One Mindanao - January 5, 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

Babasa, an agent for

change and development

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. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

Bernadine Astillero-Gabawan, Claro A. Lanipa

Western Mindanaopage 5

Today’s issue...Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 144

CT Apelacio, Central MindanaoCDRRMO GenSan prefers pro-active measure

Central MindanaoPNP-12 wages war against human trafficking

Alfonso T. Ruda, Western Mindanao GSIS paid Php50-B in Claims and Benefits in 2011

NIA denies burst dam caused floods

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

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Aquino approves Palace draft of Freedom of Information Bill 14

Sta. Cruz DavSur on stand-by alert vs. Low Pressure Area Carina Cayon , Southern Mindanao

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Noel B. Najarro, Caraga RegionRegional Police reports a “gun-free” yuletide24

Greg Tataro, Jr., Caraga RegionPeace and dev’t key to start for better Surigao Sur this year, prov’l official says25

Western Mindanao Mindanao journalists rally behind ARMM Gov’s drive vs. illegal logging 29

Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy, Northern Mindanao

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary pushes for SAP after TS ‘Sendong’35Peleta B. Abejo, Northern Mindanao

Continue and step up anti-crime efforts, Ochoa exhorts PNP amid lower crime rate16

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Message Cover StoryWhat is so important in a new year? It is just the changing of a number. From 2011, it is now 2012.

The coming of a new year is celebrated in all cultures and religions. It is the coming of a new age.It is also a reason to hope.

Our countrymen, by overwhelming number look at 2012 with hope for a better life and a better Philippines, and rightly they expect so much from our leaders especially our President. 2010 and 2011 were the foundations of this great expectation. From a campaign promise of daang matuwid, the one year and a half of the Aquino Presidency has laid out the plans and programs of good governance. We saw the development and articulation of the Philippine Development Plan. We saw the systematic prosecution and bringing to justice of those who have violated the law. We saw the start of rebuilding and strengthening of the foundations of democracy and our institutions.

We saw that public money was prudently spent and policies were cleverly crafted.

We saw that this government is truthworthy and its President can be trusted. People saw that and they believe that they can deliver on the change that he promised.

These are the reasons for the high hopes and expectations for 2012.

As they say, new year is an opportunity for renewal. As we meet 2012 and embrace its promise of a new and better life for all Filipinos, let us look at 2011 and the years before that as foundations into the future. Let us take a stock of the good and trail-blazing projects that we had undertaken. Let us continue to innovate and improve on them and with hard work and with the grace of God Almighty, we will be able to do more.

To all the officials and personnel of PIA and our partners, thank you for a fruitful 2011. Your work in improving and saving the lives of others through timely, accurate information has affected the lives of countless Filipinos.

To those to whom much was given, much is expected. God has been so kind to us. Let us do more. We pray for wisdom. We pray for strength. We pray for guidance and protection as we perform our daily task with honor, dedication and joy.

God bless our country and its people. God bless PIA and the Philippines.

ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

5 Thursday, January 5, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

Babasa, an agent for change and development

Cover Story

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in

their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.

by Bernadine Astillero-Gabawan, Claro A. Lanipa

-John Kenneth Galbraith

6 Thursday, January 5, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Mayor Leonardo L. Babasa, Jr.’s life experiences as a banker and a manager have contributed to his success in leading the peo-ple of the Municipality of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. His heart for the people urged him to render his service and utilize his manage-ment and social skills to improve the Municipality and to realize its goals and dreams. He has served as an active member and officer in various civ-ic and professional organizations, making him versatile in terms of leadership. He has shown dedica-tion, professionalism and excel-lence in dealing with his respon-sibilities as the Municipal Mayor of Bayog. He has strong interperson-al relationship with his co-officials, subordinates and constituents, making him a good example for peace, unity, change and develop-ment. When ask about his favor-ite line he says, “When it rains, it pours.” On January 2, 2011, the first working day of this calendar year, he seems so enthusiastic that this year would be another good year for the Municipality of Bayog as he discloses his plans. If we will look back what is Bayog before, nothing much differs except for having a leader whose quality is exceptional.


Governance Mayor Babasa’s style of gover-nance is anchored on the principle of PTA (Participatory, Transparency and Accountability). It conducted department heads meeting every Monday in his office for instruc-tions and to be updated with each department’s performance and also to promote morale, efficien-cy, integrity, responsiveness, and courtesy in the civil service there-by institutionalizing a harmonious working environment. R e -cently, he declared every Wednes-day as Employees’ Day wherein of-ficials and employees will have an opportunity to personally air their personal or official requests, sug-gestions, comments, complaints, and grievances. In order to help the govern-ment in achieving the 8 Millenni-um Development Goals (MDGs), the municipality of Bayog also rolled-out its own plan in achiev-ing these goals by forming various MDG Teams and rolled-down to the Barangays by helping them for-mulate their respective MDG Plans and Programs. According to Mayor Babasa, a participative planning will be more attainable with the in-volvement of the people in the ba-rangays because they know more on the utmost concerns in their re-spective places. To be more transparent, Ba-


basa maintains a website where monthly performance reports of the each department are post-ed. He also established ABANTE BAYOG! Newsletter, which comes out every month where you can read all events in the municipal-ity. Recently, Bayog bags DILG’s “Seal of Good Housekeeping Award”. Mayor Babasa received it last December 20, 2011 in a simple ceremony held at the town’s seat of government from the DILG Regional Director Paizal O. Abutazil in behalf of DILG Sec-retary Jesse Robredo. The “SEAL OF GOOD HOUSE-KEEPING” is an award for passing the standard of good governance set by the DILG, compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy, no ad-verse findings from the Commis-sion on Audit, and how the mu-nicipal officials run the LGU in various aspects of governance. With this award, Bayog got P1million Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) which was handed over to Mayor Babasa during the same occasion. LGU- Bayog is slated to receive another P1M share from the Local Government Support Fund. These funds shall be used to repair/rehabilitate our evacua-tion center.


Zuellig Family Foundation Award Meanwhile, LGU Bayog will receive from the Zuellig Family Foundation through Jollibee Foun-dation a feeding program for 200 malnourished children from 5 ba-rangays which will run for three years. The foundation also pledge to equip our six (6) barangay health stations with various medi-cal equipments and other health facilities in order to fully serve our constituents plus the construction of a halfway house which will cost about Php600,000 that will serve as a temporary shelter for expect-ant mothers and family waiting for delivery. These aids from the founda-tions will be a great help in attain-ing Mayor Babasa’s goals for the social services that he wishes to provide for his constituents.

Makati Sisterhood On the other hand, Mayor Ba-basa joined Hon. Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, Jr., Mayor of the City of Makati in signing an agreement marking the establishment of a twinning relationship between the Municipality of Bayog and the City of Makati last November 23, 2011 at the 22nd Floor, Makati City Hall, Makati City. Bayog is now a sister munici-pality of Makati City together with


ten other municipalities from other provinces of the country, Bato, Cat-anduanes; Cuartero, Capiz; Hinu-nangan, Leyte; Gen. Nakar, Que-zon; San Jorge, Samar; Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; Tadian, Mt. Province; Talisay, Camarines Norte; Tolosa, Leyte; and Virac, Catanduianes. These municipalities share the same objective with the City of Makati in creating an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implement-ed and strengthened. They have the common desire to strengthen friendship, mutual understand-ing through exchanges in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism, planning and urban de-velopment, commerce/trade and industry, education, sports and environmental development.

Social and Health Services Last year, there were three major Medical and Dental Outreach

Program held at the 3 clustered barangay areas. It is one way of bringing the health services near-er to the people, aside from free dental and medical consultations; people also availed free medicines and vitamins. In 2010, there were more or less 400 PhilHealth registered members in the municipality from a budget of Php300, 000. In 2011, the budget was increased to Php800, 000 for a membership of 2,611. Since Mayor Babasa’s goal is to widen the coverage of its member-ship so that poor/indigent families can avail the health services of the government with lesser burdens and become health conscious, this year, he set aside P1M for a mem-bership target of 5,000 households including those subsidized by the national government. Last October, 2011, twenty six (26) local churches of Iglesia ni Cristo from the provinces of Zam-boanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay joined hands for a grand Tree Planting Activity. More than 1,000 INC members came to plant the six hectares span of the park with 3,000 seedlings of rubber trees planted.In the park, you will see the ver-mi production that produces or-ganic fertilizer used to fertilize the plants so that the municipality will


no longer buy in-organic fertiliz-ers. There is also a function hall that is very conducive and ap-propriate venue for trainings and seminars.

Plans for Implementation Mayor Babasa plans to con-struct 28 cottages in the park through the aid from the 28 ba-rangays that will serve as their temporary house during seminars/trainings. These cottages can also be used during Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Jamboree and other related activities. The park also serve as a show window of the projects of the ba-rangays. Each barangay has their own place for production of cas-

sava, abaca, and other agricul-tural products. There will also be a cutflower production farm to be handled by the women organiza-tion as their alternative source of livelihood. There will be a production of organic fertilizers out of re-sidual waste of the municipality since Bayog had already practice the proper waste management with the slogan: “BASURA ATRAS, BAYOG ABANTE SA SERBISYO OG ASENSO” (BABASA). “We will ba-sically have zero waste”, Babasa said. “We are just waiting for the plastic shredder that is due for delivery from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to turn this plastic waste into raw


materials in producing concrete pavers and other concrete products. Recyclable waste will be sold to the junk stores”, he further said. These are just some of the plans of the Mayor Babasa. He said, he is just waiting for the rain to pour down so as to enrich the mu-nicipality with more blessings under his governance with our Almighty to realize his goals and dreams for the benefit of his constituents. Agro-Tourism Park Another feature during Ba-

basa’s term is the development of Glupa Gulian Agro-Tourism Park located at Sitio Quibranza, Baran-gay Kahayagan. It earns attraction from the local tourists where they never miss to visit the place once they come to Bayog. Several tree planting activities were held during 2011, with the goal to achieve Mayor Babasa’s Re-forestation Program. He said, aside from keeping our environment as it is before, the municipality will also earn out of this rubber trees soon.


Palace defends economic achievements from criticisms

Malacañang expects to post significant growth in the agriculture sector given the increased budget allotted to the Department of Agriculture this year, which is expected to uplift the national economy as

a whole.

14 Thursday, January 5, 2012

In a press conference on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda fended off criticisms that say the country will not experi-ence much economic growth this year due to weak gov-ernment policies. Lacierda said the coun-try posted increased agricul-tural production despite the storms and calamities that hit the Philippines last year. “Agricultural productiv-ity is growth, is real and equi-table growth. So many people would be benefited from in-creased agricultural produc-tivity,” he said in response to comments claiming that the government hasn’t produced more jobs. “This is growth for the farmers; agricultural pro-ductivity will benefit a great

number of our people,” he stressed. With a bigger budget this year, the DA said it would vigorously pursue initiatives that will ensure sufficiency in major staples by 2013 that include rice, white corn, cas-sava, and other basic com-modities. In his 2011 year-end report, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said a big chunk of the DA’s 2012 bud-get of P61.73 billion will be spent to implement the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), which is the center-piece program of the Aquino administration. The program intends to frontload investments, partic-ularly on infrastructure such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and postharvest facili-

ties, Alcala said. With an allocation of P24.5 billion for 2012 for irri-gation, Secretary Alcala said the DA will construct new ir-rigation systems, and restore and rehabilitate existing ones that service a total of 224,850 hectares of farm lands na-tionwide. For postharvest and other infrastructures, the DA has alloted P11.28 billion. This will be spent to con-struct drying, storage, and processing facilities, storage and milling equipment, in-cluding dairy equipment and machineries. The DA said it would also construct major agri-fishery trading centers in many areas throughout the country. (AS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III green lighted the Palace proposal on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill pending in Congress,

which calls for the mandatory disclosure of government information to ensure enhanced transparency in government transactions.

Aquino approves Palace draft of Freedom of Information Bill


The President met Wednesday morning with Secretaries Florencio Abad, Rene Almendras, Ricky Carandang, Edwin Lacierda and Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III to discuss the details of the Freedom of Information Bill. Quezon, who shep-herded the FOI bill in the Executive branch, said in a press conference in Mala-canang on Wednesday that they conducted discussions with various stakeholders for several months regard-ing the bill based on the in-structions of the President. He said they present-ed the results of the consul-tations and studies to the President during Wednes-day’s meeting. “And the President’s marching orders to us was

and this is his words: ‘to push ahead with the Free-dom of Information,’” Que-zon said. However, Quezon not-ed that the President asked for the removal of the pro-posed Information Commis-sion from the draft because the Chief Executive felt that it would add another layer of bureaucracy. “The overall intention of this whole exercise, be-sides to make it as demo-cratic and consultative as possible, was precisely be-cause we were all working under the view that we have to make the constitutional injunction making informa-tion a right of the public a living reality,” Quezon said. Asked about how soon the Palace expects the passage of the bill, he said

it would depend on the leadership of both houses of Congress. But he said there is a consensus among lawmakers to make the bill a major achievement of the 15thCongress. Inputs to the pres-ent version, the Tanada bill, will be included through amendments on the pro-posal which is currently pending in Congress. While not all informa-tion can be released to the public, he said, the gener-al rule is that information should always be available to the people as long as it doesn’t fall among those considered as restricted in-formation. These legitimate ex-ceptions include informa-tion that harm the ability of the state to protect peace and order, diplomatic rela-tions with other countries, and those that would ex-pose police and military op-erations. The President ex-pressed his support to the FOI bill when he ran for President in the May 2010 presidential election. (AS)

16 Thursday, January 5, 2012

“Although the reduc-tion in crime is welcome, this should not be a cause for complacency. The PNP must continue to strive to reduce crime even further, ensure public safety, and maintain peace and order in the country,” Ochoa said in a statement.

Ochoa was reacting to a report released by the PNP showing that crimes across the country fell by 23.36 percent in 2011 from the previous year. Official data from the PNP showed that crimes committed last year dropped significantly to 248,378 from 2010 fig-

ures of 324,083. The PNP also noted that figures compiled last year represented only half of the 502,665 total record-ed crimes in 2009. Ochoa, who chairs the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice, and Peace and the Presidential Anti-Organized

Continue and step up anti-crime efforts, Ochoa exhorts PNP amid lower crime rate

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Wednesday lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its efforts in bringing down the country’s crime rate last year while asking police officials to take more effective measures to

improve the peace and order situation.


Crime Commission (PAOCC), commended the PNP for putting in place measures to curb crime, but enjoined the 140,000-strong police force to continue to pursue sus-tainable crime prevention and reduction strategies. “Despite these suc-cesses, our police should continue to step up its an-ti-crime efforts and must remain on alert against all sorts of crime,” Ochoa said. Ochoa added that law enforcers should be encour-aged by the example of

President Benigno S. Aqui-no III, who has shown that under the present govern-ment, “no one is above the law, and those who violate our laws will be held ac-countable for their crimes.” Earlier, PNP spokes-person Chief Superinten-dent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the declining crime rate can be credited to the “strict implementation of police in-tegrated patrol system na-tionwide. Cruz said the presence of police supervisors in ba-

rangays (villages) “resulted in resolution of petty crimes and close cooperation of the public and local government units.” He also cited the PNP’s use of new technol-ogy like the “E-blotter and E-warrants, which resulted to more wanted persons jailed.” The average monthly index crime rate also showed a decreasing trend: 27.52 in 2009, 18.10 in 2010, and 13.62 in 2011, the report said.


Gov prods use of internet to monitor weather situationsby CT Apelacio

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Man-agement Office (PDRRMO) in Sarangani has found the internet useful in monitoring weather situations in the country.

PDRRM Officer Bue-naventura Solarte said Gov. Migs Dominguez has told him often to use all available tech-nology like the inter-net to monitor weather condition such as the low pressure area (LPA) monitored in neighbor-ing General Santos City.

He said LPA has af-fected the province but was happy to note that it is weakening by citing PAGASA’s weather bul-letin.

“It is all cloudy here (Sarangani) but no rain,” said Solarte.

According to him,

the province has been touching base with all the Municipal DRRMCs to ensure that all infor-mation and updates are properly coordinated at the barangay levels.

“It’s the MDRRMCs that the province is closely coordinating with since they are our partners in the ground,” Solarte told PIA General Santos City.


He said PDRRMO has activated all informa-tion links with all sec-tors such as the media, the Philippine Informa-tion Agency based here, the municipal informa-tion officers, and the MDRRMCs at the seven municipalities.

“We also advised people with no let up to be ready and opt for safety instead as well as warned fishermen to be cautious and not go fish-ing for the meantime,”

he said.Solarte acknowledged

that people are wary about hearing weath-er forecast because of what happened recently to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities, which the provincial government assisted with some P500,000.00 worth of relief goods.

LPA, though not a typhoon, is basically threatening as it brings moderate to heavy rains and may trigger flash-

floods and landslides in some vulnerable areas, he explained.

But “it’s a welcome development and we are thankful that there is no rain in Sarangani despite the existence of LPA.”

Solarte also hailed people in Sarangani for their continuous vigi-lance and high level of awareness on various situations around them.

CDRRMO GenSan prefers pro-active measure

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- It is better to evacuate people early than to con-duct rescue, according to city Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, amid PA-GASA’s forecast of low pressure area (LPA).

Early on, the may-or ordered the City Disaster Risk Reduc-tion and Management Office (CDRRMO) to take necessary action to ensure the public is well-informed and ready should LPA de-velop into something more.

“Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao

will have cloudy skies with scattered rain-showers and thun-derstorms becoming widespread rains and thunderstorms over the eastern section of Southern Luzon, Eastern and Southern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said in its weather


advisory. As initial action,

CDRRM officer Ephraim Beliran said that as part of the mitiga-tion strategy, he has spearheaded the con-duct of massive infor-mation drives in all barangays here espe-cially those identified “hazard areas.”

He said the city government is doing its best to prevent any eventuality, cit-ing that it has its own disaster preparedness plan laid out.

Beliran added that although the city gov-ernment has its own self-designed disaster preparedness plan, the resources are not enough to address it if it gets worse.

“We need the na-tional government in-tervention then,” he said.

But Beliran said

based on PAGASA’s monitoring, LPA is now gradually disap-pearing.

He also hailed com-munity leaders for their all-out assis-tance.

“One thing good also is that our barangays are organized with the help of their barangay captains and purok leaders,” Beliran said.

According to him, since they have already mapped out ‘vulner-able areas,’ they can easily mobilize baran-gay and purok leaders to have their constitu-ents evacuate at safer grounds as early as possible.

“Most of the time, it is the people them-selves who do volun-tary evacuation before anything goes wrong any further,” Beliran said.

In General Santos

City, barangays that are most vulnerable to flood are Labagal, Sinawal, City Heights, Bula (Gensanville), Calumpang (Putting Bato), Dadiangas West and South.

The CDRRM offi-cer said that when a situation gets worse, the city government makes an immediate temporary shelter for the affected families in identified evacua-tion centers such as the Oval Plaza covered court and the South Central Elementary School.

He then urged Gen-San residents to con-tinuously observe alertness and vigi-lance of the weather system in the country by taking an active involvement of what is happening around them.

PNP-12 wages war against human traffickingGENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 here has waged war against human trafficking in the light of re-ported increase in the number of victims in the Philippines.


CSupt. Benjardi Man-tele, PRO 12 regional di-rector urged the public to help the government in the fight against traf-ficking stressing it is ev-eryone’s responsibility.

“Tayo ay magtulungan upang masugpo natin ang human trafficking dito sa ating rehiyon!” the Police Regional Pub-lic Information Office quoted Mantele as say-ing.

According to Com-mission in Filipino Overseas, as of Febru-ary 2011, there are 976 cases filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ); 930 involved traf-ficking for sexual exploitation, 1 for organ trafficking, and 45 for labor trafficking.

Recently, PRO-12 spearheaded the distribution of educational materials on Hu-man Trafficking, Children In Con-flict with the Law (CICL), and the Rights of Wom-en.

Mantele also

hailed the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) officers for the job well done in handling cases involving women and children.

He said the WCPD of-ficers are very active in doing counseling, dis-seminating and even educating troubled women and children in its area of responsibil-ity.

According to Mantele, the police will continue to “conduct more infor-mation drive and lec-tures in schools, with

non-governmental or-ganizations (NGOs) and other institutions that need it.

“We shall continue our efforts to raise aware-ness and prevent traf-ficking in persons. Let us further boost gov-ernment’s drive against such criminal offenses,” he stressed.

With no let up, the Philippine government thru the Inter-Agency Council Against Traf-ficking (IACAT) has continuously doubled its efforts to combat

human traffick-ing, drug courier and other illegal activities that vio-late the rights and dignity of women and children.

Various laws have been enacted and implemented to support all ad-vocacies for the protection and up-holding of human rights especially in preventing all forms of domes-tic violence and abuses. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)


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City gov’t grateful for the conversion of 3 neighboring municipalities to cityhood status, despite IRA dropby Robert E. Roperos

Although the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the city government in Butuan will decrease starting this year, city officials are still grateful for the conversion of three

neighboring municipalities of Caraga Region into cityhood status.


Department of the Interior and Local Govern-ment (DILG) City Direc-tor Romeo Solis said the city government, through the leadership of Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr., is still thankful because the officials of the cities of Cabadbaran, Bayugan and Tandag have exerted much effort for their city-hood conversion. Solis stressed with the conversion of the 16 municipalities nationwide into cityhood status, some P20 million of the IRA of the city government will decrease annually. In spite of this, Solis said the city government is happy because residents of these 16 new cities will be given the opportunity to boost the economic

status of their locality that will lead to the develop-ment not only of the area but more importantly, to the residents. Meanwhile, during the press conference held early in December 2011, Mayor Amante empha-sized that with the cre-ation of the 16 new cities, Butuan City government should implement cost-cutting measures so that all their transactions and operations will still be car-ried out smoothly. However, Amante said because of the IRA’s drop, his administration is forced to lessen job order personnel in the city hall this year. He added job order personnel who are do-ing well in their job will

be retained based on the recommendations of their immediate superior. Those who will not be recom-mended will be subjected for contract termination. Amante also under-scored the need for the city government to coor-dinate and build networks with other government agencies. He added they will tap the services of the national government agencies whenever nec-essary. With these develop-ments, the city’s chief ex-ecutive called on the city hall employees to imple-ment cost-cutting mea-sures to cope with the prevailing condition. “We can do nothing about this except to im-plement such strategy to cope with the prevailing situation,” Mayor Amante


Regional Police reports a “gun-free” yuletide

During the ceremo-nial unsealing of the taped muzzles of issued fire-arms, Police Senior Supt. David Y. Ombao said the Caraga Police has record-ed no incident of indis-criminate firing of guns by its personnel during the

Christmas and the New Year celebrations. He also said that it was very significant as it means that police per-sonnel in the region had paved the way of using al-ternative ways of creating noise and merrymaking to

celebrate Christmas and to cheer and welcome the New Year instead of firing of their guns. Acting on the in-structions of Caraga PNP Chief CSupt. Reynaldo S. Rafal, Ombao conveyed the gratitude of the re-

BUTUAN CITY – The regional police reported a “gun-free” yuletide as its records posted a “zero casualty” and “zero incident” of indiscriminate firing of guns in the region during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

by Noel B. Najarro


Peace and dev’t key to start for better Surigao Sur this year, prov’l official says

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Surigao del Sur Provincial Administrator Efren Rivas said peace and development should continue to go together for a much better province this year.

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

gional director to other government agencies, the non-governmental organi-zations and the tri-media for the cooperation, which had led to the success of the PNP’s “IWAS PAPU-TOK/IWAS DISGRASYA,” campaign. On the morning of December 27, Rafal led the sealing of the gun muzzles of the issued firearms of the PNP personnel at the front of the administration building. He gave a stern

instruction to police to strictly observe the guide-lines set forth by the PNP organization regarding the non-use of firearms dur-ing the yuletide revelries. The violators, according to him, will be subjected to summary dismissal pro-ceedings. In the case of fire-cracker and pyrotechnics-related injuries, the police reported only two victims in its regional report: a 46-year old Joseph Dela Cer-

na of Bayugan City and a 15-year old female (name withheld being a minor) from Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. One sustained a minor injury at the right hand and the other at the right finger. Both were dis-charged from the hospital immediately right after their treatment. Rafal attributed the success of the campaign to the massive informa-tion drive by the various sectors, the creation of ordinances by the local government unit and es-tablishment of “firecrack-ers display area” and the “firecrackers zone.” Even the PNP in its enforcement effort confis-cated firecrackers and py-rotechnics devices which violated RA 7183 and the special local law (SP Reso-lution No.769-99) amount-ing to P9, 500.


In his message during the first flag ceremony program before the provincial government employ-ees on Monday at the Capitol Lobby, Rivas stressed, in behalf of

Gov. Johnny Pimentel, noth-ing will be fairly accomplished without the

other pair, citing the Army’s renewed ap-proach to put a halt on the four decade insurgency problem. He stressed that the new batch of army

hierarchy has already started to put to use a “paradigm shift” through community organizing for peace and development (COPD) by pouring in funds in close coor-dination with the lo-cal government units (LGUs).


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City turns over P16M infra projects to remote barangays

T wo remote barangays of the city formally received yesterday various infrastructure projects totaling to P16.1 Million.

by Jocelyn P. Alvarez


City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Co-varrubias said Mayor Celso Lobregat yes-terday motored to ba-rangays Sibulao and Mangusu, some 78 ki-lometers east of the city to unveil the vari-ous projects the city has initiated in the said barangays. “Lobregat first in-augurated the newly constructed covered court worth P2.4 Mil-lion in Barangay Man-gusu,” C o v a -rrubias said. “He later proceed-ed to Dr. Diaz Memo-rial Elementary School to unveil the school fence amounting to P499,000 and later the pathway and drainage system worth P129,00 and P203,000 respec-tively at the Mangusu Elementary School,” Covarrubias shared. The lady IO said

the Mayor, after unveiling the various projects in Barangay Mangusu, together with Archbishop Romulo Valles, who led in the blessing of the projects along with some city councilors, proceeded to the inte-riors of Barangay Sib-ulao to unveil and turn over the P12.9 million five (5) road projects connecting Dabuy and Merloquet. “Desp i t e t he distance from the city proper, the city gov-ernment displays its concern for the people in Sibulao and Man-gusu through the im-plementation o f

enormous projects in the area,” Covarrubias said. She said mayor Lobregat will be inau-gurating more proj-ects this year in the various barangays of the city. The active city IO said “the projects inaugurated yester-day are located in the interiors of the ba-rangays. This goes to show that we are not only concentrating de-velopment in the cen-ter but also in the in-teriors.” Covarrubias said the 9 projects inau-gurated yesterday was a show of con-sistency of the city’s commitment in bring-ing development to the barangays. (JPA /S.Covarrubias/CIO/PIA ZBST)


Mindanao journalists rally behind ARMM Gov’s drive vs. illegal loggingISABELA CITY – Media practitioners covering the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has expressed their full support in exposing illegal logging activities but asks the new Regional Governor to pin those involved under the full force of the law.

Local journalists in Cotabato city told Hataman in a media forum that they would help ex-pose individuals or groups involved in the destruction of forest covers in Lanao del Sur, especially the en-dangered Lake Lanao wa-tersheds. “We will end ille-gal logging despite the imminent risk from the people involved in it who are mostly influential…But we need to see you pin-ning down these people in harshest fashion,” a major daily correspondent told Hataman at a press con-ference recently. ARMM information chief Ali Macabalang dis-closed that local journal-ists have expressed full backing of Presidential caretaker Muijv Hataman in his avowed campaign to stop unabated illegal log-

ging in Lanao del Sur and other parts the ARMM, even as they dared him to bring culprits behinds bars. Meanwhile, the task force formed by Hataman has revealed its initial re-port that the logs that killed scores of people at the height of the Dec. 17 floods in Iligan City were allegedly cut illegally in the forests of Lanao del Sur where a Makati City-

based logging firm has been operating since 1975. Moreover, Task Force Sendong said in its initial report that the logs were from the forests of Kapai and Tagoloan II towns in Lanao del Sur and alleg-edly belonging to VicMar Development Corp., a Makati-based logging and plywood company. Journalists repeat-edly tried but failed to


GSIS paid Php50-B in Claims and Benefits in 2011DIPOLOG CITY -The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has paid a total of Php50-billion in benefit and claims to its members and pensioners in 2011, 18.4 percent higher than the Php42.2 billion it had disbursed in 2010.

by Alfonso T. Ruda

reach VicMar officials on the company’s published phone number. Hataman said he has not furnished VicMar with a copy of the report yet as it was only the initial find-ing of the task force. He also said he was not sin-gling out the company. “We needed to get more documents and statements of three for-mer DENR-ARMM secre-taries,” he said. The task force also confirmed the existence of the so-called carabao logging in the area, a local yet most rampant scheme. Residents said some pro-ceeds of the scheme were allegedly being sold to the Makati-based logging firm. The report said Vic-Mar has been stockpiling timber in its log pond in the Kapai-Bayug river junction before processing these in its sawmill in Barangay Hi-

n a -planon in Iligan City, which is along t h e Mandulog River. “So after the logs are being stocked at the log pond, these logs will be naturally drifted away to Iligan City through the Mandulog River,” the task force said. It said another log-ging company—Tagoloan Poblacion Farmer Multi-purpose Cooperative—holds an Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) in Tagoloan II but the report quoted DENR-ARMM as saying the firm has not started operating. “Only VicMar has been in operation in the area since 1975,” the task

force said. VicMar, the task force said, got a Timber License Agreement for 18,730 hectares of forests in Kapai and Tagoloan II on Nov. 27, 1975. It ex-pired on June 30, 1997, but VicMar applied for an IFMA. The IFMA, issued March 25, 1996, reduced VicMar’s area of opera-tions to 6,795 hectares. It was issued under e x -ARMM Gov. Lininding Pan-gandaman and would ex-pire on March 24, 2021. On Jan. 29, 2009, VicMar was exempted from the logging bans imposed by former ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. Acting Governor Ansarud-din Alonto-Adiong imposed a similar ban in 2010 but the firm also managed to secure exemption. (JPA/AGM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)


The monthly pen-sion benefit, which ac-counted for half of the total claims, reached Php24 billion, represent-ing an increase of 12.8 percent over the Php21.3 billion level in 2010. The GSIS, which has more than 200,000 active old-age pension-ers, disburses an aver-age of Php1.7 billion in pension benefit every month. The pension fund has also released Php16 billion in retirement ben-efits in 2011, 46.7 per-cent higher compared to Php11 billion it had released last year. Life insurance amounted to Php4.5 billion, a 9.8 per-cent growth from Php4.1 billion in 2010. Total disabil-ity benefits released rose to 25.4 percent to Php142.9 million from

Php113.9million in the previous year while fu-neral benefits disbursed reached Php220.1million from Php215million last year. Similarly, the GSIS posted increased dis-bursements in optional, pre-need and Employ-ees Compensation (EC) insurance benefits--- op-tional insurance benefits grew to Php718.1million from Php715.4 mil-lion; pre-need insurance went up to Php298.5 million from Php243.5 million; and Employees Compensation climbed to Php58.5 million from Php30.7 million. GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara attributed the improved performance to massive efforts in updating members’ re-cords, increased acces-sibility with the roll-out

of additional GWAPs Ki-osks and renewed part-nership with LANDBANK as an additional service bank. These initiatives resulted in a more accu-rate database and faster disbursement of claims and benefits. “Today,, claims can be filed in any of our of-fices. Besides, such ben-efits such as cash divi-dend for our members and pension cash gift for our pensioners are now conveniently withdrawn through GSIS eCard,” Vergara said. “We look forward to another year of break-through not only in terms of claims disbursements but more importantly, in terms of delivering re-sponsive and convenient services to our stake-holders,” Vergara add-ed. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)


EU diplomats inspect ECHO project in Oroby Jorie C. Valcorza

Europian Union (EU) Head of Delegation Ambassador Guy Ledoux visited Cagayan de Oro city to personally see the implementation site of the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO)

project implemented by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

The ECHO project will run for three (3) months focusing on relief operations and hygiene promotion. Accompanied by other EU diplomats, the team took off for an early drive to the five-hectare

property donated by the Xavier University in barangay Lumbia, where some 1,000 shelters will be put up within in the next six (6) months to house qualified families displaced by the recent tyhoon.


As of press time, the area is already clear and temporary shelters were likewise built. The tents were spacious and were made of cotton in order to adapt to the weather conditions, making it more comfortable to live in. Selected families will be provided for a while with food, as well as, construction materials needed to build their new houses in the resettlement area, costing around Php 70,000 to Php 80,000. After inspection, EU diplomats visited Sitio Cala-Cala in Barangay Macasandig and announced to the displaced family seeking shelter at the public covered court to apply for the ECHP project of which selection will be based on the most deserving and needy families. The team also distributed hygiene box containing five (5) towels, 12 laundry soaps, four (4) sanitary napkins, five (5) toothbrushes, two (2) toothpastes, four (4) shaves, and six (6) tissue rolls. Sets of drinking water containers, mats, blankets and mosquito nets were likewise handed. In a press conference at the Macasandig evacuation site, Ledoux noted that EU had a very efficient disaster reaction mechanism in place that allows assistance within few hours after the disaster. He said, they are the first to dispatch an assessment team in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities with three (3) humanitarian experts, two (2) days after the typhoon hit the region.

On the same day, the decision from the EU in Brussels to allocate three (3) euro or Php 180 million worth of emergency relief assistance to typhoon sending victims was also announced. “The purpose of our visit today is to express solidarity with the victims and to assess the progress of the relief activities implemented by our partner,” he added. Beyond relief assistance, the Ambassador pointed the continuing need to strengthen disaster preparedness mechanism, saying, disaster preparedness has to be made part of the community life by the community and for the community. Together with Ambassador Ledoux were PRC Chairman Richard Gordon; PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) country representative in the Philippines Selvaratnam Sinnadurai; Deputy Head of Mission of the Spanish Embassy, Maria Molina; Norberto Gomez de Liaño, Deputy Coordinator General, Office of Technical Cooperation (AECID); Jozef Naudts, Belgian Embassy First Secretary and Dr. Mario Tavolaj, consultant of the Italian Embassy. During the presscon PRC Chair Richard Gordon announced that Xavier University offered to add two (2) more hectares in the Lumbia relocation site giving additional homes to displaced families.


NIA denies burst dam caused floodsby Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) belied reports that the latest flashflood that hit twelve (12) villages here was caused by the ruptured dam in barangay Lumbayao, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

In a press statement, Engr. Felix M. Razo, Regional Manager, NIA-10, clarified that the Lumbayao Dam did not collapse contrary to rumors that spread through text messages, which caused panic to downstream residents. Engr. Razo said it is impossible for the dam to burst because it has no ‘impounding’ capacity, unlike the reservoir-type dam. “It is different from the Magat Dam in Isabela province, which impounds water up to more than 800 meters in height from the river bed, with a gatekeeper that controls release of water to main irrigation canals,” he said. Engr. Jimmy Apostol, Manager, Bukidnon Irrigation Management Office, likewise, explained that the dam in Lumbayao, Valencia could not easily be damaged because it is a gravity run-of-the-river type with a height of only 2.80 meters from the riverbed. “It will automatically overflow once it reaches its elevation,” he said. Meanwhile, NIA reports showed that six (6) main irrigation structures and facilities estimated at over P52 million were in total wreck

after heavy rains that resulted to the overflowing of Pulangui River (Bukidnon’s biggest river). The damage includes the grouted riprap at the bridge’s abutment, two (2) spur dikes along Pulangui River, the 60-meter irrigation canal that serves 950 hectares of rice fields in Nabag-o and San Isidro barangays, the embankment of the reuse dam in barangay Batangan, and the huge siphon that draws water off from the river for distribution to vast rice fields in several barangays here. The NIA and Valencia City LGU are now joining hands for the construction of diversion canal and procurement of additional water pumps to cater to the needs of thousands of farmers. (NIA Bukidnon)

http://www.panoramio.com


Socio-Economic Planning Secretary pushes for SAP after TS ‘Sendong’by Peleta B. Abejo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. met with Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano on January 3, here and informed the chief executives about the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is currently preparing for the rehabilitation and recovery of the affected areas in Northern Mindanao after Typhoon Sendong.

This action plan shall focus on what is exactly going to happen in the next three (3) months. Emphasis was placed on the development and rehabilitation of the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan river basins. Both Governor Moreno and Mayor Emano responded positively to the NEDA initiative and expressed full support and commitment in assigning their respective focal persons to participate in the strategic action planning activities that shall be conducted soon. Sec. Paderanga, together with Director Susan Rachel G. Jose of the NEDA Regional Development Coordination Staff, also met with the NEDA regional office staff and NEDA Caraga Director Carmencita S. Cochingco to guide them on the major aspects that need to be considered and prioritized in the preparation of the SAP focusing on the development and rehabilitation of the Agusan, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan river basins

in partnership with the regional line agencies and local government units. “We should start looking at what needs to be rehabilitated. It is very important to ensure that the physical framework for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are done right away as basis especially in the relocation of affected families,” Sec. Paderanga said. He added that proper documentation of the damages shall be ensured as it is very important in determining the needed interventions. NEDA-X Director and Regional Development Council (RDC) Vice-Chair Leon M. Dacanay, Jr. stressed on the need to make the RDC and the affected communities aware of the existing risks for them to decide which option they should take to avoid damages in the future. Sec. Paderanga ended his meeting with the staff with a note to “work wisely and smartly to make our work count.” (NEDA/RDC)


Scores dead, injured in Pantukan landslide by Jeanevive Abangan

As of 12:00 o’clock noon, the Municipal Disaster Risk

Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) counted only 17 dead bodies and monitored 16 injured when landslide took place at 3:00 a.m. (Jan. 05) at a small scale min-ing site in Sitio Diat Uno, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province. MDRRMC spokesperson Dr. Ar-

nulfo Lantaya corrected what was reported ear-lier saying he was mis-informed by his contact at the landslide site as that person was having a hard time in clearing data “because he was also taking charge of the retrieval operation.” As of 10:00 a.m. Dr. Lantaya pronounced 25 dead and 15 injured. Compostela Valley Pro-vincial Gov. Arturo T. Uy aired the same data in his interview with na-

tional television networks. Meanwhile Provincial Informa-tion Officer Fe Maestre bared nine injured admitted at Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City as of 12 noon based on the information provided by the Provincial liaison officer stationed at DRH.

Identified injured Identified injured now being


Scores dead, injured in Pantukan landslide

admitted at DRH were: Jimboy Andao , 24 years old of Marapat, Monkayo; Melvin Cuadrado, 19 f San Isidro, Davao Oriental; Clark Casera, 22 of Durian, Monkayo, Comval; Ronald Rey Sanchez, 22 of Poblacion, New Corella, Davao del Norte; Edgardo Cacho of Mangga, Tagum City; Len-cio Baclayon, 40, of Pob. Mawab, Comval; Moito Recana, 44, of Gen-eral Santos City; Arnel Nicolas, 30, of Mangga Tagum City. One unconscious patient remains unidentified. Getting reports in a press con-ference this at 11:30 a.m., Maestre said 11 dead were being transported from the landslide site, three hours

away from Poblacion Pantukan. Retrieval operation is on-going with the assistance of the Philippine National Red Cross, the Provincial DRRMC Rescue Team, the 71st Infan-try Battalion, groups of small scale miners and the Philippine National Police . Dr. Lantaya refused to confirm the number of missing persons pend-ing a thorough data gathering. “We are still trying to locate the purok leader who knows exactly the number of households,” he said. There are still missing persons but Dr. Lantaya was sure the number could be lesser than what was report-ed earlier because many of the resi-dents in the landslide area were able to move out as they noticed ground movement at about 12 midnight be-fore the landslide took place at 3:00 a.m. Mayor Celso Sarenas this morn-ing convened the MDRRMC which also gathered local line agencies of the De-partment of Interior and Local Gov-ernment, environment and natural resources, and the military. He also reactivated the crisis management center set up at the town plaza. Already warned Dr. Lantaya said the municipal government had been warning resi-dents in the landslide area through the barangay local government, to “take heed of the warning of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB)” which has declared Sitio Diat Uno and Diat Dos as high risk areas. “We have been warning them especially after the MGB informed


us of its findings. There were even dialogues made,” he said in a phone interview. Dr. Lantaya bared Mayor Sarenas to have called for a meeting/dialogue with members of small scale miners associations on June 14, 2011, and that Sarenas sent out letters on Sept.

19, 2011 to barangay captain of Nap-napan and other barangays of high risk areas, “reminding them of the MGB findings.”Aside from sitios Diat, other MGB identified landslide prone areas in Ba-rangay Napnapan include puroks Lit-ag, Boringot, Lantawan, Saro, Pulang Lupa, Puring Sayaw, Sapa, Tipga, Niliputan; Barangay Proper, Puroks 7, Caimito, puroks 2 and 5, sitios Binaa-ba and Saro. High risk to landslide Other high-risk to landslide ar-eas in Pantukan are Puroks Sarayon and Alimyon, Purok Lanipao in Brgy. Araibo; in Sitios Arog and Til-asan; Barangay Proper, Puroks 1, 7, 8, Sitio

Bukana in Brgy. P. Fuentes; puroks Pinanan A, Catarangan, Puntod, Ma-ligaya, Pamarilan and Onor in Brgy. Tagugpo; in sitios Panangason and Gumayan; sitios Mauswagon, Men-doza and Lawaan in Brgy. Kingking; in puroks Kawagis, Tango, Ilwan and Talabugnugan in Brgy. Magnaga; Si-

tio Tapis and Purok 5 in Brgy. Tambongon; Based on MGB data, Davao Region has a total of 402 landslide prone areas. Compos-tela Valley has the most number with a total of 124; Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur, each has 104 landslide-prone areas while Davao del Norte has 40. The MGB data shows that of the 56 high risk to landslide areas in Compostela Valley, sev-

en are in Pantukan; 12 in Monkayo where the gold-rush Mt. Diwata is located; 10 in Maragusan; seven in Maco; six in New Bataan; two each in Nabunturan, Mawab and Compos-tela towns. Compostela Valley also has the most number of flood-prone areas. Of the 468 MGB identified flood-prone areas in the Davao Region, 129 are found in Comval. Davao del Norte has 100 flood-prone areas; Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental, each has 64 flood-prone areas as identified by MGB. Compostela Valley Gov. Uy has already declared a no “habitation pol-icy” in identified landslide high risk


areas, majority of which are small scale mining areas. He made this policy more pro-nounced after the landslide that hap-

pened in April this year in Sitio Pan-ganason, Barangay Kingking also in Pantukan town. He said the municipal govern-

ment even enforced forced evacuation of residents in high risk areas but he presumed that some might have gone back few months after they were forced out of their place. In a television interview, Gov. Uy said he intends to con-duct an investigation to deter-mine who can be held liable for not totally enforcing the no hab-itation policy. (PIA-11/jean-evive d. abangan, photos by the Philippine Army 10th ID)

Sta. Cruz DavSur on stand-by alert vs. Low Pressure Area by Carina Cayon

DAVAO CITY – The local govern-ment of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur has heightened preventive mea-sures since Tuesday for possible landslides and flashfloods as likely effects of the Low Pressure Area spotted in General Santos City. The LGU, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and barangay councils in Sta. Cruz have been on stand-by alert following a warning from the Office of the Civil Defense to landslides and flood-prone areas in the region. Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Adelaida Badilla

said that Mayor Joel Ray Lopez has issued orders to the MDRRMC and all the 18 barangays to be on stand-by alert and be ready with the necessary equipments and volunteers. Badilla told the Philippine Infor-mation Agency that barangay cap-tains, especially those in 11 coastal areas and other danger zones were advised to alert their respective con-stituents, and to pre-position equip-ment, transportation and communi-cation system. The Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (BDRRMC) were directed to identify


and prepare evacuation centers, to ensure stockpiles of relief goods, and to inform the MDRRMC for assistance and updates. Badilla said that the BDRRMC was also ordered to make pre-emp-tive evacuation when the situation re-quires. The mayor specifically advised coastal residents on Wednesday to evacuate from their areas after one and a half to two hours of heavy rains which could possibly hit the municipal-ity, Badilla said. Schools in the town were also asked to prepare to serve as evacua-tion centers when calamity strikes. Badilla was thankful though that no calamity has struck the municipality amid the weather forecast. As of noon today, the town has a sunny weather. PAG-ASA reported this morning that the LPA has dissipated. However, the OCD has issued warning to LGUs identified to have

landslide and flashflood-prone areas to prepare for the possible effects of the LPA. Sta. Cruz along with the munici-palities of Sta. Maria and Don Marcelino in Davao del Sur, was among the flood- and landslide-prone areas that OCD has continuously and closely monitored. Badilla said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resourc-es and the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau identified three landslide and flood-prone areas in Sta. Cruz, name-ly: Sinoron, Coronon and Zone 3. On January 17 last year, flash-flood caused by heavy rains hit Brgy. Darong of Sta. Cruz and killed two kids and an adult. It affected more than 800 fami-lies and made 279 families homeless in five puroks of said barangay. Dam-age to properties, infrastructures and agricultural crops has reached to P850 million.

Documents

One Mindanao - January 5, 2012