One Mindanao - December 17, 2015

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Telefax no. (08822) 72-66-83Cellphone no. 0928-5204305, 0917-3084969E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)Ground Floor Kanto Motors Bldg.,Quimpo Blvd., New MatinaDavao City 8000Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950E-mail: [email protected]

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506Telephone no. (083) 520-0249Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTSGIDEON CORGUE, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western &Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

NORTHERN

DOLE awards labor compliant, child-labor free establishments

31

Amended PESO law to result more efficient services – PESO managers

14

Paskorela: A unique Christmas celebration in CDO

P495-M project contract signed to develop IT system for PFM

EAGA and Australia’s Northern Territory to reconnect trade, tourism, and cultural ties

11

Cover Story

INFOCUS NATIONAL

148

ContentsBy: Elaine O. Ratunil

OUR COVER

Dinagat Islands PPOC holds last quarter meeting

23

CARAGA

21

24 NFA administrator to lead new office inauguration in SurSur

WESTERN

3028

101st IB launches hot pursuit operation vs NPAs

Emergency in Sarangani? Dial 11718

SOCCSKSARGEN

17

35

37

By: Greg Tataro, Jr.

By: Millard Tawakal

By: Alfonso T. Ruda

By: Lei Garrett I. Miraflor

4 December 17, 2015One Mindanao

Paskorela: A unique Christmas celebration in CDO

ThisYuletideseason,CagayandeOrocitymagnifiestheChristmasfestivitieswiththePaskorelaevent. Anchoredonthetheme,“ChristmasisfortheChildren,”Paskorelaaimstobringoutthecreativityandartistictalentsofmotoreladriversbyexpressingtheir‘workofart’throughdecoratingtheirunits. For this year, 15 motorela drivers and operators display their artistry andcreativityastheyjoinedthe‘Paskorela2015’a‘dressupyourrelacontest’lebbythe

Cagayan de Oro may very well be the happiest place in the Philippines. The “City of Golden Friendship,” as it sometimes called, is home

to especially friendly and warm Filipinos. Their ready smiles are a fitting welcome, with Cagayan de Oro’s accessible location also making it the “Gateway to Northern Mindanao.”

5December 17, 2015 One Mindanao

Paskorela: A unique Christmas celebration in CDO By Elaine O. Ratunil

ThisYuletideseason,CagayandeOrocitymagnifiestheChristmasfestivitieswiththePaskorelaevent. Anchoredonthetheme,“ChristmasisfortheChildren,”Paskorelaaimstobringoutthecreativityandartistictalentsofmotoreladriversbyexpressingtheir‘workofart’throughdecoratingtheirunits. For this year, 15 motorela drivers and operators display their artistry andcreativityastheyjoinedthe‘Paskorela2015’a‘dressupyourrelacontest’lebbythe

Cagayan de Oro may very well be the happiest place in the Philippines. The “City of Golden Friendship,” as it sometimes called, is home

to especially friendly and warm Filipinos. Their ready smiles are a fitting welcome, with Cagayan de Oro’s accessible location also making it the “Gateway to Northern Mindanao.”

6 December 17, 2015One Mindanao

CityTourismandCulturalAffairsOffice and City Tourism Councilon December 12 at KioskoKagawasanDivisoria. The event kicked off withPaskodeOroparadefromTianostreets, Velez, and ended at Divisoria. Theparadewasaddedwithcheers from five schools in thecitybringingtheirdrumandlyrecorps. Among the schools which participated were BugoElementary School, City Central School, P.N Roa ElementarySchool, Consolacion Elementary

School, and Tablon ElementarySchooljoinedintheparade. Based on the category,participating motorela unitsshould be roadworthy; musthave a regular driver andduly-registeredunityatCityHall. Theparticipatingmotorcycleis encouraged to display theirvehicle from Christmas untilJanuaryofnextyear. Lionel Jeoffrey L. Sogoc(entry no. 10) received theP40,000grandprize,whileMarifeP.TeegottheP20,0002ndprizeandCorazonD.TangubwontheP10,0003rdprize.


Meanwhile, City CentralSchool came out as the ‘MostDisciplined’drumandlyrecorps;P.N.RoaElementarySchool gotthe ‘Best in Team Musicality’awardduringthespecialawardingceremony, Consolacion Elementary School wonthe‘BestChristmasAccent,’while Tablon Elementary Schoolplaced second; City CentralElementarySchooltookthe‘BandMajor of the Year’ award, andBugoCentralSchoolemergedasthe‘BandMajoretteoftheYear’awardee. The motorela is Cagayan de Oro’sownversionoftheFilipinotricycle. Much like the jeepney,another Filipino invention,motorela is quite a common sight in the city streets of CagayandeOroandisaregularmodeoftransportation for Kagay-anoncommuters.

One Mindanao8 December 17, 2015

MANILA-- Malacañang opted to remain grounded in aiming for the “tangible benefits” of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s regime of good governance, as it welcomed the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) public satisfaction survey on his performance.

Palace aims for more ‘tangible’ goals despite good survey results

An opinion poll conductedby the SWS last week showedthat 58 percent among 1,200Filipino adults nationwide, aresatisfied with President Aquino,

26 percent thought otherwise,while16percentwereundecidedfor a net satisfaction rating of+32.

9December17, 2015 One Mindanao

Communication Secretary HerminioColoma,Jr.recognizedthese results, which remained “good” per SWS terminology,noting that the government’spoverty alleviation and socialdevelopment programs havefactored in the decision of thepublic.

“WenotethatthePresident’snetsatisfactionratingsremained‘Good’onsocio-economicclassesABC and E at +44 and +45,respectively while registeringa ‘Moderate’ rating of +28 forclass D,” Secretary Colomasaid in a statement released on Wednesday.

“Wenotefurtherthatsocio-economic Class E constitutes the main benefactors of thegovernment’spovertyalleviationand social developmentprograms,suchasthePantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program or4Ps,”headded.

Coloma said President Aquino

isdeterminedtodeliveronallthepriorityreformanddevelopmentprograms in the remainingsevenmonthsofhistermandiscommitted to continue servingin the best possiblemanner, ashe views the presidency as acovenantwiththepeople.

For his part, PresidentialSpokesperson Edwin Lacierdadescribed the survey figures as“historically high” and found it“encouraging”butsaidtheywouldrathermeasurethesuccessoftheAquinoadministration “byothermetricsthatreflectthequalityoflifeofourcitizens”.

“The Aquino administration continuestodo itsworknotforsurvey results but toward themore tangible benefits of goodgovernance—povertyalleviation,job increase, and economicexpansion,” Secretary Lacierdasaidinaseparatestatement.

Recent reports ofunderemploymentdecreasingto


17.6percentandunemploymentdropping to its lowest level at5.7 percent in a decade havesupported thesegoals, Lacierdasaid, besides the 6 percentgrowth of the economy in thepreviousquarter.

He also noted that initial resultsofastudyconductedonthebeneficiariesofthe4Psshowthat1.4millionhouseholdshavealreadybeenable to riseabovethepovertylineasaresultoftheprogram.

“Indeed, the administration’s guiding principle of DaangMatuwidistrulyorientedtowardthe Filipino people. Groundedin service, the administrationconstantly works to maximizegainsforbothpresentandfuturegenerationsofFilipinos,”Lacierdasaid.

“Moving forward, we willcontinue to work toward realizing thedreamofeverycitizen:tohaveamorepeaceful,prosperous,andinclusivePhilippines,”thePalaceofficialconcluded. (PCOO)


MANILA -- The National Government launched today the P495-million contract for the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) Project, a joint venture with Free Balance Canada and Innove Communications, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Inc.

P495-M project contract signed to develop IT system for PFM

The project– which will beimplementedfor27months–willdevelop, operate and maintaina new IT system that would link thepublicfinancialmanagement

(PFM) processesof the Departmentof Budget and

Management (DBM) and theBureauofTreasury(BTr),twoofthekeyoversightagenciesofthegovernment.Thesystemwillgo


livein2017. Pursuant to the NationalGovernment’s Updated PublicFinancial Management ReformRoadmap, the BTMS would linkthefinancialprocessesoftheDBMand theBTr,helping collectandorganize government financialinformationinacentraldatabaseto support the following PFMfunctions: BudgetManagement,Commitments Management,PaymentsManagement,ReceiptsManagement,CashManagement,Accounting,andFiscalReporting.

Budget Secretary FlorencioB. Abad said the BTMS Projectwill improve fiscal and budget

management and strengthen the transparency and accountabilitymeasures implemented undertheAquinoadministration.

“Efficiency in the useof public funds is central tothe administration’s goal ofcreating genuine transparencyand accountability, which is arequirementforearningthetrustofthecitizens,”thebudgetchiefsaid. “TheBTMSwillcomplementthe Updated PFM Roadmapstrategy in emphasizing anincremental approach andconsolidating progress around


a number of key PFM reforms.As such, the new system will be embedded in critical areaslike the budget managementprocesses at the DBM and thecashmanagement processes attheBTr,”saidDBMUndersecretaryand Chief Information OfficerRichardMoya.

MoyasaidtheBTMSwilltakeitsplaceasapillarintheAquinoadministration’s overall reformprogram, together withother reform initiatives:a streamlined reportingsystem, a functionalUnified Accounts CodeStructure (UACS), anoperational TreasurySingle Account (TSA),and an institutionalized Performance-InformedBudgeting(PIB).

“We’re still ontrack in building oneof the keystones in theAdministration’sprogramfor fiscal transparencyand accountability in

government.Onparwithpreviousreforminitiatives,we’reconfidentthat the BTMS will hold up theintegrity of our public financialmanagement processes,” Moyasaid.

To streamline current financial systems, spendingagencies will eventually usethe BTMS as their frameworkfor budget execution andaccountability.

14 One Mindanao December 17, 2015

EAGA and Australia’s Northern Territory to reconnect trade, tourism, and cultural ties

MANILA -- An opposition leader in the House of Representatives over the weekend expressed conviction that Congress will be able to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that could be a template for future peace processes and peace building efforts by other countries as pointed out by President Aquino III. At the recently concluded BIMP-EAGA 19th MinisterialMeetingheldat theLeMeridienHotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,EAGAsigningministerstogetherwith Peter Styles, NT MinisterforAsianEngagementandTradeagreed to reconnect and focus

cooperation on tourism, smallandmedium enterprises, socio-cultural,andeducationinitiatives.

In a statement released during the meeting, the fourBIMP-EAGASigningMinistersandtheNTMinister reaffirmed their


“commitment to further deepencooperation and ensure thatconcrete results are achievedwithin the year.” It furthersaid that the ministers agree to develop the Plan of Action forthe BIMP-EAGA and NorthernTerritoryCooperationfor2016to2020.

The EAGA Ministers thatparticipated in the meetingincludedPehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister in the Prime Minister’sOffice and Second Minister ofForeign Affairs and Trade ofBrunei Darussalam; Dr. RizalAffandiLukman,DeputyMinisterfor International EconomicCooperation, CoordinatingMinistry for Economic Affairsof Indonesia; Senator Dato’ SriAbdul Wahid Omar, Minister inthePrimeMinister’sDepartmentof Malaysia; and SecretaryLuwalhatiAntonino,ChairoftheMindanaoDevelopmentAuthority(MinDA)ofthePhilippines.

Citing opportunities ineducational exchange betweenEAGAandNT,theministersagreedtoexplorepossiblecollaborationbetweenandamongtheacademeand research institutions of thetwo regions. Theministers alsoagreed to promote cooperationamonguniversitiesandtechnical

institutions in developingacademic and professionalhumanresource.

Programsandactivitiesthatinvolve students and the youthwhich promote educational,social, sports, and culturalexchanges between EAGA andNTwerealsoencouragedbytheministers in support to EAGA’snewly adopted Socio-CulturalandEducationpillar.

“We also agreed to explorethe development of a studentexchange program focusing onareasofcommonalityundertheAustralian Awards program,”said Secretary Antonino who participatedinthisyear’sAustraliaAwardsfellowshipswith12othergovernmentofficialsandprivatesector representatives in CairnsandBrisbane.

The Awards program ispart of Australia’s commitmentto advancing priority foreignaffairs and shared developmentgoals. It is also designed tohelp strengthen partnershipsand develop capacities so thatindividual fellows can advancekeydevelopment issues in theirhomecountryandregion.

In expanding trade with


NT, the Ministers urged theprivatesectortotakeactiverolein establishing networks andcooperation with counterpartsfrom Australia such as NT’schambers of commerce. A jointstudy on the two regions’ trade complementarityandotherfuturetradelinkagesthatinvolvesupplychains was discussed during the meeting.

The NT government hasinvited the BIMP-EAGA toparticipate in the NorthernTerritoryBusinessFestivalinAprilnext year, with the possibilityof holding the Darwin Dialogueduringtheevent.

To push for a more robusttourismexchangebetweenEAGAand NT, the ministers jointlyagreed to promote and marketthe two regions as eco-tourismdestinations. A sharing of best

practices on tourismdevelopmentwasalsoagreed during the meeting.

“In recognition to the rich heritage, cultures and traditions of the BIMP-EAGAand NT, the signingministers encourage collaboration to

develop socio cultural activitiesthat can contribute to buildingstrong foundation for greaterunderstanding and good neighborliness,”addedAntonino.

She said the ministers also agreed to cooperate andcollaborate on arts, heritage,and culture to foster deeperunderstanding, appreciation,and preservation of culture andhistoryofEAGAandNT.

Australia’s NT offers vastopportunities for trade andbusiness with BIMP-EAGAparticularly in the oil and gasindustry,agribusiness,andsocio-cultural exchanges due to thetworegions’proximity.In2004,NTbecameEAGA’sdevelopmentpartner,10yearsafterthelaunchofthesub-region.(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)


2,000 indigent households in Kidapawan City to get electricity

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Dec. 17 — Some 2,000 poor families here will soon be connected to the electric grid.


Emergency in Sarangani? Dial 117

ThisaftertheDepartmentofEnergyapprovedthePhp7.5millionelectrificationprojectoftheKidapawanCitylocalgovernmentunitthatintendstoprovideelectricitytoindi-genthouseholdswhohavebeenwantingtohavepowersupply.Justrecently,DOEUndersec-

retaryZenaidaMonsadahandedthecheckforfundfromtheNationalIntensifiedHouseholdElectrificationProject(NIHE)toMayorJosephEvangelista.Withthelocalchiefexecutive

attheturnoverceremonyinTaguig,MetroManilawereCity

BudgetOfficerAlexPana,Ex-ecutiveAssistantEngr.FranciscoTanaidJr.angCotabaoElectricCooperativeRepresentativeAl-jayMarayan.MayorEvangelistasaidthe

householdsthatwillbenefitfromtheprojectsarelocatedinthecity’s40barangays.Cotelcowillimplementthe

projectaswellastheorienta-tionofthebeneficiaries.Thehouseholdelectrification

projectwilltakeeffectin2016.(Kidapawan City Information Office/DEDoguiles-PIA12)

ALABEL, Sarangani, Dec 17 – Sarangani activated SAR 117 Wednesday (December 9), launching the hotline ahead of all other local government units (LGUs) in the country a localized version of the nationwide emergency hotline Patrol 117.

RenePunzalan,provincialdi-saster risk reduction and man-agementofficer(PDRRMO),saidSAR117isthe“responseoftheprovincialgovernmenttothemandatesofRepublicAct10121orknownastheDisasterRiskReductionandManagementActof2010”inbuildingdisasterre-

silientcommunities.The hotline, according to

Punzalan,wouldserveas24/7“nervecenter”forcollaborativeimplementationinmonitoringand addressing emergency and distresssituations.Theideaofinstitutionalizing

SAR117,hesaid,istohavea


“saferanddisasterresilientSa-rangani”throughavoicepatchprovidedbyGlobemyBusinessthattheprovincehaspartneredwithinlinkingthepublictovari-ous coordinating agencies re-spondingtoemergencies.PDRRMOhasbeenstrength-

ening coordination down to its counterpartagenciesinthemu-nicipalities.OfficeofCivilDefense(OCD)

RegionalDirectorMindaMoranteassuredOCD’ssupportinrein-forcingthe“command,controlandcoordination”systemwithintheseventownsandinreview-ingoperationalproceduresonthepromptnessoftheproject.InNovember,GlobemyBusi-

nessandPDRRMOdidthetrian-gulationandmappingrelativetotheoperationofSAR117.SAR117islimitedonlytoSa-

ranganiProvince.EvenGeneralSantos City, which is located midwayofSarangani,couldnotaccessthehotline.Gensan,though,hasitsown

727emergencyhotline.GlobemyBusinessPriorityAc-

countsheadMichelleOraclari-fiedifthecallerisoutsidethetriangulated area in Sarangani, acellsitewouldstillpickupthecallandwilldivertittoSAR117inSarangani.

Hotline117istheDepartmentoftheInteriorandLocalGov-ernment’s sanctioned hotline three-digitnumberacrossthecountryinstitutionalizedpursu-anttoExecutiveOrderNo.226issuedin2003.Oradisclosedphasetwoof

SAR117projectexpectstherestoftheneighboringprov-inces to also launch their hotline andtoprobablycreateahub“sothatanybodyinthisregion.wherevertheyaretheywillbelinkedtoeachother.”“You(Sarangani)areactually

aheadofeveryoneelse,”Orarevealed.HowdoesSAR117work?Step1.Inreportingemer-

gency or distress situations, dial 117onyourcellularphoneforGlobeandTMusers,anddial09178729014fornon-Globeus-ers.Thenstateyourfullname,location and the emergency situation that needs immediate actionorresponse.Step2.Inreceivingacallor

report,anoperatorwillanswerthecallandrecordallinforma-tiongivenbythecaller.Thentheofficewillverifythereportwith the concerned agency, local officialsorLDRRMOwithintheincidentlocation.Step3.Inreferralforemer


gencyresponse,afterthevalidationofthereport,theop-erationsofficerwillrefertheemergency to the concerned re-spondingagencyforimmediateaction.Thenmonitoringoftheongoingoperationsfollows.BoardMemberElmerdePer-

alta,whorepresentedGovernorSteveChiongbianSolondur-ingtheSAR117launch,saidthegovernoris“fullyawareofequippingourinstitutiontoen-hance communication system in theprovinceofSaranganinotonlyforpeaceandorderbutcuttingacrosseverything.”

The only challenge that the provincecouldfaceinthefutureisthesustainabilityofthe“ef-fectivenessandfunctionalityofSAR117,”DePeraltasaid.“ButIamveryconfidentof

thecapacityofPDRRMOstaffinmitigatingupsettingeffectsofdisastersandaccidentssapamamagitanngpaggamitngSAR117,”DePeraltaadded.TheProvinceofSaranganihad

bestedotherprovincesintheregionfortwostraightyearsastheBestPreparedProvincialDi-sasterRiskReductionandMan-agementCouncilsince2014.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan ResolutionNo.2014-8-065hasalsobeenapprovedtobackSAR

177asbeneficialinserving“asdirectandfastconduittoreportandrespondtocrimes,emer-gencies,rescue/retrievalsitua-tions,andsimilarconditions.”Itsaid“theprovincialgov-

ernment has geared towards theestablishmentofawell-equippedcommunicationfacilitythatwouldimmediatelyrespondtoemergenciesintheprovince,”hencethePDRRMcouncilhasadoptedtheestablishmentofSAR117.TheLGUhasearmarkedato-

talofP627,700forthefirstyearofimplementationofSAR117whichalreadyincludedthePABXSystem,installationfeeandtheP40,000monthlyrecurringcost.In2014,Saranganilaunched

theEmergencyHotlineTextConnectSystemthatservesasdatabankingandearlywarninginformationservicetoSaranganiconstituents during calamities anddisasters.(BCPaoyon-Sa-rangani Information Office/DEDoguiles-PIA12)


4ID Phil. Army holds camaraderie with media partners

BUTUAN CITY– In celebration of the yuletide season, the 4th In-fantry Division of Philippine Army headed by commanding officer Major General Oscar Lactao convened on Tuesday evening the media partners together with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga for a camaraderie at the 4ID Advance Command Post in Camp Bancasi, this city.

By Jennifer Gaitano

MGen Lactao encouraged the media to spread more


developmental news throughprint andbroadcast. “There area lot of good news that peopleshouldknowabout.Throughourmedia partners, people will beaware that the government isdoingeverythingtoservethebestfor the citizens. Communicationwith right information is veryimportant. We should all worktogether and continue to serveand protect our people,” hestressed. Lactao also thanked the mediafortheircontinuedsupporttotheundertakingsoftheAFPandforthegoodworkingrelationship.He further emphasized thatmediahasavitalroleinhelpingthe ordinary citizens to know the issuesandconcernsandeventsthatarehappeningaroundthem. “Through your information,you become an eye-opener tothe general public that affectstheirdecision-makinginoneway

toanother.That’swhyyoutakegood care of the trust given toyou by the citizens. We are allresponsible for what we do forothers,”expressedLactao. Meanwhile, PIA-Caragaregional director Abner Cagaalso underlined team work not only within the organization butalsowithothergovernmentagencies. He pointed out thesignificanceofgoodandeffectivecommunication in peace anddevelopment. “Alotofproblemsaresolvedbecause of information thatresultstoappropriateactionandpositive behavior change in ourpeople.Weallknowhowpowerfultheinformationis.Letuscontinueto deliver timely, accurate, andreliable information,” remarkedCaga. The media night was filledwithgoodtalks,foods,songsanddances.


Dinagat Islands PPOC holds last quarter meeting

Police Provincial OfficeprovincialdirectorCupidC.Calicareportedthattheprovince’speaceand order situation continues to be peaceful, although somepetty crimes were committedbutheassuredthatthesameismanageableandundercontrol. The council bared that bynextyear,the‘Rescue-Fire’Boatwillbefullyoperationaltobeusedforrescueandfire-fightinginthe

80percentbarangayslocatedinthecoastalareasoftheprovince. Itwasalsoreportedthattheprovince is generally peacefulagainstanythreatofinsurgencyorterrorismandwillbeaverygoodplace for business investmentssuch as hotels and resorts, land and water transportationfacilities, foods and restaurantsandotherrecreations.

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands – The members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Dinagat Islands conducted its last quarter meeting held recently at DIMPC Building, San Jose town.

By: Millard Tawakal,


NFA administrator to lead new office inauguration in SurSur By: Greg Tataro Jr.

T h e n e w edificeisl o ca ted

at the back of the GID-DuplexWarehouse at BarangayMabua,this city,according toMaySaraAtomar, NFA officer-in-charge(OIC). To mark the occasion, a fitting program, split into twomainparts,issettofollow. Theeventwillstartwiththe“Ceremonial Cutting of RibbonandUnveilingofMarker”withNFADalisay to do the honors together withGovernor JohnnyPimentel,Congressman Philip Pichay ofthe First District, this province,Mayor Roxanne Pimentel, thiscity, and NFA regional directors(RDs)GenaroNuñez,Jr.aswellasPepitoPaqueoofRegions13and10,respectively. Right after that, Most

ReverendNerioOdchimar,Bishopof Tandag, will bless the newstructureattheNFAcompound. Then, immediately, the ceremonial program will startwith OIC Atomar to deliver thewelcomeaddress. NFA administrator Dalisay,whowillbeintroducedasGuestofHonorbyRDNuñez,willdeliverhisinauguralmessage. Likewise,GovernorPimentel,CongressmanPichay,andMayorPimentel, in that particularorder, will give their respectivemessagesaswell. To break the monotony, agroupofselectstudentsofJacintoP. Elpa National High School isgoing to render an intermission number. Theclosing remarkswillbedone by NFA Caraga assistantregionaldirectorGilIbarra.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur– Na-tional Food Authority (NFA) administra-tor Renan Dalisay is going to spearhead the inauguration and blessing of the newly built P6.24 million provincial of-fice building of their agency here in Tandag City at 11:00 a.m. on Wednes-day, December 16, 2015.





BasedontheDOH’sstatistics, there were 1,018 fireworks-related injuries in2013andthe

samewerereducedby16percentin2014. InRegion9,fromDecember

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) has conducted recently an anti-firecracker campaign in Dipolog City which carries a theme, “Sa Ingay Walang Sablay, Sa Paputok Goodbye Kamay.”

DOH conducts anti-firecracker campaign in Dipolog By Mary May A. Abellon

WWW.MB.COM.PH


By Mary May A. Abellon

21, 2014 to January 5, 2015therewere16casesoffireworks-relatedinjuriesandfourcasesofstraybullet-relatedinjuries.Prohibited firecrackers andpyrotechnic devices includeatomic big triangulo and superloloandtheirequivalent,motherrockets, lolo thunder, bawang(large), pla-pla, watusi, kwiton,giantwhistle,judasbelt(large),atomic bomb, piccolo, pillbox,goodbyephilippines,andkabas.Pyrotechnics and firecrackersmay cause air, water and noise pollution, fire accidents,poisoning,amputation,blindnessandevendeath. The public is advised torefrain from using pyrotechnicdevices and firecrackers duringthis yuletide season in order to avoidaccidentsandinjuries.DOH urged the public to usealternativedeviceormethodsinmakingnoiseliketrumpets.

The Department of Interiorand Local Government (DILG),PhilippineNationalPolice (PNP),BureauofFireProtection(BFP),Department of Health (DOH),DepartmentofTradeandIndustry(DTI), Department of Finance(DOF), Bureau of Customs(BOC) and local governmentunits (LGU) are in coordinativeefforts in regulating the sale,manufacture, distribution anduseoffirecrackers,polyvinylpipe“boga” and other pyrotechnicdevices and the adoption ofthe advocacy campaign andpreventivemeasuresoffireworksinjuriesanddamagetoproperties. Members of the PNP in theregion are directed to conduct an intensified and sustainedcampaign against illegalfirecrackers and pyrotechnicdevicesbeginningDec.13,2015untilJan.6,2016.

pianormin.wordpress.com


DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) - Elements of the 101st Infantry Brigade (IB) are now conducting hot pursuit operations against the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who burned down three heavy equipment last Dec. 12 in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte.

101st IB launches hot pursuit operation vs NPAs By Alfonso T. Ruda

According to Captain JasonRoy P.Mararac, 101stBrigade’sCivil Military Operations (CMO)Officer, a platoon-size fully-armed NPAmembers belongingto Natarang Guerilla Flex “A”WesternMindanaoRegionalPartyCommittee (WMRPC) burneddown thee heavy equipmentowned by Edana ConstructionCompany in Purok Rosa, SitioKandingan,barangaySituboat2p.m.lastDec.12. Edana Construction Company, which is nowconstructingthefarm-to-marketroad in Zamboanga del Norte’sthird congressional district, is owned by HJ Yusop, based inKabasalan,ZamboangaSibugay. “We condemn to highesttermthisfoolishactoftheNPAs.The incident clearly manifeststhat the NPAs are against anyinitiatives for progress anddevelopment that would upliftsocial and economic conditions of the community. The NPAs

don’t really care to address the poverty problems. If the NPAsare really pro-poor, then theyshouldparticipateinandsupportdevelopmentalinitiatives. The people of ZamboangadelNortedonotdeservethisforChristmas. The equipment arethere to construct road to lessen the burden of the farmers andthe people in transporting theirproductsandforthegovernmenttoeffectivelydelivertheneededbasicservices in thearea,“Col.JesusMananquilJr.,101stbrigadecommandersaid. Manangquil has called onall peace loving people to bevigilant against these dastardandirrationalacts.HealsourgedtheNPAmemberstocomedownandjointhemulti-sectoralpeaceand development initiatives toaddresstheplightofthepoor. “Thesolutiontoourproblemsisnot through thebarrelof thegun or by burning constructionequipment,”hesaid.

R ising from the ashes of war, Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte province is now a thriving municipality and home to empowered communities.

Feature: Pathways to Leadership: How one woman’s journey with volunteerism changed lives

GinaM.Pagente,42,ofBarangayPoblacion, Kauswagan, Lanao delNorte, is known to be the town’s

resident manicurist who is also well-loved by her neighbors andcommunity.AwifetoRollyM.


Pagente, 46, and a mother to17-year-oldRollyJr.,Ginawasusedtojustbeingahousewifeanddoingmanicurejobsforher“suki”(loyalcustomers) neighbors until shevolunteeredforthesub-communityprojectsoftheDepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment(DSWD)Kapit Bisig Laban sa KahirapanComprehensive and IntegratedDeliveryofSocialServices(Kalahi-CIDSS). Anaturalleaderasherfriendscommended, Gina was also thepresidentoftheSunriserWomen’sAssociation in the community forfiveyears. “Sa ikaduha nga barangayassembly,nakaselectnasilanang

committees,naana’ynagvolunteer,ugakoangnapilingaBarangaySub-Project Management Committee(BSPMC)chairperson”(Duringthe2ndbarangayassembly,theyhavealready selected committees, and somealreadyvolunteered,andtheyelectedmeas theBarangaySub-Project Management Committeechairperson). Ginarevealsthatshewasveryhesitant at first but later realizedthatshecouldmakean impacttothe community by helping as theBSPMCchairperson.“Dilikokaydilikokabalo,dinakokaya,akosilanggipangutanangaunsamaybuhatonana” (I don’t want to because Ididn’t know how, I cannot handle

it,Iaskedthemwhatneedstobedonethere),”Ginashared. “Siguro, dako ilang pagsaligsa ako, mao nang tanan meetings samgacommitteesakonangga-apilan,maonang kabalo gyud kosa tanan buluhaton (I think, theyhavegreattrustinme,thatiswhyI attend all committee meetings, that’s how I know all that needs to bedone),”shecontinues. Gina said her husband, whoworks in the security servicesindustry, and the community understand her obligation andcommitmentasavolunteerintheprojects. Volunteers are mostly women, mothers in the community. Ginasaid that they need understanding,

loveandrespectnotonlywithinthefamilybutwithinthecommunityaswell. One of the most meaningfulprojectsthatGinaandthecommunityinvolved in is the construction ofpathways inthedifferentareasofPoblacionKauswagan. “Sa amo, pagtaas sa tubigdagat,magtaas pud ang tubig saamong lugar, taman tuhod, di na mi makaagi (In our place, whentheseawaterlevelrises,ourpathsalso fill up with up to knee-highwaterandwecan’tpassthrough),”saysGina. She also said, “Pag naa ko’y customer, di na sila kagawas diretso


kaitaasnamanangtubig,patimgabataluoy,dilimakagawassailangpanimalay paramuskwela tungodniini” (If I have a customer, theycan’t goout immediately becauseof the water, even the kids, theycan’t go out from their houses togotoschoolbecauseofthis).” With the pathways alreadyconstructed in their community, Gina also revealed that they cannowmovearoundtheircommunitywithout worrying, and that there are also similar pathways havebeen constructed in other areasincluding a pathway to the lakewhere there are also residents in thearea. A seawall project is also initsfinishingphaseinconstruction,Ginaenthusedthatthestructureisreallyhelpfultotheresidentswhoare near the shores, “pagdako sabalod, parehas adtong bagyongPablougYolanda,nangagubaangmga balay didto dapit sa dagat(whentherearebigwaves,likethatofTyphoonPabloandYolanda,theirhouses, situated near the shores werereallydestroyed),Ginasaid. “Pagconstruct sa seawall, nalipaynagyudangmgaresidentekai makatulog na kuno sila nga walaykakulba”(Whentheseawallwas constructed, the residents were reallyhappyandsaidthattheycannow sleep without worrying toomuch),”saidGina. The construction of the60.1-meter project, in May of

this year, amounted to a total cost of P1,612,332.00, whereinP1,586,431.05 is Kalahi-CIDSSfunded while adding a totalcontributionfromthebarangayandmunicipal local government unitsamountingtoP25,900.50. Thisalsopavedwayforthemenandwomen in thearea to furthercommitthemselvestovolunteeringinprojects,andactivelyengageinthecommunity. Ginaalsosaidthatallofthisisalsopossiblewiththesupportofthelocal government unit, headed bymayorRommelC.Arnado.Shesaidthat aside from the Kalahi-CIDSSprojects,womeninthecommunityalsoactivelyparticipateandengagein livelihood programs, trainingsandotherworthwhileactivities. “KungwalaangKalahi-CIDSS,basin housewives lang gyaponkamikaron,daghanmi’gnatun-anani nga programa (If there is noKalahi-CIDSS,wewouldallstillbehousewivestoday,welearnedalotfromthisprogram),”Ginasaid. Onalighternote,Ginarecallsher first speech as a BSPMCchairperson, and when she wasthrough–peoplecongratulatedherandcheeredheron. Gina manages her time welland goes by the saying “time isgold,” she said that themomentsshe always treasures are the long walks in the locale’s boardwalkwithherhusbandandspendgood,qualitytime.

Gina concludes that it isin volunteering for the Kalahi-CIDSS programs that her visionnow includes a better community

for all and how they can sustainit for everybody’s future.(Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy/PIA10)

A total of 10 private establishments in Northern Mindanao were awarded with Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS) and six companies with Child Labor-Free Certificate during the Department of Labor and Employment region 10 (DOLE 10) 82nd Anniversary held on 4 December 2015 in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

DOLE awards labor compliant, child-labor free establishments

With the theme, “82 Taonng Mahusay na Serbisyo saManggagawang Pilipino,” thecelebrationwasattendedwithmorethan200participantsincludingthe

members and employees of theRegional Coordinating Council-10(RCC-10),attachedagenciesoftheDepartment like, National LaborRelationsCommission(NLRC)8th


Division,NLRCRegionalArbitrationBranch, National Conciliation andMediationBoard(NCMB),TechnicalEducation Skills DevelopmentAuthority (TESDA), Office ofWorkers Welfare Assoociation(OWWA), Philippine OverseasEmployment Association (POEA),ProfessionalRegulationCommission(PRC), Occupational Safety andHealthCenter(OSHC),Employees’Compensation Commission (ECC),Regional Tripartite Wages andProductivity Board (RTWPB), andthe Public Employment ServiceOffice(PESO)LeagueofRegion10. TCCLS, the first level sealof good housekeeping under theIncentivizing Compliance Program(ICP)oftheLaborLawComplianceSystem,aimstopromotevoluntarycompliancewiththelaborstandards.ThisisissuedbytheDOLERegionalOffice in coordination with theBureau of Working Conditions(BWC). The incentives includedentitlement of the Secretary’sAward, and the Tripartite Seal ofExcellence(TSE),priorityaccesstotechnical assistance and servicesofDOLEanditsattachedagencies,and use TCCLS in promotionalactivitiesandadvertisementof itsproducts/services. DOLE-10 Regional DirectorRaymundo G. Agravante wasvery pleased with the recipient-companiesthatvoluntarilycompliedwith the labor standards. “I urge

the companies to continue andstrengthen their status as labor-lawscompliant,”Agravanteadded. “We are happy to inform theawardees with the certificatesthey have just received that theyare qualified to be nominated forthe Secretary’s Award and the Tripartite Seal of Excellence, andontopoftheserecognitions,weattheDOLE-10aremorethanwillingto give priority access on ourtechnicalassistanceandservices,”Agravantefurthersaid. The 2015 TCCLS awardeeswere:(1)RepublicBiscuitCorp.ofDamilag,ManoloFortich,Bukidnon;(2)Multi-RichCorp.ofDamilag;(3)JBCFoodCorporationofDamilag;(4) FG Power Plant Corp. ofDamilag;(5)DolePhilippines,Inc.(NorthSkylandZoneofMalaybalayCity, Bukidnon; (6) IntegratedLivestock and Poultry Raiser’sCooperativeofTablon,thiscity;(7)Granexport Manufacturing Corp.ofKiwalan,IliganCity;(8)PetronCorp. – Iligan Depot of Cabili,IliganCity;(9)LorenzoTanMulti-Purpose Cooperative of LorenzoTan, Tangub City; and (10) RTMSales & Consumer Group, Inc. ofOzamizCity. Engr.MarkGerardJ.Rosales,depot superintendent of PetronCorp., expressed his gratitude toDOLE-X, “This award will surelyboost the image of our company,therebyincreasingtheproductivityofourpeopleandatthesametime


morecustomerswillpatronizeourproducts.” Likewise, companiesthat issued policy prohibitingemployment of child laborerswere awarded Child Labor-Freecertificates,namely:(1)NPC-Agus7HydroelectricPlant;(2)NPC-Agus6HydroelectricPlant;(3)FilipinasEslonMFG,Corp.;(4)RisaTradersMarketingCorp;(5)PaglaumMulti-Purpose Cooperative; and (6)MedinaGeneralHospital. “We are very pleased beingdeclared by DOLE-10 as a ChildLabor-Freeestablishment,”GerardoClet, union president of FilipinasEslonMFG.Corp,said. Child Labor-Freeestablishments comply with thechild labor laws and regulationson minimum employable age,

minimumhoursofwork,prohibitionagainstworstformsofchild labor,andhazardousworkandactivitiesforpersonsbelow18yearsofage. On the other hand, with the celebration of the Department onits 82ndAnniversary of continuedquality service to all the privateworkersintheRegionon8December2015, DOLE-X also culminated itsRCC Sportsfest which started lastSeptember, this year. Membersof the RCC-X played among eachother sports like basketball,volleyball,badminton,tabletennis,anddart every Fridayat 3:00PMatMarcoHotel Sports Arena, thiscity. Director Agravante, beingthe RCC-X Chairperson, awardedthe trophies to all the winners.TESDA-Xwasdeclaredastheover-allchampionofthesportsfest.

The institutionalization of Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers will direct more focus to the job and certainly result to more efficient delivery of services in the (PESO).

Amended PESO law to result more efficient services – PESO managers

This was stated in the discussion of the latest amendemnet to thePESO law on 27 October 2015during the 2015 Provincial PESOYear-EndPerformanceAssessment(YEPA)oftheDepartmentofLaborand Employment Regional Office

No.10(DOLE-10)on10November2015 at the Mayor’s ConferenceRoom,CityHall,OzamizCity. In the past years, attemptshave been made to amend thePESOActof1999yetfailedtogetapproved.However,on27October


2015,PresidentBenignoS.AquinoIII signed into law the Amendments to the PESO Act during the 15th NationalPESOCongressheldatthePhilippineInternationalConventionCenter(PICC)inPasayCity. UndertheamendedPESOlaw,positions for PESO Managers willnow be operated and maintainedby the LGUs in all capital townsofprovinces,keycities,andotherstrategic areas throughout the country. Consequently, the news has brought hope tomany; especiallythat under the amended PESO law, positions for PESO Managers willnow be operated and maintainedby the LGUs in all capital towns

ofprovinces,keycities,andotherstrategic areas throughout the country. As for PESO ManagerDesignate Maria Corazon EscallarinthemunicipalityofCalamba,theapprovedamendmentisabigleaptoherandmanyothers. Accordingtoher,mostofthePESOmanagersintheprovincearejust designates who also performotherfunctions.Inadditiontoherdesignation in the PESO, she also assumesthepositionasatourismofficer. “We are very happy that theAquino administration has givenimportance to the role of PESOmanagers. In my seven years of


service,thePESOhasalwaysbeenthe DOLE’s partner and frontlineinstitution in job facilitation andprogramimplementation,”shesaid. Theeventwashostedby thePESO of Ozamiz City headed byPESO Manager Judith R. Halasanwithsomeofits12managersjoiningthe assembly from the academesandlocalgovernmentunits(LGUs). OnbehalfofDOLE-XRegionalDirector Raymundo G. Agravante,MisOcc PFO Head Leonardo G.Rodrigo,welcomedtheattendanceof the PESO Managers whohave continually supportedthe Department’s employmentfacilitationprograms. The PESO was establishedpursuant to Republic Act 8759 orPESOActof1999.Itaimstoprovidemulti-dimensional employmentservices to the DOLE clients andconstituentsalloverthecountry.Also gracing the event with herpresence was Ozamiz City ViceMayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez. “My many thanks to DOLE-Xand Regional Director RaymundoAgravante.ImustsaythatOzamizCityhasbeenveryfortunate.Yourlivelihood assistance programshave improved the lives of manyof our people, without question,”vicemayorParojinog-Echavezsaidduringtheopeningceremonies. Rodrigo reported that as ofthis year-end, 13 PESOManagersareactivethroughouttheprovince,

comprisingofninePESO-LGUandfourPESO-Academe. While the conferencewas spent in discussing andpresenting thePESO’s remarkableachievements in 2015, concernsregarding the delivery of servicesandimplementationofprojectsandprogramswereraisedaswell. Issues pointed out includedfast-tracking the distribution ofAuthority to Debit Account (ADA)listing to Provincial Field Offices(PFOs), revising the paymentschemeguidelines in theSpecialProgram for the Employmentof Students (SPES) for speedyprocessing and including LaborMarket Information (LMI) inadvocacyseminarssuchascareercoachingactivities. Inastatement,RodrigolaudedthePESOManagersforhelpingtheDOLE in achieving its objectives,“On behalf of the DOLE-X andour Regional Director RaymundoAgravante, I would like to thankeveryone for your support andcooperation in the completion ofthedeliverablesinconnectionwiththelivelihoodprograms,SPES,jobfair,andnumerousothers. Ihopethat you will, if not surpass thisyear’saccomplishments,putinthesameamountofhardwork in theyear2016.”(LeiGarrettI.Miraflor/DOLE-XMisOccPFO)

Documents

One Mindanao - December 17, 2015