Mindanao Daily
Founded 2006
mindanaoexaminer.com
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Zamboanga City, Philippines
SORA ng ARMM umani ng papuri! COTABATO CITY – Naidaos ng mapayapa ang State of the Region Address ni Gov. Mujiv Hataman ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at inisa-isa nito ang mga naisagawa sa halos isang taon ng panunungkulan bilang Officer-in-Charge. Unang nagpasalamat ito sa mga dumalo sa kanyang SORA, kabilang na ang mga governors ng ARMM at ang mga miyembro ng Regional Legislative Assembly at ng International Monitoring
Team. Special mention rin ni San City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada na todo naman ang suporta sa pamunuan ni Hataman. Unang isinambit ni Hataman ang problema ng edukasyon sa ARMM at ang malaking kakulangan sa silidaralan at guro, ngunit nabigyan naman ito umano ng kaukulang solusyon sa pamamagitan ng tulong mula sa Australia. “Inaasahan natin na sa pagdating ng 2013, ay makakapagpatayo tayo
ng 2,950 na school building at malamang ay mahihigitan pa natin ito dahil sa 2,500 schoolbuilding projects ng BEAM-ARMM (Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao ) na kabahagi ng P3.9 bilyon na tulong mula sa Aus(tralian)-AID at Australian government. Kung kaya’t maraming salamat sa Australian government, maraming salamat sa Aus-AID,” wika ni Hataman. “Ang kakulangan natin sa mga guro ay
MANILA – President Benigno Aquino signed an executive order creating the Transition Commission that will draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said Executive Order No. 120 affirms Aquino’s resolve to move forward the peace process for the Bangsamoro as a strategic initiative for political stability and economic development. She said the order also provides a mechanism for authentic democratic collaboration in the crafting of the proposed law where the affected people themselves are actively involved.
Under the executive order, Aquino is to appoint 15 members that would make up the Transition Commission. Manila and the MILF would also come up with a list of candidates from among the Bangsamoro and other residents in the prospective core area of the new political entity that shall replace the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Transition Commission, which shall have an initial P100 million at its disposal, may also put up an office and coordinate with other government agencies and Congress to get its work done. It may recommend to Congress and the people, when necessary, proposed amendments to the Constitution. Chief government peace negotiator Miriam Ferrer said their aim is to install the Bangsamoro through a new organic act as soon as possible in order to have an elected Bangsamoro government
by 2016. “This does not prevent the Transition Commission or its members from examining the constitution and recommending constitutional reforms. However, the President has made clear that constitutional cha-nge is not his priority during his term,” she said. She said the Transition Commission shall also assist in identifying development programs together with the Bangsamoro Development Authority and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute, the two institutions affiliated with the MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for self-determination. “Government is committed to the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas and to fast track socioeconomic development in the region. This will be accomplished by empowering the Bangsamoro themselves through their participation in transforming their own communities,” Ferrer said.
PNo y cr ea tes commission PNoy crea eates to dr aft Bangsamor o la w draft Bangsamoro law
ARMM
Northern Mindanao
Davao
Dec. 24-30, 2012
Si ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman habang nagsasalita sa SORA sa larawan ito mula sa ARMM Communications Group sa pamumuno ni Amir Mawallil. mapupunuan na rin po natin pagdating ng 2013. Nangako po si Pangulong Aquino at ng DBM at maibibigay sa atin ng mahigit 2000 item ng kakulangan pagdating sa 2013. Sa kabuuan, ang mga kakulangang nabanggit ay tuluyan na mapupunuan sa patuloy na pag-lilinis ng DepEdARMM sa talaan ng estudyante. Ang ating paglilinis ay nagbigay daan sa pagdiskubre ng 75,229 ghost students nuong taong 2012,” dagdag pa nito. At isang magandang balita rin ang inanunsyo ni Hataman sa kanyang SORA at ito ang tuluyang pagbabayad sa halosP1.9 bilyon pagkakautang ng Department of Education-ARMM sa Government Service Insurance System. “Eto po ang magandang balita, at sa susunod na taon, ay tuluyan na nating mababayaran ang kabuuang utang ng DepED-ARMM na humigit-kumulang po ng P1.9 billion alinsunod sa pangako at kagustuhan ng Pangulong Aquino na matuldukan na ang utang na ito. Pero eto po ang sambit ng ating Pangulo, kung sino ang nagwaldas ng pera ng GSIS ay dapat lamang po na pananagutin natin. Hindi po
Manila
pwede walang magbabayad dito sa utang na ito at hindi rin daw puwede, sabi ng ating Pangulo na walang managot at makulong sa 1.9 billion na ito,” ani Hataman na pinalakpakan naman ng husto ng mga guro at empleyado ng ARMM. Pinuri rin nito si DepEd-ARMM Sec. Jamar Kulayan sa kanyang pagsisikip na matuldukan ang problema sa edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng mga repormang ipinatutupad nito. “Dahil sa pagsusumikap ng DepEd sa pagpapatupad ng repormang pinansyal, nakalikom ito ng P224,227,269 at kung kaya’t inatasan na natin si Sec. Jamar Kulayan na magsimula ng pagbayad ng backpays at salary differential ng 2011 at 2012,” sabi pa ni Hataman na umani naman ng mahabang palakpakan. Um a n i n a m a n n g maraming papuri ang S O R A n i Ha t a m a n . At m a g i n g s i E j e rc i t o Estrada ay naglagay pa ng larawan sa kanyang Fa c e b o o k a c c o u n t n a pinitik nito habang nagsasalita si Hataman. “G ov. Mu j i v Ha t a m a n giving his State of the Region Address at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cult u r a l Ce n t e r, A R M M G ov e r r n m e n t Ce n t e r,
Cotabato City. Beautiful session hall!,” wika nito sa kanyang FB wall post. Na g m i s t u l a n g s u perstar naman si JV Ejercitoi Estrada - na tuma-takbong senador sa darating na halalan dahil sa dami ng mga nakipag-kamay at bumati sa kanya. Marami rin ang nagpakuha ng larawan kasama ito. K i l a l a n g “E s t ra d a Country” ang Mindanao at napakalaki ng suporta ng mga Muslim at Kristiyano rin sa pamilyang Estrada kung k a y a’t ganoon na lamang ang respetong ibinigay ng mga iuto kay JV Ejercito Estrada. Sa panghuling talumpati ni Ha t a m a n a y u m a p e l a naman ito sa patuloy na suporta ng publiko sa repor ma sa ARMM na ipinatutupad ni Pangulong Aquino. “M g a k a b a b a y a n , sama-sama nating i t u l oy a n g a t i n g n aumpisahang repor ma. Alalahanin natin na kung walang mulat na mamamayan na nagsusulong ng reporma, walang saysay kahit ano pa mang ganda at porma ng pamamahalaang mai t a t a t a g . Ha n d a n a tayong harapin ang bukas, ngayon.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula
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Dec. 24-30, 2012
Militar sa Mindanao ma y cease-f ir e na rin! may cease-fir ire
Shoppers are busy buying gifts for the holidays in Greenhills Shopping Complex while others warch the animated Christmas display by COD store.(Mindanao Examiner Photo)
South Cotabato cops intensify watch vs illegal firecrackers, fireworks GENERAL SANTOS CITYPolice authorities in South Cotabato province have intensified their monitoring against the possible entry and distribution of banned and illegally-manufactured firecrackers and fireworks in the area, state media repoted. Senior Supt. Randolf Delfin, South Cotabato police director, said they have established additional checkpoints in various entry and exit points of the province to avert any movement of the illegal products as the Christmas and New Year celebrations close in. “This is to ensure a safe and secure Christmas and New Year celebrations within the province,” he said. The official said that as early as last month, they initiated meetings with the local firecracker manufacturers to lay down the proper regulations on the selling and distribution of firecrackers in the area. In South Cotabato, he said only Polomolok town and Koronadal City were designated as selling areas
for firecrackers. Delfin said he has directed local police units to closely watch the activities of registered firecracker and fireworks sellers to check possible transactions involving illegal firecrackers. He said all illegal products that would be found will be confiscated immediately to serve as deterrent for those who were planning to sell them. “Rest assured that we will clear our province with these persons and we will file charges against them if necessary,” he said. Citing their experiences in the past several years, Delfin admitted that it would be difficult for them to just stop people from using firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year revelries but they can minimize them by strictly enforcing the law. Meantime, the police official urged local residents to report any police official or personnel who might be involved or would fail to curb transactions on illegal firecrackers.
JUST SAY
NO!
He said such violation constitutes the immediate relief from an assignment or duty of the erring police official or personnel. “We will not tolerate it. I will immediately relieve any official who would fail to act on this concern,” he said.
DAVAO CITY - Pormal ng inanunsyo ng militar sa Mindanao ang 18-araw na cease-fire nito sa New People’s Army, ngunit nagbabala naman na hindi titigil ang mga tropa sa kanilang segu-ridad sa publiko at sibilyan. Magtatapos ang unilateral cease-fire ng militar sa Enero 3, ayon kay Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, ang spokesman ng 10th Infantry Division. Sinabi nito na susunod ang mga tropa ng militar sa Mindanao sa ipinatutupad na suspension of military operations ng pamahalaan. Layunin rin ng ceasefire na pagtuunan ng kaukulang pansin ang relief operations ng pamahalaan at militar sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong
Pablo nitong Disyembre 4 sa Mindanao, partikular sa Compostela Valley at Davao region. “Troops would abide by the truce, but (we) will continue to conduct security measures to ensure safety and security of civilians. Our mandate to protect civilian communities will remain on top of our priorities as we continue to provide assistance in the relief mission with the local government units and stakeholders,” ani Paniza sa pahayag nito sa Mindanao Examiner. Naunang sinabi ni Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, Jr. na ang ceasefire na nagsimula kamakalawa lamang ay isang hakbang ng
pamahalaan at hindi dahil sa truce na inilatag rin ng NPA. Matatandaang unang naglabas ng unilateral truce ang mag rebelde nitong Disyembre 5 at magtatagal hanggang sa Enero 3 rin. Abala rin ang mga rebelde sa pag-tulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. “The 18-day unilateral ceasefire is a privilege given to rebels but it does not restrict the military from doing its security routines, excluding the conduct of deliberate military offensive, such as combat operation,” wika naman ni Burgos. Matagal na nakikibaka ang NPA upang maitatag ang sar ili nitong estado sa bansa. (Mindanao Examiner)
Damage to Davao’s coco industry to reach P8 billion NABUNTURAN - A top official of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) estimated the damage brought by typhoon Pablo to the coconut industry in Davao Region at P8 billion. Undersecretar y Euclides Forbes, administrator of the PCA, said the destruction of the coconut plantations in Davao Oriental will surely affect the overall annual production of coconut products nationwide since the province had been the number
one producer of copra prior to the storm. He said that per record, there were 314 million coconut trees all over the country. Forbes said it is possible that other provinces in the country may cover the loss of Davao Oriental in copra production next year. “We need massive rehabilitation like the need to replant immediately given that many oil mills rely on the coconut indus-
Manila elated o ver passage of ov Repr oductiv eP ar enthood B ill arenthood Bill eproductiv oductive Par MANILA – The Reproductive Parenthood Bill has passed the third and final reading at the Senate and House of Representatives, drawing huge support from the Filipino public. The Aquino government also praised the passage of the bill. “Our legislature took an historic vote for women and families as it successfully passed the Responsible Parenthood Bill. We thank our Senators and Congressmen who voted for access to information and care,” President Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. He praised Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzales; Congressman Edcel Lagman who
authored the bill; and Senator Pia Cayetano, and law makers who voted for it. “They have made it even clearer - the people now have the government on their side as they raise their families in a manner that is just and empowered,” Lacierda said. The passage of the Responsible Parenthood Bill, Lacierda said, “signals not only a new chapter in our agenda of inclusive growth; it also begins a process of healing for the wounds that may have been opened by an often feisty democracy. We are confident that positive, meaningful engagement between the different branches of government will continue.”
try in this part of the country,” he said. Forbes said the total valuation of the destruction of the coconut industry in Davao Oriental might be beyond 60 percent. He revealed that the PCA will realign two million coconut trees intended for Luzon to be planted to Davao Oriental. For 2013, Forbes said that 17 million coconut trees are to be planted nationwide. He said that part of the intervention is to add more to the P1-million fertilization fund for the coconut trees in the typhoon-stricken areas. “We will implement it in the 10,000 hectares of coconut plantation in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental areas,” Forbes said.
He also said the PCA will encourage coconut farmers to do inter-cropping and livestock-raising in line with the “Kaanib Program,” while waiting for the coconut trees to grow. Forbes said it takes seven years to plant and harvest coconut trees. “We urge farmers not to rely solely on coconut for income since they can diversify to inter-cropping and raising goats and pigs while waiting for the trees to grow. It is the only way for them to go higher than the the poverty threshold which is P100,000 annually,” he said. Forbes said the emerging coconut trees will already be of the dwarf variety since the climate change has proven that Mindanao is no longer typhoon free. ( Joey Sem Dalumpines)
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Rep jer cito Estr ada seeks long-ter m ep.. JV E Ejer jercito Estrada long-term liv elihood pr ogr ams for sugar cane far mers livelihood progr ograms sugarcane farmers MANILA – San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada has urged the Aquino government to implement a long-ter m livelihood program for local sugarcane farmers in view of the stiff competition that will be posed by foreign sugar suppliers such as Thailand starting 2015. Ejercito Estrada’s call came amid the expected influx of imported sugar in the local market as a result of the countr y’s free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Under the Asean Free Trade Area-Common Effective Preferential Tariff (AFTA-CEPT), the duty for imported sugar will be lowered to
6 doctors seriously injured in road accident in Davao
DAVAO CITY – Six Filipino doctors were critically injured following a road accident on their way to aid typhoon victims in Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines, security officials said Wednesday. Officials said the physicians, who are members of the Maguindanao Provincial Health Office, were in a vehicle when their driver avoided a collision with a motorcycle and slammed into a tree in Baganga town late Tuesday. Lt. Col. Lyndon Pa-
niza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said those injured – Doctors Nic Cantiro, Almatin Dimaucom, Nor-ayin Salic, Junnah Mangacy, Grace Espinosa, Taher Salaik, and driver Tuy Pangilan – were rushed to the Cateel District Hospital and later transferred to Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. “They are now being treated at SPMC for evaluation and further medication. Dr. Salik is now (in) stable (condition) while the rest are in critical con-
dition,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. No other details were made available by the military about the victims, who were part of a volunteer medical team sent by Maguindanao province to help victims of deadly typhoon Bopha which struck Compostela Valley and Davao region. More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless by the typhoon that hit the Philippines on December 4. (Mindanao Examiner)
Cabanatuan radio man killed A Filipino broadcaster was killed in a continuing attack on journalists in the Philippines, the party list group Alab ng Mamahayag said. It said the gunman shot Julius Cauzo, who worked for the radio station dwJJ in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija province. Journalist Jerry Yap, who is also the ALAM
chairman, condemned the latest killing and expressed grave concern over the safety of media members and the worsening situation of press freedom in the country. He said Cauzo was rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Cauzo was shot several times in the chest.
Police said it is still investigating the motive of the killing. Yap said the attack could be connected to Cauzo’s work. “Cauzo is the 5th news anchor killed in 2012 and is the 14th journalist slain under the leadership of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Nanet Villafana)
5% in 2015 from the current 28%. Ejercito Estrada has warned that without a viable support program in place by the time the sugar tariff is lowered in 2015, some 500,000 sugarcane farmers stand to lose their livelihood. Among ASEAN member-countries, Thailand is considered as one of the major suppliers of sugar in the region. The Thais produce sugar more efficiently, allowing farmers to sell their sugar at a lower cost. Ejercito Estrada said the government should come up with alternative livelihood projects for sugarcane farmers, adding that producing handicrafts such as rat-
tan chairs may be a viable alter native for farmers as these appeal to the export market. He earlier asked the Sugar Regulator y Administration to improve
the economic condition of thousands of sugarcane farmers, who are mostly from Negros, home province of his mother San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez
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Dec. 24-30, 2012
Rep jer cito Estr ada asks ep.. JV E Ejer jercito Estrada PN oy to fast-tr ack FOI bill PNo fast-track
A dilapidated house stands in contrast to a building behind it in San Juan City in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
OCD conducts training on incident command system for LGUs PAGADIAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD 9) conductED a 3day Basic and Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) training course in Pagadian City
in Zamboanga del Sur province. The training aimed raised the local government units its vigilance in ensuring that disaster risks are prevented or
Security ffor or ces rraid aid orces marijuana planta tion plantation DAVAO CITY – Security forces, aided by tribesmen, raided a marijuana plantation in the southern Philippines, but officials said there had been no arrest made. Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said soldiers and policemen destroyed at least 150 fully grown plants in Davao del Sur’s Kiblawan town. He said B’laan tribesmen tipped off the military
about the illegal plantation. He did not say who owned the marijuana field. He said Army Capt. Joel Wayagwag, commander of the Task Force KITACO, who led the raid, handed over seized marijuana plants to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. No other details were made available by the military and police. (Mindanao Examiner)
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
minimized and to prepare officials to address and respond to the needs of affected population when disaster or emergencies occur, said Adriano Fuego, OCD regioanal director. “This training is very important especially nowadays that we are always visited by typhoons. This is the second time that Mindanao was visited by a strong typhoon and the first time in history that Region 9 was placed under signal No. 3 brought by typhoon ‘Pablo,’” Fuego explained. “It only shows that there is a need for us to prepare,” he added. ICS is the answer on how to effectively respond when there is a disaster. The training course involved eight modules: Introduction to ICS, ICS Organization and Staffing, ICS Incident Facilities, Organization and Managing Incidents and Events, Incident/Event Assessment and Management by Objectives, Incident Resources and Resources Management, Incident and Event Planning and Transfer of Command, Demobilization and Closeout. Experts from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council facilitated the training, namely: Col. Mario Verner Monsanto, consultant, office of the vice mayor, Davao City; Dr. Joseph B. Bacareza, chief, Health and Emergency Management Division, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Manila, including Fuego. Dozens of participants from the municipalities of Molave, Ramon Mag-saysay, Tambulig, Tu-kuran, Josefina, and Dumingag, attended the seminar. ICS is a standardized on-scene emergency management concept specifically designed to allow its users to adopt an integrated organization structure, equal to the complexity and demands of a single or multiple incidents. (Claro Lanipa)
MANILA – San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada has reiterated his call to President Benigno Aquino III to certify the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill as urgent. Ejercito Estrada, who has been pushing for the immediate passage of the FoI bill, is one of its authors. He made the appeal following the failure of the House Committee on Public Information chaired by Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone to report it out in the plenary for second reading. “If the President is serious in eradicating corruption in government, he should certify the Freedom of Information bill as urgent. The President and his allies in the House should prioritize the pas-
sage of the bill for the sake of accountability and transparency,” he said. House Majority Floor Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales was quoted as saying that the proposed measure would have to take a back seat, as lawmakers have to fast-track discussions on the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, which was recently approved on third and final reading in the House. According to Gonzales, the equally controversial FoI bill could be discussed when Congress resumes session on January 21 next year. Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, noted that 17 senators
were able to approve the FoI ill on third and final reading, just two days before lawmakers go on Christmas break. “Thank you for heeding the call of the public to make the government more transparent and accountable,” he said, adding the passage of the FoI bill is crucial for the good governance thrust of the government and its battle against corruption. The San Juan lawmaker is running for senator in next elections also praised the senators who “courageously voted” to approve the bill on third reading. Media groups and civil and nongovernmental organizations are also pushing for the FoI bill. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Dec. 17-23, 2012
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TVIRD rreac eac hes settlement with R apu-R apu eaches Ra pu-Ra Gr oup ffor or outstanding NSR rro oyalties Group TVI Pacific Inc. announced that its Philippine operating affiliate, TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. has signed a memorandum of agreement with Korea Malaysia Philippines Resources, Inc., [formerly “Lafayette (Philippines), Inc.”], Rapu-Rapu Minerals, Inc. and Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc. which outlines terms for the settlement of outstanding Net Smelter Return (NSR) payments to TVIRD. On December 16, 1999, the parties entered into a Deed of Assignment of Mining Rights and Joint Venture Participating Interest in which TVIRD assigned to the Rapu-Rapu Group all of TVIRD’s right, title and interest in the Participating Interest in the Joint Venture and TVIRD Group Assets in consider-
ation of an Assignment Price, which included the NSR of 2.5%. Rapu-Rapu Group satisfied the Assignment Price except for the NSR. It said details of the Rapu-Rapu Group legal actions are described in TVI’s Third Quarter 2012 Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed on November 9, 2012 available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on TVI’s website at www.tvipacific.com. The MOA confirms agreement between TVIRD and the Rapu-Rapu Group in the gross sum amount of US$3,844,720 for the period 2005 through Q3 2012. TVIRD is to receive US$3,075,776, which is net of 20% U.S. withholding taxes of US$768,944, and is
to receive payment according to the following schedule: US$500,000 on December 1, 2012; US$858,592 on January 31, 2013; US$858,592 on February 28, 2013; and US$858,592 on March 31, 2013. TVI said it is pleased that a settlement has been negotiated with the RapuRapu Group. Upon receipt of the full payment of US$3,075,776 by TVIRD and when proof of the remittance of withholding taxes to the U.S. Government is provided, TVIRD and the Rapu-Rapu Group will release all claims involving the 2.5% NSR for the period of 2005 to Q3 2012. The Rapu-Rapu Group has further agreed that payment of the 2.5% NSR
for the 4th Quarter 2012 shall be on or before30 April 2013. Additionally, the Rapu-Rapu Group and TVIRD will agree to a payment schedule for any remaining NSR that will be due to TVIRD through to the end of the Rapu-Rapu mine life. TVI Pacific Inc. is a publicly-traded Canadian company that is focused on the production, development, exploration and acquisition of resource projects in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. TVI produces copper and zinc concentrates from its Canatuan mine. TVI also has an interest in an offshore Philippine oil property and is a partner in several joint venture projects in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
S&P cites Philippine economy The Philippines welcomed Thursday Standard & Poor’s credit rating outlook for the local economy. From “BB+ Stable” to “BB+ Positive,” Standard and Poor’s hailed the Aquino administration for its “improved capacity to effect reform” which stems from “a level of legitimacy, support, and stability that reduced political uncertainty and allows for improved legislative efficiency,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. “This means that we can expect, barring any unforeseen circumsta-
nces, an actual credit rating upgrade in the coming months,” he said. Lacierda said the improved outlook comes at the heels of the signing of the landmark bill reforming sin taxes which will further strengthen the government’s fiscal position. “We welcome this acknowledgment of the positive strides the Philippines has taken under the Aquino administration and recognition of our thrust that indeed good governance results in good economics,” he said. Standard & Poor’s is known to investors worldwide as a leader of financial- market intelligence.
One of Filipino farmers in hunger strike is being assisted to hospital in Manila in this photo released by the Task Force Mapalad. (Photo by Vincent Go)
Negr os far mers in hunger egros farmers str ike hospitaliz ed strike hospitalized MANILA – At least 4 Filipino farmers who were taking part in a hunger strike were rushed to hospital after they collapsed in the middle of their protest in Manila. The four are part of the 56 farmers demanding the ouster of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes who was accused of failing to fully implement the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Those who were rushed to hospital were identified as Joel Pertes, from Hacienda Tilangkay Dako in Payao, Binalbagan; and Monico Alonsabi of Hacienda Angelita, La Castellana, both in Negros Occidental; and Regino Quizada, of Hacienda Carmenchica, of Pontevedra town, and Mark Balderas, of Hacienda Socorro Wagoner in Talisay town. The hunger strike was launched by the farmers who are now holed up in the office of De los Reyes since December 14. “How many more farmers have to be hospi-
talized before he finally acts and admits that he could not hack it? Six months have passed since our meeting with the President and all that De los Reyes has to show is a 25 percent accomplishment rating in land distribution, which should go down to 18 percent if the backlog is included,” Task Force Mapalad-Negros ( TFMNegros) president Alberto Jayme said. Jayme said they met with President Benigno Aquino this year to bring to his attention the problems of the farmers. Aquino ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to fast track the distribution of lands to the farmers, but Delos Reyes failed. “He had been given a six-month reprieve by the President but he has botched it. Instead of attending to the farmers demanding land and longterm relief, De los Reyes has chosen to ignore them, flying to the Davao Region to avoid facing them about the issues confronting CARP,” Jayme said.
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Dec. 24-30, 2012
Maguindanao y aguindanao,, ipagpapatulo ipagpapatuloy ang Youth E mplo yment P am Emplo mployment Prrogr ogram KORONADAL CITY Pormal nang inilipat sa p a m a h a l a a n g panlalawigan ng Maguindanao ang pagpapatupad ng programang Joint Programme for Youth Employment and Migration ( JP-YEM). Ang symbolic turn over rite na ginanap sa bayan ng Buluan ay pinangunahan ng Programme Director ng JPYEM na si Ruth Honculada-Georget at ni Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu. Sa kanyang turnover speech, pinasalamatan ni Georget ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Maguindanao sa pangunguna ni Gov. Mangudadatu sa kanilang suporta at layuning matulungan ang libo-libong kabataan sa probinsya. Binigyang pugay naman ni G ov. Mangudadatu ang lahat ng mga ahensyang tumulong upang maisakatuparan ang programang ito at nangakong ipagpapatuloy ang ka-nilang mga naumpisahang maga-
gandang programa para sa mga kabataan. Dagdag pa ni Mangudadatu, ito ay isang malaking tulong sa kanilang kampanya na mabago ang imahe ng Maguindanao at makamtan ang Millenium Development Goal para sa mga kabataan. Sinabi naman ng JPYEM Focal Person sa Maguindanao na si Monina Macarongon, taong 2009 pa nang umpisahan ang programang ito at naisakatuparan lamang sa liderato ni Gov. Mangudadatu. Ayon din kay Macarongon, malaking tulong ang naging suporta ni Mangudadatu at pagbibigay ng pondo para sa pagsasagawa ng OneStop-Research Center building para sa JPYEM. Kabilang sa mga sumusuporta sa naturang programa ang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Depar tment of Labor and Em-
ployment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration at Department of Education. Ang JP-YEM ay pinondohan ng Spanish gover nment at ipinatutupad ng United Nations cluster on youth development sa higit 15 bansa, kabilang na ang Pilipinas. Ito ay naglalayong mabawasan ang numero ng mga batang hindi nakakapagtapos ng pagaaral at magabayan ang mga kabataan bilang mga susunod na lider ng bayan at higit sa lahat maprotektahan ang mga ito sa mga epekto at panganib na dulot ng pagtatrabaho at pangingibang bansa. Ang programang ito a y k a b i l a n g s a Mi ll e n i u m De ve l o p m e n t Goal na nagsimula dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. Mayroong 4 na pilot areas ang JPY E M s a b a n s a . It o a y kina-bibilangan ng Masbate, Antique, Agus a n d e l Su r a t Ma guindanao. (Oliver Ross Rivera)
Cota ba to City Council named ‘Most Cotaba bato Outstanding Sang gunian egion 12 Re Sanggunian gunian’’ in R COTABATO CITY – The local Sangguniang Panglungsod will represent Region 12 in the national contest of the Department of Interior and Local Government after it bagged the “Most Outstanding Sang-gunian in Region 12” award from DILG-12, according to the Philippines News Agency. Region 12 is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarang-gani and the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Koronadal, Kidapawan and General Santos. Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema said that he received the
award in behalf of the City Council, from the regional director Buagas Sulaik, regional director for DILG for Central Mindanao. Sema said the award simply recognizes the reforms he and the council members initiated in the city’s legislative branch. His group also strongly supported the newly-crafted Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Sema said this was the result of the Council’s having been voted as “top” in the highly urbanized, independent com-
ponent city category of the contest, according to officials of DILG-12. As a result, the City Council will represent Region 12 in the national level of the same, but expanded nationwide contest in March 2013. He also attributed the award to the support of all sectors in the city to the operations and law-formulation activities of the City Council. Sema had served the city for nine years as mayor and now heads the city’s lawmaking body. Bueno said the award received by the city council was clearly a “vote of confidence” of DILG-12.
Oroqieta nakadawat P20M uban sa 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping Award OROQUIETA CITY- Mokabat sa P20 milyones gikan sa Local Government Support Fund ang nakuha nga ganting cash ang nadawat ning siyudad sa ilang pagdaug sa Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), ning tuig. Gitawag nga “City of Good Life,” (Siyudad sa Maayong Pagpuyo), ang Oroquieta nahatagan sa SGH award sa ika-duhang higayon sa iyang pagtuman sa Full Disclosure Policy Program sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Gipirmahan ni kanhi DILG Secretary Jessie M. Robredo, ang maong award ang gipresentar ni DILG Assistant Regional Director ug kasamtangan nga Provincial Director Nilo B. Castaòares ngadto kang Mayor Jason P. Almonte, atol sa usa ka regular session sa Sangguniang Panlungsod
bag-ohay pa lamang. Uban sa Mayor sa pagdawat niini didto sa legislative session hall, sila si Vice Mayor Harry Guantero, City DILG Local Government Operations Officer Edward G. Bhagwani, ubang membro sa SP, mga department heads sa city hall ug mga membro sa prensa. Gipasalamatan usab ni Mayor Almonte ang mga empleyado sa city hall sa ilang kahago sa pagtuman sa mga sumbanan aron madawat nila ang SGH award nga naglakip sa kantidad nga P20 million, samtang nakadawt kini sa tulo ug tunga ka milyon ka pesos (P3.5M) sa mao gihapon nga award, sa milabay nga tuig. Ang programa sa FDPP ni Secretary Robredo nangayo nga ang mga local nga
opisyales sa mga probinsiya, siyudad ug lungsod sa pagmantala ug pagpublikar sa ilang mga transaksiyon aron ma-sayran sa katawhan gi-unsa paggamit ang budget ug aron malikayan ang korupsyon ug pag usik-usik sa pundo sa gobyerno. Kini nga mga dokumento ang karon giposte diha sa mga dapit sa siyudad nga daghan tawo, sama sa city hall, barangay hall, terminal sa mga sakyanan, merkado publiko ug uban pang building nga gipanagiyahan sa gobyerno. Regular usab nga ginaposte ang mga kabag-ohan niini nga makita diha sa DILG internet portal ug sa Local Government Unit website www.oroquietacity.gov.ph, si Mayor Almonte miingon. ( Rutchie Aguhob)
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Dec. 24-30, 2012
PINOY EXPLORER NI AGA MUHLACH, DUMAYO SA SULU
SULU – Nabighani ng husto ang grupong Pinoy Explorer ng premyadong actor at television host na si Aga Muhlach at Direc Rowell Santiago sa kagandahan ng lalawigan ng Sulu na kung saan ay doon nagshoot ang mga ito para sa isang special episode ng tanyag na programa ng TV5. Mismong si Gov. Sakur Tan at Mayor
Kabir Hayudini ang nanguna sa daan-daang mga Tausug na siyang nag welcome sa grupo ni Aga. Sa sobrang tuwa ni Aga sa maiinit na pagtanggap sa kanya ay gumamit pa ito ng tradisyonal at makulay na kasuotan ng mga Tausug sa Sulu. Dinala ni Gov. Tan ang grupo ng Pinoy Explorer sa ibat-bang
bahagi ng bayan ng Patikul at kalapit na lugar upang maipakita kina Aga at Direc Rowell ang kagandahan ng lalawi-gan. Maging ang mga beaches sa Sulu ay maihahalintulad umano sa pangunahing beach hindi lamang sa bansa, ngunit maging sa ibang lugar. Sinabi naman ni Barangay Chairman
Childr en at rrisk isk of exploitation in Children stor m rrav av aged souther nP hilippines storm avaged southern Philippines DAVAO CITY - Children left homeless and destitute in areas affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines are in danger of being abused and exploited, according to the UN Children’s agency UNICEF. The agency says pressing issues for children have received less attention in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon, exposing them to the risk of trafficking. UNICEF says although commendable work was being done to respond in the aftermath
of the typhoon, it is important to pay attention to the vulnerability of children, as unscrupulous adults can take advantage of these situations to exploit children. Marixie Mercado from UNICEF says malnutrition levels in the affected regions are likely to worsen in the coming months due to food shortages and the fact that many children have been left to fend for themselves. “Assessment teams in Mindanao are seeing profound signs of distress and confusion among children
many who’ve lost loved ones, they’ve lost their families, they’ve lost their homes their schools, they are just under severe distress and very much vulnerable. All the agencies are urging awareness in terms of prevention. We are also stressing the importance of setting up child friendly spaces in all of these communities so that children have safe places to go to.” UNICEF says the number of missing or dead following typhoon Bopha has topped 1,600. (Patrick Maigua)
Ghambrazer Hayudini na nasiyahan ng husto sng grupo ni Aga sa kanilang pagbisita sa Sulu at nag-iwan pa umano ito ng mensahe sa mga Tausug na muling babalik sa lalawigan. “Pumunta ang grupo nina Aga sa Patikul para sa isang taping ng kanyang show, yun Pinoy Explorer,” ani Hayudini sa Mindanao Examiner. Ipinaghanda naman ni Gov. Tan ng curacha, isang uri ng crabs; at lobster, at iba pang mga tradisyunal na pagkain ang Pinoy Explorer team. “Natutuwa kami sa ganda ng pagtanggap sa amin sa isa sa pinakamagandang bahagi ng Pilipinas – sa Sulu...sa Patikul,” ani Aga. Maging si Direc Rowell ay halos allpraises sa mga Muslim at ang kanilang hospitality sa Pinoy Explorer team. Hindi naman sinabi ni Direc Rowell kung kalian ipapalabas ang special episode, ngunit sa tuwing Linggo mapapanood ang Pinoy Explorer. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Mga larawan na kuha ni Barangay Chairman Ghambrazer Hayudini sa pagdating ni Aga Muhlach at ng Pinoy Explorer team sa lalawigan ng Sulu. Makikita rin sa larawan sina Gov. Sakur Tan, Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini at si Barangay Chairman Ghambrazer Hayudini (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula