one mindanao - january 15, 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

Hoyohoy Highland

Stone Chapel Adventure Park:

Home of Asia’s Longest and the Highest Zipline

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

Rutchie Cabahug-AguhobNorthern Mindanao

page 4

Today’s issue...Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 154

Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

Gov. Ramiro reiterates BFAR warning of presence of red tide toxin in Murcielagos Bay

Northern MindanaoIligan builds partnership with various sectors to rebuild Iligan

Jennifer P. Gaitano, Caraga RegionDOST-Caraga’s Science & Technology Center in Butuan inaugurated

DOLE-9 turns-over P980-T livelihood funds

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

21

12

14

17

24

Qatar Red Crescent joins Philippine Red Cross in relief operations10

11

Rodielyn A. Manugas, Southern MindanaoPAGCOR shares assistance to Comval disaster victims16

Olive Sudaria, Central MindanaoDSWD reports 137,941 active household-beneficiaries of 4Ps in Region 1219

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga RegionOCD-Caraga intensifies monitoring of region’s disaster-prone areas 22

Franklin P. Gumapon, Western Mindanao

Ac Agad, Central MindanaoPhilhealth Run sa Koronadal pinaghahandaan 20

Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, Western MindanaoGAD Ordinance to solidify implementation of laws on women and children

29

9 15

26

4 Sunday, January 15, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel Adventure Park: Home of Asia’s Longest and the Highest Zipline

Cover Story

Come to Highland Stone Adventure Park in Barangay Hoyohoy, this city, and indeed have more fun!

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

5 Sunday, January 15, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

Just like what the Department of Tourism has been campaigning people to do to “Have more fun in the Philippines,” the place now of-fers the latest in skyline zip experi-ence. Thus, visitors are welcomed to “Get a certification that you have conquered Asia’s two (2) longest zip lines: A 1,250m. long and 500m. deep, as well, as a 1,100m. long and 400m. deep zip lines,” plus a horse-

back-riding trip, back on track. As suggested by the word “Hoyohoy,” meaning breeze in Eng-lish, the Park’s location of almost 3,000 ft. or approximately 850m. above sea level, truly breaths of fresh air. Its panoramic view includes, not just the whole City of Tangub, but also that of the nearby Ozam-iz City and the other municipalities of Misamis Occidental, way up in the Northeast, like those of Clarin,


Tudela and Sinacaban and Bonifacio, in the South. It also gives one a great view of the Lanao del Norte province across Panguil Bay, where the towns of Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod and Baroy, seem very visible, just like a stone’s throw away, from where you stand.A very good place to be with friends or family, not only on weekends but also on holidays, the Park can make you feel relaxed and forget the busy walks of city life, as it offers an Acoustic Night for those who want to stay overnight on weekends. “Eat All You Can” meals of sea foods, fresh meat

and vegetables are also prepared from 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m., every Saturdays & Sundays, for the con-venience of the visitors. Meanwhile, the HSC Hotel, also has affordable rooms and available camp area facilities, camp spots, tents, rubber mats, bonfire and conference hall ar-eas. For more information and reservation, you may contact phone nos. 0988-586-0142/0917-326-7878, facebook: www.facebook.com/hsch.hoyohoy or email: [email protected]/[email protected].


Aquino to lead inauguration of int’l bag manufacturing plant in Tarlac

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the inauguration ceremony to formally open the D’Luxe Bags Philippines, Inc. in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Concepcion, Tarlac on Monday.


Aquino to lead inauguration of int’l bag manufacturing plant in Tarlac

Upon his arriv-al, the President will lead the unveiling of the Plant Marker located at the main entrance of the plant’s Production Building 1 and tour the plant’s facilities before addressing some 200 guests composed of offi-cers and employees of the company and government and lo-

cal officials who will attend the event. He will be joined by Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo. D’Luxe Bags Philippines, Inc, is one of several com-panies under Luen Thai Enterprises & Tan Holdings whose chief executive offi-cer is Willie Tan. Tan had met with the President

during his five-day visit to China from August 30 to Sep-tember 3, 2011 to discuss investment possibilities. Tan told Presi-dent Aquino of Luen Thai Holdings’ busi-ness investment in the Philippines, such as the recently established Coach luxury bags pro-duction facility in Concepcion, Tarlac as well as the ex-pansion of its Cebu and Clark facilities. Tan also dis-closed that LTH is planning to build an apparel and tex-tile mill in Bataan. (RCK)

10 Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Qatar Red Crescent has joined hands with

the Philippine Red Cross in a relief operation to typhoon-stricken families in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Qatar Red Crescent joins Philippine Red Cross in relief operations

Red Crescent and Red Cross personnel distributed food, non-food items and hygiene kits to hundreds of families last Friday, Jan. 13. According to PRC, the Qatar Red Crescent donated $60,000 or around P2.6 mil-lion to provide assistance to at least 1,000 families in CDO and Iligan. PRC chairman Richard J. Gordon thanked the Qa-tar Red Crescent and other

organizations for continu-ously supporting the Philip-pine Red Cross. Meanwhile, Dr. Amer Melhem, chief of the Disas-ter Management headed the Red Crescent team along with Projects and Events Co-ordinator Ms. Jassie Guma-bon and Head of Mission to the Philippines Mr. Rashed Al-Muhanadi. Each family beneficia-ry received basic non-food

items such as mosquito nets, blankets, plastic mats and a water container. Hygiene kits to include toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, bath soap, towel and other toiletries were also distributed. In addition, the fami-lies also received food ra-tion consisting of five kilos of rice, four pieces canned goods and four packs of noodles.


DENR gives back to the peopleby Lina D. CalvezIn the wake of the destruction brought by typhoon “Sendong,”

the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR), region 10, established an Operation/Relief Assistance Center at

the regional office, here, to better facilitate relief operation for affected 249 personnel and other typhoon victims.

Regional Executive Director Corazon B. Galinato disclosed that the team serves as focal persons to manage and handle the receipt and distribution of incoming relief goods from the different Good Samaritans. The team is composed of

representatives from the offices of the Regional Technical Directors (RTDs) from the different sectors headed by the OIC-Chief of the Planning and Management Division. The silver lining in all this is the ability of the Filipino people to band together and help the affected. “I am thankful to DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje for immediately responding to

our call for assistance,” Director Galinato said. She is also grateful to the other offices of DENR, the line bureaus and other regions for helping the affected employees and other victims of typhoon “Sendong” in


Northern Mindanao. Further, Dir. Galinato is grateful to the DENR partners like the Philippine Mining Safety and Environment Association whose members came and distributed relief goods, water containers and water. Some of the materials which were donated by PENRO/CENRO Misamis Oriental were fabricated into coffins producing 100 coffins which were donated to the local government of Cagayan de Oro City. The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Iligan City was able to fabricate 20 coffins which were turned over to the local government of Iligan City.

The region also received 11 bundles of paper/cardboard caskets cardboard which were donated to the local government units (LGUs). The CENR Office in Iligan City turned-over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), in the region, 879 pieces of confiscated lumber with a total volume of 559.51 cubic meters; and CENRO-Initao, Misamis Oriental has turned-over to DSWD a total of 22 pieces of confiscated lumber with a total volume of 8.39 cu.m. DENR-10 as part of its commitment to help other typhoon victims also turned-over relief goods including rice and canned goods to the DSWD-10. (DENR)

Gov. Ramiro reiterates BFAR warning of presence of red tide toxin in Murcielagos Bayby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental – Governor Herminia Ramiro has reiterated the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warning that all types of shellfish from Murcielagos Bay, continues to be unsafe for human consumption.

The BFAR warning includes “alamang” or minute shrimps, commonly called “uyap” or “uyabang.” The same warning was issued

by BFAR, last November, after shellfish gathered from the bay, located between Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte, tested positive of the red tide toxin.

Photo credits: http://www.marketmanila.com


Hence, to prevent any case of food poisoning due to the toxic red tide, the public is again advised “not to harvest,” “not to eat,” “not to sell” and “not to buy them,” the Governor said. Published in BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin No. 1, series of 2012, the warning came out after the latest laboratory results show that the shellfish collected in the area have been found positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit. The Governor, also reminds the public to follow BFAR’s advice that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs gathered from the area are safe to eat, provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs, such as, gills and intestines, are removed before cooking. Also unsafe to eat, the BFAR said, are the shellfish collected from

Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur,

Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar and Masinloc Bay in Zambales. Meanwhile, BFAR said coastal waters of Taguines Lagoon in Benoni, Mahinog, Camiguin Island, have been found to be free from toxic red tide, therefore, the shellfish gathered from the areas are safe to eat.

Iligan builds partnership with various sectors to rebuild IliganILIGAN, Lanao del Norte - A few days after Sendong hit Iligan, and as residents were still stunned by death and devastation, help came rushing in the form of food and non-food from neighboring places and various regions.

International aids too were there -- United Nations, Swiss, Canadian, Taiwanese, and a host of unnamed others took part in the

humanitarian effort. Various sectors in Iligan who were first responders of the flood survivors, reached out with their


used clothing, food and temporary shelters. Yet, going into the third week after the flood, the city is just barely waking up to the enormity of the task to rebuild. The swath of destruction the flood left, and the after effects including the outbreak of leptospirosis, diarrhea, dengue coupled with feelings of depression and even insanity is palpable. As efforts in emergency response slowly transitioned into rehabilitation phase, people started to regroup to integrate their acts together. Recently, the local government of Iligan, through Mayor Lawrence Cruz, forged cooperative partnership with a multi-sectoral group called IDRCC or Iligan Disaster Rehabilitation and Coordination Center, towards rebuilding Iligan. “This is not the time for finger pointing, we need to get our acts together to rebuild Iligan,”

says Bishop Galido, a member of IDRCC. Meanwhile, Mayor Cruz noted there is no reason at the moment to spend much from the calamity fund for food, clothing and temporary shelters as help are still coming by the truckloads. The said fund, he said, will be utilized especially when donations slow down. On the other hand, a 15.9 hectare relocation site at Barangay Sta. Elena is underway. It will house at least 1,600 families. Tentative start of the build is January 25, to be spearheaded by the Gawad Kalinga Team. Meantime, Tent Cities are being set up in various locations to temporarily shelter flood survivors particularly those who lost their homes, while others remain in evacuation centers awaiting resettlement and relocation. (CIO)


Coco shells in high demand in DavSurby Carina Cayon

Coconut shells will be in high demand in the province of Davao del

Sur as soon as an export company of a sugar product extracted from coco shells will have its full opera-tions this year. The CJ-Toyota Tsusho Xylose Plant located in Sta. Cruz town of Davao del Sur will be increasing its need of coco shells from 350 metric tons a day to 450MT or 85,000MT a year. The required supply of coco shells is to meet the demand of pro-ducing 12,000MT annually of the D-xylose product or a sugar product de-rived from coco shells, said Provincial

Director Engr. Edwin Banquerigo of Department of Trade and Industry. Banquerigo said that the CJ-Toy-ota Tsusho has been operating in the province since 2010, and is exporting the D-xylose product to China, Japan and Korea. He said that the D-xylose is used as sweetener for industrial products and confectionery products such as toothpastes and gums. Banquerigo told the media in Friday’s Kapihan sa PIA that the high demand of coco shells will be benefi-cial to the coco farmers, saying that this would increase their income. However he said that coco shell supplies in the province would not be enough to meet the demand of the D-xylose production, noting the cor-responding need of coco shells in the production of activated carbon or charcoal. This is why, he added that CJ-Toyota Tsusho is getting coco shells from other areas in Mindanao. Banquerigo said that the com-pany has been providing earnings to the export industry of Davao del Sur.


The D-xylose plant operation has generated approximately more than US$24 million in export sales since 2010, according to DTI’s ac-complishment report of 2011.

The report stated that the com-pany has also provided US$1.5 mil-lion in workers compensation cover-ing 200 employees.

PAGCOR shares assistance to Comval disaster victims

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has extended its assistance to the recent victims of calamities this province. PAGCOR turned over relief assis-tance of water, biscuits, noodles and sardines to Governor Arturo T. Uy on January 5, 2012. Under its medical mission, PAG-COR also provided the province hun-dreds of boxes of medicines and vita-mins last year.

The said donations were meant for the disaster victims residing in Compostela Valley. Gov. Uy was thankful to all local and national line agencies like PAG-COR which have been his constant partners in the delivery of public ser-vice, saying that “they (agencies) are true to their mission, vision and com-mitment.” PAGCOR, one of the government-owned and controlled corporations, has a mission to be a responsible and responsive partner of the Philippine government in its nation-building pro-gram. PAGCOR aims to bring govern-ment closer to its constituents by pro-viding basic health services and as-sistance especially in depressed areas and those battered by calamities. In times of calamities, PAGCOR is always ready to give assistance through its outreach operations. Victims of disasters such as fires, typhoons and floods and other natural and or man-made calamities are provided with relief goods, medi-cines and other needed items. (IDS-ComVal/Rodielyn A. Manugas)


Sarangani poorest families receive cash assistance

Photo by Russell Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE

by Beverly Paoyon

ALABEL, Sarangani -- Sarangani released cash grants on Thursday (January 12) to augment the income of the poorest families in barangay Domolok thru the conditional cash transfer (CCT) project, a local initiative patterned after the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the national government.


4Ps is a poverty al-leviation strategy which provides poor families cash assistance for the health and education needs of their children 0-14 years old.

A total of 268 families each received a P500 monthly as-sistance covering July, August, and September 2011. This first release entitled each beneficia-ry the sum of P1,500.

Governor Migs Dominguez urged ben-eficiaries to religiously submit to the condi-tions required of them like sending their chil-dren to pre-schools and for pregnant women to avail of the pre-natal services in barangay health centers.

Community affairs officer Rene Punzalan explained among the seven towns of Saran-gani, only Alabel was not covered by the 4Ps program which prompt-ed the Provincial Social Welfare and Develop-ment Office (PSWDO) to initiate local inter-vention using the Com-munity-Based Manage-ment System (CBMS)

as a tool to identify the poorest families.

CBMS is an orga-nized process of data collection and process-ing at the local level and of integration of data in local planning, program implementa-tion, and impact moni-toring.

CBMS identi-fied the barangays of Alegria, Domolok, Datal Anggas, and Paraiso with the most num-bered constituents that fall below the poverty threshold.

A social welfare in-dicator revalidated the level of well-being of the 1,261 households of these barangays which revealed that 1,199 or 95 percent did not meet the minimum household income.

In short, “these households could hard-ly eat three meals a day,” Punzalan said.

Punzalan, howev-er, pointed out only the remaining five percent or 62 households that belong to the “sub-sistence” level have met the required daily meals, family bonding,

and participated in the community develop-ment activities.

Punzalan said this initiative became a con-vergence task of PSW-DO, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Envi-ronment and Natural Resources Office, and Provincial Agricultur-ist’s Office in respond-ing to the basic needs in the communities.

Basic require-ments like pre-school education and health services are among the conditions that have to be met under CCT.

Punzalan said beneficiaries would also be provided pov-erty reduction inter-ventions such as family development sessions, organization of parent leaders, provision of livelihood trainings and assistance, provision of sanitary toilet, potable water supply, and en-rolment to PhilHealth “to ensure that com-munities are resilient and capable” when they will be out of CCT’s list. (PIO Sarangani/PIA General Santos City/CTA)


DSWD reports 137,941 active household-beneficiaries of 4Ps in Region 12by Olive Sudaria

KORONADAL CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in region 12 revealed that a total of 137,941 households benefit from the Pan-tawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as of yearend December, 2011.

Julieta Clavel, DSWD 12’s regional program coordinator for 4Ps said these house -hold-beneficiaries are the active recipients of the program who com-ply with the require-

ments of class atten-dance of school aged children - 14 years old and below and medical check-ups of the chil-dren and the mother among others.

Clavel disclosed that

the province of Sultan Kudarat has the highest number of beneficiaries with a total of 45,712, followed by North Co-tabao, 45,445; then by Sarangani, 25,206; and by South Cotabato

Photo by Russell Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE


including General Santos City, 21,578.

The 4Ps regional program coordinator said that starting Jan-uary, 2012, additional 55,912 households will benefit from the pro-gram. These house-hold-benef ic iar ies,

according to Clavel, include the verified 24,268 from North Cotabato;22,415 from South Cotabato and 5,271 from Sultan Ku-darat.

The Pantawid Pami-lyang Pilipino Program is a poverty reduction

and social develop-ment strategy of the national government that provides condi-tional cash grants to extremely poor house-holds to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.

Philhealth Run sa Koronadal pinaghahandaanKORONADAL CITY –- Sa nalalabing mahigit labinlimang araw bago ang gagawing Philihealth run, umabot na sa mahigit walong daan ang nagparehistro at isa na rito ang basketball star na tubong-Koronadal City na si Kenneth Duremdes.

Patuloy pa rin ang paghihikayat ng Philhealth sa publiko na suportahan ang Fun Run para sa ka-pakanan ng mga ba-tang may cancer at children-in-conflict with law (CICL).

Ayon kay Fun-Run coordinator Lorie Bonilla, ang malilikom na pondo umano sa aktibidad ay mapu-punta ang 50% sa isang Cancer facility na nasa Lungsod ng Davao at ang nalal-abing 50% ay ibibig-

ay sa benepisyaryo ng Rehiyon Dose, ang Regional Rehabilita-tion Center for the Youth na nasa bayan ng Tupi, South Cota-bato at pinangangasi-waan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 12.

Dalawang libo ang target runners ng Philhealth 12. Para sa mga nag-nanais na sumali, makipag-ugnayan lamang sa pinaka-malapit na tangga-

pan ng Philhealth sa inyong lugar. Ang Registration Fee ay P250.00 para 3 kilo-meter-run; P300.00 para sa 5K; P350 sa 10K; at P450.00 para sa 50K.

Maliban sa ga-gawing raffle, mag-bibigay din ang or-ganizer ng libreng t-shirt.

Ang Philhealth Run ay gagawin sa Pe-brero a-5 at ang huling araw ng Registration ay sa Pebrero a-4, 2012. (Ac Agad PIA12)


Philhealth Run sa Koronadal pinaghahandaan

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

[email protected][email protected]

MGB-13 identifies several Surigao City barangays as geo-hazard areas

Several barangays in Surigao City are high risk areas during landslides and floods, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Caraga Region revealed recently.

by FEAbkilan


A detailed landslide and flood susceptibility report of MGB revealed that the barangays of Bonifacio, Canlanipa, Li-pata, Mat-i, Punta Bilar, Quezon, Rizal, Taft, Tog-bongon and Washington are classified with high degree of landslide haz-ard, while the barangays of Capalayan, Danao, Ipil, Luna, Poctoy, San Roque, Trinidad and Sukailang are moderate and Balibayon, Cabongbongan, Cagniog, Mabini, Mabua, and Serna are classified as low land-slide hazards. MGB further report-ed that the flood suscepti-

bility barangays with high degree of hazards are Luna, Mabini, Rizal, Sa-bang, Togbongon, Wash-ington and San Juan, and barangays with moderate degree of flood hazards are Cabongbongan, Da-nao, Ipil, Mabua, Mat-i, and Nabago while the areas with low degree of flood hazards are Anomar, Bonifacio, Cagniog, Ca-palayan, Lipata, Quezon, Taft and Serna. The MGB also re-ported other geo-hazards which include river scour-ing and siltation in Surigao River, bank erosion haz-ard and cut slope failure

along the road in Brgy. Mabini, riverbank scouring in Brgy. Silop, flashflood hazard due to silted rivers in Pinaypayan and File in Brgy. Mat-i, river scour-ing in Brgy. San Juan, and subsidence hazard in Brgy. San Roque . Coastal erosions and sedimentation were also reported in Brgy. Sabang. “If possible relocate/evac-uate (the residents living in these) areas in Purok 2, 3 and 4 (in Brgy. Sabang) to evade possible occur-rence of tidal storm surge in time of extreme weath-er condition,” the MGB re-port said.

OCD-Caraga intensifies monitoring of region’s disaster-prone areas

BUTUAN CITY – With the recent downpour in the city, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Caraga is intensifying its monitoring of disaster-prone areas.

by Robert E. Roperos


This came on the heels of a recent diaster that hit the country, particularly in Caraga’s neighboring regions. According to OCD-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Blanche Gobenciong, this will enable the OCD to constantly monitor and advise residents in disaster-prone areas to prevent loss of lives. Gobenciong said the national government is aiming for a zero casu-alty every time a disaster is happening. “Thus, this is one way of supporting this objective of the gov-

ernment,” she added. With this, the of-ficial said they are seri-ously monitoring these disaster-prone areas. Specifically, Dr. Gobenciong said areas near bodies of water will be prioritized. He noted that the city is a river ba-sin of the Agusan River. “Lately, nakakara-nas tayo ng mga pag-ulan dito sa ating rehiyon kaya pinag-igting namin ang pagmo-monitor sa mga disaster-prone areas tulad na lamang sa mga lugar malapit sa Agusan River kung saan base sa

mga nagdaang pagbaha dito, malaki ang napin-salang kabahayan at ari-arian dahil nag-overflow na ang ilog,” Gobenciong said. (Lately, we have experienced continuous rains here in Caraga Re-gion so we have strength-ened the monitoring of disaster-prone areas such as those in the riv-erbanks in Agusan River here wherein based on the previous floodings, more houses and prop-erties were affected be-cause the river had swol-len and overflowed.)


Regional directors, representatives of the government agencies, and some private stake-holders together with Butuan City Mayor Fer-

dinand Amante, Jr. and other officials witnessed the inauguration as well as the groundbreaking ceremony of the DOST Metrology Laboratory.

Villacorta ex-pressed his thanks to all government agencies for their support to DOST’s programs and services. He also stressed that

DOST-Caraga’s Science & Technology Center in Butuan inauguratedby Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga headed by Regional Director Lyndo Villacorta has inaugurated Thursday its new Science and Technology Center at the Caraga State University (CSU) Campus, Barangay Ampayon, this city.


looking for resources for the construc-tion of said building was not that easy but with hope and hard work, his of-fice were able to build one and soon, the construction of the DOST Metrology Laboratory. “With this new building, we can best do our function and best serve our clientele,” said Villacorta. Also, Amante commended the ef-forts of Villacorta in fulfilling one of their goals so they can give the best service to the public by doing well their science and technology tasks. “I am very happy to know that this infrastructure will become one of the manifestations that Butuan is really de-veloping. With this development, DOST-Car-aga assures public that they will contin-ue to provide the programs and services for them.


piazampen.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-WesMin-Info-Blitz/204864762911310 [email protected]

Want to publish your photo, news and feature release just email

Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees attend mass and colorful fluvial parade

by Gideon C. Corgue

T housands of Santo Niño devotees from around the city walked and carried icons in different sizes and dressed in colorful costumes to attend the mass at

the wharf area here.


The mass, one of the highlights of activi-ties of the week-long parochial fiesta celebra-tion was presided over by Bishop Emmanuel Carbajal and assisted by the 16 vested priests in a makeshift mounted at the wharf area.Cabajar, in his mes-sage said if we want to improve the peace and order, and to see the endless smiles of the children and senior citi-zens, we will take of our environment. “Kung buot kita nga molambo ang kalinaw ug panagdait sa atong tali-wala, kung buot kita nga dili kawad-an ang pahi-yom ug pagmaaya ang nawongsa mga kabataan ug senior citizens, ug ka-natong tanan, atong tahuron, ampingan, ug amumahon ang kinai-yahan (If we want to improve the peace and order and unite in our midst, if we want to see the endless smiles of our children, senior citi-zens, and to all of us, we should respect, nurture and preserve our envi-ronment),” Cabajar ap-pealed. ”Kita unta nga nag-

alirong karon sa altar panalaangingan unta sa iyang anak, ang balaang sr. Sto. Nino aron mohari ang gugma ug panag-dait sa Diyos atong mga pamilya ug sa tibuok natong katilingban (We,

who gathered in the al-tar will be blessed by His son, the holy Sto, Niño so that love and unity from our God will prevail in our family and the en-tire community),” Caba-jar added.


After the mass, the Sto. Nino image was brought to the Ramo-na Fishing Corporation (RFC) vessel for the flu-vial procession/parade.Devotees boarded the vessels, held the images, offered prayers and said rosary while the vessels drifting at the vicinity of Yllana Bay.Other devotees, board-ed in different vessels danced a “Sinulog” beat

while holding an icon of the Sto. Niño and chant-ing “Viva Pit Senyor to show their love and devotion to the patron saint. The fluvial parade conducted at Yllana Bay ended in an hour.Meanwhile, Mayor

Samuel Co thanked all the people who worked very hard for the suc-cess of the concelebrat-ed mass, fluvial parade and regatta activities especially the Pagadian City Parish, City Tourism council, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine

Coast Guard, Philippine Maritime Police, Philip-pine National Police, Phil-ippine Red Cross, Knights of Columbus, coastal ba-rangays, Organized Ra-dio Assistance Commu-nication and Information System, etc. (JPA/GCC-PIA9, ZamboSur)


DOLE-9 turns-over P980-T livelihood funds by Franklin P. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY - A total of P980,000 fund was turned-over recently by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-IX to the city government of Dipolog and the provincial office of the Department Trade and Industry (DTI) for livelihood projects.

GAD Ordinance to solidify implementation of laws on women and childrenby Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY – City 2nd District Councilor Lilia Nuño is now working on the passage of a Gender and Development (GAD) Ordinance before October that will unify and solidify implementation of existing laws and policies on the protection and welfare of women and children.

According to Nuño, the or-d i n a n c e c o n t a i n s Magna Car-

ta for Women, RA 9262 or Violence against Women and Children, the Anti-Rape law, An-ti-Trafficking of Women and Children, and Cyber Sex Law, with the aim of

strengthen-ing the implementation of the said laws at the local level.“This was done to strengthen the imple-mentation of women and children laws in the local level”, she said. The said ordinance is now scheduled for a public hearing after its first reading approval by

the city council.Nuño said she wanted this ordinance be ap-proved into law before October, in time for the Women’s Month Cele-bration. The ordinance is co-authored by 1st Dis-trict Councilor Myra Paz Valderoza-Abubakar. (NBE/MVC/PIA9-ZB-ST)


DOLE-IX Region-al Director Ponciano M. Ligutom personally handed a check worth P480,000 to Mayor Ev-elyn T. Uy and anoth-er check amounting to P500,000 to DTI-Zam-boanga del Norte Pro-vincial Director Noel R. Bazan during a Special Program for the Employ-ment (SPES) pledging activity held Tuesday at the Top Plaza Hotel in this city. The city govern-ment of Dipolog served as DOLE-IX’s accred-ited co-partner (ACP)

in a garment making project for unemployed women and housewives in the city. Mayor Uy said the P480 thousand would be utilized in the acqui-sition of equipment for the garment making project. DTI-Zamboanga del Norte, on the other hand, disclosed that the P500 thousand would be used in enhancing the bottled sardines project at Barangay Dohinob, Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte. Witnessing the

turnover of funds to DOLE’s ACPs were the Public Employment Service Officers (PESOs) of the differ-ent local government units (LGUs) in Zam-bopanga del Norte and national government agencies (NGAs) based in the province, guid-ance counselors of the local colleges and high schools, and the of-ficers of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Coun-cil (TIPC) of Dipolog. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zam-boanga del Norte)

one mindanao - january 15, 2012

Documents

pia surigao

pia agusan

pia caraga region nora

pia caraga region richard

pia caraga region officer

pia caraga updates

pia region ximanaging

pia caraga regioncopy