One Mindanao - October 12, 2011 by PIA Mindanao

CONTENTS NATIONAL

OUR COVER

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Dammit Jill Hitabus weblog DA-12

An Electronic News Magazine

• Mining investors will stay in the country despite NPA attacks, Aquino says • Philippine Spratly proposal maintains regional peace • Aquino approves P72-B stimulus package for in frastructure and reconstruction plans • Aquino welcomes commitment of Chinese business groups to invest in Phl

Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN) • Konstruksiyon ng Proyektong Pabahay para sa mga kawani ng ARMM sinimulan • Mga pamilyang biktima ng Maguindanao massacre, pinag-aaralan ang pagne-negosyo ng “dragon fruit” • Flashfloods sa Lungsod ng Heneral Santos, 61 na pamilya ang biktima

published daily by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL STAFF Executive Editor …….........

EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….........

ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region

Associate Editors …….......

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge, PIA Region X

Regional Desk Editors …...

NOEMI A. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora CL Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Layout Artists ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA Presidential Communications Operations Office

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) • Agusan del Sur to strengthen fresh water fish production • AFP’s 402nd top execs visit Claver mine sites • Gov’t cited for the release of kidnapped mayor, 2 escorts • Tropical Storm ‘Ramon’ affects 164 individuals in Dinagat Islands • DepEd lifts suspension of classes in Butuan City today

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) • NMIS, LGUs to lead in the observance of the 19th meat safety consciousness week • Zambo. Norte municipal agriculturists, fish wardens undergo IEC workshops • Seguridad sa Dipolog City Airport, gihigpitan • Regatta 2011 gipahigayon sa siyudad • Pres Aquino mipasalig suportang pondo sa LGUs

Northern Mindanao • PNP to observe helmet law • Lanao Norte PhilHealth members receive MDR • Agriculture Office leads celebration of Consumer Welfare Month • Offices, establishment urged to observe Juan Time

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region) • SPMC affordable services attract patients from all over • Mt. Apo’s Civet coffee helps farmers • Blood sugar, cholesterol testing to be available at health centers • New Bataan to benefit from a flagship program on peace and development • ARB seed growers’ first fruit a success

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Cover Story:

Agri officials

urge farmers to sell produce to NFA By Dani Doguiles

ith farm-gate price of palay going down, agriculture officials in South Cotabato are encouraging farmers to take advantage of the better price that the National Food Authority is offering for their rice harvest.

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Provincial Agriculturist Reynaldo Legaste confirmed that this week buying price of palay by commercial traders in the province has gone down to P13.00 per kilo from P15.50 per kilo about two weeks ago. Besides downtrend of palay production since August, intermittent rains being experienced in the area have also contributed to the lowering of the farmgate price of palay. Fortunately, rice farmers in South Cotabato could avail of much better price for their produce from the National Food Authority (NFA) , he said. Angelina Lucena, assistant manager of NFA-South Cotabato said, they

are buying palay from rice farmers at P17.00 per kilogram , P4.00 higher than the prevailing price being offered by traders. “ W e buy palay at P17.40 per kilo if this i s

ments so that more farmers could sell their produce to one of the four buying stations set up by NFA. Besides two buying stations in Koronadal City, they have setup a buying stations in the grains centers of Norala and Surallah towns where farmers in the clean and Upper Valley dry,” she area could said. Acdeliver their credited produce. coopera “Farmers only tives that need to present a sell their certification from palay to NFA either their mualso get nicipal agricultural incenofficer or municipal tives of agrarian reform ofP0.30 per ficer,” she said. kilo,she added. “The certification Lucena pointed should specify the that they have sim- number of hectares plified the require- of rice field being 5

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Cover Story:Agri Officials.....from page 4

tilled, volume of production this season and the farm classification whether irrigated or rain-fed.” She also assured rice farmers that NFA South Cotabato has enough funding for the procurement program until the end of the year. “In September we received a fund allocation of P18 mil-

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lion for the procurement program. More funds are now available in the regional office of NFA for the purpose,” she said. They have also been assured by national agency officials that more funds can be downloaded to local offices if needed. To accommodate the bulk of procurement, NFA South Cotabato is renting

two warehouses with a combined capacity of at least 100,000 bags of palay bought from farmers in the Upper Valley area. She said they are now finalizing contracts for the warehouses. For the September to December season, NFA-South Cotabato aims to buy 168,000 bags of palay.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Mining investors will stay in the country despite NPA attacks, Aquino says

Foreign investors in the mining industry will not withdraw from the Philippines despite the attack of the New Peoples Army (NPA) in Surigao del Norte early this month, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.

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Mining investors.....from page 8

The Chief Executive, who was interviewed by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Makati Wednesday morning, said that he had talked to a group of Japanese investors who made an assurance that they’ll continue to do business in the Philippines despite the attacks. “I actually met with the officers of the Sumitomo

group who called on me Tuesday and they assured us that they have no intentions of pulling out,” the President told Focap. “But there was that request for beefed up security in their areas of operations to which we have already advised them of the corrective actions that are being undertaken. S o

if the victim of this whole issue has not indicated a lack of interest or lessening of interest, then perhaps I don’t foresee any other foreign investors undertaking the same,” he added. Responding to criticisms about the government plan to train members of the special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) to serve as security for mining industries, the President said their deployment will be strictly monitored by the police and the military to prevent abuses. “CAFGUs or special CAFGUs will be territorial-based, will be subject to rules and regulations, and will be under the 10

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Mining investors.....from page 9

watchful gaze of our Commission on Human Rights chair Etta Rosales. We do not foresee any abuses from them but rather they will augment the abilities of our security forces to preserve peace and order in our country,” the President said. The President noted that it’s unfair for the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to double their efforts in securing the country’s hot spots considering the huge

number of Filipino population so there’s a need to augment their number with militiamen. “We roughly have 250,000 men in uniform, they are guarding close to a hundred million Filipinos,” he said. “That is the exact same number of forces we had in 1986 when he had 50 million Filipinos. So we’re asking the members, our citizens who are in uniform, to do double the work and I think that would be unfair.”

NPA guerrillas staged coordinated raids on Taganito Mining Corp., Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp. operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on October 3, killing three security guards. The rebels burned 10 dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guest house, the police and the military said. The rebels also seized several guns from private security guards. (AS)

Philippine Spratly proposal maintains regional peace he Philippine proposal for the adoption of the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZoPFF/C) to resolve the Spratly Islands dispute has been an effective way of maintaining peace in the controversial regime of islands, President Benigno Aquino III said on Wednesday. 10

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Philippine Spartly.....from page 10

population so there’s a need to augment their number with militiamen. “We roughly have 250,000 men in uniform, they are guarding close to a hundred million Filipinos,” he said. “That is the exact same number of forces we had in 1986 when he had 50 million Filipinos. So we’re asking the members, our citizens who are in uniform, to do double the work and I think that would be unfair.” NPA guerrillas

staged coordinated raids on Taganito Mining Corp., Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp. operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on October 3, killing three security guards. The rebels burned 10 dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guest house, the police and the military said. The rebels also seized several guns from private security guards. (AS)

Aquino approves P72-B stimulus package for infrastructure and reconstruction plans resident Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the P72-billion stimulus package for various infrastructure and reconstruction plans saying it will produce multiplier effect on the Philippine economy. “The P72-billion will have its own multiplier effect and this pump primes the economy to that extent,” President Aquino said during an open forum with the officers and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) on Wednesday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Makati City. In a bid to boost economic growth in the country, Aquino approved the P72-bil-

lion stimulus package for various infrastructure and reconstruction plans, including a support fund for local government units (LGUs). The President pointed out that the stimulus package aims to help reach the growth targets for 2011 and 2012. However, Aquino acknowledged the fact that the country may be affected by the global economic meltdown. “The global economic situation is

changing practically daily. And one is not isolated from the world economy. Therefore, things that we do here domestically would impact on economy positively. But, at the same time, we are not sure exactly what the negative effects of the world’s economic turmoil will have on us since it is still a developing story,” the President said. President Aquino said the LGU support fund amounting to 13

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Aquino approves.....from page 12

P6.5 billion is part of the stimulus package. He said it will give an additional P10 billion to resettle and relocate informal settlers and families in danger zones. The President said the government

will be allotting P5.5 billion on various infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and P4.5 billion and P1.868 billion will go to the improvement of the

Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit (LRT) respectively. The package will be spent on projects that will have high macroeconomic impact, and will help the poor.(JS)

Aquino welcomes commitment of Chinese business groups to invest in Phl

among others.

resident Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the commitment of the Chinese business groups of venturing their investments in the country in the fields of tourism and energy,

In an interview with the officers and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) during the Annual

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Presidential Forum on Wednesday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City, the President said that there are several fields of investments

to be filled in by a number of investors coming in the Philippines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With regards to other investment areas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and we did go 14 13

Aquino welcomes.....from page 13

to China, we agreed that this is but one part of the relationship with them — there is a commitment, for instance, to help us with our tourism industry. There are two major travel agencies — one of which owns its own airline and the other one is actually building two hotels already in the Philippines... so, the commitment to help us in our tourism industry is not just words but they’re actually undertaking it,” the President said. “There are other ventures — heavy equipment and truck manufacturing are also set to commence with us — there are a whole slew of investors that are coming in apart from energy,” he added.

The Chief Executive added that apart from these businesses, the Chinese group is also extending assistance in other fields that include disaster mitigation and water resources management. “They would also want to help us in terms of our energy, our water resource management, our disaster risk mitigation and we welcome all of these assistances,” President Aquino said. It has been five years since a President attended the FOCAP to talk about pressing issues and discuss key policies of the government in efforts to shape the future of the country. The President acknowledged FOCAP’s

efforts to uphold the freedom of the press especially during the time of martial law. “FOCAP has stood firmly for freedom of the press... they did this at the height of martial law — a time when doing so had severe repercussions — when journalists who were choosing to do the right thing were being thrown in prison or, worse, murdered in cold blood. And yet this organization has weathered plots to gag reporters, or corrupt them,” the President said. Founded in 1974, the FOCAP is a non-profit organization of international news agencies, publications, radio and television networks. (JCL)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Annual Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental, Makati City on Wednesday (October 12). The President unveils the government’s Php72Billion economic stimulus package that will have a multiplier effect on the Philippine economy. FOCAP is one of the country’s most prestigious and respected media organization. It was founded in 1974 to safeguard the press freedom during Martial Law years. It consists of more than 50 international news agencies, publications, radio and TV networks. The FOCAP annual forum with the President is a much awaited event of the organization that shall serve as a venue for the Chief Executive to give key policy statements or declarations. In photo are FOCAP vice president John Mair and FOCAP president Girlie Linao. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau).

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Konstruksiyon ng Proyektong Pabahay para sa mga kawani ng ARMM sinimulan by ac agad

KORONADAL CITYâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sinimulan na ng pamunuan ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ang pagtatayo ng mga proyektong pabahay para sa mga kawani nitong walang sariling bahay. Ayon kay executive secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, sinimulan na ang konstruksiyon, pagkatanggap ng ARMM ng titulo ng apat na ektaryang lupain na pagtatayuan ng mga mga bahay. Sa inisyal na bahagi ng Proyektong Pabahay, aabot sa 50 hanggang 100 housing units ang itatayo. Isusunod din umano

dito ang nalalabi pang mga units hanggang magkaroon ng sariling bahay ang mahigit 300 mga kawani at opisyal ng Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) ng autonomous region.

Inihayag din ni acting governor Ansaruddin Adiong na isasama din sa mga susunod na proyektong pabahay ang iba pang mga kawani

mula sa iba pang sangay ng ARMM sakaling matapos na ang ilang paghahanda para sa tuluy-tuloy na pagusad ng proyekto. Ikinatuwa naman ng mga kawani ang pagsisimula ng proyektong pabahay na umabot na rin ng isang dekada ang pagpa-plano upang ito ay maisakatuparan.

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Mga pamilyang biktima ng Maguindanao massacre, pinag-aaralan ang pagne-negosyo ng “dragon fruit” KORONADAL CITY – Pinag-aaralan ng mga naulilang pamilya ng mga biktima ng Maguindanao massacre ang pagtatanim ng “dragon fruit” kasunod ng naunang payo sa kanila ng National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP).

Ayon kay Ric Cachuela, ang piniling puno ng grupo ng naulilang pamilya -ang Justice Now Movement, ang iba umano sa kanilang mga kasamahan ay nakabisita na sa ilang mga dragon fruit farms sa Luzon bilang paghahanda sa pagsabak sa proyektong pangkabuhayan. Ang dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus)

venture ay ipinanukala ng NUJP para sa mga biktimang pamilya upang makatulong umano sa kanilang kabuhayan at maiwasan nila na maging biktima ng panunuhol para bitawan ang kaso. Ayon kay NUJP secretary-general Rowena Paraan, mayroon na umanong pondo mula sa mga press foundations mula sa

ibang bansa para makatulong sa mga proyekto ng mga pamilya ng mga pinaslang na media. Kabilang sa dayuhang media institusyon na nag-alok ng tulong ay ang Rory Peck Trust, ayon kay Paraan. Tiwala si Paraan na makakatulong sa mga naulilang pamilya ang dragon fruit venture. (ac agad)

Flashfloods sa Lungsod ng Heneral Santos, 61 na pamilya ang biktima Koronadal City- Ini-ulat ng tanggapan ng General Santos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) na umabot sa 61 na pamilya ang nagsilikas at anim na bahay ang nasira ng flashfloods noong Lunes ng gabi, Oktubre a-10, 2011. 20 Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Flasfloods sa Lunsod....from page 19

Ang mga binahang pamilya ay pansamantalang inilikas sa oval plaza gymnasium ng lungsod. Ang mga ito ay binigyan na rin ng City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) ng mga relief assistance. Magkatuwang din ang ilang kawani ng CSWDO at mga volunteer health workers ng 20

barangay sa pagbibigay ng mga tulong sa mga evacuees, ayon kay Barangay Dadiangas City Heights councilor Lourdes Gambalan na siya ring tumatayong disaster operations coordinator ng komunidad. Matatandaang nauna ng inindorso ni General Santos City mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio ang pag-

aaral hinggil sa posibleng relocation ng mga residenteng nasa mababang lugar sa lungsod na kalimitan ay nanganganib sa mga pagbabanta dala ng pagtaas ng tubig. Ang mga lugar na ito rin ay nauna ng kinilala ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na mga â&#x20AC;&#x153;high-risk areas.â&#x20AC;? (ac agad) Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Agusan del Sur to strengthen fresh water fish production by David M. Suyao he provincial government of Agusan del Sur has released almost half a million pesos and will be spending more this year to strengthen fresh fish production.

www.piacaraga.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

piacaraga@gmail.com pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph

Agusan del Sur.....from page 21

According to a report from Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), the fund set aside for the Intensified and Sustainable Development of Aquaculture (ISDA) from the 20 percent provincial development fund (PDF) is P786,000 for this year.

cages and have already harvested some 550 kilos as trial production. We will turn over the cages to LOGUFAMCO for best maintenance and production,” PAO chief Armando Lagumbay said. According to Lagumbay, the PAO also established fishpond techno-demo worth P300,000, using delayed feeding strategy in Espe“We are targeting to pro- ranza and Sta. Josefa. duce 2 million fingerlings “To date, while for this year but because the project is on-going, of unstable weather we have already spent condition, we have only P287,400. This projproduced 613,000 fin- ect will reduce the cost gerlings and distribut- of feeds for the tilapia, ed to 308 fish farmers without affecting their province-wide. We also growth,” Lagumbay addestablished eight fish ed.

AFP’s 402nd top execs visit Claver mine sites by 1LT Joe Patrick Martinez

CLAVER, Surigao del Norte -To properly address the current security situation in the area, officials of the 402nd Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) visited on Sunday two mining companies which were attacked recently by the armed rebels. 23 22

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AFP’s 402nd.....from page 22 402nd Brigade Commander Col. James V Jacob and 30th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Vincent Iringan along with the President of Taganito High Pressure Acid Leaching (THPAL) Corp., Mr Takamori Fujimura, and President of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) Gerard Brimo visited the two mining companies located in Brgy. Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte. “The reason of our visit is to address the current security situation Wednesday, October 12, 2011

of the two companies,” said Col. Jacob. Col Jacob is proposing to put up a Special CAFGU Active Auxilliary (SCAA) inside their companies to strengthen the security not only inside the companies but also to its perimeters. Further, said SCAA will undergo a military training so as to be equipped with high powered firearms which is enough to secure the area against any threat group, specially the NPA.

Meantime, 4th Infantry Division Commander Major General Victor A Felix said “We can easily contain the area if we add another troops specially the SCAA who will secure all vital installations while the Infantry Battalions will be concentrating on combat operations in our Area of Responsibility (AOR).” “With this, we can assure the people and the investors that the recent atrocities will never happen again,” MGen Felix added. 23

Gov’t cited for the release of kidnapped mayor, 2 escorts LIANGA, Surigao del Sur -– The Army’s 401st Infantry “Unite N’ Fight” Brigade expressed their appreciation to the Local Government Units, Local Crisis Management Committee (LCMC), and other sectors who worked for the safe release of Mayor Henry Dano and the two soldiers at Barangay New Visayas, Trento Agusan del sur on October 09, 2011, at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. 402nd Brigade Commander Col. James V Jacob and 30th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Vincent Iringan along with the President

of Taganito High Pressure Acid Leaching (THPAL) Corp., Mr Takamori Fujimura, and President of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) Gerard Brimo visited the

two mining companies located in Brgy. Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte. “The reason of our visit is to address the 25

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Gov’t cited....from page 24 current security situation of the two companies,” said Col. Jacob. Col Jacob is proposing to put up a Special CAFGU Active Auxilliary (SCAA) inside their companies to strengthen the security not only inside the companies but also to its perimeters. Further, said SCAA will undergo a mili-

tary training so as to be equipped with high powered firearms which is enough to secure the area against any threat group, specially the NPA. Meantime, 4th Infantry Division Commander Major General Victor A Felix said “We can easily contain the area if we add another

troops specially the SCAA who will secure all vital installations while the Infantry Battalions will be concentrating on combat operations in our Area of Responsibility (AOR).” “With this, we can assure the people and the investors that the recent atrocities will never happen again,” MGen Felix added. (4CMOBn)

Tropical Storm ‘Ramon’ affects 164 individuals in Dinagat Islands by FEAbkilan

SURIGAO CITY -- Continuous rains due to Tropical Storm ‘Ramon’ have affected 33 families or 164 individuals in the province of Dinagat Islands. 26 Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Tropical Storm....from page 25

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Deputized Coordinator Rosario Roxas reported that the affected families were immediately housed at their respective evacuation centers while others opted to stay in their relatives’ houses. Roxas said the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) of Dinagat recorded a minor landslide which occurred in Barangay Wadas. “One household with four individuals were affected and they are evacuated in their relatives’ houses,” said Roxas. In San Jose town, Roxas said the MDRRMC reported 14 families or 70 individuals from Brgy. Luna evacuated at Luna Elementary School. She also said that 18 fami-

lies or 90 individuals were evacuated in Brgy. Don Ruben. “15 families were brought to Brgy. Hall while the three families sought refuge at the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) Chapter building,” Roxas added. Roxas said the council was able to extend human resources to flood victims in San Jose. She also said the local DRRMC of the said town has already extended one sack of rice, three boxes of sardines and 30 pcs of noodles to the affected evacuees of Brgy. Luna. In Libjo, the Municipal DRRMC of Libjo has reportedly distributed five kilos rice, four cans sardines, and five pieces noodles per household. “Other MDRRMCs in the province have

their 24-hour alert and monitoring and continuous coordination to its memberagencies and Barangay DRRMCs,” Roxas said. No casualties/ injuries were also reported. As of press time, the entire province is still under public storm signal number 2. Classes in the preschool, elementary and secondary level are still suspended. As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, Tropical Storm “RAMON” was 80 km East Northeast of Surigao City with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 17 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration said.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

DepEd lifts suspension of classes in Butuan City today by Robert E. Roperos BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Division has lifted today the suspension of classes as declared yesterday due to typhoon “Ramon” where the city is one of those included in areas declared Storm Signal no. 1.

In an interview with Prof. Israel Reveche who also made the announcement of the suspension of classes yesterday, since the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) has removed the city in the list of those affected with the storm signal, it is already safe to send the children to their respective schools. Reveche further said the Division Office was not able to receive report of flooding in any schools in the city which prompted their office to issue a directive to lift the suspension of classes. It can be recalled that classes in the pre-school and elementary were suspended Tuesday due to bad weather brought by tropical depression “Ramon” which is now affecting the provinces in the Visayas region. Wednesday, October 12, 2011

NMIS, LGUs to lead in the observance of the 19th meat safety consciousness week

by Claro A. Lanipa he National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) in close collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) will spearheads in the observance of the 19th Meat Safety Consciousness Week on October 17-21, 2011 with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Matatag na Batas, Ligtas na Karne ang Katumbas.â&#x20AC;?

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NMIS, LGUs....from page 28 NMIS-IX Regional Technical Director Dr. Arturo De Jesus, Jr. in yesterday’s PIA weekly Media Forum held at New Roxan Hotel, this city said various activities has been prepared for the weeklong celebration such as; the hanging of streamers to be participated in by the different stakeholders, thanksgiving mass, stakeholders/meat inspectors forum, distribution of IEC materials and feeding activity of street children among others. De Jesus said, since the functions of meat inspection has long been devolved to the local government units (LGUs), NMIS is task to strengthen our local government counterparts. The national government thru the NMIS conducts regularly training courses to enable our local meat inspectors to be technically equipped and capable in doing their work in their respective area of assignment. The national and local government units should help each other because there are level

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

of responsibilities that they need to focus, de Jesus said. Local meat inspection unit is being tasked to monitor the meat being sold in the local market and they must be aware of the meat use for “sorizo” and other by products, de Jesus added. NMIS will only come in, if there will be a problem or interprovincial movement of meat coming from other areas without the necessary supporting documents, de Jesus clarified. M e a n w h i l e , Olympio Yecpot, chief Accreditation R e g i s t r a t i o n Enforcement Division (ARD) also encourage the public during their special occasions to have their hogs be slaughtered at accredited slaughter house to ensure clean and safe meat for human consumption. This year’s celebration of the 19th Meat Safety and Consciousness Week and at the same the 39th anniversary of

National Meat Inspection Service calls for a strong collaboration between the national and the local government, de Jesus stressed. We can not do it alone, we lack the necessary manpower but we need also the cooperation of our local counterpart to really implement the law, employ meat inspectors and see to it that the laws on meat inspection is being implemented. And they should enact an ordinance for that matter, in their respective local government units so that there will be a basis for them to implement such law, said de Jesus. We should safeguard public health because it is the only treasure we have in this world. If we are not healthy it is difficult for us to do our usual task or activities, for all we know when we eat meat it nourishes us, but in the process if the meat came from a questionable origin it will also harm or endanger us, de Jesus concluded.

Zambo. Norte municipal agriculturists, fish wardens undergo IEC workshops DIPOLOG CITY - - Twenty five municipal agriculturists and fish wardens have participated in a three-day Information, Education and Communication (IEC) workshop conducted here by the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP)- Philippines starting last Monday. The participants, who came from this city and the municipalities of Manukan, Sindangan, Leon Postigo, Salug and Liloy, would be taught how to develop appropriate IEC program and activities in relation to coastal resource management. RFLP staff Mabel Batong told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the IEC workshop also aimed to help the participants come up with an IEC plan to be implemented in their respective local government units (LGUs). One common problem identified by the participants confronting the fishery sector in the province these days is the intrusion of big fishing vessels in the municipal waters which has greatly affected the catch of the

small fishermen. Reports have it that the fish sanctuaries and breeding places are being destroyed by these big fishing boats resulting to the thinning of fish population. Manufacturers of bottled sardines in this city have also felt the brunt of the problem as there are weeks or months that they have no production due to lack of herring fish, the main ingredient in making sardines.

The participants also saw the need to drum up public awareness on the problems and issues besetting the fishery sector through a concerted information campaign against all forms of illegal fishing. Said workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partner-agencies. (JPA)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Seguridad sa Dipolog City Airport, gihigpitan by Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY -- Mas gihigpitan karon sa Aviation Security Group (ASG) ang gipatuman niining seguridad sa tugpahanan sa Dakbayan sa Dipolog, kasunod sa nahitabong pagboto sa duha ka bomba didto sa dakbayan sa Zamboanga niadtong adlawng Domingo, Oktubre 9. Si Senior Police Officer III Arturo Mante, kinsa mao ang natudlong tigpamaba sa ASGDipolog City Airport, nagkanayon nga ang paghigpit sa seguridad sa nasangpit nga tugpahanan nagtumong nga masiguro ang kaluwasan sa mga sumasakayng publiko, ingon man sa mga magpagikan ug magtagbo ug mga pasahero sa nasangpit nga tugpahanan. Hinuon, giklaro ni Mante nga ang ilang gihimo pagpaniguro lamang ug wala silay nadawat

nga hulga sa seguridad gikan sa unsa mang teroristang grupo nga naglihok dinhi sa rehiyon. Sa samang higayon, giawhag niya ang tanan nga magmabinantayon sa unsa mang ilang kadudahan o pagtaho gilayon ngadto sa mga otoridad alang sa tukmang aksyon. Dugang pa niini, iya usab nga gihangyo ang kooperasyon sa tanan alang sa pagmintinar sa kahapsay ug kalinaw sa tugpahanan, uban ang pag-ingon nga ang isyo sa seguridad dili lamang

responsibilidad sa mga otoridad kundili, obligasyon usab sa matag Filipino. Mahinumdoman, nga niadtong Domingo, duha ka bomba ang miboto didto sa dakbayan sa Zamboanga nga nagresulta sa pagkasamad sa pipila ka tawo. Ang una miboto ditto sa Red Palm Pension House duol sa Guiwan Bus Terminal, samtang ang ikaduhang bomba didto miboto sa bulangan sa San Roque.

Regatta 2011 gipahigayon sa siyudad by Edwin L. Diesto

ZAMBOANGA CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Usa sa mga aktibidad sa Hermosa Festival ang gipahigayon sa siyudad mao ang Regatta 2011. 32 Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Regatta 2011....from page 31 Usa kini ka competition sa karera sa mga vinta hadiin gamit ang colorful nga mga layag. Adunay 125 ka mga participants ang miapil sa maong competition, gipahigayon kini sa RT Lim Boulevard ning siyudad. Ang karera sa colorful nga mga vinta giisponsoran kini sa kagamhanan sa siyudad. Si Mayor Celso Lobregat

maoy nangulo niining aktibidad pinaagi sa City Tourism Office. P10,000 ug miniature vinta trophy ang premyo sa maong competition, gidag-an kini ni Danny Ladya ug ang igsoon niini nga si Hajad Hamid, mga mangingisda nga taga Barangay Sinunuc. Liboan nga mga ZamboangeĂąo, mga opisyales sa opisina sa

gobyerno, mga bisita ang mitambong sa maong aktibidad, apil na usab niini ang mga bisita nga taga Valenzuela nga gipanguluhan ni Mayor Sherwin Gachalian ug ang iyang mga konsehalis. Ang regatta usa ka aktibidad sa siyudad nga naka hatag ug trade mark sa Zamboanga City.

Pres Aquino mipasalig suportang pondo sa LGUs by Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY ---Taliwala sa pag-ubos sa ilang Internal Revenue Allotment, mahimo pa gihapon ug hatagan ug katumanan sa mga Local Government Units ang ilang nakalinyang programa para sunod tuig. Kini human gipahayag ni Presidente Benigno Aquino nga ipagawas na sa dili madugay ang 6.5 bilyones ka pesos nga suportang pondo para sa mga LGUs, isip hulip sa giwalang IRA gumikan usab sa kagamay sa revenue collection niadtong 2009. Ang Pamuno Nasod nagkanayon nga gumikan sa ma-inampingong 32

paggasto sa gobyerno sukad nga milingkod siya isip Presidente sa nasod niadtong miaging tuig, nakatigom ang gobyerno ug mahimo na karong magamit sa mga LGUs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ato nang ipagawas sa dili madugay ang LGU support fund nga gikan sa atong savings nga mokabat ug halos 6.5

bilyones ka pesos,â&#x20AC;? nagkanayon si Presidente Aquino. Matod pa ni Presidente A quino, si DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo ang iyang gitahasan nga magpatin-aw sa mekanismo ug magtakda kon pila ang makuha sa matag LGU gikan sa maong pondo. (JPA) Wednesday, October 12, 2011

PNP to observe helmet law CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Northern Mindanao will strictly implement the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 which penalizes the failure of motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmet. 34 Wednesday, October 12, 2011

PNP to observe ....from page 33 Statistics shows that most fatalities arising from motorcycle accidents are due to the failure of the riders to wear protective helmet. To lessen these incidents, the PNP, in close coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which is the main implementing agency of this law will strictly implement it starting November 1. Republic Act 10054 or the Helmet Act of 2009 is a pro-life law. It is designed to protect the life of the motorcycle drivers as well as back riders. As stipulated, any person caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet

while driving or riding a motorcycle whether short or long distance shall be punished with a fine of P1,500 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P5,000 for the third offense and P10,000 and confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses. PCSupt. Jufel C. Adriatico, the newly installed Regional Director of PNP, region 10, has ordered the dishing out of a directive emphasizing that PNP personnel should serve as the model in abiding traffic rules and regulations. This is in response to an article written by certain Mr. Contreras that some PNP personnel are

not wearing helmet and are also violating the “No plate, No travel Policy” as well as beating the red light. PNP personnel who will be caught violating the “No helmet, No Travel Policy” and the “No Plate, No Travel Policy” and other traffic rules and regulations will not just be penalized through fine but will also face administrative charges for their failure to follow a lawful order which, if found guilty, is tantamount to suspension, Adriatico said. “Beating the red light” can only be justified if the PNP personnel is conducting a “hot pursuit operation”, Adriatico added.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Lanao Norte PhilHealth members receive MDR CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental -- Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Oct. 12 – To enable residents enrolled in the Provincial Health Indigency Program (PHIP) faster processing of their hospitalization claims, employees of the Project Management Office (PMO) is starting to distribute copies of PhilHealth’s Member Data Record (MDR) throughout this province.

More than 94,000 indigent PhilHealth members of this fastrising province are set to receive their MDR before the end of November, 2011. “This is an initiative of Governor Khalid Dimaporo to make it easier for our indigent residents to gain access to quality healthcare services,” PMO Head Lyndon Calica

said. Lanao del Norte is the first LGU to implement MDR distribution for its sponsored residents. Among the first towns to receive the MDRs are Linamon, Bacolod, Matungao, Kauswagan and Maigo. The remaining 17 municipalities are scheduled to be

visited by the PMO team in October and November. The MDR initiative is in support of PhilHealth President Lorna Fajardo’s appeal to help strengthen data verification at the hospital level by ascertaining the identity and eligibility of legal dependents availing the healthcare benefits of members. PhilHealth Circular 07, series of 2007 (as amended), applies to claims with admission dates starting September 1 this year. The MDR is a document that lists the primary information on a PhilHealth member. It 36

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Lanao Norte ....from page 35 also contains the names of the member’s qualified legal dependents and is used for reference purposes during benefits availment. If a member is not able to present an updated MDR, secondary supporting documents such as birth certificate, marriage contract and other documents may

be accepted to ensure benefit claim availment. To claim the MDR, each PHIP member should present his PhilHealth card and undergo a brief orientation by the PMO team. Also accompanying the PMO team are staff from the Provincial Community Affairs Office (PCAO) and the local Provincial

Volunteer Health Workers (PVHW). “The MDRs are valid until December 2011. A member should renew his MDR every year to continue enjoying the benefits of the Provincial Health Indigency Program”, said PHIP Coordinator Felson Gazelle Francisco. (VNL & LAR)

Agriculture Office leads celebration of Consumer Welfare Month By Melvin T. Anggot

Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, – City Agriculture Office, this city, to lead the Consumer Welfare Month celebration.

focused on programs like adequate food supply and provide consumers with safe, healthy and food at minimal cost. The Consumer Month is celebrated in October every year in consonance with Presidential Proclamation 1098 issued in 1997. City Agriculturist Octavi- Aside from the Ag In a flag raising us Molo said the entire riculturist Office, also inprogram at city hall, month of October will be volved in the celebration 37 36

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Agriculture Office....from page 36 are the Local Price Coordinating Council like the office of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, City Information Office, Permits and License Division, City Administratorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office, Economic Enterprise Development and Management Office, City Health Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, DENR, DILG, PIA and PNP.

The celebration aims to urge consumers to be aware of the quality of food and to stand for their rights as consumer. This is also an occasion to present to the government programs that are in favor of consumers, create awareness of the advocacy of Consumer and Price Act

and other consumer issues. To achieve the objective, Local Prince Control Council (LPCC) will sponsor activities like seminar on food safety, organic farming, advocacy fora on the rights and responsibility of consumers, and consumer tips over the radio, quiz bee and others.

Offices, establishment urged to observe Juan Time Iligan City, Lanao del Norte â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iligan supported the resolution endorsed by City Councilor Michelle Sweet urging all local and national offices to base their watches on Philippine Standard Time (PST). This is in consonance with the campaign of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) called Juan Time with the objective that the entire nation will have a synchronized time and to erase the negative comment that Filipinos do not come on time in appointments/ events also known as

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Filipino Time. (PAGASA) since 1978 in Councilor Sweet accordance with a law. also observed that ra- (Melvin T. Anggot ) dio stations have different time and even in the different departments at city hall and other establishments. PST is the official time from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration 37

Feature Story

by Carina L. Cayon

SPMC affordable services attract patients from all over Mindanao Dialysis Center The Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC), popularly known in the past as the Regional Hospital and later as Davao Medical Center, has also improved its dialysis center inside the main hospital building. It operates with 34 machines to serve an average of 82 patients a day, 75% of which comes from Davao City. Dialysis center nurse head, Joseph Cirineo, attributed the swarm of patients to

the lower rate that the center offers compared to other centers. He said there is a much lower rate offered by another private dialysis center but it is reported to be using one dialyser ten times, a frequency that he said was overusing the capacity of a dialyser. At the Mindanao Dialysis Center, a SPMC policy requires them to use a dialyser only five times â&#x20AC;&#x153;so as not to compromise kidney care of a patientâ&#x20AC;?. The center is managed by two in-house doctor consultants and

30 staff nurses. Vega bared that 25 dialysis machines would be added next year, to make the center bigger than the National Kidney Institute. Cirineo disclosed that a Private-Public Partnership project is being negotiated with a private company for the establishment of additional 70 dialysis machines. This project may likely integrate the heart, lung and kidney services into one center. Outpatient Clinics and 39

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

SMPC affordable....from page 38 Services SPMC’s outpatient department gathers a swarm of up to a thousand patients a day in a concrete building donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. “The OPD is almost at par with other private hospitals,” Vega boasted saying that it’s complete with facilities and quality services. The OPD building is presently housing 17 specialty clinics and services to include surgery, medicine, OBGYN, pediatrics, orthopedics, family medicine, ear,nose and tongue (ENT), ophthalmology and dermatology. It also has clinics for physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, dental medicine, ambulatory surgery operation theatre, radiology and imaging section, laboratory services, special laboratory services such as endos-

copy and EEG, and special clinics such as pain and liver clinics. The OPD houses the public health unit, PhilHealth desk, drug testing laboratory and industrial clinic. Competitive SPMC “Staying competitive is the name of the game,” Vega emphasized, referring to the aim at continuously providing best quality health care and treatment services, not only to the to the paying clients but mainly to the indigents, which is the mandate of the hospital. Getting the best services and facilities would attract people to avail of SPMC programs, he said. “Hospital services and facilities at the SPMC are available and accessible to many residents of Southern Mindanao,” he said, and disclosed that the hospital has

also become the end referral center for patients coming from Cotabato, Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, and many other areas of Mindanao. In 2010, SPMC accommodated a total of 316,745 patients, while patients’ influx reached 298,514 and 274,421 respectively in 2009 and 2008. These days, the average patients that flocked to the SPMC hit at about 1,300 per day, including patients at SPMC’s psychiatry facility, the Davao Mental Hospital. The number of patients at the Mindanao Heart Center has also increased, scoring 20 patients per month, according to Mata. The dialysis center caters to 82 patients per day, with another 100 patients in the waiting list. Vega emphasized though that SPMC’s en40

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

SMPC affordable....from page 39

hancement of services and facilities does not have corresponding effect to the hospital rates. “We still offer cheaper, if not the cheapest, rates compared to the private hospitals,” Vega said explaining that they don’t give so much add-ons on the pricing. Team of experts and manpower Vega also takes pride in SPMC’s team of 1,300 medical experts and other hospital manpower.

According to its 2010 accomplishment report, SPMC has 175 medical specialists, 84 of them in plantilla positions as of 2009. There are 113 resident doctors with plantilla positions out of the total 129. Vega said there is no problem of expertise in terms of medical practice in Davao City. “Maraming [medical experts] around in Davao City being a metropolitan,” he stated. He said the young generation of doctors in the city is skilled. Eighty percent of them

who graduated from the Davao Medical School Foundation and were trained in Manila or abroad, choose to come back and practice in Davao. “It’s totally different without DMSF,” Vega said. To keep SPMC doctors and experts updated, they are provided or sent on training programs accredited by private institutions such as the Philippine Colleges of Surgeons. “Aside from the general practice, we are moving towards subspecialties where doctors from each department of the hospital are trained,” he bared. In the nursing service division as of 2009, there are 293 registered nurses, of whom 167 are holding plantilla positions, while 189 are nursing attendants and midwives, 92 of whom are with plantilla. However, Vega said the 1,300 work force of SPMC is roughly equiva41

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

SMPC affordable....from page 40 lent to a 300-bed capacity, adding that a 1,200 bed capacity should have a manpower equivalent to 5,000 workers. “This is the reason why we are trying to ask DOH and the Congress to give us necessary plantilla under the new law,” he said referring to RA 9792.“Malayo pa rin sa ideal but we’re trying to ask the present administration, through the Department of Budget and Management, to give us the desired number of plantilla items within four years under the new law with authorized 1,200 bed capacity,” Vega explained. This could be achieved gradually in four years to start at 25% increase during the first year, he suggested, saying the hospital badly needed substantial manpower and corresponding budget. Vega said that aside from hiring contractuals, the Davao City government is helping and sup-

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

porting the hospital with to capital outlay to augroughly 350 nurses em- ment funds for improveployed by the city. ments of SPMC. Vega said collecSustainability tions from PhilHealth The improvements member patients are a of the hospital three big contribution for the years ago were realized income of the hospital. with a budget of P40 mil- The charity sector lion as capital outlay. of the SMPC assisting But sustaining and the indigents also get maintaining the opera- a share of the hospital tions of SPMC mainly income, and from other come from the annu- outside financial assisal government budget tance such as the Davao of about P200 million City’s Lingap Center and which Vega said has not the Priority District Asincreased since 2007. sistance Fund of Con From the total al- gress representatives. location, P160 million “We would like to goes to personnel bene- show that government fits, while the more than works with equitable, P55 million is spent on accessible, affordable maintenance and oper- health care and servicating expenses, he said. es. We want to promote Vega said the hos- to the public that as a pital earns P150 million government hospital we yearly, of which 75% can best deliver effecof it goes to both the tive and quality servicmaintenance and the es,” Vega stressed. payment of wages of “Not only are we contractual workers, se- improving the condition curity guards and jani- of the patients, but we tors. also continue to project Twenty five percent the best image of the of the income would go hospital,” he concluded.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Mt. Apo’s Civet coffee helps farmers by Mai Gevera-Macapagat

DAVAO CITY- Production of the world’s most expensive coffee known to be produced t cats in a farm at the foothills of Mt. Apo is seen to have helped farmers in the community. Civet coffee farm owner Sonny Dizon explained to the media the symbiotic relationship between humans and the Civet cats with the significant role of civet coffee production to balance such relationship. “Civet cats are a farmer’s biggest enemy as they are considered pests in the farm. The only way these farmers could get rid of them is by killing these animals. So I thought that there must be something we could make use of these civets that farmers could also take advantage of,” Dizon said.

This led him to cage some civets in his farm in Kapatagan, Davao del Sur and started feeding these animals with the best coffee bean before these civets process it and excrete some droppings ready to be hulled a n d roasted and

them turn out into Civet coffee beans. Dizon’s Crocodile Park in Davao City has also become an official rescue center for these Civets from the wild. Coffee farmers are greatly benefited at the onset of this civet coffee production in Davao region. Dizon shared that his farm buys the best have coffee bean products from the farmers to be used as feeds for the civets. The farm produces 60 to 90 parchments of civet coffee every week which are then sold to regular buyers from Manila and other countries. In Davao City, Dizon sells civet coffee beans to a homegrown coffee shop, Chicco de Café, the only shop in the city that offers Civet 44

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Mt. Apo’s Civet....from page 43 Coffee. The Mt Apo Civet and Altura coffee beans are also available at the Crocodile Park, Souvenir shops at the Davao International Airport, Dizon Farms at Rizal Street, Hotel Galleria, Villa Margarita, and D’Leonor Ho-

tel. Recently, Dizon’s civet coffee also gained international acceptance during the Food and Hotel Thailand Show held in Bangkok. The Philippine Coffee Board (PCB) brought

samples of green and roasted civet coffee. The judges in the said show liked the sample brought by the Philippines. PCB considers it a significant achievement for the country in producing the best civet coffee.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Blood sugar, cholesterol testing to be available at health centers DAVAO CITY – Blood sugar and cholesterol testing would soon be available at health centers in the city after a pilot trial has been set at the two district health centers here, bringing the services closer to the communities Dr. Ivy B. Nolasco, project manager of the Handicap InternationalPhilippines, said laboratory equipment for the blood sugar count and cholesterol testing have already been in place at the district health centers of Calinan and Agdao. Nolasco said that after assessment of the pilot areas, same facilities would be established in other 14 district health centers of the city. She said the project is part of Davao City’s integrated health program for the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension and other risk factors at the grassroots level through the Cardiovascular Dis-

ease (CVD) Program. The city government has adopted the CVD program in partnership with the Handicap International for Davaoeños’ easy access to cardiovascular-related health services at the barangay level. Nolasco revealed that about 230 professional health workers including doctors, nurs-

es, midwives and medical technologists have undergone a four-day training relative to the implementation of the CVD services. The trained health workers would then train the rest of the 1,500 community health workers. Last month, about a hundred barangay captains in the city were 46

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Blood sugars....from page 45 oriented of the program that would provide the communities of services on cardiovascular-related health services such as medical consultations, regular monitoring, nutrition and diet counseling, foot care and laboratory testing. A referral system would also be established between health centers of the City Health Office, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and the Davao Jubilee Foundation to provide a continuum of patient care.

Nolasco said that with the onset of the CVD program, a computerized information system would be installed as patient registry would be required in every health center, enabling the establishment of patients’ database. Meanwhile, City Health Office chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said the local government unit is working closely with private institutions through the private-public partnership to make services

available and accessible to the population. Villafuerte said the city government’s contribution to the CVD program is a monetary counterpart in addition to Handicap International’s funding of about P12 million for the equipment and laboratories and for the training. She said the LGU would also provide for the manpower such as barangay health workers. (Carina L. Cayon)

New Bataan to benefit from a flagship program on peace and development by Sharon T. Flores

NEW BATAAN, Compostela Valley – The local government unit here becomes the new beneficiary of a flagship program of the government on peace and development aiming to address insurgency problem. The LGU is now under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA program of the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process. New Bataan is the

only town in Compostela Valley that makes it to the list of PAMANA beneficiaries covering the seven barangays with high incidence of insurgency, namely: Magsaysay, Katipunan, Panag, Batinao, Camanlangan,

Bantacan and Cogonon. OPAPP-PAMANA point person Dennis Joseph A. Cruz said the Compostela Valley-Caraga Corregidor Cluster that includes New Bataan is the seventh beneficiary of the OPAPP-PAMANA 47

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New Bataan....from page 46 in the country. The program seeks to close the gap between what happens on the negotiating table and the realities on the ground through a converged strategy of resource allocation and utilization, Cruz stated. Anchored on President Benigno Aquino’s National Security Policy, the OPAP-PAMANA aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability through community infrastructure and focused delivery of social services. “Each barangay will

receive P300,000 annually for three consecutive years which shall be used to finance a specific project that will eventually address peace and order issues in their community,” stated Cruz. The program also intends to improve governance through partnerships with national and local institutions, building capacities for governance, and enhancement of transparency and accountability mechanism. It further empowers communities and

strengthens their capacity to address issues of vulnerability and peace through activities that promote social cohesion. The first six beneficiaries of this program are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Quezon/ Region IV-A/ Mindoro/ Bicol, Samar Island, Negros Island, Zamboanga/ Basilan/ Sultan Kudarat (ZamBaZulTa), and the Central Mindanao Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

ARB seed growers’ first fruit a success MONTEVISTA, Compostela Valley, Oct. 12, 2011 (PIA) – Some agrarian reform beneficiaries here recently reaped their first yield of palay from the very own seed they gained from a seed grower’s training six months ago. The 13 ARB members of the Linoan Farmers Integrated Cooperative (LIFICO) in Montevista town harvested 800 cavans of palay covering a 7.5-hectare area after participating in the Seed Growers Training. Agribusiness and Agriculture Development (AAD) coordinator Heracleo Bato said that the ideal harvest per hectare is 100 cavans. “Our ARB seed growers were able to harvest Wednesday, October 12, 2011

106 cavans per hectare which is a good indication that they were able to produce good seeds,” Bato said. “LIFICO is looking forward to a continuous good harvest,” he said, adding that some of the seeds shall be stored at their own warehouse and some shall be stored at the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAGRO) in Montevista. Bato said that the progress of the farm-

ers shall continuously be monitored in order to ensure the quality of palay seeds. The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Project Management Office (DAR-PPMO) of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 (ARISP3), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) and PhilRice jointly conducted the training. (Sharon T. Flores)

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