CONTENTS
OUR COVER NATIONAL
features Revisiting history,
• Aquino to keynote National Sectoral Assembly
• Energy department keeping close watch over prices of oil and other petroleum with Muna To Festival products culture and resource
Photo Credit: Sarangani Information Office
Southern Mindanao (Davao Region) • DA outlines strategies against banana disease • PPP commits support to NGP • Panabo City nagpahigayon og rice harvest demo • Banaybanay bibo sa pagsaulog sa Senio Citizen’s Week
An Electronic News Magazine
Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN)
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
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SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA Presidential Communications Operations Office
• 3,000 benefits from LBK bus tour to T’boli town • Kakulangan sa de-latang sardinas ramdam na sa South Cotabato • Konstruksyon ng public terminal sa Koronadal City inaasahang masisimulan sa 2012
Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga) • Environmental Committee members strengthen R.A. 9512 • Insurance Commission assures trusted and reliable insurance and pre-need companies • PNoy itinakda ang bagong “Barangay Assembly Days” • Aquino: mananatili sa bansa ang mga imbestor sa mina sa kabila ng pag-atake ng mga rebelde • OFWs mipasalamat kang Pangulong Aquino sa pagtugot kanila nga magpadayon pagtrabaho didto sa Afghanistan
Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) • Samal-Bajaus: Reviving the vanishing tribe • City Dad bats for Waterways Protection • Mga kalihukan pag-saulog sa National Children’s Month nagpadayon
Northern Mindanao • BFAR celebrates fish conservation week 2011, Oct. 16-22 • 50 MOSCAT students avail of ABAMIN scholarship program • Mga barangay kapitan dapiton nga moabag sa pagpangita og aplikante alang sa Job Fair sunod semana • Bidding process alang sa pagbaligya sa IDPP wala mahinayon • CHO nag-awhag sa katawhan nga mag-amping ning panahon sa ting-ulan
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Cover Story:
Revisiting history, culture and resource with MunaTo Festival by CT Apelacio
A
fter the many successful staging of festivals at the municipal levels, the constituents of Sarangani are now looking forward to the celebration of a province-wide “MunaTo Festival.�
Sunday, October 16, 2011
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Tradition has it for the last years, singling out November as the official month of the prestigious event, the Founding Anniversary of Sarangani featuring the MunaTo Festival which for this year anchors on the theme “History, Culture, and Resources.” The Sarangani Information Office says this year’s 19th Founding Anniversary and 9th MunaTo Festival will be slated on November 4
24-27 with various activities being lined up to jazz up the celebration. The festivity enjoins Sarangans (the constituents of Sarangani) to revisit the province’s history and celebrate its rich culture and diversity in resources, that is from natural endowment to tri-people (Indigenous People, Moro and Christian), who live in coexistence with one another.
Governor Miguel Dominguez described the province’s natural resources as Sarangani’s unique pride that spell out growth and progress for the province. This year’s MunaTo Festival honors pioneering Congressman James L. Chiongbian, the father of Sarangani, and who authored the bill for its creation in 1992 separating it from the province of South Cotabato. Sunday, October 16, 2011
As gesture of gratefulness for the initiatives of the former statesman, the provincial capitol building, during the second day of the celebration (Nov 25) will be renamed “JLC Building” in Chiongbian’s honor. Expected guest will be Vice President Jejomar Binay. The province was named after Sarangani Bay. The bay was believed to have been named after
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saranganing, a famous Sangil traveler from the coast of Indonesia who traded with the great Sultanate of Buayan, now General Santos City. Teeming with rich marine resources including marine wildlife, Sarangani Bay also hosts the tuna capital of the Philippines - General Santos City. MunaTo which means “fist people” is a festivity that depicts
the cultural heritage as well as the tourism potentials of Sarangani. Its roots can be traced back to the 2,000-year old archaeological finds (anthropomorphic jars) in Maitum, Sarangani which reveal the people’s community life in Southeast Asia then. Today, Sarangani is composed of more or less 60 percent indigenous peoples (IPs). Majority of the IPs include Blaan,
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Tagakaolo and Tboli with few Klagans. Coexisting with them are Moro tribes dominated by Maguindanaon, Samal, and Sangirs. Some Tausugs and Badjaos are found in few coastal barangays especially in Maasim town. According to Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center (STIPC) one of the mainstay highlights of the MunaTo
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Festival is the “Pearl of Sarangani,” a pageant of beauty and talent showcasing the priceless gems--ladies of the seven towns—Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum. For this segment, STIPC hopes that Senator Jinggoy Estrada would be able to accommodate the province’s invitation for him to grace the
event, also on November 25 (nighttime). It said that apart from those mentioned, the province in collaboration withits partner-municipalities and the private sectors will be preparing lots of fun, perks and surprises for the Sarangans to enjoy the MunaTo Festival 2011 come November more than they did last year.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Aquino to keynote National Sectoral Assembly
P
resident Benigno S. Aquino III will keynote the National Sector Assemblies (NSA), a convention of civil society organizations, which will be held on Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
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The NSA, which represents 14 basic sectors including the cooperatives sector, seeks to strengthen the partnership between the government and the basic sectors of the Filipino poor. These basic sectors, excluding the cooperatives sector, are: artisans; fisherfolk, children; farmers; indigenous peoples; non-government organizations; persons with disabilities; senior citizens; ur-
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ban poor; victims of disasters; women, formal labor and migrant workers; workers in the informal sector; youth and students. The National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC), the lead convenor of the NSA, underscored the importance of this partnership, saying it was crucial in the crafting of effective antipoverty strategies that would be beneficial to all. The anti-poverty
commission acts as the “coordinating and advisory body” that exercises oversight functions in implementing the social reform agenda of the government, which is key to the government’s drive for poverty alleviation. The NAPC, which was created under Repulic Act No. 8425 also known as the “Social Reform & Poverty Alleviation Act” is chaired by President Aquino. (RCK)
Energy department keeping close watch over prices of oil and other petroleum products
and diesel.
he Department of Energy (DOE) continues to keep a close watch on the prices of oil and other petroleum products in the country, Malacañang assured Sunday, amid the reported fresh round of price hikes in gasoline
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the government is continuing its efforts to monitor the prices and are working
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on the deliverables that were agreed upon during President Benigno Aquino III’s last meeting with various transport groups.
“Tuloy naman po ‘yung efforts natin when it comes to monitoring the prices. If you remember recently, the DOE asked the oil com-
Sunday, October 16, 2011
panies kung bakit daw po maliit [lang] ‘yung [presyong] ni-rollback and the DOE called the attention of the oil companies [because of that] and we continue to monitor,” Valte told Radyo ng Bayan. Valte was reacting to a statement made by Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide’s (PISTON) secretary general George San Mateo, urging President Aquino to do something about the reported oil price hikes next week that would increase gasoline prices by almost one peso and
Sunday, October 16, 2011
about 30 cents for diesel per liter. The Palace official informed transport groups that some of the deliverables which President Aquino discussed with them during their meeting last September “have been farmed out to the different agencies” and that the completion for these is already moving. Valte also responded to early warnings from the transport sectors, as claimed by San Mateo, that they might be forced to launch another series of protests should the government
fail to fulfill its promise to investigate oil price hikes and review the Oil Deregulation Law. “Tinutuloy lang naman po natin ‘yung ating mga ginagawa para mabawasan ang impact nitong mga pagtaas at pagbaba ng mga presyong ito at patuloy naman tayong nakikipag-usap doon sa mga lider ng mga transport groups para makita kung ano pa ang pwede pa nating ibang gawin para ma-address naman ang mga problema tungkol dito,” she said. (HDC)
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DA outlines strategies against banana disease by Noel Provid
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he Department of Agriculture (DA) has outlined strategies to control fusarium wilt, a destructive fungal disease reportedly ravaged banana plantations in Mindanao.
DA regional director for Davao Region Oscar Parawan said his office is currently working with private companies and local government units (LGUs) to save the local banana industry. Fusarium wilt which is also known as Panama dis10
ease, since it was first discovered there is one of the most destructive plant diseases. It is a soil-borne fungus that attacks banana plant’s vascular system and obstructs the uptake of water and soil nutrients resulting to wilting and death of the pants.
Parawan said the DA through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) has already organized a task force that will work on implementation of quarantine measures and information drive. “The task force is a composite team from Sunday, October 16, 2011
national and local government as well as from the private sector particularly PBGEA [Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association] and MBGEA [Mindanao Banana Growers and Exporters Association],” he said adding: “Mapping and surveillance of severely affected areas is on going to properly identify and assess the extent of the damage.” While there is still no economical method to eliminate the fusarium wilt, Parawan said prevention is the best defense. Parawan said stricter quarantine measures must be en-
Sunday, October 16, 2011
forced particularly the setting-up of footbaths in local farms and interconnecting roads to prevent the spread of the disease. “We urged our LGUs partners to help us in putting in place necessary quarantine measures and in pushing for issuance of local ordinances for farmers and the public to comply,” he said. The DA-HVCDP recommends local ordinance must be issued for farmers to refrain from moving planting materials such as suckers and rhizomes out of infected areas. It will also stress properly disposal of infected plant such as burning them within the area with rice hull. Farm hygiene must be also strictly observed as the pathogen can attach itself on footwear, farm equipment and machinery used in an infested soil. Cultural practices such as plowing and hoeing could also cause the spread of the pathogen. Parawan said an information campaign on the detection and
prevention of the disease must be also intensified as lack of information among our farmers would only make the disease more prevalent. According the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) usual signs of fusarium wilt infestation could be confusing such as the yellowing of the leaf margins of older margins which could be suspected as deficiency. All of the leaves of infested plant wilt which can also be a sign of senescence or growing old. Internal signs are more pronounce and can be seen by slicing off the lower portion of the corm horizontally until the transverse is cut about one-fourth of the way up to the corm. The vascular tissues in the roots and corm are discolored, making the vascular stands in the pseudostem turn either yellow, red or brown. “Banana is a major dollar earner of the country and any threat such as Fusarium wilt must be promptly addressed,” Parawan said.
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PPP commits support to NGP
T by
Dr. Rita Fe S. Cordova
he Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday (Oct. 15) forged partnership with various private entities here signifying commitment to support the National Greening Program (NGP).
DENR signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ABS-CBN Davao, Holcim, Philippine Air Force and Saloy-LamananTamugan (SLT) Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Multi-Purpose at Barangay Tamugan, Marilog District in Davao City. Under the MOA, Holcim will adopt 200 hectares of forestland in Sitio Dumalama, Tamugan, Marilog, while the SLT cooperative and the DENR will comanage, protect and conserve the said area. SLT shall plant the seedlings provided by the adopters and conduct regular maintenance and protection of the planted seedlings. The ABS-CBN, on the other hand, expressed their willing-
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ness to participate and support the NGP in line with their advocacy for environmental protection. DENR regional executive director Jim O. Sampulna said that all the adopters of the SLT CBFMA Multi-purpose Cooperative are mandated to strictly comply with the terms and conditions of the NGP and CBFM. The mandates also seek respect to the right of the settlers and existing tenurial holders, and provide technical and/or financial assistance or livelihood or infrastructure facilities deemed necessary for the attainment of project objectives. Sampulna emphasized that he is happy for the overwhelming response of
the NGP adopters. “We are encouraging other sectors to also adopt some of our CBFM sites in the Region. The more adopters we have, the more trees we plant, the more effective we mitigate the effects of climate change,� he said. The MOA signatories were: Holcim Plant Manager Engr. Joseph A. Bernal; ABS-CBN Mindanao Cluster head and station manager Trisha Corpus; Group Commander Phil. Airforce Col. Antonio L. Sotelo, Jr.; Saloy-Lamatan-Tamugan Cooperative chairman Carlito C. Mata and Sampulna. Prior to the MOA signing, several employees from various national government agencies, private orga-
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nizations, the academe and other sectors participated in a tree planting activity at Lamanan, Calinan. The NGP is one of the priority programs of the government spelled out in Executive Order No. 26 signed by President Benigno S.
Aquino III on February 24, 2011. It is geared towards attaining sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Further, it aims to
plant some 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of the country’s public domains such as the forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, among others, for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016.
Panabo City nagpahigayon og rice harvest demo by
Dr. Rita Fe S. Cordova
PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte – Ang lokal nga panggamhanan sa Panabo pinaagi sa City Agriculturist Office (CAGRO) nagpahigayon og Rice Harvest Demonstration sa mga mag-uuma sa Purok 5 Barangay Quezon. ta sa mga mag-uuma ug interisadong sector nga misaksi sa performance sa Rice Combine Harvester. Matud ni Engr. Fred Berdon sa CAGRO, nga kinahanglan ang mga mag-uuma mamahimong saksi sa bag-ong gipaila nga mga makinarya ug ekwipo ug Ang maong demon- ciano Gallardo, usa ka uban pang post harvest strasyon gipahigayon mag-uuma sa Barangay initiatives aron epektibo sa humayan ni Pun- Quezon, diin gipaki- ang pag ani sa homay. Sunday, October 16, 2011
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Ang Rice Combine Harvester usa ka makinarya nga mobuhat sa pagharvest, threshing, cleaning and bagging sa usa ka agihan o operasyon, diin makahatag ug dakong tabang sa mga mag-uuma aron paspas ang pag-ani. Katuyuan usab sa
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maong demonstrasyon nga ang mga mag-uuma sa Panabo mahaom sa mga bag-ong teknolohiya aron dili ma-ulahi kompara sa ubang nasod sa ASIA kung makinarya ang hisgotan. Nitambong sa maong demo ang mga nagkalain-laing person-
ahe sama ni Engr. Alex A. Lamoc, KUBOTA Regional Sales Manager, Engr. Edwin Chavis, gikan sa NIA, Renato Cosmod sa International Development Office kun IDS ug D.A Staff. (CIO Panabo City/Erwin Cubio & Mark Anthony Gellor)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Banaybanay bibo sa pagsaulog sa Senio Citizen’s Week BANAYBANAY, Davao Oriental – Nabusog ug pwerting lingawa sa mga edaran samtang nagsaulog sa isa ka semana nga Senior Citizen’s Week dinhi nga lungsod.
Ang kasaulogan nga gipahigayon sulod sa Municipal Covered Court nakapadasig sa mga edaran ilabina nga giduyogan sila mismo sa ilang pinalangga nga amahan sa lungsod nga si Mayor Pedro Mejos ug ni Board Member Tina Yu. Ang mga edaran gidalitan sa lami-an nga lugaw nga ang maanSunday, October 16, 2011
indot nga gisudlan nga sartin nga adunay gunitanan ug taklob gihatag na usab ngadto kanita. Daghan usab ang mga padula ug mga ganti nga gihatag ngadto sa mga ningsalmot nga mao usab ang nakadungang paglingaw sa mga edaran. Isa ka edaran nga wala lamang magpaila nag-ingon nga nalipay
gayud siya ug sa iyang kapikas kay daghang kalihokan nga nakapalingaw kanila. Gikalipay usab nila ang suporta ug presensya nila Mayor Mejos ug ni Board Member Tina Yu. Aduna usab libreng gupit nga gipahigayon atol sa mao nga kasaulogan. (IPID News/ Sarx Lanos)
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3,000 benefits from LBK bus tour to T’boli town By Dani Doguiles KORONADAL CITY -- The recent tour of Department of Health’s Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) to South Cotabato directly benefited at least 3,182 elderlies, parents and children in T’boli town, an official of the provincial government said.
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Sunday, October 16, 2011
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido reported that 1,167 individuals received “critical health services” on the first day of operation and 2,015 were added on the second day. Most of them are indigenous peoples living in remote barangays seldom reached by similar kind of health services packed in a “festival mood.” DOH’s LBK was in Barangay Aflek, T’boli on October 5 and 6 to offer maternal and child health medical consultations, and primary health care services.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
They also have health education packages presented innovative approaches like fun and games and an interactive exhibit of health messages. It was originally planned to serve 500 families or 1,500 to 2,000 individuals from Aflek and at least ten neighboring villages. Dr. Aturdido said, the management of Health Promotion and Communication Project (HealthPRO) has sent him an email to express gratitude for the success of the activity and for the impressive support provided by all levels of local government and
their partners. Because of the success of the LBK bus tour in T’boli, the provincial government is now working on a plan to replicate the LBK concept in its health services to underserved communities. For this purpose, rarely used “Erap” mobile clinic has been sent to Davao City for its re-wrapping to look like the LBK bus. HealthPRO is spending around P100,000 for the wrapping of the bus. Aturdido expects the local government’s LBK bus to start its trip to remote villages before the year ends. (PIA 12)
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Kakulangan sa de-latang sardinas KORONADAL CITY -- Nagkukulang na ang suplay ng de-latang sardinas sa South Cotabato ayon sa Department of Trade and Industry.
Kinumpirma ni Elbert Capecio, senior trade and industry specialist ng DTI South Cotabato, na patuloy na bumababa ang ipinapasok ng mga manufacturer na suplay ng delatang sardinas sa lalawigan. May naoobserbahan na rin umano silang pagtaas ng presyo ng naturang produkto. Nakakaalarma umano ang naturang sitwasyon dahil nililimitahan na ang mga mamimili sa kanilang pagbili ng naturang produkto. Halimbawa, aniya may paalala na manufacturer ng isang brand ng
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sardinas sa mamimili na kung maaari hanggang sampung lata lang ng kanilang produkto ang bilhin sa bawat pamimili. Paliwanag ni Capecio dulot ito ng ipinalabas na fishing ban sa klase ng isdang gina-
gawang sardinas. Inamin naman ni Capecio na walang magagawa ang DTI para pigilan ang hakbang ng naturang sardines manufacturer dahil apektado ito sa naturang fishing ban. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Konstruksyon ng public terminal sa Koronadal City inaasahang masisimulan sa 2012 KORONADAL CITY -- Umaasa si Koronadal City Mayor Peter B. Miguel na masisimulan na sa susunod na taon ang pagtatayo ng sariling public transport terminal ng lungsod. Inihayag ni Mayor Miguel na nasa mga huling bahagi na ng proseso sa pagpili ng lugar na pagtatayuan ang transport terminal. Sa ngayon, may limang lugar na umanong pinapipilian ang screening committee. Sinusuri
Sunday, October 16, 2011
na umano ang mga ito base sa mga batayan ng Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). Kabilang umano sa mga criteria ng DOTC ang pagkakaroon ng daan papunta sa lugar, access sa mga tao
at ibang sasakyan tulad ng tricycle, malayo sa health facilities tulad ng ospital at marami pang iba. Binigyang-diin din ni Mayor Miguel na hindi na rin problema ang pondo para sa naturang proyekto dahil aprubado na ang budget para dito. Umaasa rin ang alkalde na mapapadali ang pagkakaroon ng lungsod at mga residente nito ng matatawag na sariling transport terminal. (DEDoguiles/ PIA 12)
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E
Environmental Committee members strengthen R.A. 9512 by Jennifer P. Gaitano nvironmental Committee members led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with other government agencies and partner stakeholders in the regional level expressed their commitments to further strengthen the Republic Act 9512 also known as the Environmental
Awareness and Education Act of 2008 in Caraga.
www.piacaraga.blogspot.com
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484
piacaraga@gmail.com pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph
Sunday, October 16, 2011
In a meeting held recently at the DENRCaraga Regional Conference Room here, the regional committee agreed to have regular coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other relevant agencies in the formulation of strategies and action plan. With this collaborative effort, the committee shall implement the integration of environmental education in all school curricula whether public or private, including barangay daycare, preschool, non-formal, technical vocational, professional level, indigenous learning and outof-school youth courses or programs; and shall develop school curriculum, educational materials, training programs and IEC and advocacy schemes. Sunday, October 16, 2011
The committee also committed to do the following: 1) DENR, as lead agency shall periodically inform all agencies concerned on current environmental updates, including identifying priority environmental issues for national action; 2) Member-agencies are to provide strategic advice on environmental education activities; 3) Adopt a collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral effort in all levels in implementing public education and awareness programs on environmental protection and conservation; and 4) Organize a Secretariat to assist in administrative matters pertaining to the performance of its functions. Also, Mr. Eric Herzon Gallego, DENR-Caraga Regional Public Affairs Officer emphasized that since this is a collaborative effort, committee members shall maximize and mobilize available resources and shall be authorized to call on other relevant offices/personnel to provide inputs and contribute to this endeavor.
Meanwhile, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Caraga Regional Director Ester Olavides stressed that all committee members shall submit regular reports on the status of the integration and implementation of environmental awareness programs to the Secretary. The Regional Committee shall likewise submit a regular report to the Chairperson of the National Environmental Education Committee. With these developments, the DENR is optimistic that with unity among agencies and partner stakeholders in this campaign, aim to save the environment will be achieved.
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Insurance Commission assures trusted and reliable insurance and pre-need companies by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton BUTUAN CITY – “Microinsurance can help alleviate poverty rate in the Philippines yet people are still reluctant to avail insurance services that is why we are trying to gain the trust and confidence through educating them by conducting Financial Campaign.”
This was disclosed by Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc during the press conference on the Financial Literacy Roadshow on Microfinance Advocacy by the Department of Finance- National Credit Council (DOF-NCC) in partnership with the German International Cooperation – Microinsurance Innovations Program for Social Security (GIZ-MIPSS) and the Asian Development Bank-Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction which 22
was conducted yesterday, October 14, 2011 at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city. Dooc said it is understandable as to why the people are doubtful on insurance companies because for the past years, there were insurance and pre-need companies went bankrupt which in turn failed to provide their responsibilities to their clients. Dooc added that the government and insurance sectors are trying hard to correct and
change the negative impressions of the citizens especially the low-income sector about availing insurance services. “Only duly licensed and with strong financial capitalization are allowed to engage in insurance business”, said Dooc. Dooc further added that as of now, there are already 21 pre-need companies and 33 licensed insurance companies which passed the requirements set by the Insurance Commission. Sunday, October 16, 2011
PNoy itinakda ang bagong “Barangay Assembly Days” BUTUAN CITY-– Itinakda ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III kamakailan lamang na ipagdiriwang bawat taon ang “Barangay Assembly Days” sa huling Sabado ng Mayo at sa ikalawang Linggo ng Oktubre. Naglabas ang Pangulo ng Proclammation No. 260 noong ika-30 ng Setymbre 2011 at binago ang Proclamation No. 342 na nailabas sa taong 2003 na may pamagat na “Declaring the last Saturday of March 2003 and third Saturday of October 2003 and every year thereafter as Barangay Assembly Days”. Samanatala, nakasaad sa Section 397 at 398 ng Local Government Code of 1991 o R.A. 7160 na ang pagpupulong ng mga opisyal sa barangay ay kinakialangang isagawa dalawang beses sa isang taon upang madinig at matalakay ang semestral na ulat ng Sanguniang Barangay patungkol sa mga gawain, usaping pinansyal kalakip na ang Sunday, October 16, 2011
mga problema na nakakaapekto sa barangay. Sa pagbago ng Proclamation 342, ipinagbigay-diin ng Pangulo na tiyakin na ang pagdiriwang ng “Baragangay Assembly Day” sa ikalawang semester ay hindi mapabilang sa panahon ng kampanya para sa Synchronized Barangay at halalan ng Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) sa ilalim ng Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 881 o ang tinatawag na “Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines. Ayon kay Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., na ang pagpapatupad ng “Barangay Assembly Day” sa buong bansa ay isa sa mga pangunahing bahagi ng programa ng “Biyaheng
Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad” na inilunsad kahapon, Oktubre 10, 2011 ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Nais ng Pangulo na sumali ang lahat ng mga alkalde ma lungsod man o munisipyo upang maisiguro ang pagsunod at paglahok sa nasabing Barangay Assembly. (MRA/PCOO)
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Aquino: mananatili sa bansa ang mga imbestor sa mina sa kabila ng pag-atake ng mga rebelde BUTUAN CITY- Sa kabila ng pagsalakay ng mga rebeldeng NPA sa malalaking minahan na matatagpuan sa Claver, Surigao del Norte gaya ng Taganito Mining Corporation, Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., at Platinum Group Metals Corporation at kumitil ng tatlong guwardiya, noong Oktubre 3, mananatili at itutuloy pa rin ng mga banyagang kapitalista sa industriya ng mina ang pangangalakal dito sa Pilipinas, ayon kay Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III. Sinunog rin ng mga rebelde ang 10 dump truck, walong backhoe, dalawang barge, at isang guest house, dagdag ng mga pulis at militar. Sa pakikipagpanayam ng Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) sa Pangulo, na naganap doon sa Makati, kahapon, Oktubre 12, sinabi ng Pangulo na nakausap niya ang grupo ng mga mangangalakal na Hapones at isiniguro nila na ipagpatuloy nila ang kanilang pangangalakal dito sa bansa sa kabila ng mga paglusob ng mga rebelde. Aniya, itiniyak ng mga opisyales ng grupong Sumitomo na wala silang intensyong bumaklas sa kabila ng kagulohang 24
naganap. Bilang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng seguridad, may plano ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas na bigyan ng pagsasanay ang mga special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) upang maging tagapangasiwa ng seguridad sa mga nasabing minahan. Ayon kay Panu-
long Aquino, hihigpitan ng pulisya at militar ang pagbabantay sa mga CAFGU upang maiwasan ang pang-aabuso na maari nilang gawin. Aniya, mapapasailalim din ang mga CAFGU sa maingat na pagmamanman ng Commission on Human Rights chair na si Loretta Ann P. Rosales. (MRA/PCOO)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
OFWs mipasalamat kang Pangulong Aquino sa pagtugot kanila nga magpadayon pagtrabaho didto sa Afghanistan by Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY –- Liboan ka mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) ang mipadayag sa ilang dakong pagkamapasalamaton kang Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III tungod sa pagtugot niini nga sila magpadayon sa pagtrabaho sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga amo sa Afghanistan.
Sa sulat nga gipadala ngadto kang Chief Executive Carlo Echano usa ka Filipino nga nagtrabaho sa gobyerno sa Estados Unidos didto sa Afghanistan nga maoy nagrepresentar sa mokabat 4,000 OFWs, mipasalamat og dako sa Pangulo sa iyang “giniyahan nga desisyon sa pagtugot kanamo nga magpadayon kami sa among mga propesyon ug trabaho sa Afghanistan”. Siya miingon nga bisan pa sa gipahayag nga kabalaka kabahin na sa ilang seguridad, ila gihapon gibati nga sila luwas og seSunday, October 16, 2011
guro nga magtrabaho sa “mga Amerikano ug NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)-mga miyembrong agalon.” “We thank you for appreciating the efforts of our American and NATOmember employers to keep us safe and secure in our work in an environment that aims to build peace in this part of the world,” ang maong sulat nag-ingon. “We thank you for recognizing our hard work and acknowledging that our efforts are not only to support our families but also to build the economy of our country,” dugang niini. Usa ka deployment ban ang gipagawas sa Pilipinas aron pagdili sa mga Filipino nga mobiyahe ngadto sa Afghanistan tungod sa risgo sa seguridad. Apan si Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. mianunsyo niadtong miaging
Agosto nga kadtong mga Filipino nga atoa na nagtrabaho sa maong nasod dili na sakop sa maong ban. “After making an assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq based on input from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), we have recommended that Filipino workers who are already employed in U.S. military bases and installations in these countries be allowed to remain there to continue their employment,” si Ochoa miingon. Ang Executive Secretary miingon, apan, nga ang maong kinatibuk-ang deployment ban sa Afghanistan lakip na usab ang Iraq nagpabilin pagihapon. Ang kadaghanan sa 6,000 ka mga OFWs nagtrabaho sulod sa duha ka mga bases sa U.S didto sa Afghanistan—Bagram ug Kandahar Airfields.
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Feature:
Samal-Bajaus: Reviving the vanishing tribe by Rene V. Carbayas
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hey are the poorest of the poor, the marginalized, and considered as the lowest class even by their own—the bigger group of Samals in the Southern part of the Philippines. They are the “once-boat-dwelling people” or the “sea gypsies” who are dependent on the bounties of the
sea. They are the Bajaus (spelled in various ways, “badjao”, “badyaw”) of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
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As society becomes more and more complex, the increasing social demands and standard of living pushed the Bajaus further into the edges. Known to be peace-loving people who would stay away from any conflict, the Bajaus are being further exploited and abused because of this virtue. “They are also referred to as a ‘vanishing tribe’,” Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF of the Claret Samal Foundation, Inc. (CSFI) said. “This people are being driven to near extinction due to exploitation by the neighboring dominant tribes, as well as disease, starvation, intermarriages with dominant tribe and apparent inability to cope with the social changes, which are exacerbated by a nonculturally sensitive way of developing them.” In the effort to protect the tribe from further disintegration, the Bajau communities in Basilan and the Claret Samal Foundation, Inc. hold the annual Bajau
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Communitarian OngkaOngka or Bajau Festival from November 1618 of every year in the Municipality of Maluso in Basilan. This annual celebration that started about nine years ago promotes and preserves the Bajau culture and identity in the locality, and more importantly the respect and appreciation for indigenous peoples. Part of the celebration is to hold a Bajau Development Forum aimed at gathering support from various government, non-government, and private sectors towards the emancipation of the
Samal-Bajaus. Since the first forum on Bajaus, Fr. Tamayo believes that there is a growing concern and awareness on the plight of the Bajaus; but still they are lacking as many of them grow hungry everyday as manifested by the growing number of children, including some adults and elderly, begging on the streets. “There is a need to re-introduce the Bajau culture—their peaceful lives, smiles, their arts, and their struggles” to the so called people of the “main stream society”, said Dr. Robert Panaguiton of the Ateneo 27
de Zamboanga Research Center, who deed some documentation of the Bajaus in Maluso. “Your [the bajaus] ability to smile and laugh easily, your peaceful way of living…inspires me and should be an inspiration and a reminder for people like me who are living in crowded, noisy, and complicated urban cities…of the beauty of the simplicity of life,” Dr. Panaguiton addressed the Bajaus during his visit to Maluso for the first time in 2007 and witnessed the events and activities of the Ongka-Ongka Festival. The participants to the Bajau Development Forum agree that there is the lack of development programs for the Bajaus, particularly from the local government units. The participants themselves made some commitments and support, some not concretely, in advocating for the welfare of the Bajaus of Maluso for a start, such as scholarship and or educational assistance,
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awareness and information campaign through documentation and research, and advocacy to concerned line agencies for Bajau or indigenous programs. What was significant in the festival, Tamayo said, is the promotion of Bajau’s new products. Aside from fishing and mat-weaving, the Bajaus were introduced to other products that would explore the creativity and artistry of the culture, and in turn earn a livelihood for the family. From matbags, knapsacks, prayer mats, throw pillows, to
lamp shades, accessories and other novelty items, the Bajau art is drawing more and more people to be interested at the Bajau culture and its people. There is more to this unique people. Not just those poor people begging on the streets and dive the seas for every coin tossed by ferry passengers. Or as considered by many as ignorant, dirty, stenchsmelling and deprived. “Their situation is a picture of complete neglect that has driven whole families to flock to the big cities of Metro Ma-
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nila, Cebu and Davao to beg in the streets, and often times controlled by some syndicates who exploit on them. At present, unofficial estimates place their number to about a few thousands. There is no exact counting of Bajaus in the Philippines, a manifestation of how they are being left out. The CSFI is lobbying for the municipal government of Maluso through its Sangguniang Bayan to make the Bajau Ongka-Ongka Festival an official celebration of the municipality. The celebration and hopefully its institution, the annual Ongka-Ongka Festival will continue to be a reminder of a beautiful culture on the verge of extinction. Through CSFI and its supporters and donors, the Bajaus of Maluso began to appreciate themselves by slowly integrating into the mainstream Sunday, October 16, 2011
through formal education, while preserving their own culture. A special ministry for the pastoral care of the Bajaus and the nomads in the Philippines has already been initiated by the Catholic Church. Now, the church through the CSFI hopes that the government and the civil society will also have their share in protecting and preserving the Bajau people. The CSFI is a Claretian Missionary endeavor that addresses the plight of the poor Bajaus. CSFI started with trying to live, understand, and share with the culture of this people. It has five program components: 1) organizing, 2) education, 3) health, 4) livelihood and 5) culture. It aims to help and guide the Samal-Bajaus foster their identity and live a just harmonious community where there is equality of life rooted on their own indigenous culture. 29
City Dad bats for Waterways Protection by Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY--- Seeing and learning lessons from the recent flooding that hit Dipolog City and other urban areas in the past days, Dipolog City Councilor Atty. James Verduguez recently passed a resolution seeking to identify natural waterways in the city. During its regular Sangguniang Panlungsod session Tuesday, Councilor Verduguez passed Resolution No. 11-520 calling the attention of the City Engineer’s Office, Office of the Building Official and the City Planning and Development Office to immediately identify natural waterways in Dipolog City. Verduguez pointed
out that majority of the Dipolognons believed that the latest flooding in Dipolog City that have already reached the heart of the city was caused by the uncontrolled erection of some buildings and other structures on the waterways. The Councilor said that with the recent incident in Luzon where it took weeks for the water to subside, it is also
possible that the same thing will happen in Dipolog City if the people will just take things for granted. Verduguez, then called for the strict implementation of the Ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod banning the construction of structures on the waterways to avoid the same incident to happen in Dipolog City.
Mga kalihukan pag-saulog sa National Children’s Month nagpadayon by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY - - Padayun karon ang pagpahigayon ug mga kalihukan ug programa aron paghatag kasadya sa pag-saulog sa National Children”s Month kon bulan alang sa mga kabataan ning dakbayan. 30
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Kaniadtong Biyernes gibalita sa buhatan sa impormasyon ning syudad nga gipahigayon ang indigay sa sayaw, speech choir ug uban pang kumpetisyon alang sa mga preschoolers ubos sa pagdumala sa CitySocial Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Sa pikas bahin sa unang semana ning bulana, gipahigayon usab ning dakbayan ang pag-
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pili sa Miss Teen Tourism nga gisalmutan sa mga magtutungha sa high school uban sa mga tunghaan sa alberto Q. Ubay Memorial Agro-Tech High School, Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City Institute of Technology, Saint Vincent’s College, Saint Mary’s Academy, Dipolog Medical Center Science High School, Gulayon Integrated School, Sicyab National High School
ug Zamboanga del norte National High School. Ang migulang mananaug sa maong indigay sa panagway ug kahait sa pangutok mao si Kimberly Mae Ranillo Amatong sa Andres Bonifacio College. Kahibalo-an nga ang maong tunghaan maoy sagunson nga midaug sa nasampit nga indigay sulod na karon sa upat ka tuig.
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BFAR celebrates fish conservation week 2011, Oct. 16-22 By: Noel M. Saldajeno
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arious activities have been lined-up by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), region 10, to celebrate the 48th Fish Conservation Week from Oct. 1622, 2011. Regional Director Visa Tan-Dimerin of BFAR-10 said the activities will be anchored on the theme “Karagatan Pagyamanin, Isda Paramihin, Buong Mundo Pasiglahin” and the celebration will be highlighted by the following activities: Public Information Day, Oct. 16, with a simultaneous hanging of streamers, regionwide. Opening program, Oct. 17, at the Regional Fisherfolk Training Center to be followed by a Ribbon Cutting for Exhibits and Trade Fair. Coastal and Fishery Resources Enhancement Day, Oct. 18, with a simultaneous “Puno ko, Sagip Buhay Mo” Watershed and Mangrove Reforestation Program, Mangrove Planting and Coastal Clean-up in selected coastal barangays in Misamis Occidental, MIsamis Oriental and Camiguin and post harvest training on high value
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products in Tambacan, Iligan City. Technology and Livelihood Day, Oct. 19, to highlight Seaweed Seedling Orientation Training, Training on Tilapia Culture in Pond, Lecture on Aquasilviculture with emphasis on Organic Culture of Mudcrab, Tilapia Fingerlings Dispersal and Technology Demonstration on Seaweed Maja Blanca. Fishery Law Enforcement Day, Oct. 20, focusing on the Trainors Training on Fishery Law Enforcement with Seaborne Patrol and Surveillance, Orientation on Basic Response to Marine Mammal Stranding
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Regional Director Visa Tan-Dimerin of BFAR-10 said the activities will be anchored on the theme “Karagatan Pagyamanin, Isda Paramihin, Buong Mundo Pasiglahin” and the celebration will be highlighted by the following activities: Public Information Day, Oct. 16, with a simultaneous hanging of streamers, regionwide. Opening program, Oct. 17, at the Regional Fisherfolk Training Center to be followed by a Ribbon Cutting for Exhibits and Trade Fair. Coastal and Fishery Resources Enhancement Day, Oct. 18, with a simultaneous “Puno ko, Sagip Buhay Mo” Watershed and Mangrove Reforestation Program, Mangrove Planting and Coastal Clean-up in selected Sunday, October 16, 2011
coastal barangays in Misamis Occidental, MIsamis Oriental and Camiguin and post harvest training on high value products in Tambacan, Iligan City. Technology and Livelihood Day, Oct. 19, to highlight Seaweed Seedling Orientation Training, Training on Tilapia Culture in Pond, Lecture on Aquasilviculture with emphasis on Organic Culture of Mudcrab, Tilapia Fingerlings Dispersal and Technology Demonstration on Seaweed Maja Blanca. Fishery Law Enforcement Day, Oct. 20, focusing on the Trainors Training on Fishery Law Enforcement with Seaborne Patrol and Surveillance, Orientation on Basic Response to Marine Mammal Stranding to Commercial Fishing Vessel (CFV) operators in Misamis Oriental and Orientation on By Boy Decena
R.A. 8550 in Bukidnon. Tan-Dimerin said declaring the 3rd week of October as Fish Conservation Week. Is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No.176. “I hope that the celebration would will trigger and generate more support from other government agencies, the private sector, civic society group, both for conservation of our coastal and fisheries resources, and 33
50 MOSCAT students avail of ABAMIN scholarship program By: Genesis V. Monterde
CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental – At least 50 students from the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) were benefitted by the scholarship program of the Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) Party-List, this school year. Lawyer Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr., ABAMIN Representative, recently, met the said scholars, together with their parents, to know how they were doing and solicit their ideas and suggestions on how to improve the scholarship program. “I intentionally came here to meet you and have a little dialogue as to how your scholarship is doing and to solicit ideas and suggestions to improve it,” Rodriguez said. He said ABAMIN is a new party-list geared towards peace and development, particularly, in Mindanao and part of its advocacy is in the field of education where it supported a number of scholars. He announced that Malacañang has
agreed to increase at least 30 percent of its budget allocation for the development projects in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Rodriguez hopes to double the number of MOSCAT scholarship beneficiaries by next year’s school opening He, likewise, promised the graduating students for a part-time job this semestral break, as well, as to provide livelihood assistance to their parents through hog raising. He then encouraged them to do well in their studies and vowed to give incentives for those who will receive recognition for their school performance and graduate with honors from their courses.
Mga barangay kapitan dapiton nga moabag sa pagpangita og aplikante alang sa Job Fair sunod semana
Photo Credits: http://goa4u.com
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ILIGAN CITY, LANAO DEL NorteMipatawag si Kagawad Marlene Young sa Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) sa Iligan og katiguman sa mga barangay kapitan, kaniadtong Oktubre 14, SP Session Hall.
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Tuyo sa magbabalaod nga moabag ang maong mga opisyal diha sa pag-imbitar og mga aplikante gikan sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka barangay alang sa natakdang Job Fair karong sunod nga semana. Ipresentar usab ni Konsehal Young ang insentibo nga makuha sa matag barangay sa matag residente niini nga ma-hire sa maong job fair. Mahidangat dinhi sa dakbayan ang mga personahe gikan sa Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication aron mangdawat og lima ngadto sa pito ka libo (5,000 to 7,000) ka mga aplikante pagka call center agent, supervisors, managers ug directors sa mga kompaniyang IBM ug Teleperformance. Unang ipa-ilalom ang mga aplikante sa on-line testing karong Octobre 19 ug 20 gikan sa alas ocho sa buntag hangtud sa alas singko sa hapon (8:00a.m top 5:00 p.m.) diha sa mga testing centers sama sa St. Peter’s College sa dalan Sabayle, sa ngakalain-laing mga sanga sa Iligan Computer Institute (ICI), MSU-IIT School
of Computer Studies Laboratory Rooms, Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital CollegeComputer Room ug Iligan Medical Center College Computer Laboratory. Ang final interview gitakda sa Octobre 27 didto sa SP Session Hall sa gikan sa alas ocho sa buntag hangtud sa alas singko sa hapon (8:00 a.m. tyo 5:00 p.m.) gihapon. Mamahimong mosumiter sa aplikasyon ang mga high school graduates, college level, college graduates, mga aduna na’y trabaho apan nagtinguha nga mobalhin og laing kapangitaan, OFWs nga nwad-an og trabaho, mga inahan nga nangita og trabaho, mga retirado, ug uban pa. Alang sa dugang kasayuran, pakisayud lamang diha sa mga buhatan ning mosunod nga mga opisyal: Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, Vice-Mayor Henry Dy, Kagawads Marlene Young, Joe Zalsos, Bayani Areola, Providencio Abragan, Jr., Ariel Anghay o kaha sa Public Employment Service Office (PESO), ingon man, sa mga estasyon sa radyo sama sa RMNDXIC, DXRJ, Wild FM ug Edge FM.
Bidding process alang sa pagbaligya sa IDPP wala mahinayon By Melvin T. Anggot ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte-Wala mahinayon kagahapong adlawa, Oktubre 14, ang pagbukas sa mga bid proposals alang sa pagbaligya sa Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP) ilalom sa Swiss Challenge process. Mayoriya sa mga sakop sa gipa-abot pa ang opinyon sa nasudnong Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) ang supak buhatan sa Commission on Audit (COA) nga ipadayon ang bidding process samtang kalabot sa tukmang ceiling price nga Sunday, October 16, 2011
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basehan sa siyudad diha sa pagbaligya sa na-embargong planta. Bugtong si SP Kagawad Moises Dalisay, Jr., Chairman sa Ad Hoc Committee on IDPP Disposal ang miboto pabor nga ipadayon ang bidding process sanglit siya man usab ang miduso sa mosyon alang sa maong lakang. Hayagang mibotar og “No” nga ipadayon ang proseso mao sila si SP Kagawad Ruderic Marzo, Providencio Abragan, Jr., Frederick Siao, Marlene Young, Simplicio Larrazabal III ug Chonilo Ruiz. Mipahayag sa ilang “abstention” mao sila si Kagawad Ariel Anghay, Michelle Sweet, Bayani Areola ug Roy Openiano. Apan subay sa house rules sa konseho
nagpasabot gihapon nga usa ka “No vote” ang abstention. Wala makatungha sa sesyon sila si ABC President Bernard Pacaña ug Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President Riza Jane Magaro samtang wala makabotar si Kagawad Joe Zalsos kinsa nagsilbing Acting Presiding Officer sa katiguman. Angay’ng masayran nga milungtad sa kapin lima ka oras ang deliberasyon sa mga magbabalaod kung ipadayon ba o dili ang natakdang bidding process subay sa schedule diha sa Terms of Reference. Mipahigayon ang SP og special session kagahapong adlawa aron unta mapahigayon ang bidding process sa pagdispatsa sa IDPP.
CHO nag-awhag sa katawhan nga magamping ning panahon sa ting-ulan By Boy Decena ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte-Nagawhag ang City Health Office (CHO) sa mga katawhan ning dakbayan nga mag-amping sa ilang panglawas ning panahon na usab sa mga pagulan gumikan sa sunod-sunod nga bagyo. Nagpahimangno si Dr. Livey Villarin sa publiko, mabata man o edaran na, nga gilayong modangop sa mga barangay health centers sa higayon nga matakboyan kini sa hilanat ug uban pang balati-an. Mipahayag ang City Health Officer nga malikayan ang paggrabe sa balati-an sa usa ka tawo kung gilayon kini mahiling sa mga alagad sa serbisyong medikal.
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