one mindanao - january 18, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESWestern 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 Bliz

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

Today’s issue... Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 157

Judicial reform funds wasted – Lacierda

Cebu-Bislig-Cebu flight to start on February 20

ICWS installs 11 jetmatic pumps to places with no water caused by typhoon Sendong

AMRECO Congress aims for increased awareness for Mindanao’s energy future

After floods, Tagum City back to normal

Provincial LGU distributes vehicles for better health services, police visibility

Governor’s “political will” increases mining revenue to all time-high

9Malacanang says Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra’s official visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation

11

DILG-Caraga to conduct Business Planning Workshop for LGUs

Nida Grace B. Tranquilan, Caraga Region

Pagadian bishop deeply moved by children’s generosity and kindness

Dipolog Mayor named to Zambo Norte anti-illegal logging task force

Melvin T. Anggot, Virgilio C. Garcia Northern Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

Southern Mindanao

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Fruto Sumagaysay, Central Mindanao

1415

2119

8

16

Linao HS in San Isidro town receive new armchairs

Southern Mindanao

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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

EDITORIAL BOARD

Cover Story

Value adding the coco

product in DavOr

Mai Gevera-MacapagatSouthern Mindanao

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 157




AMRECO Congress aims for increased awareness for Mindanao’s energy future


Provincial LGU distributes vehicles for better health services, police visibility

Governor’s “political will” increases mining revenue to all time-high

Malacanang says Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra’s official visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation


Nida Grace B. Tranquilan, Caraga Region

Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise, Caraga Region

Pagadian bishop deeply moved by children’s generosity and kindness

Gideon C. Corgue, Western Mindanao

Dipolog Mayor named to Zambo Norte anti-illegal logging task force

Northern Mindanao

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Fruto Sumagaysay, Central Mindanao

Western Mindanao

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3334 page 4

27

31

Linao HS in San Isidro town receive new armchairs 29

22

4 Wednesday, January 18, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryValue adding the coco product in DavOr

T he coconut capital of Mindanao , Davao

Oriental, cannot just forever stay as a copra capital. Industry

leaders and even farmers felt that there is more to coconut

rather it being a copra product.

by Mai Gevera-Macapagat

5 Wednesday, January 18, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

Farmers were pushed to the wall and thought of alternatives after co-pra prices dropped to a record low of P5.00 per kilo in 2006. Coco by-product processing plants then started to crop up in the province. Farmers researched about coco coir and peat products as these had high demand in the export mar-ket. Resulting from the 1st National Coco Coir Summit in March 2011, coir processing plants started to operate all over the province where baled coir fibers are being produced and sold to institutional buyers and exporters in Davao and Manila. Davao Oriental Trade and Indus-try head Belenda Ambi said many fam-ily members of the coconut farmers have benefited from the value adding of the said crop. Processed coco coir fibers are made into twines and geo-nets that found market in China and

other countries abroad. One of the initiatives of DYI Davao Oriental was the Coco Coir Twining Project which served as a convergence of various services need to complete the entire process of coir processing. Acting as the consolidator of twine hanks is the Mati Cocofiber Technol-ogy (MCT). It then provides coir fibers to two twining communities in Maitom and Calamansi. These coco fibers or twine hanks are then bought by Regwill Industries Inc. Through the facilitation of DTI, the Regwill Industries provided the needed trainings on hanks twining and weaving to the farmers and their fam-ily members. Seeing the importance of con-vergence that is initiated by a govern-ment office, other communities have started embracing this new value add-ing livelihood. Data showed that there are already seven twining communities


assisted by DTI in the said province. The office has also recorded about 169 coco twine weavers who have alleviated their income from twine weaving. DTI then reported $2.529 million sales in coco coir and peat production. this contributes as 85 percent of the to-tal $2.975 million export sales for the year. There are five major industry play-ers in the province that have contribut-ed to the generated export sales of coco value added product. These companies are the Mati Cocofiber Technology, Mati Peat Top Corporation, Fiber Technolo-gy Expert, the Yiwu Husk Factory , and the Davao Oriental Coco Husk Social Enterprise Inc. “ We are not satisfied when we are tagged as the biggest coco pro-ducer in the country. Last year, we

strengthened promo-tion to invite investors to go on value adding of coco.”, Ambi said. DTI revealed six more coco husk pro-cessing projects are set to start operation this year. These are the Althan Coco Fi-ber and Emerson Lim Coco Coir Process-ing Plant in Manay, a locally-owned coir and peat processing


plant in Baganga, another processing plant in Governor Generoso, and two branches of Davao Oriental Coco Husk Social Enterprise Inc in Gov. Generoso and Cateel. All these new addition in the fam-ily of the coco industry are expected to contribute significant increases in the domestic and export sales of coco and its value-added products. These coco products, being the One-Town-One-Product of Davao Oriental, have found export market through participation in trade fairs. The DTI and the local government both see to it that after products get help in packaging and design development, they are assisted to get matched with buyers and investors. These products are often brought to national trade fairs and exhibits to find bigger opportunity for export market exposure. Data showed that the industry generated P2.46 million this year from trade fair sales which include cash and booked orders. Aside from joining trade fairs, the

industry members have also enjoyed market matching and linkage activities initiated by DTI. Last year, the province gener-ated P49.369 million in its effort done through market matching. It also re-sulted to 25 new buyer-supplier link-ages forged that benefitted 16 local MSMEs. They were linked with 21 in-stitutional buyers from Davao , Cebu, and Manila. With the increasing number of coco processing plants coming in the province, industry players together with the local government are bent to go full blast in coco production this year. The provincial government poured in P4 million budget as its sup-port to the coco industry. The money will be used in consolidated projects of other government agencies like the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment that are aimed at uplifting the lives of the coco farmers.


Former United States presidential aspirant Sen. John McCain, together with three other American senators, paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang Tuesday night.

ACROSS THE NATIONAquino receives US senators in Malacanang


Other members of the US Senate who met with the President include Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Kelly Ayotte. McCain, Lie-berman and Ayotte are all members of the US Sen-ate Armed Services Com-mittee.

Last week, the President also met several members of the US Congress who arrived in the Philippines.

In a press statement released Tuesday, Presi-dential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the visit-ing US congressmen ex-pressed their confidence in the reform agenda of the Aquino administration.

Lacierda said the Aquino government will continue

with its thrust to curb co r rup t i on ,

f i g h t

poverty, and promote good governance in the country. With the administration’s achievements in the past one and a half years, Lacierda said these indi-cate forthcoming chang-es that will continue in the coming years.

McCain, a former pris-oner of war, served as a naval aviator during the Vietnam War. He was first elected to the US House of Representatives from Ari-zona in 1982 and led the fight to eliminate waste-ful government spend-ing, and spearheaded the strengthening of the US armed forces.

He currently serves on the following Senate Com-mittees during the 112th Congress: Ranking Mem-ber on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Com-

mittee on Health, Educa-tion, Labor, and Pensions; Committee on Homeland Security and Governmen-tal Affairs, and Committee on Indian Affairs.

McCain lost his cam-paign against Barack Obama in the 2008 US presidential election.

Lieberman, on the other hand, has been in the US Senate for more than 20 years championing envi-ronmental issues. Lieber-man is best known for his Democratic vice presiden-tial run in 2000.

He is a strong advocate for investing in American public schools, empower-ing parents, and challeng-ing all students to meet higher academic stan-dards. Regardless of in-come, Lieberman helped students go to college and develop the skills they need to succeed in the global economy.

He also works to expand quality and affordable healthcare to all Ameri-cans and to safeguard Medicare and Social Secu-rity for future generations of Americans. (AS)


The World Bank said on Tuesday that it had issued an aide mem-oire detailing “ineligible expenditures” found in the disbursement of the $24.4-million loan to fund judiciary upgrades found in the Judicial Re-form Support Project.

Lacierda said the aide memoire was proof that the loan was misused.

“While the Chief Jus-tice and his spokesman plead ignorance, the document is the sur-est evidence that funds meant for judicial re-forms were wasted: and in the process, ba-

sic rules of good g o v e r -

nance were ignored,” Lacierda said.

“The findings are as scandalous as they are shocking.

The Chief Justice used judicial reform funds as a personal piggybank to fund travel, gifts, din-ing, and recreation; the Court Administrator who reports directly to the Chief Justice violated basic government rules by being the proponent, approver, and head of bidding for his own pro-posed expenses and ac-quisitions,” he added.

According to Lacier-da, the purpose of the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) is to sup-port the develop-

ment of a more effective and accessible judicial system that would fos-ter public trust and con-fidence.

“Specifically the proj-ect would strengthen the Philippine court system by making the judicial process more efficient, timely and predictable,” Lacierda said.

“The Project would also contribute to the refinement of further reforms in the Philip-pine judicial system as a whole and deepen com-munity and government support for such re-forms,” he added. (RCK)


Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda believes Supreme Court Chief

Justice “wasted” a loan given by the World Bank for judicial reforms, saying the funds were used for personal excesses.


Malacanang says Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra’s official visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation

The strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all aspects of mutual interest to both the Philippines and Thailand

will be the main focus of the discussion when Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra meets President Benigno S. Aquino III during her official visit to the country on Thursday (January 19), a Palace official said on Wednesday.

The visit of Prime Minis-ter (PM) Shinawatra aims to further strengthen the Philippines’ deep and strong bilateral relations with Thailand, according to Presidential Spokes-person Edwin Lacierda during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

“There will be a bilat-eral discussion with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the top-ics to be discussed will be cooperation on en-

ergy, agriculture, d e f e n s e ,

culture, education, com-bating drug trafficking, and disaster risk reduc-tion and management, among others,” Lacierda said.

President Aquino III will meet with the Thai prime minister and discuss ways to further strengthen the implementation of exist-ing cooperation in the ar-eas of energy, agriculture, defense, culture, edu-cation, combating drug trafficking, and disaster risk reduction and man-agement, among others. They will share perspec-

tives on significant de-velopments in Associa-tion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), includ-ing the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The President will host a luncheon in honor of the visiting leader after the meeting in Malacanang.

The visit is one of the highlights of the 63rd anniversary of establish-ment of diplomatic rela-tions between the Philip-pines and Thailand, which is being commemorated this year. (JS)

Prime Minister Shinawatra


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OWWA-Caraga reports OFWs’ problems

An official of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Caraga Region said the most common problem of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the region is the non-remittance of salary

to their family.

by Robert E. Roperos


According to Ms. Annette Lovete, OWWA-Caraga has already en-tertained number of cas-es of those OFWs who are not remitting or even abandoned their family here. She also said some of the family members who came to their office claimed that they were not able to contact and worst is they don’t know the whereabouts of their loved ones abroad. However, Lovete said whereabouts of these OFWs can still be traced because of the membership data system implemented by OWWA.With this, the official said family members must co-ordinate with OWWA for assistance on this mat-

ter. She added they must bring pertinent docu-ments signifying the au-thenticity of the employ-ment of the OFWs, as well as proofs that they are really relatives of the OFWs. Lovete also report-ed cases involving OFWs who are suffering from illness abroad where the family asked assistance from OWWA for the im-mediate medical treat-ment or even immediate repatriation here in the country. Same with OFWs who died abroad, OWWA finds way to repatri-ate the dead body by all means, Lovete said. It can be recalled that OWWA-Caraga has extended assistance to

a female OFW from Ba-yugan City, Agusan del Sur who died on August 15, 2011 in Kuwait, by repatriating her body un-til it was brought to her hometown for burial. Al-legedly, she jumped on the sixth floor of the building where she was working as a re-ceptionist. With this develop-ment, the official urged families of OFWs in the region to contact the OW-WA-Caraga should they experience problems. The move of OW-WA-Caraga signifies good governance and supports the Human Development program as highlighted in the Philippine Develop-ment Plan of the Aquino Administration.



BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- The Mid-Sea Express is set to start its regular Cebu-Bislig-Cebu flight on February 20. The said flight is scheduled every Monday and Thursday.

Bislig City Informa-tion Officer Carlito Abar recently said this devel-opment will put the city in limelight being one of the original cities in Caraga Region. Accordingly, the Ce-bu-Bislig flight on Febru-ary 20 will leave Cebu at 6:30am, while the esti-

mated time of arrival in Bislig City is 7:30 a.m. Estimated time of departure from Bislig is 8:00 a.m., and estimated time of arrival in Cebu is 8:50 a.m. Regular fare is P2,800 while round trip fare is only P4,800. The promo fare takes effect

from February 1 to March 15, 2012 with its lowest fare at P2,200. For more information, contact the City Tourism Office at City Hall Build-ing, Poblacion Bislig City or contact this landline numbers (086) 853-628-2112.

by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan


BUTUAN CITY - The Regional Office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Caraga, in partnership with the Local Government Academy and Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo, will conduct a Business Planning Workshop on January 18-19, 2012 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.


Some 15 local gov-ernment units are expect-ed to participate in the said training, which will be attended by City/Municipal Economic Enterprises De-velopment Officers, City/Municipal Planning and Development Coordina-tors, City/Municipal Ac-countants, Sangguniang Panlungsod Chairpersons of the Committee on Trade and Commerce and City /Municipal Local Govern-ment Operations Officers.

DILG Regional Direc-tor Atty. Rene K. Burdeos said that the workshop aims to assist the LGUs’ eco-nomic enterprises through the significant inputs to be given by speakers. This will help bridge gaps relative to management and develop-ment of their respective en-trepreneurial activities. He also said that the workshop will stress the importance and purpose of a business plan and will be an eye opener for LGUs to

identify new business op-portunities which will best suit them. Lowell C. Brillante, economic enterprise man-ager of Tagum City, will share the City’s Best Prac-tice on LGU Eco Enterprise Practices to inspire LGUs of Caraga Region. At the end of the workshop, the participants are expected to craft and present action plans for the development of their eco-nomic activities.

by Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise


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by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

Helping kids with cancer thru Philhealth Run: The Mindanao Run for Hope

There’s nothing like enjoying for a cause.


Such is the Philhealth Run: The Mindanao Run for Hope, the highlight of the agency’s 17th anniversary cel-ebration, to be held on February 5, 5 am at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex. The Run for Hope is aimed at helping ‘Kids of Hope’ or kids afflicted with cancer admitted in Davao Medi-cal Center, the only tertiary hospital capable of multidisciplinary care for children with cancer. Although based in Davao, the program caters to all children from Mindanao and beyond, who, at their tender age, are beset with a very tough test. The need to extend help to these kids was magnified by data from Can-cer Warrior Foundation Executive Di-rector James Auste saying 2,500 out of the 3,500 children diagnosed with cancer die prematurely due to lack of money to buy their medical needs. Auste furthered that there is only a

20% survival rate here in the Philip-pines compared to 80% in developed countries due to expensive treatments and medicine, and the lack of pediat-ric cancer facilities in the country. Being the country’s health insur-ance institution, Philhealth plays a vi-tal part in the battle against cancer but they admit that while it is true that they provide benefits for cancer pa-tients, long term medication and ac-tual cost of medicines, laboratory ex-aminations and treatment procedures limit the support value it offers. Thus, Philhealth, in partnership with private and other government organizations, is conducting the Run for Hope to build awareness and raise funds for the Kids of Hope. This activ-ity will bridge the provision of finan-cial assistance to the kids, and to six other local beneficiaries across Mind-anao.PhilHealth Run also aims to educate the public that childhood cancer is


a curable disease while encouraging multi-sectoral cooperation among public and private individuals and institutions to improve, expand and equip the beneficiaries with better resources. Philhealth Run will be simulta-neously conducted in other parts of Mindanao like Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Koronadal City, Marawi City, and here. Philhealth IX is targeting 2,500 runners to participate in this run-for-a-cause tapping all stakeholders and all sectors to join the activity. In support to this, Civil Service Commission IX Regional Director Ma-cybel Alfaro-Sahi issued Regional Memorandum Circular no. 10, series of 2011, enjoining all government agencies to participate the event. As a concrete example of Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s Private-Public Partnership (PPP), several private and business groups teamed up with Philhealth to make sure that the ac-tivity will be a success here in the city, namely:A registration fee will be collected from all the participants with the pro-ceeds to be given to the Kids of Hope and other beneficiaries. There will be four race catego-ries for the event, the 3 kilometer run for kids and adults with P250 regis-tration fee per runner, the 5 kilometer run (P300), 10 kilometer (P350), and the 17 kilometer run (P450). Participants will be receiving sin-glet, raffle ticket, and loot bags from partner-sponsors the KFI-Center for Community Development Foundation, Inc. (KCCDFI), ABS-CBN, Nature’s

Spring, Smart, Ritemed, Dole Philippines, CIS Bayad Center, and All Card Plastics Philippines, Inc., to-gether with local sponsors Metrogra-fix, MEMPCO, Bygems Party Kingdom, Zamboanga Forum, Philippine Veter-ans Bank, and Vista de Lente. All interested participants can now go to Philhealth office for regis-tration. (JPA/MVC/PIA9-ZBST)


Pagadian bishop deeply moved by children’s generosity and kindnessby Gideon C. Corgue

“Natandog ko pag-ayo sa akong nabasa nga Christmas message sa usa ka bata nga mibati ug dakong kalooy sa mga nabiktima sa bagyong Sendong sa mga dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro ug Iligan (I am deeply touched by the Christmas message that I’ve read from a child who feels great compassion to the victims of typhoon Sendong in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Ilgan).”

Thus said Pagadian bishop Emmanuel Cabajar in his message on Saturday during the concele-brated mass at wharf area which marked the end of nine (9) day af-ternoon’s novena mass at Sto. Nino cathedral as part of the week-long

activities of the annual parochial fiesta of the city. Speaking before thousands of Sto. Nino devotees, Cabajar who used Cebuano language in his entire homily and who emphasized God’s love and compassion, said when he


visited redemptorist convent in Cebu City on December 22, his attention was invited on the Christmas card posted in a bulletin board from a 12 year old Leam, an elementary stu-dent. “Akong gipakopya ang mao-ng card kay natandog ko kaayo sa akong pagbasa (I photo copied the card because I was deeply touched when I read it),” Cabajar said. “Mao kini ang unod sa card nga iyang gipadala(This is the content of the card that she sent),” Cabajar narrated. “Dear redemptorist fathers. Last Sunday our family attended the mass and we heard the priests appealing for help for the typhoon Sendong victims. In answer to the appeal, my brothers and I had a ga-rage sale of all our precious things. From the garage sale, we earned P30,000 and we are giving this thru you for the typhoon victims in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. May God help them recover from the unfortunate event . Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I am Leam, 12 years old and my brothers are: Andrew and Niko,” the message said. Cabajar praised the letter sent by Leam. “Dili ba nindot kaayo ug maka-dasig kining sulat sa usa ka bata nga mibati ug gugma ug kalooy bisan wala niya mailhi ang mga biktima sa bagyong Sendong?( How beautiful and inspiring the letter sent by the child who feels love and compas-sion even she didn’t know who the victims of ‘Sendong’ are?),” Cabajar challenged.

”Tataw kaayo alang kanako ang gugma ug kalooy sa Diyos nagpuyo sa kasing-kasing sa mga bata(It is very clear to me that the love and compassion from God dwelt in the hearts of these children),” Cabajar added. “Nasayud usab ako nga daghang mga tawo sa diocese sa Pagadian sama kang Leam ug iyang mga igsoon nga miila, mibati ug mi-lihok usab isip mga igsoon alang sa mga nangihanglan ug tabang. Gani sila ang mitubag pinaagi sa ilang mga hinabang( I knew that many people in the diocese of Pagadian like Leam and her brothers, who felt sympathy and offered help as brothers for those who are needing help),” Cabajar stressed.The bishop urged the people to love and care for the environment. “Kung ang gugma sa Diyos anaa sa atong kasingkasing, atong tahuron ug mahalon ang kinaiyah-an. Dili gayud kita moako pagdag-mal, pagdaut ug pagtampalas niini tungod kay kini ang bililhong gasa nga gihatag sa Ginoo kanato(If the love of God is in our hearts, we will respect and love our environment. We won’t allow ourselves to destroy it because this is the precious gift from God to us), Cabajar appealed. The same call was done in the homily of the priests during 9-day novena mass at the Sto. Nino ca-thedral to make people aware that illegal logging and mining activi-ties will cause great destruction of our environment and to our people. (GCC/PIA9-Pagadian City)


Task force executive director retired General Renato P. Miranda is-sued Task Force Order No. 32 nam-ing Mayor Uy and Bation as coordi-nators of said group for Zamboanga del Norte to serve as partners in the implementation of PAILTF’s social fences program aimed at protecting the natural and residual forests in the area. The two were known for their no-nonsense campaign for strict im-plementation of environmental laws. As task force’s lead coordina-tor, Mayor Uy has been empowered to recruit members for the PAILTF through the constitution of a local task force for Zamboanga del Norte. This is to encourage citizens’ partici-pation in the environmental protec-tion program. Presently, 52 volunteer-appli-cants from the different municipalities have signified to join the task force.

PAILTF is composed of five gov-ernment agencies, namely, the De-partment of Environment and Natu-ral Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National De-fense (DND), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The task force was a sequel to the issuance of Executive Order No. 23 by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino on February 1, 2011, man-dating it to take the lead in the anti-illegal logging campaign and ensure the implementation of said order un-der the supervision of DENR. Mayor Uy and Bation were among the deputized environment and natu-ral resources officers (DENROs) by the DENR secretary to assist in the enforcement of environmental laws. (JPA/FPG/CIO/PIA-ZDN)

Dipolog Mayor named to Zambo Norte anti-illegal logging task forceDIPOLOG CITY - City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy and her executive secretary Edwin A. Bation were recently appointed as Presidential Anti-illegal Logging Task Force (PAILTF) coordinators in the province of Zamboanga del Norte effective Jan. 13.


Lanao del Sur stakeholders join hands in the fight against illegal loggingby Apipa Bagumbaran

Major stakeholders from the government, civil society groups, academe, religious, and the media, here, have joined forces to fight illegal logging in the province.

These stakeholders have identified appropriate actions in order to curb illegal logging operations in the province during the recent consultative workshop on illegal logging facilitated by the 103rd Infantry Brigade through the support of the Provincial Government and the Autonomous

Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government. During the workshop, situationers were provided by resource speakers that served as guidelines in the quest for solutions and strategies to completely put to a halt the illegal logging operations.


The situationers gave the participants an understanding of the environment and natural resources, how it is managed, what are the laws and regulations that governed its protection and preservation, and the symbiotic relationship between mankind and the environment. Dr. Asnawil G. Ronsing, Mindanao State University (MSU) Shariah Center Director, presented “Islamic and the Environment” which provided a strong and effective framework on environmental stewardship from an Islamic perspective while Forester Ben-Ali B. Decampong, Lanao del Norte PENR Officer, explained the various laws and regulations governing the protection and conservation of

forest resources. Further, ARMM Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Forester Cosain Abbas imparted clear understanding of what are forests and forestlands, the benefits that can be derived from the forests, and the effects of forest denudation. He also presented the state of the forests and forestlands in the province, as well as, the control and supervision over such forest and forestlands. Pipalawan Naga of the Save Lake Lanao Movement (SALLAM) presented the importance of Lake Lanao, and the enabling laws, development interventions and efforts to save to lake while Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Romeo Magsalos, shared the zero plastic bag and styrofoam campaign, a program initiated by the Marikina City Police Station as its modest contribution to help the country fight global warming. Magsalos was the former chief of police of Marikina City. Dr. Mary Joyce Guinto-Sali of the MSU – Institutional Research and Evaluation Office (IREO), likewise,


effects on human health, agriculture, plants and animals. She said climate change action will require concerted effort of everyone citing that its adverse effects can be mitigated by controlling releases of greenhouse gases, protecting the remaining forest resources, and planting more trees. On the other hand, Samira Ali-Gutoc, a member of the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board shared insights on the communication, advocacy and mobilization against illegal logging. Gutoc, who represented ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, also gave an update on the memorandum of agreement signed by the ARMM government and the DENR where a P49.6-million worth of assistance was granted by the DENR for the rehabilitation of some 2,500 hectares of forestland within the autonomous

region. Meanwhile, among the immediate solutions identified by group include reporting illegal logging activities to the task force, planting and growing of trees, and massive IEC campaign at the grassroots level through the help of tri-media and religious leaders. Other solutions involved strengthening of law enforcement; prosecuting illegal loggers, timber poachers, and possessors of illegal forest products; participation of local government units in the enforcement of laws; and the provision of alternative livelihood to carabao loggers. The participants also agreed to a create a lobby group that will study the possibility of drafting an Executive Order creating the Ranao Development Authority that ARMM Governor can endorse for the President to support.


by Melvin T. Anggot, Virgilio C. Garcia

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte - The Iligan City Waterworks System (ICWS) has started its work on 11 jetmatic pumps in places where there is no water due to damaged Hinaplanon pumping stations caused by typhoon Sendong.


Engr. Josephus Albao, head of the Construction Division of ICWS, said jetmatic pumps has been installed one unit each at Barinaut and Lambaguhon, all of Barangay San Roque, this city in compliance with the directive of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz to provide solution to the problem of water on places affected by the calamity. Three (3) units will be installed in Upper Hinaplanon, two (2) units at

Hinaplanon proper, 2 units at Luinab, and 1 unit each at Del Carmen and Palao. This was done as temporary solution to the needs for water in these places while repair work is going on at the Hinaplanon wells. Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has recently given authority to two (2) contractors for work and rehabilitation for damaged water source. (CIO)

AMRECO Congress aims for increased awareness for Mindanao’s energy futureCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives will host the maiden edition of an annual congress which seeks to mainstream challenges and issues to Mindanao’s Energy Future.

The one-day congress will focus on renewable energy, rural electrification and development at the Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City on January 26, 2012. Clint Django Pacana, executive director of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO), said some 300 participants from the group’s 33 member cooperatives have committed to join the “Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy, Rural Electrification and Development.” AMRECO’s 33 member cooperatives accounts for 1,941, 554

residential consumers in Mindanao. Twenty seven of the member coops are hooked up with the island’s transmission grid while another six (6) operate in the off-grid islands surrounding the main Mindanao island. “We are advocating rural electrification as the way to address Mindanao’s chronic power shortage,”


said Pacana in an interview with media. He added, “Towards this end, we have grouped presentations according to good governance, knowledge products, finance and investments, and the role of civic organizations in society for the duration of the congress.” Presentations on Good Governance kick off the working sessions with “Sitio Energization” by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Edita S. Bueno, Transparency of Distribution by Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) by Chairperson Zenaida G. Ducut and “Updates on the Privatization of the Agus and Pulangui Hydro Electric Plants” by Deputy House Speaker and JCPC Member Rep. Lorenzo R. Tanada III. Public discussions on Knowledge Products follow

with “Research and Study Grants for the Mindanao Power Sector” by USAID-CENERGY; “Research on Mindanao Power Sector” by Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo of the UP-National Engineering Center; and “The Mindanao Power Institute” by Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and PASSUC. Public discussions on Finance and Investment are next with “Aggregation

– A Business Model for Mindanao Electric Cooperatives by Edgardo R. Masongsong; and “Development of Renewable Energy Power Plants by Electric Cooperatives” by Engr.David A. Tauli. The day’s session closes with a public discussion on the Role of Civil Society with Organizations by Herbie Gomez. (MinCARED)

Photo Credits: http://exploreiligan.blogspot.com http://www.dartmouthengineer.com


Comval overshoots investment targetby Rudolph Ian Alama

The Compostela Valley Province overshot its

investment target for 2011 by a whopping 159%. Faustino Diabordo, Officer-in-Charge of Department of Trade and Industry Compostela Valley office bared that the province registered P516-million worth of investments in 2011. The DTI has pegged an invest-ment target of P400-million. Diabordo said that investments came from the bananas, mining, palm oil and rubber. He said that though the banana industry posted more invest-ments than mining, if the small-scale mining investments were counted in then mining would be tops in capital investments. Currently the agency is advo-cating responsible mining particularly during the aftermath of the January 5 landslide which killed more than 30 people in a small-scale mining area in Pantukan town of the province. Di-abordo said that the Department is urging small-scale miners to follow strictly the no-habitation policy.

Meanwhile DTI Comval is focus-ing on the development of the silver jewelry industry, which is the provin-cial OTOP (One Town One Product). He cited that silver is plentiful in the province as it is widely ignored be-cause of gold’s high prices. The DTI is currently honing local jewellers in Comval while silver-craft MSME (Mi-cro, Small and Medium Scale Enter-prises) are joining in trade fairs. Also the office is urging the local government to assign people to their investment promotions office so as to assist prospective investors and busi-nessmen. (RG Alama)


TAGUM CITY- The Province of Davao del Norte is now back to normal as thousands of residents who were affected by the flashfloods over the weekend have started to head home. Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario said flood victims have returned to their everyday life as water started to sub-side in the submerged villages Mon-day morning. Some 5,731 families or over 12,000 individuals were affected by the recent disaster that hit the towns of Asuncion, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella and Sto. Tomas, as well as, the city of Tagum. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Divi-sion reported that 1,875 individuals were evacuated during the calamity, which claimed the life of 17-year-

old Bernardino Elle of San Miguel, Tagum City, as the lone casualty. The boy drowned when he at-tempted to gather floating coconuts along the Libuganon River. The PDRRMD is still assessing the impact of the recent flooding to infrastructures and crops. The province is still recovering from the flashfloods that occurred during the last week of 2011, which affected some 14,699 families and destroyed over P125-million worth of crops and more than P10-million worth of infrastructures. The province immediately dis-tributed relief goods to affected com-munities.Gov. del Rosario vociferously praised the members of the disaster council for promptly responding to the recent calamity.

The governor particularly mentioned the PDRRM for setting up a 24-hour com-mand center to monitor the situation. “I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to the PDRRMC members, to our disaster action office, but also to all the volunteers who risked their lives and limbs to save the affected families,” he said at the Monday morn-ing convocation program at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan. The governor honored the



courage and dedication of the RDR-SMART rescue team, the in-house quick response team of the Capitol during the program. He noted that with the state of

readiness, courage and cooperation shown by the disaster action office and members of the disaster council, Davao del Norte is now ready to face any calamity. (PIO DAVNOR)

Linao HS in San Isidro town receive new armchairs

TAGUM CITY- The latest distribution of brand-new school chairs continued despite intermittent rains, eliciting happiness and excitement among students, teachers and parents with no less than Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy leading in the distribution of the said materials fabricated out from confiscated logs. On January 13, the team of the Mayor went to Linao National High School in the Municipality of San

Isidro in the Province of Davao del Norte to personally deliver the 286 pieces of yellow arm-chairs. Despite of the rain, stu-dents helped to carry the chairs from the Barangay Hall to their school which is about 500 meters in distance. Romeo P. Grancho, the president of the Supreme Stu-dent Government expressed his gratitude to the City Gov-ernment of Tagum for giving brand new school furniture, tagging it as a tool for them to concentrate on their studies.

One parent based in Tagum City and whose child is studying in the said school approached Mayor Uy that she was among those who volunteered in the fabrication section of the mo-torpool. “I can’t believe that our hard work in sand papering and painting chairs can benefit the schoolmates of my child here in Linao,” she said in vernacular. On January 18, the team goes to Mesaoy in New Corella, Davao del Norte. (Tagum City CIO)


ALABEL, Sarangani – “Kayo ang inaasahan namin to protect lives and properties” says Gov-ernor Migs Dominguez to Sarangani firemen during the turnover of two new firetrucks to Bu-reau of Fire Protection at municipal fire station Tuesday, January 17. The firetrucks were pro-cured thru a counter parting scheme wherein the provincial government allotted P1.3 million and the municipal government P700,000. (Russell L. Delvo)

Gov. Migs challenges Sarangani firemen

Photo Release


DOST-12 eyes further strengthening of MSMEs in 2012by Bai Tagitikan

KORONADAL CITY - Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 can expect more opportunities and an enlivened industry this year.

This as the regional office of the Department of Science and Technolo-gy (DOST 12) has firmed up its 2012 activities with emphasis on the development of cutting-

edge local technologies to empower MSMEs.

Dr. Zenaida P. Laid-an, DOST-12 director, laid out the agency’s di-rection in the next 12 months during the stra-

tegic planning workshop held on January 5 and 6.

She rallied the em-ployees to achieve the agency’s objectives guided by the policy


direction of Sustainability, Innovation, Good Gover-nance and Excellence or SIGE platform.

“We shall gear to-wards the strong imple-mentation of projects or activities that strength-en development initia-tives to address urgent and lingering problems,” Dr. Laidan said.

She emphasized that the regional office will fo-cus more on strengthen-ing the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), the umbrella program of the DOST with a nationwide implementation to assist MSMEs become tech-nologically competent through projects and ac-tivities.

Among the DOST pro-grams to help MSMEs are technology transfer and commercialization, provision of S&T servic-es that include testing and calibration, packag-ing and labeling, con-sultancy services, and technology trainings.

Priority areas cover food processing, furni-ture, fashion, gifts, de-cors and handicrafts, marine and aquatic re-sources, horticulture

(cutflowers, fruits and high value crops) metals and engineering, halal, and information, com-munication technology (ICT).

Dr. Laidan said they will also intensify the pro-motion of S & T by set-ting up and upgrading its library and information services, strengthening access to tri-media and the web, and conducting S&T fairs/exhibits and special events.

Stronger bond be-tween public and pub-lic sector players is also needed to assure deliv-ery of best possible ser-vices or products pro-vided by DOST-12, she said.

Dr. Laidan, who was adjudged as one of Mindanao’s top women achievers by the Min-danao Commission on Women (MCW) last year, vowed continued collab-oration and assistance to state universities and colleges (SUCs).

She was recognized by the MCW for her distinct contributions and sig-nificant work in advanc-ing the status of women and rural communities in Mindanao thru S&T

innovations and for her successful implemen-tation of various socio-technological programs and activities.

She added, DOST-12 needs to double its ef-forts in strengthening industries through in-dustry dialogues and linkages with stakehold-ers like the academe and the local government units.

She encouraged the DOST-12 employees to go beyond what is ex-pected of them by the clients.

“We must continually improve our services to meet customer’s satis-faction through team-work, determination, hardwork and willing-ness to work,” she said.

With the DOST-12’s halal laboratory in Cota-bato City and the soon to be completed Philippine National Halal Labora-tory and Halal Science Center in Koronadal City in South Cotabato, DOST-12 will be play-ing a major role in the standardization of halal products for global com-petitiveness, she said. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12/DOST-12)


Provincial LGU distributes vehicles for better health services, police visibilityby Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY - In a bid to improve delivery of basic health services in remote barangays and increase police visibility along the national highway, the provincial government of North Cotabato recently distributed six vehicles and twelve refurbished motorcycles to several recipients.

The vehicles, all mul-ticabs, were given on January 9 to barangays in the second district of the province, primar-ily for use in transport of indigent patients to nearest rural health unit or hospitals.

Among the recipients were of Barangay Kad-ingilan in Pigcawayan, Poblacion in Libungan

and Simbuhay in Ka-bacan. These were re-ceived by their respec-tive chairmen, namely: Kasamad Kamid, Cres-encio Yu, and Abdullah Macaibel.

“This is part of our one barangay, one project policy where each far-flung baran-gay in the province will be given one multicab

to facilitate medical needs especially of the indigent patients,” Co-tabato Governor Em-mylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza said.

The other three ve-hicles were turned over to fisheries sec-tion of the Office of the Provincial Agricultur-ist, the Civil Security Unit of the province,


and the Cotabato Task Force for use in line with their respective objectives and respon-sibilities.

On the other hand, the motorcycles were handed over to the Provincial Police Office through P/SSupt Cor-nelio Salinas for the purpose of intensify-ing highway patrol op-erations and prevent street crimes in the entire province.

During the turnover ceremony, Governor Taliño-Mendoza also disclosed that the Par-

tylist Trade Union Con-gress of the Philippines (TUCP) has added P 15M to the provincial government’s existing budget of P10M for its multicab project.

“The assistance from the TUCP will enable us to purchase 75 units of multicabs. This means 75 more barangays will be assured of a more accessible health ser-vice,” she said.

On the same occa-sion, Taliño-Mendoza expressed her grati-tude to the partners of the provincial gov-

ernment including the department heads and employees who helped ensure that funds of the provincial govern-ment will be used judi-ciously.

“This project is the result of our efforts of spending public funds prudently, I hope that we will all have the same commitment in the coming years for this will mean more projects and programs for the people of Cota-bato,” she said. (PIA 12/OZG/IDCD-PGO North Cotabato)

Governor’s “political will” increases mining revenue to all time-highby Fruto Sumagaysay

KORONADAL CITY - Armed with sheer “political will,” the provincial government of South Cotabato led by Governor Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy Jr. was able to raise P 9,276,965.85 from mining and quarry taxes in 2011, about 41 percent higher compared to collection in 2010.

In 2010 revenues from mining and quar-ry taxes only amount-ed to P6,559,854.13.

The significant in-crease in revenue, collected through the Provincial Environ-

ment Management Office (PEMO) came with the compliance by mining operators to pay their mining ap-plications before the deadline along with the issuance of Execu-

tive Order 28, series of 2011 by Gov. Pin-goy, ordering closure of about 300 tunnels engaged in small-scale mining operations in T’boli town.

Pingoy ordered


closure of the mining tunnels for failure of the operators to se-cure mining permits.

Gov. Pingoy, in a written report sub-mitted by OIC-PEMO Siegfred Flaviano, an-nounced during the yearend Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting that South Cotabato has substantially gener-ated P3,518,287.00 from mining taxes and to P5,758, 637.85 from “sand & gravel”

or quarry taxes. In 2010, min-

ing taxes collected amounted to only P406,834.05.

“With this devel-opment, we expect to further increase our mining revenue be-tween P20 – P30 mil-lion for 2012 as fore-casted by our PEMO,” Pingoy assured PDC members.

Engr. Seigfred Fla-viano, acting PEMO head, said: “The full force or implemen-

tation of EO 28 will be the key to the mining revenue in-crease of the province for 2012.”

Likewise, we will con-t i n u o u s -ly conduct monitoring and appre-hensions on illegal small-scale mining operations, specifically on “banlas” mining that is very de-

structive to our envi-ronment.”

Flaviano disclosed that they have strict-ly enforced requiring mining and quarry per-mits and monitoring activities through es-tablishment of check-points and installation of four closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Poblacion, T’boli.

The also disclosed that the number of mineral processing permits have also in-creased from 15 in 2010 to 40 in 2011.

Flaviano earlier said that they were expecting more than 200 applications for permits to operate before their deadline last January 15. (DE-Doguiles/PIA12/PIO S.COTABATO)

one mindanao - january 18, 2012

Documents

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