one mindanao - january 26, 2016

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Telefax no. (08822) 72-66-83Cellphone no. 0928-5204305, 0917-3084969E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)Ground Floor 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]

SOCCSKSARGEN RegionBautista 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)J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTSEMMANUEL TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERSSEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE EDITOR EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western &Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

Power On:Therma South Power Plant

Cover Story

By: Rudolph Alama

today’s news

Balisacan to head Philippine Competition Commission

14

33 BFP9 spearheads training on LDRRM in SibugayBy Rhea Grace A. La Plana

1996 MNLF peace accord review in harmony with MILF peace track

16

34 Harsh jungle life pushes Abu Sayyaf family to return to the fold of the law

38 Pantawid Pamilya continues to change beneficiaries lives

42 2 Tagum barangay reading centers get a boost with new books

21 Police to catch smoking violators in Gensan

By: Greg Tataro Jr.By: Jonathan M. Macas

24 SurSur COMELEC all set for PJSCC command conference

NATIONAL INFOCUS

WESTERN NORTHERN

SOUTHERN

SOCCSKSARGEN

CARAGA

10 16 19

23 31 3741

40 Pension increase must have certain funding source - SSS NorMinBy: Mariel B. UrdanetaBy Rene V. Carbayas

4 January 26, 2016One Mindanao

Roxas Avenue is a wide thoroughfare which connects the main street of C.M. Recto

(formerly Claveria) and Quezon Boulevard.

Cover Story Davao City’s Roxas Avenue

Night MarketBy: Rudolph Alama

5January 26, 2016 One Mindanao


Points of interest include Clifford Park (named after Col. Thomas Edgar Clifford who died during the liberation of Davao in World War II), Millennium Park (the city’s freedom park), Marco Polo Hotel, the college campus of Ateneo de Davao and the Post Office.

An open drainage canal runs runs from the Freedom Park towards the Quezon Boulevard junction. Within the canal banks Neem, Mahogany trees and Hibiscus shrubs provide shade and beauty to the avenue. In the late 1990s there were plans to establish an evening promenade for tourists in the avenue with night market and sidewalk cafes.

It was in 2013 when the City Council of Davao approved the night market ordinance, one of the night market was


established in Roxas. The idea of having night markets was to address the problem of sidewalk vendors which had congested San Pedro Streets and the City Hall area. The avenue was selected because it was wide and was underutilized during the evening as it had little vehicular traffic.

The Roxas Night Market at first was met with opposition from street vendors relocated from San Pedro as it would be depriving them of their livelihood. At that time, Roxas Avenue was devoid of human traffic as compared to the busy San Pedro Street.

In the Roxas Night Market, vendors were provided with


1.5 x 2 meters of space paying a rental fee of 25 pesos per day. From 5 p.m. vendors would start setting up their stalls as the six-laned avenue would be reduced to two.

The vendors’ apprehension would later fade as the night market attracted droves of people. Today the night market is one of the major destinations in Roxas Avenue, making it one

of the liveliest places in the city during night time. In 2015 the night market contributed P4-million for the city’s coffers.

The night market is divided into sections, brand new merchandises is located in the westernmost side (near the Millennium Park) this is where you’ll find clothes, footwear, bags, cellular phone accessories, fashion accessories, DVDs. This


is where the famed massage therapists ply their trade.

After the Padre Gomez intersection is the food section where one can find street food, barbeque stalls, ice cream carts. This is where one can fall in line and wait for hours at the famous Mang Danny’s ice cream. Aside from food stalls, you can find barbeque eateries and restaurants along the avenue.

Passing the Artiaga intersection is the ukay-ukay stalls where one can get bargains for second-hand clothes, shoes and bags.

From bargain shopping to gastronomic adventures, Roxas Night Market is must-see evening visit here in Davao City.

One Mindanao10 January 26, 2016

MANILA-- The Department of Health (DOH), through the National Nutrition Council (NNC), in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) convenes for the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Philippine Gathering (SUNMOVEMENTPH) to bring key players from the government agencies, developmental partners, civil society groups, business sector and the academe to identify actions in addressing malnutrition.

DOH teams up with WHO and Unicef to address malnutrition in PH


The SUN movement calls on member countries, including the Philippines which is the 51st country to be accepted, to scale up nutrition actions including promotion of breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding, management of acute malnutrition, and nutrition-sensitive interventions in agriculture, education and social welfare among others.

Globally, close to half of deaths in children under 5 years old can be directly or indirectly linked to malnutrition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 17 million children under age five in the world are severely malnourished and have at least 9x increased risk for death.

Malnutrition remains a significant public health concern in the Philippines with a staggering 3.4 million children who are stunted (short for their age) and more than 300,000

children under 5 years who are wasted (underweight for their age). This continues to be a serious child health problem, with the Philippines being highly disaster-prone. The risk of malnutrition increases in the aftermath of emergencies.

“We have a pool of committed and able human resources, more than 40 years of experience on nutrition action, technologies, and most especially solid evidence of what nutrition and related interventions work that are embodied in the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition Framework for Action. The call for today is to muster all of these resources to create, strengthen, and sustain the political will to address malnutrition as a central concern of development.” Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto Garin said.

This forum is also the venue to launch the 2015


Global Nutrition Report: Actions and Accountability to Advance Nutrition and Sustainable Development which was prepared by the Independent Expert Group of International Experts and published by the International Food Policy Research Institute based in Washington, DC.

According to Mr. Lawrence Haddad, international expert in nutrition and lead author of the 2015 Global Nutrition Report, the Philippines was considered “on course” in meeting targets to reduce child stunting and overweight. On the other hand, the Philippines is “off course” for child wasting and anemia.

Mr. Haddad added that like many countries, the Philippines has seen slow reductions in malnutrition. If the Philippines and other countries want to achieve its commitment to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as well as the World Health Assembly 2015

Global Targets, countries have to end all forms of malnutrition by scaling up proven nutrition interventions and by committing and investing in nutrition as well as holding nutrition stakeholders accountable.

This meeting also aims to organize implementers of the Early Childhood Care and Development Intervention Package for the First 1000 Days (ECCD IP/1000), a priority project of the government starting 2016 to address stunting by focusing on maternal and young child health and nutrition, early child education and social services. The first 1000 days is recognized as the window of opportunity to intervene to prevent malnutrition starting from the whole 9 months of pregnancy and until the child reaches his or her second birthday. Missing this window is a missed opportunity to ensure the full development of the child.

The National Nutrition


Council being the policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition will make use of the recommendations from the forum for the formulation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition for 2017-2022.

“The DOH will continue its commitment to lead the NNC

and the Philippine Multisectoral Platform for scaled up nutrition action, and to mobilize and rally other sectors, especially the national leadership of the current and coming administrations into the common nutrition arena.” Garin concluded. (DOH)


Balisacan to head Philippine Competition Commission

“Taking on the job as the first chairperson of the PCC for me, is a very compelling challenge that is hard to ignore. I see this as both a great responsibility and another privilege to steer the economy toward the right direction to realize all its growth potential,” said Balisacan. Republic Act No. 10667, otherwise known as the Philippine Competition Act, which President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into

law on July 21, 2015, created the PCC. The commission is a quasi-judicial body which will enforce and implement the provisions of the Philippine Competition Act, including its implementing rules and regulations. Through this, it will ensure an efficient market competition in providing a level-playing field among businesses engaged in trade, industry, and all commercial economic activities.

MANILA -- Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan has resigned effective January 31, 2016 to head the newly-formed Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).


The PCC aims to protect consumer welfare and advance both domestic, and international trade and economic development. Also, it has the mandate to conduct inquiries, investigate, and penalize all forms of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions. “We would want to address the problem of having a growing economy but with the benefits of such growth only for a small sector. Promoting fair and healthy competition among firms is a major factor in ensuring that the benefits of growth are properly shared,” said the new PCC Chief. As Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General since May 2012, Balisacan was the first chair of the Philippine Statistics Authority Board and the Public-Private Partnership Center Board. Concurrently, he was chairman of the board for the Philippine Institute of Development Studies, Philippine Center for Economic Development, and the Philippine Statistical Research and the Training Institute.

Prior to his appointment to NEDA, Balisacan was Dean and Professor of the University of the Philippines School of Economics. He also served as the Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture or SEARCA from 2003 to 2009, and Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture in 2000, 2001, and 2003.

Recognized as a leading development economist in Asia, Balisacan will be bringing to PCC, aside from his experience as Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, is his expertise in development economics, international economics, and applied welfare economics. Balisacan has been an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology since 2008 and an Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University since 2011. Meanwhile, Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra will serve as the Officer-in-Charge of NEDA. (NEDA)

16 One Mindanao January 26, 2016

1996 MNLF peace accord review in harmony with MILF peace track

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia-- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterated its support for the Philippine government’s peace track with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), saying that the passage of a meaningful Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is in harmony with the ongoing Tripartite Review of the 1996 Final Peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). “[T]he OIC has maintained ongoing interest and engagement in this process since its inception. OIC member states have, in

their annual Council of Foreign Ministers Meetings, welcomed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and


viewed it as a first step toward the fulfillment of the 1976 Tripoli and the 1996 Jakarta Agreements,” OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani said in separate letters to Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

“Allow me to reaffirm our support to the efforts of the Philippine nation in the cause of peace and we remain committed to seeing a just and lasting solution that will benefit all the people of the Philippines,” Madani added.

The OIC secretary general was in the country early last year to help oversee the activation of the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum, a venue wherein the MILF and the MNLF can harmonize their position with regard to achieving genuine autonomy as envisioned in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Meanwhile, a Ministerial Meeting on the Tripartite Review Process has been scheduled on January 25-26 in the city. It will be attended by top officials from the Philippines and representatives of the Misuari and Sema-led groups of the MNLF.

It is expected that the Tripartite Review process, when finished, will provide for a harmonized Bangsamoro peace process roadmap. This will become more evident if the MNLF decides to participate in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government which will bridge the transition from the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the proposed Bangsamoro parliamentary government.

Focusing on the legislative process of the BBL, Madani expressed grave concerns about the delay and the perceived watering-down of the bill. “[The OIC] urges the Philippine authorities, in particular the lawmakers, who share the common goal at working for peace and stability not to let this historical moment become another lost opportunity. The OIC leader added that the BBL that will be passed must “ensure the ‘concept of exclusivity of the powers of the Bangsamoro political entity’ as agreed upon in the CAB.” Madani also commented on the reported amendments to the pending Bangsamoro law,


saying “[t]hese amendments restore the National Government control over many areas and they actually reduce the Bangsamoro Government to an entity similar to an ordinary local government unit.”

The original draft of the BBL, which was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and submitted to Congress in September 2014, envisions a regional government that has complete fiscal and political autonomy while remaining part of the Republic of the Philippines. It attempts to correct many structural flaws of the current ARMM which curtail its function as an autonomous regional government.

The House of Representatives has set the voting on the passage of the BBL on 27 January, Wednesday, meaning it only has Monday and Tuesday to finish the turno en contra speeches and the period of amendments. The Senate, meanwhile, has yet to discuss the BBL since it returned to work from the holiday and New Year break. The upper chamber has also scheduled a re-opening of the Mamasapano probe on Wednesday. “The [OIC] will continue its efforts for peace in Mindanao and will continue monitoring the situation closely until our efforts lead us to the real dawn of peace and stability and a final end to the long struggle of the Bangsamoro people,” Madani concluded. (PPMB)


DA starts cloud seeding in SOCCSKSARGEN By: Danilo E.Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Jan. 26 -- In line with its El Nino mitigation efforts, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA 12) has began cloud seeding operations in SOCCSKSARGEN Region on Saturday (January 23).


DA 12 Regional Executive Di-rector Amalia Jayag-Datukan confirmed in an interview that immediate cloud seeding sor-ties were ordered after 900 bags of salt were delivered at the General Santos City Airport on Friday.

“We were able to conduct three sorties on Saturday and three more sorties on Sunday covering all the four provinces of SOCCSKSARGEN Region as well as parts of the neighbor-ing provinces of Davao del Sur and Maguindanao,” Director Datukan said.

SOCCSKSARGEN Region is comprised of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cota-bato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat.

In preparation for the cloud seeding operations, person-nel from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWD) assessed the situation in the region for the possibility of in-ducing rain to save standing crops from the effects of the dry spell prevailing in the area.

DA 12, through its Region-al Engineering Section also trained personnel and agricul-tural technicians from local government units to help spot “seedable” clouds and deter-

mine wind direction and speed in their respective areas of re-sponsibility.

Director Datukan also urged the public to help DA 12 in this initiative by posting photos of possible “seedable” clouds in specific areas in DA 12’s Face-book account, namely: Agri Tayo Soccsksargen and Rafid DA Xii. They may also send text message to DA 12’s hotline mo-bile number 0999-923-6054.

“Depending on presence of ‘seedable’ clouds DA will con-duct two to three cloud seeding sorties every day until March,” Datukan added. “Each sortie costs Php 45,000.”

In an earlier interview DA 12 Regional Technical Direc-tor for Operations Zaldy Boloron confirmed that DA 12 has ear-marked Php12 million for the cloud seeding operations in the region.

On Tuesday, January 19, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of North Cotabato placed the en-tire province under state of ca-lamity. According to the Office of the Provincial Agricultur-ist (OPAG), since November, drought has damaged close to 28,000 hectares of crops, valued at P238 million. Several municipalities have also


Police to catch smoking violators in Gensan

reported rat infestation, also attributed to the El Nino phe-nomenon.

Per December 2015 report of the OPAG-South Cotabato, the dry spell has damaged 1,335

ha of palay and 1,913 ha of corn with a combined almost Php 89 million. The figures did not include damage due to ro-dents, black bug and stembor-ers. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Jan. 26 – Police personnel in General Santos City are now ready to catch anyone who are smoking in re-stricted premises.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera is-sued a deputation order to Gen-eral Santos City Police Officer (GSCPO) director Maximo Layu-gan on Wednesday (January 20) which authorizes the police to fully implement the Anti-Smok-ing Ordinance.

The Anti-Smoking Ordinance (Ordinance No. 6 Series of 2015) was enacted by the Sang-guniang Panlungsod in a bid to make Gensan a non-smoking city.

“I want to make Gensan a non-smoking city. I even stopped smoking for this,” said Mayor Rivera. “Of course, I want a strict implementation on this. That’s why we have the police.”

First-time offenders will be charged P1,000 fine. The maxi-

mum fine an individual can incur is P3,000.

Business establishments in the city are also included in this ordinance. Smoking in their non-smoking areas could be fined from P1,000 up to P5,000.

Business establishments may designate a smoking area in their premises.

The barangay treasuries will collect the fines coming from violators. Those that cannot pay will be subjected to police in-quest.

Police City Director Layugan pledged that the GSCPO will be the city’s partner on enforcing the said ordinance.

The anti-smoking ordinance of Gensan is not limited in appre


hending smokers.In the ordinance, an individual

is not also allowed to smoke electronic cigarettes (vapes) and shisha in public places.

Public places, as defined by the ordinance, is any form of public conveyances, accommo-dation and entertainment es-tablishments, public offices and buildings, school campuses both public and private, enclosed or partially enclosed places, pub-lic outdoor spaces, workplaces and government–owned vehicles except in the duly designated smoking areas within the ter-ritorial jurisdiction of General Santos City.

Selling cigarettes, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and sisha to minors are also prohibited by the ordinance.

An Anti-Smoking Task Force was also created to promote awareness for the said ordi-nance. The task force will also ensure that the ordinance will be implemented and enforced.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), smoking kills 10 Filipinos per hour. Aside from this, smoking is also attributed to several fatal diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis.

Rivera said that the facts alone should serve as an en-

couragement to stop smoking already.

“I know how dangerous smoking is because I was a heavy smoker myself. When I stopped, the withdrawal symp-toms almost made me sick for a month,” he narrated.

“I decided to quit because I think of my family. Malulungkot sila kung may mangyari sa akin dahil sa paninigarilyo.” (They will be sad if there is something that will happen to me because of smoking)

“And of course, I cannot per-form my job well as the city mayor if I am sick always,” the mayor emphasized.

The anti-smoking ordinance of Gensan is somehow pat-terned after the anti-smoking ordinance of Davao City. (IJL-agare-Gensan CPIO/DE-Doguiles-PIA12)


More than 300 Caraganons benefit from Responsible Parenthood, Family Planning mass mobilization

BUTUAN CITY -- More than 300 beneficiaries were served successfully during the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Mass Mobilization held on the later part of 2015 in the municipalities of Mainit and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; and in the cities of Surigao, Butuan and Bislig, respectively.

By May Ann O. Escobal


Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano of the Commission on Population (PopCom) Caraga pointed out the significance of this activity to give quality family planning and other health services to the less fortunate Caraganons especially to women with unmet need on family planning and wanted to avail of the services for free. “When we say unmet need, these couples or women want to limit and space their pregnancy but are not using any family planning methods because of fear of side effects, misconceptions, and inadequate knowledge on method desired,” Makinano elaborated. PopCom official also emphasized that prior to the service delivery, breakout

sessions were first conducted among married women of reproductive ages. Through the partnership with local population and health workers, the beneficiaries underwent sessions on Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (FP) as well as counselling on FP for those women with unmet need who desired to use FP method. Mass Mob is one of the initiatives implemented by PopCom in partnership with the Department of Health-Caraga specifically to reduce unmet need for modern family planning which is critical element in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of improving maternal health.

Invitations to all concerned, particularly for both the army and the police, were already sent out, it was learned. Other stakeholders,

especially state agencies that normally play a key role every time polls are being conducted like the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public

SurSur COMELEC all set for PJSCC command conference By: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur– The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provincial office here is all set to chair the holding of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) command con-ference at the Capitol Social Hall at 9:00 a.m. on January 22, 2016.


Works and Highways (DPWH), Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, City Prosecutor’s Offices, including electric utilities, were on the list of invitees. “In preparation for the upcoming May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections and to ensure a fair and secure conduct of this electoral activity, our office will be conducting a Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) Conference,” Atty. Ernie Palanan, provincial election supervisor II, stated in all the letters of invitation. However, in the attached copy of the official programme, the COMELEC here had pointed out matters to be undertaken, citing

Preparation and Anticipation of Concerns for the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections; Inputs and Concerns; Guidance/Updates; Open Forum; Pledge in the Wall of Commitment, aside from the Closing Remarks. As regard to “Guidance/Updates,” Col. Isidro Purisima, commander, 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA), P/CSupt. Rolando Felix, regional director of PNP-Caraga and Atty. Francisco Pobe, regional executive director (RED) of COMELEC-Caraga, in that particular order, are going to say their piece on behalf of their respective institutions.


MULTI-SECTORAL FORUM - West Philippine SeaDottie’s Place and Restaurant, Butuan CityJanuary 26, 2016


Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on West Philippine Sea IssueSamping Avenue, Butuan CityJanuary 26, 2016


Apl.de.Ap Foundation turns-over 2-storey classroom building to Talon-Talon Elementary School

By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy


Allan Pineda, better known as Apl de Ap of the Grammy Award-winning group Black Eyed Peas and founder of Apl.de.Ap Foundation together with some of its partners attended the event. Pineda’s foundation is committed to improving the quality of life of Filipino children through education, technology and music. Pineda said education is “the only ticket to a better life”. He encouraged the pupils of Talon-Talon Elementary School to use the classrooms for learning and building of their dreams. “Learn. Dream big and believe in yourselves. You have the power to change your lives and change other people’s lives,” he urged. More than 600 pupils of Talon-Talon Elementary School will benefit from the school building project. The program was launched last 2013 through

the “Macaroons for a Cause” advocacy of Red Ribbon Bakeshop that hopes to address classroom shortage in the provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula region. Vice Mayor Cesar S. Iturralde, who represented Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar in the turn-over ceremony expressed the city’s gratitude for the educational assistance extended by the Apl.de.Ap Foundation and furthered that it was in line with the mayor’s flagship program on education. The project is a collaborative effort of the Apl.de.Ap Foundation, Red Ribbon Bakeshop, Habitat for Humanity Philippines and Franklin Baker Philippines.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A two-storey building with 14 classrooms was turned-over yesterday by the Apl.de.Ap Foundation to Talon-Talon Elementary School, this city.


BFP9 spearheads training on LDRRM in Sibugay

by Rhea Grace A. La Plana

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The Special Rescue Unit – Bureau of Fire Protection R9 recently conducted a 3-day training on Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (LDRRM) focused on Basic Life Support, Rope Rescue Techniques and Water Search and Rescue at the municipal covered court here.

There were 50 participants from PNP-Ipil, LGU-Health Rescue Team, LDRRM Team and barangay volunteers who eagerly went through the rigid yet exhilarating training. Ipil town Mayor Eldwin M. Alibutdan expressed his all-out support to the activity which honed the skills of the participants to make them disaster-ready. Mr. Felix T. Badon Jr., municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer was also thankful for the opportunity to learn valuable knowledge on disaster preparedness. BFP9 emphasized that one should stay focused and be brave enough to handle his own personal problems to avoid misdemeanour during disaster. Topics discussed were: Basic

Fire Fighting Concepts, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue, Basic Concepts in Conflagration, Proper Usage of Fire Extinguisher, Role of the PNP forces during disaster, Disaster Incident Management, and Impacts of Disaster. The 3-day training was intensive yet exciting. Water Search and Rescue Techniques were taught at the Capitol Tropical Resort in Capitol Hills. Rope Rescue Techniques, High Angle Rescue, Knot Tying and Evacuation Techniques were demonstrated at the Capitol Building. Participants were trained to think and respond appropriately during and after the occurrence of any calamity and emergency and well-equipped about the


command system to be adopted

in any given scenarios. The training aimed to help stir up the consciousness of every participant in disaster response, to develop their capabilities and skill in rendering public service and essential life-saving skills, and to secure properties in times of calamities. Foremost, to encourage them to be tough enough to shape their minds that fear on disasters should not hit them. Instead, they must be strong, ready and prepared all the time to think right and act right.

Harsh jungle life pushes Abu Sayyaf family to return to the fold of the law

By: Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – They were notorious; thought to be fearless, brutal, and careless, but never exempted to human life and sufferings, especially for an outlaw.

The harsh jungle life, running for one’s life, evading the pursuit of government soldiers and a life of hiding and uncertainty for the future made this family realize

that it is enough. Putting one’s life at risk every moment, every day is no different from the risk of returning to the fold of the law. Sulaiman Sagindingan


Kasaran alias Abujaid was quite tense as he narrated how he, as the head of the family decided to surrender. They have been battling the government forces in Al-barka town; especially the 18th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army for over five years and a number of his family has died. “Pareho kaming talo dahil buhay ang ibinuwis namin (We all lose because lives were lost),” he said. According to Kasaran, many army commanders had come and go to Al-barka but it is only under the leadership of LtCol Enerito D. Lebeco that the head of the Kasaran family saw the sincerity and goodness of a soldier with genuine intent to help them go back to the fold of law without killing them. “He (Lebeco) came to our land. I did not recognize him at first. I did not know he was an army commander because he was wearing shorts and without any escort, he came to us,” Kasaran said in Filipino. The sight of a man, unafraid and in humility had reached out for the outlaws was a life-changing experience for the Kasaran family patriarch. At this moment, he knew he could trust

this man. Six other Abu Sayyaf members of the Kasaran family surrendered with him, namely Marwin Asan Kasaran (alias Hajie), Derwin Asan Kasaran (alias Dikki), Halid Asan Kasaran (alias Nasirin Awwalin), Hadzmin Kuluman Kasaran (alias Ammin), Faisal Laudmin Kasaran (alias Issa/Ballie), and Salman Najallon Kasaran (alias Sat/Mhadz). Sulaiman also thanked the local government units of Al-barka and the provincial government for the support given to the family in its desire to live a normal life. He, however, recognized that threats are still around but he said that he is not afraid to stay in their area because he knows the government will do everything in its power to protect them as civilians. In a separate interview, Sulaiman revealed that he was an ex-army who went on AWOL (absence without leave) and that he got sick, later tried to return to service but was not granted. He did not, however, reveal why he and his family joined the ASGs except for economic reasons. He said that their family is not engaged in brutality and beheadings. He does not allow his children and family to do


such thing. He said they only do ‘pintakasi’, such as reinforcing the ASGs in its encounter with government forces. But this kind of life was not what he dreamt of for him and his family. Somehow, circumstances forced them to be part of the ASG. Col. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, Joint Task Group Basilan Commander said that this so far the first time in military history that an ASG family voluntarily surrendered and decided to return to the fold of the law. “Negotiations started in October until December 21 with a rido settlement. During this time the Kasaran family expressed the desire to surrender and return to normal life. Col. Bautista said that this is part of the concerted efforts of Task Force Kasanyangan, headed by Basilan Gov Jum Akbar and ARMM Gov Mujiv Hataman with all local chief executives as members. The objective here is for them to lead the promotion of peace in Basilan. “This proves that we can attain peace even without the use of firearms. We hope this event will encourage others to follow the Kasaran family in their desire for peace and security for the community,” he said.

The ASG members yielded three M16 rifles, one Cal .30 Garrand rifle, one M79 Gerenade Launcher and one Cal .45 Pistol, which were also surrendered to the army. The family also initially underwent custodial debriefing. Later, they will be endorsed to the ARMM Regional Governor for rehabilitation and integration into mainstream society. The 104th Brigade Commander said that the ASG members realized that fighting the government and enduring hard life in the mountains is a lost cause. He said that the surrender was made possible through the help of the populace and local government of Ungkaya Pukan. “The sincere coordination and passion of the government in delivering the message for peace and reconciliation on the ground made the pivotal role to convince the other ASG members to return to the fold of the law,” he said. Meanwhile, MGen Gerardo F. Barrientos Jr, 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division Commander, PA and concurrent commander of Joint Task Group ZAMBASULTA lauded the efforts of the troops for a job well done. Further, he said that “surrender” is a clear victory for the people of Basilan who yearn for peace and desire to live lawfully and peacefully.


CAGAYAN DE ORO – Cagayan de Oro city government has presented before the members of the press its Planned City Extension (PCE) for barangay Lumbia in a bid to achieve a sustainable economic growth and property development in the city.

By: Mariel B. Urdaneta

Sustainable development extends in Lumbia

PCE is initiated by the city government of Cagayan de Oro assisted by the United Nations Habitat under its Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD) Project, Arcadis, United Architects of the Philippines –

Cagayan de Oro (UAP), line agencies, academe and stakeholders. The 820-hectare area in Barangay Lumbia will be transformed into an economic zone that occupies housing projects, commercial areas


Pantawid Pamilya continues to change beneficiaries lives

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to impact the lives of the poor Filipino families with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya).

By: Jonathan M. Macas

and recreational areas. It is considered a potential area for economic growth due to its high level ground that blocks the possibilities of storm surge and flooding, as well as an easy access to several links such as Bukidnon, Cabula, Opol and to the entire Mindanao. Under the PCE, the area is distributed into clusters from A to E which will open economic opportunities and public services to rural barangays and communities. In Cluster A, Civic Center will be established similar to Divisoria and has a public market, commercial spaces and where Government Center will be housed. Meanwhile, Cluster B is reserved for affordable and medium cost public spaces that cater housing projects and in Cluster C, some residential with community facilities in health

and education. Ecotourism and recreational spaces are designed to put up in Cluster D. Lastly, Agri-processing complex and some community facilities are expected to rise in Cluster E. These clusters are designed to explicitly resolve urbanization issues namely, transport planning and traffic management; drainage and flood-safety; rising demand for safe and affordable housing and; service and opportunities for rural barangays. Also, Eileen San Juan, city investment and promotion officer, said during a press conference on 22 January 2016 that PCE is not a reserved facility for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) by the national government, in fact PCE has been conceptualized before the agreement of EDCA has attained in the county.


During the regular program of Philippine Information Agency’s Lambo Dyes in Radyo Ng Bayan, two Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries shared their insights on how the program changed their lives. Both of them serve as parent leaders in their respective barangays where they handle 30 or more members. According to Vivian Anadon, 35, who currently resides in Pinikitan, barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro city, there was really a big change that happened to herself and family. Anadon is a mother of four who are all attending school with the help of the Pantawid Pamilya. She said she was able to send her children to school and has bought school materials because of the program. Anadon’s membership to the Pantawid Pamilya and becoming a parent leader brought her so much experience and learning. She was even chosen to be in Manila for DSWD’s first international conference on Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) held on January 11. Anadon took part in the workshop by sharing her experience as a beneficiary and a parent leader to her co-members and guests from other countries like Mexico. “I was less confident before but now I learned to face everyone,” Anadon expressed. Meanwhile, Joecel S. Cabanday, 38, parent leader of Barangay 25, shared that she became a recipient of the Sustainable Livelihood Program

(SLP) after attending several seminars on livelihood. Cabanday added that there were really significant changes that happened from the past, shifting from being clueless to managing their own sources of income with the aid of SLP seminars. Cabanday and Anadon are members of Pantawid Pamilya for more than four years and as parent leaders, they take charge in the assembly of members in a cluster for Family Development Sessions (FDS) and other Pantawid Pamilya related seminars. Parent leaders also work with the DSWD city links to convey the concerns and updates of the members and vice versa. Currently, DSWD urges the community of both members and non-members of the program to safeguard the families that are in need of help and reminds the public on the major conditions that every beneficiary has to observe to be retained on their list and that includes regular attendance to the family development sessions, monthly family check-up at the rural health units, and at least 80 percent attendance in school for the children. All these are designed for the beneficiaries to be able to achieve social transformation and eventually attain self-sufficiency.


Pension increase must have certain funding source - SSS NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The Social Security System (SSS) would require additional funds if increase be implemented to its pensioners.

By: Mariel B. Urdaneta

This was stressed by Atty. Edwin Alo, assistant Vice-President of SSS Northern Mindanao during Lambo Dyes, a radio program of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at DXIM Radyo ng Bayan on 22 January 2016 concerning the vetoed increase of P2,000 for SSS pensioners. “There is a required funding of P4.3 billion per month and in 2016 we need P56 billion additional fund. SSS has a current asset of P440 billion plus, but due to this kind of increase, by 2017 the SSS fund is projected to become insufficient,” said Atty. Alo. This alarms the SSS that by 2028, financial support from the government amounting P130 billion per year will be demanded. This also puts the SSS fund at stake because SSS is only a contract between member and employer, no participation of government at all. Atty. Alo also revealed that if the increase will be granted to current pensioners without a funding plan, the succeeding pensioners may not be accommodated any further. “The fund is not only for current pensioners since there are still succeeding retirees. We are under obligation of the law to ensure that those who will reach the retirement age can still be secured with pension,” Atty. Alo added. The SSS fund mainly comes from the contribution of the current members, fund

reserve and Investment Earnings. To assure sustainability, the Investment Earnings is used for investing to multiply asset and reinvest again. However, if the reserved money for Investment earning will be tapped due to the demand increase of P2,000, the chance of gaining smaller return is possible. The SSS is not solely concerned of the fund life but its sufficiency too, Atty. Alo remarked. Moreover, Atty. Alo guaranteed support from entire SSS to whatever the national leadership agrees on. “We are not against on the increases only if provided with certain funding source, whatever the ultimate decision is, we will immediately implement the decision from national leadership.” Meanwhile, the SSS in Region 10 remains in providing services to its members and continue undertaking projects to afford convenience for its clients like relocating offices to strategic area, expanding their accommodation by means of technology through web services and soon penetrate electronic payment. Also, SSS caters services such as sickness, funeral, loans both salary and educational, disability and maternity which members may take advantage too.


Davao Light eyes add’l 130 megawatts for 2016

DAVAO CITY- Reeling from a tight power supply Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) is eyeing additional 130 megawatts this 2016 from new power sources.

Ross Luga DLPC Corporate Com-munications Officer identified these sources as the Western Min-danao Power Corporation which they have contracted 18 Mega-watts, San Miguel Consolidat-ed Power Corporation 80 Mega-watts, Southern Philippine Power Corporation- 32 Megawatts. The WMPC which is a diesel plant in Zamboanga City is al-ready supplying 18 MW just this month to Davao Light. The San Miguel coal-fired plant in Malita

is expected to go online by July and the SPPC by April. Luga said they are still in the negotiation stage for the contracted supply.DLPC is feeling the crunch as the 150-MW unit 2 of the Therma South Power Plant has been shut down for preventive mainte-nance. It supplies about 50 MW of contracted power to DLPC. The situation has forced DLPC to implement 3-hour rota-tional brownouts from January 23 to January 30.


Luga said that aside from the 50 MW loss from the shut-ting down of unit 2 of TSI, con-tracted power from hydropower sources like the National Power Corporation- PSALM and Hedcor has been greatly reduced due to El Nino. NPC PSALM which has a con-tracted supply of 150 MW is only

supplying at most 105 MW while Hedcor is only supplying 39 MW from its 52 MW contracted sup-ply. Current average demand in 2015 in the DLPC areas has been at 340 MW per day. Total pow-er supply has been at 233 MW. (PIA/RG Alama)

2 Tagum barangay reading centers get a boost with new booksTAGUM CITY - The City Government of Tagum has recently donat-ed an estimated total of 500 books for the benefit of the reading public of the hillside barangays of New Balamban and San Agustin.

Spearheaded by the Library Section of the Public Information Division, the event was conducted on the premise that a variety of reading and refer-ence materials should be readily made available to readers who are residing in remote areas. The activity was part of the As-sistance to Barangay Reading Cen-ter Program of the local government wherein the City of Tagum, through its City Public Library, taps several book donors from around the world to donate different types of books to the City Library which would then be turned over to the barangays for the use of its constituents. City Librarian Enrique H. Donayre stated that the program contributes in shaping up the reading habits of the school children living in far-flung areas thereby contributing to the de-

crease and eradication of the illiteracy rate in the city, which is part of the 10-fold development thrust of Mayor Allan L. Rellon. He further added that the city li-brary has to extend its services be-yond the four corners of the Rotary Park, Pioneer Avenue - located build-ing that houses it in order to ensure that the readers from the outskirts of the city benefit from the government facility. Barangay Captain Orlyn Oring of San Agustin and Barangay Captain Dionisio Suico of New Balamban ac-cepted the donated books and other reading materials from Mayor Allan L. Rellon and other city personnel dur-ing the turn-over ceremonies. (Richi Gulle/CIO-)

43January 26, 2016 One Mindanao 43

one mindanao - january 26, 2016

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