one mindanao - october 19, 2015

DTI spearheads 13th Consumer Welfare Month celebration

DTI releases P2M BUB fund to Bayugan City

DOLE employs workers in Camiguin under emergency employment

World Bank officials visit Kalahi-CIDSS projects in Sarangani

CCC challenges building engineers to help government achieve 70% emission reduction target

MNLF, MILF forge unity to push passage

of ‘undiluted’ BBL12

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Cover Story

National

Caraga

Northern

InFocus

Western

By: DTI-Agusan del Sur

By: Jovelyn V. Perez

OUR

CO

VER

contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No.41

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20

29 By: Rhea Grace A. La Plana

Rescued eagle released back to the forest of Mt. Apo37Southern

By: Shahana Joy E. Duerme

36NorthCot Emergency Response Team advances effective response to

emergencies 41 39SOCCSKSARGEN

By: Hilbert Estacion

23‘1st Caraga Summit on Combatting Trafficking in Persons’ set in Butuan City

By: Venus L. Garcia

34DSWD names reg’l exemplary child for 2015By: Recthie T. Paculba

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 ARTISTSVICTORINAO VILLACRUZ, 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 19, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story

5October 19, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

World Bank officials visit Kalahi-CIDSS projects in Sarangani By: Hilbert Estacion


High ranking World Bank officials recently visited Kalahi-CIDSS projects implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in towns of Kiamba and

Maitum in Sarangani Province.

Gemma Rivera, assistant regional director of DSWD-12 said the activity was part of the 4th implementation support mission in the country of the said international financial institution to look into the implementation of the projects utilizing the community-driven development (CDD) as a strategy for poverty-reduction, empowerment and improvement of governance.“It was an honor for us to be chosen as part of the support mission of World Bank as a great opportunity to showcase what

we are doing and at the same time, gain insights on things we need to improve in terms of implementing Kalahi-CIDSS projects,” Rivera said.

The World Bank officials, headed by Washington-based Senior Social Development Specialist Patricia Fernandes went to remote villages of Kalaneg and Maguling in Maitum and Nalus and Gasi in Kiamba.

“The idea of this visit is to understand how the program as

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it being designed is implemented in the ground and to exchange of ideas with the people in the frontline of the program,” F e r n a n d e s explained.

Fe rnandes , together with other WB officials including Michael Anthony Roscitt, Luis Alberto Velez Pretelt, consultants for open contracting program; Ma. Loreto Padua, senior social development specialist; and Rene Manuel, senior procurement specialist; conducted focus group discussions with the community volunteers, barangay and municipal officials who have first-hand experiences in terms planning, implementing and sustaining their community projects including construction of school building and hanging cable footbridge.

Aside from WB officials, representatives from various national agencies also joined the activity including National

Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and other organizations.

World Bank is the largest funding agency in the scaling up of the community-driven


development (CDD) in its expansion into a national scale of operations through Kalahi-CIDSS, covering 847 poor municipalities, including those typhoon Yolanda-affected areas.World Bank has committed to finance the Php19. 4 billion in the implementation of the Program from 2014-2019, target to cover some 5.3 million households in the country.

In Region-12, DSWD is implementing 162 various community projects amounting to Php302.44 million in 17 towns, covering provinces of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.

Kalahi-CIDSS, otherwise known as Kapit-Bisig Laban saKahirapan-A Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, is one of the three core

programs of DSWD, aiming to empower poor and disaster-affected communities to improve access to services and to participate in a more inclusive local planning, budgeting, implementation in programs and projects and in the overall affairs of the government.

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Aquino administration renews commitment to fight poverty

MANILA-- With less than a year before bowing out of office, the Aquino administration renewed its commitment to eradicate poverty in the country though anti-poverty reduction initiatives particularly the conditional cash transfer program (CCT).


The world observed yesterday the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. “Poverty is one of the things that we face on a daily basis—nakikita natin ‘yon—and you see how important the steps that we are taking against poverty, kasi ang gusto nga po natin ay walang maiiwan, katulad ng laging sinasabi ng Pangulong Aquino,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said

on Saturday.

“At least, in the final year of the president’s term, we remain committed to all the programs that are aimed or geared towards reducing poverty.”

One of the administration’s landmark programs is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program aimed at helping those in the fifth quintile or the poorest of the poor to get out of poverty.

filephoto: presstv.com


filephoto: presstv.com

The government eyes to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring that pregnant women undergo regular checkups and children from poor families go to school.

The administration is also conducting trainings for the poor as well as extending livelihood to expose them to better economic opportunities.

The government also extends support through healthcare especially to the poorest of the poor by expanding PhilHealth coverage.

“These are just some of the efforts of the administration to curb or to eradicate poverty, and we hope that this will still continue, at sana hindi matapos lamang sa Aquino administration,” she said.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since

1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated October 17 to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.

Poverty eradication remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the development of the new Sustainable Development Goals, according to the United Nations.

The 2015 observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a special one, as it comes on the heels of the adoption of “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The agenda, which succeeds the MDGs, contains 17 new and ambitious goals--foremost among them is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere.” PND (as)


2016 Budget to Support Climate Change Projects worth P132 B

MANILA -- Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said funds for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the proposed 2016 National Budget have reached P132 billion to build the resilience of vulnerable communities against the devastating impact of climate change.


“With the help of the World Bank, our ongoing audit of the P3.002-trillion budget for next year has tagged P132-billion worth of projects that represent climate expenditures,” the budget chief said in response to calls by Finance Ministers of the ‘Vulnerable Twenty’ (V20) for a significant mobilization of funds for a global response to climate change.

The V20 group is led by the Philippines and represents a significant number of nations most vulnerable to climate change. It held its inaugural meeting during the World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Lima, Peru last week to push for greater investments in climate resiliency ahead of the COP21 talks in Paris.

“The amount of P132 billion for climate expenditures is a huge investment, but we have been working on increasing the budget to address climate

change since 2011. More importantly, the 2016 budget builds on the lessons of Typhoon Yolanda as well as focusing on climate change adaptation. This prioritization reflects the National Government’s major support for enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in vulnerable communities,” said Abad.

The tagging of climate expenditures in the 2016 budget was made possible through an ongoing climate change expenditures tagging initiative supported by the World Bank. By tracking expenditures associated with climate change, the National Government will have an easier time identifying them, ensuring their transparency, and enhancing their effectiveness. Majority of the climate expenditure in the proposed 2016 budget was lodged under the budget of the DPWH, around 72.2 percent to account for the increase in funding of flood control

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protection. The construction of flood control facilities covering 18 major river basins and principal rivers and watersheds by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amounts to P59.8 billion

Other projects that were tagged as climate expenditures

were the reforestation of 1.5 million hectares under the six-year National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) amounting to P10.2 billion and farm-to-market roads amounting to P12.9 billion under the Department of Agriculture (DA).(DBM)


Western, Asian, African envoys express support for the Bangsamoro peace process

MANILA -- The Government of the Philippines Negotiating Panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) acknowledged the renewed support of the international community for the Bangsamoro peace process and its members’ call to pass a meaningful Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without delay. “Domestic support is vital in sustaining the Bangsamoro peace process. International

support for the passage of the basic law is also valuable because they provide a global


perspective that broadens our parochial and partisan appreciation of our quest,” said government chief peace negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

“As outsiders looking in, the international community can offer a more objective point of view. We are heartened that they continue to see that we are fighting the good fight and thank them for the trust and goodwill they have shown from the beginning,” she added.

Western and Asian nations supporting the Bangsamoro peace process have issued yesterday a new call for the continuation of the Bangsamoro peace process and the establishment of safeguards to prevent a resumption of armed conflict in Mindanao. Signed statement of support

Diplomats representing the Western and Asian nations stressed the need to ensure that the Comprehensive


Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in March 27, 2014 would be implemented to sustain the peace and stability in the Philippines’ main southern island of Mindanao.

“We, the undersigned, share a common aim with the people of the Philippines to work towards a just and lasting peace in Mindanao that brings prosperity, security, and social benefits to all Filipinos and maintains the unity of the Republic of the Philippines,” the ambassadors stated. “We express our solid support and commitment to the continuity of the peace process…”

Among the signatories are Ambassador Bill Tweddell of Australia; H.E. Marion Derckx of the Netherlands; Ambassador Philip Goldberg of the United States of America; Ambassador Erik Forner of Norway; Ambassador Luis Calvo of Spain; Charge d’ Affaires a.i. Raoul Imbach of Switzerland; Ambassador Asif Ahmad of the British Embassy; Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa of Japan; Ambassador

Rolando A. Guevara Alvarado of Panama; Ambassador Jon Top Christensen of Denmark; Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. of the Czech Republic; Ambassador Massimo Roscigno of Italy; Charge d’ Affaires a.i. Ngerikl Baules of Palau; Charges d’ Affaires a.i. Stella De Araneta of Colombia; Ambassador-Designate Franz Jessen of the European Union; Ambassador Thomas Ossowski of Germany; Charge d’ Affaires Mihai Sion of Romania; Ambassador Marthinus Slabber of South Africa; Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim of Korea; Ambassador Neil Reeder of Canada; and Deputy Head of Mission Laurent Legodec of France.

Ambassador Johny Lumintang of Indonesia, Ambasaador David Strachan of New Zeland, and DHM Charlotta Schlyter of Sweden also expressed their intention to sign the statement.

The group explained that there was a pressing need to give life to the 2014 negotiated peace accord between the government and the MILF that served as basis for the drafting of a Bangsamoro Basic Law


now pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and “to the long term political, economic, and social pillars that will bring the peace dividend to the country as a whole”.

“We ask for continued commitment to from all stakeholders to seize this opportunity to enable the Bangsamoro people to form an effective and inclusive, devolved administration as called for in the [2014 CAB]. To

do this will require flexibility on all sides to work within current Constitution of the Republic and recognition of the aspirations of the people of the Bangsamoro,” the ambassadors continued.

When passed, the BBL will abolish the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and set up a parliamentary regional government that will provide the Bangsamoro with more fiscal and political autonomy.


Continuity and common interest

According to the diplomats, their stake in achieving peace and development in the Philippines is “not just as committed friends and development partners” but “as investors and members of the community through our citizens.”

“The long and difficult history of this troubled region can and should move to a more positive future agenda. Much work has been done to bring the parties, activists, politicians, business, and civil society to the brink of a settlement. For the country as a whole, it is essential that setbacks are overcome and people of vision and faith come together to ensure that the momentum for peace continues.”

The CAB is a product of almost eighteen years of negotiations. It builds on the gains of the government’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the 1976 Tripoli Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The contemporary

Moro uprising crystallized due to the atrocities committed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to the Moro people.

“In sustaining the peace effort, it is vital that there is no return to violence and that long-established institutional safeguard measures remain in place to monitor and resolve disputes.”

“In a world of conflict and instability which has marred the lives of so many, we want to support the Philippines to emerge as a nation that is at peace within itself,” the statement concluded. (OPAPP)


AFP, PNP to pursue suspects behind killing of Lumad leader in AgNor

BUTUAN CITY– Following the recent killing incident of a lumad in Agusan del Norte, top officials of the Philippine Army and Philip-pine National Police (PNP) here have condemned the devious acts and practices of the New People’s Army (NPAs) and will file a case in court against them.

By: Jennifer Gaitano


In his interview, Lt Col Lyn-art Castisimo of the 23rd Infan-try Battalion (IB) Philippine Army said that they are going to file a case and get a warrant of arrest for the perpetrators who killed Datu Ricardo Sulhayan, a Higa-onon chieftain. “After the incident, we con-ducted pursuit operation against the perpetrators. Our main ob-jective is to pursue the case. We are now on the process of filing the case against this certain gue-rilla. It’s almost a week that we have been conducting the pur-suit operation in the area and we will not stop until we get them,” disclosed Castisimo. Castisimo further reminded the lumad community to be vigi-lant and be cautious enough with their surroundings. “We are con-tinuing our operation in the area. With the vastness of our covered responsibility, I suggest that all tribal leaders will be more vigi-lant. I believe we can still attain peace if cooperation and engage-ment of other government enti-ties are strengthened,” he said. The good colonel also as-sured the lumads of the contin-uous Bayanihan program in the province which includes the mu-nicipality of Nasipit. “We will con-tinue our Bayanihan operations in the different areas together

with other stakeholders in or-der to maintain peace and order situation. We are also asking our media partners to help us dis-seminate to the public the wrong doings of the NPAs so people will know and be cautious of them,” he stressed. Also, according to PSInsp Joepetrus Catubig, chief of Na-sipit Police Station in Agusan del Norte, the PNP is the main inves-tigative body in investigating the killing of Datu Sulhayan. “Evi-dences have been gathered to really see and prove who these perpetrators are and so we can arrest them... We have a secu-rity plan in line with the prepa-ration of the 2016 elections and we are all ready for any security measures,” he said. Meanwhile, BGen Paul Atal of the 4th Infantry Division re-vealed that they are maximizing its monitoring efforts to appre-hend the perpetrators. “We are all Filipinos and I urge them to surrender. Educating the com-munity is also vital in order to minimize and eradicate NPA re-cruitment. This meeting today with tribal chieftains will highlight unity and come up with certain resolutions. We absolutely con-demn the activities of the illegal armed groups,” he remarked.


DTI releases P2M BUB fund to Bayugan City

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Agusan del Sur has released a total of P2 Million Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) funds to Bayugan City recently at the City Hall of Bayugan City, this province.

By: DTI-Agusan del Sur

The fund released is in-tended for four projects namely; Balut Production, One Town One Product (OTOP) Pinoy Express, Supply Distribution for Electrical Supply Chain and Cassava Pro-cessing for P500,000.00 each. These projects are expected to create 39 enterprises, 64 jobs

and has project total annual do-mestic sales of P3.5 Million. The turnover ceremony was attended by the respective ben-eficiaries of the projects, City Mayor’s representative Rodel Versalote, DTI provincial director Lolita I. Dorado, and other BUB stakeholders.


‘1st Caraga Summit on Combatting Trafficking in Persons’ set in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY – Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center, Inc. (JPIC-IDC, Inc.), a registered non-stock, non-profit corporation, through its Cinemobile Project in partnership with the Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force will hold the 1st Caraga Summit on Combatting Trafficking in Persons here on November 18-19, 2015. The two-day summit is an-chored on the theme, “Caraga Summit: Pagtinabangay! Stake-holders Working Together to End Modern Day Slavery and Exploita-

tion” wherein national and inter-national speakers representing various civil society organiza-tions ranging from business as-sociations to faith-based groups

By: Venus L. Garcia

filephoto: www.crs.org


and government line agencies have already confirmed to share their expertise and knowledge relevant to human trafficking. “We are pleased to invite you in this event in order to bet-ter understand this advocacy – a call to end serious crime and a grave violation of human rights and exploitation,” said JPIC-IDC, Inc. Executive Director Rev. Fr. Anthony S. Salas, SVD. It can be recalled that on January 16, 2015 JPIC-IDC, Inc.

entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the De-partment of the Interior and Lo-cal Government (DILG)–13 for Cinemobile Project III covering the cities of Butuan, Cabadbaran and Bayugan and the munici-palities of Nasipit, Bunawan and Prosperidad in the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur as pilot LGUs for the project to strengthen its fight against trafficking in persons.

filephoto: www.rappler.com

filephoto: www.neocorr.org


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


DOH-9 steps up drive vs. filariasis, schistosomiasis By Franklin P. Gumapon

PAGADIAN CITY – To eliminate the so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Zamboanga Peninsula, a team from the Department of Health (DOH)-9 has conducted a media forum on filariasis, schistosomiasis, capillariasis including intestinal worms at the Guillermo Hotel here recently.


In her message, Dr. Agnes Fernando, DOH-Zamboanga del Sur chief, emphasized the important role played by the press in giving the communities correct information on these tropical diseases that are treatable. Fernando disclosed that there are cases of filariasis recorded in Zamboanga del Sur particularly in the municipalities of Bayog, Kumalarang and Guipos. Filariasis, which is a parasitic diseases caused by an infection with roundworm of the Filarioidea type, is spread by blood feeding black flies and mosquitoes. It results in the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues. She also reported that schistosomiasis in Zamboanga del Sur has not yet been fully eliminated. “The prevalence of

schistosomiasis in the province is high,” she said. Schistosomiasis is caused by a parasitic blood fluke that infects mammals including humans through skin penetration when in contact with fresh water contminated with larval forms (cercariae) known as schistosomes. Moreover, the different types of intestinal worms/parasites were also discussed in the same forum with emphasis on the deworming program pursued by the government for school age children. Intestinal parasites may cause anemia, stunted growth and even death among children if not treated by giving an anthelmintic drug to humans.


As part of the month-long activities, DTI and NCAC in coordination with DepEd organized and conducted a Quiz Bee on October 16 at Ipil Central Elementary School Conference Hall. Grade VI pupils from Ipil SPED, Ipil Central Elementary School, Ipil Heights Elementary School, Pangi Elementary School, Sanito Elementary School and Upper Pangi Elementary School participated in the Quiz Bee. The Quiz Bee was an appropriate undertaking by which pupils wereessentially taught this earlyregarding product quality and consumer protection. Ms. CyraTaguinod of Ipil SPED won the 1st place; Aiza Kate Hofer, Ipil Heights ES – 2nd

place; and Kisha D. Obedencio of Pangi Elementary School bagged the 3rd place of the Quiz Bee. DTI Provincial Director Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipaereiterated their commitment in strengthening the department’s services and programs to address to address the various concerns of consumers in terms of safety and protection. Encouraging dialogue and cooperation among consumers, business and government sectors in advancing and protecting the interests of consumers are initial steps for an active and conscious society.

DTI spearheads 13th Consumer Welfare Month celebrationIPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Anchored on the theme “Consumer Protection in the ASEAN Economic Community,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the National Consumers Affairs Council (NCAC) spearheaded the Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) celebration here.

By Rhea Grace A. La Plana


PHLPost holds national letter writing day

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In celebration of the World Post Day, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Komisyon Ng Wikang Filipino initiated a nationwide event to promote postal awareness among students dubbed, ‘National Letter Writing Day’ on October 9, 2015.

By: Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat


Held in an establishment in Cagayan de Oro City, more than 200 high school students from randomly-picked schools within the city have participated. Meanwhile, the same letter writing activity was held simultaneously in different schools within Central Mindanao Postal Area in coordination with their respective postmasters in the area. Romeo M. Sardan, PHLPost acting area director of Central Mindanao Area said that this activity is created to encourage

the younger generation to patronize letter-writing as an alternative way to communicate especially now that little by little is being forgotten. This year, PHLPost mobilized more young people to experience the fun and art of letter writing. With the theme, “Dear Next President,” the youth is given the opportunity to express their ideas to the incoming president of the country. The letter will be collated and formally presented to the Next Philippine President by 2016, Sardan said.

DOLE employs 328 workers in Camiguin under emergency employmentMAMBAJAO, Camiguin – The Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE-10), through its Camiguin Provincial Field Office (Cam PFO) and in partnership with the Provincial Government of Camiguin, conducted an orientation to some 328 beneficiaries, under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating mga Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD) on 30 September 2015 at Camiguin Convention Center.

A total of P1M was allocated for the salaries of the TUPAD workers and beneficiaries were enrolled under the micro-

insurance of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as part of their social protection. Likewise, Camiguin PFO

By: Jovelyn V. Perez


OIC Head Arlyn Zamayla-Bael, together with the provincial governor signed its employment contracts and distributed the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), such as long-sleeved t-shirts, hats, masks, and pairs of gloves. Bael said TUPAD is a component of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) which have a minimum of 10 days employment period with P308.00/day for the Municipality of Mambajao and P306.00/day for the rest of the municipalities in Camiguin Province.

The employment period covered is 5-14 October 2015. DOLE-10 Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante highlighted that the emergency employment program of DOLE will help the beneficiaries augment their income even in a short period. Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo appreciated the P1M financial grant of the Department for his constituents. Camiguin is a recipient of the different programs and services of DOLE in its efforts to alleviate the economic condition of the province.

The Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child is conducted to recognize the

children beneficiaries of the program who set excellent examples at home, in school

DSWD names reg’l exemplary child for 2015CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) region 10 hailed Angel Anne Marie Jabian of Aloran, Misamis Occidental as the 2015 Regional Exemplary Pantawid Child on October 16, here.

By: Recthie T. Paculba


and in their community. It is also designed to encourage children to be active citizens by complying with the conditions of the program. With good scholastic record, active community involvement and deep understanding on the thrusts of the Pantawid Pamilya, Jabian has remarkably shown that she can represent the region in the National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya as well as in the National Children’s Congress. The contenders were judged based on their behavior and practice, talent, intelligence and wit, community and school participation, and Kaya Ko ang Pagbabago (I am capable of change) presence and

appearance. As the regional winner, Jabian will serve as the ambassador on the children’s rights specifically to health and e d u c a t i o n . She will also attend press conferences and television or radio program guestings as well as deliver

messages or speeches for activities relevant to the program. Meanwhile, Rosa Bianca Galos of Mambajao, Camiguin and Regine Dablo of Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental, who have equally shown exceptional talents and wit, have earned the second and third spots respectively. The top three finalists will be given the chance to compete in the national level. The search is one of the strategies of the Pantawid Pamilya to encourage the children to nurture habits and values that would mold them to be good citizens.


“Give attention to poor” Duterte warns City Hall employees

DAVAO CITY- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned City Hall employees to give attention and preference to poor and marginalized constituents.

“I have heard that bigotry has again surfaced in the city hall, that you are ignoring and not giving attention to the poor.” Duterte said during an impromp-tu press conference at a firing range in the Maa, in Davao City

yesterday (October 15). “I will not tolerate bigot-ry and discrimination.” Duterte said as he reiterated his policy in providing preferential treat-ment to the poor. “I would like to talk to them one Monday morn-


ing.” Duterte said referring to the city’s Monday flag ceremony, where the entire city hall’s work-force is assembled. The Mayor added that the warning also goes to department heads and chief of offices. “Dis-cipline your employees.” He told his department heads. “Don’t you ever ignore the poor, they are the ones who need the government.” Duterte said. The City Mayor added that he would spend up to four o’clock in the morning in the office just to listen to everybody, he expects

the same compassion from those working in the city government. He added that he would not hesitate to assign to far-flung districts city hall employees who practice bigotry. He also reiterated the local government not to be complacent as he noted the lack of an oppo-sition party in the city’s politics that would serve as watchdogs. The Mayor had asked the media to serve as vigilant watchdogs in lieu of an opposition to guard against abuse and complacency. (PIA/RG Alama)

Rescued eagle released back to the forest of Mt. ApoSTA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur– After 37 days of intensive care, “Mabikker” – a Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle was released back to the wild forest of the protected area of the Mt. Apo Natural Park on October 14, 2015.

A three-year old Mabikker was found entangled in tree-roots within the area of Sibulan Hydro Power Plant last September 7 by Bernie Apal, a Bagobo-Tagabawa farmer of Sta. Cruz. Apal said that after he found the eagle unresponsive, scrawny, and its left eye was injured, he then ran to seek help from Ba-rangay Sibulan and HEDCOR to

save the life of the eagle. HEDCOR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, which operates a run-off-river hydro-power plant in the area, immedi-ately brought the eagle to wildlife veterinarian Dr. Bo Puentespina, Jr. Puentespina directly nursed the eagle back to health and pro-vided vitamins and medication.


According to HEDCOR, the community’s swift and appropri-ate response underscores their crucial role in wildlife protection and the preservation of the Sibu-lan watershed. This also validates HED-COR’s Information and Education Campaigns (IEC) for its Bagobo-Tagabawa host communities in Sta. Cruz. HEDCOR’s IEC includes Bio-diversity Orientation, Birdshow Experience, Birds Habitat Resto-ration and the newly-inked Wild-life Inventory and Biodiversity Assessment Project with the Uni-versity of the Philippines-Mind-anao which was launched on Oc-tober 14. (CDIO-Sta. Cruz, Julius Paner/Hedcor, Lloyd Revilla).

39October 19, 2015 ONE MINDANAO 39

Gensan receives P80M agricultural projects

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Oct 19 – Some PhP80 million worth of farming and fishing implements were turned over to several agri-fishery projects and livelihood packages here recently.


The tools and equipment came from the Department of Agri-culture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and were distributed to several fishing and farming co-operatives.

One of the beneficiaries, the Nopol Communal Irrigators Asso-ciation, Inc. (NCIAI) from baran-gay Mabuhay, received one unit of 4-wheel drive tractor costing around P2.5 million.

NCIAI president, Roger Balayo, 48, beamed when he rode the tractor for the first time.

“Five months ago, we request-ed for this tractor to the DA. We did not expect that they have a speedy approval for this. They (DA) said that we should thank our city government for their per-sistent follow-up,” said Balayo in vernacular.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, who was present during the turnover, explained that it is his priority to uplift the living condition of the farmers and fishermen in the city.

“When I first sat here as the city mayor, one of the things that I noticed is the unattended welfare of our agricultural cooperatives. Gusto ko, ang local government may close working relationship sa kanila because they are our partners in improving more our

economy (I want the local gov-ernment to have a close work-ing relationship to them because they are our partners in improv-ing more our economy),” Mayor Rivera explained.

Gensan, albeit highly-urban-ized, still has areas where agri-cultural works flourish such as in its peripheral barangays of San Jose, Conel, and Mabuhay.

Fishing remains active in the city, as its shores are along Sa-rangani Bay. The barangays of Tambler and Bula are among the areas where most residents are involved in fishing.

The City Agriculturist’s Of-fice (CAO) headed by Merlinda Donasco identified the appropri-ate cooperatives to benefit from the program.

The city government, through the CAO, gave a 15% counterpart to the said agricultural grants from DA and BFAR.

Completed farm-to-market roads (FMRs) have the biggest share in the grant—amounting to P68,621,676.69.

These FMRs are in Upper Bla-gan (San Jose), Purok Sarana, Upper Blagan (San Jose), Pu-rok Fataldao (San Jose), Purok 7 to Purok 15 (Mabuhay), Purok Udagri (Conel), and PurokKidam to San Vicente (Olympog).


NorthCot Emergency Response Team advances effective response to emergenciesBy Shahana Joy E. Duerme

Post-harvest facilities and farm implements, on the other hand, cost P7,174,455.20.

High value crops development support such as plastic crates, organic and inorganic fertilizers, and power sprayers received an allotment of P2,352,950.

Also part of the distribution is the P2 million worth of fishery

projects from BFAR which were granted to the city as a reward for being one of the top 100 cit-ies/ municipalities in the Fish-erfolks Registration (FishR) in 2014. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Oct. 19--- Thirty-one mem-bers of the North Cotabato Emergency Response Team (NCERT) underwent a five- day training on basic rope rescue intended to strengthen effective response to any emergency.

The activity held inside the Provincial Capitol compound was spearheaded by the province’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Man-agement Division (DRRM).

Aside from actual demonstra-tion, the five- day training also included lectures, film showing, open forum and practicum.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 12 served as lecturers and trainers of the

training.The training was also aimed at

imparting the rope rescue sys-tem to responders and rescuers; capacitating them to respond and save lives with effective use of ropes; learning the protective measures for personal safety and security and executing the prop-er and appropriate use of the Ba-sic Rope Rescue Training.


Cynthia Ortega, head of the DRRMD said that the training is the basic lifeline of a responder and the basic tool used in saving people’s lives as it is an integral part of the Disaster Operation Response.

“Every rescuer must be well trained and capacitated in the proper and appropriate tech-niques on how to use rope in times of emergencies or disas-ters,” Ortega stated.

She also noted that as the frontline in any disaster response activity of the Provincial Capitol, the NCERT must undergo more training and more exposures to skills improvement activities.

T h i s is to en-sure that the re-sponders have fa-miliarized t h e m -s e l v e s with the elements of rescue and other important aspects of l i fe-sav-ing opera-tions.

Keeping the responders abreast with skills and capacity enhancement training, North Co-tabato Governor Emmylou Men-doza continues to provide ade-quate support to the DRRMD and the NCERT.

“Disaster preparedness is an incessant part of our advocacy to save lives and properties and this is attained when we, especially our responders are well-trained and well-equipped in doing ac-tual rescue operations,” the gov-ernor emphasized. (SJDuerme-PIA12 with report from JSta.Cruz&RASotto-NorthCot Media Center)

one mindanao - october 19, 2015

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