Mindanao Star (October 31 - November 6, 2015)

Volume III, No. 17

website: www.mindanaostarbalita.com

October 31-september 6, 2015

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Man-made power crisis hits M’nao with bombing of two towers Power shortage worsened by government inaction on Lanao Sur ROW problems

By:Mike Baños, Editor-at-Large

Well before Mindanao was expected to plunge into another age of darkness due to the worsening El Niño episode that’s been confirmed to be worse than the devastating 1997 edition , man-made security issues have already forced distribution utilities to resume rotating brownouts.

Sources from the police and armed forces in the area confirmed that Transmission Towers 19 and 20 located in Patani, Marawi City along the Agus 2-Kibawe line were bombed around 9:20PM and both put out of commission.

As a result, the Mindanao Grid has lost power supply from both the Agus 1 (80MW) and Agus 2 (180MW) hydroelectric

power plants since other lines for grid connections have already decommissioned due to trees and other obstructions deliberately planted by landowners in District 2, Lanao del Sur. The loss of 260MW from the Mindanao Grid will mean the resumption of rotating brownouts all across the island even within franchise areas of distribuSee crisis, page 7

Emano supports Provincial Prosecutor’s Office call to hasten case reconstruction

Gov. Bambi Emano, presents a certificate of recognition to Jail Guard Evangeline Valledor who caught a female prisoner visitor attempting to smuggle into the jai; compound a substance suspected to be shabu. The Governor also promoted her to the next higher level of government employment. Also shown in photo is Provincial Administrator Atty.

Maricar N. San Jose (rtight of the Governor), Board Member Mario Emano and Provincial Warden Dominador Tagarda (extreme left) (PIO/foto)

Misamis Oriental Gov. Bambi Emano supports t he c a l l of prov i nci a l prosecutors on their efforts to reconstitute cases whose object evidence have been destroyed by fire even as he reiterated his strong stand against the proliferation of illegal drugs in towns and cities of the province, today, Monday.

During the weekly flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol grounds, the event of which was sponsored by the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, it was revealed that some 151 cases could not be reconstituted

and feared lost unless new cases are filed.

When the fire hit the Hall of Justice sometime in January 2015, the said office had some 1,757 on its file.

“However, after the fire, we could no longer reconstruct or reconstitute some cases mostly especially those where the accused are not detention prisoners,” a statement from the said office reads.

It now has 1,345 cases on file.

The reglamentary period allows the reconstitution of cases for

only six (6) months from the last publication in the “Official Gazette”. That sixmonth period ends this February 2016.

The prosecutor’s office further office further said that it endeavoured to reconstitute cases where acc us ed are detention prisoners from different police stations and private complainants.

“It is unfortunate that there are cases which were dismissed by the courts because the object evidence were already destroyed by fire. Most unfortunate See support, page 7

Editorial: e-mail: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com • 72-33-44, 856-3344 • Advertising: e-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com Contact cell nos.: 0917-7121424, 0947-8935776

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October 31,- September 6 , 2015

‘Padayon’ fields complete slate of candidates in Misor T H E P U R V E Y O R O F TR U T H , J U ST I CE A N D D E V E L O PME N T

By Cheng Ordoñez and Criz DIAZ MDN Editors with MARK FRANCISCO Staff member

CAGAYAN de Oro City––Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano and other Padayon Pilipino’s candidates trooped to the Commission on Election (Comelec) Provincial Office on Monday (October 12), the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the 2016 elections, to file their COCs. B efore proceeding to the Comelec office, Emano and his partymates at t e n d e d a m a s s at the Fatima Cathedral along Velez Street, and sought benediction through three priests who celebrated the early morning mass attended by mostly Padayon Pilipino candidates, and Capitol employees.

In c u m b e nt Vi c e Governor Joey Pelaez, who is seeking re-election, led the candidates for board members of the two districts, namely, Susan Lagbas, wife of slain Board Member Roldan Lagbas; Jerry Khu, Jeremy Pelaez, Rey Moreno, and Gopaldas Motoomull for the first district, and Nancy Madjos, Mercy Grace Acain, Prexy Elipe and Peter Elman for the second district.

Surprisingly, instead of eight candidates per district, Padayon Pilipino party fielded only five for each.

For Congress, Padayon Pi l ipi no f i el d e d t he brother of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno (LP), Dr. Rey Moreno, for the first district and Agusto Baculio for the second district.

Pad ayon Pi lipino, ( Mov e o n F i l i p i n o ) organized sometime in 1988 was accredited by the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) as a political party in 2013.

Emano and his party line-up members walked the main thoroughfares, along with their supporters, from the chapel to the Comelec office, some 200 meters away.

After filing of the COC, they all proceeded to the Capitol ground for

a brief gathering.

Emano, said that they filed the COC earlier because it is nevertheless the same to file earlier and later.

The Comelec has set the filing of COC starting Monday (October 12) u nt i l 5 p. m . Fr i d ay (October 16).

Vi l l a n u e v a To w n Mayor Julio Uy (LP-NUP) is expected to challenge Gov. Emano.

Moreno’s bro runs as congressman in Bambi’s ticket A brother of Mayor Os c ar More n o, w h o preceded the seat now occupied by Governor Emano, will be challenging first district Rep. Peter Unabia’s reelection bid.

Dr. Moreno is one of the lesser known of the Moreno siblings but has made headlines the past years for constantly cr it icizing his more popular elder brother.

It was not known at this point the cause of their bickerings but Dr. Moreno has served the province of Misamis Oriental for the past three years as a surgeon under Misor Cares, the flagship health program of Emano.

Both Emano and Dr. Moreno, along with the whole provincial PaDayon Pilipino slate, filed their candidacies yesterday morning at the provincial Comelec office less than an hour after it opened.

Emano said Moreno can help bring voters to the PaDayon Pilipino fold this May 2016 because of name recall. Moreno’s elder brother Oscar used to be the congressman for three terms in that same district.

Unabia has successfully

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (third from left) locks arms with other candidates of the PaDayon Pilipino slate en route to the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) office Monday to file their candidacies. With him are (from left) Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Susa Lagbas, congressional candidate Rey Moreno, reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez, congressional candidate Augusto Baculio Jr. and SP candidates President Elipe and Gerardo Sabal III. Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

defended his term in 2013 and it is expected that it would be an uphill battle for Dr. Moreno to unseat him.

In 2013, the physician ran and lost as Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) memb er in t he s aid district. In contrast,

Unabia clinched a second term with no challenger that year.

Things are also brewing up in Gingoog City.

Tw o o f Un a b i a’s s t au n c h s upp or t e r s , Gingoog City Vice Mayor Erick Cañosa and SP

member Jabi Bernaldez, have ditched their erstwhile allies to gun for the mayorship and vice mayorship of that city.

Cañosa, who is on his last term as vice mayor, is exp ected to clash with the comebacking mayoral bid of Ruthie

Guingona. Incumbent Mayor Marie Guingona, her daughter, is expected to slide down to a vice mayoral bid and take on Bernaldez, who will be Cañosa’s running mate.

The Cañosa-Bernaldez tandem will run under PaDayon Pilipino.

Proposed law on proper storage, utilization of rainwater mulled THE proposed ordinance for the proper harvesting, storage and utilization for rain water in Cagayan de Oro was discussed yesterday by the City Council committee on public works and engineering chaired by Councilor Alden Bacal.

The proposed ordinance provides that the city shall promote the proper harvesting, storage and utilization as a viable alternative source of water supply primarily for non-potable use including domestic usage for flushing toilets, general cleaning, and washing of clothes, urban agriculture, landscape irrigation and supplement water source for industrial, commercial, institutional, agricultural usage, among others.

It also provides that the city shall encourage and support the adaptation and development of appropriate technology related to rainwater utilization by medium to large size commercial, institutional and industrial establishments including medium to high-end residential subdivisions which are primarily consuming high volume of freshwater.

Rainwater Catchment System (RCS) comprise the structure and the process of maintaining the system and classified based on the size and nature of catchment surface and based on the whether the systems are of urban or rural settings, based on the proposed ordinance.

During the meeting, Councilor Ramon Tabor,

author of the ordinance, said this measure was already enacted in Davao City and he intends it to be enacted and implemented in Cagayan de Oro City.

Tabor said the purpose of the ordinance is to minimize the flooding in the city and to conserve water as well as energy.

“Why don’t we save the rainwater for very obvious purposes, sa paglimpyo, pagbunyag sa tanom, and more importantly mapugngan ang baha,” he stressed.

Tabor said the ordinance will require subdivision developers to provide rainwater catchment system to be used by the homeowners to save the rainwater.

Councilor Bacal assured that a copy of the proposed ordinance will be disseminated to different agencies.

He calls on the contractors, subdivision developers and other concerned agencies to submit their respective comments and suggestions on the proposed ordinance. (JBD)

October 31,- September 6 , 2015

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October 31,- September 6 , 2015

T H E P U R V E Y O R O F TR U T H , J U ST I CE A N D D E V E L O PME N T

FORTINET SPONSORS ISOG-ISACA SUMMIT ON IT SECURITY. Joey Regala (left), Head of Information Security Officers Group (ISOG) and Dickenson Africa (right), President of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)-Manila, present the tokens of appreciation to George Chang, Fortinet Vice President for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong (second from left) and Alvin Rodrigues, Fortinet Market Development Director for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong (second from right), for their participation in the 2015 Information Security Governance and Anti-Fraud Summit held recently at the

InterContinental Hotel, Makati City. The event was a collaboration between the ISOG, ACFE-Philippines Chapter and ISACA-Manila with an aim to share with its members the latest technologies and training methods that will secure a business organization’s data against potential cyber threats. Chang and Rodrigues discussed how individuals can be potentially dangerous to an organization, the roles played by employers in securing its data from phishing activities, insiders, and third-party hackers, and shared potential cyber threats for 2016.

Health authorities in General Santos City have informed residents on the possible consequences of the haze that has enveloped the city since Sunday (Oct. 18) and advised them to take necessary precautions. The haze reportedly came from forest fires in Indonesia, and have also reached other areas in Mindanao. mindanews photo by rommel rebollido

MindanaoSTAR T H E P U R V E Y O R O F TR U T H , J U ST I CE A N D D E V E L O PME N T

MindanaoStar, a bilingual newspaper, is published weekly in Cagayan de Oro City. It is circulated in key regional areas in Mindanao, including the Internet. MindanaoStar is located at Door 3, Tanleh Building, Abellanosa Street, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 10 with Certififcate No. 01787396 and Business Registration Plate No. BP-11263, Business License No. 2014-00976, TIN No. 311-832-910.

Telephone and or, fax number (088) 857-8447 Mobile phones 0917-7121424 0947-8935776

MINDANAO STAR BALITA Publisher Editorial Board

RUEL PELONE URIEL QUILINGING CRIS DIAZ MIKE BANOS joe palabao ALLAN MEDIANTE Cheng Ordonez Nelson constantino Legal Counsel : ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Member: ORO CHAMBER

Public U cmte to look into water woes in Cugman THE City Council committee on public utilities chaired

by Councilor Roger Abaday will convene tomorrow, October 28, 2015 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the City Council Session Hall.

The committee is slated to tackle the request of the Villa Flora Subdivision Homeowners Association for the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) to facilitate the water system rehabilitation project of Villa Flora Phase 2 Subdivision at Zone 2, Barangay Cugman.

In their letter request to the committee, Engr. Rexar Rañoa, president of the association, said the association requested the City Council for the early start of the COWD rehabilitation project of the water system of the subdivision.

He said it can be recalled

that the representatives of Office (LTO) and Roads (RTA) for discussions on COWD has assured to start and Traffic Administration the matter. (JBD the project. However, the project has not yet started as the COWD told the association that they still in the process of procuring the materials, Rañoa said.

VIOLATIONS The committee will also discuss the request of Bonbon PUJ Operator and Drivers Association (BONODA) for consideration regarding their traffic violations.

According to the association, they have been apprehended and given citation tickets for violating No Loading and Unloading areas about 200 meters from Licoan junction and other violations.

The committee invited the presidents of two associations, Barangay Chair of Cugman, Engr. Rachel Beja of the COWD, representawww.businessweekmindanao.com tives of Land Transportation

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MindanaoSTAR 5

October 31,- September 6, 2015

T H E P U R V E Y O R O F TR U T H , J U ST I CE A N D D E V E L O PME N T

No need for masks:

Haze no cause for alarm in R10 No cause for alarm.

No need for gas masks

By Mike Baños, Editor-at-Large

These, in a nutshell, was the gist of the message from officials of the Department of Health and the Environment Management Bureau in a press conference held at a local hotel Tuesday, 27 October 2015.

“The ambient air quality monitored by our Air Q u a l i t y Mo n i t o r i n g Station in Iligan City as of last Sunday, October 18 was 93 micrograms per normal cubic meter (g/Ncm) for PM2.5 (fine particulates) and 110g/ Ncm for PM10 (normal particulates),” said Engr.

Florencio E. Dominguez, Jr., Chief, Environmental Compliance & Monitoring Division, EMB-10.

This was slightly ov e r t h e P h i l ippi n e standard earlier set by the DENR for PM2.5 which

was set at 75 g/Ncm for an average of 24 hours or short term, and 35g/ Ncm for an average of one year or long term, starting from the order’s effectivity until 31 Dec. 2015.

However, as of Monday, 26 October 2015, Dominguez said the PM2.5 level had dropped to only 30 g/ Ncm, well below the 75 g/Ncm threshold, as had the PM10 levels down to 58, or half the earlier 110 g/Ncm. According to the

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), this was a direct result of the shifting of pre v ai l i ng w i n d s from South West (SW) in October 18 to North East (NE) or the opposite direction, thus dissipating the haze over the region.

H o w e v e r, t h e Department of Health clarified that even at its initial levels, the haze from Indonesia never posed a danger to public health.

“We only consider the level of particulates a danger to persons at risk when this exceeds 154 g/ Ncm,” said Dr. David A. Mendoza, Head of the Regional Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit (RESU) of DOH-X. “Thus, even the 93 g/Ncm for PM2.5 reading a threat to persons at risk.”

PM2.5 is a fine particle found in smoke and haze, and can be directly emitted from

sources such as forest fires or may form when gases emitted from power plants, industries and vehicles react in the air.

Once in ha le d, t hes e particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health problems.

“It is only when the PM2.5 level breaches the 155 mark that we issue an advisory for people at risk (i.e., with cardiac/ pulmonary conditions) to wear protective mask when going outdoors.

And it is only when the

level reaches 354 g/Ncm that we advise all people to wear masks,” he added.

Thus, there never was a reason for the DOH to issue an advisory for people to wear masks, Mendoza stressed.

See haze, page 7

HAZE. Residents and athletes continue their daily exercise routines at the Pelaez Sports

Complex in Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday (October 28) morning amid the presence of haze from Indonesian forest fires.

Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

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October 31,- September 6 , 2015

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BOC-10 seizes P5-million worth of sodium cyanide

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

TAG O LOAN , M is am is O r i e nt a l - -T h e Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Region 10 seized a total of 35 tons of Sodium Cyanide worth millions of pesos due to lack of import permits, for being under valued and for misdeclaration of quantity.

T AG O L O A N , M i s a mis Or ienta l--The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Region 10 seized a tota l of 35 tons of Sodium Cyanide worth millions of pesos due to lack of import permits, for bei ng u nder va lued and for misdeclaration of quantity.

Prior to t he confiscation, Bureau of Customs-Intelligence Group ( IG) Deput y Commissioner Jessie Del losa issued last July 3 Alert Order No. 20150703-101 against said importation with Korea as the port of origin.

B O C -10 I n t e l l i gence Officer II Alvin Y. Enciso sa id t wo container vans were initially seized, but t he c on sig ne e appeared to have two more container vans coming, bringing to four the total number of container vans now being seized by the BOC at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan town, Mis-

amis Oriental.

Enciso said a warra nt of sei zure has been issued by Atty.

Ruby Claudia Alameda, acting district collector, against the release of the container vans with Sodium Cyanide to the consignee, Central Comba l Mi n i ng Supply Corp., which arrived at the MCT-Sub-Port on Ju ly 2, 2015, on board the Asia Ipsa V. 015, covered by Bill of Lading No. APLU 011229519 a nd declared under Import Entry No. C-5277-15. “ We were suspic iou s be c au s e t he importation permit that was given to the consig nee, Cent ra l Combal Mining Supply Corp., came from t he Env i ron menta l Management Bureau (EMB) based in Region 4 when the importation is here in Reg ion 10,” Enciso said.

E nc i s o s a i d t he MGB-10 here, itself, said that the impor-

INSPECTION. Personnel from the Mindanao Container

Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, prepare for inspection one of the four container vans with Sodium Cyanide inside the MCT compound, Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

tation permit is void, because it is the office i n t h is reg ion t hat shou ld relea se t he per m it to t he consignee.

A few weeks later, the EMB-10 issued a permit, but the BOC, according to Enciso is contesting it since, on the first place, the items arrived the MCT Sub-Port with without a permit.

Enciso also said the imported items were clearly misdeclared by the consignee, placing the amount of their items at P570,000. But per verification with the Imports and Assessment Service of t he BOC a nd ot her similar importation in other regions, the items was supposed to to be at P4 to P5 million. The Import

and Assessment Service placed the proper valuation of the items seized at US$2.08/kg.

Enciso also cited the violation on “under valuation,” which over the limit of 30 percent which is seizurable.

Enciso said they are recommending for the automatic forfeiture of the items since it is grossly under valued.

T he IG repor ted that per verification of the consignee, identified as Man Hoon Pa rk , i s oper at i ng Cyanide sale within the Davao-Cagayan de Oro area.

Enciso explained that Cyanide and Cyanide Compounds are one of the regulated chemicals under RA 6969.

Dads increase honorarium of CDT, BNS, BHW THROUGH Ordinance No. 13002-2015, the Cagayan de Oro City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas increased the monthly honorarium of Child Development Teachers (CDT) from P2,400 to P3,500 each, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW) from P1,500 to P3,500 each.

The ordinance was reviewed and favorably endorsed by the committees on finance and ways and means and on laws and rules chaired

by Councilors President Elipe and Ramon Tabor, respectively.

Councilor Elipe, author of the ordinance, said the increase in the honorarium of the volunteer workers is long overdue.

It may be recalled that Vice Mayor Acenas referred the matter to the committee on finance in response to the request of day care teachers.

After the committee met with representatives of BHW and BNS, and after considering other factors, it was agreed that the increase should benefit them as well.

Bottom up bugeting

By MARK FRANCISCO Staff member

CAGAYAN de Oro City––The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Northern Mindanao initiated this week an assembly of civil society groups for them to be part of the budget process.

This activity is necessary to fulfill a standing policy of the Aquino administration for bottom up budgeting approach, accord i ng to DILG Director Nilo Castañares for Region 10.

Under the BuB approach, CSOs will convene t hemselves collectively and formulate t heir proposa ls to be inserted in the planned budget of the government for the next year at t he regiona l level.

They will then join their

counterparts from the government sector in the so-called Local Poverty Reduction Action Team of the particular region.

In Region 10, members of LPRAT review, validate and analyze social and economic data of each of the nine cities and 84 municipalities here so they could do a sound poverty situation analysis.

The list or priority poverty reduction projects will then be endorsed by LPRAT before the regional office of DILG which shall forward it to its centra l office for deliberation not later than December.

“T h is engagement of CSOs and people’s groups is a clear application of the principles of transparency and accountability call of t he gover n ment,” Castañares said.

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857-8447, 74-53-80 Misamis Oriental Governor Bambi Emano gamefully acceded to requests of teachers to have him on their group pictures during the World Teachers Day celebration recently. The event was a welcome respite from the hectic schedule the Governor had in the past weeks. It was also a chance for Gov. Emano to renew old friendships as he met with childhood friends and classmates who are now in the field of education. (PIOfoto)

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October 31,- September 6 , 2015

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Support... from page 1

REELECTIONISTS. Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Joey Pelaez (left) and Governor

Bambi Emano (right) are among the candidates who filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) early.

Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Aggie dept. to deploy fishery enforcers in key fishing areas THE national government will prioritize the countr y’s major fishing grounds, including tuna-rich waters, for its enhanced enforcement operations against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Asis Perez, Department of Agriculture undersecretary for fisheries, said they are currently working on the deployment of fishery enforcers in key fishing areas to facilitate the rollout of fresh regulations that were set in Republic Act (RA) 10654.

RA 10654, or the “Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing,” amended RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The measure, which lapsed i nto law la st February, mainly sets stricter policies and regulations to effectively curb IUU fishing as well as hefty penalties for violators.

Perez said t he enforcement operations will initially focus on the tuna-rich waters off the Surigao provinces and parts of the Moro Gulf, Celebes Sea, Basilan-

Su lu-Taw i-taw i seas, Benham Rise as well as the West Philippine Sea. He said it will later cover the sardine and herring fishing areas off the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Davao Gulf.

“These are our top priorities in terms of conservation, development and protection,” he said in a briefing on Tuesday on the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10654 that officially became effective last October 10.

T he br ie f i ng w a s among the highlights of the national media conference hosted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the City Garden Suites in Ermita, Manila.

Perez, who is also national director of BFAR, said they included the Benham Rise, which is located in the country’s eastern seaboard, in the priority enforcement areas to curb the rampant illegal fishing activities there.

Citing satellite images, he said they detected extensive fishing activities in the area by foreign fishermen.

“Our vessels and enforcers are now ready to

patrol these areas and reclaim them for our own fishermen,” he said.

L aw yer Benja m i n Tabios Jr., BFAR assistant national director, said the enforcement operations will involve their 85 patrol vessels.

He said 71 of these are 30-footer patrol boats while 16 are 11-meter and 30-meter monitoring, control and surveillance vessels.

“We will be augmenting these with 27 new 42-footers that are due for delivery next year,” he told MindaNews.

The official said the agency will also acquire 10 new 50-footers and two 50-meter vessels.

Tabios said some 290 enforcers have already completed their training, which covered 90 days for the basic course, 30 days for boat operations and 15 days for specialized courses.

He said they are set to hire more enforcers to complete their manpower target of 600.

“The hiring and training process is very stringent as these enforcers w ill eventua lly carr y guns in t heir assignments,” he added. mindanews

are those casesd pending preliminary investigation,” the statement further said.

Gov. Emano called on everyone, particularly those who filed cases, to lend a hand by furnishing the prosecutor’s office any pertinent documents to the cases destroyed by fire.

“I wish those released with drug cases will be re-arrested and thrown back to jail,” Gov. Emano declared.

He is saddened by the proliferation of cases, especially those committed by suspected drug users in our society today.

“We see it on TV and hear it on the radio. The effects of these illegal drugs especially on crimes against women and children are beyond words to describe,” Governor Emano added.

In a dramatic moment during the weekly flag raising ceremony, Gov. Emano called to the stage, Jail Guard Evageline Valledor and promoted her on the spot to the next higher rank in the government service strata.

Jail Guard Valledor caught a woman visitor to the jail in the position of illegal drug, suspected to be shabu. (PIO/ MisOr)

Haze...

from page 5

The D E N R’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of R.A 8749, ot her wis e known as t he “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”.

Its primary goal is to come out with a comprehensive national program to achieve and maintain Air Quality that meets the National Air Quality Guidelines for Criteria Pollutants and their Emissions Standards while minimizing the possible associated negative impacts on the countr y’s economy.

Its implementing rules and regulation contain specific requirement that prohibit the vehicular and i ndu st r i a l s ou rc e s f rom emitting pollutants in amounts that cause significant deterioration of air quality.

The DENR earlier set the air quality standard on particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller, or commonly known as PM2.5, to ensure public health.

S t a r t i n g 0 1 Ja n .

2016, the DENR will be implementing a more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Value (NAAQGV) for the short and long terms 50 and 25g/Ncm, respectively

Particulate matter refers to any type of solid particles in the air in the form of smoke, dust and vapors which is produced by many sources, including burning of diesel fuels by vehicles, fossil fuels, mixing and application of fertilizers and pesticides, road construction, industrial processes and operation of woodstoves. Some microscopic particles in the air can be breathed into the lungs causing increased respiratory disease and lung damage.

Crisis... from page 1

d can only be dealt with manual road dropping by GOOD HARVEST. Evelyn Lim shows her harvest of anthurium flowers which is the DUs. Industry sources being sold for 40 pesos a dozen at a buying station in Barangay Batasan, Makilala, estimate it will take over North Cotabato in this photo taken on October 28, 2015. MindaNews photo by Toto a week to restore power Lozano through the Agus 2-Kibawe

line.

“PSALM only gave us 50+MW and other IPPs another 50MW, so our short would be about 70MW during peak periods,” said Jaime Rafael U. Paguio, Senior Vice President of the Cagayan Power & Light Co. (CEPALCO) in an SMS to this writer. “We will have to curtail and already activated our Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to bolster our supply.

However, we will have to impose rotating brownouts for the duration.”

CEPALCO resumed rotating brownouts last Monday, 26 October allegedly due to the “curtailments implemented by the Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Corporation (PSALM) due to the reduced capacity of Agus plants” and would continue to implement emergency load droppings within its franchise area Cagayan de Oro City and the adjacent Misamis Oriental municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan.

Iligan City is more fortunate. The Iligan Light and Power Company (ILPI) reports it has not had to resort to rotating brownouts since its power supply is still adequate despite the curtailment.

“We’re getting an additional 22 MW from Mapalad Power Corporation (MPC) and embedded Mapalad Energy Generating Corp.

(MEGC),” said Ralph B. Casiño, ILPI President. “We have also asked our industrial consumers to curtail their power consumption for the duration of the emergency so as not to affect the residential consumers.”

The power shortage has been aggravated by the lack of concrete government action against errant landowners in District 2 of the Mindanao Grid in Lanao del Norte.

Landowners in District 2 of the Mindanao grid in the vicinity of Balo-I, Lanao del Norte have planted trees under the Right-ofWay(ROW) of transmission lines operated by the NGCP that have now grown to heights that trigger faults in the power lines linking the hydroelectric power plants in Iligan City and Lanao del Sur to the Mindanao grid.

In the latest incident reported by NGCP Tuesday, 27 October 2015, almost 30 megawatts (MW) supplied by the Agus 1 hydroelectric plant was isolated from the Mindanao grid a landowner identified as Mitmug Dimaampao refused NGCP linemen entry to conduct line maintenance and repair activities within his property.

Dimaampao is the same landowner who previously barred NGCP linemen from entering his property to trim trees he himself planted which obstruct the transmission lines. The tie line was finally energized at the Agus 2 switchyard side at 11:37AM. The tie line is operated and maintained by the state-owned National

Power Corp., and private concessionaire grid operator NGCP assisted in the efforts to restore power.

In a media statement, NGCP reiterated its appeal for the public's cooperation and warned that right of way violations along transmission lines compromise not just the safety of the people, but also the security of the Mindanao grid.

Because of Mindanao's current power situation, the isolation of any power plant from the grid may result in more load curtailment during peak hours to allocate whatever power is available to the rest of the customers.

Earlier last 17 October NGCP’s right-of-way (ROW) woes breached critical level with the sustained tripping of the Agus 2-Kibawe Line 1 in Mindanao at 9:39AM on October 17.

“The tripping of the line was caused by a fallen tree cutting the line conductors.

This leaves NGCP with only one line catering to the Agus 1 and 2 power plants and threatening the entire Mindanao island with complete isolation from these hydropower plants should the remaining line become unavailable,” the company said in a media statement.

“It has become the practice of some landowners to intentionally plant trees or build structures under high voltage transmission lines, and demand for recompense when we seek entry into the property to conduct maintenance activities. The trees and other structures under our facilities breach our safety clearances and endanger the reliability of the entire grid,” NGCP stressed.

The company has dispatched an urgent request to the Department of Energy (DOE) and Philippine Army to assist in the negotiations with landowners and clear the lines. The frequent dips in voltage and frequency are adversely affecting household appliances and industrial equipment.

“NGCP is seeking all avenues of support, from the DOE to the military to the public. We are also appealing to the local government units for a resolution prohibiting tree-planting and building any structure under transmission lines.

This does not only affect NGCP or the hydroplants, which form the bulk of their power supply, but all the power consumers in Mindanao stand to bear even longer power interruptions,” the company said.

NGCP is a privately owned cor p oration in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid.

It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets.

8 MindanaoSTAR

Tribal chief slams NCIP T H E P U R V E Y O R O F TR U T H , J U ST I CE A N D D E V E L O PME N T

NCIP has failed to empower the tribal communities for 18 years

By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent

RITUAL. Datu Lolong Lipiahan (extreme right), a Higaonon tribal leader, administers the

“Ritual of Unity” before the start of the 4th Tribal Leaders Congress in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday (October 29) morning where former Justice Secretary Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima was the guest speaker.

Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

CAGAYAN de Oro City– –A tribal leader on Thursday slammed the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) over its failure to implement its mandate to empower the Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) in Mindanao.

Datu Lolong Lipiahan, a Higaonon tribal leader, and some of the tribal leaders belonging to the Tribal Communities Association of the Philippines, Inc. (Tricap, Inc.) converged at the Capitol University f o r t h e 4 t h Tr i b a l Leaders Congress and to celebrate the 18th year anniversary of the Republic Act 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) law of 1997.

Lipiahan said the NCIP, the government agency created under IPRA, is supposed to empower the tribal

communities but it did not happen.

Instead, he said the IPRA law has created more troubles on the part of the tribal communities because the NCIP failed to educate the lumads on the salient features of the law.

This is why, he said that the more than 1.8 million Higaonon couples in Mindanao are not happy over the implementation of IPRA law, which was passed into law 18 years ago.”

Aside from miseducation, Lipiahan said the provincial offices of the NCIP are ignorant about the customary laws of the lumads.

“Our customary laws are important because it is our doctrine that unite the tribal communities,” he explained.

de Lima, the guest speaker of the tribal congress, sought for the performance review of the IPRA law.

In her speech, De Lima said the IPRA law was only good at recognizing the rights of the IPs. Other than that, she said, the law miserably failed in all aspects.

Despite the passage of IPRA law, De Lima said the tribal communities continue to be victims of armed conflicts between the rebels and government forces. “It is not even effective against the exploitation of natural resources,” she added.

The IPs, she said, c o n t i n u e t o s u f fe r from development aggression, especially from mining communities and illegal loggers.

The IPRA law, authored by then Senator Juan Flavier, Review was signed into law on F o r m e r J u s t i c e October 29, 1997 by S e c r e t a r y L e i l a President Fidel Ramos.

October 31,- September 6 , 2015