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wednesday december 12, 2012
Building... from page 3
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in the fifth and bloodied his face. We thought you were on the way to winning the fight until Marquez caught you with what we thought was a lucky punch… “We want you to know Classmate Manny, that we continue to be proud of you and pray that you will be guided by The Lord in all your endeavors. We know that you will bounce back and serve our people even more. Patuloy ka naming ipagmamalaki Classmate!!! Dalangin namin ang iyong kalusugan at tagumpay sa paglilingkod sa ating bayan…” -oooREACTIONS: Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@ yahoo.com
Francisco Matugas announced a contribution of P3 million while Agusan del Sur 2nd District Rep. Evelyn Mellana pledged the same amount saying she would support the endeavor for advocating development in the region. Earlier, eight Caraga congresspersons pledged to donate funds for the proposed building. Gov. Matugas said that the Department of Budget and Management through Secretary Florencio Abad would allocate an amount to help raise the P40-million budget for the building the construction of which will start early next year. Attending the groundbreaking rite were Caraga RDC members, regional directors and guests from from page 3 Region 13’s line agencies. WITH REPORT FROM the Butuan City Tourism DIANAH GENERALAO, Master Plan. The rationale behind CMO/PIO its approval is to find more significant means in refining the tourism of Butuan from page 6 rains, floods and strong thru the collaboration of winds, are here to stay, and the FSUU as an institution there is nothing---absolutely that will aid in pursuing nothing---that man can do its advancement through about it, whether in the providing technical assisPhilippines or anywhere tance in terms of document in the world. Man’s puny processing through its decapabilities are now being velopment center. With the efforts made exposed more and more by by this local government nature’s wrath. and with its very imporUnless, we try something else, an approach that may tant partner, the FSUU, appear irrelevant, idiotic, The Memorandum of Unand downright absurd to derstanding will certainly many. What approach is prove that worthy endeavors this? Going back in all sin- for the development and cerity to God, by listening to progress of Butuan’s tourHis Word (that is, reading ism will surely be taken His Bible daily), meditat- with favorable action. Rest ing on it day and night, assured that such projects in and carefully obeying all line with the government’s His commands. There is goals will aggressively find a promise of success and its way to success. (Junesther prosperity, and triumph Jean S. Iway) over tragedy and calamity, in doing these. from page 3 -oooplayed in smaller fields, ROTARIANS TO PACQUIAO: WE ARE PROUD or indoor gyms and courts OF YOU: Filipino Rotar- with a smaller ball. The ians are standing by their Philippine Futsal Comfellow Rotarian, boxing munity is a group dedicated icon Manny Pacquiao, in to promoting Futsal in the his hour of defeat. In a let- Philippines. With the recent ter sent to Manny through rise of the popularity of Liza Villavicencio Elorde, football and the longtime Rotarians led by Rotary clamor for a better football Club of Manila Peacebuilder program locally, futsal has President Roberto “Obet” great potential for becoming Pagdanganan told Manny, a foundation for world class who is also at present the football in the Philippines Peacebuilder President of since it’s more easily accesthe Rotary Club of Manila sible to people,” according 101, that “we continue to to the Futsal Committee. For his part, BANFA be proud of you.” Here is Pagdanganan’s President and Vice Mayor letter to Pacquiao: “Dear Law Fortun has expressed Classmate Manny: Together elation over the choice of with DG Maeng and other Butuan City as host to this District Officials, we your year’s Mindanao Leg of the Classmate PeaceBuilder tournament as this is a clear Presidents, watched your manifestation that the counfight today at the Aloha try’s football community has Hotel. Gov Maeng even had recognized BANFA’s solid a tarpaulin expressing our contribution in promoting support to you, posted at the game of football. Acthe Hotel entrance. Many cording to Fortun this will others watched at home or also be a big opportunity to promote Butuan City elsewhere. “We felt the pain when to visitors since close to Marquez floored you for the 200 football players will first time in the 3rd round. be coming over to compete Then we cheered loudly in the said tournament. when you floored Marquez This is yet another feather
Tourism...
Proud...
Futsal...
in the cap of Fortun who was able to ignite passion for the sport and rebuild a strong football community in Butuan City which was in muddled in the past years. (Eldie N. David)
Treat... from page 3
This is imposed to simply insure the beauty and uniformity of the City. This opportunity was bestowed by the City Government of Butuan to a group of vendors, importantly, to help promote our business industry in this city and help empower small business groups to excel and be known in their respective crafts. With this, it will create more job opportunities for the people of this city giving them a worthwhile livelihood for the Christmas holidays. According to Vice Mayor Fortun, this is their way of helping the vendors gain livelihood who have been threatened to be demolished recently. According to Fortun that in the spirit of Christmas, these small entrepreneurs should also be accorded humane treatment for which their presence can also boost the economy of the City. (Junesther Jean S. Iway and Eldie N. David)
Coast... from page 8
The t ask force has pushed for the conduct of aerial surveys to help locate 46 fishing vessels and 315 crew members from this city and the neighboring areas that were declared missing following the onslaught of typhoon “Pablo.” Aside from the three survivors, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that four others were rescued off the coasts of Caraga town in Davao Oriental on Monday morning. The fishermen, who were recuperating at the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Mati City, were identified as Roger Mendoza, Joseph Resnera, Bobby Farcaldo and Dante Barsina, all of this city. The survivors were listed as crew members of M/V Shekina, which capsized at the height of typhoon “Pablo.” As of Tuesday morning, Lincuna said the search and rescue operations are still ongoing for the missing fishermen that have so far gone down to 306. Based on the task force records, he said two more light boats were confirmed to have earlier capsized, bringing the total number of unaccounted fishing vessels to 44.
Areas... from page 3
Sibugay. Members in the Visayas area such as Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Southern Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Antique, Iloilo, and Camotes Island are
likewise eligible for the emergency loan, she added. Under the GSIS emergency loan program, each eligible member may borrow P20,000, payable in three years in equal monthly instalment. The initial payment for the loan will start three months after the loan drawdown. Those eligible to apply for such loan are bona fide employees of the agency located in the declared calamity area or are resident of the declared calamity area; in active service and not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending criminal or administrative charges; have no arrears in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions; and have no loan that has been declared in default. Members may apply for the loan from December 7, 2012 to January 5, 2013, through the GWAPS kiosk using either the eCard or UMID eCard. Those with temporary eCards may apply over-thecounter in any GSIS office. GSIS members who have existing emergency loans may be allowed to renew their emergency loan after payment of 12 monthly repayments but not later than the anniversary date of the previous loan. (APB/ PIA-10)
Mindanao... from page 7
****** NO FINGER POINTING, PLEASE --- I can’t resist but call on everyone to please focus on giving assistance and not immediately look for someone or something to blame for the calamity, this early. Sure there will be some faults, but the time is not now. Remember, when you point an accusing finger, look at your hands and there are three fingers pointing at you. Rolling the sleeves and working with everyone else is the call of the day. The victims are in grief and in great need. Let’s not be like vultures feeding on their misery and anger and immediately look for shock absorbers to blame. IMPOSTOR ----I got several text messages a few days ago from anonymous texters saying it came from a clergy and campaigning for the RH Bill. I got identical text messages over the last few days. I immediately texted back saying: “Sorry, but I support the bishops. Please identify yourself. If you are really from the clergy, why are you hiding your identity?” My take was the text messages were part of the pro-RH bill campaigners and not necessarily coming from a member of the clergy. An impostor most likely. The fact alone that the texter preferred to remain anonymous gave me more reason not to give it due credence. As if coming from a clergy gives it more credibility. Must be joking!
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bill said they welcome the presence of the bishops inside the plenary hall but warned against intimidating solons. But according to Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, their presence in Congress is meant to show support to “pro-life solons” and not to intimidate them. He also said that solons should have nothing to be afraid of with the presence of Church leaders if they have nothing to hide and if their consciences are clear. Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, a vocal critic against the measure, said the presence of the bishops is a boost to anti-RH bill lawmakers. She said that while they are threatened by Malacañang to withhold their congressional pork barrel allocations, the presence of church leaders would somehow compensate it. “Our problem here is that we are up against a very powerful bloc… the party that provides funding for most of politicians in the country,” Magsaysay said. “If the CBCP comes in full force, we are more motivated because we see that the Church is behind us as it will give us the necessary boost to vote with conviction,” she said. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is also calling for a prayer vigil beginning this 6:30pm at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the unborn, in Makati City. “He (Cardinal Tagle) personally invites everyone to go to the Shrine for the vigil and/or the Masses,” said the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) in a brief statement. The overnight vigil will run until Wednesday with Masses at 6 am, 8 am, 12 noon, 5 pm, 6:30 pm and 8pm. Cardinal Tagle will lead the 12 noon Mass at from page 7 things as the right to life, the Shrine. (CBCPNews) the right of married couples to found a family according to their religious beliefs and from page 8 the kidnapping was to moral convictions, and to be the primary educators exact payment of the money of their children,” he said. of their alleged mastermind, “Here, as elsewhere, the Camar Marohom, who lost truth must be the basis of P700, 000 investment with the law rather than the result the Amman Futures Group, of legislation,” said Palma. a pyramiding scam in PaFr. Melvin Castro, ex- gadian City, Zamboanga ecutive secretary of the Del Sur. The boy’s mother refused CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life, claimed to pay Marohom when he that Malacañang is pres- demanded payment saying suring lawmakers to favor she too was a victim of the the passage of the RH bill. scam, he said. Uy said “the suspects are “We appeal to our legislators to rise above their still criminally liable since party politics and resist the their acts were tantamount pressure of Malacañang. In to kidnapping.” the end, you shall be held accountable to God and to from page 8 His people,” Castro said. The members of the Other oil firms have Lower House have agreed yet to announce a price to vote on the fate of the reduction. RH bill tomorrow. Last week, most oil comS everal bishops are panies pulled down prices of expected to come to the premium by P0.60 per liter, Congress to watch how regular by P0.35 per liter lawmakers will vote on the and kerosene by P0.40 per measure. liter. Diesel prices, on the Proponents of the RH other hand, remained as is. **** BLAME GAME ---I marvel at how some sectors go to great lengths today and at any given opportunity blame former President Arroyo of almost everything under the sun. Like the story I read in the papers recently saying some elements were blaming the former President of the spread of HIV or AIDS because she allegedly stopped the free distribution by government of condoms! It’s no longer ridiculous. It’s becoming funny already! **** GOODBYE GEM -- I attended a farewell luncheon tendered by Growth With Equity in Mindanao (GEM) of the USAID last Saturday at Marco Polo. USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele, of Filipino origin, came and together with the beneficiaries, helped pay tribute to the efforts of the communities, the stakeholders, the LGUs and the workers at GEM. Former Chief of Party Charlie Feibel, who steered the project over the years, was also present to receive the accolades for the GEM staff. (Several came close to erecting a monument for Charlie) While I was doing Mindanao work, I recall GEM program had a budget of approximately $100 million (US dollars) for the five-year program. I am informed that with the GEM closure, the successor program is called ENGAGE but with a very much lower budget of close to $20 million (US dollars.) Unlike the previous program which brought projects and benefits to conflict-affected and remote areas, the next program will focus on cities and urban centers as a shift in paradigm. Fare thee well GEM. Hello ENGAGE!
Solons...
Arrested...
Reduced...