The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
Police chief orders crackdown on illegal gambling in NorMin
CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City – Northern Mindanao Police Regional Director PCSupt Noel Constantino issued an order Saturday directing all PNP unit commanders to conduct a continuing crackdown on all forms of illegal gambling across the region.
“PNP Chief PDGen Ronald Dela Rosa has already made several public pronouncements that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will wage war next against illegal gambling after the war on illegal drugs. Thus, we will not wait for the directive from national headquarters which is already forthcoming but we will start now and gradually with increasing intensity launch our all-out campaign against illegal gambling in Northern Mindanao,” PCSupt Constantino said. An oversight committee will monitor the compliance of all major unit commanders, chiefs of police and station commanders to this directive. “Those who will not take action will be administratively relieved, replaced and subjected to investigation,” added PCSupt Constantino. The order also directed local police units to notify their respective local government executives about the directive and launch an information campaign to discourage the general public from supporting illegal gambling in their areas.
“This crackdown is also undertaken in the light of reports that in some areas, there are drug lords who are also financiers of illegal gambling operations. The crackdown on illegal gambling operations will also deprive the drug lords the money they derive from illegal gambling,” PCSupt Constantino added. “We will enforce the law without fear or favor and will hold our ground and will not allow ourselves to be pressured by any person or entity. We both have the will and the skill to succeed in this campaign,” PCSupt Constantino said after pointing out that PRO10 has made significant headway in the war against illegal drugs in Northern Mindanao. PRO10 spokesperson PSupt Surki Sereñas also revealed that with the campaign against illegal drugs still ongoing, “a portion of the police force will be dedicated for this purpose while other personnel still sustaining the campaign against illegal drugs dubbed as Project Double Barrel.” (PIO PRO10)
DTI MisOr implements prize freeze CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental implements price freeze on all basic necessities at their prevailing prices through Presidential Proclamation no. 55 declaring the entire country in a State of National Emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.
According to Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore, DTI Misamis Oriental provincial director, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 7581 and as amended by RA 10623 or the Price Act, price freeze is automatically implemented when state of emergency is declared. The price freeze is good for 60 days for basic goods, while 15 days for household LPG and kerosene from the date of declaration or unless sooner lifted by the President. The basic necessities include canned sardines in tomato sauce ranging from P10.85 - P14.25, processed milk such as sweetened condensed filled P51.35 to P63.50, condensada P37.50-P47.60, evaporated filled P36.40-P50.30, evaporada P24.70-P25.85, powdered filled P44.95-P78.75. Meanwhile, coffee refill prices range from P16.45-P38.90, detergent laundry soap P18.25-P19.50, instant noodles P6.30-P6.90, bread from
P28.00 - P60.50, iodized salt (iodized refined) from P6.45 - 36.40, (iodized rock salt) P5.30-P22.65, candles P20.65 - P125.50, bottled water (distilled water) P8 - P78.35, purified water P8.40 - P21 and mineralized water from P6.05 to P64.00. Prices vary in the weight and size of the products. DTI enjoins the retailers to comply with the price freeze while consumers are advised to be guided accordingly. Pursuant to RA No. 7581 as amended by RA 10623, penalties for violation against the price freeze include at least the imposition of fine of P5,000 up to P1,000,000 and/or imprisonment of one year up to 10 years. For more information please email r10.misamisoriental@dti.gov. ph or visit them at www.dti.gov.ph. (JMOR/PIA10)
DOLE continues to strengthen funded livelihood projects in Bukidnon MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – A team from the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns of the Department of Labor and Employment (BWSC-DOLE), Manila visited three DOLE Regional Office No. X (DOLE-X) funded projects in Bukidnon on 22-23 August 2016 in its continuing efforts to further strengthen budding entrepreneurial undertakings of funded livelihood projects.
The activity is part of the Bureau’s yearly monitoring and documentation of livelihood projects in areas covered by DOLE regional offices nationwide. This year, the BWSC-DOLE focused its monitoring activities on projects implemented on previous years, specifically on CY 2010, which are still operational and are threading toward project sustainability. DOLE-10 Bukidnon Head Raul L. Valmores reported that the team was composed of Grace Salazar, Arianne Bucar, and Cho Sumpang from the BWSC’s Program Management and Technical Support Services Division (PMTSSD). “The team monitored and documented the Meat Processing Project of the Kiburiao Women SocioEconomic Development Organization (KWSDO) located at Barangay Kiburiao, Quezon and Canteen Services and Rice Trading Projects of DAVCO-Laborers Union in San Nicolas, Don Carlos, this province,” Valmores accounted. The said projects were chosen for documentation based on the criteria that they have the potentials to become successful projects-based on increase in income, production, productivity, and employment generation. Ma. Liza P. Lacubtan, narrated how their group was able to transform from a mere informal sector group with no clear vision and goals to a now promising women-workers organization engaged in an income-generating, entrepreneurial activities. Lacubtan recalled the bleak future
they were facing before they finally used their idle time to hone their skills for productive self-help activities. In CY 2010, a livelihood assistance in the amount of P425,000, under the former DOLE-Integrated Livelihood Program, and now DILEEP was acquired by the group which greatly increased production volume and meet the demands of their products from growing customers and patrons. Presently, the women organization generates a net income of more or less P8,000 per month from their meat processing operations and in effect providing employment to their members who are hired as workers involved in the production process. Among the variety of products distributed by the association are beef, pork and chicken tocino, tapa, longganisa, beef patties, chorizo, organic fruit juices and dairy products. These products are sold either on cash basis and consignment through marketing agreement forged with the target customers which includes public market stalls, mini-groceries, school canteens and government and private establishments. “To further attract customers, we, in the association joined livelihood and trade fairs organized by local government units (LGUs), Department of Tourism, and Department of Trade and Industry in the province,” Lacubtan related. A major concern in their operations is the unavailability of new equipment which could hasten production and
increase production volume from an existing 30 kilos per day to 100 kilos of processed in a day. Meanwhile, the DAVCO Laborers Union’s canteen services project was also one of the projects monitored and documented by the BWSC-DOLE team. Valmores also accounted that the project started in CY 2010 with a P170,000 funding provided by DOLE-X for a rice trading project which was intended to answer to the needs of the plant and plantation workers who were clamoring for affordable rice. Last CY 2014, with the encouragement from the DAVCO management, the union decided to expand their project from rice trading to Canteen Services. This came about due to the closing of the company’s canteen which was being managed by a sole proprietor who opted for non-renewal of her contract with DAVCO. The management offered the vacated canteen space to be used by the union without rental for a definite period of five years renewable at the option of the company. “The union was then able to avail of a livelihood enhancement assistance from DOLE-10 amounting to P327,604 which was used for the purchase of kitchen utensils, plates and bowls, glass-panelled display stands and fixtures, tables and chairs, gas and electric stoves. The working capital for the foods and items to be sold in the canteen is the equity-counterpart of
the union,” Valmores added. Rosemarie Lagare, union president, said that unlike before, the workers are now able to avail of affordable, deliciously cooked food and snacks within the vicinity of their workplace. The management also has an agreement with the union for them to provide meals for workers rendering overtime and this is paid by the management on a monthly basis assuring them of a captured market. “The canteen services generates a daily gross income of P8,000 per day of which, expenses for labor and production costs are deducted,” Lagare said. With the strong support of the DAVCO management to the livelihood undertaking of the union, the workers hope that that their project will be sustained and provided more benefits and opportunities not only for them but as well as their families. Valmores lauded the efforts made by the two organizations in sustaining the DOLE-funded projects and maintaining their strong partnership with the Barangay Government and management. He has also underscored the capability of the organizations towards transitioning to enterprise level in the future considering its increase in sales, ability to meet the demands for their products and services and employment generation. (Archibald S. Batica/DOLE-X Bukidnon Provincial Field Office)