one mindanao - january 23, 2012

2 Monday, January 23, 2012ONE MINDANAO

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... Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 162

Malacañang says Aquino gov’t committed to rationalize sin taxes

Computer literacy program benefits barangay treasurers

Public urged to take thyroid cancer seriously

Philhealth insurance for indigents covers thousands of Ozamiz city families

DSWD documents orphaned children by Typhoon Sendong in NorMin

9DA chief urges farmers to help government achieve food sufficiency

SOCOTECO 1 maaring magpapatupad ng power curtailment

LGU-Agusan del Norte to craft Prov’l Tourism Plan

Bernadine Astillero-Gabawan, Western Mindanao

Rene V. Carbayas, Western Mindanao

Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

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Pagsasanay sa mga taga-pagpatupad ng batas na nagbabawal ng paninigarilyo isinagawa

David M. Suyao, Caraga Region

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DavSur hosts PBA Finals Game RG Alama, 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

Piyesta Korona:

Koronadal City’s latest

attraction

Dani Doguiles Central Mindanao

Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 162


Computer literacy program benefits barangay treasurers

Public urged to take thyroid cancer seriously

Philhealth insurance for indigents covers thousands of Ozamiz city families

DSWD documents orphaned children by Typhoon Sendong in NorMin

DA chief urges farmers to help government achieve food sufficiency

Dani Doguiles and Lito Salvo, Central Mindanao

SOCOTECO 1 maaring magpapatupad ng power curtailment

Central Mindanao


Rene V. Carbayas, Western Mindanao

Northern Mindanao

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

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Pagsasanay sa mga taga-pagpatupad ng batas na nagbabawal ng paninigarilyo isinagawa

David M. Suyao, Caraga Region

DavSur hosts PBA Finals Game RG Alama, Southern Mindanao 28

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Cover StoryPiyesta Korona: Koronadal City’s latest attraction

L ike any other local government unit that stages a festival to accentuate its cultural uniqueness, Koronadal City

has longed to create one that is singularly its own.

by Dani Doguiles

5 Monday, January 23, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

The result: Piyesta Koro-na – a jovial mix of street danc-ing, mardi gras, and float parade centered on an implement that has long been a symbol of un-paralleled beauty and elegance: crown. “Koronadal is rich in tradition but we do not have a fiesta that has our own brand,” Mayor Peter B. Miguel said during the open-ing salvo of this year’s 72nd Foundation Anniversary and 12th Hinugyaw Festival. “We have several fiestas all over the Philippines such as Maskara, Sinulog, Ati-atihan, and Dinagyang that clearly identify the places that celebrate them. Sadly, we do not have a festival that we can call exclusively that of Koronadal City.”

(Until recently, Koronadal City has shared the festival byname “Hinugyaw” with North Cotaba-to, incidentally part of Soccsksar-gen Region, where Koronadal City stand as the regional seat of government. Last year though -- September 1, 2011 to be specific -- North Cotabato changed its fes-tival name from the Hiligaynon term for festivities to its equiva-lent in the Manobo dialect, “Kali-vungan.”) “What is more fitting is to name our festival with our own distinct name: ‘Korona’ from ‘Ko-ronadal,’” said Mayor Miguel. Adoption of “Korona” as a byname, beside the obvious city name, which was derived from “cogon” grass, the city govern-ment has a more “geographical”

Piyesta Korona: Koronadal City’s latest attraction


explanation. Koronadal City being South Cotabato’s center of trade and business, seats like a shining gem at the middle of the crown that is formed by two mountain ranges -- Quezon Mountain Range and Roxas Mountain Range -- that surround the city. Thus, beginning this year, and every January 10 henceforth, Koronadal City’s festival shall be called “Piyesta Korona” or Feast of Crowns. As promised in the city’s festi-val information sheet, the city was flooded by crown. “Piyesta Korona” began when the sun was about to set with a parade mardi gras style. Thirty contestants in flamboy-ant costumes highlighted by crowns made from various materials such as dried cogon grass, romblon mats, coconut midribs, beads of every color, feathers, Styrofoam


and other recyclable materials danced through the streets of the city until they reached Gen-san Drive, which was closed to traffic only for activity. (Gensan Drive the main road that con-nects Tacurong City to General Santos City.) Entry No. 13 who won the contest carried a crown made of Styrofoam wrapped in dried cogon grass leaves and weighs at least 10 kilograms. His entire body – from feet to the top of his head – was wrapped in gold body paint. Following them are street dancing contingents with their respective floats and queens

donned in elegant crowns. This year nine contingents from as far as Cotabato City and Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat City, transformed the city streets a very long party place of pageantry that is uniquely representative of the culture of Koronadal, a mix of Christian, Muslim and lumads. Piyesta Korona’s difference to any other similar attraction in the entire country, Koronadal City’s version of street dancing is centered on legends and sto-rylines involving a single element: crown.


President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared

the month of January of every year as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month.”

ACROSS THE NATIONAquino declares January of every year as ‘Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month’

In Proclamation No. 313 signed by Exec-utive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Janu-ary 12, 2012, President Aquino issued the decla-ration to promote pub-lic awareness and use of indigenous textiles in the country.

Under Re-public Act

9242 otherwise known as the Philippine Tropi-cal Fabrics Law of 2004, tropical fabrics are de-fined as those containing natural fibers produced, spun, woven or knitted, and finished in the Phil-ippines. These fabrics are used mostly for the uniforms of government officials and employees.

“The implemen-

tation of RA No. 9242 shall raise awareness on the utilization of natural fibers like pineapple, ba-nana, abaca and Philip-pine silk for textile and allied products and bring about the revival and up-grading of the local tex-tile and garments industries,


thus redounding to the creation of livelihood in the agricultural and in-dustrial sectors,” the President said.

The Chief Executive noted that Proclamation No. 86 (s. 2010) de-clared January 24, 2011 as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day” under the auspices of the Philip-pine Textile Research institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which increased interest on tropical fabrics from among the local indus-tries.

In issuing Proc-

lamation No. 313, the President cited “the need to sustain the gains from the celebration of the first Philippine Tropi-cal Fabrics Day and to engage a more active participation of govern-ment institutions and local industries on the use of Philippine Tropical Fabrics, as well as local natural fibers.”

President Aquino, directed the PTRI-DOST to source funds to de-fray the cost of the cel-ebration.

He also ordered the PTRI-DOST to ensure that extensive research on the judicious utiliza-

tion of local natural fi-bers be continued.

“All fabric produc-ers, textile manufac-turers, garments and geotextile industries, in-cluding the private sec-tor, associations, institu-tions and the academe, are hereby enjoined to actively participate in the proper observance of the “Philippine Tropi-cal Fabrics Month” and to partner with the govern-ment in bringing about an evolution of the Phil-ippine textile industry as an emerging leader in the global textile mar-ket,” President Aquino said. (JS)


Malacanang expressed the Aquino administration’s

commitment and unyielding efforts to rationalize the collection of sin taxes in the country to get more revenues for the government that could be used for various developmental programs.


Malacanang ex-pressed the Aquino administration’s com-mitment and unyield-ing efforts to ratio-nalize the collection of sin taxes in the country to get more revenues for the gov-ernment that could be used for various developmental pro-grams.

In a press brief-ing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the amendment to the structure of sin taxes

collection is long overdue.

“The situation is this: We are rationalizing the various levels of sin taxes. At present, there are a number of levels - four lev-elsare that we would like to rationalize...this amendment is long overdue,” Laci-erda said.

When asked on the government’s po-sition of entering into a compromise with major stakeholders that will be affected by the rationaliza-tion, Lacierda said that the government is not considering such move pending the discussion of the

amendments in the committee level.

“No, well, it’s up to the legislators to do that. We have presented our bill and so our position is very clear: we want to rationalize the sin taxes. As to whatever compromises, that is something that they will have to present… I mean, the tobacco industry would have to present their posi-tion in the debates in the committee level,” Lacierda said.

The government expects to earn P60 billion a year from the rationalization of taxes on alcohol and tobacco products. Without such a bill, the finance depart-ment estimates that government will lose P2 billion to P2.4 bil-lion a year by 2013. (JCL)


Flood-affected farmers in N. Cotabato get palay seeds by Dani Doguiles and Lito Salvo

KORONADAL CITY -- As an initiative to help the flood-stricken municipalities in North Cotabato, the Department of Agriculture- 12 distributed needed certified palay seeds to help farmers replant their flashflood-devastated ricefields.


Some 894 bags of certified palay were given to farmers during a dialogue with farmers at the grounds of Cen-tral Mindanao Integrat-ed Agricultural Research Center (CEMIARC), in Amas, Kidapawan City.

Three hundred bags were allocated to farm-ers from the town of Carmen, 257 to Kaba-can, 25 to Pikit, and 12 to M’lang.

DA-12 Regional Ex-ecutive Director Ama-lia Jayag-Datukan, told farmer-recipients that

she has talked to Co-tabato Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Mendoza as re-gards this dilemma.

She added, she has assured the governor that DA.-12 will contin-ue to extend help for the recovery affected farmers, including pro-vision of planting ma-terials.

“We are happy that the national govern-ment has not forgotten us,” executive assistant Dr. Teodora Casipe told DA officials in behalf of the governor.

Engr. Eliseo Mangli-wan, North Cotabato’s provincial agriculturist, on his part urged farm-ers to do their part in making sure that the seed assistance goes a long way.

“The help that DA has given us is tempo-rary, for us to be able to get trough the dam-age brought about by the recent floods,” he said.

Recipients of the ca-lamity assistance also expressed thankfulness to DA 12.


Roger Alimanan, chairman of Baran-gay Langunan, Carmen said in the vernacular: “Farmers who have suf-

fered from the flash-floods can now begin restoring their liveli-hood.”

Bong Bacan, chair-

man of Barangay Kaya-ga, Kabacan, in addition to expressing thanks, hopes DA will continue helping them.

DA chief urges farmers to help government achieve food sufficiencyKORONADAL CITY -- Farmers should be in the forefront in making sure that government efforts to attain food sufficiency would be successful, an agriculture official said.

Department of Ag-riculture Region 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan expressed he challenge to farmers during a recent dia-logue with farmers at Central Mindanao Inte-grated Agricultural Re-search Center in Amas , Kidapawan City .

Some 894 bags of certified seeds were distributed to farm-ers of Kabacan, Pikit, Carmen, and M’lang towns affected by re-cent floods.

“Do not leave us alone in this. Join us in the Food Staple Suf-ficiency Program be-cause this is for the Philippines, the farm-ers and the citizens of the country,” she told farmer-recipients.

She also called them to be positive, enthu-siastic and honest in implementing the de-partment’s programs.

“I don’t entertain failures. There is no such thing as failure. We’re just challenged by time,” she said, adding that it is diffi-cult to work with people of negative outlook.

As front liners in rice production, the farmers

should take their role more seriously for the achievement of self-sufficiency in rice and other staple crops in the country, she said.

Datukan clarified that the turn-over of bags of palay seeds is not a seed subsidy program of DA but only calamity assistance.

She explained that the seed subsidy p ro-g ram was d ropped


because the department is pursuing long last-ing interventions such as the construction of farm-to-market roads, and the acquisition of postharvest facilities, farm machineries, and support irrigation facili-ties among others.

As a reminder, she told farmers and local and provincial agricul-

ture employees to sub-mit their project pro-posals for the regional office to determine and to confirm what among these would be signifi-cant undertakings for immediate implemen-tation.

As regards the sub-mission of project pro-posals, she encour-aged reinvigoration of

farmer’s organizations and communal farmer’s alliances to present a group project proposal.

Datukan is looking forward for more en-thusiastic, more par-ticipative and relatively successful farmers in North Cotabato. (DE-Doguiles/PIA 12/LMSalvo/DA 12)

SOCOTECO 1 maaring magpapatupad ng power curtailmentKORONADAL CITY -- Inamin ng pamunuan ng South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1) na may posibilidad na makararanas ng panakanakang brownout ang nasasakupan ng kooperatiba.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni SOCOTECO 1 General Manager San-tiago Tudio na noong nakaraang taon pa man nabawasan na ng ma-higit 2 megawatts ang suplay na kuryente na ibinibigay ng Napocor sa kooperatiba.

Paliwanag ni Tudio, wala kasing karagda-gang suplay ng kuryente sa Mindanao habang tu-mataas ang naman ang kailangan ng suplay ng kuryente sa nasasaku-pan.

Sa kasalukuyan nasa 28.8 MW ang alokasyon

ng SOCOTECO 1 sa-mantalang umaabot ng hanggang 31 MW ang kailangan ng mga kon-sumidor nito.

Kung mananatiling lu-malampas sa suplay ang ginagamit ng mga mi-yembro mapipilitan um-ano silang magpatupad ng power curtailment sa ilang feeders sa pana-hon ng peak load.

Sa layong punan ang suplay ng kuryente sa lalawigan, binubuo ngayon ng SOCOTECO 1 ang isang kasunduan sa Aboitiz Power hinggil sa pagbili ng karagdagang

suplay ng kuryente. Subalit mangangahulu-gan aniya ito ng bahag-yang pagtaas ng bayarin ng mga kunsumidor.

Kaugnay rito, nakikiu-sap si Tudio sa mga mi-yembro na tumulong sa pagtitipid sa paggamit ng kuryente lalung lalo na sa peak hours.

Kabilang sa mga suhestiyon niya ang hu-wag pagsabayin ang paggamit ng mga kag-amitang de kuryente la-lung lalo na mula alas singko ng hapon hang-gang alas nuebe ng gabi. (DEDoguiles)


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LTO, DOTC-Caraga grateful for the approval of bus drivers’ fixed salary

Officials of Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) expressed their gratitude with the approval of bus drivers’ fixed salary in Caraga Region as

agreed by bus companies.

by Robert E. Roperos


According to DOTC-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Alim Pangandaman, the lack of fixed salary may be a cause of the high rate of road accidents as drivers. “’Yan ang dapat gawin upang maiwasan na ang mga komisyon ba-

sis kasi nag-uunahan ang mga drivers na makaku-ha ng pasahero na nag-ing dahilan ng aksidente,” Pangandaman said. (That is really the best thing to do to get rid of commission-basis be-cause the drivers are com-peting to get passengers

which causes accidents.) Atty. Pangandaman also said that with this im-plementation, competition in bus companies will now be minimized. “Thus, ac-cidents will also be mini-mized,” he added. “Dahil dito, mawawa-la na ang kumpetisyon sa mga bus companies at drivers upang lumaki ang kita nila,” Pangandaman said. (Through this imple-mentation, competition of bus companies and driv-ers on getting passengers first, will definitely stop.)

Mr. Edgar Plaraca, Jr., Provincial Information Offi-cer, in an interview with a local radio station here this morning said the provincial executive department is at

present gathering data from the municipalities. He said the province’s executive department is now waiting for the mu-nicipal tourism officers to

submit their municipal tour-ism plans. “After they have submitted these plans, the province will finalize the crafting of the plan,” Palarca said.(Robert E. Roperos)


BUTUAN CITY -- The provincial government of Agusan del Norte will soon craft a tourism development plan.


Pagsasanay sa mga taga-pagpatupad ng batas na nagbabawal ng paninigarilyo isinagawa by David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR -- Isinagawa kamakailan ang isang pagsasanay sa mga taga-pagpatupad ng batas na nagbababawal ng paninigarilyo sa bayan ng Esperanza sa kanilang pagsisikap na matigil ang paninigarilyo sa buong bayan.

Kilala ang Esperanza sa pagiging kampeon sa buong lalawigan at sa buong rehiyon ng Caraga dahil sa kanilang programa sa pag-alaga at pagtanggol laban sa anumang abuso na gina-gawa sa kapaligiran lalo na sa tinatawag na Ecological Solid Waste Management Program (ESWMP). Sa naturang pag-sasanay, tinalakay rin ang Ordinansa Blng. 113-2011 na pinamagatang “The Comprehensive Anti-Smok-ing Ordinance of Esperan-za, Agusan del Sur” ni Bise Mayor Apolonio Layugan. Ayon kay Bise Mayor Layugan, sinasakop ng or-dinansang ito ang kahit si-

nong naninigarilyo o pina-payagan ang paninigarilyo sa mga pampublikong sa-sakyan, mga sasakyang pag-aari ng pamahalaan, mga bahay aliwan, pam-publikong gusali at lugar, at lahat ng saradong lugar na nasa labas ng priba-dong bahay, pribadong lu-gar na pinagtatrabahuhan na matatagpuan sa loob ng bayan ng Esperanza. Dagdag pa ni Layu-gan, isinasali rin sa ordin-ansang ito ang pagbebenta ng sigarilyo ng mga menor de edad, ang pag-aadver-tise ng ano mang uri ng si-garilyo at paglagay o pang pamumudmod ng mga pro-pagandang bagay na may

kaugnayan sa sigarilyo. Ang 100 porsyentong pagsali ng mga barangay kapitan sa naturang pag-sasanay kasama ang na organisang Municipal Task Force ay nagpalakas sa mga namumuno at mga ki-nilalang kasali rito para sa pag patupad ng mga batas na nagtatanggol ng kapali-giran at malusog na pamu-muhay. Naisagawa ang pag-sasanay na ito sa pagsisikap ng Municipal Health Office kasama ang Sangguniang Bayan Office at sa tulong ni Delma Legaspi isang nurse na coordinator ng Healthy Lifestyle ng Department of Health, Caraga Region.


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Bangko Sentral appeals to public to help circulate new generation series bill

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) here appeals to the public to help in the circulation of the new generation series bill by using and spending it.

by Jocelyn P. Alvarez


BSP Zamboanga City Branch Head Melodino Patiño said “we ask the public to help circulate the new generation currencies by spending it.”He said, BSP will continuously in-crease the number of new gen-eration series bills distributed in banks. He said the “new money” with denominations of P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000 are now out in the banks and people may start to bring in and change their “old bills” and change it for

the “new ones” with their deposi-tory banks. Patiño said the public still has up to 2013 to use the old curren-cies before it loses its capacity as legal tender. By 2014, it is expected that the new generation series is in full circulation and that everyone is already using it. The branch head said, as of this time, the currency ratio is 80 percent old and 20 percent new as far as usage and circulation is concern. (JPA/PIA ZBST)

Computer literacy program benefits barangay treasurers by Bernadine Astillero-Gabawan

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur - Mayor Leonardo L. Babasa, Jr. of the municipality of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, thru the Municipal Budget Office and in coordination with the barangay local government units conducted the Barangay Computer Literacy Program which started on November 28, 2011. This was held at the Office of the Municipal Budget Officer-Guest House Computer Room, Municipal Government Center here.


Twenty-eight ba-rangay treasurers at-tended the trainings in seven batches for ten weeks. The training en-abled the participants to know the importance of computer literacy, the basics of computer op-eration and to formulate their respective Baran-gay Annual Budget for 2012. Standing is Melly G. Madamba, Municipal Budget Officer as she watched Barangay trea-surers doing their as-signments. According to Melojean C. Apelacio, Barangay Treasurer of Lamare, “As one of the recipients of this literacy program, dako kaayo mi ug pasalamat nga nag-pahigayon ug training sama niini tungod kay di lang nakahibalo mi mo-operate sa computer kung dili nakakat-on pod mi unsaon pag-formu-late ang among budget sa barangay.” (As one of the recipients of the program, we are so grateful that this training was con-ducted because not only were we able to learn how to operate a computer, but also we learned how to formulate our own budget for the barangay.) Melly Galambao-Madamba, to-gether with Lorenzo Sta. Ana, Jr., technical staff, handled the said train-

ing as instructors. With the advent of new technol-ogies, it is never too late to learn and adopt new innovations. It is expected that at the end of the program, par-ticipants will be able to handle public administration satisfactorily within the demands and in keeping with modern techniques. (BAG/ALT-PIA9/Zam-bo Sur)


Ronald delos Reyes, EJACC pro-gram coordinator, said that there is an increasing incidence rate of thyroid can-cer in Metro Cebu.Based on EJACC’s Metro Cebu Popu-lation-based Cancer Registry, the inci-dence rate of thyroid cancer in 2003 to 2007 is high but the mortality rate is comparatively lower. Within this period, about 573 cas-es of thyroid cancer were reported and 116 were recorded to have died of the disease. The figures also show that 97

cases have been attributed to persons in between the ages 15-30 while 350 cas-es are persons with ages 30-60. More women than men have been affected by this disease; in fact, 134 cases are male while 439 cases are female. “Thyroid cancer is high on prog-nosis. It is preventable through vari-ous screening methods, such as physi-cal examination and ultrasound of the neck, as well as some prevention mea-sures, including regular exercise and maintenance of a well-balanced diet,”

Public urged to take thyroid cancer seriously by Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY – The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has urged the public to take thyroid cancer seriously and undergo early screening and prevention measures to fight the disease.


delos Reyes explained.RAFI reported that as a common type of cancer diagnosed in men and wom-en, thyroid cancer ranked sixth in most common cancer cases in Metro Cebu. According to the 2010 journal of the Philippine Cancer Facts and Esti-mates of the Philippine Cancer Society, the incidence rate had increased from 1980 to 2002, with an annual change of 0.4% in males and 1.6% among fe-males. The report said thyroid cancer is the most common cancer of women at ages 15-24 years. Among women, the incidence rate rises at age 30 and continues to rise with increasing age. Among men, the incidence rate begins to increase much later, starting at 60 years old. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It works like a tiny factory that uses iodine, mostly from the diet in foods like seafood and salt, to produce thyroid hormones that, in turn, help regulate the body’s growth and metabolism and other functions of the body. The most common signs and symp-toms of thyroid cancer include a lump or thyroid nodule, that can be felt in the neck; trouble in swallowing; throat or neck pain; swollen lymph nodes in the neck; cough; and vocal changes. People exposed to high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to develop papillary or follicular thyroid cancer. Treatment with x-rays is one significant source of radiation

exposure. Between the 1920s and the 1950s, doctors used high-dose x-rays to treat children who had enlarged tonsils, acne, and other problems af-fecting the head and neck. Later, sci-entists found that some people who had received this kind of treatment developed thyroid cancer. People who are diagnosed with this kind of cancer may undergo sur-gery. Common surgeries include thy-roidectory, lobectomy, and tracheos-tomy. Sometimes, even the removal of the thyroid itself is needed.RAFI said that the public can get in touch with EJACC in Cebu at tele-phone number 254-6351 to learn more about thyroid cancer. “Like many other cancers, thy-roid cancer may be more easily cured with early detection. Earlier diagnosis removes thyroid cancer at a time when they are not likely to have spread be-yond the thyroid gland,” delos Reyes said. (JPA/RAFI/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)


“Shelter-Build” set to start in Iligan on January 25 by Melvin T. Anggot

The relocation of “Sendong” victims or the ‘”Shelter-Build” in Barangay Sta. Elena will start on January 25.

A group of volunteers from various places (Compostela Valley, Zamboanga, Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat) are now in Iligan to participate in this activity. More that 3,000 house units

have already been committed by various donors like San Miguel Corporation (SMC); Organization of Islamic Countries(OIC); GMA Network; Phil. Economic Zone Authority; Development Bank of the


Phil.; International Federation of Red Cross; and by the various churches in Iligan City as well. While preparation in Sta. Elena is in full swing, another two-hectare relocation site in Luinab is being

considered. Owned by the Diocese of Iligan, Bishop Galido says the Luinab relocation site may be used by the flood survivors by way of usufruct.Recently, Cebu Mayor Michael Rama handed a P2 Million worth of check to Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz for flood survivors. A shipload of relief goods coming from the National Council of Churches in the Phil. (NCCP) will dock Iligan pier next week. Likewise, a team of

experts from the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines was also in Iligan to make a survey of the damage wrought by Sendong. (CIO)

Philhealth insurance for indigents covers thousands of Ozamiz city familiesby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – A total of 15,019 families from the city’s 51 barangays were covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Program (PHIP) by four (4) sponsors, last year.

Of this number, 10,094 families were covered by Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez, through the local government unit (LGU) of Ozamiz City, Ludie Salud A. Raras, City Social Welfare Officer (CSWO), said. About 1,363 families were also covered by Governor Herminia Ramiro, through the Provincial Government Unit of Misamis Occidental. Likewise, 3,205 families were covered by President Benigno S. Aquino

III, while 357 others were covered by the Department of Health (DOH). Meanwhile, Raras said their office is now cleansing their records to validate the number of families who will be re-enrolled in the PHIP for 2012. “Right now, we are cross-checking our records to avoid any duplication of names in the roster of beneficiaries covered by these four (4) health insurance programs,” Raras said. This is because there were instances


in the past wherein the misspelled names of beneficiares resulted in double coverage for some of the families and in some cases, a family was covered by all the programs.

DSWD documents orphaned children by Typhoon Sendong in NorMinOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - An initial record of fifteen children who were separated, unaccompanied and orphaned in Iligan City had been documented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), region 10.

Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of DSWD-10 said a Social Welfare Officer (SWO) had been assigned to document cases of these children who were separated, unaccompanied and orphaned by Typhoon Sendong, in coordination with all the Camp Managers of the evacuation centers (EC’s), in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro (CDO). However, no information yet on the consolidation/disaggregation of data in the EC’s of CDO have been completed and turned over to DSWD-10. Solamillo said the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) is now gearing up for a series of training activities on Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR), Psychosocial Care and Support (PCS), and Social Work Case Management (SWCM). These capacity building activities

are for city social workers and child protection partners, Solamillo said.UNICEF, in partnership with CFSI, have also organized a series of psychosocial activities for more than 1,300 children in 12 evacuation centers in both cities. At least 3,000 children have also been reached with psychosocial and debriefing activities by CPWG members. Meanwhile, 97 volunteers from the Education Cluster have been trained on psychosocial support and care, last Jan. 8-10, to assist teachers from the Department of Education (DepEd) in handling sessions in classroom setting. In partnership with the SGBV sub-cluster, UNICEF also spearheaded the distribution of advocacy materials for the “Say No, Run and Tell” for the prevention of abuse in in the EC’s, Solamillo added. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob)


DavNor revenue, austerity measures to cushion impact of budget cut

The province of Davao del Norte has reduced the severity of the 4.8 percent

reduction in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) this year by adopting fiscal discipline and revenue and austerity measures. Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario is quite optimistic the province will be able to hurdle the budget challenge with the several measures that his administration has put in place. To overcome the unpleasant IRA cut, del Rosario revealed the province

strengthened revenue generation and enforced austerity measures and strict accountability among the Capitol officials and personnel. The province will continue to tap the resources of the national gov-ernment, as well as, the overseas development assistance (ODA) funding opportunities. Leading the revenue generating measure of the province is the re-cently-approved Provincial Tax Ordi-nance 2011-001, otherwise known as the Revised Revenue Code of

Davao del Norte. The governor is very much up-beat about the asset reforms result-ing from the creation of the Provincial Economic Enterprise, which took the rein of the three district hospitals of the province. He further showed off the great prospect of the mega projects in the province, such as the on-going P243-million Provincial Sports Complex, the P250-million worth of projects from the Mindanao Rural Development


Program (MRDP-2), the P44-million school building program in partner-ship with the Department of Educa-tion, and the hospital enhancement program in the amount of P78-million from the Department of Health. The four-year annual grant of over P40 million per year from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) for the im-plementation of the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) project in the province also augurs well in buffering effects of the budget reduc-tion. Some P100 million is already in the pipeline for the repair of some por-

tion of the Talaingod-Bukidnon Road that was damaged by bad weather. The start of the construction of the Zero Kilometer, Asuncion Road going to Veruela, Agusan del Sur, which is now converted into a national highway further forebodes more eco-nomic opportunities for the province. Gov. del Rosario then urged the Capitol employees, and the people of Davao del Norte, to continue sup-porting his administration’s advoca-cy of fiscal prudence and austerity, espousing the management slogan, “maximum effectiveness at the least cost.” (PIO-DavNor/Noel Baguio)

DavSur hosts PBA Finals Game

DAVAO CITY- The City of Digos recently hosted the first game of the Philippiune Basketball

Association’s 2011-2012 Philippine Finals Cup at the spankingly modern Davao del Sur Sports-Cultural and Business Center Complex. Two PBA teams, the Talk and Text Tropang Tex-ters and the Powerade Ti-gers battled it out on the hardcourt with the favored Talk and Text team winning 116-100. The championship series will be decided in seven games. The game was brought to Digos by Davao City-based

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines which is a sponsor of the PBA-Phoenix On


Tour. The company has sponsored PBA out-of-town games for four years now. The Davao del Sur Sports-Cultur-al and Business Center Complex is a 5,000-seater coliseum worth P268-million here is expected to spur eco-nomic growth for the province. The coliseum is part of the P500 million five-structure components de-signed for the Davao del Sur Sports-Cultural and Business Center Complex to include convention centers, swim-ming pool, volleyball court, dormitory and restaurant, parks and playground and track and field. The January 20 finals game is the first PBA Finals game to be held in Davao del Sur. though the facility has been hosting PBA games since 2010. The first PBA game was played by PBA teams Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine during the grand opening of the coliseum on December 4, 2010. The event has earned the province some P1.58 million net proceeds. The second PBA game was played

on June 25 as part of the week-long celebration of the 44th Araw ng Davao del Sur. This game provided about P700,000 net income for the prov-ince. According to Davao del Sur Gov-ernor Douglas Cagas the Philippine Sports Commission is eyeing the fa-cility as a major sports training center in Mindanao. Another facility in the region where regular PBA games are held is located in Panabo City in Davao del Norte where another modern gymna-sium is located. Davao City the major urban cen-ter of the region has no sizeable mod-ern sports facility comparable to Di-gos and Panabo. An 8,000-seater modern gym-nasium is in the process of comple-tion located inside the University of Southeastern Philippines campus in Davao city. When completed it can host PBA games and other events like concerts and conventions. (PIA/RG Alama, photo from the PBA web-site)

did you know...That among the Chinatowns in the world, Binondo in Manila is the oldest being estab-lished in 1565 while Davao Chinatown is the newest officially created by a city ordinance in 2003. The Davao City Chinatown at 44 hectares is also the largest Chinatown in the world according to land area.

one mindanao - january 23, 2012

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