D1
SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
mslocalgov@gmail.com
STL OPERATOR MUST GET BUSINESS PERMIT
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Divers show the garbage they collected in the waters at Duke Reef, the 30-hectare Marine Protected Area across the Duka Bay Resort in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, as part of volunteer efforts for ‘Shore It Up,’ the marine ecological program of the Metro Pacific Investment Corp..
THOUSANDS JOIN MARINE ECOSYSTEM CLEANUP T
HE coastal municipality of Medina in Misamis Oriental recently hosted Shore It Up, a marine ecological program of the Metro Pacific Investment Corp. participated in by volunteer scuba divers from various business groups.
The center of activity “Duka Reef” was the 30-hectare Marine Protected Area across Duka Bay Resort in Gingoog Bay, a fishery reserve which takes pride in its coral research and enhancement and protection measures. It boasts of 2,000 species of fish, 5,000 species of clams, mollusks and crustaceans, 22 whale and dolphin species; more than 900 seaweed species; and more than 400 coral species. A simultaneous solid waste cleanup along the sevenkilometer stretch along the nine beachfront barangays of the Medina was also held, participated in by 2,023 individuals from government and community organizations. The underwater and coastal cleanup netted 787 kilograms consisting mostly of non-biodegradable solid wastes. “The fight to preserve the environment is easier said than done. It is a life-long quest. In a small way we started protecting our marine biology,” says Medina Mayor Donato Chan. The two-day environmental program also consisted of the Junior Environmental Scouts, a creative educational component for children to inculcate concern for Mother Earth through creative art, story-telling and interactive activities. Facilitated by the MVP Group volunteer divers, the event
gathered some 200 elementary students from Medina. The divers also assembled and deployed of marker buoys where boats can dock near the reef without dropping anchor, which may damage corals. The SIU will also train local fishermen for the Tawike Monitoring Project in recording sightings of whale sharks in Gingoog Bay, which will serve as basis for conservation programs and a possible eco-tourism activity. Since its inception in 2009, SIU has tapped more than 70,000 volunteers, and has partnered with some 300 local and national government agencies, community organizations, socio-civic groups, and private entities. Shore It Up has been hosted by key coastal areas such as Mabini, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Subic Bay Freep-ort Zone; Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Del Carmen in Siargao Island, and Panglao and Pamilacan Islands in Bohol, and Surigao City. As part of a sustained initiatives, previous SIU editions brought about the establishment of Mangrove Propagation and Information Centers, coral laboratories and communitybased environmental programs.
SEEDWORKS HYBRID RICE POSTS HIGHEST YIELD
BAY, Laguna—The hybrid rice developed by SeedWorks Philippines Inc. posted the highest yield among other hybrid palay seed varieties during the rice derby held recently at a rice forum in Cotabato in Mindanao. The TH-82 hybrid rice of SeedWorks Philippines Inc. posted a record high yield at the rice derby held in conjunction with the 4th National Technology Rice Forum held in M’lang, Cotabato. It recorded a total of 8.05 metric tons per hectare, which was certified by the Regional Field Office No. 12 of the Department of Agriculture. This record yield is approximately double the reported national current average production of 4 metric tons per hectare. Out of the different rice hybrids that were tested, whose yield ranged from
Local Gov’t Units
Scientists stand in the field planted with the TH-82 hybrid rice of SeedWorks Philippines Inc. which posted a record high yield at the rice derby held in conjunction with the 4th National Technology Rice Forum held in M’lang, Cotabato.
4 to 6 metric tons per hectare, it was only TH-82 that breached the 8-metric ton per hectare mark. Aside from the high-yielding TH 82, SeedWorks Philippines also produces
another exceptional hybrid rice variety called US-88. This hybrid yielded 6.03 metric tons per hectare in the derby, which is still higher than the current national production average per hectare, and is known for its long grains and excellent eating quality. For the rice derby, which was one of the main highlights of the forum, rice growers in the region allowed the use of their farms for the derby as a show of support to the government’s program on rice hybridization. Many farmers, private seed producers and government officials were among the active participants of the 4th National Rice Technology Forum, which carried the theme “Increase Production through Hybrid Rice Technology, Mindanao: Maghybrid na Kita!”
BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the operator of the State-run Small Town Lottery in the city should first secure a business permit from the local government before their collection and drawing activities in the different parts of the city. The mayor pointed out while the operator was able to secure a license to operate from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office even without the expressed consent of the local government, it is necessary for the licensed operator to also secure the mandatory business permit from the city because their activities in the city are classified as business. “We learned that the STL operator already started the dry run for its operations but it is important for them to secure the mandatory business permit from the city before their fullblast operations since their activities are considered business operations,” Domogan stressed. He explained that the STL operation is the government’s approach to curbing the proliferation of the age-old jueteng operations, the poor man’s gambling game in the different parts of the country but law enforcers must be vigilant of the possibility that enterprising collection agents might take advantage of the situation to still collect bets not for STL but for jueteng. While it is true that bet collectors are provided by the Pines State Gaming Corp. with uniforms and identification cards, Domogan underscored there is still a big chance for enterprising collectors to collect bets not for the STL draw but for jueteng that continues to persist in the different barangays.
Dexter A. See
PANGASINAN FOOD STALL BUILDING OPENS By Dexter A. See LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado ‘Pogi’ I. Espino III, Provincial Administrator Nimrod S. Camba and Rev. Fr. Allan Morris Abuan from Our Lady of Purification Parish led the blessing and inauguration of the newly-constructed building comprising three units of nine food stalls located near the Pasalubong Center. The project, which cost P2.5 million, is intended for smallscale vendors who want to avail of a conducive place to sell their goods. General services officer Evan Gladish P. Domalanta said those vendors who used to occupy ambulant stalls in the area will be given priority at a minimal monthly rental fee. Domalanta noted written agreements will be prepared by the provincial government to stipulate the conditions for the stalls rental. Meanwhile, Espino said that to make the place cozier more stalls and fixtures will improve the ambience and transform the area as picnic grove for families or beachgoers.
BPO WORKERS BUILD HOMES, TOUCH LIVES IN SURIGAO
Volunteers from Teleperformance Philippines spend time with children in Siargao after the Bayani Challenge, Gawad Kalinga’s annual home-building project, held in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.
VOLUNTEERS from Business Process Outsourcing sector were recently organized to help build houses and repair school facilities in Del Carmen, Surigao province for the annual staging of Gawad Kalinga’s home building project. Dubbed as Bayani Challenge, GK’s home building project with the private sector this year’s project yielded nearly 6,500 volunteer hours that directly benefited 20 families in Siargao Island. Teleperformance, the worldwide leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management services, brought together their volunteer employees from Cebu,
Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Metro Manila to participate in the annual event. With the theme, “Tatak Bayani,” for six days, Teleperformance volunteers worked hand-in-hand in building the concrete foundation and framing of 20 housing units, as well as in painting the façade of Del Carmen National High School and Del Carmen Recreational Park. Likewise, the volunteers interacted with more than 50 children during a kiddie party hosted by Teleperformance for the local community. Jeffrey Johnson, senior vice president for Human Capital Resource
Management, expressed his appreciation for the participants. “We are so proud of our committed volunteers and what they have helped accomplish through this initiative. They truly embody our values and culture of service at Teleperformance.” This is the fifth consecutive year that Teleperformance has taken part in the Bayani Challenge. Such communitybuilding initiatives are made possible through the Citizen of the World, Teleperformance’s corporate social responsibility arm, which aims to promote the spirit of volunteerism and teamwork among 40,000 Teleperformance employees in the Philippines.