OUR COVER
Team Mindanao arrives in Tacloban City VENUS L. GARCIA Central Mindanao
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Today’s news... NATIONAL
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Finance officials to address post-’Yolanda’ concerns of Tacloban, traders in meet
CENTRAL MINDANAO
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NEDA consults stakeholders on updated regional dev’t plan 11 Danilo E. Doguiles
NorthCot town chief reveals infra projects
Shahana Joy Duerme
CARAGA REGION
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NSO prepares for the conduct of the 2013 FLEMMS
Susil D. Ragas
NORTHERN MINDANAO
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Tangub City enriches heritage through Family History Movement
Rutchie C. Aguhob
PNP Lanao Norte launches relief drive for Yolanda victims Lorry V. Gabule
SOUTHERN MINDANAO
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Development projects set for implementation in Davao Oriental
WESTERN MINDANAO
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Gov’t to shoulder 25% of displaced persons’ pay under emergency employment program
By Dominic I. Sanchez
Dumingag parishioners donate 770 packs of relief goods for “Yolanda” victims
Gideon C. Corgue
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 69
COVER STORY Team Mindanao arrives in Tacloban City By VENUS L. GARCIA
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he team Mindanao of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) led by PIA Caraga regional director and Northern and Northeastern Mindanao cluster head Abner Caga has arrived on Sunday in this city. PIA-8 regional director Erlinda Olivia Tiu was glad in welcoming the team during the courtesy call. Caga discussed to her the course of operation. “We are here for a purpose to provide appropriate information intervention. This is something that the team is most
motivated of doing. A task that is tough but doable and would benefit members of the community,” Caga remarked. The deployed team is camped at the Command Center inside LeyteProvincial Sport Complex where internatonal relief organizations and national agencies are likewise accomodated. While driving around the city, Caga was able to interview the family of Jovita Miñoza. Miñoza said that the main concern of her family
station, Power FM, under 101.1 FM band where updates on Tacloban operation and related interviews will be aired. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Sonny Coloma has the full support to the undertakings of team Mindanao. Also, PIA director general Jose Mari Orquinena took the time to meet up the team. He said he truly appreciated the genuine efforts of each team member for possessing the power to take humanitarian activities. “We are so determined to serve at a maximum extent of our capacity especially on situations that demand more of our services,” said Caga.
and the rest of the residents in the locality is the reconstruction of their houses. “We are asking support from the governmentt and other private sectors to help provide materials to rebuild our houses for our family to have a safe shelter,” she said. With the team’s systematic initiatives, they had successfully set up the agency’s official radio 5
Chinese hospital ship arrives in PHL to help Yolanda victims
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hospital ship from China arrived in the Philippines Sunday to render medical aid to those affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing vessel has about 100 doctors to said the hospital ship “Peace Ark” treat various medical conditions. dropped anchor 10 miles from here as The “Peace Ark” is part of the international it is too big to be anchored at any port. efforts to help the Philippines, after super “I hope it would be a big help,” Ma told typhoon Yolanda battered Visayas and reporters here, even as she said patients have Southern Luzon and left more than 5,000 dead. to be brought to and from the vessel via ferry. “Peace Ark” has a capacity of Ambassador Ma said the 300 beds and a staff of 106. PND MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
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Finance officials to address post-’Yolanda’ concerns of Tacloban, traders in meet
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inance officials are to meet this week with local traders here to address their post-typhoon “Yolanda” concerns as they try to reopen their businesses.
City administrator John Tecson Lim said Monday the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue will be represented at the meeting. “(The traders’) primary concern is security and ... soft loans and implication of the BIR,” Lim said at an inter-agency meeting here. Businesses here had started to reopen last week, after Yolanda left behind a swath of destruction. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
Lim also said security options are being considered for the traders here. He also said representatives of major malls here may arrive this week to assess when to open the supermarkets. Citing information reaching him, he said the target is to have these supermarkets reopened by the second week of December. PND
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Mindanao bloc back Mindanao railway project
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he influential Mindanao bloc, a group of elected representatives in Mindanao, would lobby for the implementation of the impending Mindanao Railyway System in the island, a local official said on Monday. City Councilor Candy Darimbang said that Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City, has informed her that the Mindanao bloc was drafting the proposal for the implementation of the Mindanao Railway as a fast and convenient transport system in Mindanao. Darimbang was project director of the Mindanao Railway System prior to her election as City Councilor of Cagayan de Oro during the midterm elections in 2013. She said that Rodriguez has partly financed the feasibility studies of the Mindanao Railway System by allocating some P 50 million of the P 100 million MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
mobilization and creation of Mindanao railway’s office in Cagayan de Oro City. Darimbang said that the draft to pursue the implementation of the Mindanao Railway System would be submitted to Congress early next year with solons from Northernn Mindanao, the Caraga Region, and Davao who would lobby for the project approval. She said that the initial plan of the Mindanao Railway System was to construct a railway from LaguindinganCagayan de Oro-Tagoloan, in Misamis Oriental as the first phase. The second phase would be from Tagolo-an, Misamis Oriental to Butuan City, she added. (PNA)
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Tourism road projects in R-12 will be completed before PNoy’s term ends —DPWH By: Danilo E. Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Tourism road projects being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Soccsksargen Region will be completed before the term of President Benigno Aquino III will end in 2016, an official of the agency assured. Tourism road projects, according to an earlier report from DPWH 12, aims at providing easy access to specific tourist destinations and
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tourism-potential spots not only to boost tourist arrival in these areas but also to help upgrade economic activities of communities therein.
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Reynaldo S. Tamayo, OIC regional director of DPWH 12 told local media they could finish all six tourism road projects currently being implemented on or before President Aquino steps out of office. He disclosed funding allocations have already been scheduled for release, which should kick off massive construction of tourism roads. “Because these will bring people to their desired tourist spots conveniently and safely, these roads will spur economic opportunities, thus improve rural people’s living condition,” he said Tamayo was referring to the ongoing road projects that provide access to following tourist destinations: Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; Tawsuvan Falls in Magpet and New Israel zipline in Makilala in North Cotabato; white beaches in Glan and water tubing in Maitum, Sarangani Province; and, Baras Bird Sanctuary in Tacurong City. Specifically, these tourism roads are the 9-km concrete road that would provide easy access to Lake Sebu, Lake Lahit, Lake Seloton and Seven Falls; 10.289 km Kidapawan – Ilomavis tourism road; 4.6 km concrete road that would connect Barangay New Israel, in Makilala to the Davao – Cotabato highway. One-kilometer road project connecting the white beaches of Gumasa, Glan to the Junction National Highway of Sarangani – Davao del Sur Coastal Road; and 8-km road from the Sarangani- Sultan Kudarat coastal road to New La Union in Maitum, Sarangani . MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
These projects were proposed by the local government concerned and endorsed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) 12. A second batch of seven tourism road projects for 2014 are also in the pipeline, according to information from DPWH 12. These projects, the same information indicate need to pass the Tourism Road Infrastructure Project Prioritization Criteria (TRIPPC) which sets the standards of a Tourism Road. For a project to qualify, a proposed local or national road should get at least 60 of the 100 points in the TRIPPC score card. Tourism road projects proposed for 2014, which require over P700 million funding, are road concreting projects, namely: Poblacion Alamada to Sitio Dulao leading to Asik Asik Falls, Alamada, Cotabato; Ilomavis Highway Jct.- Brgy. Bongolanon Road leading to Tawsuvan Falls, Magpet, Cotabato. Diversion road to Norala connecting the Baras Sanctuary, Monte Vincenteau and Decela Eco-Park, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat; circumferential road, Surallah Lake Sebu- Maitum Junction, Purok Rosas- Seloton- Seven Falls Lake Lahit Road. Junction national highway leading to Marguez Road Hotspring, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat; Pob. T’boli to Brgy. Salacafe Road leading to Lake Holon and Mt. Melibengoy, in T’boli, South Cotabato and junction national highway leading to Tarsier Sanctuary in Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/DPWH 12)
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NEDA consults stakeholders on updated regional dev’t plan By: Danilo E. Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Soccksargen Region is conducting a series of consultations with stakeholders on the updated regional development plan (RDP). Rosa Lemana, head of the Development Research Division, told Philippine Information Agency these consultations follow a series of workshops on the assessment of the implementation of the first two years of RDP as well as the completion of the Regional Results Matrix (RRM) and the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP). “Various non-government stakeholders are consulted to further enhance these plan documents,” she said. In the same report, she said, the series consultations is backed by Memorandum Circular No. 43 dated February 4, 2013 directing the updating of the Philippine Development (PDP) 2011-2016. This memorandum led the Regional Development Council (RDC) 12 to initiate the updating of the RDP of Soccsksargen Region through the passage of RDC XII Resolution No. 58, series of 2013, approving the guidelines on the updating of the RDP, 2011-2016, the RRM and the RDIP 2014-2016. Soccsksargen Region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
Sarangani as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato. For Cotabato area, the consultation was held at Lady M Restaurant in Kidapawan City on Wednesday, November 20. Another consultation was held at Sun City Suites in Gen. Santos City on November 21 at Cinco Niñas in Barangay Morales, this city , on November 22 The consultation focuses on the RDP’s goals and objectives, strategies, targets, results monitoring and investment programs, she said. “Poverty alleviation and inclusive growth remain as the region’s RDP’s over-all goal,” she emphasized. “Strategies that will be pursued include those that strengthen and further improve industry and services, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, inclusive financial system, governance and the rule of law, social services, environment and natural resources and peace and security.” Lemana added that projects that will be pursued during the term include community–based tourism, organic agriculture, construction and
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improvement of major national roads, development and improvement of airports and seaports, flood control projects along Ala and Rio Grande rivers, among others. Public transport terminal in major urban centers, establishment of a regional hospital and a drug rehabilitation center, and conservation,
protection and rehabilitation of critical environment and natural resources will also be pursued, she said. Some 90 representatives of civil society organizations, academe, basic sectors, business entities and religious groups were invited to join the consultations. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/NEDA 12)
NorthCot town chief reveals infra projects By: Shahana Joy Duerme CARMEN, North Cotabato-- Several infrastructure projects will soon be implemented in the municipality of Carmen, North Cotabato which are expected to bring benefits to the constituents of the town. \This, according to Mayor Roger Carmen and Banisilan will soon be
Taliño aims to make Carmen a more progressive municipality. During the 57th founding anniversary of the town held last week, Taliño announced the construction of a new hospital building which he said will be completed and inaugurated next year in celebration of the town’s 58th founding anniversary. “Carmen as a progressive town continues to expand in terms of development and the installation of a new hospital to provide medical services is one proof,” the mayor emphasized. He also noted that soon a memorial park in the municipality will be constructed. Aside from this, Taliño revealed that through the help of the provincial government, construction of a new bridge connecting the towns of MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
implemented. This would enable the farmers and businessmen to transport products easily and for the commuting public to have better access in between the two municipalities. Meanwhile, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza assured the people of the town that the provincial government will be of service to them. Mendoza noted that her administration will continue to implement infrastructure as well as agricultural projects to different villages not only in the said town but in the other villages of the province as a whole. (SJDuerme-PIA12/ JSta.Cruz-N. Cotabato Provincial Government)
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DTI’s Diskwento Caravan set in Tacloban City anew BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office VIII will hold another round of Diskwento Caravan on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013 at the RTR Plaza, this city.
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were bottled water, canned goods, coffee, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, and bread. In a related development, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Team Mindanao led by Northern and Northeastern Cluster Head and Caraga regional director Abner Lily Larraga of DTI Leyte said that Caga will also set-up a free-cellphone following the successful caravan charging station during the conduct last week where it generated a total of the caravan on Wednesday. sales of P512,000, “the agency has initiated another Diskwento Caravan where eight rolling trucks from Cebu will be coming to the city to sell basic discounted g o o d s . � Larraga said the participating companies are Gardenia, Nutri Asia, Nestle, Monde Nissin, Unilever, Century Canning, etc. The products sold at discounted prices MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
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NSO prepares for the conduct of the 2013 FLEMMS BUTUAN CITY -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) Caraga is set to conduct the 2013 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) starting on November 27, 2013. The survey seeks to gather information on the basic and functional literacy status, and educational skills qualifications of the population and exposure to mass media. This is the fifth national survey of this kind that will be conducted by the NSO. The previous rounds were conducted in 1989, 1994, 2003, and 2008. The 2013 FLEMMS is conducted in line with the government’s thrust to promote education policies and programs aimed at eradicating illiteracy in the country. The survey provides bases for implementing necessary interventions to eradicate illiteracy, especially in depressed and undeserved areas. Basically, the survey aims to measure the simple literacy levels of the population; to measure the functional literacy levels of the population; and to determine the education and skills qualification of the population. pecifically, the objectives of the 2013 FLEMMS are: to estimate the proportion of the population 10 years old and over who are basically literate; to estimate the proportion of the population 10-64 years old who are functionally literate and MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
to determine their socio-economic characteristics; to determine the educational skills qualifications of the population in terms of formal schooling; and to determine the mass media exposure on the population. About 26,000 sample housing units nationwide will be visited and interviewed in the 2013 FLEMMS. This sample size will allow the generation of reliable estimates of indicators indicated in this survey. An Individual Self-Administered Questionnaire (FLEMMS Form 2), will be administered to household members 10 to 64 years old regardless of their educational attainment. In Caraga, NSO Field Staff and selected trained Statistical Researchers will do a comprehensive door-to-door interview to the sample households during enumeration period. NSO assured the respondents that all information furnished to the SRs are strictly confidential and shall not be used as evidence in court for purposes of taxation, regulation or investigation as provided for in Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 591.
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Dominga Mallonga DOST-Caraga Regional Director
for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.ph DOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph
Dominga Mallonga DOST-Caraga Regional Director
for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.ph DOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph
CFO holds awareness campaign on realities of int’l migration, intermarriages by Commission on Filipinos Overseas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) will conduct its annual Community Education Program (CEP) entitled “GAYAK” in Misamis Oriental from November 22-25, 2013.
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The CEP seeks to raise public awareness on various issues concerning migration, intermarriages and existing government policies and programs directed against illegal recruitment, documentation fraud, and human trafficking, among others. The CEP will be undertaken in Gingoog City on November 22, Cagayan de Oro City and Opol town on November 23 to 25.
CFO officers together with representatives of other government agencies will conduct activities such as school symposia, pulong-pulong or dialogues with NGOs, religious leaders/ members, local government units, community leaders/ members, press briefings and radio interviews. Approximately 2,000 attendees are expected to take part in this leg of the CEP activities.
Tangub City enriches heritage through Family History Movement by Rutchie C. Aguhob
TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental - The Tangub City Historical Commission (TCHC) has ventured to enrich its heritage through a project to trace the “Family: The Root of Culture.” To facilitate the realization of the project, TCHC conducted a Trainors Training Seminar-Workshop of the Family History Movement, in coordination with the Department of Education, Division of Tangub City, recently. Knowledgeable experts in the field of History from the Gov. Alfonso D. Tan College (GADTC) have been invited as resource speakers during the seminar, Dr. Victoria V. Gazo, Schools Division Superintendent, said. Participants to the training included the Alternative Learning MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
(ALS) Coordinators of private/public secondary schools, from the four schools districts of the division. The training aimed to equip the participants with knowledge in tracing their family history and conduct echo training in their respective schools/ districts and to submit outputs of their own family history. Meanwhile, HCTC is leading the celebration of the Tangub City’s Heritage and Culture Week, from Nov. 22-28, this year, highlighted by a revival of songs/ dances and debates in the Visayan dialect, Narcisa A.
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Naron, TCHC General Commissioner, said. Now on its 9th year, the celebration focuses on the theme:
“Ang Kabilin nga Bulawan, Ugmaron, Ampingan ug Ipadayon (Golden Heritage: To be Developed, Protected and Sustained).
PNP Lanao Norte launches relief drive for Yolanda victims by Lorry V. Gabule
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – To respond to the need of more goods and supplies in the recently typhoon ravaged Central Visayas, the Police Provincial Office (PPO) here culled out resources and launched a relief drive. The relief drive brought in assorted used clothings, canned goods and cash donations which were delivered on November 13 at Camp Gallego, Barangay Pigcarangan, Tubod, this province. Police personnel from the 22 towns of Lanao del Norte turned over their collected relief goods to the Provincial Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters through P/SSupt Madid Paitao, PNP provincial director. Further, the relief effort is also in response to the call of PNP Region 10 Director Catalino Rodriguez to donate and collect relief goods for victims of Typhoon Yolanda which devastated cities and provinces in Central Visayas. “I was saddened to learn that the super typhoon hit major cities MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
like Tacloban and caused massive casualties and huge property losses. In behalf of PNP-Lanao del Norte and the PNP-10 family, I extend a heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the victims of this unfortunate tragedy,” expressed Regional Director Rodriguez. Meanwhile, PSSupt Paitao also expressed his optimism on the resilient spirit of Filipinos enabling everyone to bounce back stronger after every tragic event. Further, the collected goods were brought to the Provincial Capitol building to be delivered on a scheduled date with all the other relief goods gathered by the provincial government.
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Davao tourism officers hold concertfor-a-cause
DAVAO CITY- A concert-for-acause featuring singing stars and music artists with Davao roots is being organized by the association of different Davao tourism officers for the ongoing relief efforts in the Visayas. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
The concert dubbed as “One Voice, One Christmas, One Davao.� will be held this coming December 7 at the SMX Lanang in Davao City, the concert will feature music artists such as Wency Cornejo, Yano, Popong Lendero, Maan Chua, Rochelle Venutti and Larvae. Local musicians and performers from the different provinces of the Davao region will also be performing for the concert. Wency Cornejo erstwhile vocalist of rock band Afterimage is now based in Davao City, while the band Yano who gained popularity in the 1990s is headlined by co-founder Eric Gancio, a Dabawenyo, Larvae an acrobatic/contortionist group semifinalists in season 2 of Pilipinas Got
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Talent are from Digos City. Popong Landero, Maan Chua and Rochelle Venutti have gained acclaim as Davao City-based musical artists. Noel Daquioag, provincial tourism officer of Davao del Norte and president of the One Davao Tourism Officers Association (1DTOA) organizers of the concert said that event was originally planned to raise funds for the budding stone and wood craft industries established for victims of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. “Then Yolanda came, we shifted the plan and agreed to do the concert to raise funds and collect relief goods for the victims of Yolanda which is a MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
more pressing need.” Daquioag said. Last year’s Typhoon Pablo one of the strongest typhoons to strike the otherwise typhoon-free Davao region devastated properties and livelihood particularly in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, while Yolanda, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded struck Visayas last November 8 leaving a trail of death and unimaginable destruction. Daquioag said the beneficiaries would those living in the areas between Baybay, Leyte and Basey in Samar; towns heavily affected by the typhoon’s onslaught. “We want to show to the rest of the world that Davao Region is one big family that never leaves a sister or a brother behind. This is the same compassion that guides us to help our neighbors.” Daquioag said. Tickets of the concert are available at all provincial tourism offices of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and the tourism investment office of Davao City. The December 7 show starts at 3 p.m. (first show) and 7 p.m. (second show). VIP tickets are sold at P500 and General Admission tickets at P300. Concert-goers are also encouraged to bring relief items as boxes are stationed in the visible areas of the concert venue to receive the relief items. (PIA/RG Alama)
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Development projects set for implementation in Davao Oriental MATI CITY –In a bid to foster peace in the countryside, projects for socio-economic development have been set for implementation here in the province, says the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP). During their courtesy call to Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon and City Mayor Carlo Rabat on Friday, the OPAPP team bared aligned projects being brewed to be implemented under the Sajaharta Bangsamoro Program (SBP). Among these projects are the constructions of afish landing, rural health center,daycare center, and implementation of skills development program. Set to be put up in Barangay Tagabakid, City of Mati chosen as pilot area, these projects isaligned to the program’s three components of socio-economic interventions focused on health, education, and livelihood. OPAPP said that the fish landing which will be placed in an area near the coast of Tagabakid holds the promise of inducing economic benefits in the local economy and will greatly help thelocal community, which primarily dependson fishing as their primary source of livelihood. Meanwhile, aside from the economic
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benefits of the project, Gov. Malanyaon considers the project a potential venue for tourism. “This is one project I really want to be implemented here in the province considering that we are a coastal province and has the longest coastline in the entire region. This is something that we need to take advantage of,” says Governor Malanyaon. Meanwhile, with respect to the education component, TESDA Provincial Director ElCid H. Castillorevealed that they already have the roster of identified participants for skills development training primarily on welding. He also added that trainings on fish processing will also be included on their program to complement the fish landing project soon to be established in the area. PD Castillo said that around 1,030 beneficiaries in ten sites will also be granted the opportunity for scholarship program and that its graduates will receive tool kits for the particular program they are enrolled. These kits will provide them the opportunity to explore self-employment fostering entrepreneurship. (PIO DAV OR)
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GCNet, DOLE, DepEd conclude “Career Fiesta 2013� in Sibugay By Alma L. Tingcang
DIPLAHAN, Zamboanga Sibugay - About 2,000 students and parents converged at Diplahan National High School on Nov. 22, 2013 for the Career Fiesta 2013 spearheaded by the Guidance Counselors Network (GCNet) Zamboanga Sibugay Chapter. The activity, held in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-9 and the Department of Education (DepEd), endeavored to reduce the number
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of job-skills mismatch and provided the students and parents alike with adequate information to guide them in choosing courses that would either lead to gainful employment
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or equip them with skills to become entrepreneurs. DOLE-9 Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano lauded the GCNet for hosting the Career Fiesta 2013 and for its untiring efforts in guiding the students to make intelligent career decisions consistent with the current labor demand to better prepare them in the world of work. Darius Antigua, GCNet president said, “We know for a fact that some parents decide what courses their children would pursue in college. The Career Fiesta 2013 aims to change this perception so that parents would guide and support their children in whatever course they want to pursue.” High school graduating student, Marifel Balase, 16, was so glad that the career fiesta was held. “I plan to take up education in college. It is my dream to become a teacher. This way I can help my parents send my other siblings to school,” she stated. One mother from Maganay, Buug, this province commended the worthy undertaking of the GCNet,
DOLE and DepEd. “My youngest son is graduating in high school. He plans to take up automotive mechanic, either a two-year or fouryear course, it all depends on him. We will support him all the way,” she said in vernacular. Students gathered information on scholarship and admission requirements, and received guidance on the first step to career planning from various participating schools, while colleges and training institutions put up an information booth and conducted orientation, testing and interviews. Parents assembled in one big learning session aptly titled, “Kung Yan ang Gusto Mo, Suportahan Taka (If that is what you want, I will support you),” facilitated by Ofelia Amik of Pilar College, Zamboanga City. Most of the students attended the “Yayaman Ako (I’ll become richer)” session, a talk show on selfemployment and entrepreneurship. The religious sector also provided a panel discussion on opportunities for ministry and missions.
Gov’t to shoulder 25% of displaced persons’ pay under emergency employment program By Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Zamboangueños who were displaced by the crisis in the city may be hired by private companies through the government’s Emergency Employment Program (EEP), where said companies will only have to shoulder 75 percent of their salaries while the government will provide 25 percent counterpart. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
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According to Regional Director Sisinio Cano of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-9, P2 million has already been allotted to pay the 25 percent of the wages of some 800 displaced persons in the city. “Under this program, the total displaced workers hired shall not exceed 20 percent of the total number of existing workforce of each participating establishment and whose employment period shall not exceed six months,” said Director Cano. The employment may be extended by their respective MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
establishments upon satisfactory performance. However, after six months, they will have to shoulder the full wages of these workers. “The employment period is from November until the end of December this year,” Director Cano explained. Moreover, participating establishments, as per the memorandum of agreement are tasked to enroll the displaced persons with the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, if the latter are not yet members. The DOLE is scheduled to hold a jobs’ fair in the city on Dec. 5.
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Dumingag parishioners donate 770 packs of relief goods for “Yolanda” victims By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – “We are touched by what happened to our kababayans (brethren) in the Visayas region.” Thus disclosed San Jose assistant parish priest Father Elvin Sabandal of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur in an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 after the two truckloads of relief goods were unloaded at said office, the designated drop-off center of the 1st Infantry Tabak division’s “Oplan Tabang Visayas.” Sabandal said super typhoon Yolanda’s (international name, Haiyan) fury prompted the MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
parishioners to donate relief goods for the victims in Tacloban City, Leyte. Sabandal said the San Jose Parish through parish priest June Nilo Vics, in his homily, appealed to the parishioners to donate relief goods such as rice, bottled water, canned goods, and noodles to support the relief operations for the victims. “We are impressed with the overwhelming support of the community on our appeal for
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donations to the victims,” Sabandal said adding that a total of 770 packs of in-kind donations arrived at San Jose Parish church an hour after the mass. The donation, Sabandal said, was meant to convey the parishioner’s deepest sympathies to those affected by this great tragedy. “With this, we are sincerely grateful to the parishioners, the schools and other generous donors. It is heartwarming that at this time of tragedy, we are seeing the deep concern of our people,” Sabandal stressed. Christian Padayhag, a senior MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
student of San Jose Academy said he had volunteered in repacking the relief items as a way of helping the typhoon victims. And he never felt tired. When asked what motivated him to volunteer, Padayhag answered that he pitied the victims every time he sees them on TV begging for food, water and other relief goods. Sabandal also expressed his thanks to the parishioners and student-volunteers who assisted in repacking the relief goods so they could quickly transport the goods to Tacloban City.
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PIA, BASCOMNET hold 1st campus journalism workshop in Lamitan City By Rene V. Carbayas
LAMITAN CITY, Basilan – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-ZAMBASULTA Information Center and the Basilan Communicators Network, Inc. (BASCOMNET) conducted over the weekend the first campus journalism seminar-workshop for high schools in this city. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
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With the support from the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila and the Department of Education-ARMM, some one hundred students from seven high schools in Lamitan converged at the Claret School of Lamitan last Nov. 23 - 24. Kurt J. Hoyer, US Embassy Attache in Manila, stressed in his video message to the participants that Journalism plays an important role in all free societies, saying that “Freedom of the press is one of the basic rights enshrined in the American Constitution and also an important part of the free society here in the Philippines.” “Only if people had accurate and thorough information can one make a free choice in a free society,” he added.
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Hoyer further told participants that journalists have to be smart, tough, and independent. “These are core features of what we hope to inspire in students who wants to be a journalist,” he said. In her message, Mayor Rosita U. Furigay said that the city is lucky that the PIA had initiated a two-day seminar, which she said is a rare opportunity for students in Lamitan. She hoped that all high schools were represented as this seminarworkshop would harness the talents and skills of young journalists. “What and how we communicate are very important issues nowadays because others had become careless and irresponsible in conveying their messages,” the mayor noted as she cited that young people today have the modern technology, like the
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internet and the cellular phones, to communicate. Meanwhile, DOST-ARMM Regional Secretary and current BASCOMNET President Myra M. Alih encouraged the students to engage in journalistic activities as she stressed that information is vital to society. For two days, the participants underwent an intensive training with lectures on the following: Basic Newswriting with Dave Malcampo, Writing Feature Story with Imee Gay Molve, Basic Photography and Photo Journalism with Rene Carbayas, Editorial Writing with Angela Lazaro, Journalsim Ethics and Peace Journalism with Dave Malcampo, and Citizens Journalism and Social Media with Rene Carbayas. Moreover, the students also MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
had an opportunity to interact with US Embassy Charge d Affairs Brian L. Goldbeck during a phonepatched interview on the first day. Goldbeck encouraged students to harness their skills to contribute to the transformation of the society. Participants were also engaged in competition for newswriting, feature writing with photos, editorial writing, and writing reports through SMS (short messaging system). The seminar was also made possible with the support of the city government of Lamitan. Participating schools include Colony National High School, Look National High School, Claret School of Lamitan, Lamitan National high School, Ubit National High School, Parangbasak National High School, and the Basilan State College Laboratory High School.
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