongue- based MultilingualEducation),Gearing up for the future (Senior ZHigh School), Nurturing the Holistically Developed Filipino (College and livelihood Readiness, 21st Century Skills).

NorthMin

thursday | august 29, 2013

Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Prosecutors file case vs. Limketkai bomber C

ing a medical convention.

Macauyag said the Usman Hapids was positively identified as the suspect in the cartographic sketch made by the police.

He said more evidence is being gathered against the John Does who were

identified mostly in their aliases.

The evidence sought would establish the link of the other suspects in the planning, execution and financing of the bombing.

Macauyag said they have recommended no

bail.

If found guilty the susp ects would b e p enalized with life sentence, he added.

He said the panel of prosecutors now has credible evidence and that the accused must be arrested.

provincial director, said they, too, got the message that Zubiri cancelled it.

Zubiri, in a radio message on Aug. 21, has called for the abolition of the pork barrel as it is being abused.

He asked support for the rally set on Aug. 26.

But Radyo Abante reported that he cancelled it on Friday after Aquino agreed to abolish PDAF. The cancellation drew mixed reactions.

“It’s pathetic. It shows how we disregard what’s happening in our country,” Roland Rivera, a school teacher, said via text message.

“It was purely political strategy (the cancellation) to manipulate the people,” alleged Emma Molina, chairperson of Barog Bukidnon, a coalition of civil society organizations, non-government

organizations, and people’s organizations pushing for good governance.

But Barog Bukidnon, a newly organized group, also did not initiate its own rally after Zubiri aborted his plan.

Molina said earlier that although they were apprehensive of anti-PDAF rallies organized by politicians, “they were willing to join and listen to the issues.”

Sources said aside from Zubiri, nobody dared to organize (and abort) an anti-pork rally.

Ma. Easterluna Canoy, of the Kitanglad Integrated NGOs, said: “Sadly Bukidnon still needs a leader who can galvanize people to action or non-action.”

Bienvinido “Bobo” Narciso, of Abag Kalambuan Inc., responded through text that the real problem in Bukidnon is that non-

government organizations and civil society organizations are no longer sensitive to critical national issues.

He said NGOs in the province are focused on constructive engagement like the bottom up budgeting (BUB) process of the government so there is less time watching other issues.

He said not many are even observing in the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), which is also an important function as most NGOs are now engaged in projects.

Narciso’s group, a nongovernment organization, is implementing a project since 2010 dubbed as Livelihood Enhancement and Assistance for Development of Tri-people in Kalilangan, a town in the boundar y of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. Others said the PDAF

should not be scrapped.

Bae Inatlawan Adelina Tarino, head claimant of the Bukidnon Daraghuyan tribe in Dalwangan in Malaybalay, said the pork barrel was a big help to the indigenous peoples.

She added that not all non-government organizations may be like that of Napoles.

“There are those that truly serve the IP communities. We hope they will not abolish the pork barrel,” she said, adding there should be a way that it will not be prone to abuse.

Loreta Sol Dinlayan, a social science professor at Bukidnon State University, said ill mechanics should be abolished, not the PDAF. D i n l ay a n a d m i t t e d that those who abused the PDAF should be made accountable for their actions.

and a resident of Barangay San Pedro, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur. T he wou nd e d we re identified as Vincent Aplan Jumawan, Marcelito Melecio Bernados and Joven Pareja Laurente, all of legal ages and residents also

of Barangay San Pedro, Marihatag town in Surigao del Sur. Police investigation by Tubay Police disclosed that the victims were engaged in small scale mining in the said place.

They were preparing

for their evening meals in their bunks when suddenly, the hilly portion nearby gave way and the cascading water, mud and rocks covered their bunks, killing one of them on the spot and injuring the three others.

The injured victims were immediately brought by the concerned citizens to Cabadbaran City Hospital for immediate treatment while the body of Namoc was brought to a funeral parlor in the said city.

The cadaver will be

subjected to a post mortem examination by Dr. Susan Rey Jare Mondejar-Jomoc, the Municipal Health Officer of Tubay.

Tubay Police is conducting a follow-up investigation on the incident. --Noel B. Najarro of PNA

Police check the belongings of churchgoers who went to the St. Augustine CathedralWednesday morning to attend the mass held for the city fiesta. Scores of law enforcers provided security in the vicinity as thousands of the faithful showed up for a religious procession held in honor of the city’s patron saint. Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Read us online! from page 1

MindaNews Aquino’s statement Friday seemed to lean on reforming the PDAF only. “ The people should have pursued the rally instead,” he said, adding the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) called for abolition.

Most government officials and employees asked for this story said they took the cue from Zubiri’s cancelation.

“It was cancelled because, anyway, President Aquino already agreed to scrap the pork barrel,” lawyer Oliver Owen Garcia said. Garcia recently won as president of the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL-Bukidnon chapter).

Ronelo Alvarez, DILG

Slide... from page 1

Poras at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Tubay Police chief Sr. Insp. Jose E. Lumacang.

The police report identified the fatality as Juvie Troba Namoc, of legal age

from page 1

the positive identification from witnesses who were with some of the more than 40 injured victims.

The July 26 bombing at a restobar in Limketkai Center claimed the lives of 8 p e opl e w ho we re mostly delegates attend-

AGAYAN de Oro City–– Panel of Prosecutors pressed multiple murder and frustrated multiple murder charges against the suspects responsible for the fatal b ombing at the Rosario Arcade in Limketkai Center that killed nearly 10 persons and hurt dozens on the eve of July 26.

Rally...

Pushes... sectors in the world, has signed Open Skies agreements with countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, France, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Cebu Pacific plans to aggressively expand into Japan in the future. We fully support the CAB in its efforts to further boost tourism and the Philippine aviation industr y.

An Open Skies agreement with Japan will benefit local tourism and trade, especially since we believe Japan can rival South Korea when it comes to foreign tourist arrivals,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

CEB noted the compounded decrease of -2% in DOT’s Japan foreign arrival statistics from 20062011, and attributed it to the lack of additional seat entitlements. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from ASEAN countries grew by double digits.

“Aside from Japan being one of the Philippines’ biggest trading partners, it is also home to 350,000 global Filipinos. Cebu Pacific’s expansion in Japan will allow us to offer our trademark lowest fares to the Philippines to boost business and leisure traffic,” Iyog added.

Between 2013 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 15 more Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 5 Airbus A330 aircraft.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 27 Airbus A320, 1 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 46 aircraft is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world.

Since its inception in 1996, CEB has flown over 80 million passengers. It continues to stimulate short-haul travel of passengers around Asia, with an 11% system-wide passenger growth in 2012.

CEB currently offers 22 international destinations, namely Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon (Seoul), Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Phuket, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singap ore, Taip ei and X iamen. It also operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic destinations and hubs in Manila, C ebu, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo and Davao.

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

City prosecutor Fidel Macauyag on Wednesday morning said the panel has released its resolution and that the case is scheduled to be raffled on Thursday to a Regional Trial Court.

Macauyag said the RTC would then issue a warrant of arrest against suspects Usman Hapids and some John Does.

He said the evidence against the bombing suspects is strong considering

15

16

Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

thursday | august 29, 2013

Environment

‘Banlas’ mining getting widespread in SouthCot GENERAL Santos City–– Environment personnel in South Cotabato province are pushing for the immediate installation of permanent Army outposts or detachments in several upland villages in Tampakan town due to the worsening illegal “banlas” or sluice mining activities in the area.

Lourdes Jumilla, senior environment specialist of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), said Wednesday their latest assessment showed that illegal mining activities in Tampakan have

intensified anew and the extent of the sluice mining area has widened in the last several months.

She said the illegal mining area now covers vast areas of Sitio Campo Kilot in Barangay Pula Bato and parts of the neighboring Barangay Tablu.

Jumilla, who headed the PEMO team that inspected the area late last week, said they found a number of bunkhouses and illegal mining equipment, specifically big water hoses stretching about a kilometer long, installed within the area.

“The (banlas) operations already destroyed a significant area of the mountains there and triggered some landslides that affected some roads in Barangays Tablu and Pula Bato in the past several weeks,” she said in a radio interview.

Banlas mining, which is considered a highly-destructive mining method, involves the pouring of large amounts of water using high-pressure water jets on a mountain’s surface to extract the rocks containing the gold ore, and then pan them with mercury.

The use of the illegal mining method, which was first uncovered in a mining village in T’boli town, has increased in the last several years in several small-scale mining areas in Tampakan.

Jumilla said the illegal mining activities have caused the accumulation of loads of silt along the rivertributaries of the critical Topland and Marbel Rivers.

She said the two rivers, which traces their headwaters to the uplands of Tampakan, traverses Barangays Pula Bato, Liberty and Buto in Tampakan as

well as Magsaysay, Concepcion, Bo. 4 and Namnama in Koronadal City.

Aside from the accumulation of silt, which have been causing severe flooding in the lowland communities traversed by the two rivers, local environment personnel had found traces of mercury in several river-tributaries in the area.

Jumilla said they already recommended to South Cotabato Gov. Daisy AvanceFuentes, who heads the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, the immediate installation of Army outposts and the deployment of more troops in the area to avert the illegal mining

activities.

She admitted that they could not regularly monitor the illegal activities in the area due to the lack of personnel.

A task force led by PEMO had conducted a number of random inspections in the “banlas” mining areas in the last two years and even made some arrests but the illegal activities still persisted.

“The situation in the area is now quite alarming and we really need the permanent presence of our troops there to stop these illegal activities,” she added.

A report from Allen V. Estabillo of MindaNews

Gensan to tap experts from MSU to solve flooding

By Allen V. Estabillo of MindaNews

GENERAL Santos City––In a bid to resolve the city’s flooding problems, a city council member here has proposed for the conduct of extensive studies on the area’s drainage systems by experts from the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus here.

City Councilor Rosalita Nuñez, chair of the city council’s committee on city land use, urban planning and development, said Tuesday the state-run university has a pool of environment and urban planning experts that could help the city government effectively address the perennial flooding in some parts of the area during the rainy season.

She said the university could specifically assist the city in drawing up sustainable management strategies on the problem by way of extensive studies, researches, data gathering and analysis.

“A lasting and fast solution to the city’s flooding problem indispensably requires the aid of such knowledgeable entity. Its recommendations for a sustainable drainage system and other proactive schemes shall be incorporated in the existing flood management strategy of the city,” Nuñez said.

To expedite the move, Nuñez filed a proposed resolution during the council’s regular session requesting MSU General Santos to look into the perennial flooding in various parts of the city during the rainy season and recommend possible solutions to the problem.

The measure was referred to the city council’s committee on city land use, urban planning and development for further studies and consultations.

Nuñez, who is a former city mayor, said an earlier assessment showed that the advent of increased urbanization and inadequacy of drainage facilities in the city, aside from climate change and high rainfall volume, caused the city’s flooding problems.

“It has interfered with the economic use of lands in the farming sector, destroyed structures like bridges within floodways and affected traffic flows in lowly-elevated roadways of the city,” she noted.

See flooding, page 13

Mayor favors ban on use of plastic bags, Styrofoam containers Z AMB OANGA City–– Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar announced she supports the passage of the proposed ordinance that seeks to ban the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers in all establishments in this city.

The proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Juan Climaco Elago, II has passed the first reading during the City Council’s regular

session last week and has been referred to the Committee on Ordinances and Resolutions for study and public hearing.

Salazar said she supports Elago’s proposed ordinance banning the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam materials since these contain ingredients that are bad for the health and environment.

From the report of R.G. ANTONET A. GO of PNA