General Santos City erects memorial shrine for lost fishermen
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Aquino to build ‘bridge of peace’ inside rebel stronghold
T Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and his entourage during the inauguration or various infrastructure projects on Pandami Island. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
Sulu governor brings joy, cheers to islanders
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overnor Totoh Tan led provincial and municipal officials i n the inauguration of various infrastructure projects on the islandtown of Pandami where he also spoke to the locals and vowed support to peace and development efforts there. The young politician, accompanied by Vice Governor Sakur Tan, initially inaugurated at least 30 units of solar-powered street lights in the village of Hambilan. He also inaugurated and handed-over to local government and police officials led by Mayor Intan Berto and Sulu po-
lice chief Abraham Orbita the new Pandami municipal police station, also in the same village which is the main business district of the island. Policemen praised the provincial leadership for its support to the local authorities. Governor Tan has assured islanders of more road projects and other infrastructures in an effort to uplift the living standards and livelihood and the economic competitiveness and stability of Pandami. Former Pandami Mayor Hatta Berto was all praises to the governor and his efforts and for visiting the island with his entourage and among them was Hajja
Nurunisah Tan, head of the Sulu Provincial Women’s Council and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Fahra Omar. Some of Sulu’s mayors and provincial board members were also there and graced the occasion. Vice Governor Tan spoke well of the accomplishments of the local government officials and told a huge crowd that welcomed them: “Yun mabilis na progreso ng Pandami ay hindi dahil sa amin…at iyan ay dahil sa inyong ipinakitang suporta sa mga opisyales ng Pandami.” The crowd cheered the visiting officials. (Ahlfranzie Salinas) See photos on page 3
he Philippine government is to build a P10-million steel foot bridge inside a rebel enclave in Maguindanao province in the restive Muslim autonomous region where 44 police commandos were brutally killed in January during an anti-terror operation. The bridge, according to military officials, is part of the government’s peace and development project in Tukanalipao village in Mamasapano town where government officials led the groundbreaking ceremony on March 31. It would be called “bridge of peace.” It was attended by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang, 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, and Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Von Al
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joining the JMCIM. She said the miraculous power of prayers and faith to God has opened her eyes to the true meaning of happiness and fulfilment and the new mission to serve humanity and spread the teachings of the Almighty through JMCIM.
Brother Danny Cuarteros, himself a warrior – a prayer warrior of the JMCIM – said Ka Prima has shared her emotional testimony during a recent crusade at the Baguio Convention Center. “The spirit of God is with her as she gave her testimony. It was very in-
Southern Mindanao
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normalcy in the lives of the people,” he added. Once completed, rebels will also be able to use the bridge to move equipment and weapons much faster. The area is within the territory of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s 105th Base Command whose members were tagged, along with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, as behind the killings of the police commandos. The commandos, members of the elite Special Action Force, were ambushed as they were returning from the mission that killed Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir inside the MILF stronghold. Police and military have accused MILF commanders in the area of coddling Zulkifli and another Filipino bomber Basit Usman. (Mindanao Examiner)
surface, holding up ropes to harvest seaweed. Until recently, indigenous groups of Muslim tribes like the Tausug and Sama Dilaut have been living in stilt houses and farming seaweed along the shores of idyllic island villages like Leha-Leha and Layag-Layag in Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island in southern Philippines. This tradition was shattered when clashes broke out between Moro National Liberation Front members and government forces in Zamboanga in September 2013. Some 120,000 people were displaced from 11 coastal villages. Many ended up in evacuation centers and camps, unsure if they would be allowed to return home or to resume their traditional livelihoods. After many months of living in squalid conditions in these camps, some 370 displaced people, among them vulnerable women and children, have returned to the island-villages since last December. “It’s good to be back here,” said Pasaki, a seaweed farmer trying to re-
build his life back in Leha-Leha. He is looking forward to ending his family’s dependency on food provided by the local government. “We have our livelihood here. Life is here. We cannot continue to survive on canned sardines and instant noodles.” Peter Deck, head of Mindanao operations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, added: “All throughout their lives, seaweed farming has been their source of income. This is their traditional livelihood and it is through this that they can provide for their families.” Recognizing this, UNHCR is supporting a livelihoods project to build concrete platforms on stilts that will allow farmers to dry their seaweed under the sun. Members of the community are helping with the construction. For example, Faizal is pouring cement into hollow wooden columns. Others fasten bamboo panels together for the flooring. Continue to page 5
Seaweeds sustain Zamboanga IDPs
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or most of his life, Faizal Pasaki’s existence has been closely tied to the seas. He begins his day at dawn, trailing his boat through the calm water into a field of empty plastic bottles bobbing on the
From fighter to preacher, ex-rebel now leads new battle to spread words of God through Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry former New People’s Army amazon has abandoned her struggle only to embrace the teachings of God following her peaceful surrender recently through the Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry ( JMCIM) in Abra province in Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Ka Eden, who also goes by her other alias Ka Prima during her 15 years as fighter in the communist rebel group, said she found the true meaning of life and how precious it is now after
Haq. Abad said that the project “will change the image of Mamasapano from a place of tragedy into a progressive town.” He said aside from the bridge, the government will also build mosques, school buildings, road and livelihood projects that will benefit the communities in the province. Catapang said that there will still be continuous conduct of a focused military operation. “Various peace infrastructure projects will be built in conflict areas of Maguindanao wherein the military forces will lead its implementation. Before I vow out of service in the military, I desire for peace and prosperity in Mindanao,” he said. “The government is very optimistic that the said project will bring peace and development in the area land will help bring back
spiring and the teachings and power of God were all over us. The strong faith to God through JMCIM is guiding her,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. “Ka Eden operated in the different areas in the Cagayan Valley Region – from San Mariano to Ilagan in Isabela – but the presence of JMCIM in the region has brought her miracles and eventually led her to acknowledged and embraced God, and now is leading another battle and this time all in the name of the Lord,” Cuarteros said. Continue to page 5
Western Mindanao
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Pro-government militia kills couple in Davao Norte TAGUM CITY- A pro-government militia shot dead a farming couple who rejected his demand to put him first in queue in the family-owned corn mill in Davao del Norte’s Kapalong town, a human rights group said Tuesday. Karapatan said the militia, who is under the 72nd Infantry Battalion, also opened fire on other farmers in the corn mill and attempted to shoot at the
couple’s eight-year old daughter. Both Reynaldo Martir, Sr and his wife Teresita were killed in the rampage which occurred near a military post, but soldiers failed to arrest the militia who later escaped. Hanimay Suazo, Karapatan’s SecretaryGeneral, condemned the twin murder which occurred just recently. She called on the gov-
ernment to disband all militia groups under the command of the Philippine military. “Once again, we call for the immediate disbandment of paramilitary forces and call for the pullout of state troops in the countryside,” Suazo said, adding, “state forces have only wrought gross human rights violations against civilians.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Mayor Ronnel Rivera and Councilor Shandee Pestano inspected recently the nearly-finished memorial shrine in Plaza Heneral Santos. The shrine is erected to remember the more than 300 fishermen from General Santos and perished during the typhoon Pablo in 2012. (Photo by Russell Delvo)
General Santos City erects memorial shrine for lost fishermen GENERAL SANTOS CITY The local government has built a memorial shrine to remember the more than 300 fishermen from General Santos City and nearby areas who perished during the 2012 Typhoon Pablo that hit Mindanao. The construction of the shrine, located at Plaza Heneral Santos, was the brainchild of Mayor Ronnel Rivera as a tribute to the fishermen.Rivera, with
Sangguniang Panlungsod approval, allotted more than P130,000 for the construction of the monument at Pendatun Avenue. “We are trying to finish this shrine as soon as this March so that we can hold a ceremonial unveiling of this one together with the families of those missing fishermen,” Rivera said. “We will make sure that we will improve our plaza since this is one of the recre-
ational sites of General Santos. We want to make them comfortable and safe while they are here,” he added. He said the monument is also a part of the beautification efforts at Plaza Heneral Santos. He said an additional P4 million would be allotted to improve the facilities of the park and repair existing structures, including additional lights, among other. (Ian John Lagare)
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Filipino tourists enjoy the swimming pools at Mahomamoy Beach Resort located at Lake Agco in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province. The pools' water - fresh and warm - comes from natural spring from the foot of Mount Apo and is a favorite destination during summer time. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)
Apr. 13-19, 2015
The Mindanao Examiner
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Sulu governor brings joy, cheers to islanders Continued fr om page 1 from
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan and his entourage during the inauguration or various infrastructure projects on Pandami Island. (Photos by Ahl-franzie Salinas)
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From fighter to preacher, ex-rebel now leads new battle to spread words of God through Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry
Continued for m page 1 form Prima surrendered following a firefight with government troops in 2012, according to Cuarteros, who narrated the emotional testimony of the former rebel before a huge crowd in Baguio City. “Nagkasagupaan ang grupo ni Ka Prima at Philippine Army noong 2012 and according to her testimony at the Baguio Convention Center on April 3, 2015 during the JMCIM crusade ay nakubkob sila at tumakas ang kumander nila at siya bilang second in rank continued the fight at nag-dived siya at dumapa sa malalim na hukay sa lupa upang hindi tamaan ng mga bala
from the soldiers.” “She prayed to the Lord Jesus and said kung totoong Dios ka iligtas mo ako at maglilingkod ako sa iyo. At sa puntong iyon ay biglang tumigil ang putukan mula sa hanay ng militar at gumapang siya sa direction na hindi pinanggalingan ng mga putok ng baril. Nakauwi siya at kinumbinse ng mga mahal sa buhay na sumuko na. Isang araw biglang dumating ang mga military men at tumalon siya mula sa bahay at nagtago sa ilalim ng bahay ng mga manok, pero tinutukan ng mga sundalo ang mga love ones niya at pinagbantaang papatayin silang lahat kapag hindi siya
sumuko. At upang mailigtas ang buhay ng kanyang pamilya ay lumabas siya sa taguan at sumuko sa mga sundalo,” Cuarteros said. He said it was Brother Tomas Payangdo, a member of the JMCIM in Abra who had convinced Prima to allow God in her heart. “Si Brother Tomas Payangdo, isang member ng JMCIM sa Abra ang humayo sa kanya and she received water baptism in Jesus name,” Cuarteros said. During her testimony, Prima also admitted that she was a former NPA commander and a lesbian at that and the JMCIM has brought miracles to her heart in God’s name and acknowl-
edged that prayers and faith changed her dramatically. “Sa kanyang patotoo, inamin ni Ka Prima o Ka Eden na siya ay dating NPA commander and tomboy at sinabi pa niya na hindi niya mabilang an dami ng taong kanyang hinusgahan ng
kamatayan sa kilusan sa loob ng 15 years ng siya ay nasa CPP-NPA-NDF,” Cuarteros said. The JMCIM – led by an internationally known pastor Evangelist Wilde Almeda and his wife, Assistant Pastor Lina Almeda – is one of
the largest and most successful apostolic churches based in the Philippines with millions of followers in the country alone. It has stations also in the United States and other parts of the world. (Mindanao Examiner)
Mayor Beng Climaco addresses 1,400 college students composing the first batch of Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) during the orientation Wednesday afternoon at the City Coliseum which was also attended by barangay officials and students' parents. (Photo by Joey Bautista)
Kawalan ng kuryente problema pa rin sa Mindanao ILIGAN CITY – Patuloy ang matinding kawalan ng kuryente sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao dahil sa kakulangan ng power plants sa rehiyon. Alarmado na rin ang maraming industriya dahil sa pabalik-balik na problema sa kuryente. Kamakailan lamang ay halos 8 oras ang blackout sa Mindanao. Sinabi ni Energy Sec. Jericho Petilla na sa inisyal na ulat na nakalap nito ay “technical” umano sa linya ng kuryente ang sanhi ng malawakang blackout. “I thought this has something to do with security, but it’s more of a technical (glitch) and inaalam pa namin kung ano ang sanhi nito,” ani Petilla. Sa Zamboanga City ay maraming beses naputulan ng kuryente at gayun sa Davao, Koronadal, General Santos, Iligan at iba pang lugar. Tikom naman ang bibig ng mga opisyal ng National Grid Corporation of the Philippines sa naganap na black-
out at patuloy pa rin ito arawaraw at gabi-gabi. Binatikos naman ng husto ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan sa Southern Mindanao (BAYAN-SMR) ang pamahalaang Aquino dahil sa pagpapabaya umano nito sa elektrisidad sa Mindanao, gayun sa naturang rehiyon kinukuha ng gobyerno ang malaking bahagi ng yaman ng bansa. “The only thing rising today are the people’s queries as to why up till now, Davao and many other parts of Mindanao suffer from power problems, when Mindanao is known as an island full of energy sources,” ani Sheena Duazo, ang tagapagsalita ng BAYAN-SMR. Nangangamba rin si Duazo na ang walang humpay na blackout sa Mindanao ay bahagi ng propaganda ng pamahalaan upang maisulong ang pribatisasyon ng Agus at Pulangi power station sa rehiyon. “This power interruptions may become the justification to privatize the en-
ergy sector,” wika pa ni Duazo. “If Aquino were sincere from the start in his wishes to provide enough power for the people of Mindanao, he would have undertaken the rehabilitation and upgrading of the current power plants in order to efficiently provide electricity.” “For instance, the AgusPulangi power plant now only generates 570 MW of power today, roughly half of the 1,000 MW it used to supply back then.With this problem Agus-Pulangi further sinks with the steps leading to privatization of the said power plant, approved by Aquino,” pahayag pa ni Duazo sa Mindanao Examiner. Nais ng BAYAN-SMR na bigyan tuon ng pamahalaang ang nasyonalisasyon ng power industry at hindi ibigay sa mga ganid na kapitalista na ang tanging hangad lamang umano ay kumita ng limpaklimpak na salapi sa paghihirap ng mga power consumers. (Mindanao Examiner)
Seaweeds sustain Zamboanga IDPs Continued fr om page 1 from It is a worthy investment: A kilogram of fresh seaweed can sell for 4 pesos while the same weight in dried seaweed can fetch nearly nine times more in income. In Leha-Leha, an air of normality is returning as people get back on their feet – children are going back to school, the women are at home tying bundles of seaweed for planting while the men are out at sea collecting seaweed. But Pasaki is concerned over the temporary nature of their return. For reasons of security and environmental hazards, the local government has announced a policy to designate island villages as “no return” zones.
Whether this policy will be lifted is still unclear. Authorities said a geo-hazard mapping must be carried out first to establish that the areas are really hazardprone and not fit for habitation. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights is monitoring these issues that affect the rights of the displaced families. “We are people of the sea,” said Pasaki. “There’s no other place we would rather be. Put us in another place and we would still find ourselves back here.” Presently there are over 30,000 internally displaced people in Zamboanga City awaiting return or relocation to permanent shelters. The authorities target completing construction of these permanent shelters
by June this year. Alongside other UN agencies and the rest of the humanitarian community, UNHCR said it welcomes solutions planned by the local authorities. “Any durable solution implemented must recognize the IDPs’ right to freedom of movement and respect the right to return to their places of origin” said Deck. “Where return is not feasible, voluntary relocation must be considered and cultural sensitivity must be observed for this vulnerable group of indigenous people.” Whether they opt for return or relocation, it will likely be a long road to recovery for Zamboanga’s displaced. (By Keneath John Bolisay)
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Letters to the Editor – Spare the Life of OFW Mary Jane Veloso Dear Editor,
Soldier killed by BIFF honored, body sent back to family MAGUINDANAO – The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division has sent the body of a soldier to his family following a solemn ceremony last week that honored the slain infantryman killed in a clash with rebels in Maguindanao province in the restive Muslim autonomous region. Capt. Maria Rowena
Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the casket containing the body of Pfc. Marlon Reyes was transported to Manila by a Philippine Air Force C130 cargo plane. It will be brought to his hometown in Batangas City. Col. Arnel dela Vega, of the 6th Infantry Division, also handed over to Reyes’
parents a Posthumous Military Merit Medal in recognition for the soldier’s bravery. Reyes was a member of the 14th Mechanized Infantry Company under the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion who engaged Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town this month. (Mindanao Examiner)
Who is holding kidnapped Zambo town mayor? AUTHORITIES said either the Abu Sayyaf or members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front “lost command” is believed holding Naga town Mayor Gemma
Adana. The politician was kidnapped by six masked gunmen last week and that security forces were dispatched to search for
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Adana. Capt. Frank Suelto, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said Adana was taken from her home in the village of Taytay Manubo. He said the armed men dragged her out of the house to a waiting speedboat by the river and sped off under cover of darkness. “We have dispatched troops to help police forces search for the mayor,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. It was not immediately known why the police failed to detect the daring assault or if the mayor had no bodyguards at the time of the raid. Quoting military reports, Suelto said the gang arrived in the town in three boats, but it was unclear whether the gunmen were members of the Abu Sayyaf or other rebel group. Police said the gunmen, clad in camouflage uniform, were all wearing ski mask and escaped to the open sea. Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, a regional police spokesman, said the mayor was with dining together with her family when the gunmen barged in the house and seized her. “The victim was taking meals together with the entire family inside their dwelling, when suddenly three unidentified suspects, wearing camouflage uniform, armed with high power firearms appeared therein and at gun point forcibly dragged the victim towards the back portion of their house into a waiting motorized pump boat color blue and immediately sped off heading towards the high seas,” he said in a report. Samuddin said local policemen and soldiers pursued the raiders, but failed to catch up with them. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but the province is a lair rebel groups and criminal syndicates. (Christina Diabordo)
THE National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) joins the Filipino people in the call to save the life of OFW Mary Jane Veloso who has been sentenced to death by the Indonesian Government allegedly for drug trafficking. According to accounts, she was a victim of a drug syndicate and was in Indonesia only because she was told a job as a domestic helper awaited her there. Mary Jane is a single mother of two who flew to Dubai in 2009 to work. She returned a year later after her employer attempted to rape her. In April 2010, she was illegally recruited by a friend to work in Malaysia. But upon setting foot in Malaysia, she was told the job was not available anymore. The same friend persuaded her to go to Indonesia instead where she was arrested. She was duped into carrying a sizable amount of heroin in the luggage her friend entrusted to her. She was jailed then later sentenced to death by the Indonesian Supreme Court that same year. Her case was submitted for judicial review but rejected later. Indonesia is now preparing
to transfer Mary Jane into the maximum security cell in Nusakambangan Island until her execution through firing squad. Our hearts are pained whenever we hear stories like this. To think that we commemorated the 20th year of Flor Contemplacion’s execution a couple of weeks ago. Mary Jane’s case and the stories of the other OFWs on death row is one of the consequences of the exodus of people to other countries. On one hand, this is forced migration instigated by the dream of a better life for their families at home. On the other hand, migration is part of the development agenda of the state not for the workers’ welfare but for their remittances as workers overseas. According to accounts, Mary Jane was not provided with a lawyer for her defense. She was only provided with a translator. It is the same thing that happened to Flor Contemplacion. It is the same circumstance that many Filipinos who are now on death row overseas find themselves in, especially in the Middle East. Twenty years and nothing has changed, the same government neglect that caused the
death of Flor Contemplacion in 1995 is still the main reason why many OFWs are on death row. We thus appeal to the government to immediately take action to save the life of Mary Jane. We echo the call of our migrant sisters and brothers: “we do not want another Flor Contemplacion!” While it is paramount that everything be done to save her life in the immediate, in the long run, the best way to prevent another case like this is to provide adequate jobs here in the country. Jobs that can provide decent lives for all. We also bring Mary Jane’s case to the public’s attention and the churches around the world. Let us join together in praying and calling on the Indonesian government to heed the appeal by the United Nations and various governments for clemency. We maintain that Mary Jane is a victim of an organized criminal drug syndicate and should not be executed. As we observe this season of Lent and Christ’s victory over death, we are hopeful that Mary Jane, with us on her side, will triumph over this darkness in her life. Rev. Fr. REX R. B. REYES, Jr. General Secretary – NCCP
NAHILO: Mga Posibleng Dahilan Payo ni Dr. Willie T. Ong 1. Problema sa mata – Kung malabo na ang iyong mata, puwede kang mahilo sa pagbabasa. Kung madalas mag-computer, nakahihilo rin. Dapat ay ipahinga ang mata at tumingin sa malayo para ma-relaks ito. Magpagawa ng salamin o dili kaya’y baguhin na ang grado ng salamin. 2. Problema sa tainga – Nasa tainga kasi natin ang vestibular system kung saan nagmumula ang pakiramdam natin sa balanse at pag-galaw. Kung may dumi o impeksiyon sa tainga, puwede ito magdulot ng matinding pagkahilo (vertigo). 3. High blood o low blood – Kung ika’y may high blood, puwede kang mahilo at manakit ang iyong batok. Kung ikaw naman ay low blood, ane-
Dr. Willie T. Ong mic at maputla, puwede ka rin mahilo. Dapat ang blood pressure natin ay nasa pagitan ng 140/90 ang pinakamataas at 90/60 ang pinakamababa. 4. Nerbiyos at stress – Ang mga nerbiyosong tao ay madalas din mahilo. Kapag kinakabahan, natatakot o nakasaksi ng nakahihindik na bagay, puwede silang mahilo. Ang tawag dito ay panic attack o nerbiyos.
Kailangan lang nila na magpahinga at uminom ng pampa-relax. 5. Kulang sa oxygen – Minsan naman ay may nahihilo o nahihimatay sa isang mataong lugar tulad ng simbahan o rally. Dala ito ng matinding init at dami ng tao. Kailangan lang magpahinga, magpahangin at mawawala rin ang hilo. 6. Kulang sa pagkain o anemic. Baka bumaba ang blood sugar dahil hindi kumain. 7. Stroke – Ang istrok ay may matinding pagkahilo at may kasamang panghihina ng isang parte ng katawan. Seryoso itong sakit at kailangan makita agad ng doktor. Para sa inyong karagdagang katanungan, komunsulta sa inyong doktor.
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School Year 2015-2016, magbukas sa Hunyo 1
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ng Department of Education nipahibalo nga ang school year 2 015-2016 sa mga p a m p u b l i k o n g tunghaan sa elementar y ug high school magsugod sa Hunyo 1 ug matapos sa Abril 1, 2016. Base sa Department Order No. 9 nga gipagawas na DepEd diin gibutang ang mga detalye sa bag-ong academic calendar, adunay 201 school days ning tuig, apil na ang lima ka adlaw nga In-Service Training break. Matud pa ni DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro, samtang adunay mga pr ibadong tunghaan
nga mosimang sa school calendar, kinahanglang magsugod ang ilang klase gikan Hunyo 1 hangtud Agosto 31. G i i n g o n g kinahanglang ipahibalo daan sa mga pribadong tunghaan sa mga hingtungdang opisyal sa DepEd ang petsa sa pagbukas sa ilang mga klase kun dili sila mosugod pagbukas sa ilang klase sama sa mga pampublikong tunghaan sa Hunyo 1. Matud pa usab ni Luistro nga ang mga tunghaan mahimong mopahigayon og mga nasudnon ug lokal nga selebrasyon, holidays ug mga advocacy activities gawas sa nakabutang sa
school calendar, basta kinahanglang masunod lang gihapon ang total number of school days. “Make-up classes can therefore be conducted to compensate for the school days spent for activities deemed beneficial to the learningteaching process. Likewise, make-up classes are recommended in lieu of no-school days due to occurrence of a natural and man-made calamities,” matud pa ni Luistro. Dugang pa sa Kalihim, ang mekanismo sa pagpahigayon og make-up class kinahanglang uyonan sa mga school administrators ug mga ginikanan sa mga estudyante. (ECB)
UniFAST to help Filipino students pursue college education
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hree out of every five Filipino high school graduates will be unable to proceed to college, mainly because of financial hardship, according to House Assistant Majority Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. To ease the problem, Gullas said he favors the appropriation of up to P11 billion to jump-start more public-funded college scholarships, grants-inaid, study-now-pay-later plans and low-cost student loans under the proposed Unified Financial Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education (UniFAST). “We support the proposal of the Senate to earmark fresh funding for all forms of governmentsponsored financial aid programs for college students from marginal households. We are dutybound to give more meaning to the hopes and dreams of disadvantaged families to send their sons and daughters to college,” Gullas, vice chairman of
ARMM
the House committee on higher and technical education, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. He said the Senate is set to approve on second reading the UniFAST bill, which the House previously passed on third and final reading. The Senate version of the bill that will be sent to the floor seeks to allocate an additional P11 billion for posthigh school scholarships, he added. “We have to produce more college graduates in the years ahead, if we are to promote full employment and assure more families a rising standard of living, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution,” Gullas said. A previous survey showed that a majority of Filipinos still consider higher education as key for them to prosper and UniFAST seeks to boost the distribution of scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to needy college students. Under the bill, the delivery of the aid will be reinforced via the improved targeting of recipients and uni-
fied standards for selection and retention. The national government is spending some P7.7 billion for postsecondary scholarships this year. The country’s 112 state universities and colleges have a combined P3.5 billion available for scholarships. The Commission on Higher Education has another P2.2billion for student financial aid. Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has P2 billion for its Training for Work Scholarship Program. Government also supports smaller college scholarship programs through the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System, and the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Gullas is author of several education bills, including a measure that seeks to reinforce the English proficiency of Filipinos by reinstating the language as the medium of instruction in all school levels. (Mindanao Examiner)
Southern Mindanao
Davao
From the website http://www.oslobwhalesharks.com
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Plight of the whale sharks
hilippine authorities have expressed alarm over the continu ed interaction by humans, mostly divers and tourists, with whale sharks in the sea off the town of Oslob in Cebu province. Tourists were reported feeding and in many cases had been photographed touching whale sharks which are not allowed. The Bureau of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource has dispatched a team to investigate the reports after several groups and nongovernmental organizations also expressed concern over the human interaction with whale sharks also known locally as “butanding.” The presence of whale sharks in the sea off Cebu has attracted thousands of local and foreign tourists
the past years. One website Oslobwhalesharks.com - is also promoting whale shark watching in Oslob. In its website, it said: “We are here to organize day tour trips on whale shark encounters with side trip to Tumalog waterfalls. We have concentrated on answering your most important questions on transport, activities, attractions, and accommodation.” “Watching of whale sharks in Oslob Cebu is 99% guaranteed. Whale sharks can be seen in a small barangay Tan-awan, which is 10 km away from the center town of Oslob. Whale shark watching in Cebu started last September 2011 and it became popular all over the world when the news hit in the internet last November 2011. By Decem-
ber 2011, local fishermen’s interact with the whale sharks by feeding them that result to flocking of tourist to the beach of Tanawan. Large numbers of tourists began arriving in Oslob not just to see the whale sharks being fed but also to snorkel or dive with them.” It added: “Get fascinated to watch friendly creatures of the sea as you enjoy watching and swimming with the friendly whale sharks in Oslob Cebu! Come and enjoy the adventure of lifetime experience.” Its operator, Island Trek Tours – a travel agency – said: “We are not the whale shark watching operator or resorts; we are travel agency who organized accommodations and whale shark tours.” (Cebu Examiner)
Good news sa indigent senior citizens
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iubsan na sa Department of Social Welfare and Development ang kwalipikasyon sa edad sa indigent senior citizens nga makadawat og P500 matag buwan nga social pension base sa Republic Act 9994 o ang Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Sugod karong tuig, ang mga kabos nga senior citizens nga nag-edad og 65 anyos pataas, makadawat na sa maong social pension. Kaniadto, kadto lamang mga senior citizens nga nag edad og 77 anyos pataas ang makadawat sa maong pension. Base sa balaod, ang indigent senior citizens o kadtong 60 anyos pataas ang makadawat sa binuwan nga pensiyon apan tungod sa limitadong pondo sa gobyerno, kadto lamang nagpangedaron og
77 anyos pataas ang nasulod sa maong balaod taman niadtong tuig 2014. Alang ning tuig, ang sugyot sa DSWD nga ubsan ang age of qualification ngadto sa 65 anyos giaprobahan sa Kongreso ug Senado ug naapil na kini sa General Appropriations Act of 2015. Matud pa ni DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman, ang pag-ubos sa age requirement makatabang gayud og daku sa mga kabos nga senior citizens sa pagpalit sa ilang mga nag-unang panginahanglan sama sa medisina ug mga sustansiyadong pagkaon alang sa maayo nilang panglawas. Alang sa 2015, ang gobyerno naggahin og P5.962 bilyon nga makabenepisyo sa 939,609 ka indigent senior citizens nga nag-edad og 65 anyos
Western Mindanao
Cebu
pataas, apil na ang Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Ang mga kwalipikadong makadawat sa maong P500 nga pensiyon kadtong mga senior citizens nga mahuyang, masakiton, o kadtong adunay disabilities; wala nagdawat og pension gikan sa Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, o veterans pension; ug kadtong walay permanenteng source of income o regular support gikan sa pamilya o mga paryente. Ang maong pension gipangapud-apud matag kuwarter pinaagi sa cash payment sa DSWD field offices o city og municipal social welfare and development offices. (ECB)
Manila