Mindanao Examiner Newspaper

Mindanao Daily

Founded 2006

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P10/RM1

Zamboanga City, Philippines

Dec. 10-16, 2012

ARMM GOVERNORS TODOSUPORTA SA BANGSAMORO IBINUHOS na ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ang suporta nito sa likod ng Bangsamoro framework agreement sa pagitan ng pamahalaang Aquino at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Sa katatapos lamang Governors Sadikul Sahali, na Mindanao Leaders' ng Tawi-Tawi; Jum Akbar Summit ay sinabi ni Sulu ng Basilan; Esmael Gov. Sakur Tan na patuloy Mangudadatu, ng Mana susuportahan ng guindanao at ang repreARMM governors ang sentative ni Mamintal peace process sa Min- Adiong, ng Lanao del Sur. danao.

Agaw-eksena naman Naglabas rin ng 15- si dating MNLF rebel point resolution ang mga commander Ondos Sahdin ARMM governors na dahil kahit sa loob ng sumnagtataglay ng mga mit venue ay nakapanukala upang lalong teleskopyo pa ito upang mapagtibay ang Frame- makita ng malapitan ang work Agreement on mga speakers at mga Bangsamoro at peace ac- dumalo sa forum. cord sa MILF. Sa gitna pa ito nakaMahigit sa 3000 katao balandra at animo'y sa ang dumalo sa dalawang malayo nakatingin gamit araw na forum na ang teleskopyong nakatali ipinatawag ni Tan. Kasama pa si pulang panyo. sa naturang summit sina Narito rin si former

Muslim rebel Nur Misuari, ng Moro National Liberation Front, at mga govern-

Mahigit sa 3000 katao ang dumalo sa dalawang araw na forum sa Bangsamnoro na ipinatawag ni Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan. Kasama sa naturang summit sina Governors Sadikul Sahali, ng TawiTawi; Jum Akbar ng Basilan; Esmael Mangudadatu, ng Maguindanao at ang representative ni Mamintal Adiong, ng Lanao del Sur. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ARMM

Northern Mindanao

Davao

ment officials sa pangunguna nina Undersecretary Nabil Tan, ng Office of the Executive Secretary; at Edilwasif Baddiri, ng National Commission on Muslim Filipinos at Jose Lorena, ng government peace panel.

Maging ang MILF ay nagpadala rin ng kanilang kinatawan na si Toks Ibrahim, at gayun rin ang Simbahang Katoliko sa katauhan ni Bishop Angelito Lampon, ng Vicariate of Sulu at TawiTawi; at Sheik Abdulmuin Mujahid, ng ZamboangaBasilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Ulama. At mga civil society groups at nongovernmental organizations.

Namataan rin doon ang

Manila

mga sundalo Kano na kumukuha ng video footage at nagmamasid sa kalalabasan ng forum.

Pinagusapan sa summit ang Mindanao peace process at Framework Agreement na nilagdaan nitong Oktubre lamang.

"Sinusuportahan natin ang peace process ng ating Pangulo kaya nga may summit tayo dito sa Sulu upang ipaalam sa publiko ang kahalagahan nitong peace talks at ng Framework Agreement. Sinusuportahan namin mga governors sa ARMM ang kapayapaan," ani Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan sa panayam ng Mindanao Examiner.

Ito rin ang sinabi ni

Dr. Amildasa Annil, ng Movement for Sustainable Good Governance, at ayon sa kanya: "This summit is important to all of us and we want the people to understand the peace process and the Framework Agreement, and other issues pertaining to peace, our future and Mindanao in whole."

Ay o n k a y Ta n a y magkakaroon rin ng forum sa Maguindanao sa susunod na buwan sa Lanao del Sur at TawiTa w i u p a n g m a k a pangalap ng mga inputs para sa peace talks at ma-ipaalam sa mga Muslim ang kahalagahan nito. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga Peninsula

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President Aquino wants more preparation vs calamities

Bad weather condition and a rough sea forces this family of fishermen to take shelter in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA - Filipino leader Benigno Aquino has ordered

an investigation into the dev- Bopha in the Philippines to astation caused by Typhoon prevent further loss of lives

in the future, state media reported.

It said Aquino wanted to minimize if not eliminate the large number casualties during calamities. Typhoons in the country is a yearly occurrence and the government must have an effective disaster plan to limit the effects of typhoons to the general population,Aquino said.

“I would like to get to the point na sigurado ang mga Pilipino na mabibigyan siya ng timely information, meron siyang malilikasan na lugar para mailayo sa panganib, at mabawasan, kung hindi tuluyang mawala, ang mga nawawalang Pilipino kada merong natural disaster,” Aquino said.

He said there must be scientific basis in assessing

future natural disturbances particularly the amount of rain falling in a particular locality. Aquino said he wants to know whether there were lapses in planning that resulted to large number of casualties in those areas.

The typhoon left hundreds of people dead from landslides and flash floods in Compostela Valley and Davao regions.

Aquino also put the country under a state of national calamity and this allows local governments to utilize their respective calamity funds for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in their areas and hasten relief assistance among areas hardest hit by the calamity.

Among those hit by the typhoon were the provinces

o f C o m p o s t e l a Va l l e y, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Surigao del S u r, L a n a o d e l N o r t e , Misamis Oriental, C a g a y a n d e O r o C i t y, Siquijor and Palawan in Region 4-B. Aquino also inspected devastated areas in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley and Boston in Davao Oriental.

He also instructed government agencies to speed up relief and search operations, as well as the reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges so that needed goods and services could reach heavily damaged areas, the Philippine News Agency said.

Pagkatalo ni Manny Pacquiao inasahan na!

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Hindi na ikinagulat ng ilan ang pagkakatalo kahapon ni Manny Pacquiao dahil inaasahan na umano nila ang bagsik ng paghihiganti ni Mexican pride Juan Manuel

Marquez sa pagkatalo nito sa huling laban nila.

Ngunit marami pa rin ang sumuporta kay Pacquiao at katunayan ay naiyak ang mga fans ng Pinoy boxing champ ng ito’y bumagsak sa

3rd round at lalo na sa huling minuto ng kanilang sagupaan.

“Napasigaw nga ako at nanindig ang aking mga balahibo ng Makita ko na bumagsak si Manny sa last round at Akala ko nga ay patay na. Dapat ng mag retire si Manny at mag-concetrate na lamang siya sa kanyang political career,” wika ni Jeng Fernandez, isang masugid na fan ni Pacquiao sa Zamboanga City.

Maging mga tricycle driver na nakapanood sa laban ay halos hindi makapaniwala sa naganap sa kanilang idol.

Ang iba naman ay nanlumo sa pagkatalo ni Pacquiao.

“Parang ayaw ko na munang bumiyahe at pahinga na lang muna at parang hindi ko tanggap na natalo si Manny. Kawawa naman si Manny,” ani Jose Perez.

Sa lugar naman ni Pacquiao sa General Santos City ay halos mawasak ang mundo ng ina nitong si Mommy Dionisia at ayon sa mga ilang malapit sa kanya ay hinimatay umano ang matanda ng mabalitaanang napabagsak at natalo ang anak sa labanan.

Hindi pinanonood ni Mommy Dionisia ang mga laban ng anak at sa halip ay pagdarasal ang ginagawa nito at madalas ay kinakausap ang mga rebultong santo sa kanyang prayer room.

Humagulgol naman ang maraming mga tagaGeneral Santos City na nanood sa gymnasium ng lokal na pamahalaan sa sinapit ni Pacquiao sa mga kamay ni Marquez.

Sinisi naman ng iba ang pagiging panatiko ni

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation said it expects to post a P10-billion increase in total benefit payments to its members and de-

pendents this year.

“We are on track to delivering between P44 billion to P47 billion worth of benefits this year, or 30 percent

Drivers and passengers don't know how to react when Pacman kiss the Canvass during the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano) Pacquiao sa bibliya dahil lahat ay iniaasa na lamang umano sa Panginoon. Ang mga iba naman ay sinabi na malaking ang naging

epekto ng edad ni Pacquiao sa kanyang pagkatalo at nalalaos na umano. (Mindanao Examiner)

greater than the P34 billion we paid in 2011,” Philhealth president and chief executive officer Dr. Eduardo Banzon said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.

He said Philhealth has already distributed P32 billion in cumulative benefits from January to September this year, up by P8 billion or 33 percent compared to the P24 billion dispensed over the same nine-month period in 2011.

“Since August this year, we’ve already averaged nearly P1 billion in benefit payments every week,” he said while attributing the huge increase in benefit payments to new and improved subsidies to multiple medical cases, plus expanded coverage as a result of more members and dependents enlisted.

Philhealth approved the launch of large benefit packs for catastrophic ailments affecting a growing number of members and dependents, including P600,000 for lowrisk, end-stage renal disease requiring a kidney transplant; P210,000 for standard-risk childhood leukaemia; P100,000 for early stage breast cancer; and P100,000 for low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

It also introduced an P11,000-case rate payment for

leptospirosis, the most common disease transmitted to people from animals, mainly rats; and a P3,000-Animal Bite Pack for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

These are on top of existing case rate payments for several medical conditions, including P38,000 for cerebrovascular accident with haemorrhage; P32,000 for high-risk pneumonia; P28,000 for cerebral infraction; P16,000 for dengue hemorrhagic fever with presence of shock; P15,000 for moderate-risk pneumonia; P14,000 for typhoid fever; P9,000 for essential hypertension; P9,000 for asthma; P8,000 for dengue fever or simple DHF; and P6,000 for acute gastroenteritis. The payments cover the full cost of treatment, hospitalization and professional fees.

Philhealth said it enlisted some 5.2 million of the country’s poorest families covered under the Department of Social Welfare Department’s National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction and this includes all families receiving conditional cash transfers.

And another 5 million disadvantaged families not covered by the NHTS-PR. Their premiums have been subsidized by their local governments.

More members benefit from Philhealth For all your newspaper publications and advertisements, please call (062) 992-5480 mindanaoexaminer.com

JUST SAY

NO!

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New Saudi regulation affects illegal, undocumented Filipino workers A new regulation in Saudi Arabia that requires personal information of cell phone users are expected to affect thousands of undocumented or illegal migrants, according to Migrante-Middle East.

It said Saudi’s Communication and Information Technology Commission requires its customers to register or update their personal information to avoid disruption of their SIM card services.

The new regulation,

which was announced as early as July, requires customers to register their National Identification Number or Iqama immediately after entering their prepaid card number to charge SIM cards, recharge, or transfer balances.

In compliance with the new regulation, Saudi telecommunication companies will disconnect SIM card services of customers who failed to register or update their personal information.

“This is an internal policy of the host government that we fully respect and abide,” said MigranteMiddle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona said because of the new regulation many undocumented Filipino workers would not be able to make phone calls, especially to their families in the Philippines.

Malaysian firms eager to invest in Mindanao

Vendors peddle their trade in Sindangan town in Zamboanga del Norte province.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SC affirms indictment of two Ampatuans MANILA - The Philippine Supreme Court has reaffirmed the indictment of two primary suspects in the Ampatuan Massacre.

The Third Division of the Supreme Court reaffirmed last November 14, 2012 its resolutions finding nothing wrong with the Court of Appeals’ upholding the indictment of former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan as one of the accused in the Ampatuan Massacre trial. The court said Zaldy’s October 10, 2010 motion seeking clarification of the court’s 25 June and August 15, 2012 resolutions lacked merit.

The Court’s First Division also upheld the indictment of Anwar Ampatuan Sr.

in an October 3, 2012 resolution. The Court was acting on a petition for review on certiorari filed by Anwar Ampatuan Sr. after the Court of Appeals denied his petition questioning his inclusion in the Massacre trial.

Fifty-eight persons, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province last November 23, 2009.

In October 2012, Zaldy through his lawyers Philip Sigfrid Fortun and Geraldine Meneses asked the Court in a nine-page motion to explain why his petition for review on certiorari and the subsequent motion for reconsideration were denied. He argued that the Supreme Court was

obliged by the Philippine Constitution to explain its decisions.

Zaldy argued that: “Such a clarification will provide him some assurance that the Honorable Court gave his appeal the attention it rightfully deserved especially since his life and liberty are at stake, and his 33-month detention is a punishment too painful to bear.”

The Court however explained that “there is no need to fully explain the Court’s denial.” “Notably, the facts and laws are already discussed in the decision of the CA and the minute resolution denying due course the petition for review of the decision of the CA only means that the Court agrees with and/or adopts the findings and conclusions of the CA,” the Court added.

The Special (Former) 11th Division of the Manila Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the decision of former acting Justice Sec. Alberto Agra to reinstate Zaldy Ampatuan in the Massacre multiple murder case.Meanwhile, the Court’s First Division in its resolution upholding the legality of the indictment of Anwar Ampatuan said that Anwar “failed to sufficiently show that the Court of Appeals committed any reversible error in the challenged decision and resolution as to warrant the exercise of this Court’s discretionary appellate jurisdiction.”

Last August 19, 2011, the Court of Appeals denied Anwar’s petition for certiorari saying that former acting Justice Sec. Alberto Agra “did not commit grave abuse of discretion” in upholding his indictment in May 2010.

Only two out of the eight primary accused—Unsay Ampatuan and Andal Ampatuan Sr.—had been arraigned since the hearings began in 2010. (Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility)

PAGADIAN CITY - The Philippines said Malaysian firms are eager to put up investments in Mindanao.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Mindanao Development Authority recently held the Mindanao Business Networking Forum attended by some 150 participants.

Officials said the forum also attended by MDA head Luwalhati Antonino and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Vice Governor Bainon Karon, and some 45 Mindanao-based businessmen and government officials generated significant interest among Malaysian businessmen and is expected to lead to sizable investments in the southern region.

Joining them were some 70 Malaysian investors and government officials led by Malaysian Ministry for Trade and Industry Deputy Secretary General for Trade Mohd

Ridzal Sheriff; Putrajaya Chamber of Commerce President and concurrently Malay Chamber of Commerce Deputy President Dato’ Hj Mohammed Alayuddin Hj Hasan; and Lembaga Tabung Haji Chairman Tan Sri Dato

Sri’ Abu Musa Mohamed Nor. The forum was the firstever international investment forum for Mindanao after the signing of the Framework Agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

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Balsa Mindanao aids typhoon victims in Compostela Valley DAVAO CITY – Various humanitarian groups and civil organizations on Saturday conducted relief mission in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley.

Organizers said the mercy mission in four villages in Compostela town was participated by a broad network of church and church-backed organizations, schools, disaster response nongovernmental organizations, academe, youth and students, women, environmentalists, progressive groups, which coalesced as Bulig Alang sa Mindanao/ Help Mindanao (BALSA Mindanao) are conducting today relief mission in 4 barangays of Compostela town in Compostela Valley Province which are badly hit by typhoon Pablo on December 4.

“We preferred to conduct relief operations in barangays of Ngan, Mangayon, Osmena, and San Miguel in Compostela because no group, agency or even the local government unit has conducted disaster response activities compared to other areas in Compostela Valley Province,” BALSA Southern Mindanao convener and spokesperson Sr. Noemi Degala of Sisters’ Association in Mindanao said

in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

She said based on the rapid appraisal of needs of BALSA Southern Mindanao, more than 2,000 families from the four villages need food, water, medicines, sleeping mats, clothing, and vinyl for temporary shelters.

She said the local governments in Compostela Valley also expressed incapacity to hold full-scale relief and rescue operations. Thousands of families in Compostela town have been stranded and trapped due to massive floods and destruction which made a number of bridges and roads non-passable. Rescue operations were not possible due to the non-availability of rubber boats and other disaster response equipment and trained personnel, she said.

“So, we are pouring in our available yet limited resources to areas which are not yet covered by relief operations of other groups or government agencies. This is our way to fill-in the gaps in the relief and disaster response work and to contribute in the over-all efforts to help and rebuild the lives of the affected people of Southern Mindanao Region.”

“We are able to mobilize

The Mindanao Examiner Media, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave) Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief/Producer (OIC) Gregorri Leaño Joanna Valerie Wee Video Editor Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week NEWS/ADVERTISING OFFICES Mark Navales ARMM

Giovanni Solmerano Eastern Mindanao

Merlyn Manos Iligan City

Geonarri Solmerano Southern Mindanao

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Asa Madale Lanao Provinces Ely Dumaboc Zamboanga Sibugay/Zamboanga del Sur/Zamboanga del Norte John Shinn III California The Mindanao Examiner Newspaper/Business Week/Mindanao Daily is published weekly/daily in Zamboanga City and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, Philippines.

The Mindanao Examiner Television is broadcast in Skycable 54 in Zamboanga; Lupah Sug Cable in Sulu province and Basilan Cable in Basilan province.

Our business and editorial offices are located at Units 15, 3rd Floor, Fair Land Bldg., Nuñez St., Zamboanga City Phone & fax: +63 62 9925480 Mobile: +63 9152756606 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

resources from various generous organizations and individuals here and abroad. We are able also to mobilize volunteers from the medical profession, social workers, youth and students, teachers, and religious organizations. Indeed, more than 200 volunteers are mobilized for relief operations today,” she said.

BALSA Southern Mindanao led by Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI), Panalipdan Southern Mindanao, and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines–Southern Mindanao also conducted relief and rehabilitation interventions in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City last year after a powerful typhoon devastated the areas. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga City.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo)

10 films mark International Human Rights Week in Philippines MANILA - The Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival unveiled 10 powerful human rights stories projecting truth in social realities which coincided with the celebration of the International Human Rights Week in Philippines.

Under the festival’s Alab Short Film Competition - ten films from aspiring filmmakers explored the issues of human trafficking, peace, gender discrimination, children’s rights, discrimination of PWDs, climate change and environment, right to freedom of expression and information, right to social services and security, extra-judicial killings and reproductive health.

Organizers said the films were made possible through the support of AusAID, The Asia Foundation, Movies that Matter and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Active Vista closed its festival on International Human Rights Day with the awarding of the winners of its ALAB short film competition.

“What is truly inspiring and hopeful about this year’s ALAB Short Films is that these films were a product of Active Vista’s attempt to marry the filmmakers’ art with their advocacy. Each film was chosen based not only on the participants’ creative idea but as well as how their films reflect the human rights theme they are advocating.

These films demonstrate how cinema make us think significantly about human rights issues in new and interesting ways,” Kristine Kintana, Active Vista Film Festival Program Director, said in a statement to the Mindanao Examiner.

“We are proud to support these 10 filmmakers who have dared to incite change through cinema. We have a roster of individuals who possess not only talent but also passion for their advocacy. This rare mix is composed of NGO workers – advocates who wanted to explore filmmaking as a tool to promote their advocacy, and filmmakers – artists who wanted to engage in advocacy work.” Kintana said.

Since July 2012, Active Vista traveled in 20 cities all over the country to screen

films and provide forum for discourse on human rights issues among audiences, government, NGOs, academe and artists.

“The Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival has always believed in the power of cinema to tell stories that grab people by their collar and shake them out of their apathy. These are the stories of the people, a reflection of social truths in a country whose government believes that human rights issues are nothing but leftist propaganda,” Leni Velasco, Active Vista Festival Director, said.

“When one is able to list

as many as 10 human rights issues of his/her country, one should be alarmed. It says a lot about the country, considering that human rights is the backbone of democracy, something the Philippines has been proud to be,” she said.

With sessions in the Congress and the Senate ending soon, the future remains bleak for many human rights groups in the country who have been lobbying for the passage of bills that should help ensure human rights for all Filipinos of all classes and gender such as the Reproductive Health Bill, Freedom of Information Bill, Sign Language Bill,

Anti-discrimination Bill and Security of Tenure Bill, among others.

Velasco said: “2012 is about to end and we have not seen an improvement in the many human rights issues of the Philippines. Even worse, the government is turning a blind eye. Some of these films may be fictional, but the issues they tackle are not.

Through these films, Active Vista hopes to ignite revolutions of the minds and inspire movements, if not to change things then perhaps to change the way we view things, one viewer at a time.”

Dec. 10-16, 2012

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Communist rebels call for aid for typhoon victims in Mindanao DAVAO CITY – Communist rebel leaders have appealed for aid for victims of the typhoon Bopha that left hundreds of people dead in the southern Philippines.

Rubi del Mundo, a spokesperson for the National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao, also urged allied revolutionary organizations to raise funds, seek donations and contributions for more than 160,000 people affected the typhoon.

The typhoon left a trail of destruction in Davao and Compostela Valley provinces where hundreds had died from landslides and flash floods.

Del Mundo blamed large-scale mining activities for the deaths. “As the revolutionary forces help in the relief and rehabilitation, the people, including the families

of the victims of the calamity should struggle to hold accountable those responsible for the loss of lives and property.”

“The grave losses suffered by the people highlights the need to stop environmental plunder by indiscriminate large-scale mining, expanding large-scale plantations, and logging operations that are being abetted by the USAquino regime’s pro-capitalist economic policies,” Del Mundo said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The rebels spokesperson said as the typhoon’s death toll continues to increase, the government has failed to provide relief operations in the towns of Boston, Cateel and Bagangga, the towns worst hit by the typhoon in Davao Ori-

ental. And said search and rescue operations have not extended into far-flung villages of Monkayo, New Bataan and Compostela towns.

“The inaction and incompetence by the Philippine government in the face of this tragedy is foreshadowed by the pronouncements of the reactionary environment and disaster officials who have blamed affected residents for their complacency and failing to heed the state’s warning and earlier calls for preventive evacuation.”

“The reactionary government also point to rampant small-scale mining and logging in the affected areas— areas which were considered already disaster-prone in the state’s so-called geo-hazard map. It was an old script taken out the (typhoon) Sendong

ProGay marks 18th year MAKATI CITY – The human rights alliance ProGay Philippines is celebrating its 18th anniversary and cited its gains in reducing social homophobia and trans-phobia, but it said many gays still complain being denied formal recognition of their rights by Congress.

Goya Candelario, ProGay spokesperson, said the Senate and House can fast track the Anti-Discrimination bill. He said the passage of the law will remove the constant censure the country receives from the United Nations Human

Rights Council about the lack of a national law banning discrimination.

ProGay broke the social and cultural barriers when it led a ragtag group of gay men and lesbians down Quezon Memorial Circle in June 1994, at a time when the public insisted gays have no role in politics. It was the first gay pride march in Asia, and a few years after, ProGay was planting the seeds of gay pride festivals in Cavite, Baguio City, Davao, Pampanga, and Laguna.

Pride marches or motor-

cades in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Nepal, and Vietnam followed suit, while indoor pride parties launched in Cambodia and China.

Candelario said ProGay continues to organize political groups and grassroots health organizations among unemployed transgenders, lesbians and gay youth in the country’s teeming slums where lack of access to basic education prevents them from battling discrimination, poverty, HIV, evictions, and violence.

tragedy: denuded forests plus failure of the people to relocate aggravated the impact of a natural calamity. It was a ready, convenient answer by a government that has failed in putting into place sufficient preparations and responding to the needs of its people,” Del Mundo said.

Del Mundo said the failure of the Aquino government to immediately address the problems highlighted poor disaster-preparedness, especially in the two provinces large-scale mining and logging activities are unabated.

“Nowhere can we see the hundreds of millions of pesos of tax payers’ money out of Compostela Valley’s mining, agribusiness and Davao Oriental’s logging resources working for the victims of this calamity. Local capitalists and

foreign large-scale mining salivate over the estimated 189 million metric tons of gold deposits mostly found in Mt. Diwata and nickel deposits of 490.7 million metric tons in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.”

“And yet, as tragedies strike the resource-laden but poor communities, all the government can do is to deliver piecemeal assistance.

Despite the billions of pesos allocated by the US-Aquino regime in Armed Forces’ modernization (program), in the implementation of the fascist (anti-insurgency) Oplan Bayanihan, and in disasterrelated technological upgrade, the high-tech gadgets have failed to save the lowly peasant families, the families of small-scale miners and the ordinary banana plantation

workers,” Del Mundo said.

But President Aquino has ordered relief operations in the provinces and sent Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday to see how government can assist the typhoon victims.

Roxas said the President is making sure that needed services and assistance are delivered immediately to answer the needs of displaced families and victims whether injured or dead, according to state media.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has distributed thousands of food packs to the victims of typhoon in Compostela Valley. It also released over P3 million in relief assistance to families affected by the typhoon.

(Mindanao Examiner)

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Filipino urban poor groups demand space for settlements MANILA - Filipino urban poor groups have demanded from the Aquino government sufficient space for their settlement, and that they should be included in the country’s long term land use and development plans.

“Land is the platform for most, if not all, human activities from the time we are born to the time we die,” said Von Einsiedel, urban planner and president of Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning, Inc. during a recent forum attended by representatives from Urban Land Reform Movement, the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan, and other affiliated urban poor groups.

Von Einsiedel stressed the importance of an effective land use policy to the administration of housing and urban

settlements that will greatly impact the poor. He pointed out that the solution to the growing problem of urban settlements should be socially and environmentally viable.

“The existing situation does not look good,” he said, citing rapid urban population growth together with massive urban expansion and densification.

He also said that a large number of urban poor are without proper housing and basic services. He said that in order to provide solution to this dilemma, local governments should strictly implement laws on urban housing like the Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development Housing Act, more popularly known as the Lina Law, which was passed in 1992.

The Lina Law sought to provide solution to the need

of the urban poor for proper and humane settlements by addressing their access to land and housing, relocation, demolitions, and promoting private sector participation in housing.

According to Von Einsiedel, one provision of the law that is commonly overlooked is the provision of whereby developers of proposed subdivision projects shall be required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least 20% of the total subdivision area or total subdivision project cost, at the option of the developer, within the same city or municipality, whenever feasible, and in accordance with the standards set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and other existing laws.

“We need also to balance the need of human activities

to the carrying capacity of the environment. This will be addressed by a land use policy that everyone should adhere to,” Von Einsiedel said.

The National Land Use Act aims to ensure settlements development which will provide improvement on existing settlements or any proposed development of certain areas for settlement purposes. It also involves the spatial distribution of population, identification of the roles and functions

of key urban centers, determination of relationships among settlement areas, and the provision of basic services and facilities of identified major settlement areas or growth centers.

Von Einsiedel also called for the proper use and management of the P50 billion allocation of the Aquino government each year until 2016 for housing projects in Metro Manila. This is on top of the P10 billion housing budget for

informal settlers living in dangerous areas in Metro Manila, and the P5.5 billion fund for the resettlement of informal settlers living in high-risk or calamity stricken areas in Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Metro Manila.

“We should be able to come up with affordable housing programs and come up with funds to provide subsidy for the poorest of the poor,” Von Einsiedel.

Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Get Awards In 2002, youth organizations from all over the Philippines were given a chance to be part of a selection of the most dynamic groups of young individuals yearning to effect positive change in their communities and this year marks the 10th batch of winners of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) who recently received their trophies at an awarding ceremony with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang and completing its first hundred awardees.

The 10th batch of TAYO awardees came from diverse backgrounds, offering alternative approaches to seemingly similar problems. First up is the problem of the lack of electricity in remote areas. One Million Lights Philippines tied up with an international organization to access thousands of solar lamps which they were then able to distribute to needy communities all over the country.

The RMTU – Electrical Engineering Society saw the same problem in a village in Zambales, provided a solar power charging station and solar lamps to Aeta families and are now looking into providing a more sustainable renewable power source in the area.

To respond to the needs of their communities to recycle trash and generate income, two organizations made similar projects, using discarded tarpaulins to make

bags. I CAN Make a Difference provided differentlyabled young Zamboanguenos a way to earn a living, while the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors gave out of work moms in the slum areas the ability to provide extra income to provide for their families’ needs.

Other organizations saw the need to maintain the livelihood opportunities of people in their area. Monte Verde 4H Club from Zamboanga City helps young farmers and their families improve their earnings not only through agricultural training for better yields, but processing their crops for better earnings.

The CBA-Kalipunan Marketing Junior Executives aims to encourage organic farmers in Benguet by providing them with greenhouses, ensuring that their produce earns them enough money to make a living.

On another hand, the University of Luzon Students in Free Enterprise provided fisher folk in Pangasinan a chance to regain lost income from environmental degradation through the technology of Aquaphonics, which allow them to form fish condominiums that can also support crops like mushrooms.

The remaining three organizations focused on improving the way of life of the people around them. Angat Kabataan caused the awakening of hope and renewal of

cooperation from various sectors in their town in Rizal by cleaning up and revitalizing a dead creek.

Dire Husi Initiatives from Cagayan de Oro not only encouraged street children to stay away from vices, but also to go back to school, earn a living though learning a trade, and turn their lives around through a common ground, art education.

The La Salle Debate Society put the Philippines on the map of the international debating scene by organizing the World Debates Championship, the largest academic gathering of students in the world, amassing not only income from tourism but fostering friendships and encouraging local support in the field of debate.

O t h e r o rg a n i z a t i o n s who joined this year were the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority and Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity, both from the UP Manila College of Medicine; Tingug-CDO; Students in Free Enterprise – Sultan Kudarat State University; Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – Student Chapter of West Negros University; Hayag Youth Organization; Development Communication Society of Benguet State University; English Society of Aklan State University; Kythe Ateneo; and JBLFMU Molo Community Extension Service Society.

AL AM par ty list nagpasalamat sa SC, publiko!

ALAM party Nagpahayag ngayon ng pasasalamat ang grupong Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM) sa kanilang mga tagasuporta at miyembro dahil sa kanilang matibay na pagtangkilik sa kanilang adhikain.

Nagpasalamat rin sila sa Korte Suprema sa pagpanig sa kanilang petition for certiorari at temporay restraining order laban sa desisyon ipinalabas ng Commission on Elections

(COMELEC) na diskuwalipikahin ang grupo sa party-list elections sa 2013.

Ayon kay ALAM national chairman Jerry Yap, masaya siya sa desisyon ng Mataas na Tribunal dahil nakita rin nito ang kanilang adhikain na mabigyan ng representasyon ang marginalized sector ng media, gayundin ang kanilang mga miyembrong mula sa mga mahihirap na pamilya sa

buong bansa.

Ikinatuwa rin ni Yap ang matibay na suporta at paninindigang ipinakita ng mga tagasuporta ng ALAM sa kabila ng pagbasura ng COMELEC sa kanilang grupo sa paglahok sa halalan sa Mayo13, 2013 dahil lamang sa kakulangan umano ng track record.

“Lahat ng aming mga chapter sa iba’t ibang lalawigan na kumakatawan sa 14 na rehiyon ng ating bansa ay natutuwa sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema na pagkalooban kami ang TRO. Akala nila, tapos na ang ating laban, subalit patuloy ang ating adhikain at lalaban tayo hanggang sa huli,” ani Yap. (Nenet Villafania)

Who is San Juan Representative JV Ejercito Estrada?

JV EJERCITO is an epitome of an excellent young public servant, always concerned with the interest of his compatriots, over and above his personal political career. His phenomenal governance as Mayor of San Juan for nine years, along with his conviction to make a difference in the lives of the masses has shown a new type of public servant.

Since he assumed the public spotlight, JV believes that he is called upon to serve and make a positive difference in the lives of the Filipino masses, especially on the youth. His JV Ejercito Scholarship Foundation has already benefited 1,000 college scholars as of this writing.

He also helped in addressing the health problem of his constituents in San Juan by distributing Medicare para sa Masa (Philhealth Insurance) and the San Juan Health Card.

Along with various youth organizations, JV is tirelessly helping the youth in their pursuit for a better future.

Under JV’s leadership, San Juan had emerged triumphant amidst the economic and political crises besetting the nation. To date, San Juan has the lowest poverty incidence of 2.92% as stated by the National Statistics Coordinating Body, achieved a 200% increase in its revenue in merely four years, and recognized by the Commission on Audit as the best fiscally-managed municipality in the entire country.

Despite being in the opposition, and not having received a single centavo or project from the current administration, San Juan likewise emerged as the country’s Most Progressive Municipality in 2006 as adjudged by the Commission on Audit.

This is a feat which shows that JV has excelled as a good local executive, while being active in fighting for his principles by being part of different mass actions about various national issues. Because of JV’s sound financial management, San Juan is the only local government unit in the country to be given a AA credit rating by the Local Government Unit Guaranty Corporation, the highest rating among the local government units.

Against all odds, JV emerged as one of the best, if not the best performing local chief executive as he spearheads San Juan’s “economic boom”.

JV, also as a successful “entrepinoy”, had managed to draw in local and foreign investors in San Juan. Thus, San Juan now is also known as the “Tiangge Capital,” generating a hefty tourist and merchandizing market that

created an opportunity for more jobs for the people of San Juan and nearby towns.

After introducing innovations thru computerization and making San Juan a business friendly community, an estimated P2 Billion worth of investments has poured in since 2001.

This goes to show that the business sector in particular has given their full trust and confidence in the leadership of JV. As a result of San Juan’s Economic Miracle, thousands of jobs and opportunities have been given the youth in San Juan.

Now as Congressman of the city’s lone district, JV had elevated San Juan into a new booming city in the metropolis that enhanced his health campaigns by providing affordable medical and hospitalization needs, improving the local education system by establishing an affordable City College and promoting technical and vocational courses which provided livelihood programs, and an on-site housing program to the poorest of the poor in San Juan.

Driven by his idealist and nationalist nature, JV had established the first “Museo ng Katipunan” showcasing the Katipunan artifacts and a diorama that dramatized the “Battle of San Juan Del Monte”, the lone incident that sparked the Philippine Revolution. JV made sure that the San Juan will honor heroes and martyrs by establishing monuments and murals of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Macario Sakay and now Leandro Alejandro.

If only JV had solely focused on his political directions, he should be called “Senator JV” by now. His strong showing in the pre-election surveys and the dominating victory of the United Opposition in the recentlyconcluded senatorial elections, among others, manifested a most likely resounding victory for “Senator JV”.

But JV is not a man for himself. He gave way so that the opposition would be united and have a bigger chance of winning in the election. He sacrificed his personal ambition for the good of his party. JV Ejercito is a man driven by conviction, not by ambition.

JV has become not only a politician but a unique public servant that continues to inspire the Filipino youth to serve our country with honor and dedication.

JV belongs to the new breed of public servants that puts the interest of the country above self. JV had been continuously upholding the principles of “bayan muna bago ang sarili” which makes him truly “A Man for Others.”

Mindanao Daily

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Zamboanga City, Philippines

Dec. 10-16, 2012

UN TO HELP RP CITIES PREPARE FOR EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE MANILA – As thousands of Filipinos in the southern region of the country struggle to recover from the destruction caused by Typhoon Bopha (local code name Pablo), the United Nations World Food Programme is partnering with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme to support the Philippine government’s initiatives in building resilience to climate change.

Under the 12-month part- high risk to the lives of our nership “Joint WFP/UN-Habi- people who live in the rivertat Initiative on Philippine side barangays,” said Cities and Climate Change Ferdinand Amante Jr., Mayor Adaptation,” the cities of of Butuan City.

The four cities were seButuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Iloilo – all of lected based on various critewhich have been in the path ria, including exposure to of Typhoon Bopha – will be natural and climate-related assessed for ecological, physi- hazards, such as flood, cal, and socio-economic risks drought, and rising sea levels due to climate change. Local in coastal areas. Local governgovernment personnel will ment commitment to building receive training in planning their capacities to implement and implementing activities adaptation measures were also that will help their communi- considered.

“Empowering local govties adapt to the negative efernments and communities to fects of a changing climate.

“This partnership is very adapt to climate change is key valuable to us because our city to this joint initiative. We is highly vulnerable to flood- hope that this assistance will ing. It sits at the mouth of the eventually allow for the incluAgusan River, and every time sion of appropriate climate the rainy season comes, flood- change adaptation actions in waters coming from as far as each city’s local development the Compostela Valley pour plan,” WFP Philippines out of the river and pose a Country Director and Repre-

sentative Stephen Anderson, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

He said WFP will oversee the implementation of the joint initiative and lead the high-impact community adaptation projects with the local government units in each of the four cities. UN-Habitat will provide technical expertise in climate vulnerability and adaptation assessments, training for local government personnel, and climate change adaptation planning.

“UN-Habitat, together with WFP, is committed to support cities in strengthening their own capacities in participatory risk and vulnerability assessment as the basis for urban planning. Given the increasing urbanization of poverty, cities are becoming the arena where the fight for the achievement of development goals will be won or lost,” UN-Habitat Philippines Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo, said.

The WFP/UN-Habitat partnership is a component

Residents of Kidapawan City in the southern Philippines deploy 'sky lanterns' as a symbol of sympathy and to send prayers for victims of Typhoon Pablo (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano) of the larger WFP Disaster Preparedness and Response

Programme which is generously supported by USAID’s

Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.

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