One Mindanao - January 2, 2012

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Blitz

Northern Mindanao

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

2/F 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]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN)

Provincial Capitol Compound 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)

Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

Cover Story

Rebokon’s BFT offers

affordable and quality food

products

Executive Editor ……......... EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor ……......... ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors ……....... NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors …... Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editors ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

Gideon C. CorgueWestern Mindanao page 4

Today’s issue...Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 141

Western MindanaoDTI issues advisory to PCAB license holders and new applicant

Western Mindanao

Teachers, guidance counselors, students, get orientation on ‘‘Drop-Out-Reduction Program’’

RG Alama, Southern MindanaoFloods test Comval’s emergency response unit

39 qualify for nursing jobs in Saudi Arabia Olivia Sudaria, Central Mindanao

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

9

23

16

21

2224

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga RegionPNP-Caraga records zero indiscriminate firing incident 28

32nd World Universities Debating Championships kicks off today12

Gardener’s Club ng Lungsod ng Koronadal lumalagoAc Agad, Central Mindanao

14

25

Cabahug-Aguhob , Northern MindanaoNortheast monsoon to affect Mindanao and Visayas - PAGASA 19

Northern MindanaoBoil water before drinking ‘ Sendong’ victims told 20

President Aquino will continue to focus on programs to uplift lives, improve economy in 2012 11

FEAbkilan, Caraga Region

SMWD opposes miners’ group petition to declare portion of Parang-parang watershed into ‘Minahan ng Bayan’ 29

18

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4 Monday, January 2, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Rebokon’s BFT offers affordable and quality food products

Cover Story

Farmers and fisherfolks need not worry where to bring their products plus the added assurance of fair market price for their harvest because of the opening of the

Rebokon Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

by Gideon C. Corgue

5 Monday, January 2, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

Rebokon’s BFT offers affordable and quality food products

DA/PAO Assistance The BFT is a barangay-based food depot which offers safe, af-fordable and quality food products to better serve the needs of the local folks. With the assistance of the De-partment of Agriculture (DA-9) and the provincial agriculturist office (PAO), a barangay food terminal (BFT) was established in Rebokon, a coastal barangay of Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, endowed with abundant natural resources, pic-turesque sceneries and rich fishing grounds.

Access to local market Barangay chairman Patrocin-io M. Ancajas said during his first term of office and upon consul-tation with members of the ba-rangay council, he took the lead of improving the BFT which was constructed by the previous ad-ministration, to respond to the demands of the farmers and fish-erfolks because they lack access

to alternative market for direct selling of their produce. “Ang mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda gikan sa mga kasil-inganang dapit sama sa barangay San Agustin ug Tubo-pait mo-gasto ug dako sa ilang pamasahe pagbaligya sa ilang mga presko nga abot gikan sa uma padulong sa Pagadian City busa kami na-kahunahuna nga ipalambo ang BFT (The farmers and fisherfolks from the neighboring barangays of San Agustin and Tubo-pait used to spend more for transport costs in delivering their fresh farm pro-duce to Pagadian City thus, we de-cided to improve the BFT),” Aran-cajas reported.

“Gawad Saka 2011” National Awardee With the continuous monitor-ing and assistance of DA person-nel and the active support of May-or Ace William E. Cerilles on the


project, Ancajas said the coun-cil believed that the BFT has im-proved its services to the clientele, enough to catch the judges’ atten-tion thereby making them win in the Search for ‘Gawad Saka’ 2011 as an Outstanding Barangay Food Terminal. Ancajas was one of the 22 winners who received cash awards and agri-fishery project grant rang-

ing from P150,000 to 350,000, as well as a Presidential citation and Gawad Saka trophy. No less than President Beni-gno S. Aquino III led this year’s “Gawad Saka” awarding ceremo-nies and honored the country’s outstanding farmers and fisher-folks at the Rizal Hall, Malacanang Palace on December 13, 2011.Ancajas received the award to-gether with Mayor Ace William Cerilles.

Affordable and quality food products for the marginalized sec-tor With the establishment of the BFT, Ancajas said quality food products such as fresh meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables at afford-able prices were made available to the public specially the marginal-ized sector of our society.


“Kada semana mamaligya ta ug karneng baboy, mga utanon, isda ug uban pa aron nga ang mga ka-bataan nga nag-eskwela sa Day Care Center makakaon sa masustansya nga mga pagkaon (Every week, we will sell meat vegetables, fish, and other food items in order that the children at Day Care Center can eat healthy foods),” Ancajas said. Anchored on BFT’s objectives to create employment opportuni-ties through its livelihood com-ponents, it has employed two (2) sales ladies to assist customers in buying goods. “Naka-hire ang BFT ug duha ka mga tindera aron nga makata-bang pagbaligya. Sila makadawat ug 10% gikan sa halin sa pagpan-inda ug kini makatabang usab pag-dugang sa ilang abot. ( The BFT was able to hire two sales ladies to assist in selling goods. They receive 10% of sales and it helps augment their family income),” Ancajas explained.

Scholarship to poor but deserving students The BFT also sponsored a scholarship program to poor but deserving students in Rebokon National High School to help them finish their studies. “Nag-sponsor usab kami ug scholarship sa duha ka anak sa kabus nga among katagi-lung-sod tungod kay buot namo nga


makatabang kanila aron nga maka-hupot sila sa tukma nga edukasyon ug maayo nga trabaho. Ang duha ka scholars anaa karon nagtungha sa Rebokon Agricultural and Voca-tional High School (We have also sponsored two scholars from our place, poor but deserving stu-dents who are enrolled at RAVHS because we want them to acquire proper education and a good job),” Ancajas said. With the prizes that the BFT has received, they are planning to put up a “buy and sell business”. “Sa premyo nga among nada-wat, nagplano kami nga mohimo ug “buy and sell” business. Among paliton ang mga produkto sa uma ug pangisda sa mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda aron nga dili sila mo-

gasto ug dako sa transportasyon ug aron ang mga paninda mapa-himuslan sa among mga mulupyo ug silingan (With the prize that we received, we are planning to put up a buy-and-sell business. We will buy the farm and fishery products of our farmers and fisherfolks for them not to spend much on trans-portation and to make the goods available and accessible to our local residents and neigbors),” he said. Ancajas expressed his grate-fulness to Mayor Cerilles for the active support he extended to the BFT saying that without the chief executive’s support, they would not have achieved the honor of be-ing a “Gawad Saka” 2011 national awardee.


Malacañang ask Filipinos in Syria to heed the call for mandatory repatriation

Malacañang reiterated its appeal to over 4,000 Filipinos who are still in Syria to heed the government’s call for mandatory repatriation in the wake of the reported escalating violence there, a Palace official said.

10 Monday, January 2, 2012

During the regular press briefing in Mala-canang on Monday, Presidential Spokes-person Edwin Lacier-da issued the appeal following reports that many Filipinos still re-fused to leave Syria. The Philippine Em-bassy in Damascus re-ported that the capital remains on high alert following the back-to-back car bombings there on December 23, according to the Department of Foreign

Afffairs (DFA). “ W e w o u l d like ask the Fili-pinos in S y r i a - wheth-er they a r e d o c u -mented

or undocumented to heed the appeal of the Philippine govern-ment. The DFA Secre-tery Albert F. del Rosa-rio is there right now and we would like to ask them to cooperate for their own safety. We want to make sure that all Filipinos be ac-counted for,” Lacierda said. Lacierda said Foreign Affairs Secre-tary Albert F. del Ro-

sario flew to Syria to lead Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials to convince the Filipinos to have themselves repatri-ated to Manila at gov-ernment’s expense. “It shows that this government is se-rious in making sure the safety of all Filipi-nos. All these are par-amount in our agenda with respect to OFWs (Overseas Filipinos Workers) in Syria,” Lacierda said. The Philippines has so far repatriated 434 Filipinos back to Manila since the start of the political crisis in Syria in March. Of this number, 349 were repatriated after the Philippine government called for their vol-untary repatriation in August. (JS)


During his first media briefing for the New Year 2012 in Malacanang, Mon-day, Presidential Spokes-person Edwin Lacierda re-assured the President’s commitment to the people as previously stated in his yearend message issued last week. “The President is con-tinuously focusing on im-proving the economy as he has stated in his yearend message, we will improve the economy, we will contin-ue to provide service to the

poor, our advocacy against graft and corruption will still continue,” Lacierda said. On concerns that the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will affect the Chief Executive’s focus in the performance of his job, Lacierda assured that such Constitutional procedure will not, in any way, impinge on President Aquino’s efforts to serve the country and the people. “Primarily the im-peachment has now been

diverted to the Senate… and the Senate will be the main focus of the impeachment trial,” Lacierda said. “The impeachment (proceedings) will not be a distraction for the Presi-dent… not at all,” he added. On December 12, 2011, a total of 188 members of the House of Representa-tives signed the impeach-ment complaint against Chief Justice Corona, which was later transmitted to the Philippine Senate. (JCL)

Malacañang assured the Filipino people that

President Benigno S. Aquino III will continue to focus on programs that will not only uplift their lives but also further improve the country’s economy, stressing the government’s unwavering efforts to curb graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.

President Aquino will continue to focus on programs to uplift lives, improve economy in 2012


32nd World Universities Debating Championships kicks off today

The 32nd World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) will commence today and will be held until January 4, 2012. Around 1,400 participants from 43 countries will converge in Manila to compete in this prestigious event dubbed as the “Olympics of

Debate.”

This was an-nounced by Gabriel Pavico, DLSU Proj-ect Coordinator for

the 32nd World Uni-versities Debating Championship, dur-ing today’s episode

of “Talking Points.” Pavico said the brightest students


from 224 universi-ties will undergo nine elimination rounds. From the 400 reg-istered teams, only the top 32 teams will qualify for the octo-finals round. There will be separate cat-egories for Public Speaking, English as a Second Language, and English as a For-eign Language. Pav-ico added that the competition will be adapting the British Parliamentary for-mat. The 66 judges coming from various

colleges and univer-sities are headed by Cambridge alumnus debater Sam Block and DLSU alumna Lucinda Teresa Da-vid. The De La Salle University (DLSU), the host for the said competition, will treat the partici-pants to nine nights of various social events which will in-clude a Filipino Night to be hosted by the Department of Tour-ism (DOT). Moreover, the participants will also

be given the oppor-tunity to attend day-tours around Metro Manila and other tourist spots in the country. Pavico said the organizing commit-tee have coordinat-ed with various gov-ernment agencies like the Philippine National Security (PNP) to ensure the safety of the foreign delegates. The World Universities De-bate Championship (WUDC) is an an-nual gathering of the world’s best de-baters and public speakers.“Talking Points” was aired over People’s Television (PTV-4) and Radyo ng Bayan nationwide.


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‘KALAHI’ embodies P-Noy’s ‘Kayo ang Boss’ ideal- AdvocateA former

mayor and a staunch

advocate of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) said that community-driven development is the perfect strategy to encompass the administration’s “Kayo ang Boss” ideal in governance. His primary reason for saying is that KC has been proven to work since its start in 2003.


“From the start, P.Noy has stressed that the people are the boss-es. In my personal expe-rience, KC has demon-strated that this strategy works, especially in the poorest towns (even when people have very limited access to formal education),” said KA-LAHI CIDSS advocate and former Mulanay, Quezon mayor Pruden-cio Maxino. “People only have to see what the people, through KC has accomplished for them to agree.” Mr. Maxino was an invited guest during a KALAHI communica-tions planning workshop held in Tagaytay City early this December. During the planning, he stressed that informa-tion about KC is not suf-ficiently mainstreamed. “The irony is that it is a very good and ef-fective program, but not many people know it ex-ists,” he said. He suggested that if government was seri-ous about its stance of making ordinary Filipi-nos really its boss, then KC should aggressively be disseminated – “it is good news, that is enough reason for KC to be publicized,” said Mr. Maxino.

Since 2003, KC, implemented through the Department of So-cial Welfare and Devel-opment, has enabled thousands of commu-nity volunteers (many of whom did not even finish school) to iden-tify, implement, realize and keep development projects such as water systems, roads, school buildings, health sta-tions, and more. The most distinct feature is that the communities themselves decide which projects to prioritize with the limited govern-ment funds (through a highly democratic “elec-tion” of sub-projects), and subsequently, they themselves implement it. The role of govern-ment officials are to become co-facilitators of development – the people are the primary actors since they know what it is that is best for them. Because of the presence of thousands of these “people’s proj-ects” (KALAHI sub-proj-ects), communities have reaped numerous ben-efits that help pull them out of dire poverty. For example, because of wa-ter systems, children do not have to miss school to fetch water from an

unsafe source kilome-tres away. A community sub-project that enables the production of organic fertilizer eases the bur-den of tenant-farmers in an agricultural com-munity such as that in Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte. Purchasing ex-pensive fertilizer from the Poblacion or even further away and spend-ing money for transpor-tation is a thing of the past. The farmers can use the money to in-crease crop production, among others. However, Mr. Maxi-no said that the KALAHI framework might startle some politicians since it implies that the money is managed by ordinary citizens, and not by gov-ernment officials. “I felt the same way before. But I gave it a try. Now, volunteers have become as ac-tive as government of-ficials. The best thing about it is that the or-dinary people share a sense of accountability with the local officials. If the project is a success, and it’s almost always is, everyone shares the glory,” he said. (JPA/DIS/DSWD 9 / PIA –ZBST)


DTI issues advisory to PCAB license holders and new applicant PAGADIAN CITY - The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), is now requiring all PCAB license holders and new applicants to provide their electronic mail address (email ad) and current office/business address in all their applications submitted to the same. Applications with no email address will not be entertained and applications sent to previous business address will not be replaced and the contractor shall bear whatever maybe the consequence of the non-delivery of any communications from the Board.

Ms. Ma. Socorro M. Atay, DTI Provincial Director said in case of change of electronic mail address and of-fice/business address, the licensee should im-

mediately inform PCAB, not later than fifteen (15) days after the change of address. In addition, PCAB is extending the dead-line of the filing of appli-

cation for license under the amnesty program for unlicensed contrac-tors from December 31, 2011 to January 31, 2012. (DTI-MEJ/PIA9/ALT)

Teachers, guidance counselors, students, get orientation on ‘‘ Drop-Out-Reduction Program’’ZAMBOANGA CITY - Curriculum chairmen, curriculum guidance counselors, 30 newly hired teacher and a crowd of students of a public school get an orientation /seminar on “Drop-Out-Reduction Program (DORP) and Entrepreneurship,” a program in consonance with the “Education for All” (EFA) agenda of the national government.


DTI issues advisory to PCAB license holders and new applicant

The Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School (DPLMHS) con-ducted a whole day ori-entation on DORP to give participants a clear and wider knowledge on its content. DPLMHS Guidance Counselor Roserene Ca-banero said “the DORP is one of the programs that will help the EFA ra-tionale which makes the school system as a ma-jor source of continued education.”Cabanero said a high percentage of children who are not in school are most likely to eventually join the ranks of adult il-literates. Cabanero said the DORP orientation is es-sential as the “skills to implement the program and resolved commit-ment to reach out all

fullcroom.com

types of mar-ginalized and d i s a d v a n -taged chil-dren is con-tributory to the process of creating a child-friend-ly school.” T h e DORP is the Department of Educa-

tion’s (DepEd) program formulated to respond to the needs of students who cannot report to class regularly because they are working either as part time of full time or for any other reason. DepEd Press state-ment reads “There are about five to six million Filipinos of school age who are out of school. Many are willing to finish high school but are con-strained by family, indi-vidual, community and school concerns. Rightly so, the DORP focuses on these four risk factors that lead to the dropout problem. The press state-ment said The DORP has three major components namely the Effective Al-ternative Secondary Education or EASE, the Open High School or Dis-

tance Education Program (OHSP) and the School Initiated Interventions (SII). The same press statement explains; DORP was designed to address the problems faced by students which prevent them from com-pleting their elementary and high school educa-tion. The students have a choice among the three modes in continu-ing their schooling. One mode is the modular system where teachers use learning modules which the stu-dent can bring home for their self study. The con-tent of the modules are similar to the textbooks used by regular stu-dents. The statement fur-ther explains: The EASE plan is applied to short-term and seasonal “stu-dent at risk of dropping out (SARDO) while the OHSP is recommended for SARDOs who per-manently cannot attend regular classes. The SII is utilized based on the felt needs of the SARDO and to the existing available school resources. (JPA/PIA-ZBST)


Evacuation centers in CdeO, Iligan down to 30 as IDPs start to go home by Charmaine P. Tadlas

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that only 30 more evacuation centers remain open in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities as displaced families who still

have safe homes to go back to started returning home.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman said that more families staying in schools in Cagayan de Oro are expected to be transferred to shelter boxes and tents temporarily set up in relocations sites within the week. The installation of the 408 tents donated by the United Kingdom that

can house 816 families is ongoing in coordination with the Rotary International. One tent has ventilation and can withstand 120 kilometer per hour wind velocity. “We have sought the help of the Department of Health (DOH) in the provision of latrines and other basic facilities, to be built thru food-for-


work, in the temporary relocation sites. As soon as these are built we shall begin transferring evacuees. We hope to start moving them by January 3,” Secretary Soliman said. Moreover, DSWD, through the 502nd Engineering Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

(AFP), shall build bunk houses for 120 families in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), meanwhile, has committed to build bunk houses for 230 families within the same site. (DSWD)

Northeast monsoon to affect Mindanao and Visayas - PAGASAby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, brought about by the Northeast monsoon.

As such, Mindanao will experience becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern and Southern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The same weather condition will be the experienced in Visayas while Eastern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with rains and the rest of the country, from partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies with light rains. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be moderate to occasionally strong coming from the Northereast to North with moderate to occasionally rough seas. This forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) was issued after another low

pressure area (LPA) was estimated at 100 km. East of Southern Mindanao, at 2:00 a.m., today. Thus, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), region 10, has called on all the local DRRMC’s to alert the people in the coastal areas and other low-lying places against possible rise in coastal waters, Regional Director Ana Caňeda of the Office of Civil Defense


(OCD), region 10, said. Again, fishing boats and other small sea crafts in the region are advised to take precautionary measures before going out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves, Caňeda, who is also the Chairperson RDRRMC-

10, said. Likewise, people and the local DRRMC’s are reminded to take appropriate pro-active actions to aim for “zero” casualty focused on evacuation, rather than rescue, Caňeda added.

Boil water before drinking ‘ Sendong’ victims toldOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – Please boil the water before drinking!

This advice came from the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) to everyone who will be using the water they provide under the Oplan Sendong Water Delivery (OSWD) Project. Through the OSWD, water tankers of various government/non-government organizations (GO/NGO’s), delivers water to the different flashflood-affected areas of Cagayan de Oro City, daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, from Dec. 20, 2011 to Jan. 20, 2012. The GO/NGO and the areas covered by the deliveries are as follows: Tanker 1, from the Valencia City Water District (VCWD) for Upper and Lower Balulang, Upper Carmen, Zayas, Basurahan, all subdivisions in Upper Carmen to Canitoan, Canitoan and Pagatpat. Tanker 2 from Negros Navigation for Bulua Barangay Hall, Zone 8, Bulua along Westbound Bus Terminal, road going to seashore of Barra, Barra, Igpit, Iponan, all subdivisions situated in Iponan and Opol Poblacion. Tanker 3 from Ariel Tan for all

of Camaman-an along the main road, Ayesa Subdivision, Pinikitan, Camp Alaar and Agora Tabacco. Tanker 4 from COWD 312 for Cagayan de Oro City Poblacion, along Burgos, Capistrano, Velez and Corrales Streets and Barangay Consolacion. Tanker 5 from the Pagadian City Water District for Tambo, Biasong, Tibasak, Macasandig, Nazareth and Youngsville Pumping Station in Igpit. Tanker 6 from the COWD 322 for the Somo, St.Peter and Bollozos Funeral Homes and Barangays Bonbon and Kauswagan. Tanker 7 from COWD LMF 195 for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Licoan, Puntod and Macabalan.Tanker 8 from Asia Brewery for Camp Evangelista, 6th Division, Buenavista Village and Apolinar Velez Subdivisions, all in Barangay Patag.Red Cross Tanker for the West City Central School and City Central School.(Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob)


Davao City’s food for work program lessens floods, dengue casesby Carina Cayon

The decline of flood incidence and dengue cases in the city

was part of the impact of the local government’s food for work pro-gram in 2011. City Mayor’s Office consul-tant on special concerns Danilo Dayanghirang reported that the pro-gram’s intensive clean-up drive in the communities has removed tons of wastes from canals and coastal areas. Dayanghirang said that since May last year the food for work pro-

gram salvaged 800 tons of debris in coastal areas and 2,186 cubic me-ters of wastes in canals. “The program has created a lot of outputs,” the former city council-or said citing the reduction of flood and dengue incidence. He estimated that dengue prev-alence has dropped by seven out of ten cases. In rainy days, the flood-waters would immediately subside, he added. The city LGU has intensified its clean-up campaign in the commu-nities especially in the urban areas through the food for work program to address flooding concern in 55 barangays of the city. Dayanghirang said volunteers who engaged in the clean-up activi-ties were each provided food pack worth P150 in exchange for their la-bor. He attributed the successful outcome of the program to the co-operation of the barangays which he said have been empowered with


political will to be efficient in im-plementing the food for work pro-gram. Dayanghirang was optimistic that the program would continue in 2012 as the office of the city mayor has considered allocating funding for the said project. As a possible undertaking this year, he recommended for a de-centralized implementation of the program in the barangays for com-munities to take full responsibility in cleaning up their respective envi-ronment. He suggested for the realization of a “Harap ko, Linis ko” program. He added that volunteers could be reshuffled and designated to other

areas. Dayanghirang stated that baran-gay endeavors were also strength-ened by the City Ordinance on waste segregation which the official said needed strict enforcement to bring positive effects on the environment. He disclosed that part of the pro-visions in the waste segregation pro-gram is the prohibition of the use of plastics in the city to be implemented three years after the program’s en-forcement which will by end of this year. “Plastics will not anymore be used in Davao City by that time,” Dayanghirang stated.

Floods test Comval’s emergencyresponse unitNABUNTURAN- The spate of flood-ings which hit the Compostela Val-ley Province area has tested the capabilities of its newly-formed emergency response team. The Emergency Response Team which just completed its WASAR or Water Search and Res-cue Training were deployed in the December 16 floodings in the mu-nicipality of Compostela. Using the provincial govern-ment’s rescue boats the team res-cued about 100 families during flashfloods that inundated Purok 13 Centennial in Compostela town. Also last December 27, the

team rescued 33 families also in another flood that struck Com-postela Town. Another 40 families were also rescued in Montevista. The ERT was formed by Gov-ernor Arturo T. Uy as a quick re-sponse mechanism during disas-ters and calamities particularly flashfloods and landslides which regularly occur in the province. The team is composed of se-lected emplpoyeers of the provin-cial capitol and are trained in Medi-cal First Responder (MFR), WASAR and Mountain Search and Rescue. (PIA RG Alama/IDS Comval Gilbert Cabahug)


But before opening this natural treasure -- Siok Extreme River Trekking Adventure site -- to the public, it wants to make sure the area is protected and sustained.

Augustus Bretana, city environment and natural resources offi-cer, said they are now considering establish-ing a comprehensive development plan for the river trekking site.

He said before the site is opened to

Koronadal LGU pushes promotion of river trekking siteby Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- Koronadal City’s local government unit is set-ting its eyes on turning what it calls a “hidden treasure” into a ma-jor tourist destination.


nature enthusiasts, adventure tourist and curious public, con-crete plan for its devel-opment and protection as well as regulations should have been put in place.

Social, environmen-tal, peace and order as well as rehabilitation concerns should also be made clear.

Other basic informa-tion that should be in-corporated in the plan, Bretana said, include delineation of land

uses, local protected area, spring resources rehabilitation and pro-tection, and inventory of the flora and fauna in the place.

The river trekking adventure site is situ-ated in Sitio Siok, Ba-rangay Mabini, less than ten kilometers from the city center.

It features a water-fall and several wa-ter cascades against a backdrop of verdant cover. The river’s crys-tal clear water come

from several natural springs.

The location also of-fers several sites for camping.

It was formally intro-duced to mountaineer-ing and river trekking enthusiasts during the Hinugyaw Festival last year.

Those who have ex-perienced the trek de-scribed it as compa-rable to major river trekking sites in other parts of the country.

39 qualify for nursing jobs in Saudi Arabiaby Olivia SudariaCOTABATO CITY -- The office Philippine Overseas Employment Administra-tion (POEA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) based in this city has disclosed that 39 applicants as nurses to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have passed the examination given by a POEA accredited man-power agency.

POEA-ARMM man-power registry officer Abas Paquittal said approximately 200 applied but many did not meet the mini-mum requirement of three-year experi-ence in tertiary hos-pitals. Most of the applicants, according to Paquittal, were on

the job trainees, vol-unteers and workers in the rural health units.

According to Paquital, on the sec-ond week of Janu-ary, next year, the 39 nurse-applicants will undergo final inter-view and medical ex-amination by a team

from the King Fahad Specialist Hospital at Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The nursing appli-cants will be hired by the said hospital for its adult oncology, pediatric oncology, intensive care unit and operating room departments.


Gardener’s Club ng Lungsod ng Koronadal lumalagoKORONADAL CITY – Nagiging maayos na ang takbo ng programang Gar-dener’s Club na ipinatupad ng pamahalaang panglungsod ng Koronadal base sa konseptong pagtatanim ng mga gulay sa bakuran na isinulong ni Mayor Peter B. Miguel.

Ang nasabing progra-ma na pinangasiwaan ng City Nutrition ay umani ng suporta at magan-dang reaksiyon mula sa mga residente at ilang mga opisyal ng Depart-ment of Agriculture dahil sa kahalagahan ng mga produktong gulay na mula mismo sa mga ba-kuran ng mga residente.

Ayon kay Mayor Miguel, kanyang ipinag-utos ang pagtatag ng Gar-dener’s Club, dahil isa itong mabuting pamamaraan na makamit ng lung-sod ang sapat na dami ng mga gu-lay na kailangan sa nutrisyon lalo na ng mga kabataang mag-aaral.

Layon din uma-no ng nasabing pro-grama ang mabig-yan ng solusyon

ang probema sa malnu-trisyon lalo na ng mga pre-schoolers.

Ang programa ay lalo pang pinalakas ng mag-palabas ang punong ehekutibo ng lokal na pamahalaan ng execu-tive order para sa 27 na mga punong barangay ng Lungsod para supor-tahan ito sa pamamagi-tan ng pagtatalaga ng

limang matataas na opi-syal ng bawat barangay na mangunguna sa Gar-dener’s Club ng lungsod.

Ang Koronadal City Gardener’s Club ay tu-manggap din ng isang kumpletong set ng gar-dening tools at pinakbet seeds mula kay DA sec-retary Proceso Alcala. (Ac Agad )


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New Year celebration in Caraga Region generally peaceful, PNP saysby PSupt. Martin M. Gamba

The New Year celebration in Caraga Region is generally peaceful as Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 has recorded only two minor incidents, resulting to injuries to victims of firecrackers during the New Year’s eve celebration in the region.

Joseph Dela Cerna, 46 years old from Bayu-

gan City, Agusan del Sur and a 15 year-old fe-

male from Tandag City, Surigao del Sur incurred


minor injuries on the right hand and on the right finger, respectively due to firecrackers. They were discharged from the hospital right af-ter undergoing medical treatment. Meanwhile, the Office recorded zero incidents on stray bullet and indiscriminate fir-ing. PNP-Caraga Re-gional Director PCSupt Reynaldo Rafal said this could be attributed to the massive information drive and campaign ini-tiated by the different government agencies on the need to regulate or avoid the use of fire-crackers and other pyro-technic devices. CSupt Rafal added that the creation of or-

dinances regarding Fire-crackers Display Area and the Firecrackers Zone by Local Govern-ment Units also contrib-uted to the desired end result. “In fact, police au-thorities, in its enforce-ment effort, confiscated assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in violation of Republic Act 7183 and specific lo-cal law (SP Resolution 769-99) amounting to P9,500,” Rafal said. Also, playing an important role in the de-crease of incidents in-volving indiscriminate firing is the simultaneous sealing and marking of firearm muzzles of PNP personnel of PRO 13 on December 27, 2011, personally supervised by

PCSupt Rafal, to ensure that no member will at-tempt to use his or her issued firearm as part of merry-making during New Year revelry. On this note, Gen. Rafal is thankful to all those who did their part in making Caraga peaceful during the celebration of New Year, especially the Local Government Units (LGU), the Religious Sectors, the Business Sectors, the Non-Gov-ernment Organizations, the Community and the Tri-Media. He said their col-lective and individual efforts immensely con-tributed to lessen the in-cidents and injuries, as compared in 2011 New Year celebration. Moreover, Dir. Rafal is commending the entire police force in the region for a job well done, put-ting aside personal con-venience and comfort in exchange for a peace-ful, safe and injury-free New Year celebration. (PRO-13)


PNP-Caraga records zero indiscriminate firing incident

PSSupt David Ombao, PNP-Caraga Directorial Staff and Chief of the Regional In-telligence Division confirmed this during the ceremonial re-moval of sealed gun muzzles of the PNP personnel held this morning at Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad this city. Supt. Ombao said all police stations in the region reported that no police offi-cer has fired his or her issued firearms during New Year’s eve celebration.

This, according to Ombao is an indication that PNP’s campaign towards a peaceful celebration of New Year is successful and police officers region-wide adhered to the directives of PNP top officials. Ombao also said the entire police force is grateful because as of today, only two firecracker-related incidents were recorded and said vic-tims have only incurred mi-nor injuries.

The official said the low incident rate due to fire-crackers is the result of the massive campaigns of con-cerned government agencies like the PNP and Department of Health (DOH). With this development, Ombao lauded the joint ef-forts of the public and pri-vate stakeholders to make the New Year’s celebration in Caraga Region more peaceful and injury-free.

BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga Regional Office today assured the public that no policeman in the region have fired his or her firearms during the celebration of New Year’s eve.

by Robert E. Roperos


PNP-Caraga records zero indiscriminate firing incident

SMWD opposes miners’ group petition to declare portion of Parang-parang watershed into ‘Minahan ng Bayan’

In a board resolution dated December 16, 2011, the SMWD, which operates and manages the water sys-tem and is tasked to pro-vide efficient, reliable, safe and potable water supply to the entire city, vehemently opposes the petition which was filed by NAGAMI and was published in the local newspaper on December 5-11 for the reason that the proposed tunnel mining and the Parang-parang Water-shed is so close and could easily be encroached by tun-neling the area within the watershed boundary which contains high grade ore as evidenced in the previous il-legal mining activities.

The Parang-parang Watershed, the main source of water supply of the city, has been declared a pro-tected area by virtue of President Proclamation No. 635 signed in August 29, 1990 by former President Corazon C. Aquino. The resolution also stated that “the remaining forest cover of the water-shed is endangered as cut-ting of trees to be used as timber support for tunnel mining, bunkhouses and other needs using wooden materials continues and could not be abated.” “That mining process involves chemicals and oth-er hazardous substances

which will contaminate the environment and will surely affect the quality of our wa-ter,” it stated. The resolution further said that “all the effluence, run-off mine and mill waste carrying toxic material will eventually find its course to Surigao River – the future water source of the city.” The board also argued that the city has been ex-periencing water shortages for long in spite of several reforestation and protection projects implemented in the watershed; thus, they can-not betray their mandate to protect the source of the city’s potable drinking wa-ter.

SURIGAO CITY – The Surigao Metropolitan Water District (SMWD) Board of Directors issued recently a resolution opposing the petition of Nagkahiusang Gagmay’ng Minero - United Small-Scale Miners (NAGAMI) to declare a mineral land covering an area of 20 hectares located at Barangays Mat-I and Mabini, all in the city into a People’s Small-Scale Mining Area or ‘Minahan ng Bayan.’

by FEAbkilan

Documents

One Mindanao - January 2, 2012