The RDC Communicatcator
ZamPen earmarks P47.33 billion worth of programs and projects for 2014 All roads led to Dipolog City as members of RDC IX converged at Top Plaza Hotel for its 143rd Regular Meeting on March 7, 2013. Close to 100 participants that almost filled the hall reflected the collective efforts of stakeholders to pursue inclusive economic growth for Zamboanga Peninsula.
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Teresita Socorro C. Ramos
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Rustico M. Varela, Jr.,SSIC-SO Gemma A. Mendoza, OD Renato C. Herrera, PDIPBD Vicente S. Fabian, PMED Manolette Jude M. Mercado, PPFD Norman Jose E. Ramirez, KMD
PUBLICATION COORDINATOR Vilma M. Julian
LAYOUT AND DESIGN Daryll L. Cabico Michel R. Tulog
CONTRIBUTORS
In celebration of March as Women’s Month, the Council members recognized the role and participation of women in nation building. “We need to strengthen mechanisms to support women and widen the arena for their participation,” Mayor Evelyn Uy stressed. To strengthen the link between planning, investment programming, and budgeting process, the Council endorsed a total of P47.33 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2014 as proposed by agency regional offices and state universities and colleges in ZamPen. This is 139 percent higher than the budget of P19.83 billion for 2013 as provided in the GAA. Sectoral concerns that impede the promising growth of the region’s economy were also discussed and resolved. The Council passed a total of 48 resolutions which include, among others, endorsement of DOH IX’s “Family Health Improved” Project; DepEd IX’s Public-Private Partnership School Infrastructure Project Phase II (PSIP II); request for assistance and fund sourcing from DPWH for the Dredging of Palomoc River and Titay Valley Flood Control Projects. The Council likewise deliberated on pressing issues with implications to regional development such as the prevailing high prices of oil, the Sabah stand-off, and Aman investment scam, among others. (Ceselle C. Harina, NEDA 9)
NEDA IX Ceselle C. Harina Ardi Abril T. Layugue Rustico M. Varela, Jr.
OTHER AGENCIES A.Solivio, DA 9 M.Daguro, DA 9 DFA DOLE 9 DOST 9 DOT 9 Narrabelle Z. Bue, DSWD 9 Lowell S. Vallecer- DTI 9 PIA 9 Ekeena O. Lim, WMSU
The RDC Communicator is published quarterly by Regional Development Council (RDC) IX. The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose the articles to be published due to space limitation. Articles and pictures will become property of RDC IX. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Contact: The Editorial Board NEDA Regional Office IX Provincial Government Center Dao, Pagadian City Tel. No. (062) 945-0049 nedapagadian@yahoo.com DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of RDC IX.
2
Infrastructure Sector registers the biggest FY 2014 Investment Requirement During the conduct of the FY 2014 Budget Review and Consultation by the Executive Committee of Regional Development Council (RDC) IX, the Infrastructure Sector registered the biggest FY 2014 investment requirement. The total FY 2014 budget proposal calls for a P46.96 billion national government exposure in Zamboanga Peninsula. A total of P22.16 billion or 47.19 percent has been endorsed by the Executive Committee to address the infrastructure needed for the promotion of economic growth and poverty alleviation regionwide. The bulk of programs and projects of this sector will ensure rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth and integrity of the environment and climate change adaptation. Priority projects for human development followed closely with P20.19 billion or 43 percent. Food production, environmental protection and industrial development, were allocated P4.27 billion or 9.09 percent under the Agri-Industrial sector; while the smallest budget requirement of
P342.85 million or 0.73 percent was endorsed to capacitate the LGUs towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, among others. The consultation review was conducted on February 14 and 15, 2013 at Top Plaza Hotel, Dipolog City and resulted to the endorsement of the proposed budgets of 24 agencies and six (6) State Universities and Colleges. RDC IX Private Sector Representatives and Local Government Unit representatives joined the Council's Executive Committee in this undertaking which is a mandate of the Council under Executive Order 325. The endeavor served to ensure that the programs and projects proposed by the agencies are consistent with the 2014 Annual Investment Program of the Regional Development Plan and supportive of the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino people. Relatedly, the FY 2014 Budget Proposal was presented for its confirmation during the 143rd Regular RDC IX Meeting on March 7, 2013 in Dipolog City. (Ceselle C. Harina, NEDA 9)
PPP for School Infrastructure Project II gets support from RDC IX The Department of Education is embarking on the second phase of its large-scale classroom construction project through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme called the PPP for School Infrastructure Project II (PSIP II). This project is one of the agency’s key programs that will deliver the needed quality, accessible education facilities for all learners. The PSIP II was confirmed by the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Aquino on November 29, 2012. Region IX is one of the fourteen (14) regions covered by the said project under a “Build-Transfer” modality whereby the private sector will be responsible for the design, construction, and financing of the project. In Region IX, the second phase of the project will involve the construction of 476 classroom packages that include toilet facilities and school furniture in 286 elementary and secondary schools that have been identified by DepEd’s Basic Education Information System as having critical shortages in classrooms. The Regional Social Development Committee passed Resolution No. IX-02-13 entitled “A Resolution Supporting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for School Infrastructure Project II (PSIP II)” last February 7, 2013 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. PSIP II got the support for its implementation from Regional Development Council (RDC) IX on March 7, 2013 in Dipolog City where the Council convened and endorsed the FY 2014 Budget Proposals of the regional agencies and state universities and colleges in Region IX in pursuit of the goals and targets of the Zamboanga Peninsula Medium Term Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016. (Ceselle C. Harina, NEDA 9)
3
PNoy declares 2013 as NYR To heed the Department Agriculture’s (DA) call on rice self-sufficiency, media practitioners of Pagadian City were given a glimpse of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III administration’s declaration of 2013 as National Year of Rice (NYR). At least 20 media men attended a press forum initiated by DA through its Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division Chief Maria Melba B. Wee who emphasized that every grain of rice is worthy enough to be saved as the wasted rice of all Filipinos can feed 2.6 million people. NYR 2013 bears the tag line “Sapat na Bigas, Kaya ng Pinas.” Along with this is KKK which stands for “Konti-konting kain muna, Kakaibang carb naman, and Kumain din ng brown rice.” Important issues and concerns which are crucial to the pursuit of achieving
success on rice self-sufficiency advocacy were raised by the media. Ms. Wee was apt and knowledgeable to answer gray areas and questions for the participants to be properly informed and enlightened so as to draw support for the said program through information dissemination. Media practitioners play a big role as they work hand-in-hand with the producers, public and policy-makers. “We are not yet rice sufficient. But we can achieve this by eating rice right and never waste a single grain. We could also try other staples such as corn, root crops, banana, and adlai (Job’s tears, an indigenous grains popular to Subanen) in achieving this goal” Ms. Wee said. The said event was held in Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City. The same forum will be conducted in Zamboanga City, Dipolog City, and Zamboanga Sibugay to drumbeat NYR 2013. (A.Solivio and M.Daguro, DA 9)
DOST IX Calls for Proposals The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) IX is calling interested applicants/ proponents to submit project/research proposals for funding under its Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program. The GIA program is designed to contribute to productivity improvement and quality of life of Filipinos by generating and promoting appropriate technologies and strengthening the participation of various S&T sectors in research and development (R&D). GIA has three (3) categories: Research and Development (R&D) - this is open to academe (state colleges and universities, private universities), government and non-government organizations. The priority areas for research are food, agriculture & fisheries, environment (including climate change), alternative energy, health & medical products, and information and communications technology (ICT), and window for innovation; Technology Transfer
4
- this involves establishment of technology-based businesses through the provision of technology, equipment, and training. The target customers are organized groups, associations, cooperatives, and local government units (LGUs). The priority areas are community-based projects, food processing, aqua-marine industry, upgrading of furniture shops, metal & engineering, horticulture, and gifts, decors & handicrafts (GDH); and Human Resource Development -- this category aims to develop the capacity of S&T institutions by strengthening and training the human resources in competitive S&T fields. DOST is also accepting proposals from proprietors of micro, small and medium enterprises in the region who wish to avail of the technical and financial assistance under the Small and Medium Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). The program is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist micro, small and medium enterprises in implementing technological innovations and
improvements in their operations to boost their productivity and competitiveness. SETUP enables firms to address their current technical problems; get free technical advice from the consultants; avail of technical training courses for workers/employees; acquire new equipment to mechanize and/ or improve production line; avail assistance on product packaging and labeling; and standardize and improve the quality of products. The program is open to any company or individual firm that is based in the Philippines and wholly owned by Filipino citizen. This year, DOST IX gives priority to firms classified under food production/processing, metals and engineering, and furniture/ handicraft. Now on its twelfth year of implementation, SETUP had provided funding and technical assistance to one hundred twenty-one (121) firms from all over the region, which translated to improved productivity and product quality of business establishments. For more information, interested parties may visit or call DOST IX, Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga City with telephone numbers (062) 991-1024. The Zamboanga del Norte Provincial S&T Center (ZdN-PSTC) in Upper Turno, Dipolog City, with telephone numbers (065) 212-2244, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial S&T Center (ZdSPSTC) in Rizal Avenue, Pagadian City with telephone numbers (062) 9251152, and the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial S&T Center (ZS-PSTC) at 2/F Faundo Bldg., National Highway, Poblacion, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay with telephone numbers (062) 9550825. (DOST-IX Press Release)
DOLE and PNVSCA Forge MOA on Volunteers
Chief LEO Gatinao of DOLE Sibugay talks on the values of volunteerism to the newly accepted VIDA Volunteers during the MOA signing on February 11, 2013.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), an attached agency of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), for the Volunteers DOT IX conducts Tourism Stakeholders Summit The Department of Tourism (DOT) IX gathered 62 private sector stakeholders from hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and schools last February 6, 2013 at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City to encourage them to work hand-in-hand with DOT and other government agencies to fulfil all the tourism plans of Zamboanga Peninsula. “Tourism is everybody’s business,” said Ms. Mary June Bugante, Regional Director of DOT 9, who talked about current tourism trends that serve as useful information for the stakeholders to improve the quality of their services. In the said activity, DOT’s 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan was introduced by Ms. Marilou Silorio of DOT IX. She emphasized DOT’s vision to make the Philippines a ‘must experience and more fun destination in Asia.’ She also discussed current tourism issues and concerns of the city and posed possible solutions, proposing partnerships with the private sector.
for Information and Development Assistance (VIDA) Program. The VIDA Program is the platform for local volunteering designed for Filipino volunteers who wish to share their skills and know-how in the development projects of their own The guest speaker of the summit, Ms. Mary Ann Montemayor, Vice President for Mindanao Tourism Congress, said “Zamboanga is important since it is a vital and integral part of tourism in Mindanao.” She inspired the stakeholders to play a vital role in the tourism goals of DOT. Accompanying Ms. Montemayor were DOT Region XI Director Art Boncato, Mr. Jason Magnaye, Davao City’s Tourism Officer, and Ms. Jean Banggayon, Co-Chair of DUAW Davao Foundation, who joined her to invite local stakeholders to the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and Events Conference 2013 on March 6-10, 2013 at SMX Convention Center, Davao City. Dir. Boncato shared the background of DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. He stressed that it is the role of tourism stakeholders to market and elevate the positive side of the country. DOT IX will be conducting more projects in the coming months that will address concerns discussed and further promote and develop Zamboanga Peninsula as a premier tourist destination. (DOT 9)
community. It provides youths and adults the opportunity to hone their skills further through volunteering. DOLE IX Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano said that in its intention to assist workers in the formal and informal sector, DOLE is implementing livelihood programs to make their entrepreneurial undertaking grow into viable and sustainable business and to provide them and their families with additional income. PNVSCA was requested to help the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) beneficiaries in the operation of their livelihood projects and ultimately develop and strengthen their organization. The DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Office received six (6) VIDA volunteers from PNVSCA to work with five (5) beneficiaries of the DILP to provide them with institutional development support on organizational development, project management and project sustainability. The program has been approved for three years. However, volunteers are initially deployed for one year covering the period from February 1 to December 31, 2013. The target associations/cooperatives of this program are the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay Small Rubber Farmers Federation, Ipil Market Vendors Cooperative, Timbabauan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, Riverside Women’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Phesalabuhan Subanen de Siay. “These community-based volunteers are really needed by these associations/cooperatives to help them become highly efficient, independent and empowered organizations. This concern cannot be done by DOLE alone due to limited office personnel. The VIDA program is fitting to this need which we recognize as an opportunity for the government to efficiently deliver services to the grassroots level by linking the different national and local agencies to converge services through this program,” Dir. Cano added. (DOLE 9)
5
REVISITING THE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT DEBATE: INTRODUCTION
Theory and Some Empirical Evidences
The impact of population growth on development can be discussed in terms of the arguments that (1) population growth is the cause or perhaps the major cause of all socioeconomic problems; (2) population growth is neutral, and in fact, people are the ultimate resources whose potential is there to be harnessed, or may be wasted ; and (3) population and development are interrelated, as espoused in the “2012 State of the Philippine Population Report 5: Seeking a Healthy Balance.” Notwithstanding these arguments, what is of interest is to determine whether a rapid population growth relative to a low or moderate one will tend to have a positive or negative contribution to the growth of per capita income, or the economy. And if so, what are the processes or mechanisms involved? It may be safe to argue that influencing population growth is not an end itself, but as one of the interdependent set of strategies for achieving a country’s or region’s development objectives or targets. It is significant to note that rapid population growth1 in our country and in other developing countries has generated concerns over its effects on achieving major development goals. This paper seeks to detail the implications of population change on economic growth and other concerns in development in the light of the findings of the 2012 State of the Philippine Population Report 5: that “ the country’s population2 continues to grow at a high rate, many women are still having more children than they want, more Filipinos are 1 A growth rate of more than 2 percent 2 The Philippines has a population of almost 90 million (or 88.5 as of 2007) that grows at the rate of 2.04 percent a year. One-third of the population is in the dependent ages of 0-14, with only 5 percent in the bracket of the elderly. The population is projected to reach 150 million by the year 2050 (SPPR 5, 2012).”
6
migrating in search of better prospects to improve their life ; and the need to produce more food is weighing on the country’s agricultural and marine resources, among others.” POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT The fallacy in the proposition that population growth is neutral can better be appreciated if this is related to the concept of economic growth. Basically, the sources of economic growth are: 1) Factors that determine the capacity of the economy – the quantity and quality of human and natural resources, supply and stock of capital goods, technology; and 2) Factors that determine the extent to which these productive potentials are actually realized – the full employment of all these resources and their efficient allocation. Demographic changes have enormous implications on health status, education, employment, food and nutritional requirements, income distribution, and family welfare, among others. In development planning, population cannot be treated simply as a demand variable for indeed it is a factor that can be influenced by economic and social development. Below we examine the link between population and some of these development outcomes. A. Population and Health We can classify health service into four (4) major types of activities: 1) Personal health services – those provided for individuals by Doctors, Nurses, and Health Technicians to treat illness, prevent disease or disability, and facilitate such normal processes as human reproduction; 2) Environmental health activities –
those provided on a mass basis by Engineers, Sanitarians, and others to minimize disease and discomfort by controlling the quality of much environmental elements as water, food, air and housing; 3) Public information and education – those provided by individuals and mass means to increase public knowledge of health and of conditions affecting it; and 4) Vital registration and health surveillance – those provided by some government agencies, for example the Department of Health, or local government units. In view of the nature of health services to be provided, a certain level of population density may be needed to warrant the feasible provision of health given in items 2), 3) and 4) so these may be subject to the so-called economies of scale consideration. On the other hand, changing population composition bears important implications on type of health service requirements. These are: 1) Infants and old people are the groups with the highest incidence of sickness and hospitalization; 2) The incidence of sickness and hospitalization tends to be higher for age-group above 50 than in the 0-5 age-group, and substantially higher for those above 60 year old; and 3) Illnesses among young children constitutes a very significant proportion of the total health service demands because in a high fertility population, the number of children aged 5 and under exceeds the total number of people aged 45 and over. At the household level, Herrin profounds that large family size and closely spaced births are related to increased morbidity and mortality of infants and young children as
well as sub-normal physical growth and intellectual development of children (Varela, R., Effects of EarlyLife Conditions and Diseases on Adult Life). 3 B. Population and Education Studies show that the provision of education and the upgrading of a country’s human resources can be realized more quickly and at least cost if the fertility rate is lowered (World Bank). The additional costs of high birth rates, in terms of improving the education received by successive cohorts of young people are substantial. The demand for schooling services may depend on the size of the schoolage population, income and education of parents, and health status of the population. In a number of countries, the contribution of population growth to the increase in recurrent costs of primary education over a 20 year period is estimated to be in the range of 50% to 70%; if capital costs were added, the share would be higher. In its Report, it indicates (ADB) that over a 20 year span, costs of primary education will increase by 3.4 times under a low population projection, and about 4.3 times under a high population projection. In the case of secondary education, costs would be increased by about 5.3 times under a low projection, and 5.8 times under the high projection. The implication of increasing population on relative level of expenditure between a developed country as against an underdeveloped country can be appreciated in the country comparison between United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana (In “Rapid population Growth: consequences and policy implications”, National Academy of Sciences). Data from these aforementioned country comparisons highlight the following: 1) On the average, the developed countries with their high per capita incomes are able to spend both greater percentage of national income and far greater amount of money and 3 RDC Communicator, VOL. XXIV, Number 2, AprilJune 2012
investment on public education than poor countries;
D. Population and Income Distribution
2) UK used 6 percent of its GNP for education, while Ghana used 5 percent – which by rural development planning yardstick is an acceptable proportion of GNP. But the school-age population (5 to 19 years) was about 37% of total population in Ghana, and 22 % in the UK. Thus, Britain used nearly twice as large of its GNP per head of school-age population as did Ghana. In absolute terms, the UK with a GNP per capita of $1, 800.00 spent about $500 per child for education, and Ghana, out of a total GNP per capita of $300.00 spent $15 per capita, or about $40.00 per child;
Several studies have established a strong positive correlation between fertility and income inequality5 . Several reasons why rapid population growth increases income inequality , as cited by Rodgers, G.
C. Population and Food The problem associated with rapid population growth is not only related to the adequacy of food supply but also with providing nutritionally adequate diets. Under-nutrition is mainly a consequence of poverty and a lack of effective demand (Mondot)4. Increasing food production is not a remedy unless it involves greater productivity or is accompanied by redistribution measures. Indeed simple programs which combine nutrition, health and education, and primary health care by local health workers can reduce infant and child mortality quite rapidly (World Bank). Kerala demonstrates the importance of factors other than food availability and financial resources in the health and nutritional status of people. Given the same income and food condition as in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala attained a much lower mortality rate under the age group of 5. The reason has to do with the more advanced state of Municipal Care Health Service in Kerala and higher educational attainment level of the women vis-avis the high level of illiteracy especially among women in Uttar Pradesh, estimated at 90% (Mondot).
4 Mondot, Bernard, J. “Planning Food Supplies for an Expanding Population, in Planning for Growing Population, R. Cassen & M. Wolfson, ed.1990.
1) Population growth increases the supply of labor relative to land, which is fixed, and to capital, the growth of which is considered to be independent of or negatively related to population growth. This will tend to reduce the average remuneration of labor relative to land and capital, and indeed the aggregate remuneration of labor; 2) Population growth tends to promote inequality of land ownership: the division of land holdings leads to unviable farms in the smallest land groups where land would eventually be lost through mortgage or distress sales, leading to an increase in the proportion of the landless population; 3) Population growth is found to be more rapid among lower income groups. If the share of these groups in national income is fixed, and there is little mobility, the relative incomes of the poor will decline; 4) The welfare of the poor is often held to be dependent on government interventions – schooling and medical services/facilities, nutrition programs, employment generating schemes and so on – of which the cost rises almost in proportion to the population covered. Thus population growth either raises the total cost of these programs or reduces the fraction of the population they can reach; 5) High fertility and dependency limit the capacity of parents to save or to invest in the education or health of their children. This constraint is felt 5 M. Ahluwalin,R. Reppetto, D. Morawete, H. Ogawa, A. Flegg, G. Rodgers, and C. Winegarde (as cited by Rodgers, G. “Poverty and population Approach and Evidence”, ILO, Geneva) in “An Analysis of the Determinants of Health Outcomes and Fertility Decline in The Philippines: A Priority Agenda for Philippines Vision for a Better Tomorrow, Author’s Dissertation submitted to the University of East Anglia, Dev. Studies Program, 1995).
7
much more among the poor leading to inequality in human capital, and hence in income earnings.
PHL Consulate General in Guangzou issues advisory
An interesting example is the case of the Maragoli in Kenya which depicts how increasing family size leads to more rapid fragmentation and partition, and eventually loss of ownership of the land especially among the poor, while the rich gain ownership through purchase of the same lands (Rural Development Planning Course 2, Video Showing on Maragoli, Kenya, University of East Anglia, UK: author’s subject in MARural Dev’t).
The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou advises the public that China’s New Immigration Law will take effect on 01 July 2013. It draws particular attention to the so-called “three illegals” – illegal entry, residence and employment of foreigners.
CONCLUSION In conclusion, it must be emphasized that rapid population growth worsens exiting problems. Others may argue that the ultimate resource is people – skilled, spirited, and hopeful people who will exert their will and imagination for their own benefit, and so inevitably for the benefit of all (Simon, J.C. “The Ultimate Resource”, Princeton University Press, 1981). It would seem therefore that population growth would not be much of a problem because man is very adaptable and can easily accommodate many kinds of problems. However, if population grows faster than our ability to make those adaptive changes then we might be in trouble since our ability to make those changes depend on the time and resources we have to make those changes. Unfortunately, the more rapid the population growth and the greater the problem, the less resources and time with which we have to be able to react quickly and adequately to address these problems.(Rustico M. Varela, Jr., NEDA 9) _______________ Author is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, M.A. – Economics (passed Comprehensive Examinations), 1979; M.A. Rural Development Studies Center, University of East Anglica, Norwich, U.K., 1995; Graduate of Pop-Dev Trainor’s Training, NEDA-UNFPA; OIC-NEDA Z.C. Office
8
The Consulate informed the public about the newly promulgated law as early as June 2012 to provide sufficient information to Filipino nationals who will be affected by the changes in the immigration regulations. Each violation carries different and more severe penalty. Foreigners found illegally working in China may be subjected to a fine ranging from RMB5,000 to RMB20,000. Possible detention of five to fifteen days may also be imposed for serious violations. Income acquired from illegal employment will also be confiscated. Illegal residents will be fined from RMB500 per day up to a maximum amount of RMB10,000, or imprisonment of five to fifteen days. Under the new law, employers who hire foreigners without the proper permits and documentations will also be penalized. The new law also stipulates fine and penalty to persons and organizations including imprisonment of those aiding foreigners in committing any activities defined under the so-called “three illegals.” Filipino nationals affected by the changes in the immigration law are encouraged to contact the Consulate for advice. The public is also warned against agents misrepresenting themselves as processors of exit visas for overstaying foreigners. Concerned nationals are urged to coordinate with the Consulate for the resolution of concerns related to the implementation of the new immigration law. (DFA)
RPMC IX Keys On Titay Valley Flooding Issue The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) IX kicked off the year by keying on the Titay Valley flooding issue during its Problem Solving Session during the Committee’s 1st quarter meeting on March 5, 2013 at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. The issue emanated during last year’s RPMC IX-Technical Working Group (TWG) field monitoring in Zamboanga Sibugay in September 2428. Consequently, it was agreed during the RPMC IX meeting on December 7, 2012, to conduct further investigation or assessment on the matter. As an offshoot, the TWG, together with RPMC IX Private Sector Representative (PSR) Eugenio D. Sinoy, conducted a rapid assessment of the flooding last January 15-16, 2013 by interviewing officials from the local government units (LGUs) of Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte and Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, concerned government agencies, and some affected residents. The group observed that the Valley is a natural catch basin placing several hundreds of hectares of farmland underwater during typhoons and heavy rains causing notable damages to the municipality’s infrastructure and agricultural production. The neighboring barangay of Palalian in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte is also affected by flooding in Titay Valley. Details of the rapid assessment report can be found at www.neda9.net. In response, the RPMC passed pertinent resolutions which were elevated to Regional Development Council IX. The Council recognized the urgency of the matter, thus, a request was forwarded to the Department of Public Works and Highways to conduct a flood control study and a master plan for Titay Valley and to source out funds for the dredging of the Palomoc River, Titay’s main natural drainage. Lately, Mindanao has been observed of being no longer spared from calamities like typhoon, making it more imperative that the issue on Titay Valley needs to be acted upon immediately. (Ardi T. Layugue, NEDA IX)
ZamPen NGAs converge to assist 4Ps beneficiaries
SRPI, Zamboecozone ink pact to put up 100-MW coalfired power plant The San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI) and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (Zamboecozone) have signed a 31-year lease agreement for the establishment of a 100megawatt coal-fired power plant in this city.
DSWD Asst. Director Riduan Hadjimuddin explains to media how CIPPR can be an instrument in uplifting the lives of Pantawid beneficiaries in Region IX. Also in photo are FIDA Director Olympio Macaranay and DENR Reg’l. Technical Director Ali Bari.
To address the needs of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on employment through sustainable livelihood, the regional offices of the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agriculture (DA), and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) unified their services for the implementation of the Convergence Initiative and Partnership for Poverty Reduction (CIPPR) in Region IX. In a press conference, DSWD Asst. Regional Director Riduan Hadjimuddin, said that the initiative that was the brainchild of then DSWD IX Director now Assistant Secretary Teodulo Romo, seeks to converge the resources of the local and national agencies concerned, and at the same time to prioritize resource conservation and protection, productivity enhancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation in support of the National Greening Program. Based on the Memorandum of Agreement on CIPPR entered into by the said agencies, 4Ps beneficiaries from the Set 1 areas shall be the target clientele of this program, and they will be tapped for a 22-day cash-for-work project. Given the 22-days work at P200 a day, these beneficiaries shall engage in landclearing operations of areas assigned to them for planting of fruit trees and crops.
DENR Technical Director Ali Bari, revealed that his office had already started surveying some areas and crossmatching of 4Ps beneficiaries for the said initiative particularly in Sibuco and Baliguian. However, preparation of planting materials is in the process and will be dispatched as soon as the areas are finalized. Director Eduardo Holoyohoy of DA said that the amount of P130,000 was already transferred to FIDA for the purchase of equipment needed to process the farmers’ outputs. He added that DA is allocating P9 million this year for the purchase of additional machineries and equipment.
Under the agreement, the SRPI of the Alcantara Group of Companies (AGC) will pay the Zamboeconzone P7.2 million in rental fees for the first three years of operation while the plant is under construction. Another P14 million in rental fees will have to be settled on the fourth year, P22 million on the fifth year and P105 million until the 31st year of operation. Tirso Santillan, Jr., SRPI Chief Executive Officer and AGC VicePresident, said that the coal-fired power plant worth P12 billion will occupy a 30-hectare property for the industrial area and 3.7 hectares for the port area within the Zamboecozone property in Barangay Talisayan, 26 kilometers west of this city.
Inter-cropping of coffee or abaca shall be done to provide immediate income while awaiting maturation of rubber trees that usually takes 5-7 years.
Mr. Santillan said that the construction of the power plant will start in September this year and is expected to be completed and operational by the third quarter of 2016. It is expected to generate new employment opportunities. The SRPI will hire at least 180 employees to handle its operation and more than 1,000 during the plant’s construction period. The power plant will be constructed by a Korean construction firm.
The targeted 13 municipalities are Katipunan, Osmeña, Roxas, Manukan, Sindangan, Leon Postigo, Jose Dalman, Godod, Kalawit, Sibuco, Siayan, Gutalac and Baliguian. These areas belong to the Set 1 areas of the Pantawid program and considered to be the poorest areas in Region IX.
The signatories of the lease agreement also include Zamboecozone Chairwoman Georgina Yu and the members of the Ecozone Board. A ground breaking ceremony at the plant site followed after the signing of the lease agreement.(PNA – PIA 9, ZAMBASULTA
(Narrabelle Z. Bue, DSWD 9)
Infocenter)
The directors assured the media that the farmer beneficiaries will be regularly provided with technical assistance to ensure that they are equipped with the know-how. FIDA and DA shall work hand in hand with the beneficiaries on what to grow and how to manage their crops and trees.
9
19 R9 LGUs employ streamlined BPLS Nineteen local government units (LGUs) in Zamboanga Peninsula have successfully re-engineered their business permitting systems and adopted the upscaled standards on business permit and licensing system (BPLS) streamlining project advocated by the national government. These are the city governments of Zamboanga, Dipolog, Pagadian, and Dapitan and the municipal governments of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay; Molave, Mahayag, Dumalinao, Aurora, Bayog, Dumingag in Zamboanga del Sur; and Polanco, Katipunan, Roxas, Sindangan, Liloy, Labason, Siayan and Piñan in Zamboanga del Norte. This was contained in the monitoring and evaluation report prepared by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) IX as of December
WMSU heads VAW campaign More than 1,500 Zamboangueños participated in the global campaign of One Billion Rising on Valentine’s Day. Western Mindanao State University-Gender Research and Resource Center (WMSU-GRRC), Gabriela Alliance of Filipino Women, and a certain women’s partylist headed Zamboanga City to “strike, dance and rise” against all forms of violence against women (VAW). The global campaign of One Billion Rising: Strike, Dance and Rise! is a synchronized event worldwide on February 14. Held at the WMSU grounds, the initiative was joined in by WMSU students, faculty, administrative personnel, and officials; community women leaders; and other local city officials. The dance revolution sought to address the incessant and proliferating cases of rape, battery, sexual harassment, psychological and physical abuse towards women.
10
2012. The Department of Trade and Industry which jointly works with DILG in pushing for the BPLS reforms said that 31 more LGUs are targeted for the project this year. That would bring to a total of 50 LGUs in Region 9 that will have complied with the streamlining standards by the end of 2013. The goal is that by 2016, the BPLS of all 72 LGUs in Zamboanga Peninsula as well as most LGUs in the country will have already been compliant to the upscaled national streamlining standards. BPLS streamlining seeks to simplify the current BPLS of LGUs to make them more efficient, transparent and investor-friendly. The program enjoins all LGUs to follow service standards in processing business permits applications both for new and renewal through the adoption and use of a unified form; and through the reduction of number of WMSU-GRRC Director-Prof. Rosalyn T. Echem, the event’s active organizer and coordinator said, “Ang WMSU ay nagkaka-isa sa buong mundo sa pakikipaglaban upang sugpuin ang lahat ng pang-aabuso laban sa mga kababaihan at kabataan. Ang WMSU din ay tatayo upang ipagtanggol ang lahat ng karapatan para sa mga kababaihan at sa mga kabataan.” WMSU President Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho expressed her solid support in an audio-video presentation shown before the One Billion Rising event, “WMSU will strive to protect women and children from violence. WMSU will dance to express support for programs, projects and services which will be protecting women and children’s rights, women and children’s health, women and children’s right to live, love and laugh and all other related aspects and areas of living.” Lastly she said, “and WMSU will rise to build new opportunities for women and children, to maximize their potentials, to maximize their persons, to maximize their resources and to improve their quality of life,
steps, processing time, and number of signatories in securing the said permits from the LGUs. Herminia B. Cuevas, DTI IX division chief and head of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) IX said that the streamlining is just the first component of the BPLS reforms. “After that is component 2 which is the automation of the system to make it even more efficient as experienced by LGUs which have employed e-BPLS applications such as the one developed by the National Computer Center (NCC),” Cuevas said. “Currently we have LGUs in the region with automated BPLS systems such as the cities of Zamboanga and Dipolog which came up with their own inhouse applications years ago, and the municipalities of Ipil, Siay, and Sindangan which utilizes NCC’s e-BPLS software,” Cuevas added. (Lowell S. Vallecer- DTI 9)
today, tomorrow and beyond.” The campaign served not only as a fun activity for the participants but a meaningful and symbolic expression to end such culture of violence in the midst of everyday life. The WMSU-GRRC also spearheaded a forum on VAW related issues last February 8, where interested groups and women leaders engaged in an interactive discussion. Consultations with local and community leaders were also conducted to instill a firm grasp among participants about the pressing realities of genderbased violence against women. Representative Luzviminda Ilagan was the guest speaker for the event. It was followed by an orientation on the One Billion Rising activity. The event was made possible thru the assistance of WMSU Student Council, University’s Gender Club officers, women’s club coordinators of the different colleges, and WMSU Office of the President - Public Affairs Office. (Ekeena O. Lim, WMSU)