one mindanao - october 13, 2015

DENR 13 plants 5-7 million mangrove propagules

NorthCot constituents to get free surgical services

DOH conducts media forum

Davao Chocolate Festival

Gov’t strengthens efforts to combat effects of El Niño

President Aquino reiterates call for passage of BBL

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Cover Story

National

SOCCSKSARGEN

Western

InFocus

CaragaBy: Shahana Joy E Duerme

By: Grace O. Montallana

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contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No. 37

1719

24By: Eric Gallego

University sets career guidance confab for Senior HS applicants, parents39

28

Northern

DepEd holds K to 12 forum cum caravan in Surigao Norte

37

Comelec offices security strengthened as local candidates file CoCs4847Southern

By: Gemma C. Pullos

40 VNHS student bags 1st prize in DTI Consumer Welfare quiz beeBy: Eriberto A. Taban-ud, Jr.

Outstanding S&T inventions in ARMM receive awards 44 42ARMM

45ARMM signs MoU with halal-certifying bodies in the Philippines

By: Rudolph Alama

By: Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

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 Region

Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506Telephone no. (083) 520-0249Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

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 ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EDITORIAL BOARD

EXECUTIVE 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

4 October 13, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story

Davao Chocolate Festival by Rudolph Alama

5October 13, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

Davao Chocolate Festival


The festival gathers 20 cacao growers, chocolate processors, chocolate artisans from all over Davao region and nearby provinces showcasing local made chocolate products. The Chocolate Festival is organized by (CIDAMI) or the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. in cooperation with SM City. This year’s Chocolate Festival was participated by Davao Exhibitors like Human Nature, Lara Mia, Giardino,

The public had a dose of trademark Dabawenyo chocolates with the holding of the second Chocolate Festival last Sept. 24-27 at SM City Davao.

Aromacology, Gatchocolatto by Saging Republik, The Chocolate Bean, Coco Dolce, Tsokolate de San Isidro, Malagos Chocolates, Cacao de Davao, IChef, Valente Tsokolate , Purato, Fedco, and Nutrarich Philippines.

Among the highlights of the three-day event are updates on the cacao industry, the presentation of Chef Jackie Ang Po’s “Baking Chocolates at Home” and


a talk by celebrity chef Rolando Laudico on cooking chocolates. Other activities include the mocktails/cocktails events where the city’s top barristas showed off their chocolate based

drinks, the best chocolate cake in the city was also determined in the chocolate cake face-off. Val Turtur CIDAMI executive director hailed the impact of the chocolate festival was is has

spurred cacao growers to also venture into chocolate-making inspired by the exhibits during the first Chocolate Festival held last year.He said that value-adding through the processing of chocolates will

help raise the income of cacao farmers.The Cacao industryData from Department of Agriculture-HVCDP (High Value Commercial Crops Development Program) shows 90 percent of

the total cacao production in the country is mostly sourced from Mindanao and 80 percent of which is from Davao Region.

The entire region has about 19,000 hectares planted to cacao with Davao City having 6,000 hectares planted.

Last July 31, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to implement Cacao Double-Up Program during

the Regional Cacao Congress held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao. Its goal is to increase by two-folds the industry goal from 100,000 metric tons of fermented cacao beans to 200,000 MT by year 2020. By 2016, at least P500 million will be allotted to Mindanao for the planting of some 17.8 million cacao seedlings. The world’s leading

candy maker Mars has challenged the Philippines to increase its production to 100,000 MT by year 2020. However, with the looming shortfall brought about by increasing global demand and declining of production in West Africa, at least 1 million metric tons is seen to be the supply gap by 2020. The Philippines committed to fill in 10 percent of the global shortfall. And Davao Region will be at the forefront of the challenge.


NEDA urges better policies, regulation to support natural resource management

MANILA -- There is an urgent need to sharpen our national as well as local policies and strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations to protect our natural ecosystems, manage competing uses of scarce natural resources, and promote sustainable development, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Monday.


This is in line with the results and of the Philippine Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services or Phil-WAVES Study on Experimental Ecosystem Accounts for Laguna Lake and Southern Palawan, which were released yesterday in a press briefing.

“As the findings suggest, we need to improve the management of the environment and natural resources in these pilot areas. As these areas are microcosms of the state of the country’s ecosystems, this improvement is critical for growth to be inclusive and sustainable,” said NEDA Deputy-Director General Emmanuel F. Esguerra.

The Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 Midterm Update states that sustaining services which will improve the state of the country’s ecosystem will support critical growth sectors and resource-dependent communities amid risks posed

by climate change and natural disasters.

“Moreover, the findings will inform the conduct of environmental impact assessments and cost-benefit analyses, which can serve as a basis for strengthening the management of ecosystems and natural resources in the country,” the NEDA official added.

The development of the Laguna Lake ecosystem accounts was based on the data collected and analyzed primarily by Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other government agencies. LLDA is responsible for the water and land management of the Laguna Lake Basin.

Meanwhile, for the Southern Palawan ecosystem accounts,


development was spearheaded by national and local technical working groups which consist of DENR and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). PCSD was created under Republic Act no. 7611 known as the “Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act” to implement and enforce the laws to ensure sustainable development in Palawan in accordance with the SEP law.

WAVES is a World Bank-supported global partnership which aims to account for the natural capital and services provided by ecosystems to know the full value of these resources for better planning. The Philippines has been selected as one of the eight core implementing countries where the WAVES Global Partnership Program has been launched. (NEDA)


Gov’t strengthens efforts to combat effects of El Niño

QUEZON CITY-- As early as April 2014, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has started preparing for the impacts of El Niño on the country’s agriculture sector. “We will seed all (of the) seed-able clouds; we will waste no opportunity,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said. Cloud seeding is a weather modification method where chemical “nuclei” such as silver iodide or calcium chloride are introduced into the atmosphere to induce condensation, and eventually, precipitation. Moisture collects around these “nuclei” and, upon reaching a certain saturation level, falls as rain

According to Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Director Silvino Tejada, DA has conducted cloud seeding operations in strategic locations nationwide since last year.

Tejada added that the “(the department) has set up water management and conservation measures through its BSWM and regional field offices to ensure that scarce irrigation water supply will be efficiently used and maximized.”

16 October 13, 2015ONE MINDANAO16 October 13, 2015ONE MINDANAO

The DA has also released drought-tolerant rice varieties in threatened rice-producing areas.

For long-term adaptation measures, the DA improved the

country’s small-scale irrigation systems to make these more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and other calamities. It has also promoted climate- and disaster-smart farming and fishery technologies to cushion the agro-fishery sector against the negative effects of calamities.

While the DA and other government agencies have put in place programs to address the challenges of El Niño, the Agriculture Secretary emphasized that adapting to the effects of

this extreme climatic condition, considered to be the worst in 65 years, is a shared responsibility among Filipinos.

Alcala dispelled fears that crops cannot be grown during the El Niño, and cited the Mung bean as an alternative crop, among others, which requires a warm

climate during its growing period.

Cloud seeding is only one of the many interventions used by the DA to combat the effects of El Niño. Though this technology is beneficial to many agricultural lands, this may not be required or suitable in some areas. (DA)


President Aquino reiterates call for passage of BBL

MANILA -- President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday urged anew Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), one of the important proposed bills of his administration, which will end decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

“Pangunahin na po sa akin ang BBL, na ang tanging

layunin ay makasabay sa ating paghakbang ang mga kababayan


nating nasa Muslim Mindanao,” the President said in his speech during the introduction of the Daang Matuwid coalition.

President Aquino noted that passing the Bangsamoro law is imperative for Mindanao and the Philippines.

“Isipin ninyo na lang: ‘Pag di naipasa ang BBL, ipagpapatuloy lang natin ang siklo ng hidwaan; tuloy lang na malulugmok ang mga kapatid natin sa gulo at kahirapan; at patutunayan lang natin ang mga pagkukulang ng ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), kung saan kahit isa lang ang maling mailagay sa puwesto ay apektado na ang kinabukasan ng lahat,” he said.

The Chief Executive further

said the proposed law will provide opportunity for each voice to be heard.

Under the BBL, President Aquino added the desires of leaders are conveyed through their representatives.

“Malayong-malayo ito sa kinagisnan nating sitwasyon kung saan may warlord na nagdidikta sa kapalaran ng nakakarami, samantalang pinagtutuunan lang niya ng pansin ang pag-unlad ng kanyang angkan o tribo,” the President said.

“Sa BBL, sa simula’t simula, ang punto ay asikasuhin ang lahat. Ang mga nasasakupan naman, may pantay na karapatan at sariling boses,” he said. (PNA)

19October 13, 2015 ONE MINDANAO 19

Don’t wait for the last day to file COCs, candidates told By Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Oct 13 — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here had appealed to aspiring local candi-dates for the 2016 elections not to wait until Friday, October 16, to file their certificates of candidacy.


City Election Officer Atty. Richard Opinion made the call in a radio interview where he also reminded candidates that the COMELEC office here will be open from 8:00 a.m. until only 5:00 p.m. Monday until Friday Opinion assured they are all set to receive the COCs for the aspirants.

Unlike in the past elections, the COMELEC official empha-sized, this time acceptance of COCs would not extend until 12:00 midnight.

“Our schedule (for the accep-tance of COCs) is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, on the last day only those who are in our office at 4:45 p.m. will be ca-tered to beyond 5:00 p.m.,” he stressed, referring to a provi-sion of the COMELEC Resolution 9984 promulgated August 18, 2015.

Section 9 of Rule II of Reso-lution 9984 reads: “The COC shall be filed on October 12-16, 2015, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

“If at 4:45 PM of the last day of filing of the COC, there are still persons intending to file COCs present inside the Of-fices mentioned in Section 8 Rule II hereof, the Receiving Officer shall prepare a com-plete list containing the names

of said persons, consecutively numbered, and the time of list-ing. The persons listed shall be called by announcing each name in the order in which they are listed. Any person not present when the name is called, shall not be allowed to file a COC.

“A COC filed in accordance with this procedure shall be stamped received at the time it was actually filed and deemed filed on time.”

Filing of COCs, Atty. Opinion said, has been made uncompli-cated.

A candidate or his/her rep-resentative may file COC for a candidate provided that the representative has in his pos-session an authority to submit COC of the candidate. Submis-sion of biodata and program of government has also been cut out of the requirements.

A candidate running under a political party should also at-tach certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA), other-wise, he or she shall be de-clared an independent candi-date, Opinion explained.

Meanwhile, Police Provin-cial Director PSSupt. Jose Ar-naldo Briones Jr. announced in a separate interview that South Cotabato PNP has been


NorthCot constituents to get free surgical servicesBy Shahana Joy E Duerme

placed on heightened alert ef-fective Saturday, October 10, for the filing of COC this week.

Briones clarified that at the moment the PNP, the Philippine Army and COMELEC have not yet identified places to be de-clared as “areas of concern.”

“Validation is ongoing. We are also waiting for higher offices to issue parameters regarding declaration of places as areas of concern,” Briones said.

Regarding efforts of lawless elements trying to extort from prospective candidates, he said: “For the record, at present we have not received any report

regarding candidates asked to pay for permits to campaign,” he said, adding that they are anticipating such to happen.

He also appealed to candi-dates to immediately report to the PNP or to the Philippine Army any extortion activity.

“We are closely monitoring this considering that this is the modus of the leftist group,” he said.

COMELEC has suspended voter registration from October 12 to 16 to give way to the fil-ing of COC. Voter registration will resume on October 17. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Oct. 13--- Residents of the province is set to avail of free surgical services as the Department of Health and the Cotabato Provincial Hospital will conduct a five-day surgical mission.

The activity which is slated on October 19 to 23 is one of the major components of the Hospi-tal Hi-5, a strategy being under-taken by all government hospi-

tals to complement and support the efforts of the DOH to realize the objectives of the Universal Health Care.

“This is to realize the anti-


poverty programs of the gov-ernment by providing free sur-gical operations to indigent patients who cannot afford to pay for medical services,” Eva Rabaya, head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office said.

The surgical mission, dubbed as “Kapit Bisig para sa Kalusu-gan Pangkalahatan” or KB para sa KP will be simultaneously conducted by all DOH Regional Offices and DOH Hospitals in coordination with host hospitals like the CPH.

Dr. Rabaya stated that KB para sa KP is a mission to reach out to people who have less ac-cess to health care services es-pecially those who reside in re-mote villages.

“We want to improve the people’s access to free surgical

operations, access to medicines and in the process strengthen the service delivery network,” she added.

Rabaya also noted that pa-tients already went through an enlistment and screening on September 28 at the CPH where 250 individuals were initially assessed of their condition and potential required surgical op-erations.

Based form the DOH Techni-cal Advisory No. 3 signed by Lilibeth David, director IV of the DOH Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau, two surgi-cal operations will be performed during the five-day mission, the major or mandatory operations and minor or optional opera-tions.

Major operations include thy-


roidectomy, cleft lip and nasal deformity, primary bilateral re-pairs, cataract surgery, pterygi-um, herniorrhapy and hydroco-electomy.

On the other hand minor op-erations include excision breast mass and excision of sebaceous cyst and pilar cyst.

All the surgical operations will be conducted at the CPH, Amas, Kidapawan City except for cata-ract which will be done at the Cotabato Regional Medical Cen-ter in Cotabato City.

For her part, Governor Em-mylou Mendoza said the surgi-cal mission and the partnership with the health department is part of the continuing efforts of the Provincial Government of Cotabato to provide better health and medical services to Cotabateños under the advocacy of “Serbisyong Totoo”.

“This is a big help to people who have been suffering from different health conditions par-ticularly those who don’t have the capacity to pay for surgery,” Mendoza noted.

The governor further high-lighted the significance of Hos-pital Hi-5 and KB para sa KP by stressing on its objectives of increasing access of patients to government’s surgical services,

to improve collaboration and heighten social responsibility among public and private sec-tor and to provide a venue for health promotion and interven-tions.

“The provincial government intensively collaborates with the health department in achieving Hospital Hi- 5 goals for a health-ier and safer community,” Men-doza said.

The DOH’s Hospital Hi-5 was launched in August this year along with the strategies under its Impact Breakthrough Pro-gram.

The strategies consist of re-ducing infant mortality rate by 20 percent; lowering under-five mortality rate by 22 percent; reducing maternal mortality rate by 57 percent; halting Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Ac-quired Immune Deficiency Syn-drome (HIV/AIDS) by 40 per-cent; and increasing the service delivery networks in poor com-munities. (JSta.Cruz-NorthCot Media Center/SJDuerme-PIA12)


DA extends support to local fabricators of farm equipment

BUTUAN CITY -- To help local fabricators of farm machineries competi-tive and at par with other fabricators anywhere in the country, the De-partment of Agriculture (DA) Caraga conducted a coordination meeting recently and organized them into an association.

By: Aurelius P. Arais

Spearheaded by the Region- al Agriculture Engineering Divi-


sion (RAED), around 18 local manufacturers and dealers in the region attended the said meet-ing. RAED Chief Engineer Rene Morales said that such meeting with the local fabricators was the first time as DA Caraga recog-nized local fabricators as poten-tial suppliers of high quality farm machineries. “Performance of products is the parameter for a company to join public bidding of farm equip-ment to be supplied to the farmer recipients,” Morales emphasized. Foremost requirement to join a public bidding, the machine should conform to the standards set by the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES) thus a testing of the machine to know its efficiency is a must. Such kind of testing is done solely by Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) based at the Univer-sity of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The PAES is part of the Phil-ippine Standards for Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery devel-oped by the PAES, AMTEC and other DA agencies, which was developed by virtue of DA A.O. No. 11 Series of 2001. As an initial assistance, DA Caraga consolidated local fabri-

cators who are ready for AMTEC testing to facilitate the presence of AMTEC engineers in Caraga to conduct the test. “We are grateful that DA is extending assistance for us be-cause it is so expensive if we will have the AMTEC testing individu-ally,” Noel Honorio, one of the lo-cal fabricators said. DA Caraga supported the move to lobby to AMTEC to put up a testing center for Mindanao to be located in one of the uni-versities in Caraga. To strengthen local manu-facturers and dealers, they were organized and voted Pedro Lim of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur as the president. Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Operations and LGU Support Edgardo D. Dahino is op-timistic that more Caraga-based farm machinery fabricators could supply the needed equipment for the farmers instead of sourcing it outside the region. DA Caraga annually con-ducted a public bidding to sup-ply farm equipments mostly pre and post harvest facilities such as tractors, floating tiller, thresh-er, among others in support to its banner program interventions for corn, rice, high value crops development program, organic, livestock and special projects.


DENR 13 plants 5-7 million mangrove propagules

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resourc-es (DENR) 13 has planted half of the total 11,130,000 mangrove propa-gules prepared by the DENR 13 under the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project (MBFDP) in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Nore, Surigao del Sur and the Dinagat Province.

DENR 13 regional director Nonito M. Tamayo said about 5,706,452 seedlings have been planted in the different planting sites as of September 9, 2015. The other remaining balance of

seedlings raised shall be planted until November 2015. Tamayo made this an-nouncement during an emergen-cy meeting with the field officers to draw up contingency measures

By: Eric Gallego


to cushion the impact of the “El Nino” Phenomenon which is ex-pected to be felt by October this year in most parts of the coun-try. The meeting was held at the DENR Regional Learning Center in Barangay Ambago, this city. “We anticipate the impact of El Nino on the seedlings that were planted in the different National Greening Program (NGP) sites which may be affected by intense heat and absence of precipita-tion,” Tamayo said. The PAGASA Weather Forecast has reported less rains will occur in Caraga Region in the months ahead due to the weather phenomenon. Some CENR Officers report-ed various measures have been taken to cushion the impact of the El Nino in most reforestation sites under NGP. OIC, PENRO Paterno Olive-ros said he has alerted the new-ly-hired DENR Forest rangers and the Bantay Gubat task force to intensify foot patrol focused on possible forest fire that may occur in the NGP plantation due to intense solar heat. “Dry leaves and cogon grasses are common sights during this time but a com-munity which is conscious about forest fire can always avert a for-est disaster,” he said. In some NGP site, the mem-

bers of the different Commu-nity-Based Forest Management Organizations have fixed their respective impounding water structure where they can draw water for the seedlings. Director Tamayo said the DENR has also focused it activi-ties on mangrove and beach for-est development which are lo-cated in the towns of Nasipit and Tubay in Agusan del Norte, Siar-gao Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) Dapa and Surigao City in Surigao del Norte, Tandag, Cantilan, Lianga and Bislig in Surigao del Sur and the Province of Dinagat Islands. As of date, he said, about 4,452 hectares have been planted which is 41.18 percent partially accomplished with 5,706,453.00 seedlings and propagules. Agu-san del Norte under PENRO Pat Oliveros, and the Dinagat Prov-ince under OIC, PENRO Agapito Patubo have posted high per-formance ratings in accomplish-ment on their taret. About 2,120 folk have been contracted by the DENR to work on the establishment of nurs-ery and monitoring and care of the seedlings under the Cash for Work program of the NGP.


DepEd Caraga Region Curriculum and Learning Management Divi-sion (CLMD) chief dr. Isidro M. Biol, in his keynote speech, said the department is ready for the implementation of the program and he conveyed the significance of adding two years in the ba-sic education - the Senior High School (Grades 11 and 12). “In the Senior High School Program, we will become cham-pions in our long desired dream to become a country worthy of emulation considering that se-nior high school graduated are skilled, globally competitive,

and entrepreneurially prepared which can rebuild our country into a productive one in the near future,” he said. “With the support and com-mitment of the various stake-holders in our community, we can take our stand against odds, and together we can carry on the banner with faith, Tayo Para sa Edukasyon, Sa K to 12 Kayang-kayang, Sama-sama,” Biol add-ed. The one-day caravan cum forum was participated by more than 1,500 students and teach-ers form different schools of the province, parents, officials and employees from different gov-ernment offices national line agencies, socio civic organiza-tions, private sectors and other stakeholders.

DepEd holds K to 12 forum cum caravan in Surigao Norte By: Gemma C. Pullos

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte– With the aim to heighten the awareness of the public particu-larly the parents on the enhanced curriculum of basic education in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga Region recently conducted a forum cum caravan on K to 12 program here.


Php44.2 M set for El Niño interventions in SOCCSKSARGEN By Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Oct 1 -- Some Php44.2 mil-lion have been allotted for measures that would address con-cerns of farmers over long dry spell in the coming months, an official of the Department of Agriculture 12 said.


Tripartite council for overseas employment industry organizedBy Danilo E. Doguiles

could be reduced by more than 28,000 metric tons while that of could be reduced by 128,500 metric tons.

Yield from high value crops such as banana, coffee, rubber

and mango are also expect-ed to decrease. (DEDoguiles-PIA12)

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Oct 1-- In line with their ef-forts to push reforms in their sector, the overseas industry play-ers in SOCCSKSARGEN Region have united to establish an Indus-try Tripartite Council (ITC).

Composed of representatives from the labor and manage-ment sectors and the govern-ment led by the Department of Labor and Employment, an ITC primarily serves as “a fo-rum for tripartite advisement and consultation among labor, employers and government sectors in the formulation and implementation of labor and so-cial policies” as indicated in the Department Order 111-11.

Adonis Dollente, vice chair-person of the newly-organized Overseas Employment ITC vowed that the recruitment agencies will continue to sup-

port the programs and services of DOLE and its attached agen-cies for the benefit of the in-dustry.

“ We will continue to abide by the rules and regulations, and we hope that through this newly established ITC we can resolve issues affecting our labor force,” Dollente said.

Meanwhile, DOLE Regional Director Ofelia Domingo em-phasized that the establish-ment of the Overseas Employ-ment ITC in SOCCSKSARGEN Region along with the Overseas Regional Reintegration Network (ORRN), all industry stakehold


Zambo celebrates solemn, peaceful Fiesta Pilar

By Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar yesterday (October 12) thanked the police, military, their force multipliers and residents for helping ensure a safe Fiesta Pilar celebration, since October 1 until yesterday’s grand procession.


Thousands of residents from all walks of life joined in the Grand Procession in honor of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, the city’s matron, which began at around 3 in the afternoon at the Metropolitan Cathedral, ending at around 5, with a mass celebrated by Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz at the Fort Pilar. Fort Pilar itself was packed with devotees including Mayor Climaco-Salazar, Congressman Celso Lobregat and other local officials. Residents have been coming in throngs to Fort Pilar since the start of the 9-day Novena in honor of the Lady. Ñora Carmelita Delos Reyes,

a 72-year-old devotee who has been a La Virgen devotee all her life said that she felt more comfortable seeing police, military and Red Cross volunteers all around Fort Pilar. “Mas ta sinti iyo comfortable pati hinde na iyo ta tiene miedo na ay tiene maga mal hente na pikura ase malo el celebrasyon,” (I feel comfortable and I am not anymore afraid that there could be any person to do their evil plans to disrupt the celebrations), said Ñora Carmelita. Security in the procession route as well as in Fort Pilar itself was very tight. Police and military were highly visible, and adding


to them were force multipliers including criminology students from local universities. Cellular signal was observed to have been cut off in the procession areas as part of the security measures. Earlier, Mayor Climaco-Salazar issued executive orders with regards to security measures in Fiesta Hermosa activity areas. This included the banning of caps, backpacks, and the wearing of hoods in the premises. Devotees were also subjected to inspection prior to entering the Fort Pilar shrine.

The mayor expressed her gratitude for all who participated and cooperated with the authorities in the strict implementation of the security procedures. Residents such as Ñora Carmelita are more grateful for the added security, since it ensured the safety of all devotees. On the other hand, Red Cross volunteers were on standby and took care of any person who needed immediate medical attention.

DIPOLOG CITY - “We are appealing to the media people to support our program,” Ms. Virgie Galaretta, health education promotions officer of the Department of Health (DOH)-9 told the press in a forum held Friday at the Top Plaza Hotel here.

DOH conducts media forum By: Grace O. Montallana

Galaretta also said the forum was conducted to give the media practitioners accurate information about the programs pursued by the DOH especially on its deworming and immunization activities. The investigation result on the last mass deworming activity in schools was also presented in

the forum. As reported, several students complained of stomach pains and difficulty in breathing after taking the deworming tablets. This, Galaretta said, affected the School-based Immunization Program (SIP) for grades 1-7 students that ensued days after the deworming activity.


Galaretta reported that a decrease in the number of students immunized during the conduct of immunization of Measles Containing Vaccines (MCV) and Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) for Grade 1 and Measles Rebulla (MR) and Td for Grade 7 was observed. The DOH is now tapping the media to help publicize its immunization program to encourage the students and the parents actively participate in the October 16, 2015 immunization program. Galaretta assured the students that the medicines to be given to them are safe. Provincial Sanitary Inspector

Restie Kyamko, on the other hand, underscored the importance of cleanliness in the surroundings and homes to prevent dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito bites like filariasis, which would result in the enlargement of extremities and lymph nodes especially in end-stage cases. This disease can only be determined 5 to 10 years after a person got

infected. Persons suffering from filariasis can avail of free operations, medicines and l a b o r a t o r y , Health Education Promotions Officer Wilma R. Bulahan of the Provincial Health Office said.


DSWD consults gov’t agencies on food security for disaster victims

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in northern Mindanao consulted on October 8 with other national government agencies and selected local government units on its upcoming project that is related to food security for internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by possible disasters in the future.

By: Charmaine Suzette Leonor P. Tadlas


Learning from the Yolanda experience, the DSWD consults with the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, and Internal and Local Government, Labor and Employement, Office of Civil Defense, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Misamis Oriental, to come up with a strategy that will employ a neighborhood family welfare approach in helping the families and promoting the collective advocacy of Filipinos to fight hunger in times of disaster and calamities. In consultation with its partner agencies, its project framework illustrates risks and adaptation brought about by disaster in the context of food security. The project hopes to ensure that affected individuals, families and communities have access of safe and healthy food in times of disaster and emergencies. According to Eden Mariňo of the Social Technology Bureau of the DSWD, the project will capacitate the vulnerable communities and individuals resilient in disaster especially on food security by developing locally-produced products including productivity

skills development for the communities. Mariňo also said that the DSWD shall explore partnership with civil society organizations and private and business sector in the development and delivery of food banks services. Through the people’s organizations, family and community volunteers, beneficiaries can then access free foods at the food bank facility. The components of the project shall include public-private partnership as well which shall mobilize and strengthen the existing inter-agency groups in the locality such as the local disaster risk reduction management council; and shall maintain close coordination with the national government agencies, non-government organizations and and civil society groups that assist IDPs. The DSWD currently consults with other agencies, communities, and local leaders to complete and launch the project come 2016.


University sets career guidance confab for Senior HS applicants, parentsCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Xavier University has rolled out a series of career guidance forums for incoming Senior High School (SHS) students and their parents to guide them on their career path in time for the admission and enrolment season for the next academic year.

“Students must choose their track and strand under the Senior High School program based on their career assessment results,” said Dr Joey Jegonia, director of XU’s Office of Promotions, Testing and Admissions (OPTA). “Your choice must be in line with your competency and ideal career in the future.” The four major tracks in the Senior HS program are Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design. XU hopes to address parents’ questions and concerns on Senior HS in an upcoming series of parents’ forums scheduled on October 10 and 24, November 14 and 28, and December 12, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the XU-AVR1. The Department of Education has directed schools to intensify the awareness campaign through career fairs and orientation seminars on the Senior HS

program. The career exam is the first step in the admission process to the Senior HS program which also serves as the applicant’s occupational interest inventory. Jegonia also clarified that no one actually fails in the career exam, rather the results are only meant to guide and assess the Grade 10 students in choosing the career tracks they intend to pursue. Following the career exam is the College Scholastic Aptitude Test (CSAT) which will determine the applicant’s competence and ranking for the chosen strand or course under the different tracks of Senior HS. XU has just recently concluded its career exams for incoming Grade 11 students, but will re-administer the same exam in February next year to cater to more Senior HS applicants. In the meantime, applicants can take


Darwin Mangubat of VNHS bested 29 other contestants from different secondary schools in Bukidnon after the tie-breaker round with Manolo Fortich National High School contender. DTI Provincial Director Ermedio J. Abang said Mangubat, with coach Jacquelyn Sillador, bagged the P3,000 cash prize and plaque award. Jennica Agcopra of Manolo Fortich National High School (MFNHS) won the second prize of P2,000 while the third prize of

P1,000 went to Cristine Aquino of Bukidnon State University (BSU). They also received plaque awards adding to the cash prizes. Likewise, both MFNHS (2nd prize winner) coach Basilides Pacheco, and BSU (3rd prize winner) coach Desiree Barroso received plaque awards. The quiz contains 30 questions, with 20 easy questions for “Easy Round” and 10 tough questions for “Difficult Round.” A contestant gets one point score for each correct answer in Easy

VNHS student bags 1st prize in DTI Consumer Welfare quiz beeMALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – A high school student of Valencia National High School (VNHS) bagged the First Prize in 2015 Consumer Welfare Month Provincial Quiz Bee sponsored by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on October 9, 2015 at Loiza’s Pavillion, Casisang this city.

the CSAT which will be slated on all Saturdays of November. Both exams are requisites for admission to Senior HS. Application process, tuition and school fees, scholarship

opportunities, DepEd’s Tuition Voucher Program and other related concerns will be explained thoroughly at the parents’ fora which will be open to the public. (XU Communications Group)

By: Eriberto A. Taban-ud, Jr.


Round and scores two points for each right answer in Difficult Round. The quiz questions cover vital Trade and Industry laws such as Republic Act 3883 (Business Name Act), R.A 7394 (Consumer Act), R.A. 7581 (Price Act and its amendments under R.A. 10623), R.A. 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act) and R.A. 7432 (Senior Citizen’s Law and its amendments under R.A. 9257 and R.A. 9994). Questions also include consumer protection issues especially those relating to ASEAN Economic Community anchored into this year’s theme “Consumer Protection in the ASEAN Economic Community.” Venus Villanueva, chief trade and industry development

specialist said this quiz bee would help students in their journey to excellence because the bottom line in life is the pursuit of knowledge and its application. C h i e f Trade and I n d u s t r y Development S p e c i a l i s t

Eriberto Taban-ud, Jr. chaired the Board of Judges, while the members include Luz Ongayo, president of Malaybalay City Federation of Rural Improvement Club and Joel A. Bernasor, Market Vendors’ Association of Valencia, Inc. Apart from the cash prizes, the winners will also have the chance to represent Bukidnon in the Regional Quizz Bee on October 21, 2015 at Cagayan de Oro City.


DILG-ARMM holds strategic planning on climate change, disaster preparedness

The Department of the Interior and Local Government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) conducted a planning workshop on October 08, to encourage

local government units (LGUs) to develop climate change and disaster-preparedness programs.

The regional strategic planning workshop targets to integrate Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in local development planning. Representatives from different


civil society organizations, regional line agencies, and the academe participated in the training. Sharifa Pearlsia Ai-Dans, DILG-ARMM regional assistant secretary, said the one-day training was aimed at forging partnership between DILG-ARMM and the various stakeholders as well as organize a composite team that will help gather data on disaster risk and climate change situations in various LGUs in the region. She added the agency wants LGUs to focus on embedding both CCA and DRR into local development plans, to address issues on climate change, and to help reduce the risk they might encounter. Republic Act 10121, or an act strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system, mandates LGUs to allocate

funds for CCA and DRR programs. This is also underscored in Republic Act 9279, or the climate change act of 2009, and the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code of 1991. The result of the planning will be presented to 47 pre-identified disaster prone LGUs in the region. Dans urged the LGUs to be supportive of the implementation and mainstreaming of the DRR and CCA into their local development plans since their constituents are the direct beneficiaries of these measures. Parts of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in ARMM are within the Mindanao River Basin and have been considered as disaster-prone areas. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)


Outstanding S&T inventions in ARMM receive awards

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - Outstanding science and technology inventions and research studies from different parts of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the 2015 Regional Invention Contests and Exhibits (RICE) were awarded Saturday, October 10.

Ten entries in the Sibol Award or the Outstanding Student Creative Research – High School and College levels, and in the Likha or the Outstanding Creative Research competed in the 2015 RICE. The research study ‘Guyabano Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection’ of students Marida Dalgan, Sharon Caballero, and Majera Santiago was

hailed as the regional champion in the Sibol Award - College level. The three are all taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in General Science at the Mindanao State University (MSU) - Maguindanao. “Marami po kasing MSU students like me na may UTI. And effective yung guyabano bilang treatment sa


ARMM signs MoU with halal-certifying bodies in the PhilippinesMARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - To strengthen the halal industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Department of Science and Technology in the region (DOST-ARMM) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with halal-certifying bodies in the Philippines.

The MoU was signed between the DOST-ARMM and Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board Inc. and Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Philippines, Inc. Both groups are halal-certifiers

accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. Myra Mangkabung, DOST-ARMM secretary, said the agreement was aimed at strengthening the collaboration with halal-certifying

UTI na napatunayan ng phytochemical analysis na ginawa namin (Many MSU students suffer from urinary tract infection and we found out guyabano is an effective treatment),” Dalgan said. She said her group will conduct thorough research as preparation for the upcoming National Invention Contests and Exhibits (NICE) in July 2016. Paula Nicole Bataga, 16, was awarded first runner-up in the high school level of the same category. A grade 10 student of ARMM Regional Science High School in Parang, Maguindanao, Bataga built a Solar-Powered Power Bank as her entry. She said her power bank was made from recycled materials specifically broken solar panel from a lamp and a rechargeable battery from a damaged power bank. What she only bought, she noted, was an P18

crayons box that houses the power bank. Her power bank could fully charge an android phone. “I made this so that these junk materials culd be re-used.” The 2015 RICE was part of the regional celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) spearheaded by ARMM’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It is a nationwide activity conducted in different regions to recognize the creativity of Filipino inventors. The 2015 NSTW bears the theme “Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness.” Myra Mangkabung, DOST-ARMM secretary, said the celebration depicts the vision and dream of science and technology community to keep abreast with global economic integration through innovation. (BPI/PIA-10)


bodies and at exploring opportunities on halal products and services in the region. The document was signed during the 1st ARMM Halal Congress and 2015 National Science and Technology Week that carried the theme “Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness.” The theme depicts the vision and dream of the S&T community to keep abreast with global economic integration through innovation. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the region, being pre-dominantly Muslim, bids to become the halal hub of the Philippines as the halal industry is making a noise in the international market as one potent force to reckon with in this field. “The region continues to pursue its reform agenda, to transform it to become globally competitive, from its systems to infrastructures, science and technology also continues to play its vital role in trying to become the spring-board of the region towards

Asian Integration through its Halal Industry D e v e l o p m e n t Program,” Gov. Hataman added. The Halal Food Industry D e v e l o p m e n t Plan is a major initiative for Mindanao under its Medium Term Philippine D e v e l o p m e n t Plan, which s p e c i f i c a l l y provides that

the ARMM shall be the country’s halal-production base. This program is anchored on three pillars namely policy and advocacy, infrastructure and support system, and governance. Several initiatives of the regional government pertaining to the promotion of the halal industry are already being implemented such as the adoption of the Regional and Provincial Halal Food Industry Plan, and the passage into law of the Muslim Mindanao Act No. 254 also known as “ARMM Halal Labeling Act of 2009”. To cater to the region’s need for testing and analysis, particularly in the food industry, the department also established the Halal Standards and Testing Laboratory. The testing lab is manned by highly-competent Muslim chemists, who went through rigid trainings on halal laboratory procedures. The lab aspires to be the center of credible halal certification in the country. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)


City ready to respond to any disasterDAVAO CITY- The chief of the Emergency Response Center Central 911 assured the readiness of the local government in responding to disas-ters.

Emmanuel Jaldon, chief of the Central 911 said the local gov-ernment is aware of the risks that might hit the city being at the end of the Davao River Basin. He said the plans relative to disaster mitigation, prepared-ness and response are based on the risks threatening the city. “A long time ago, the city conducted several risk assess-ment and vulnerability assess-ment for all its sites,” Jaldon said. He said the local govern-ment is also aware that the city is located on a flood plain and is indeed a catch basin. Jaldon said that the cur-rently the city looks not merely on mitigation but also in crafting new environmental laws to give more power in the implementa-tion of the climate change advo-cacy, by mainstreaming the CCA

in the disaster risk reduction and management. “The new laws will add up to give more teeth to the existing laws and will give impact more to the implementation and enforce-ment,” he said. Professor Esteban Godilano, resident scientist of the Climate Change Congress of the Philip-pines projected grim scenario of the city in the event of a strong flash flood given its location be-ing on a flood plain. Reckoning the existing haz-ard map, he said the city remains under the threat of flashflood in the event a strong downpour oc-curs on the highlands of Bukid-non and itsboundary with Davao City. An interfaith dialogue on Cli-mate Change was held here to rally religious leaders to support


Comelec offices security strengthened as local candidates file CoCs

DAVAO CITY-The Police Regional Office 11 has deployed more police-men to watch over the conduct of the filing of certificate of candidacies in all offices of the poll body in the region.

Superintendent Antonio Ri-vera, spokesperson of the PRO 11 said their primary concern is to institute order in the conduct of filing the Cocs. He said policemen make themselves visible to ensure the safety and security of both the candidates and their supporters. “Our primary concern is to ensure order and the safety of all people who are in the prem-ises of the Commission on Elec-tion offices in all cities, provinces and municipalities in the region,”

Rivera said. Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office said that police-men are instructed to include in their visibility patrol the vicinity of the offices of the poll body in-side the Ramon Magsaysay Park. Three poll body offices for the first, second and third dis-tricts, respectively, are located in the park’s compound. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

the government’s Intended Na-tionally Determined Contribution target of seventy percent reduc-tion in the greenhouse gas emis-sions in the country by 2030. First convened in 2010, the IFD had conducted 10 region-al dialogues and three national conferences nationwide. It is

convened by the Climate Change Commission, Department of Envi-ronment and Natural Resources, Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches, Climate Change Con-gress of the Philippines and the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

one mindanao - october 13, 2015

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