PHOTO CREDIT: Rhonson Ng
PIA REGIONAL OFFICES IN MINDANAO Western Mindanao
Today’s News… NATIONAL
P. Urro Street, San Francisco District Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016 Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038 Cellphone no. 0908-8843404 E-mail : r9_pia@yahoo.com mimibern17@yahoo.com Skype : hnb_r9pia
Ochoa: 13 more priority bills presented by President Aquino to LEDAC Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao Graces' Building, Antonio Luna Street Cagayan de Oro City 9000 Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83 Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594 Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969 E-mail : pia10_pd@yahoo.com r10_pia@yahoo.com rutchiecabahug@yahoo.com
DepEd commends 4CMO for active participation in Brigada Eskwela 2011 Awarding of outstanding gov’t workers to highlight111th PSC celebration in September MGB releases latest geological condition of Iligan MSME’s of Iligan prepare for Kahimunan Trade Fair 2011
Southern Mindanao 2/F Kanto Motors Bldg., Quimpo Blvd., New Matina Davao City 8000 Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580 Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044 Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950 E-mail : efelbanbuena@yahoo.com
Central Mindanao Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St. Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Telephone no. (083) 520-0249 Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100 Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307 E-mail : r12_pia@yahoo.com pia_xii@yahoo.com
Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg., J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City Telephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239 Telefax no. (085) 341-2370 Cellphone no. 0917-7188834 Email: piacaraga@gmail.com pia_caraga@yahoo.com,ph
OUR COVER The cover of this issue highlights the celebration of the 2011 Kadayawan Festival in Davao City.
Southern Mindanao (Davao) Davao mayor supports “Pilipinas Natin” volunteerism campaign “Pilipinas Natin” gathers over a thousand volunteers in Davao kids’ birthday party 2,000 youths join “Pilipinas Natin” launching DOST-11 opens innovation and packaging development center Davao Oriental beefs up investment promo program Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN) Tacurong adopts “Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan Project” Forced relocation ordered for residents of landslide area in SK Government hospital to rise in Surallah, S. Cotabato Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) PAMANA: More than the usual development process Butuan tourist arrivals up – Mayor Amante Thousands avail of mobile passport service in Surigao City NATCAC – 2nd Run set in Caraga Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) Power Plant visit enlightens inter-agency group on alternative power supply PCA to beef up coco industry ASFP, DENR ink MoA to ensure environmentally compliant projects BFAR-ARMM set first seaweeds congress First ever Renal Transplant Unit in Zambo soon to operate
Ochoa: 13 more priority bills presented by President Aquino to LEDAC
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resident Benigno S. Aquino III presented on Tuesday 13 additional priority measures to members of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for inclusion in the administration’s agenda this year. Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the priority bills had been processed and determined by the Cabinet Clusters. Six of the 13 measures had earlier been announced by the President in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25. The new proposed measures, on top of the 22 bills submitted during the first LEDAC meeting last February, are consistent with the administration’s policy directions as laid out in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), in pursuit of the Aquino administration’s 16-point agenda or Social Contract with the Filipino People. “We will assess the progress posted by our common legislative agenda since the time we agreed on a shared set of priorities, as well as the need to deliver on our collective commitment to pass these measures at the soonest possible time,” Ochoa said. At the same time, the administration also presented to congressional leaders the proposed P1.816 trillion spending package for 2012 as well as the PDP to rally their support for the timely passage of the budget measure. “We look forward once again to the early passage of the budget so that the government can build on the progress that has already been made,” Ochoa said. Ochoa thanked the leadership of both chambers of Congress “for their statesmanship and for the cooperation they have extended in forwarding our common legislative agenda. We also want to obtain their input on the other measures we will be proposing during the second
LEDAC because pushing this agenda should be a collective, collaborative effort.” Among the 13 proposed measures are the adequate protection for house help, expansion of science and technology scholarship programs, amendments to the Rural Electrification Law, sin tax, amendments to the Human Security Act and the Data Privacy Act, and the responsible parenthood (RP) bill. The President’s proposals also include the expanded consumer protection, reorganization of the Philippine statistical system, amendments to the PTV-4 law, provision for the delineation of the specific forest limits of public domain, stiffer penalties for stealing and tampering with government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, and amendments to the Lina Law or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992. According to Ochoa, the Executive Department will also make a pitch for the passage of the priority measures previously submitted to LEDAC. Of the 22 measures earlier proposed, three have been enacted into law, namely the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (Republic Act No. 10149), Rationalizing the Night Work Prohibition on Women Workers (Republic Act No. 10151) and Resetting and Synchronizing the ARMM Elections with the National and Local Elections in 2013 (Republic Act No. 10153). The 19 other proposed measures are in various stages of processing and review in the legislative mill. Ochoa also said that Congress had enacted Republic Act No. 10150, which extended the implementation of the Lifeline Rate to amend the
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Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. This amendment is one of four
recommended amendments to the EPIRA Law by the Executive Department.
RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB PIA-X Officer-in-charge
DepEd commends 4CMO for active participation in Brigada Eskwela 2011 CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) officials of the Bulua Central School (BSC), this city, has commended the 4th Civil Military Operation Battalion, 4 th Infantry Division, Philippine Army for its active participation in the conduct of “Brigada Eskwela 2011” last May 27. During its General Parents Teachers Association (GPTA) induction of officers and Brigada Eskwela 2011 awarding of certificates last August 13, at the school’s covert court, Atty. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. commended the Army’s involvement in the community activities for peace and development in the city. Rodriguez, who is also the Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) Party List Representative, graced the affair and served as the
Inducting Officer of the newly elected GPTA officers. Meanwhile, Erlinda T Cartagena, School and District Coordinating Principal of BCS, lauded the PA’s contributions, particularly, the 4CMO for its benevolent support in making their school physically ready for this year opening of classes. “We are very thankful for the Army’s support to our Brigada Eskwela 2011. Their presence has helped us a lot in preparing our
school to be a conducive place for learning,” she said. During the occasion, Scouts Royale Brotherhood and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were also awarded certificates of recognition for their support to the school. The affair was also attended by the school faculties, students, parents, local government officials of Barangay Bulua and different stakeholders of the community. (4CMO/PIA-10)
Awarding of outstanding gov’t workers to highlight111 th PSC celebration in September by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 16 (PIA) – Awarding of top performers in Region 10 will be among the highlights of the celebration of the 111th Philippine Civil Service, this coming September. 5
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This was announced by Atty. Lourdes Clavite-Vidal, Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), region 10, who said this year’s celebration theme: is “Championing R.A.C.E.: Public Service Excellence at Full speed.” Vidal said CSC Memorandum No. 17, s. of 2011, has suggested various activities for the celebration that includes the conduct of physical fitness program, trade fairs, awarding ceremony for Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan, and the CSC Pag-asa Awards, as well, as the holding of an essay, digital book cover design, government chorale competition and photography contests.
In region 10, the activities for the celebration includes the conduct of a thanksgiving mass, blood-letting, trade fair, musical show, physical fitness program “Hataw,” fun run and the interagency friendship games. Also included is the “Talakayan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency,” where the best practices and innovations in public service delivery will be discussed. Meanwhile, Vidal said another activity during the celebration is the awarding of winners in the 2011 Regional Search for Outstanding Agencies/Public Officials and Employees in the following categories:
Outstanding Head of Agency/Local Chief Executive, Outstanding Human Resource Management Practitioner, Model Employee of the Year, Gantimpala Agad Award under Mamamayan Muna Program, Most GenderResponsive Agency and Honor Roll in ARTA Implementation. Also included in the search is the category for Outstanding Agency to include the national government agency (NGA), local government units (LGU), government-owned and control corporations (GOCC) and state universities and colleges (SUC). (PIA-10)
MGB releases latest geological condition of Iligan by Melvin T. Anggot, Virgilio C. Garcia ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Aug. 16 (PIA) – An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the latest DENR data include the geological condition of Iligan City. As learned from the Office of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, the presentation of the report on August 17, will be made by Geologist Osin Sinsuat, Jr., head of Geosciences Division of the Mines Geosciences Bureau under DENR-10.
Sinsuat will make the presentation to barangay captains, personnel of the City Housing Board, City Environment Management Office and other concerned offices in a meeting to be held at the City Engineer’s Office- Building E, Pala-o this city.
The report on geological condition will serve as a guide of people to determine what part of Iligan is safe from landslides and other calamities especially during inclement weather when are rains frequent. (CIO/PIA-10)
MSME’s of Iligan prepare for Kahimunan Trade Fair 2011 by Melvin T. Anggot, Virgilio C. Garcia ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Aug. 16 (PIA) – Iligan City will participate in the the Kahimunan Regional Trade Fair on August 22-28 at Limketkai Rotonda in Cagayan de Oro. 6
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About 30 micro, small and medium enterprises of Region 10 are preparing for this fair. This activity will give every province and city in the region, like Iligan, the opportunity to display their own products under the program One Town, One Product (OTOP).
This will include products, such as, food stuffs, gift items, household products, organic or natural product s and furniture. Include in the trade fair is the OTOP of Iligan and abaca products. As initial activity for Kahimunan, participants
underwent a training seminar last week in Cagayan de Oro with regards to visual merchandising, customer handling and basic pricing and costing. (CIO/PIA-10)
EFREN F. ELBANBUENA PIA- XI Regional Director
Davao mayor supports “Pilipinas Natin” volunteerism campaign by Mai Gevera-Macapagat DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte supports the vision of Pilipinas Natin, a volunteerism campaign launched in Davao City Tuesday afternoon at the Almendras Gym, as she integrated “Kabayanihan sa Kadayawan” in the said launching activity. Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Mari Oquiñena expressed gratitude for the support of the Davao mayor in implementing the goal of President Benigno Aquino III in harnessing people power for nation building. “During the Kabayanihan sa Kadayawan, Mayor Duterte will share her vision to the business sector on how she would want a permanent relocation for the victims of the recent floods in Davao,” he said. Oquiñena stressed that it won’t focus much on financial donations but more on how Duterte
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would like to share the spirit of volunteerism especially in time of crisis. Oquiñena said Gawad Kalinga is set to donate two hectares of land as relocation site for the identified flood victims. PCOO chose Davao City as the first provincial area to launch Pilipinas Natin to coincide the city’s weeklong celebration of the 26th Kadayawan Festival. Earlier, more than 1,000 street children, orphans, and school kids were treated with a birthday party with goody bags, lunch packs, balloons, and party hats at the University of Mindanao Gymnasium.
PCOO sees this activity as a symbol of sharing and caring for kids. Instead of holding a clean-up drive, organizers then decided to shower a birthday party for more than 1,000 kids with the help of more than 1,000 volunteers coming in to help out. After Davao, the team will move to other provinces like Nueva Ecija, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, and Cebu to spread forth this volunteerism campaign. “In every place we visit, we challenge every Filipino if we can work together. Can we cross political lines to help our country?” he said. (PIA-11MGM)
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“Pilipinas Natin” gathers over a thousand volunteers in Davao kids’ birthday party by Carina L. Cayon DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – Over a thousand young volunteers of the “Pilipinas Natin” volunteerism campaign have shown Tuesday the spirit of caring and sharing to about 1,200 kids who were treated in a grand birthday party celebration at Matina Gym of the University of Mindanao. The volunteers mostly from UM’s National Service Training Program (NSTP) participated in the birthday party dubbed as “Kadayawan Para sa Kabataan,” a prelude to Pilipinas Natin launching in the city held in the afternoon of the same day at the Almendras Gym. The young volunteers called “ate” and “kuya” engaged into educational sessions such as story-telling and coloring, games and entertainment like magic and bubble shows with Davao’s day care pupils, street kids, and orphans who also indulged with goodies and food.
Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Mari M. Oquiñena of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said that the birthday party was meant for children who have never experienced a birthday party. Oquiñena described the event as a symbolic spirit of caring and sharing by volunteers whom he said are needed for PCOO volunteerism campaign to “harness people power for nation building.” He said the campaign is part of the government’s desire to involve the public in collective efforts with government agencies, individuals and institutions in addressing the country’s problems.
Oquiñena said that Pilipinas Natin expects to go beyond the manpower resources, adding that they also intend to mobilize other resources. “This part of the character in culture,” he stated. According to Oquiñena, the launching of the campaign in Davao was the first to be held outside Manila. He said Pilipinas Natin is set to be launched in Nueva Ecija, Pili in Camarines Sur, Cebu and Iloilo. He bared that after the launching, series of training would be conducted for the volunteers. (PIA-11/CLC)
2,000 youths join “Pilipinas Natin” launching by Jean D. Abangan DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – About 2,000 youths from various organizations were expected to join this afternoon’s Davao City launching of “Pilipinas Natin” to engage the public into volunteerism in line with the public-private partnership thrust of President Benigno Aquino. Presidential Communication Operations Office Undersecretary Jose Mari Oquiñena said that the launching of Pilipinas Natin has more youth participation to bring out the message that the government
wants to plan the future of the country with the youth. “It’s good to craft the future with the youth,” he said in an interview with the media. He, however, made it clear that the intention of the government
to engage the public in volunteerism is not limited only to the youth but it has more to gain with the youth as partners in nation-building. After the launching, Pilipinas Natin community work
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will start in partnership with the civic and youth leaders who joined the launching to conduct leadership seminar and other partnership activities at the school and the community levels. Oquiñena explained that today’s first Pilipinas Natin volunteerism campaign was being done in Davao City due to the willingness that Mayor Sara Duterte expressed during the Pilipinas Natin official launching on July 30 at the National Capital Region. The provincial launching came timely with the celebration of the Kadayawan Festival which signifies Dabawenyos gratefulness for a bountiful harvest.
Accounting student youth leader Delfie Awit, vice president of an indigenous people’s student organization of the University of Mindanao expressed gladness that the youth sector became part of Pilipinas Natin which, he said, also aims to preserve culture. He was hoping that President Aquino would continue to provide the IP youth a venue to be heard of their concerns. Wen Roxas, president of Youth Education for the Advancement of Science and Technology (YEAST) said he never expected that the youth would dominate in number during the launching of the Pilipinas Natin.
“I thought there would be more older people who would be here during the launch,” he said. Roxas was hoping that the President would be directing more activities with the youth and designed them for the youth to effectively gather the support of the young people. Done at the Almendras Gym, the Pilipinas Natin volunteerism campaign in Davao City featured song renditions of bands. It also featured the participation of Iza Calzado who, Usec Oquiñena said had been regularly part of Pilipinas Natin volunteer activities. (PIA11/JDA)
DOST-11 opens innovation and packaging development center DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST11) will open its Technology Innovation and Packaging Development Center (TIPDC) on August 18. The TIPDC will house the DOST-11’s Packaging and Labeling Center and Shelf Life Testing Laboratory. The Packaging and Labelling Center will cater to the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who cannot afford such services offered by some private enterprises. On the other hand, the Shelf Life Testing Laboratory, the first and only laboratory in Southern Mindanao, will provide the DOST-11 the conceived “Sensorium.” Sensorium is a model approach and the nucleus for rapid sharing knowledge and practice of sensory evaluation for the academe,
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the industry, and other government agencies. Shelf life testing from a professional laboratory, such as that of the DOST XI, will help determine if the product is safe for human consumption, and support SMEs marketing effort with adherence to food safety and quality. Aside from its TIPDC, DOST-11 also has completed the renovation and extension of its Metrology and Metals Testing Laboratories. The Metrology and Metals Testing laboratories is expected to cater to the needs of the oil and gas industry, commercial and trading industry, manufacturing
industries as well as the engineering and machine shops. The Metrology and Metals Testing Laboratories are still waiting for its ISO 17025:2005 accreditation approval. The DOST-11’s calibration and testing laboratories with an easy laboratory tests from a full service, professional laboratory, increase in trustworthiness of products is expected. Interested individuals may visit DOST-11 at corner Dumanlas and Friendship Roads, Bajada, Davao City, or contact at telephone nos. (082) 227-1313, 227-5672, and 221-5428. (DOST-11)
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Davao Oriental beefs up investment promo program DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – In its bid to establish a strong and cohesive investment promotion program, the Davao Oriental Center for Promotion on Investments and Trade (C-POINT) recently conducted a two-day training tagged as ““Investment Promotion Orientation and Planning Workshop for Local Chief Executives(LCEs) and Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officers (LEIPOs)” in Mati City. The activity, which was facilitated by the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao Oriental (DTI-DO), was designed to generate the commitment and support of the LCEs in investment promotion-generation initiatives, enhance understanding and appreciation of LEIPOs on the basics and importance of investment promotion, as well as facilitate the formation of a circle or network of LEIPOs within the province. DTI-DO Provincial Director Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi set the direction for the activity emphasizing on the vital role of the LGUs in providing a conducive business environment and the cycle of prosperity that the establishment of businesses can trigger in communities.
Ambi said she was overwhelmed with the commitment of support expressed by Mayors Domingo A. Lim of Lupon and Pedro T, Mejos of Banaybanay who graced the occasion. Representatives of Davao Oriental’s ten municipalities and one city got relevant inputs on investment promotion, particularly on Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) 2010, investment leads, and elements of a sound investment promotion plan. The inputs were provided by Edilberto Ranque of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 11, Engr. Gil M. Dureza and Cheryl Vicentino of the Board of Investments (BOI), and Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque of DTI 11.
Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, in her closing message, posed a challenge to the participants to act as effective agents of change. “As workers in the local government, let us simplify and facilitate entry of businesses into our areas so that the people we serve shall also reap from its benefits through creation of jobs and increase in their incomes,” she said. She added “it is time for the LGUs to raise their level of competence in terms of service delivery and in upholding certain degree of integrity and transparency so as to elevate level of investors confidence to locate in the province. (DTI-DO/ZIR/JMM)
OLIVIA T. SUDARIA PIA-XII Regional Director
Tacurong adopts “Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan Project” by Aida Agad KORONADAL CITY, Aug 16 (PIA) – Street children in Tacurong City are now given special attention by the local government through the Crisis Intervention Center for Women and Children (CICWC). 10
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“This is made possible with the Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan project launched last month by the City Council for the Welfare of Children,” said City Social Welfare and Development Officer Eufemia Robles. “The program runs until December 2011 and is presently catering to the needs of 34 streetchildren ranging from 6 to 17 years old,” Robles said. Under the program, these streetchildren are encouraged by the social worker from CICWC to attend an Alternative Learning System (ALS) moral and spiritual enrichment program every Wednesday.
They also participate in Sportsfest and group dynamics and activities wherein they could share their experiences, problems, dreams and aspirations in life. At the whole duration of the project, they are also given counselling, some school supplies, white t-shirt uniforms and free meals and snacks once a week, Robles added. The project is based on the concept Project PSYCHE (Promote and Support Young Children’s Hope through Education) which is funded by the legislative fund of City Councilor and Committee Chairperson on Social Services Psyche M. Sucaldito.
After their graduation from the Kalinga project, the streetchildren are expected to end their lives in the streets. With the help of the local government they would also be brought back to their families and communities. They would also be given official school certificate after complying all the requirements and completion of the prescribed hours in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of the Department of Education (DepEd). And most of all, Robles said, they will forget their dreadful experiences in the streets and be productive partners of the local government. (PIA12)
Forced relocation ordered for residents of landslide area in SK by Dani Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, Aug 15 (PIA) – Families affected by mudslide in Purok 10, Barangay Kinayao, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat will be relocated to a safer area, an official of the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Social Welfare and Development said. Henry Albano, provincial social welfare and development officer, said the victims of the August 12 mudslide are forbidden to rebuild their houses in the landslide and prone area. “The barangay government has already identified and provided a 10 by 15 square meter relocation site,” he said. “The provincial government has committed to give P5,000 monetary assistance and one sack of rice to each of the 29 families affected by the calamity,” he said. The municipal government, led by Mayor Bernardita Bito-onon will also
give P10,000 to each family, in addition to the relief goods earlier provided to the families in the evacuation center. “We are also proposing to the regional office of the DSWD to provide core shelter and livelihood assistance for the victims of landslide,” Albano said. Meanwhile a report from the regional office the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB 12) said that the mudslide area is not within the activity of the Korean mining firm GRCO. Some sectors have blamed GRCO’s operations as the cause of the mudslide.
Jaime Flores, chief of the MGB 12’s Geological Survey Division, said the landslide area was confined along a small creek named “Kuyal Creek” and was caused by “damming of rainfall runoff at the upper section of the creek.” “Impact of the debris flow was approximately 2,500 by 500 meters or 125 hectares at the footslope of Daguma Mountain,” Flores said. The area is primarily agricultural planted to oil palm, corn and rice, he added. The mudslide occurred around 4:30 pm on Friday following a heavy rain in the area.
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Most affected were residents living in Purol 10 of Barangay Kinayao.
Police identified the casualties as Teresita Albancis, 49; her daughter KC, 8; and Christine
Olivar, 3, whose body was recovered yesterday. (PIA 12)
Government hospital to rise in Surallah, S. Cotabato by Dani Doguiles KORONADAL CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – First a multi-million peso modern sanitary landfill, then a P45-M public transport terminal. Soon, South Cotabato’s booming town of Surallah will have its own public hospital. Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. recently announced that at present the provincial government is pushing for the construction of a district hospital in nearby Surallah town. He said a technical working group has been constituted to look into this matter. “Our primary objective in putting up a hospital in Surallah is to decongest the provincial hospital,” Gov. Pingoy said. South Cotabato Provincial Hospital has been accredited to accommodate 200 patients, but he said the number patients being attended to by the hospital on regular days always exceeds the limits, reaching as many as 280 patients per day.
He disclosed that a private organization has already committed P15 M for the construction of the hospital building. In the coming weeks, he said he will audience with Health Secretary Enrique Ona for the possibility of an additional funding of at least P15 M under the DOH’s Health Facilities Program, which has already funded health facilities projects of the province in Norala, Tupi, and Polomolok towns. Surallah LGU’s counterpart in the project is only to provide the lot where the district hospital will be constructed. “The hospital will have a capacity for 50 beds, but initially will have 15 to 25 beds,” he said.
This health facility is foreseen to serve the residents of upper valley area, including the municipalities of T’boli, Surallah, Sto.Niño, and Lake Sebu. The construction of a public hospital comes after two major projects that Surallah, considered one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province, has recently opened. On June 23, it opened its cluster sanitary landfill (SLF), which has already gained prominence among LGUs, especially in Mindanao as the only on of its kind in this part of the country. On August 10, Surallah inaugurated its P45-M modern Integrated Public Terminal. (PIA 12)
ABNER M. CAGA PIA-Caraga Regional Director
PAMANA: More than the usual development process by David M. Suyao AGUSAN DEL SUR, August 16 (PIA) – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) handed over to Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward 12
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Plaza two checks totaling to P14,216,000 as initial release to finance various projects identified in three municipalities and the city of Bayugan ranging from infra repairs to livelihood of some 44,000 residents. Assistant Secretary Howard Cafugauan said, the amount is part of the P18 Million worth of projects intended for the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads in San Francisco, Bayugan and Prosperidad, rehabilitation of Andanan Baily bridge in Sibagat, livelihood projects like rubberbased farming (rubber plus banana plus fruit tress), abaca production, cacao production, handicraft production and the part of the water supply system particularly in Sibagat town. “The initial release of the funds is the result of the 2009 survey and study that your provincial government together with the four municipal government technical working group and the OPAPP have undergone. If you ask me if OPAPP will continue to support and cover the program in Agusan del Sur, the answer is definitely yes. Just like what your governor said, let us use the fund for its real purpose and if we see the difference as what the OPAPP expects, we will surely continue to
support your province with DILG where the fund will be channeled because they will be in-charge in building the capacity of the recipients together with other agencies,” Asec Cafugauan said. According to Asec Cafugauan, PAMANA is different from other usual development projects like farm to market roads, bridges and livelihood, implemented by other agencies because it deals with challenges especially with peace and order issue, in order to get the projects moving. “The reason why we want to empower the communities and strengthen their capacities is because we want to address issues of vulnerability and peace through activities that promote social cohesion. As per result of our survey, there are so many resources and potentials in areas that has peace and order issues and the President said he want that people in these areas should feel the presence and care of the government so that their resources and potentials will be put in action
for development of themselves and the area, and will soon forget the peace and order issues,” Asec Cafugauan said. According to Asec Cafugauan, the present administration is expecting that the product of the PAMANA projects will promote peace and development by building peace in the community. It will also mainstream the framework of all government agencies as stakeholders while strengthening their convergence for peace building. “As we all observed, what happened before was, we wait for the peace agreement before the services and help from government will flow to the communities. But now, we will not wait for that peace agreement to be signed. Government’s services and help will be extended to the communities we called the PAMANA zones even if the peace agreement is yet on process,” Asec Cafugauan said. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Butuan tourist arrivals up – Mayor Amante by Robert E. Roperos BUTUAN CITY, August 16 (PIA) – Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. of this city recently said the number of tourist arrivals this year has increased compared to last year. The city’s chief executive said that from July to December of 2010, some 208,520 tourists have visited the city. He said this figure showed an increase of 11 percent
compared to the same period in 2009. He added that tourist arrivals this year have reached 107,553 from January to June.
“Kining maong gidaghanon sa mga turista, gibana-bana nga nagdala og P8.7 billion alang sa atong lokal nga ekonomiya sulod lamang sa usa ka tuig” (The tourist arrivals has brought some P8.7
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billion to the local economy in one year), Amante said. “Said amount benefitted employees in hotels and restaurants, drivers of jeepneys, multi-cabs and pedicabs, as well as
businessmen of our public market,” Amante said. To date, Amante said the city has 2,400 hotel beds and 1,300 hotel rooms that can accommodate participants to any regional and
national conventions, making it as the destination of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibits in the region. (PIACaraga)
Thousands avail of mobile passport service in Surigao City by Dandy Lapura SURIGAO DEL NORTE, August 16 (PIA) – Some 1,000 Surigaonons flocked to Surigao City to search for jobs and apply for passport during the jobs fair and mobile passporting service on Aug. 13-14, 2011. The 2-day jobs fair and mobile pass porting service was initiated by the city government of Surigao in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Dozens of private companies joined the jobs fair in an effort to provide jobs to those who wanted to work such as Toyota Davao City Inc., Taganito Mining Corporation, Cagdianao Mining Corporation, Pacific Cement Philippines, Inc. (PCPI), Southern Arms Corporation, and Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc.
Registered job applicants also sought employment with agencies that joined the Fair such as M & M Placement Int’l, Inc., LNS Int’l Manpower Services Corp., PHILQUEST Int’l. Management & Services Contractor, Kabayan Ko Overseas Manpower Placement, Maanyag Int’l Manpower Corp., and Online Hiring Corp. According to PESO Manager Rolando H. Uyan, among the 783 applicants only 349 of them were successfully interviewed. “132 of them were qualified applicants but only 8 applicants got hired on the spot,” he said.
For mobile passporting, Uyan said around 434 pass ports were successfully processed. He said the releasing of passport will be on October 9, 2011 at the City PESO Office. Mayor Ernesto Matugas, on the other hand, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the officials of DFA, DOLE, OWWA, City PESO and business establishments for the success of the event and hopes to replicate this again to help his constituents in Surigao City. (PIASurigao del Norte)
NATCAC – 2nd Run set in Caraga BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The National Technical – Vocational Education and Training Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) is back in an effort to strengthen the scale and popularization of assessment and certification and undertake a purposive advocacy to raise people’s awareness of the program, the second run for the NATCAC will be held in the months of August to November 2011.
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According to Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga Regional Director Edwin Gatinao, the NATCAC is a synchronized conduct of competency assessment and certification in identified key qualifications that are hard to find but with high industry demand. The NATCAC will be conducted every week starting August to November 2011. One important features of the NATCAC is the issuance of the National Certificate (NC) or the Certificate of Competency (COC)
to successful candidates on the same day of the assessment. Target candidates for NATCAC are the following: trainers of private & public technical vocational institutions including TESDA Technology Institutes, LGUs and other government agencies providing TVET programs and other private enterprises with registered TVET programs; workers/industry practitioners/professional/career shifters who want to undergo competency assessment; and returning OFWs/ Filipino expatriates with relevant
experience who want to undergo competency assessment. Also, interested applicants for the free assessment and certification will have to comply with the following requirements: 1) Duly accomplished application form; & 2) three passport size pictures in white background with name written at the back. The second run of the NATCAC in Caraga region opens on August 8 and ends on November 18, 2011. Interested applicants are enjoined to visit TESDA Provincial Office near them. (TESDA13/PIA-Caraga)
NOEMI B. EDAGA PIA- IX Regional Director
Power Plant visit enlightens inter -agency group on alternative power supply by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – A visit to the country’s biggest and most cost-efficient coal-fired power plant in Sual, Pangasinan gave a multi-sector group from the city a glimpse of the vast potential of having an alternative power supply in the city. The San Ramon Power Incorporated, which belongs to Conal Group Holdings, Incorporated, eyeing to put a coal-fired power plant inside Zamboanga Ecozone property, west of this city, invited a group from the academe, concerned government agencies, and representative from the city’s electric cooperative for a tour at Sual Power Plant to brief them on its operations and to quell apprehensions on the effects of a power plant to the environment.
National Electrification Administration (NEA) Observer Engineer Sonny Navarro pointed not only on the city’s need for a back-up power supply but the country as a whole. “We need a large power plant not only in Zamboanga City but in the entire country”, Navarro said. The group also saw that with proper operation of a power plant, environment will still be protected.
Environment Management Bureau of Department of Environment and Natural Resources 9 Chief Ninie Ramos said, “We support the idea as long as it conforms to the environmental standards”. Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative District 8 Board Member Elbert Atilano was also surprised at how environmentalfriendly the power plant is. He said the city needs power plant like that of Sual’s.
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Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue said he understands that some people might be against the putting up of a power plant here citing environmental destruction as it was also the sentiments of his people before the plant was constructed in 1996. “It was not proven, and our municipality became a first class municipality because of it”, the mayor said.
Conal Consultant Engineer Ruben Conti said putting up a power plant will not only address the city’s power woes but it will also open job opportunities, which was also echoed by Western Mindanao State University Political Science Professor Edgar Araojo. “This is for the people to decide as this will create employment benefits for Zamboagueños, Conti said.
Zamboanga City was hit hard by the power crisis here in Mindanao last year, experiencing 8 hour per day brownouts due to El Niño. The city government has since then looked for feasible and stable power supply for the city and considered a number of proposals. (MVC/PIA9-Zambo City)
PCA to beef up coco industry by Franklin P. Gumapon DIPOLOG, Aug. 16 (PIA) – As the coconut remains number one agricultural export of the country, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is now intensifying its efforts to perk up the coconut industry. PCA Administrator Euclides G. Forbes told the local press in a news conference here yesterday that the country has around 3 million coconut farmers, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. Forbes also said the PCA is not only concentrating on coconut copra production but it will also provide technology training for farmers and stakeholders to produce other coconut by-products like coconut flour, virgin coconut oil and coconut sugar.
The PCA administrator even said that a training on furniture making would be provided to interested groups/individuals to enable them to make fine and quality furniture made of coco wood/lumber. It was also learned that the ban on coco tree cutting imposed by the government was already lifted as of April this year. In a related development, the PCA is now adopting measures to cushion the impact of the US credit rating downgrade, which has
adversely affected all exporters, on coconut products. To prevent the copra prices from further tumbling down, PCA has recommended the use of coco oil in other industrial purposes. Presently, PCA is celebrating the 55th national coco week which will culminate on Aug. 20. (FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)
ASFP, DENR ink MoA to ensure environmentally compliant projects ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 16 (PIA) – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Social Fund Project (ASFP) has forged a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region that allows it to implement environmentally compliant projects without unnecessary delay. 16
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ASFP Project Manager Nasser Sinarimbo said the MoA allows ASFP to carry on with its own mechanism of ensuring projects have no adverse effect on the environment. Under the agreement, DENR-ARMM will recognize the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) submitted by ASFP’s people’s organizations (POs), local
groups organized by ASFP to be at the forefront of identifying and managing community-based projects, as basis for the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) in lieu of the usual procedure, which could take more time. Sinarimbo said ASFP goes beyond compliance to the national directives of ensuring no harm is
being done to the environment in the pursuit of socio-economic development as POs are obliged to plant trees in designated areas in support to the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government. Part of the EMP is the conduct of a tree planting activity, he said. (BPIARMM/RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)
BFAR-ARMM set first seaweeds congress ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 16 (PIA) – Top producers and investors of the seaweed industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will soon converge for the first seaweeds industry congress. The Bureau of Public Information (BPI) of ARMM announced that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) is gearing up for the conduct of the first-ever ARMM seaweeds congress this September in Zamboanga City. Janice Musali, BFARARMM assistant regional director, said the event is fully-backed by the present ARMM administration
and expected to draw in major stakeholders in the seaweeds business. Musali said they will be inviting top seaweeds producers and buyers in the region as well as prospective investors and representative from credit institutions and non-government organizations. “We want to take full advantage of the abundant supply of seaweeds in the region as captured in the congress’ theme:
‘Setting Grounds for Harnessing ARMM’s Seaweeds Potentials’,” she said. ARMM accounts for 40 percent of the country’s total seaweeds production. “Right now, ARMM only supplies dried raw seaweeds. Our goal is for the region to go into the production of semi-processed and refined seaweeds products,” Musali said. (BPIARMM/RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)
First ever Renal Transplant Unit in Zambo soon to operate by Jocelyn P. Alvarez ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The first ever Renal Transplant Unit (RTU) in Zamboanga will soon be able to perform its first kidney transplant as the Department of Health (Manila) has approved the release of it’s license to operate. The RTU of the Western Mindanao Medical Center (WMMC), a private
hospital here will officially open its services to the public once the hospital gets hold of the
accreditation certificate from the government’s health department.
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DOH9 Regional Director Dr. Aristides Tan said he is happy that the private sector is complementing the efforts of the government by putting up a RTU, the first in the city. WMCC Renal Transplantation Head Dr. Michael Abutazil said “WMMC is just waiting for the accreditation certificate coming from the Department of Health for the
hospital to conduct our first kidney transplant in this city.� Dr. Abutazil said there are five local nephrologists / doctors who specialize in kidney disease/trouble. He confirmed that Zamboanga City alone has a 1000 patients diagnosed with renal failure who needs kidney transplant. At present, kidney transplant is only available in Manila.
WMMC said once this program is operational, kidney patients from this city and neighboring provinces need not go to Manila or Cebu to have kidney transplant enabling patients to save a lot of money considering cost of surgery, hospitalization and transportation will be lessen if the transplantation will be done here. (JPA /PIA9 Zambo City)
PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST issued at 5am, 16 Aug. 2011. Synopsis: Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Minda nao. Forecast: Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Light to moderate winds blowing from East to Southeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the East to Northheast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.
News and information of the Mindanao regions are now delivered through cyberspace technology... On Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, the maiden issue of "ONE MINDANAO," an electronic newsletter of all the regional offices of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Mindanao was published and delivered to the respective recipients of all PIA regional offices in the island, in time with the first year anniversary of Atty. Jose A. Fabia as Director-General of PIA. It is electronically published & delivered daily including Saturdays & Sundays.
President Aquino has issued Proclamation No. 234 declaring August 30, 2011 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan). Pres. Aquino also declared August 29, 2011 which falls on a Monday, also as a regular holiday in celebration of National Heroes Day or Araw ng mga Bayani.
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