one mindanao - july 9, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDExecutive 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 ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior 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

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Cover Story

Dreaming EnterpriseJeanevive Duron-Abangan

Southern Mindanao

Today’s issue... Monday, July 9, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 296

page 4

Aquino assures Filipinos of homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events10

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao21 Application for PSHS scholarship extended

in Soccsksargen

28 Jennifer P.Gaitano, Caraga Region

DSWD, DILG to give death benefits to relatives of deceased indigent senior citizens

GSIS-Butuan chief updates members on compensation computation30Business Week 2012 opens in Pagadian City 35Robert E. Roperos , Caraga Region

Rodielyn A. Manugas, Southern Mindanao17 Comval to put up P1.7M water system project in its agri-eco-tourism complex

19Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Yellow Bus Line begins NC III assessment of drivers

Alma L. Tingcang, Western Mindanao

No more expiry dates in gift checks/certificates/cards starting July 1 – DTI38 Rutchie C. Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

DOH allocates P18.7M for City Hospital in 2012 40 Northern Mindanao

Shahana Joy Duerme, Armm 25 Pwersa ng AFP itinalaga sa Maguindanao

kaugnay sa isinasagawang voter’s registration

8 13 15 18

22 26 32 37

4 Monday, July 9, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryDreaming Enterprise

Micro entrepreneurs listed under the One-Town One-Product (OTOP) program are especially glad, as OTOP fans the flame of their desire. OTOP program helps them improve their products, paving way for the realization of their dreams. Looking closely at the growth of just a few of the OTOP

producers reveals a common valiant spirit of dreamers who bank on their courage to triumph over challenges.Grass into mats In his 60’s, Joaquin Silagan in Barangay Limbaan, New Corella still the produces Tikog mats for SM malls nationwide. He also weaves Tikog into hats, bags, hammocks, lamp-stand and slippers. He vies not only for local and national market, but also for international markets during trade fairs that DTI sends him to showcase Philippine-made products. A mechanical engineer by profession, he has retired early from government service as a worker of

Dreaming for improvement in life is a free enterprise.

Productive micro entrepreneurs start with dreaming in their pursuit to scale up their enterprise. They dream big despite their old age, lack of finances and absence of technological expertise.

by Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

Monday, July 9, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

t h e National Irrigation Administration (NIA). For 18 years now, he devotes his time and energy into his Tikog handicraft products that bear the trade name, Silagan Handicraft. Mang Joaquin is dreaming of crossing countries with his Tikog mats and handicrafts ,together with his wife Clara Silagan who will soon retire from her government work as the Alternative Learning System (ALS) coordinator of New Corella, “Banig lang ang akong gisaligan. (I am banking only on my mats),” he said. He hangs on to his dream though the local supply of Tikog is dwindling as swampy areas where such grass grows, have been planted with bananas. In 1980s, it used to be easy to get so much supply of Tikog in New Corella where such grass was just pulled out from rice fields. Weary of weeding out Tikog which they called as rice farm nuisance, farmers just it

dropped off in volumes at Silagan’s house. Silagan now gets only 50 kilos of Tikog locally, in a month. He buys much of his Tikog raw materials from Kalingayan, Bayugan in Agusan. Despite the dwindling supply of the raw material, he remains hopeful to find more to meet the demand for his Tikog mats and handicrafts. Waste water turned vinegar

In his 40s, Joel Andoy, the Mandaya chieftain of Buclad Tribal Council in Asuncion, Davao del Norte dreams of bringing forth a much better life for his tribal council members. He runs the organization of Dibabawon, Mangguwangan, Muslim and Mandaya who co-exist in Buclad. Indigenous people in Buclad, especially the women, used to have no productive undertakings, but now they are into vinegar and coco-shell accessories production. This is an offshoot to the


partnership that the tribal council has tied up with St. Mary’s College Business Resource Center (SMC-BRC), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DTI. A vinegar production house now stands in their community, making use of the coconut water that used to be just thrown away when producing copra. Mang Bernard Aquino, 66 years of age, goes around the nearby coconut plantation to collect the coco water to be fermented into vinegar. While some women help in fermenting and bottling of vinegar, others are into production of coco accessories and handicrafts. “Kung mag tapok-tapok sila karon, aduna nay panginabuhian nga gibuhat. (When they come together now, they are into livelihood production.),” Andoy said. He conveys thanks to partner agencies which have extended values education and entrepreneurship training to the members of his tribal council. Market competition may be stiff but Andoy is sure that the Buclad-produced vinegar can achieve competitive edge as he banks on support of partner agencies.

Fresh banana to flour

The OTOP program also assists the AMS Employees Fresh Fruit Producers Cooperative (AMSEFFPCO)

in Barangay Semong, Kapalong, Davao del Norte. AMSEFFPCO Chairperson Anselma Ronquillo reveals that AMSEFFPCO widens its business venture to food-grade flour production, aside from producing fresh bananas for export . Much of its desire to make it big in flour production, AMSEFFPCO is tied to small-scale production because it is yet to meet the standards of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). It used to supply the Universal Food Corp (UFC) about 60 tons of food-grade flour in 2007 to 2009. It lost the market due to lack of the necessary means to meet the quality that UFC wanted. Ronquillo wishes the opportunity to supply food-grade flour to big markets to come again because it means better business for the cooperative. AMSEFFPCO is working to get an FDA certification as proof of assurance that the flour which it is producing is beyond doubt: safe for public consumption. AMSEFFPCO eyes not only the big food companies but the


supermarkets so it can widely sell its banana flour which bears the trade name, “Musa”. While complying the stringent requirements of BFAD, Ronquillo takes comfort from the support given by OTOP cooperating agencies particularly DTI and DOST which have continually assisted AMSEFFPCO improve its product as well as its labeling. The Department of Agriculture (DA) also has manifested support for AMSEFFPCO through the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP). Banana chipper

While AMSEFFPCO ventures into fresh banana and food-grade flour production, some of its members are embarking on micro enterprise. One remarkable entrepreneur is Aurora Ganade who in her 60s, shows infectious enthusiasm to go for the best in life. “Bisan ug tiguwang nako ma’am, gusto pa ko molambo akong kinabuhi (Though old, I still want to improve my life.),” said Ganade, popularly known in the neighborhood as Yeying. In a recent visit of DTI Davao del Norte OTOP coordinator Necitas Lazaga, Aling Yeyeng tells her about having acquired a machine for banana chips production. She is also glad of the assistance from DOST which has helped her with product labeling.

However, she is burdened the same fate with AMSEFFPCO. She needs to get FDA certification. She has to improve her banana production house before she can commercially mass produce her banana chips which bears the trade name: Yeying. But Aling still gets sales of her banana chips which find its way directly to nearby cafeterias and pasalubong buyers, despite the absence of FDA certification. They are just few of more than 30 OTOP producers of Davao del Norte. Other than New Corrella, Asuncion and Kapalong, Talaingod banners Cardava Banana as its OTOP; Braulio E. Dujali, organic rice; Island Garden City of Samal, mango; San Isidro, cacao; Tagum City, banana chips. Panabo City along with Sto. Tomas, Carmen also venture banana flour production. Other OTOP producers may not be featured but we can precisely assume that they nurture the same valiant spirit of dreamers who hold high hopes that life gets better as they continually dare and take a calculated risk.


ACROSS THE NATION

“I’m glad to let you know that for the first quarter of this year alone, the Foreign Direct Investments, as based on a Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas report, is already at $850 million,” Presidential spokesman Edwin lacierda said in media briefing in Malacanang.

Palace expects foreign direct investments record to be higher this year

The Aquino government expects to post higher foreign direct investments (FDI) this year compared to what the country recorded last year, a Palace official said.


Lacierda was reacting to a United

Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

report saying the Philippines has fallen below expectations for more FDI inflows. The report said it lagged behind other Southeast Asian countries, only surpassing poorer countries such as Lao, Brunei, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Lacierda said the Aquino government has addressed the issue noting that UNCTAD mainly based its report on 2011 figures.

“The figure posted by UNCTAD

was based on 2011 figures and those figures were culled from the Bangko Central ng Pilipinas report. The figures stated by the UNCTAD for Foreign Direct Investments for 2011 was $1.262 billion,” he said.

He also explained that the $850 million foreign direct investments record for the first quarter of 2012 is higher than the 2011 first quarter record. During the first quarter of 2011, the foreign direct investments recorded was only $493 million, he said. (AS)


Aquino assures Filipinos of homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events

President Benigno S. Aquino III assured Filipinos of homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events and building disaster

resilient communities in the Philippines.In his speech keynoting the

formal launching of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH at the Nangka Del Covered Court, Balubad Settlement Phase II in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City on Friday, President Aquino said the project leverages on advanced science and technology to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.

“Ang Project NOAH po ang

magsisilbing arko ng mga Pilipino laban sa delubyo. Tutuldukan na natin ang nakasanayang pagtitiis tuwing tag-ulan. Hindi na puwede ang ‘bahala na,’ sawa na tayo sa kaba. Sa tama at sapat na kaalaman, sasanayin natin ang mga Pilipino sa puspusang kahandaan,” the Chief Executive said.

President Aquino stressed that natural hazards inflicted loss of lives


and costly damage to property

in the past years. Last year, the devastating impacts of

Pedring, Quiel and Sendong resulted to a high number of fatalities with economic losses amounting to billions of pesos.

“Nang magsimula po tayong manungkulan, pinagtuunan po natin ng pansin ang mga suliraning hatid ng bagyo. Isa po sa mga isinulong natin--- ang pagbutihin at dagdagan ang ating mga kasangkapan. Ang apat na locally-assembled na water level monitoring sensors na dinatnan natin noong 2010, nadagdagan natin ng siyam nitong 2011 at labindalawa na ngayong 2012, at hindi pa ho tapos ang 2012,” he said.

“ I s a n d a a n g automated rain gauges naman po ang nai-assemble natin noong nakaraang taon, at ngayon, suma-total walumpu’t anim na ang nai-deploy sa iba’t ibang rehiyon sa bansa. Simula noong 2010, operational na rin ang

anim na Doppler radar

stations sa Baguio, Subic, Tagaytay, Virac, Mactan, at Hinatuan. Tatlong karagdagang Doppler weather radars naman ang inaasahan nating maging operational sa Tampakan, Aparri, at Baler bago matapos ang 2012,” he said.

Through the use of advanced science and technology, the President said Project NOAH aims to improve disaster management capacity of local governments and assure homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events.

The project will harness the technologies and management services of disaster risk reduction


activities offered by the DOST

through the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and

Astronomical Services (PAGASA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute in partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering.

“At ngayon pong nailunsad na ang Project NOAH, tiwala tayong madadagdagan pa at mapapabuti ang ating mga kasangkapan at kagamitan. Ang target po ng DOST ay anim na raang locally-produced automated rain gauges at apat na raang water level monitoring sensors ang maipakabit sa mga piling lokasyon sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa bago matapos ang

2013,” he said.Project NOAH is the

Department of Science and Technology’s response to the call of President Aquino III for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.

“Ngayon po, hindi na palad ang panukat sa lakas ng ulan --- tiyak ang datos na makakalap natin sa ating rain gauges. Hindi na po tuhod, baywang, at ulo ang panukat natin sa libel ng tubig-ulan --- eksaktong sukat na ang hatid sa atin ng water level sensors. Hindi na rin po padadaanin sa hula ang lagay ng panahon at kung saan babagsak ang ulan --- real time na datos at impormasyon na rin ang hatid sa atin ng Doppler radars,” the President noted. (JS)


Local officials involved in illegal logging to be held accountable

Local officials who allowed illegal logging to continue in Mindanao and other parts of the country will be held accountable, President

Benigno S. Aquino III said on Saturday (July 7).

The Department of Interior and Local Government has asked the mayors in Agusan del Sur to explain why they should not be administratively charged for the rampant illegal logging in their areas that resulted to massive

flooding last year causing large number of casualties and damage to infrastructure, the President said.

Interior and Local government Secretary Jessie Robredo said they have six mayors being


administratively charged. All of the chief of police in the respective municipalities involved have already been relieved from their post, he said.

“Magpapaliwanag ang mga mayors. Ang show cause order --- hinihingi ang paliwanag why no administrative cases should be filed against all of them. Ang pinaka-minimum nito negligence for allowing it to happen. Kasi ang may primary accountability nito talaga ‘yung checkpoints ng DENR. Tinanggal na lahat ‘yon—31 of them—at tuloy-tuloy po ang kampanya,” Robredo told reporters.

“Mahigpit ang bilin ng Pangulo na panagutin ‘yung kailangang managot,” he added saying they expect the numbers of local chief e x e c u t i v e s being charged to rise as the investigation continues.

The ongoing c a m p a i g n against illegal logging is just the start, as the government widens its investigation

to cover every province in the country, Robredo said.

Just recently, the government confiscated illegally cut logs coming from Compostela Valley and Davao. There is also a mayor in northern Luzon who was charged for a similar offense, according to Robredo adding another incident in Isabela province involves a DENR Cenro in cahoots with a local businessman.

Mayors being charged could be reprimanded as the lightest punishment but could also be suspended as the harshest punishment, Robredo noted, adding that that mayors and other elected officials can’t be removed from office even if they committed such offenses.


Regional Executive Director (RED) Joselin Marcus

E. Fragada assumed office Wednesday as the new Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Davao Region. Fragada was the RED of Region 5, Bicol Region prior to his assignment here. His assignment in Region XI

is in line with DENR Special Order No. 2012-522 issued by DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje on July 2, 2012 aimed at continuing the organizational development of the Department. In his message during a staff meeting, Fragada emphasized that DENR-XI will focus on the development side to ensure a holistic protection and management of the Environment and Natural Resources. “We shall religiously implement the National Greening Program (NGP) in order to accomplish or even surpass our CY 2012 target which is to plant a total of 6,028,444 covering an area of 12,087 hectares,” he said. In 2011, the region was able to plant 2,867,000 seedlings covering an area of 5,734 hectares under the NGP. The whole country aims

DENR-XI’s new chief assumes post, bares priorities and strategies


to plant a total of 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares in six years, from 2011-2016. The NGP is designed to bring economic stability, livelihood and better utilization of the region’s resources. The NGP which is spelled out in Executive Order No. 26 compliments the implementation of Executive Order No. 23 or the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force. “While there is a moratorium

on cutting of trees, we are also bringing back our forests by massive tree planting through Public-Private Partnership (PPP),” Fragada explained. The implementation of E.O. 23 will now be carried on by the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force as they were already instructed to establish their offices in Regions 11 and 13. DENR-XI will give them the technical and legal assistance as they perform their task on forest protection. (DENR-XI)

Did you know...

That Francisco Bangoy International Airport dates back in the 1940s when Don Francisco Bangoy, a patriarch of a landed family donated a sprawling property in Barangay Sasa north of Davao City, The early airport merely consisted of a 1,200-meter unpaved grass runway and quonset huts serving as terminal buildings. At the time, and throughout much of the 1940s and 1950s, the Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Air Force were regular users of the airport facility


Comval to put up P1.7M water system project in its agri-eco-tourism complexNABUNTURAN– A P1.7 million deep well and spring development project would soon be implement-ed in the provincial government-owned Lamdag Agri Eco Tourism Complex, at Barangay Pasian, Monkayo town. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan members unanimously approved the Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of said water system project during its 89th regular session last June 27. Assistant Provincial Agriculture Office Chief Manolo Serafin Cayme revealed that said project will be the source of water supply for the nursery of cacao, coffee, rubber, variety of seedlings and other horticultural commodities planted in the 97-hectare Agri-Eco Tourism Complex. The demo farms of vegetables, rice, corn, and other livestock of the province such as poultry, piggery, carabao, cao, goat, sheep and a lot more which is now continuously cultured and cultivated in Pasian. The funds is from Department of Agriculture under its High Value Crop Development Program (HVCDP) downloaded to the provincial government. This aims to further stretch and intensify the implementation

of HVCDP including the production, processing, marketing and distribution under the High Value Commercial Crop Act of 1995. The HVCDP is the priority program of the Department of Agriculture created to help address food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. It helps to promote the production, processing, marketing and distribution of high value crops. Strategically, HVCDP helps to increase income, create livelihood opportunity and contribute to national agricultural development of the Philippines. HVCDP aims to promote productive farming community, empower high value crop producers, help attain food sufficiency and economic growth, increase production, income and livelihood opportunities among small producers and access to affordable, safe and healthy foods. A separate resolution was also approved granting authority to Governor Arturo T. Uy to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement to DA-XI. (IDS- COMVAL/Rodielyn A. Manugas)


Mayor pushes for rubber production in idle upland areas in MakilalaBy Aida Agad

KORONADAL CITY-- Makilala Mayor Rudy Caogdan said his administration’s flagship program, the Rubber Project, intends to utilize the almost 10,000 hectares of the town’s idle lands to be planted with rubber trees under his term.


“This is our vital weapon to pursue our town’s fight against poverty and climate change,” he said.

In his 2012 State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) delivered on Monday in the presence of Sangguniang Bayan members, other local government officials and guests, Caogdan said the LGU has already provided about 867,452 budded rubber seedlings to landowners of the covered land areas.

These planting materials, he said, was planted to almost 1,879 hectares for the first five months of this year.

Caogdan said he is pushing for this project as he envisioned the rubber project to contribute to the town’s economy and livelihood of residents in the upland areas of

Makilala, as well as to showcase the same to other upland areas in Region 12.

As a support mechanism and so as to protect the rubber project, Caogdan said, he has approved two municipal ordinances and ordered the immediate implementation of the regulation of the buying and selling of rubber and the accreditation of rubber nurseries in the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.

The mayor said he is also advocating in some parts of region 12, the rubber development project. He was the keynote speaker of the 1st Sarangani Rubber Forum held on May 30, 2012 at Maitum, Sarangani.

Makilala is a first-class

municipality in North Cotabato adjacent to Kidapawan City at the foot of the country’s highest peak Mt. Apo.

Based on 2011 data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the municipality has the widest area devoted to rubber; of North Cotabato’s 32,066.79 hectares planted to rubber, 6,988.47 hectares were in Makilala.

In June,this year, Makilala LGU in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 12 opened a technical vocational school specifically for rubber production. Makilala’s rubber techvoc school is first in the country. (DED/ACAgad PIA12)

Yellow Bus Line begins NC III assessment of drivers

By Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato-- The Yellow Bus Line Inc. based here is working on the national certification of its drivers aside from complying with the Department of Labor and Employment’s order on fixed daily salary of drivers and conductors.


At a recent meeting with DOLE 12 Regional Director Chona Mantilla YBL HR manager Norlan Yap also reported that they have already started the process to conform to the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Order No. 2011-25.

The order signed by former Secretary Jose P. de Jesus on April 26, 2011 directs the LTFRB to include driver proficiency standards as additional requirement in the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs), an authorization given to operators and owners to operate their facilities for public service.

It specifically commands that “drivers of public utility buses and heavy trucks should be certified by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with Driving National Certification (NC) III;” this would form part of the documents to submitted for CPC application.

Earlier, TESDA 12 Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas explained, “this competency assessment is one way

to professionalize the job of a driver. The public is assured that a TESDA-certified driver is proficient and knows about his duties and responsibilities.”

On June 7 officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 12 and TESDA-12 met with transport owners and operators in Soccsksargen Region on June 7 to disseminate the implementation of the DOTC order.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 12 board secretary Jessie dela Cruz was also present at the consultative meeting to discuss the provisions

of DOLE’s order on fixed wages for drivers and conductors.

Yap said after their meeting with TESDA-12, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board -12, the YBL management in coordination with the employees union decided to immediately start the process for the assessment and certification of their driver.

“At least 60 of the 200 YBL drivers have already been assessed for NC III certification,” Yap reported. “Also, from July 9 until July 20 we have coordinated with TESDA-South Cotabato for the assessment of at


least 10 daily.”He said they are doing

this move because “YBL management makes sure that the company is compliant with labor standard mandated by law.”

YBL, which has a fleet of 142 buses that ferry passengers travelling the routes from Isulan in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato via Koronadal City, General Santos City to Davao City.

“The public can expect upgrades in our services not only with acquisition of additional buses but also on the type of services that we extend to our passengers,” Yap

added.On Wednesday,

Yap along with YBL Employees Union President Jose Ronie Mondragon presented a copy of their collective bargaining agreement to Director Mantilla.

The CBA, he said is proof that the bus company has been in conformity with the Department Order 118-12 that mandates among others the giving of fixed daily salary rates and performance-based bonuses and incentives to drivers and conductors.

This order sets the rules and regulations

on the employment and working conditions “to ensure the protection and welfare of drivers and conductors employed in the public utility bus transport company.”

Mantilla and Dela Cruz commended YBL management for their immediate response to the DOLE and DOTC orders.

Dela Cruz added that part of the itinerary of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz during her visit to Soccsksargen Region , probably next week, would be to award YBL with labor standards compliance certificate. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

Application for PSHS scholarship extended in SoccsksargenBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Graduating elementary pupils in Soc-csksargen Region who wish study at t Philippine Science High School (PSHS) next school year have been given more time to file their application for the National Competitive Examination (NCE).

Dr. Zenaida P. Hadji Raof – Laidan, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 12 , announced today

that the deadline of the submission of application form for the NCE 2013 has been moved from July 13 to July 31.

Laidan also urged

Grade 6 pupils in Soccsksargen Region who were among the top 10 percent of their class in SY 2011-2012 and those who have shown


exemplary performance in mathematics and science to apply for the examination, which is also an application for scholarship to the DOST-managed special school.

She pointed out the extension is only granted to students in Soccsksargen Region that covers the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato.

At the formal turnover of the lot where the PSHS-Soccsksargen Region Campus (SRC) here on June 21, Dr. Josette Biyo, PSHS System executive director promised to give pupils in Region 12 more time to apply for the scholarship program.

She added that she has talked with Dr. Laidan “for the possibility of a program where we can send teachers from other PSHS campuses to give review classes or teach the applicants how to answer the test questions.”

This is in line with their target to maximize the

number of students who would qualify as scholars in the PSHS-SRC in Barangay Paraiso, this city, which is scheduled to open on June 2013.

As in other campuses, PSHS-SRC will only accommodate a maximum of 90 students each year, that is three classes of only 30 students for the freshman year.

To qualify for a slot in SY 2013-2014, Grade 6 or 7 pupils should pass the NCE, which will be administered on September 29, 2012.

To be eligible to take the aptitude test, a pupil must be among the top 10 percent of the batch (SY 2011-2012) and does not have a grade of below 80 percent. If the applicant does not belong to the upper 10 percent, he or she must have special aptitude in science and math as evidenced by the report card with at least final grade of 85 in math and science and 80 in all other subjects.

The NCE is designed to measure scientific ability, quantitative ability, abstract reasoning and verbal aptitude.

Bai Tagitican, designated information officer of DOST 12, said NCE application forms are available at the DOST regional office inside ORG Complex in Cotabato City, at their provincial science and technology (S&T) centers or in the office of principal or guidance counsellor in some selected schools.

DOST-12 provincial S&T centers are located in the following addresses:

South Cotabato -- Door 4, ACEPAL Bldg., Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City [Tel No. (083) 228-2342]

North Cotabato -- Door 4, R&E Bldg., Alim St., Kidapawan City [Tel No. (083) 228-2342]

Sarangani – General Santos -- Brgy. Hall Compound, Calumpang, General Santos City [Tel No. (083) 554-7997]

Sultan Kudarat -- Door 2-A, 2nd Floor, Mervic Negrillo Bldg., National Highway, Tacurong City.

Application forms may also be downloaded from the PSHS website, w w w . p s h s . e d u . p h . (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


ARMM general voters’ list up begins todayBy Dani DoguilesKORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The 10-day general re-registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where at least a million voters are expected to be listed began at 8:00 a.m. this morning.

Data capturing machines of the Commission on Election (Comelec) are also expected to have been put in place in various

registration centers in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, M a g u i n d a n a o , Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

In June, Congress

passed a joint resolution annulling all Books of Voters in cities and towns in the autonomous region and subsequently instructing the


Comelec to hold a general registration

The general list-up of voters will last until July 18.

Comelec Regional Director Rey Sumalipao said, “there will be no extension in te voters’ registration, so we call on the residents to please come out and register within the ten days allotted for this purpose.”

According to Comelec, any Filipino citizen residing in the ARMM; is at least 18 years old on or before May 13, 2013; a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and of the area where he intends to vote for at least six months; and is not disqualified from voting may register in all designated registration centers.

Registration shall begin with the personal appearance before the election

officer, stating the name, exact address, and presentation of identification documents such as employee ID, postal ID, students’ ID, driver’s license, NBI/police clearance, senior citizens’ ID, passport, SSS ID, PRC ID, IBP ID, or any other valid IDs.

Registrants will be legible to vote in the beginning in the May 2013 synchronized ARMM and national midterm elections.

Sumalipao said at least 1,896 election officers from all over the country have been deployed as augmentation to the on-going voters’ registration. Biometrics machines from other regions were also deployed.

In some areas, especially in remote barangays that lack electricity, power generators were also

positioned. Total gun ban is

effective since July 1 until July 23 in the five provinces of ARMM as well as in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat province.

Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat along with Maguindanao were declared under state of emergency after the Maguindanao massacre in November 2009; the declaration has not yet been lifted.

Since the implementation total gun ban on July 1 three firearms have been confiscated and two persons arrested.

PNP –ARMM director P/CSupt. Mario Avenido believes the gun ban would result in more residents coming out to register. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


Pwersa ng AFP itinalaga sa Maguindanao kaugnay sa isinasagawang voter’s registrationni Shahana Joy DuermeLUNGSOD NG KORONADAL--Abot sa 14 na batalyon ng sundalo at apat na infantry brigades ang itinalaga ng 6th Infantry Division (ID) sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao bilang tulong sa Commission on Election (COMELEC) sa pagsiguro ng kaayusan sa isinasagawang general re-listing of voters sa nasabing lalawigan.

Ayon kay 6th Infantry Division Commander Major General Rey Ardo, buong pwersang babantayan ng 603rd, 602nd, 6701st brigades at 2nd mechanized brigade ang pitong bayan sa Maguindanao simula ngayong araw hanggang sa pagtatapos ng pagpaparehistro sa Hulyo 18.

Dagdag pa ni Ardo, nakakalat na rin ang 14 na batalyon sa lahat ng registration sites sa lugar.

Una dito,siniguro ni Ardo sa mga mamamahayag na paiigtingin ng 6th ID at ng pulisya ang seguridad sa lugar para maiwasan ang kaguluhan na maaring

maging sagabal sa proseso ng pagtatala.

M a t a t a n d a a n g inanunsyo ng COMELEC na mayroong 82 “areas of immediate concern” sa Maguindanao kung saan pinangangambahang maaring magkaroon ng mga pagbabanta h a b a n g isinasagawa a n g registration.

Ka u g n a y n i t o , nagkaroon na din ng mga checkpoint k a s a b a y na din sa ipinapatupad na total gun ban.

Inaasahan naman na sa

tulong ng pwersa ng AFP, magiging matagumpay ang isinasagawang sampung araw na registration activity sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao maging sa buong autonomous region. (SJDuerme-PIA12)


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The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Agusan del Norte recently convened

different stakeholders from government and private sectors to present the council’s Operation Center Protocol.

Prov’l gov’t sets disaster protocolby Danilo S. Makiling


The meeting aimed to develop partnership between different agencies to respond to the community in times of calamities by means of developing an alert and verification protocol, protocol and issuance code alert and activation memorandum, and response protocol.

The code alert system is as follows:

Code White corresponds to low pressure area/tropical depression or public storm signal #1; Code Blue for public storm signal #2 with five or more casualties/mass injuries/fire; and Code Red for public storm signal #3 with 100 or more casualties/mass injuries. According to Governor Erlpe John Amante, the provincial government has already purchased emergency and rescue equipment worth P8.4 million. He added this will be used especially in coastal municipalities prone to flash floods and landslides. Amante also emphasized that the best way to face calamities is to be

prepared. He further said one way of doing it is to better equip the local government units in different municipalities to be able to respond to emergency situations. Meanwhile, PDRRMC also proposed an infra-project to be funded under the 5 percent local disaster risk reduction and management fund to be used in four aspects namely, preparedness, prevention and mitigation, response and rehabilitation. With these developments, Amante reiterated the importance of the member agencies in facilitating the community in their preparation for calamities, especially during the actual situation.


DSWD, DILG to give death benefits to relatives of deceased indigent senior citizensby Jennifer P.Gaitano

This is in compliance to Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. According to Ms. Wilma Geralla, focal person of DSWD-Caraga, the joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 issued on January 13, 2012 between Honorable Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of DSWD and the Honorable Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of DILG is hereby issued for strict implementation concerning the implementing guidelines on the death

benefit assistance to the nearest surviving relative of the deceased indigent senior citizen. “This joint Memorandum Circular is applicable to all local government units nationwide, and shall cover the death benefit assistance to the surviving legal spouse of the deceased senior citizen. Provided that in case where the legal spouse is already dead, the death benefit assistance shall be accorded to the nearest surviving relatives in the

BUTUAN CITY -- To continuously provide the welfare for senior citizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed a joint memorandum circular for the implementation of the Death Benefit Assistance amounting to P2,000 to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased indigent senior citizens.


following order of degree of kinship: a) Children; b) Parents; c) Siblings; d) Grand-parents; e) Grand-children; and f) Uncles and Aunts,” relayed Geralla. In the event that no one from the above-mentioned relatives are still living, the benefactor, whether related or not to the senior citizen, who provides care or who gives any form of assistance to him/her, and on whom the senior citizen is dependent on for primary care and material support, as certified by the City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (C/M SWDO) shall be the one to receive the death benefit assistance. Geralla further said that the death of the indigent senior citizen shall be reported immediately to the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) by the legal spouse who survives the deceased senior citizen; or where no spouse who survives the decedent, by any of the nearest surviving relative who took care of the deceased according to order of degree of kinship with the deceased indigent senior citizen as provided under Section 1 of this joint Memorandum; or in the absence of the nearest surviving relative, by the benefactor of the deceased indigent senior citizen. Also, the

OSCA, through the C/M SWDO shall maintain copies of records of the deceased indigent senior citizens. A photo cop of the death certificate of the deceased senior citizens should also be maintained by the OSCA, for reference purposes. Meanwhile, the following original and/or certified true copy of the following documents shall be required from the nearest surviving relative or benefactor of the deceased indigent senior citizens to facilitate the provisions of the death benefit assistance, to wit: 1) Copy of the death certificate of the deceased indigent senior citizens; 2) Any valid government ID of the claimant (i.e. postal ID, drivers license; GSIS or SSS ID); 3) Senior Citizens ID; and 4) Certification from the barangay. For more details, DSWD and DILG encouraged the general public to visit their offices and hoped for strict implementation by the LGUs.


GSIS-Butuan chief updates members on compensation computationby Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY - To enlighten its members on the issue of the computation on basic and average monthly compensation which was reported to have been revised, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Butuan branch manager Mamole Pangandaman on Friday said the formula for the computation of pension is still the same. Speaking before members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) during the council’s 71st meeting held in one of the local convention centers here, Pangandaman said their office have not received any office

order, guidelines, or any new implementing rule from their top management regarding any revision of the formula in the computation of the members’ pension. Pangandaman also denied


knowing that there is a proposal to change the formula in computing the pension. True to this, she said the current leadership of GSIS chairman Daniel Lacson and GSIS president and general manager (PGM) Robert Vergara implemented the new policies responsive to the needs of its members and pensioners. She added some of these new policies include the restoration of the survivorship pension. Pangandaman explained that under this revised policy, surviving spouse of members and pensioners can now receive monthly pension benefits even if they are gainfully employed and receiving income. The GSIS chief of the city also said under the restoration of the pro-rate pension, pensioners can now receive their pension on the actual date of the retirement not on the following month. Further, Pangandaman said by cancelling the Agency Remittance Advise (ARA), there

is no need for the pensioners residing in the Philippines to comply with the ARAs. She added the National Statistics Office (NSO) will provide the GSIS the list of the deceased pensioners. Meanwhile, Pangandaman said the present stand of the country’s premier insurer is to process based on the current formula provided by Republic Act 8291, an act amending Presidential Decree 1146, expanding and increasing the coverage and benefits of the GSIS. She said further that only the Congress can mandate or authorize GSIS to revise the computation of the pension. She added that Vergara advised the members during a dialogue early this year here to inquire from their congressmen and if ever there is proposal in Congress requesting them not to alter this computation/provisions in RA 8291.


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Zamboanguenos give rousing welcome to Queen of Spain By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

Residents of Zamboanga gave their warm, rousing welcome and reception to the first highest foreign dignitary official yet to visit the city on July 5--the

Queen of Spain- Her Majesty, Queen Sofia.


Q u e e n Sofia arrrived at the Edwin Andrews Airbase (EAAB) aboard the country’s Presidential Plane where she was warmly received by Mayor Celso Lobregat together with First and Second District Representatives Beng Climaco and Erbie Fabian respectively and high ranking military and police officials. Shortly after her plane touched down at EAAB, the Queen with her convoy motored to barangay Sinunuc, some 12km away from the city proper, where she visited three

phases of housing projects in the area. Housing project Phase I composes 98 units/houses; Phase II with 198 housing units and Phase III with 306 units. The housing project was funded by AECID and managed by Spanish NGO Manos Unidas and the local NGO Zabida under the direction of Claretian priest based here in the city Fr. Angel Calvo.


After the Queen’s Sinunuc visit, the entourage proceeded to Claret High School (CHS) in San Jose. CHS is a recipient of various projects like school buildings and scholarship programs. She later visited the Zamboanga City Medical Center which is a recipient of a Spanish loan in 2000 for the upgrading and modernization of equipment and hospital facilities. The Queen then paid a visit to the Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar at the Fort Pilar Shrine where she made her silent prayer, offered flowers and lighted candles. Prior to her arrival at the Fort Pilar, crowds of well wishers composed of school children and young students lined the streets carrying and waving flaglets of the Philippines and Spain. When the Queen arrived, she went down from her vehicle, unmindful of the scorching heat, and walked some 100-meter stretch to Fort Pilar Shrine and gracefully waved at the cheering crowd. The crowd went wild with happiness seeing the Queen walk down the street so they cheered and chanted “Viva España, Adelante Zamboanga” Different drum and lyre corps also played various tunes as the Queen and her convoy walked through the thoroughfares. After her Fort Pilar visit, the Queen proceeded to the National Museum where she and Mayor Celso Lobregat unveiled a commemorative marker, after which she toured the museum facilities.

The city government tendered and hosted a lunch for her at the National Museum where she was entertained and impressed by Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale with their rendition of the Zamboanga Hermosa, Princesita Zamboangueña, Chabacano and No Te Vayas de Zamboanga. Mayor Lobregat presented gifts and souvenirs to the Queen which included a Chabacano dictionary, a Chabacano handbook El Primer Alfabeto Chabacano and other tokens. She also made her 4pm visit at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School (DPLMHS) before finally flying back to Manila. DPLMHS is a recipient of a speech laboratory from the Spanish government. The Queen’s visit here is a big boost to the city’s peaceful image; a clear message that Zamboanga City is a safe place to be. Included in the Queen’s entourage were Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, Jesus Manuel Gracia Aldaz- Secretary of State for International Cooperation and other officials from the Spanish Embassy and Malacañang and National Museum Director Jeremy Barnes. (ALT/JPA/ PIA9)


DTI Regional Director Nazrullah B. Manzur, who had a prior commitment was ably represented during the opening program by Provincial Director Ma. Socorro M. Atay who delivered his message. “I remember I was invited to speak for the opening of the trade exhibit component of the 20th Mindanao Business Conference in September, 2011. From all indications, that affair was an unqualified success,” Manzur said. He had the same expectations for Business Week 2012 which is a big marketing event. “More sales mean business growth and with that, more job opportunities for the unemployed,”

Manzure added. A total of 20 exhibitors participated namely: Emcor; Emerald Vinyl; DTI-ZamboSur; Federal Land; DA-RFU; Holcim; Leadsagri; Yamaha; Chandler Suites; Pagadian City Tourism Council; E Skin; LPI; Avail Beauty Philippines; Fern-C; Ipanema; ZamSurGEA; and JS Pameron Electric Bike. PZCCIFI President Mercedes Lourdes S. Quisumbing, the indefatigable force behind the successful undertakings of the chamber, together with her powerhouse staff planned the week-long activities which will end on July 12. “I believe that the business

PAGADIAN CITY - At the forefront of Business Week 2012 celebration, the Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PZCCIFI) set a festive mood for the opening of the Trade Exhibit on July 6 at the City Commercial Center (C3) here.

Business Week 2012 opens in Pagadian Cityby Alma L. Tingcang


week celebration is the best venue to showcase Pagadian City’s products, the opportunity to do business in the city and to advertise the city itself,” City Mayor Samuel S. Co said in his inspirational message. “I’m happy to announce that the Asian Institute of Management recently declared that among the 17 emergent cities in the Philippines, Pagadian City ranks 7th and we are no. 1 as to the least cost of doing business, maybe because of the incentives that we offer to our businessmen like the tax holiday for 5 years,” the good mayor happily declared. Today, 4 local employers and 3 overseas employment agencies will declare their available job vacancies in a Job Fair at the 3rd Floor of C3 alongside a Personality Development Seminar with businesswoman and Alfred Printers Corp. proprietor Ms. Carmen B. Santillan as resource speaker. Local employers include Chandler Suites, Jamelarin Hospital,

JH Pameron Construction and Kodak/Gigz while Verde Manpower, Nonstop Overseas Employment and Pacific Mediterranean Overseas Employment comprise the overseas employment agencies. Business Week 2012 runs from July 6-12, 2012 at the C3 while the Trade Exhibit will end on July 14. The 3rd PAKALS Culinary Competition and Restaurant Food Festival is slated tomorrow at the 3rd Floor of C3 and to be supervised by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) where several schools will be competing with each other. On the other hand, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be the guest of honor during the Barangay Livelihood Entrepreneurship Seminar on July 11 at the Liga City Convention Center. Capping the Business Week 2012 activities will be the closing and awarding ceremonies to be held at the ground Floor of C3 on July 12. (ALT-PIA9)


Disability office shows non-handicapping successes in Opol townby Jorie C. ValcorzaCapping the two-day Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE)

Forum with a study tour, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) showcased today NHE project sites to participating local

government units from regions 10 and 6

The activity aims to demonstrate before the participants the experiences and achievements in adopting the NHE project, which was first piloted in Opol, Misamis Oriental and New Lucena in Iloilo Province last 2008. It facilitates visits to public and private establishments with accessible facilities designed friendly to persons with disabilities (PWDs), sharing of experiences, meeting with PWDs and their families, and witnessing the NHE barangay based approach in Barangay Barra, Opol.

After the tour, participants plannied their own approach and proposals for the NHE expansion program, as to how they can best


No more expiry dates in gift checks/certificates/cards starting July 1 – DTIby Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental - Starting July 1, all suppliers, issuers, distributors,and sellers are prohibited to issue and/or sell gift certificates/check/cards with an expiry date, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

This is pursuant to DTI Administrative Order No. 10-04 on the Guidelines on the Issuance, Use and Redemption of Gift Checks, Certificates or Gift Cards in accordance with Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and for other Purposes, said Linda Boniao, regional director of DTI, region 10. She said a gift check/certificate/card is defined as an instrument issued by a supplier to an individual,

partnership, or a juridical entity for monetary consideration evidencing a promise by the issuer that consumer goods or services will be exchanged in favor of the bearer upon presentation of said gift certificate, check, card to the value, credit, specific good, service or event shown in the instrument. These items represents value held in trust by the issuer/supplier/distributor, thus DTI intends to regulate its use to protect consumers

adopt the concept in their respective localities. Sachiko Takeda, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines senior representative, one of NHE project proponent, challenged participating LGUs. He urged them to provide real access and harmonize PWDs support in the community.


and ensure that they are not unduly deprived of their money. On July 16, 2010, DTI issued a guideline that all gift checks/certificates/cards issued must bear a date of issue and an expiry of two years. But, this provision has now been changed, Boniao said. However, gift certificates/checks/cards that are distributed to consumers under awards, loyalty, or promotional programs are not covered. Meanwhile, all gift checks/certificates/cards with no expiry dates shall be redeemable until used by the bearer, and that holders of unused and unexpired gift check/certificates/ cards after June 30, 2012 shall be entitled to replacement after revalidation by suppliers. Likewise, the terms and conditions of unused gift checks/certificates/cards issued before

the effectivity of this order shall be honored. But those bearing expiry dates beyond June 30, 2012 shall be subject to revalidation or replacement. Goods and services that are paid with gift certificates/check/card are qualified in promotional sales activities, loyalty programs, warranties, return policies for cash purchases, and discounts for senior citizens/persons with disability (PWD). Again, the suppliers cannot be held liable for gift certificates/ checks/ cards that are lost due to no fault of the supplier and mutilated or defaced due to no fault of the supplier and such damage prevents the supplier from identifying the security and authenticity features, thereof, Boniao added.


DOH allocates P18.7M for City Hospitalin 2012CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Health has appropriated some P18.7 million for the improvement of JR Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro.

The fund would be applied to implement Dr. Calingasan’s plan of putting up an Operation Room/Delivery Room Complex, as well as the installation of an Intensive Care Unit and Dialysis Units. City Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Y. Emano has expressed his appreciation to the agency and said he is looking forward to a better delivery of medical

services especially to the city’s less privileged citizens. “Atong gikalipay ang paggahin og pundo sa Department of Health aron hingpit nang mapahimuslan sa mga kabus nga pasyente ang mga pasilidad sa atong City Hospital,” (We are happy of the fund allocation of DOH and the less privileged patients can benefit from this) said Mayor Emano. (CIO)

one mindanao - july 9, 2012

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