Be responsible pet owner, DA says
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016
by Maria Vashtie Cabana
CAGAYAN DE ORO – The Department of Agriculture regional field office 10 (DA-RFO 10) reiterated the call for responsible pet ownership in the recent press conference held in the city.
Regulatory Services Division Veterinarian Jules Maquiling said animal care doesn’t only end on feeding- animals also have the right to vaccination treatments as well. He noted that animals like humans also feel stress, discomfort, pain, fear and distress, which can affect their growth and behaviour. The forum defined the difference between animal rights and animal welfare. Animal rights, Maquiling said, is the position that animals or pets should not be exploited, all the
things that are ethically, morally, and inherently wrong to use on animals, while welfare is the proper provision of their needs like housing, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, among others. According to DA, Republic Act 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1988 as amended can impose an imprisonment of six months up to two years or fine of P30,000 to P250,000 for any acts of cruelty and neglect as violation of this act.
Completion of Dream Road 2 in Lanao del Sur pushed by Apipa P. Bagumbaran
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The completion of the Dream Road 2 which aims to connect Marawi City and the municipalities of Kapai and Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur to Talakag, Bukidnon is continuously being pushed by the provincial government. Incumbent Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr. visited on May 27, the upper area Tagoloan, to check the site where the 32-kilometre Upper Tagoloan section of the 65-kilometre Marawi-Kapai-Tagoloan-Talakag, Bukidnon Road shall be constructed. Adiong said the Department of Public Works and Highways in
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH ARMM) has already allotted P250 million for the construction of the Upper Tagoloan section which shall begin next month. The construction of the KapaiLower Tagoloan section of the same national road is still ongoing. Completion of the entire road shall be in the first or second quarter of
2019. Adiong said the road, dubbed Dream Road 2 is an alternate route to Cagayan de Oro City. When fully paved, travel time from Marawi to Cagayan de Oro will only be an hour and a half. Currently, the route taken by Marawi residents in going to Cagayan de Oro is the 3-hour MarawiIligan-CDO national road. Adiong also said that investors, farmers and businessmen from Region 10 can easily transport their goods and products to the province and vice versa given the shorter travel time and lesser traffic. A total of P111 million from the DPWH ARMM was already spent on the road rehabilitation and construction of the Kapai section. Another P75 million from the 2016 budget of DPWH Region 10 has been allotted for the ongoing construction of the Lower Tagoloan section. The office of ARMM Regional
Governor Mujiv Hataman has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government of Lanao del Sur wherein additional funds of P230 million is allotted for the ongoing construction of the Dream Road 2. According to Engr. Mickey Macabantog of DPWH Region 10, they have also requested an additional P250 million from the 2017 national budget for the full completion of the road. Mayor Misangcad Capal of Tagoloan said he looks forward to the full completion of the Dream Road 2 as this shall benefit his constituents. Association of Baranggay Chairpersons (ABC) President of Tagoloan town and vocal youth leader Dulce Capal said the road shall make it easier for the children of Upper Tagoloan to go to school in Lower Tagoloan and Kapai. As of the present, they have to climb steep mountains by foot just to go to school.
Tribal leaders condemn NPA for killing ‘Datus’ by Erwin P Bugarin
IMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon – Some 500 Higa-onon tribal leaders condemn the killing of Datus during the celebration of “Dumalondong” held at Sitio Kiudto, Barangay Hagpa, Impasug-ong town, in the tribal province of Bukidnon, May 26.
Camilo “Datu Mansugenud” Nanolan, one of the leaders of the Agtulawon-Mintapod Higaonon Cumadon (AGMIHICU) Tribal Organization, expressed concerns that the NPA has been destroying not only their community but also their way of life. Their culture is slowly dying because of the NPA-killings of their Datus who have been very active in protecting and preserving local traditions. The tribal leaders specifically condemn the brutal killing of Datu Benjamin Omao, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative of Malaybalay City, in his office last May 17, 2016 by armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army. Datu Omao has been very active in strengthening tribal organizations in order to preserve the culture and traditions of the Lumads. AGMIHICU leaders believe that the NPAs have been targeting Datus for liquidation to break the leadership they provide and destroy the culture that bonds the tribal communities. The tribal leaders brought out their sentiments to the members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), Region 10, who were invited for this occasion held by the Lumads. “Dumalondong” is the highest form of ritual for the Higa-onon Tribes in the ancestral boundaries of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Norte provinces.
The gathering of key tribal leaders for this ritual happens only when there are issues and concerns affecting the tribes that need to be resolved. LTC Romulado Raymund B Landingin, civil military operations officer of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), assures that the military is doing its part to secure tribal communities since this is actually a priority program of the 4ID’s Bayanihan security plan. For his part, LTC Lennon G Babilonia, commanding officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, that has operational jurisdiction in the tribal areas of Bukidnon, warns the people to be watchful in dealing with groups affiliated with the NPAs. “The NPAs have completely disregarded, violated, and is slowly erasing the culture that has been there for centuries by killing Datus who have been actively preserving the rich knowledge and practices of their people,” said Babilonia. He further said it is very sad because the CPP-NPA was a proponent and signatory to the IPRA law and yet, on the contrary, they are the number one violator of this law and the rights of the people. They are killing Datus in order to gain local support out of fear and prevent the community from organizing and practicing their traditions. This clearly shows their ulterior motives in helping the IP communities.