One Mindanao - October 25, 2011

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]: hnb_r9pia

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] [email protected]

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 (SOCSKARGEN)

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],ph

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

OUR COVER

featuresPublic-Private

Partnershipin

Zamboanga del Sur.

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

Associate Editors ……....... OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII NOEMI A. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

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 Nora CL Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, 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

Vol. 1, No. 72 OCTOBER 25, 2011

N A T I O N A L

contentsCover Story :

Private sector’s participation effective tool in achieving government’s vision of economic progress

Aquino confers Order of National Scientist on Father Nebres Jr.

By Gideon C. Corgue contents

12

Exhibit commemorating Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary ensures continuing friendship with Spain, says Aquino

Spanish envoy commends Aquino’s commitment to peace process

108

4

8

CARAGA Region38th SSEAYP delegates to start Southeast Asian cruising on Oct. 26

Lift ceasefire in Basilan - Chiz

News Feature: Drink milk early in life, prevent fracture later in life

OFWs undergo 2-day training on financial literacy and entrepre-neurship

Caraga RDRRMC conducts TWG planning workshop

2931323334

29

WESTERN Mindanao

38Power plant to rise in Zambo. Norte

Red Cross organizes Zambo “1st Million Volunteer Run”

37 MASIPAG rallies, urges MGB to stop mining operations

37

4039

Zambo. Norte has 6 new HIV positive cases

NORTHERN Mindanao

15

Economic briefing roadshow goes to Cag. de Oro

DILG takes lead in PPEI project implementation

DENR-10 posts 75.45% accom-plishment of NGP targets, as of 3Q, this year

KABATAAN seminar trains OSY for leadership

1617

14

Region X economy now the larg-est in Mindanao 18

CENTRAL MindanaoSouth Cotabato creates desk for Muslim affairs

Lutayan indigents receive their cash assistance from the governmen

Surallah pinuri sa nakamit sa kampanya laban sa droga

Mobile mini-hospital ng ARMM magagamit na

27

2524

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SOUTHERN MindanaoDBM cites poverty alleviation measures in 2012 National Budget

LBP’s loan outstanding to prior-ity sectors reaches P8 billion

City to keep eye on drainage of biz establishments22

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Lt Col Bravo: Tropa ng 27th IB di demoralisado

4Tuesday, October 25, 2011

In consonance with government’s policy of Public-Private Partnership being pursued by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the National Telecommunication’s Commission (NTC-9) in coordination with Philippine

Information Agency (PIA-9), and the Cable and Television (CATV) operators of Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur on September 27 inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at 10 Disco here.

Private sector’s participation effective tool in achieving government’s vision of economic progress by Gideon C. Corgue

Cover Story


Private sector’s participation effective tool in achieving government’s vision of economic progress

NTC9 Regional Director Edgar-do Celorico in his mes-sage said the MOA sign-ing ceremony officially starts the public-private partnership between the NTC, PIA and CATV oper-ators believing that private sectors;s participation is an effective tool in achieving gov-ernment’s vision for e c o -nom-

i c

prog-ress.

The signing Celo-rico said aimed at solicit-ing and generating sup-port and commitments from CATV operators in providing free of charge a minimum of thirty (30) hours/month time of ac-

cess channel thru its CATV facilities to the national government to enable it to reach

the popula-tion on impor-t an t i s -

sues, programs, projects and policies. Celorico said in ac-cordance with the con-dition stipulated under the Provisional Authority (P.A.) and in the Convey-ance Authority (C.A.) is-sued by the NTC central office, the grantees were directed to assist govern-ment, national and local in the functions of public information and educa-

tion. “PIA9 will provide on a weekly basis copies of Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) forum copies featuring government programs and projects where CATV o p - erators shall

air copies of forum in their commu-

n i -


ty channel on a daily basis,” the MOA said. PIA9 regional director Noemi B. Edaga in her message said the agency (PIA), as the information arm of the na-tional government provides basic infor-mation of government and on areas of particular interests to the community. To ensure widest information dis-semination on the vital issues, programs and projects of government, Edaga said we need the assistance of CATV provid-ers. “The activity is the beginning of forging not only of our friendship but

also in our work and efforts in dissemi-nating information to the public,” Edaga added. The signing was led by Celorico, together with Edaga and operators of the following CATV networks, namely : KISMET Cable TV, Inc., Unique Cable Network, Inc., Zamboanga del Sur Agri-cultural College Integrated Cooperative, Countryside Cable Television, Inc., Ku-malarang Cable TV Network, Pagadian Cable Television, Margos Vision Cable TV Network, Bongao Cable Television Network, Inc, and Bayog Cable TV Net-work. ( JPA/GCC)


8 Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Spanish envoy commends Aquino’s commitment to peace process

President Benigno S. Aquino III’s stance to pursue lasting peace in Mindanao by following the rule of law has gained recognition from the international

community most notably from Spanish ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Domecq


Domecq com-mended the Presi-dent for his imple-mentation of “all out justice” directive for the immediate arrest of the culprits re-sponsible for the kill-ing of 19 soldiers in Basilan last week, in his welcome remarks at the inauguration of a photo exhibit or-ganized by the Span-ish Embassy to com-memorate the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal held at the Metropoli-tan Museum of Manila at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex in Manila Monday. Domecq said the President’s stance was a testament to the fact that “foreign politics and violence…do not work well to-gether in the achieve-ment of peace.” “That is why in these days of unjus-

tified violence in Min-danao, we commend you, Mr. President, for your stand and com-mitment to the peace process,” Domecq said. President Aquino on Monday assured Filipinos that the gov-ernment is exerting all necessary efforts for the immediate ar-rest of those respon-sible for the killing of 19 soldiers in Basilan last week, as he made it clear that these ef-forts should not put the lives of the resi-dents in the area in peril through the im-plementation of “all-out justice” instead of

“all-out war” against the criminals. “We will not pur-sue all-out war…we will instead pursue all-out justice,” he stressed, pointing out the ill-effects of an all-out war on the people and the ben-efits of pushing for steps towards win-ning lasting peace. “All-out war is indiscriminate and borne out of anger. All-out justice is so-ber and fair… it is based on the rule of law, and leads to last-ing peace,” President Aquino continued. (RCK)


President Benigno S. Aquino III led the inauguration of a photo exhibit organized by the Spanish embassy commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal at the Metropolitan

Museum in Manila on Monday.

Exhibit commemorating Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary ensures continuing friendship with Spain, says Aquino

In his speech keynoting the event attended by Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

governor Armando Tetangco, members of the diplomatic corps and other of-ficials, the President lauded the event as a

fitting tribute to Rizal that further strength-ens the relationship between Spain and the Philippines. “Once our na-


tional hero separated himself from his fam-ily for years to trav-el to Spain to learn about and understand its culture, and to-day we see ourselves presented with the opportunity to follow in his footsteps in our own ways, to better familiarize ourselves with Spain now, more than a century after his time,” the Presi-dent said. “Both our coun-tries have changed so much in the past years and the Phil-ippines and Spain have been fortunate enough to rebuild our ties and to build an enduring friendship with each other,” he added. The exhibit en-titled “Photo a Photo: A Portrait of Spain,”is a visual journey that depicts the evolution of Spanish cities from the fifties until the present day, focus-

ing on the two cities where Rizal lived and studied: Madrid and Barcelona. The exhibit of-fers 60 snapshots taken by 15 of the best Spanish photog-raphers who, from the middle of the last century up to the present, have carried out their work start-ing from their per-sonal approaches and visions that differ not only in content but also in the aesthetic way of addressing its representation. “Today we see that this is the Spain we have fostered such a productive relationship with. Today as we view these photos togeth-er, photos that show the rapid changes of Spanish society in the half past centu-ry, we take another step in ensuring that the friendship be-tween our countries

w i l l only gain strength in the coming years,” the President said. He enjoined Fili-pinos to take time to visit the exhibit for a “refreshing” view of things in a different perspective. “If the eye is the window to our soul, then our friends from Spain today have truly opened their windows to us,” the President said. “May we see them through those windows with the same spirit of under-standing, the same embracing of change and the same love of life that in the past had made firm friends between our founding fathers and those Spaniards who even then dared to dream of liberty for our country,” he add-ed. (RCK)


Aquino confers Order of National Scientist on Father Nebres Jr.President Benigno S. Aquino III encouraged the Filipino

people to emulate the exemplary contributions and hard work of distinguished individuals in their efforts to help the government push for the development and progress

of the country enry through sincere service and integrity.

In his message during the confer-ment ceremonies of the rank and title of the Order of National Scientist on Father Bi-envenido Nebres S.J. at the Rizal Hall of the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, President Aquino highlighted the prelates’ contri-butions to education and social reforms. “May Father Ne-bres serve as an ex-ample of integrity, hard work and ser-vice to all of us as we continue to dedicate ourselves to the de-velopment and im-provement of those who need help the

most,” the President said. “Father Nebres has been a consistent advocate of educa-tional reform, a lead-er who has pushed for the formulation and implementation of a long-term plan to improve our nation’s competitiveness in the natural sciences and mathematics,” he added. Over the years, Father Nebres has worked tirelessly to find effective ways of improving education in the public school system. His works in-clude the establish-ment of the Ateneo

Center for Educational Development (ACED), an institution dedicat-ed to developing pub-lic schools. qCurrently, ACED assists local govern-ments and over 400 public schools in Que-zon City, Paranaque, Valenzuela, Nueva Ecija, La Union and other parts of the country. Also present dur-ing the event were Department of Sci-ence and Technol-ogy (DOST) Secre-tary Mario Montejo, National Academy of Science and Technol-ogy (NAST) president Dr. Emil Javier, NAST

P-noy Photo


Aquino confers Order of National Scientist on Father Nebres Jr.

secretary Dr. Evelyn Mendoza and other national scientists. The conferment of the rank and title of national scientist on Fr. Nebres is the high-est honor given by the government, as stipu-lated in Proclamation No. 209 issued on July 27, 2011. Fr. Nebres, 71, is the 37th national

scientist of the coun-try and one of the 15 awardees living today. He served as presi-dent of the Ateneo de Manila University, the alma mater of Presi-dent Aquino for 18 years. Fr. Nebres con-tributed to the nation-al and local govern-ments and direction of various Task Forces

and C o m -mission on Higher Education and Basic Education such as the Third En-gineering And Science Project of the DOST and the Third Elemen-tary Education Project of the DECS to realize his vision of quality science education for everyone. (JCL)

P-noy Photo

President Benigno S. Aquino III receives the Athletes and Officials of the Special Olympics Philippines (SOP), headed by National Executive Director Alex Babst and Board of Trustees Director, vice president and coach Ma. Jesusa Babst, during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (October 24). In the recently concluded Special Olympics World Sum-mer Games in Athens, Greece, the country’s 38 extraordinary young men and women won 22 gold medals, 49 medals overall from various levels of intellectual disability competed in 22 Olympic-type sports participated in by 7,500 athletes from 185 countries. SOP is non-profit humanitarian organizations created to help individuals with intellectual disability achieve their potentials through an organized year-round program of sports training, athletic competition and recreation. (Photo by:Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau).


Economic briefing roadshow goes to Cag. de OroBy Apipa BagumbaranA team of senior officials from

the country’s economic cluster agencies arrived

here, yesterday, to hold the second leg of the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) domestic roadshow.

Consisting of Undersecretary Gil Beltran, Department of Finance (DOF), Assistant Secretary Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Director Melvin Navarro, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Director Rolando Toledo, Department Budget and Management (DBM) and Director Antonio Cintura, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the team had face-to-face discussions with the members of the local business, academe, and media communities on the latest status of the economy. Organized by the Investor Relations Office (IRO), the economic briefing was aimed at informing business community and other

stakeholders from various sectors on the key highlights on the country’s economic performance in the past semester and the changes in the assumptions in the economic plan considering the recent global market situation. “We adopted the theme, ‘The Philippines: Reaching for Investment Grade through Good Governance,’ believing that our economic fundamentals and the positive results that we are getting from the rating agencies have significantly improved our credit story and our positioning for better ratings as a sovereign,” IRO Executive Director Claro Fernandez said. He said the recent upgrades from the credit rating agencies such as


Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Services, Fitch Ratings and Japan Credit Rating Agency, recognize the fundamental strengths of the country’s economy. Through good economic governance, which is the core of the Aquino administration’s philosophy, we hope to be able to improve our credit profile and enhance investors’ perception and confidence to attract more investments from businesses here and abroad, he added. Meanwhile, an audio visual presentation of the Philippine Economic Report for the first half of 2011 gave the participants some of the ideas of the economic managers on what they see in the past semester and what they are looking forward in the second half of the year.

Also, Regional Director Leon M. Dacanay, Jr., of the National Economic Development and Authority (NEDA), region 10, presented the regional economic performance of Northern Mindanao, as well as, its development plans and priorities. Acknowledging the valuable contributions of the private sector, representatives from the business community were also given the chance to voice their reactions on the country’s performance and prospects. Cagayan de Oro City became the second while Davao City was the first destination of the PEB domestic roadshow. The team is also set to visit Cebu, Laoag, Subic, Baguio, Batangas, and Puerto Prinsesa.

DENR-10 posts 75.45% accomplishment of NGP targets, as of 3Q, this yearBy Lina D. Calvez

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental – A 75.45 percent accom-plishment of region 10’s annual tar-get for the National Greening Pro-gram (NGP) have been noted, as of Sept. 30, this year.

This was revealed by Regional Executive Director Corazon B. Galinato of the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR), region 10, during the Regional Management Conference and Physical/Financial Assessment (RMCPFA) held in Maramag, Bukidnon, recently. The activity was held to ensure the attainment of regional targets of the different programs and projects

Photo Credits: http://www.denr10.org


of DENR-10, for this year, as it also served as venue to update the status of the NGP implementation in the region. Participants of the 2-day RMC were the Regional Directors of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), DENR-10 Regional Technical Directors, Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENRO/CENRO), division chiefs and support staff. Galinato said the Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service (PAWCZMS) topped the accomplishment with 81.91 percent, followed by Ecosystem Research and Development Service (ERDS) with 75.24 percent, Land Management Service (LMS) with 74 percent and Forest Management Service (FMS) with 70.66 percent. Meanwhile, Galinato encouraged

the regional officials to help each other in accomplishing the regional targets, as she cautioned them to be extra careful in dealing with NGP activities. She, further, instructed the officials for the identification of the needed seedling preference, the area where they will be planted, proper documentation of reports and for them to submit NGP pictorials of sites, particularly before, during and after planting. It was gathered that training and accreditation of nursery operations will be undertaken by the regional office. Aside from Regional Directors Sabdullah Abubacar of EMB and Alfredo Relampagos of MGB, the PENRO’s and the division chiefs also presented their respective accomplishments covering the period January to September 30, this year. (DENR)

DILG takes lead in PPEI project implementationCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be the lead agency that shall review the use of revenues from natural resources.

This was revealed by Regional Director Loreto M. Bhagwani of DILG, region 10, who said DILG will also serve as the link to poverty-environment opportunities with key planning and budgeting guidelines of local government units (LGUs) including application of LGU best practices. Bhagwani said these are among the provisions of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) DILG has signed with

four (4) other government agencies for the implementation of the Philippine Poverty Environment Initiative (PPEI) project that seeks to reduce poverty in the country. These agencies are the Departments of Finance (DOF), Budget and Management (DBM), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).


Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, yesterday, said these agencies which have agreed to help the DILG implement the PPEI signed the MOA during the “Biyaheng Pinoy,” the celebration of the 20thanniversary of the enactment of the Local Government Code held at the PICC, recently. Robredo said the PPEI seeks to review the collection and distribution of revenues from environment and natural resources (ENR) and shall provide recommendations on how the share of local government units (LGUs) can be increased. He explained that the project which support poverty reduction through the use of revenues and benefits derived from sustainable management of ENR, will also integrate pro-poor and environment concerns into the development planning. It also aims to identify the level of expenditure on environment at the national and local levels, and lobby for national budget allocations for programs and projects on sustainable environment including opportunities for green economy. Under the agreement, the DILG as the lead agency, shall review the use of revenues from natural resources and link poverty-environment opportunities with

key planning and budgeting guidelines of LGUs including application of LGU best practices. The DOF shall review the collection and distribution of revenues from natural resources and recommend how the share of LGUs in revenues from ENR can be increased, while the DBM shall take charge of the public environmental expenditure review at the national and local levels and analyze how these contribute to environmental and poverty outcomes. On the other hand, the DENR shall develop a national road map and advocacy campaign for the introduction of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for mining and energy industries in the country, while the NAPC shall take charge in the identification of congressional champions to sponsor budget allocations for environmental programs and projects for poverty alleviation. The PPEI project, which is supported by the UNDP-UNEP Asia Pacific Regional Programme, was launched last month in an Inception Workshop where representatives from government agencies, academe and non-government organizations convened to commit on the successful implementation of the project. (DILG)

KABATAAN seminar trains OSY for leadershipBy 2Lt. Niño Mariano B. Paat

KOLAMBUGAN, Lanao del Norte – Some 64 promising out-of-school youths (OSY) concluded the Kaagapay ng Bayan sa Pagkamit ng Kapayapaan (KABATAAN) seminar held here, last Oct. 18-21.

A paradigm of Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) in the grass root level, KABATAAN aimed at developing OSY’s to be leaders in Barangays Baybay, Muntai, Kulasian, Palao and Pantar, all of

Kolambugan town, this province. Spearheaded by the 35th Infantry (MAKAMANDAG) Battalion (35IB), Philippine Army, through its Alpha (ALAMID) Company, the seminar


was a concerted effort of the various government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organization, people’s organization, provincial government and the local government unit (LGU) of Kolambugan, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 1LT Jason B. Torino, Commanding Officer of ALAMID, 35th IB, said the seminar was anchored with the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan ‘BAYANIHAN,’ with involvement of different stakeholders and the support of the Punong Barangays (Village Chieftains) and the Samahang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons of each barangay. “With this program we can develop a pool of youth leaders to launch inter-agency activities aimed at curbing insurgency, promoting peace advocacy and enlisting support in the government’s anti- terrorist campaign,” Torino said. The modules used were on Conflict Resolution, Leadership (Youth Empowerment), Human Rights, Drug Prevention, Culture of Peace, Livelihood Enhancement, Facing Adolescence, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Infiltration to the Youth, Politico-

Economic and Ideological Spectrum. Part of the 4-day seminar workshop was how these youth were equipped with necessary knowledge and skills that a good leader should have. “Youth, like them, would help in the attainment of sustainable development and lasting peace,” he said. “Of course this will not end here, we will choose among them the most promising to represent their barangay in the upcoming YLS at the municipal level and have a chance to join at the provincial level,” he added. The PB’s, also, urged the youth to take this opportunity since what they learned in the seminar is not learned in college. “We intend to reach the grass roots level and we hope that all the barangays in other municipalities like Tangkal and Magsaysay, this province, will respond to our invitation.” The activity is one of the community services of the AFP to prove that they are not only maintaining the peace and security but also extending their arms to help and do their share towards development, Torino added. (35IB)

Region X economy now the largest in MindanaoBy Apipa Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental- Region 10 has become the largest economy in Mindanao con-tributing about 28 percent to the annual gross domestic product of the island. In a Mid-Year Economic Briefing, Regional Director Leon M. Dacanay,

Jr., of the National Economic Development and Authority (NEDA)


per capita is the highest in Mindanao and the third highest in the country. He said Northern Mindanao is a fairly balanced economy but economic transformation from a largely agricultural-based to an industry and services-led economy is becoming more evident. The regional economy, he said, is fairly strong and while it lost momentum during the crisis years, it is among the few regions in the country which enabled the national economy to escape recession. This was made possible with the relatively strong agriculture output cushioning the declining performance of the services and industry sectors in the crisis years, he further said. Dacanay said the leading economic indicators of the region basically point to a modest to strong recovery emphasizing the regional exports to have made a strong recovery in 2010 from a slump in 2009. As of the first two quarters of 2011, exports increased by about 26 percent propped up by the huge increase in the first quarter of the year, he added. He also cited that agriculture production was up in the first semester, except for coconut which showed a negative four (4) percent growth. Tax collections, on the other hand, continue to increase which is indicative of vibrant economy but ratio of tax revenues to GRDP remains within six percent while the customs collections fell in the first quarter, however, it recovered in the second quarter.

In addition, employment is fairly stable with employment rate improving by two (2) percent points to 96 percent, with services and agriculture as the biggest employers, though underemployment remains high at 35 percent. Energy consumption also recovered from the crisis years which is indicative of the recovering economy especially in industry and business sectors, he noted. While it lost momentum in the first quarter, he said, energy sales increase by about 10 percent in the second quarter of 2011. Meanwhile, Dacanay stressed that the region shall continue to present itself as the most competitive, efficient, and attractive transshipment hub and venue for industrial ventures. It shall assert its role as a gateway and industrial core and trade center in the south, as well as, the leader in high-value agri-based and fishery products, he said. As the regional economy undergoes transformation, more value-adding activities, such as, processing and manufacturing shall be intensified to fully harness and sustain its rich agriculture and resource-based endowments and potentials, he further said.


DBM cites poverty alleviation measures in 2012 National Budget by Mai Gevera Macapagat

Poverty reduction remains central for better governance

as manifested in the 2012 National Budget. Speaking in behalf of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad during the Economic Briefing held Friday (Oct 21) in Davao City , DBM Re-gion XI Director Achilles Bravo re-ported how the present administra-tion puts enough weight on poverty reduction in the appropriation of the national budget. He reported that the Social Ser-vices sector gets the bulk of the total budget with about P575.8 billion. This has increased more than 10 percent as compared to the previous year’s bud-getary allocation. About 3 million households are set to benefit from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as this remains a priority poverty alleviation program of the Aquino administration. To safeguard the credibility of choosing 4Ps beneficiaries, the ad-ministration set a National House-hold Targeting System (NHTS), a

tool that would accurately identify the real poor. This increases the precision of targeting the poor. The DBM also reported that P17.4 billion as proposed is tar-geted for the construction of over 41,000 new classrooms, 25,667 water and sanitation facilities, and 2.5 million new school chairs. DBM also highlighted the Pub-lic-Private Partnerships to be uti-lized to implement social servic-es. Projects include construction of school buildings, health centers and government infrastructures. Of the P182.2 billion allocated for the infrastructure investment program, P22.1 billion is set


entry of private capital in critical infrastructure and other projects in support of the PPP program. Anchored to DBM’s princi-pal mandate of public expenditure management, Bravo underscored the agency’s implementation of the Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) and performance based budgeting. “This enables us to determine

the benefits to Filipinos of every peso spent by the government. We recognize the people as our main asset so we want to focus spending on programs and projects on basic education and social protection to benefit the poor sectors and poor regions.” Bravo said. (PIA/Mai Ge-vera-Macapagat)

LBP’s loan outstanding to priority sectors reaches P8 billionBy Carina L. Cayon

DAVAO CITY– The Land Bank of the Philippines reported that its outstanding loans issued to prior-ity sectors in Davao Region has reached to around P8.087 billion as of the third quarter this year. LBP vice-president and region-al head Camilo Leyba said that the biggest chunk of the remaining loans amounting to P4.818 billion came

from the local government units. Various cooperatives, another priority sector, have availed of the LBP loan windows that amounted to P895.26 million, Leyba told the me-dia here during LBP’s presentation of accomplishments in Friday’s Kapihan sa PIA. He said loans of the Credit Fi-nancial Institutions (CFIs) reached to P604.27 million, while the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other institutions got P558.74 million and P1.210 billion, respectively. Leyba reported a loans-to-de-posit ratio of 1:1.5, given the total loans outstanding of P8.087 billion to the total deposits of P12.312 billion as of September 30, 2011. LBP also provides loan assis-tance to the region’s farmers and fisherfolks that amounted to about P353.43 million. Last year, the bank has an assistance of P329.36 million


to said sectors. As to loans repayment, Leyba admitted a problem on collecting from the agriculture sector. However, he reported a current low rate on past dues from the farm-ers’ and fisherfolks’ cooperatives af-ter finding better ways in its collection system. The LBP official also recognized the bank’s most outstanding CFIs, co-operatives and SMEs for 2011. Leyba mentioned Peoples Bank of Caraga as a hall of famer of a national award. He said the Cantilan Bank, Inc. in Surigao del Sur grabbed the Best in Reciprocal Business award as the 2nd placer. The Cantilan Bank was also cited

as a regional awardee as a rural bank together with the Rural Bank Digos, Inc. of Digos City, Davao del Sur. Leyba said that LBP is present in 22 branch networks in Davao Region including Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur. The bank has also placed 36 on-site Automated Teller Machine net-works spread throughout its branches in Davao Region, while there are 15 off-site ATM systems installed outside the branch networks such as in malls and in the national and local govern-ment offices. Leyba disclosed that two ad-ditional ATMs will be established in Abreeza Mall and in the Philippine Army at Camp Panacan this city next year. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

City to keep eye on drainage of bizestablishmentsDAVAO CITY- The City will be strictly monitoring business estab-lishments on the implementation of their drainage plan as filled-up canals and drainages have been pointed as among the aggravating factors of floods that has hit the urban areas of the city. Danilo Dayanghirang, consultant of the City Mayor on special concerns said that clogged canals and drains are a com-mon problem particularly in the city’s first district, which covers large swathe of Davao City’s major urban center. The former city councilor cited

the problem of a clogged drainage along Dakudao Avenue which he said was a result of a business establish-ment covering certain portion of a canal. Dayanghirang said that he is currently talking to the owners if they can put a manhole in the cover so that maintenance crews can easily clean up the clogged drainage. Another example is in Barangay Datu Luho in Ma-a where a taxi com-pany has covered the canal which was primarily intended to relieve flooding in the area. Also construction developments also contribute to clogged drain


age with their building debris being thrown on canals and waterways. Dayanghirang said that the City Engineer’s Office can cancel their drainage permit if ever there are vio-lations also the CEO can call attention to these erring developers. Howev-er he admits that the CEO lacks the manpower to cover all business es-tablishments in the city. “Kelangan, massive effort ng city na monitor ang compliance sa drain-age plan “(a massive effort is needed by the city to monitor the businesses

compliance to their drainage plan) Dayanghirang said. He said that flooding in the city can be mitigated by appropriate en-gineering interventions and commu-nity support. The participation of the community can be in the form of ad-hering to the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Act which pro-hibits dumping of wastes in water-ways and canals and also by helping in the drainage clean-up drive thru the Food- for- Work program. The City Government launched its Food-For- Work program in Febru-ary of this year which provides for lo-cal volunteers to do drainage and ca-nal clean-up in exchange for food and groceries. The program now covers 37 barangays and has over 23,000 volunteers. (PIA/RG Alama)

REGIONAL GALLERY

Soldiers carry the casket bearing the remains of their comrade killed during a clash between MILF forces in Albarka, Basilan which left 18 other troopers dead. (photo taken by NBN reporter Ethel Cantor Con-stantino at the Phil. Air Force TOG-XI tarmac in Davao City)


South Cotabato creates desk for Muslim affairs By Dani Doguiles

South Cotabato’s provincial government will soon have a desk where Muslim residents in the province can refer their concerns.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan yester-day approved a res-olution requesting Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. to create a Mus-lim Affairs Desk at the Provincial Social Welfare Office (PSW-DO).

Board Member Jose

Madanguit, chairman of the committee on human rights, Muslim affairs and cultural communities said that they pushed for the creation of Mus-lim affairs desk to hasten the provincial government’s re-sponse to concerns

and issues affecting the Muslim commu-nities in the prov-ince.

“The desk is equiv-alent to our Provin-cial Tribal Council,” Madanguit said. “It is about time that we also provide our Muslim brothers


a representation in the provincial gov-ernment where they can present their concerns and related purposes.”

“With a desk spe-cifically looking into the affairs concerning the Muslim commu-nities, the provincial

government will be able to immediately address problems af-fecting them.”

The resolution was of a unanimous spon-sorship.

Madanguit said the resolution was borne out of several meet-ings with Muslim lead-

ers in the 10 munici-palities and lone city.

The idea for the creation of a Muslim affairs desk in the provincial govern-ment was first sug-gested by Vice Gov-ernor Elmo Tolosa, he added. (PIA 12)

Lutayan indigents receive their cash assistance from the governmentBy Aida C. Agad KORONADAL CITY, Oct 25 – Not minding the

scorching heat of the sun, thousand of residents trooped the Tamnag Gymnasium in Lutayan town of Sultan Kudarat province to receive their cash assistance from the government.

Sultan Kudarat 1st District Congress-man Raden Sakalu-ran conferred with a Landbank official on some concerns of the 4Ps benefi-ciaries


Under the Condition-al Cash Transfer (CCT) program implement-ed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 12, identified poor res-idents are beneficia-ries of cash assistance. These are deposited in the grantees cash card given in the munici-pality on October 22, 2011.

In an interview by the Philippine Information Agency here, Lutayan Municipal Social Wel-fare and Development Officer Elenita Saave-dra said, out of a total of 4,235 beneficiaries in the entire town only 3,543 actually received their cards from the

tellers of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)-Koronadal City Branch, Sultan Kudarat 1st District Congressman Raden Sakaluran and DSWD 12 officials led by assistant regional director Gemma N. Ri-vera.

Saavedra said, most of the indigent recipi-ents thanked the gov-ernment for the cash grants, as they cite the big impact the as-sistance brings to their families.

These families, Saavedra said were earlier identified by the DSWD and the lo-cal government under the National House-hold Targeting System

for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

Saavedra also cited some of the reasons and discrepancies why other beneficiaries did not receive their cash cards such as erro-neous information of beneficiaries, change of address, death of beneficiaries. However, she assured that once these concerns are all resolved, they will dis-tribute the cards to ac-tual beneficiaries.

Under the CCT pro-gram, every poor fam-ily is entitled to receive cash assistance of P500.00 monthly and an additional P300.00 per child of school age. (ac agad PIA12)


Mobile mini-hospital ng ARMM magagamit naCOTABATO CITY, Okt 25, – Gagamitin na anumang araw sa linggong kasa-lukuyan ang bagong mobile mini-hospital ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Sinabi ni ARMM Exec-utive Secretary Naguib G. Sinarimbo na dumat-ing na ang mobile hospi-tal kahapon at sasabak na ito ngayong linggo sa bayan ng Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

Ang mobile mini- hos-pital ay bago at nagkaka-halaga ng P12 milyon na pinundohan ng Spe-cial Purpose Fund (SPF) ni Acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Alonto- Adi-ong.

Ayon kay Sinarimbo

ang nasabing pasilidad ay gagamitin ng ORG sa kanyang mga medical missions at pweding tu-mugon sa mga problema dala ng mga kaguluhan at mga sakuna na nang-yayari sa rehiyon.

Ang nasabing pasilidad ay mayroong x-ray ma-chine, laboratory at ibang gamit para sa pagsasa-gawa ng mga laboratory tests tulad ng urinalysis, blood test. Mayroon din itong dental laboratory, high-tech microscope at

iba pang mga gamit na pwedeng magsagawa ng operasyon at pagpapa-anak.

Ang mobile clinic na gawa sa Germany ay 12-meter ang haba, pinapat-akbo ito ng Honda engine at may 7.5 kVA generator na pwedeng magbigay ng buong pangangailangan ng nasabing pasilidad at napapaandar ito sa pa-mamagitan ng ‘manu-al operation’ gamit ang gasolina. (MCD-PIA Co-tabato City/BPI-ARMM)

Surallah pinuri sa nakamit sa kampanya laban sa drogaKORONADAL CITY, Okt 25 -- Pinuri ni Eduardo Siason, kinatawan ng gober-nador sa Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) ang mga pulis sa bayan ng Surallah sa accomplishments nito sa anti-drug campaign.

Ani Siason, base sa pinakahuling ulat na isinumite ng Surallah PNP sa pamumuno ni P/CInsp Jerome Pan-

ganiban, umabot sa siyam na raid ang matagumpay na naisa-gawa ng Surallah PNP nitong taon.

Hindi pa umano bas-ta-basta ang nakamit ng naturang police station sa kampanya. Halimbawa aniya, sa


isang raid, 23 pak-ete ng shabu ang na-sabat ng mga otoridad samantalang sa isa pang raid 24 na sa-chet ng shabu naman ang kanilang nakuha sa posisyon ng mga drug dealers.

Nagpapakita umano ito na hindi natutulog ang kapulisan ng na-turang bayan upang matigil ang pagkalat ng droga sa kanilang lugar.

Umaasa rin si Sia-son sa mas malawak na kampanya laban sa

droga sa buong lala-wigan lalo pa at isa sa pinakamahalagang tinututukan ng bagong pamunuan ng South Cotabato Police Pro-vincial Office sa pa-mumuno ni P/SSupt Raldolph Delfin ay ang laban sa iligal na droga.

Ang pagsusumite ng mga police station at iba pang ahensiya ng kani-kanilang ac-complishment report sa isinasagawang anti-drug raids ay may kaugnayan sa programa ng pama-

halaang panlalawigan na pagbibigay pabuya sa mga ahensiya na makatutulong sa kampanya laban sa droga.

Sa 2011, naglaan ng pondong P300,000 na ipamimigay bilang pabuya sa mga pulis at ahensiya sa kanil-ang matagumpay na kampanya laban sa iligal na droga.

Sa kasalukuyan ayon kay Siason, may naiwan pang mahigit P150,000 sa naturang pondo. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

Lt Col Bravo: Tropa ng 27th IB di demoralisado KORONADAL CITY, Okt. 25 -- Siniguro ni Lt. Col. Alexis Noel Brav, commanding of-ficer ng 27th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army na nakabase sa Tupi, South Cotabato na hindi bumaba ang moral ng kanyang nasasakupang tropa sa kabila ng nangyaring karahasan sa Al-Barka, Basilan na ikinasawi ng 19 na sundalo.

Nanatili din aniya ang kanilang supor-ta sa anumang kautu-san ni Pangulong Be-nigno Aquino III bilang commander-in-chief sa kabila ng lumalabas na balitang ilang opisyal ng militar ang nagba-balak na mag-resign sa kanilang tungkulin da-hil sa umano’y pagkad-ismaya sa desisyon ng Pangulo.

Inamin nito na patu-loy nilang minomonitor

ang mga balita subali’t patulong lang umano si-lang tumutupad sa kanil-ang mga responsibilidad bilang mga sundalo.

Aniya, abala sila sa pagtupad ng kanil-ang tungkulin para pag-isipan pa ang de-moralisasyon. Palagian din umano silang han-da sa anumang ma-giging desisyon ng mga nakatataas na opisyal at walang balak na su-malungat sa kautusan

ng higher headquar-ters.

Sa kasalukuyan, na-kahanda lang sila sa magiging epekto ng karahasan sakaling magkakaroon ng “spill-over” sa kanilang na-sasakupan.

Sa ngayon walang dapat ikababahala dahil nanatiling mapayapa ang nasasakupan ng 27th IB, ayon kay Lt. Col. Bravo. (DEDoguiles/PIA)


Lt Col Bravo: Tropa ng 27th IB di demoralisado

www.piacaraga.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

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38th SSEAYP delegates to start Southeast Asian cruising on Oct. 26 by Robert E. Roperos

The 28 delegates of the country to the 38th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) is scheduled to cruise around Southeast Asia Wednesday until December 16, 2011 where the

Philippines will be its first port of call.

Ed Anthony Lapay


In a press state-ment, NYC Commission-er Georgina Nava, who sits as chairperson of the SSEAYP Organizing Committee, this year’s finalists from the differ-ent regions of the coun-try would have started to receive formal notices from the secretariat al-ready regarding their participation. “The hard part is not over yet, as they still have to undergo a series of pre-departure train-ing and activities which will determine if they are indeed qualified and prepared for the voyage around the ASEAN and Japan as the country’s ambassadors of culture and goodwill,” Nava add-ed. Nava further said that aside from the SSEAYP participants’ pre-departure training,

the NYC is also gear-ing up for the Philippine Country Program, as the Philippines is known for its colorful festivals and fun-loving people and we will show our South-east Asian and Japanese brothers and sisters how Filipinos celebrate cama-raderie and friendship. The lone delegate from Caraga Region, Ed Anthony Lapay, a regis-tered nurse from Pros-peridad, Agusan del Sur is one of the delegates who passed the rigorous regional interviews and deliberations by the Na-tional Youth Commission (NYC). In his FaceBook ac-count, Lapay thanked God for the opportunity given to him to be with the other delegates in other Southeast Asian countries and to share cultures and traditions.

Also, in a previous text message to PIA, La-pay said as one of the country’s Ambassadors of Goodwill, he will do his best to be able to promote the richness of culture and history of the country, in general, and the Caraga Region, in particular. For 52 days, the delegates will be on board the cruise liner MS Fuji Maru dubbed “Friendship Boat” from October 26 to Decem-ber 16, 2011, visiting Japan, Philippines (Ma-nila), Brunei Darus-salam (Muara), Indone-sia (Jakarta), Malaysia (Port Klang) and Viet-nam (Ho Chi Minh). The friendship boat will dock in Manila on November 10-13, 2011 for the Philippine Coun-try Program.

Ed Anthony Lapay (3rd from left) with other Philippine delegates to the 38th SSEAYP during a courtesy call at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, as one of the pre-departure activi-ties of the program.


BUTUAN CITY – The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Technical Working Group (TWG) will conduct a regional DRRM strategic action planning workshop for CY 2012-2016 on November 15-18 in Davao City.

Caraga RDRRMC conducts TWG planning workshop

According to RDRRMC chairperson Dr. Blanche T. Goben-ciong, the workshop will be held in order to ful-fill the council’s commit-ment in making disaster risk reduction a devel-opment priority through the implementation of more effective and stra-tegic programs, projects and activities and to ad-

dress the impact of di-saster risk and climate change. During the activity, the TWG will prepare a 5-Year Comprehensive Regional DRRM/CCA Strategic Action Plan draft for Caraga region. The plan shall be aligned with the five priorities for action of the Hyogo Framework for Action

(HFA) and the new DRRM framework. Also, during the activity the National DRRMC will provide the TWG inputs on the HFA and the National Syn-thesis Report on HFA Im-plementation in the Phil-ippines 2009-2011; the National DRRM frame-work: Outcome and Key Result Areas; and the In-

by Nora CL Molde


OFWs undergo 2-day training on financial literacy and entrepreneurshipby David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR – Twenty three overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have undergone training on financial literacy to equip them with business skills, just in case they opt to start a business instead of going abroad again to find work.

troduction of the Logical Framework Approach. Gobenciong will also present the Region-al DRRM Program Initia-

tives 2006-2011 to the group and the DRR En-hanced Spatial Frame-work of Caraga: Vision, Goals and Objectives,

Policies, Strategies, Targets and Programs/Projects will also be dis-cussed during the peri-od.

According to Pro-vincial Public Employ-ment Service Assis-tance Office manager (PESO manager) Divina Lagumbay, this activ-ity is the first of the se-ries of activities lined up with partner agencies in order to help the OFWs

who were repatriated from the countries due to peace and order prob-lems abroad. A number of train-ing have already been held in Agusan del Norte as by the Department of Trade and Industry as the Overseas Workers Wel-

fare Administration de-clared it has a reintegra-tion fund in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines amount-ing to P2 billion. OFWs are being offered the opportunity to engage in business and forget their dreams to go and work abroad, Lagumbay said. Lagumbay added that the trainings are also in preparation to the plan of the provin-cial government of Agu-san del Sur to put up a resource center or a “One stop center” that will cater to the needs of the OFWs, the youth, the families of the OFWs and the migrants.“The center will serve


Lift ceasefire in Basilan - Chiz

While agreeing that peace negotia-tions should continue, Escudero said the Basi-

lan offensive should be taken up as a distinct and separate issue con-sidering the cunning

way the MILF has way-laid the Army’s Special Forces last Tuesday that killed 19 soldiers.

as the information, re-search, networking and advocacy for our clients,” he said. This include ad-dressing the psycho-social problems of the youth. “With parents abroad, many young people are misguided be-cause of the absence of their parents, and that is how the center will be of help. Region-wide, there is no center that focus-

es on the problems of the youth...We will also put a kiosk and comput-ers at the center so that youth can have access to the internet in looking for job that will fit their knowledge and skills,” Lagumbay said. In this recent train-ing, according to Lagum-bay, OFW participants were taught how to plan for their retirement and

investment in order to achieve their dreams. They will be taught also family budgeting and simple bookkeeping or record keeping. The training also tackled topics such as importance of invest-ment and types of in-vestment funds; entre-preneurship and saving for investment or finan-cial planning.

BUTUAN CITY – The government should suspend the ceasefire agreement enforced in certain areas in Mindanao, specifically Basilan, following the series of attacks against government troops by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) early this week, Senator Chiz Escudero said.


“Yes, talks should continue, but I was hoping that it is con-ditioned upon the sur-render of those respon-sible for the Basilan massacre and ceasefire is lifted in that area to give our troops a level playing field in hunting down those responsible for the bloodbath,” Es-cudero explained. The senator, who earlier expressed in-dignation over how government troops were slaughtered by the MILF in an encoun-ter, also expressed dis-pleasure over how our peace negotiators are handling the situation. “The approach of the OPPAP to the entire peace process is erro-neous and misguided.

Our soldiers are literally made like sitting ducks in a carnival waiting to be plucked and aimed at by those rogue crim-inals one by one,” Es-cudero said. Escudero chal-lenged Presidential Peace Adviser Ging De-les and government chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen to take a stronger position on the Basilan incident and the subsequent Zam-boanga attacks with their counterparts. “They cannot con-tinue with a business as usual stance once they meet with their coun-terparts next month and desperately pre-tend there is nothing wrong along the way,” added Escudero, who

chairs the Senate Com-mittee on Justice and Human Rights. He said the peace panel should reevalu-ate the situation and the direction surround-ing the peace talks be-fore taking any con-crete steps. “They should ask their counterparts why things are not going right, those offensives were trickeries, the rebels know they can swoop down on our troops and then cow-ardly hide behind the cloak of peace process while we watch help-lessly how our soldiers’ lives are bartered away only because their hands are tied by the peace negotiations,” Escudero said.


News Feature: Drink milk early in life, prevent fracture later in lifeby Czarina Teresita S. Martinez

Drinking milk and eating foods high in calcium at an early age may be an important strategy to reduce osteoporotic fracture rates in the later life”, says Ms. Aida C. Mallillin, Senior Science Research

Specialist of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

Ms. Mallilin and her group studied the effect of school–based milk feeding among six to eight year old children in Metro Manila by mea-suring the bone mineral content and bone miner-al density using the dual energy x-ray absorpti-ometry. At baseline, Ms. Mallillin noted that the children participating in the study consume only 49 percent (%) of the recommended nutrient intake for calcium per day. After twelve months of conducting the milk feeding, Ms. Mallilin found that the children who drank milk

with an a d -ditional 278 mil-ligrams ( m g ) of cal-cium per day, had a greater increase in bone mineral content and bone mineral density than the children who did not drink milk. The FNRI-DOST recom-mends 700 mg of calcium per day for seven to nine year-old chil-dren. Among the

foods that have high cal-cium content, based on the Food Composition Tables (FCT) published

by FNRI-DOST, are milk and milk products, an-chovies (dilis, dulong), sardines (tawilis, sini-lyasi, tamban), shrimp (alamang, taguntong), crabs (talangka), snail (kuhol, susong pilipit), seaweeds (balbalulang, gamet kulot), root crop (kamoteng puti), dried green mung beans, oats, and green leafy vegetables (dahon

ng ampalaya, lu-bi-lubi, malung-

gay, saluyot, himbabao). In addi-tion to calci-


um, the bones need suf-ficient supplies of other minerals such as mag-nesium, fluoride, zinc, copper, and manganese. Vitamins D, C, and K are likewise needed in the right amount for optimal bone development and metabolism. Message 1 of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos recom-mends eating a variety

of foods, to provide all the nutrients in the prop-er amount and balance. The human body needs more 40 different nutri-ents for good health. No single food can provide all the nutrients needed by the body. For more informa-tion on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Ca-panzana, Director, Food

and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mai l:mcv@fnri .dost.gov.ph or [email protected] Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 lo-cal 2296 or visit our website:http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.


MASIPAG rallies, urges MGB to stop mining operations

W e strongly oppose any mining operations.”

This was the call of the ‘Magsasaka at Si-yentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) to the gov-ernment during their rally held in front of the Mines and GeoSci-ences Bureau (MGB), regional office on Fri-

day. The MASIPAG, one of the oldest non-gov-ernment organizations engaged in sustainable agriculture with a total of 456 base peoples’ or-ganizations, 42 NGOs, and 15 individuals in its pool of researchers/scientists in the coun-

try who were dressed in blue t-shirts and despite intense heat, carried tarpaulins with printed slogans “Pagk-aon, Dili Mina” (Foods, not mining), and “Ba-bagan ang Pagmina sa Zamboanga del Sur” (Oppose mining in Zamboanga del Sur). MASIPAG Mindan-ao coordinator Bobby Pagusara said rally who was joined and sup-ported by the Alliance to Save the Integrity of Nature (ASIN), Catho-lic churches, local gov-ernment units (LGUs),

by Gideo C. Corgue


and other groups aimed at expressing their vehement opposition to the mining operations in the region saying that MGB is the government’s agency that approves mining application and exploration permits. “Gusto namo nga ang MGB maminaw sa among panawagan tungod kay ang maong buhatan dako kaayo ug papel pagtugot pagpalihok sa mina dinhi sa atong dapit (We would like that MGB will listen to our call because it has a

big role in allowing the operation of mining in our area),” Pagusara

explained.

“ A m o n g gipahibalo sa MGB nga supak kami sa pagmina tungod kay kini ang makaguba pag-ayo sa atong kalikupan ug makaapekto sa

panginabuhian sa atong mga kabus nga katawhan (We informed MGB that we are against mining because

it destroys our env i ronment and it affects adversely the livelihood of our poor people),” Pagusara added. Pagusara said the groups handed their petition letter to Regional Director

Albert Johann B. Jacildo for the agency to act on their appeal to stop mining operations in the region. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

Red Cross organizes Zambo “1st Million Volunteer Run” by Jocelyn P. AlvarezThe Philippine Red Cross (PRC)- Zamboanga City

Chapter is preparing for the Zamboanga City edition of “1st Million Volunteer Run” (1stMVR) set

this December. The 1st MVR is a nationwide activity of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) geared towards the promotion of the spirit of volunteerism.

For Zamboanga City, the 1st MVR will be conducted on December 4 at 6 in themorning. This 5 kilometer

run will have a starting point at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex and will end at the city’s favorite public park by the sea- the Paseo del


Mar. “The objective of this activity is to make the Philippines the Cap-ital of volunteerism,” PRC Zamboanga City Chapter Administrator Victor Liozo said. Liozo expressed, for the Zamboanga City 1st MVR, he is expect-ing some 10,000 par-ticipants to include Red Cross Volunteers and

others. Liozo also called on the public to join the run and be one in pro-moting volunteerism in the country. Registration Fee for the run is P500 and 100 respectively.

For those who will opt to register for the p500 slot, he/she gets a free running bib, reusable

bag and a PRC insurance coverage. For those who will pay the P100 fee, they will have to provide their own shirt, but PRC insur-ance coverage will still be given. The 1st MVR is a project of the PRC, where majority of the workers are volunteers. (JPA/PIA9-Zambo

Power plant to rise in Zambo. Norte by Franklin P. GumaponThe provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte

led by Governor Rolando E. Yebes has now found a solution to frequent brownouts in the province.

The Sangguni-ang Panlalawigan has recently passed a resolution authorizing the provincial gover-nor to enter into an agreement with the Century Peak Power Company (CPPC) for the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.

Atty. Christian Calibo, CPPC legal counsel came here to present his company’s plan to build a power plant in Upper Iras-an, Roxas, Zamboan-ga del Norte more particularly right at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial In-dustrial Complex in said place.

Calibo said his company’s coal-fired power plant will be using the so-called “clean coal technol-ogy,” which is consid-ered the latest in coal-fired power plants. The power plant is expected to pro-duce electricity from 300 to 600 mega-watts, “more than


enough to supply the energy requirements in the area. Presently, the entire province con-

tinues to experience frequent brownouts due to the power curtailment imposed upon the consumers

by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). ( J P A / F P G - P I A -Zambo. Norte)


Six individuals from Zamboanga del Norte have been found positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a recent report of the National

Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the Department of Health (DOH) in Manila said.

The six patients with HIV, a disease which causes Ac-quired Immune De-ficiency Syndrome (AIDS), are now un-der medication to slow down the spread of virus in their bod-ies. Abigail Khio, provincial HIV/AIDS coordinator of the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Health Of-fice (ZNPHO), said that the six HIV pos-itive persons have one thing in com-mon; they engaged in multiple partners. Khio disclosed

that HIV/AIDS in-fection could not be easily detected as the patients would usually see their doc-tors for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). With this, all the health centers throughout the prov-ince are now intensi-fying an information campaign about HIV/AIDS and the ways to prevent it. Latest report issued by the City Health Office (CHO) of Dipolog revealed that 93 guest rela-tions officers test-

ed positive for STD for the past three months. Common STD symptoms are fe-ver, change in color of urine, itchiness of private parts and lack of appetite. The first record-ed HIV/AIDS patient from Zamboanga del Norte was in the early 1990s whose identity has been kept secret until today. The only news about this first recorded HIV case was that the patient had long died. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

by Franklin P. Gumapon


Documents

One Mindanao - October 25, 2011