The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2016
NorMin crime volume dips as ‘Oplan Tokhang’ gains momentum
CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City – Northern Mindanao police regional command announced on August 10 that the monthly total crime volume showed a drastic decrease of 44% compared to the crime statistics recorded in 2014 and 2015.
Police Regional Office 10 Spokesperson Superintendent Surki Sereñas disclosed that the total monthly crime volume for the entire region usually pegged at over 3,000. “July, for example, registered 3,983 crimes in 2014 and 3,171 crimes in 2015. Compared to the current crime volume of 1,974, crime volume decreased by 50.44% compared to crime volume of 2014 and 37.75% decrease compared to the crime volume of 2015,” Sereñas added. He said their assessment point out to the link and direct effect of the diminished presence of illegal drugs in the streets as a result of the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“Most of the prevalent crimes are usually drug related like theft, robbery, domestic violence, rape and all forms of abuse. Thus, we were not surprised of the marked decrease in crime volume,” he said. Sereñas expressed hope they can sustain this momentum and get the job done within the allotted timeline. Since the launching of ‘Oplan Tokhang, more than 51,907 selfconfessed drug pushers and pushers have voluntarily yielded to police authorities, over 250 were arrested and five killed during the conduct of intensified anti-illegal drugs operation. (RPIO, PRO10)
10th Panguil Bay Development Council confab set in LanaoNorte LALA, Lanao del Norte – The Panguil Bay Development Council (PBDC) and the Iligan Bay Management Council (IBMC) jointly convened at the Lala Fish Farm and Training Center, Barangay Pacita, in Lala, Lanao del Norte, recently. Undersecretary for Fisheries, BFAR/National Director lawyer Asis G. Perez, who presided the meeting reiterated among others that Panguil Bay is now ‘Sanggab-Free’ in a formal declaration during the Council Stakeholders’ 8th PBDC and 1st IBMC Meeting held in Kapatagan, this province, last November 2015. PBDC recognizes the need to protect, conserve and manage the bay’s aquatic resources through a collective effort to restore back its productivity for a sustainable fisheries and aquatic resources. Usec Perez said that it is within the context on the Resolution for the Removal of Filter Nets (Sanggab) in Panguil Bay that the PBDC passed a resolution for the removal of the illegal gear structures in the bay in support to the local government units (LGUs) existing Fisheries Ordinances banning the operation of filter nets. In a report on the matters arising from the previous Council’s meeting, that as of March 2015, based on the reports submitted by the respective municipal agriculture officers/city agriculture officers (MAO/CAO), there
are 1,998 units of filter nets (sanggab) operating in two cities (Tangub and Ozamiz) and six municipalities to include Kolambugan, Tubod, and Baroy in Lanao del Norte; Bonifacio of Misamis Occidental; Tambulig and Aurora of Zamboanga del Sur, all in the Panguil Bay, with 866 operators and 854 workers. Filter nets were validated and geo-tagged to establish its coordinates in the entire bay. The validation determined the types and sizes of the filter nets and the affected operators signed a Removal Contract. A summary report was presented that voluntary removal of filter net (sanggab) in Panguil Bay totalled to 1,424 while on forced removal has a total of 915. As stakeholder, LGU Ozamiz City has provided rice and groceries to Sanggab workers where filter nets were voluntarily surrendered by the operator. The province of Lanao del Norte also committed funds for the Pantawid Buhay Program for the municipalities of Baroy, Tubod and Kolambugan. On the part of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), it deployed monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) boats and Quick Response Team to assist the operation, for use of the surveillance seaborne patrol in Panguil Bay. BFAR also shouldered the cash for work expenses for the sanggab removal, a livelihood project was provided to the beneficiaries. Highlighting the 10th PBD Council meeting was re-echoing of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) plan for Panguil Bay. A Writeshop was conducted in Cagayan de Oro City to create an action plan for Panguil Bay. Participants involved were the academe-Mindanao State University (MSU) Naawan, municipal agriculture office (MAO), municipal/provincial planning development officer, provincial agriculture officer, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Marine Group, BFAR-9, and BFAR-10. Meanwhile, the IBMC second meeting in Kapatagan accorded that there are municipalities which have shorter coastlines and those which have longer coastlines. Usec Perez cited that the length of the coastline correlates to the weight of responsibility of the municipality or city. The longer the coastline, the bigger the contribution, the shorter the coastline, the smaller will be the LGU contribution. As part of the agenda in this
Joint Council meeting in Lala, election of chairperson and vice-chairperson for PBDC and IBMC was discussed. Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo nominated Usec Perez to be the chairperson, another term for him to serve the Council; and the council unanimously approved that Usec Perez would still be the chairperson in a hold-over capacity until somebody takes his place. In his message, then Gov. Khalid Q. Dimaporo, now the elected First District Representative of Lanao del Norte commended Usec Perez for his steady and persistent contribution, dedicated service and commitment for the betterment of the two Councils and having declared Panguil Bay as Sanggab-Free, during his term. The day ended with presentation of plaque and giving of token to Outgoing Council Chairperson Usec Perez for Fisheries/Bureau Director, by almost all Council members present. Composition of the PBDC includes three governors of MisOcc, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur; 10 municipalities; two cities; 12 national government agencies (NGAs) representing regions 9 and 10; and academe from MSU-Naawan & MSUIIT. PBDC was organized in 1988 to coordinate development policies and programs affecting Panguil Bay marine and aquatic resources. This was re-activated through the initiative of BFAR together with LGUs along Panguil Bay Area and several NGAs.
PBDC is hoped to bring back a more sustainable and responsible the bay’s original state, ensure environment government by its sustainable development and promote stakeholders. (LVG/PIA-10 LDN)
MOA for supplementary feeding program OKd CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with the drive to address malnutrition among children, the 18th City Council on August 8 enacted Ordinance No. 13100-2016. The ordinance authorizes Mayor Oscar S. Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-10) covering the implementation of the supplementary feeding program in the city. Under the MOA, the DSWD Field Office shall manage and coordinate the regional implementation of the program, designate a focal person to provide guidance and technical assistance to the social welfare and development officers, Day Care Workers (DCW) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) workers, DCW federation and Day Care Service Parent Group (DCSPG) in the implementation of the program. It shall, likewise, release funds to the city in accordance with pertinent COA circulars and purchase eating and cooking utensils and deliver these to the city’s feeding areas. The DSWD shall also closely monitor the fund management, utilization, program implementation and respond to operational concerns of the city and
concerned workers, among others. For its part, the city government shall submit the master list of beneficiaries as basis for funding allocation, open a DSWD account for supplementary feeding program and supervise the implementation of the program. The city shall, likewise, designate a focal person for the feeding program to provide guidance, technical assistance and support to the association, day care workers and DCSPG in coordination with the city nutrition action officer, among others. The MOA provides that if deemed necessary, the city will also provide augmentation in the implementation of the feeding program through cash or in kind if it catered beyond the target number of beneficiaries. The ordinance was endorsed by the committees on social services and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Reuben R. Daba and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya, respectively. (CDO Legislative Information)