one mindanao - october 23, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDExecutive Editor …….. EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE Officer-in-charge, PIA Caraga Region

ELAINE O. RATUNIL Officer-in-charge, PIA Region X

Regional Desk Editors Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Jorie C. Valcorza, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ............... Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior Layout Artists : Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Adviser :

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)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]

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur Twitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

Cover Story

Conserving fisheries in the Davao Gulf

RG AlamaSouthern Mindanao

Today’s issue... Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Vol. 2 No. 49

page 4

Aquino declares every third week of October as ‘Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week’10

Arturo M. Cruje, Caraga Region

Surigao Norte is Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012 regional winner 20DENR 10 chief orders cancellation of ECC of quarrying firms23 Jorie C. Valcorza, Northern Mindanao

National Museum opens exhibit of young artists in Zambo City

ConsumerNet, cellphone sellers’ dialogue & workshopset in Butuan

Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, Western Mindanao

Deadline of application for ANSYAS scholarships is Oct 31 22 Rutchie C. Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

Tacurong is Mindanao’s best-performing city in local governance 27Allan Freno, Central Mindanao

66 farmers graduate FFS-IPM on corn prod’n Lito Salvo & Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao28

Jennifer P. Gaitano, Caraga Region

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Rabies-free IGaCoS eyed by 2015 Lovely Carillo, Southern Mindanao31

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012 4 ONE MINDANAO

Conserving fisheries in the Davao Gulf

The study saw the general depletion of fishery resources in ten locations surrounding Davao Gulf from 2000 to 2010. The research was a collaborative effort of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, local government units and the DOST XI. It covered research sites such as Barangay Cagangohan of Panabo

City and Barangay ADECOR of the Island Garden City of Samal, both of Davao del Norte; and Barangay Tuban of Sta. Cruz and Barangay Tubalan of Malita, both of Davao del Sur. The other areas included Barangay Poblacion of Lupon and Barangay Tibanban of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental; and Barangay Matina Aplaya and Barangay Daliao, Toril in Davao City, which hosts sizeable fishing communities in the gulf. A total of 265 fishers were surveyed in all of the barangay sites, most of them male with ages 40 years old and above who spent 11-20 years as fishers. In Davao City, fish catch fell from 10 kilos per day in 2000 to just 2 kilos a day in 2010. In Davao del

According to studies conducted by the

Department of Science and Technology XI there is a noticeable decline in fish catch along the Davao Gulf area.

by RG Alama

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 5ONE MINDANAO

Norte there was a 79.5% decline in fish catch in 2010, when the survey was first conducted in 2000, the fish catch decline was recorded at 15.6%. Davao del Sur fisherfolks used to catch 10 kilos in 2000 they now average three kilos per trip. In Davao del Sur, one of the major causes was the depletion of sea grasses and also illegal fishing, all across the gulf major causes identified were water pollution, destroyed fishing habitat, diminishing sea grass, conversion of mangrove planting areas to recreational resorts and poor fishing practices. According to DOST-XI Regional Director Anthony Sales, declining fish catches greatly impacts fisherfolk livelihood. This situation forces the fishermen to look at other sources of income. According to the study fishers usually make a weekly income of ₱1,067 in fishing and ₱1,845 in other non-fishing livelihoods.

DAVAO CITY In 2008 the City Government passed an approved the Fisheries Management Code ordinance which provides the legal foundation for the city government to craft and implement its fishing laws within its municipal waters. The city waters cover an area of 19,827 hectares, about 10 % of

the total area of Davao Gulf and is touted to be an area with high level of biodiversity and a lucrative fishing ground as well. In 2008 the estimated total fishery in Davao City is 6,600 metric tons. Of this 4,446 mt and 2,157 mt came from commercial and municipal fishing. The estimated total value of the capture fisheries production amounted to P488 million. Thus the City Fisheries Ordinance drafted through the initiative of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and which was signed into law in 2008 provides for an institutional framework for fishery conservation in the city’s waters. One of the salient points provides fishery priority to fisherfolks residing in Davao. the city will come up with a list of fisherfolks and their bancas, their licenses which will give them

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 6 ONE MINDANAO

priority in the utilization of existing fishery resources in the city. It also institutionalizes the Barangay Fishery Management Councils which would then look after their respective fishing resources, the city and barangay would also be mandated to fund these councils, the bantay dagat and other fishery enforcement units. According to Leo Avila erstwhile City Agriculturist Office head, local ordinances are easier to implement than national laws since they are specific and focus on a particular need or situation in the area. As for fishery protection there are more fishing methods covered under the prohibited fishing practices which is not included in the fishing laws one of these banned fishing methods under the ordinance is compressor fishing which according to Avila is used by those who engaged in cyanide fishing. The ordinance also initiates the establishment of a fishery development plan for the city. And one of the highlights of the plan is the establishment of management zones in the gulf, which is embodied in the newly passed Implementing Rules and Regulations of the fishery ordinance. Among these zones are a Biodiversity Management Zone, Fishery Management Zone, Recreation and Tourism Zone, Navigation, Ports and Coastal

Industry Zone and Fisherfolk Management Zone. It also would entail the establishment of fish landing sites, marine sanctuaries, mangrove areas and other protected areas under these zones. It would also answer the longtime request of fishermen to have a Fisherfolk Settlement Plan and area. Avila said that fisherfolks are oftentimes lump together as urban poor and during resettlement program are relocated in resettlement sites inland in the city. Avila said that fisherfolks should be settled in areas which are near to their source of living which is in the coast. Jose Villanueva, chief of the Fisheries Resources and Management Division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that a unified fishery code which covers all local government units in the Davao Gulf is needed to put an effective fishery conservation program. Villanueva said that it is not easy to police illegal fishing practices without a unified policy. So far BFAR jurisdiction applies to those beyond the municipal waters. The need for linkages and partnership was echoed in the DOST-XI study where it noted the need to establish linkage in the site level scales of administration with larger scales of fisheries management.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 7

ACROSS THE NATIONPotential investments in agriculture, tourism eyed in President Aquino’s state visit in New Zealand

Potential investments in the sectors of agriculture and tourism are among the targets of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s two-day state visit here thus expanding the economic relationship between

the Philippines and New Zealand.In a press briefing here, Presidential

Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said President Aquino will witness agreements to be signed between business groups on top of a few executive agreements that the Chief Exexcutive will sign himself.

Carandang said one of the main purposes of President Aquino’s state

visit here is to “link up our businessmen with those from New Zealand” so as to raise the level of awareness of its people when it comes to having economic ties with the Philippines.

“They are quite surprised to learn, for example, that the Philippines is probably the third or fourth largest market for their milk products. So we have a very

8 Tuesday, October 23, 2012

thriving economic relationship with New Zealand but the problem is people here are not very aware of these economic links,” he said.

“So isa sa mga gusto nating mangyari, if we are able to hookup our businessmen with their businessmen, ay lumawak pa ‘yung trade natin para medyo makabawi tayo because we sell maybe about one third of what they sell to us,” Carandang added.

A business delegation from the Philippines including those involved in the agri-business sector were with the President’s trip to engage in potential business ventures with their counterparts.

“Agriculture ang malakas so there will be some agri-business exploration. They’ll be exploring agri-business ventures between New Zealand and Filipino companies. They are also very big on geothermal company. The Philippines, as you know, is one of the biggest producers of geothermal power in the world so there may be opportunities for the Philippines and New Zealand companies to get together and cooperate on things like that,” Carandang continued.

Carandang noted that the Philippines hopes to learn more from New Zealand which is known for its dairy and agricultural products hence Agriculture. Secretary Proceso Alcala is part of the President’s official delegation.

“There are technologies that they employ dito sa domestic dairy industry nila na pwede natin matutunan.

There are also Filipino workers in the dairy industry here na tumutulong sa mga New Zealand farms. So there’s a lot we can learn from the


exchanges with the dairy industry,” he stressed.

On the tourism front, Carandang said the governments of New Zealand and the Philippines will be working towards the improvement of their people-to-people exchanges through a visitor exchange program.

“Let’s wait for the agreements to be signed before I give you the details. But, in broad strokes, we will provide opportunities for Filipinos to come here, get to know the country, and for New Zealanders to come to the Philippines and also to get to know the country,” Carandang said.

“Dito sa mga people-to-people exchanges umaasa tayo na lalawak ang tourism both ways. Kasi naghahanap din sila ng turista mula sa Asia. Ang mga tourist na nagpupunta sa New Zealand mostly Australian and American. Alam naman natin naghihirap ‘yung ekonomiya nila ngayon so gusto rin nilang makakuha ng turista mula sa Pilipinas,” he said further.

Carandang pointed out that while the 36,000 Filipinos living in New Zealand may help promote the Philippines, their number is considered

‘relatively small’ so that a government push for this bid would be better.

“The President will meet with the Filipino community here so I’m sure he’ll talk to them about that. … Katulad nga ng sinasabi ni Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez, the best ambassadors for tourism in the Philippines are the Filipinos living in other countries… 36,000 is pretty small ‘pag tiningnan mo kunwari sa Australia where you have more than 200,000. Pero we’re the fastest growing group here, so it pays for us to increase awareness din,” Carandang explained.

Carandang, also said that Filipinos working and residing n New Zealand are happy, who he said, seem to be well-adjusted already to its living conditions.

“Well-adjusted sila, masaya sila, maganda naman ang kita nila. Wala tayong masyadong issues dito sa mga Filipinos in New Zealand. Of course, we’re very happy to see that they’re well-adjusted and that they’re doing well and that they continue to support their families at home. This is a country where Filipinos have been treated very well,” he said. PND (hdc)

10 Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Aquino declares every third week of October as ‘Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week’

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the third week of October of every year as the “Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week” to underscore the important role of

the Filipino professionals in nation-building and development.The Chief Executive issued the

declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 487 signed by Executive Secretary

Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on October 2.“The Philippine Association of


the Professional Regulatory Board Members, Inc. (PAPRB), which is a non-stock and non-profit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is composed of incumbent and past chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and members of the Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC),” the President said.

The PRBs and PRC regulate the

practice of forty-six (46) professions comprising 3.2 million Filipino professionals.

“The skills and c o m p e t e n c i e s of Filipino professionals have to be developed in order for the Philippines to become more globally

competitive,” the President said.The PAPRB, in cooperation with the

PRC, PRBs and other stakeholders, held the First Professional Summit on October 18-19, 2012 at the Manila Hotel, with the theme, “Convergence of Professionals for Nation-Building and Global Competitiveness.”

The President called on all registered and licensed professionals to give their full support for the observance of the “Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week.” PND (js)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012ONE MINDANAO 12

Palace welcomes CommanderBravo’s support for Mindanao Peace

Malacañang welcomes the statement last

week issued by one of the Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts’ (MILF) field commanders expressing support to the newly signed Framework Agreement between the Muslim separatists and the government.

Commander Bravo, one of MILF’s renegade commanders, called on the critics of the agreement to support it before making any unnecessary comments on the peace pact.

Bravo was one of the MILF rebel leaders who attacked several towns in Mindanao when the high court rejected an agreement reached by the MILF and Arroyo government a few years ago.

“We welcome a statement like the one issued by Commander Bravo. Ang mahalaga kasi niyan pag-aralan nang maayos itong Framework Agreement. Nakasaad doon kung anong magiging agreements, ‘yung framework for peace. So certainly, we welcome—at least Commander Bravo is giving pjeace a chance where war used to reign,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin

Lacierda said.The government and the MILF

signed on Monday last week the Framework Agreement that will put an end to 40 years of Muslim rebellion in the south.

The signing was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and other partners.

Both the government and MILF negotiators will go back to Malaysia to iron out the annexes of the agreement and to come out with a comprehensive peace pact before the end of the year.

President Aquino is expected to issue an order creating a Transition Commission that will work on the implementation of the peace deal.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 13

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PCCIFI bags Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines 2012 awardBy Alma L. Tingcang

PAGADIAN CITY- Two awards in a row! The Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PCCIFI) scored a milestone since

its reorganization in 2006 when it bagged the Most Outstanding Chamber in Mindanao in the recently concluded Philippine Business


Conference at the Manila Hotel on October 9 -11. Not only that, PCCIFI also won the Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines 2012 winning an edge over Olongapo City as its closest contender. “Our efforts really paid off. I owe it to my professional staff, Ms. Dixie Sarmiento and Mr. Jason Pescadera, to the city government under the able leadership of Mayor Samuel S. Co and partner agencies who contributed much to the success of our programs

a n d activities,” Ms. Mercedes Lourdes S. Quisumbing, PCCIFI president humbly said. The biggest income-earner for the chamber was the 20th Mindanao Business Conference on Sept. 7-9, 2011, earning approximately P2.5 Million. Simultaneous with the event was the Trade Exhibit with 20 corporate and 10 local exhibitors who participated in the event. Aware of its corporate social responsibility, PCCIFI provided financial support to victims of typhoon “Sendong”; advocacy on child labor, ensuring that child labor will not be practiced in its member establishments; road parking painting along the city’s major thoroughfares and feeding program at Lingap Center, a shelter for abused children. The leadership and dynamism of the PCCIFI played a pivotal role in local economic development and enabled businessmen to have a


National Museum opens exhibit of young artists in Zambo City By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

better interaction leading to faster responses on areas of concern. “We have to continue with what we are doing, we will institutionalize activities like the Business Week celebration, use of the chamber office as Pagadian Business Center to showcase the city’s products and other advocacies which we have started,” Quisumbing explained.She added that they have organized the Margosatubig Chamber of Commerce in the 2nd district and Molave for the 1st district of Zamboanga del Sur. “We are planning to have a survey of business establishments in urban barangays for the Philippine Business Registry and we’re still looking for partners in this endeavor.

We have observed that new businesses are not registered, only old ones are renewing. This is one way of bringing more money to the city’s coffers,” Quisumbing said. PCCIFI also conducted the Business Permits and Licensing Streamlining minimizing the processing to 5 steps in 3 hours when it used to be a grueling 15 steps and 30 days to wait for its approval. Indeed the PCCIFI merits the award but it will not rest on its laurels. It will continue to lobby policy reforms, infrastructure development, peace and order, environmental concerns and other issues it deems essential to the development of the city and the province as well.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The National Museum-Zamboanga City Office in partnership with the Department of Tourism 9 and Zamboanga City High School-Main (ZCHS) officially opened on Thursday, October 18, the month-long Literary and Visual Arts and Crafts Exhibit featuring the works of young artists in the city.


National Museum-Zamboanga City Officer-in-Charge Eufemia Catolin said the exhibit is in line with the Museums and Galleries Month celebratiopn and Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. “We opened the exhibit for two main reasons. First is in the observance of the Museums and Galleries Month which was declared by then President Corazon C. Aquino, and second is, we want to be part of the 2012 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival”, Ms. Catolin said. Catolin said the activity’s main objective is to expose the students to the museum and discover their artistic side. “We want our students to be exposed in the museum and also to discover their innate talents on literature, visual arts and other crafts”, she pointed. Mr. Edrick C. Curato, the project coordinator of the exhibit and a teacher at the ZCHS-Main said the art pieces in exhibit are the works of students from their school and alumni. “The exhibit shows the works of our students, some of them winners in the regional and national competitions, as highlight of the exhibit. Some are the works of our alumni back when they are still studying in our school. They left their works with us hoping that it will be displayed once we have our own art gallery”, Curato said. The opening was attended by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, DOT-9 Regional Director

Mary June Bugante, City Schools Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad, and high school principals of both public and private high schools in the city. The activity is congruent with the Museums and Galleries Month theme “Tara na sa Pambansang Museo, Matuto, at Makisaya”, with the aim of awakening the innate talent of the youth in literature, visual arts and other crafts; encouraging the involvement of the community especially among youth in celebrating Museums and Galleries Month; and to disseminate information to the community the role of the National Museum and Tourism in developing strong patriotic values and love of heritage in the community.


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Partners for resilient conducts disaster risk assessment using three municipalities in Agusan del Sur as modelby David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR --- Three municipalities in this province were made models by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and CARE Philippines for the vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA), part of the initial activities as recipient of the Netherlands’ financed program on disaster risk reduction and management. The three municipalities, Esperanza, Talacogon and Bunawan, were assessed with regards to climate, community, livelihood, land use/natural resources and disaster risk

aspects, ecosystem characterization and changes in the last 30 years. The assessing team was composed of a Philippine Red Cross Project officer, delegate from the CARE Phils., Inc.


and the Wetland International and was formed as chosen by the PRC and the Netherlands representative to assess the situation of the selected recipient province. The references the assessing team used in determining the disasters/events causing livelihood vulnerability are the vulnerability and capacity assessment or the vulnerability risk assessment (VCA/VRA) and an ecosystem characterization presented by the Wetland International. Nine events were found to cause livelihood vulnerability. These are longer and unpredictable floods with 65 percent impact in the area; exotic species/pests like janitor fish, water hyacinth, black rice bug, rats and falcata, 80 percent; crocodiles, seven percent; water pollution caused by mining, agriculture and human wastes, 100 percent; depletion of natural resources, 100 percent; unpredictable rains, 25 percent; drought, 100 percent; earthquake, 100 percent and river bank erosion, 30 percent. The assessing team also found out the factors of increased disaster risk. For increased flood risk, conflicting laws/policies on land use/natural resources management and weak implementation of these laws is the number one factor. Number two factor are plantations, mining companies that have emerged, the increase in population, increase in logging activities and destruction of natural landscape leading to construction of dams, siltation and the conversion of marshland into agricultural land. The number three factor is the climate

change with consideration to the number of days with extreme rainfall and rising of temperature. For increased water pollution, the team considered climate, including the increased rainfall and temperature and the rising of sea level, as the number one factor. Second is the community where the population increase and poor knowledge on sanitation and hygiene is found, and third is livelihood, land use and natural resources, which include chemical contamination from mining and agricultural activities, siltation and erosion and the pest called the janitor fish. With these findings, the team recommends some of the most effective strategies to reduce disaster risk. To address increased flood risk, the team recommends sustainable land use through advocacy for responsible mining, logging and land use; improvement of the implementation and regulation of environmental laws, reforestation programs and increasing awareness and capacity to protect natural resources. The team also recommends alternative livelihood and developing sustainable, flood-resilient livelihood strategies. To address water pollution, the team recommends advocacy for responsible and regulated mining; in-depth assessment of river system and identification of problems and their causes; sustainable agriculture; alternative livelihoods so that people will stop logging; and processing of contaminated water for safe drinking.


ConsumerNet, cellphone sellers’ dialogue & workshop set in Butuanby Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY -- Members of the Caraga Consumer Network (ConsumerNet) and consumer organizations in Agusan del Norte will be participating in the dialogue and workshop with cellphone sellers, as well as in the 7th ConsumerNet Meets the Public on October 31.

The said dialogue and workshop will be conducted in the morning session while the ConsumerNet Meets the Public will be in the afternoon session. Both will be held at the Barangay Imadejas Function Hall, this city. The whole-day activity is the culmination of the month-long celebration of the Consumer Welfare Month with the theme “Get organized. Be Heard. Be Empowered.” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran said the objective of the dialogue is to inform cellphone sellers on the breach of warranty clause under existing laws, as well as enable them through the workshop to handle consumer complaints. “Records show that majority of the cases lodged at the DTI-Caraga regional office were complaints concerning defective cellphone units. With this

activity, this office aims to resolve consumer complaints at the store level with the establishment of consumer welfare desks,” said Pagaran. Also, Pagaran said the objective of the forum in the afternoon session is to inform the public on the recent updates on matters affecting consumers. “The specific topics that will be covered during the forum are the following: 1) Water Supply (no water during rainy days whether heavy or light and other water related concerns); 2) Electricity Supply (brownout schedule, power crisis, energy saving tips); 3) Report on helmet evaluation and issuance of ICC sticler; and 4) Helmet Act implementation on January 2013,” Pagaran added. Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 declares October of every year as the Consumer Welfare Month.


Surigao Norte is Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012 regional winnerby Arturo M. Cruje

BUTUAN CITY -- The Province of Surigao del Norte will receive the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012 award as regional winner for the provincial category during the Regional Forum of Local Governance held today in Butuan City. Other winners who will receive the award are Surigao City for city category and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur for municipality category. The awarding of the 2012 regional winners will highlight the regional activity, with DILG Secretary Mar A. Roxas as guest of honor. Roxas will also present

the “Call to Action” message of the national government. Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas was invited in the said forum and is expected to receive the award and to share the best practices of the province, which earned the award on good local governance.


LGU Ozamiz is Region 10 winner of Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awardby Juvy L. Canumay

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - Ozamiz City have been declared Regional Winner of the Search for “Gawad Pamana ng Lahi” City Category, conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), region 10.

Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez received the award during the Regional Governance Forum held at Grand Caprice, Lim Ket Kai Complex, Cagayan de Oro, last October 18. The activity was also in celebration

of the 21st anniversary of the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991 with the theme:

“Awtonomiyang Lokal: Reporma sa Pag-unlad ng Ekonomiya ng Pamayanan at Pagsulong sa Kapakanan ng Taong Bayan (Loca Autonomy:


DENR 10 chief orders cancellation of ECC of quarrying firmsby Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered the immediate cancellation of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued to different sand and gravel concessionaires operating along the Iponan River.

Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan ordered the cancellation after Sulog, a civil society group in Cagayan de Oro City, had a dialogue with DENR officials Wednesday on stoppinf illegal mining in Iponan River. Sulog presented visual

evidences, showing allegedly foreign-owned private barges, mining gold in the river, instead of dredging activities indicated in their permits. The photos also revealed that instead of widening the river channel, the barges were actually throwing back the soil into the river, shortening

Reforms for Economic Development and Progress of the Citizens).” “The two (2) decades of local economy chronicles the travails, efforts and developments taking place in the local governments of every barangay pf the country, that led to the nation’s progress,“ Atty. Rene Bordeos, Regional Director of DILG-10, said. He also said that through transparency governance or through dedicated service delivery of the government, there is no reason not to achieve the true meaning of local autonomy. Meanwhile, Bordeos said they have seen these attributes in the local government of Ozamiz when it was cited with the Seal of Good Housekeeping, last year.

He said Ozamiz City, under the leadership of Mayor Echavez, has been part and parcel of the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Local Government Code, through the implementation of nutrition programs, which earned the National Crown Award in Nutrition. This award in nutrition has made the city achieve some kind of social transformation through a tedious process from its status of nutrition before, Bordeos said. With Mayor Echavez during the forum was Lolit Navarez, nutrition program coordinator, who shared the experiences and best practices in the implementation of the City Nutrition Program that led to the the city’s winning of National Nutrition Awards.


DENR 10 chief orders cancellation of ECC of quarrying firms

further the width of the river banks. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau 10 confirmed the practices and stopped operation of barges that failed to present documents during inspection in the area. Sulog said the unabated mining in the area has now affected farmlands near the riverbanks, bringing heavily

silted water during tropical storm Sendong. Tawantawan asked MGB Chief Rex S. Monsanto to investigate the case further saying that the city is at a very fragile state having been devastated by tropical storm Sendong last year.

Deadline of application for ANSYAS scholarships is Oct 31by Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental - The deadline for submission of applications to this year’s Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (Ansyas) was set on October 31.


Applicants must be Filipino citizens, who have the outstanding ability in ballet or folk dance, instrument or voice music, creative writing, theater and visual arts, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Jonathan S. Dela Peňa of the Misamis Occidental Schools Division (MOSD) said. Graduating pupil in Grade 6, this school year, 2012-2013, must be proficient in oral and written language, in both English and Filipino, with good health condition and willing to study in a boarding school. The applicants must not be more than 14 years old, must be determined to pursue a college degree in fine arts and architecture, music, dance, theater, creative writing, journalism or any related courses upon graduation from the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA). A government-run special secondary school for young artists, PHSA is accepting applicants for full scholarship to a special secondary education, that is intended to ensure continuing source of artists of excellence and leaders in the preservation and promotion of Filipino artistic and cultural traditions. The PHSA conducts screening of applicants annually to continuously search for artistically talented children

who will be given special training in the above mentioned areas of discipline, SDS Dela Peňa said. S u c c e s s f u l applicants will be awarded free tuition, textbooks, board and lodging, a modest monthly stipend,

individualized classes with master teachers and a chance to represent the country in international competition, arts festivals and exchange country programs. The scholarship is renewable every year upon satisfaction of both academic and non-academic requirements. Interested applicants may directly send their accomplished application forms and other requirements by mail or by personally submit them to the Ansyas Committee, PHSA, National Arts Center, Mt. Makiling, College 4031, Laguna. Applicants who qualify in the preliminary evaluation will be notified by PHSA for further assessment and live audition at a specified Regional Test and Audition Center (RTAC), the exact location of which will be announced by PHSA. For further information, please contact PHSA at telephone no. (049) 536-5972 and mobile phone no. 0917-866-3097. Or you may write or call Ansyas, PHSA, at the above address in Los Baňos, Laguna, at telefax (049) 536-5971 and (049) 536-2862, website: www.phsa.edu.ph, and email: [email protected].


SoCot gears up for biggest dental missionBy Dani DoguilesKORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Approximately 5,000 to 8,000 resi-dents of South Cotabato and neighboring areas would be served in a medi-cal mission that provincial officials here tagged as “so far the biggest” in the province’s history.

The five-day dental mission, which starts on Friday, October 26, is spearheaded by the provincial government in partnership with charity groups Operation Smile Philippines and the Dental Seminars and Missions of Belgium.

“Dental services that these organizations would provide without charge to South Cotabateños could easily amount to P10 million to P15 million,” Gov. Arthur . Pingoy Jr. said during his radio program “Si Gov. Dodo Kag ang Katawhan” on Saturday.

About 50 individuals – mostly children -- with


cleft lip or cleft palate will be operated. If done in private hospitals, each cleft lip/palate operation could cost from P50,000 to P80,000.

Some 500 individuals will be fitted with dentures. Of them, more than 330 will receive complete dentures, which according to vice governor Elmo Tolosa cost P14,000 each. A removable partial dentures, on the other hand, could amount to as much as P8,000.

Thousands more will be served in other dental services including fillings, oral prophylaxis, tooth extractions and fluoride therapy.

A team of volunteers will also be meeting with school children and other beneficiaries for lectures on proper care of teeth and mouth as well as distribute dental supplies.

“After the dental mission, these volunteers will donate four dental chairs and some x-ray machines to the province,” Pingoy announced.

To accommodate the target number of beneficiaries the dental

mission will be held in two locations: the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center in Koronadal City and the municipal gymnasium of Surallah in the Upper Valley area.

Patients are also scheduled according to the local government units where they belong.

Those from Lake Sebu and T’boli will be served on on Friday, October 26 while those from Polomolok, Tupi and Surallah town on October 27 (Saturday); Norala and Sto. Niño on October 28 (Sunday); Tantangan, and Tampakan on October 29 (Monday); and Banga and Koronadal City on October 30 (Tuesday.)

Tolosa said, at least 30 Operation Smile volunteers from Davao Medical School Foundation Inc. (DMSF) will join the mission.

According to the LinkedIn account of Dental Seminars and Missions, their team is comprised of at least 45 volunteers .

It says: “Dental Seminars and Missions is a spin-off from a

multidisciplinary dental practice from Herentals (city in Belgium), where Faith (a Filipina dentist from Davao and alumna of DMSF) started to work several years ago.”

“All members of the team are 100% motivated because all of them pay for their own travel and lodging expenses,” it continues.

The mission is the Belgian volunteers’ first in Koronadal and the third time in Davao City where they will also hold a five-day mission before going to South Cotabato.

More than 9,000 patients were served in the group’s mission to Davao City in 2007 and 2010.

Gov, Pingoy appealed to the recipients of the dental mission to be patient and show discipline as well as treat the volunteers with respect.

“If these volunteers’ will be happy with their experience in South Cotabato, they might be encouraged to return for more missions here in the future,” Gov. Pingoy said.


Tacurong is Mindanao’s best-performing city in local governanceBy Allan Freno

KORONADAL City, South Cotabato -- Of the five cities selected as national finalists for this year’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi of the Department of Interior and Local Government, only Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat province managed to join the elite group composed of cities all coming from Luzon.

Tacurong, the only city finalist from Mindanao received an invitation from the Department of Interior and Local Government to gather in Manila on October 18 for the final screening of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi or GPL. Other Luzon cities are Vigan, Santiago, Puerto

Princesa and Makati.A panel interview

with the city mayors was the final step in the selection process to determine what city will emerge as the country’s national winner of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a total award concept that recognizes best-performing local

government units in governance.

Finalists for the provincial and municipal categories were also called by the DILG for the panel interview. Finalists for the provincial category are Benguet, Albay, Nueva Vizcaya, and Cavite; while Carmona (Cavite),


M o n c a y o (Compostela Valley), Jagna (Bohol), Anilao (Iloilo), and San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) rounded up the finalists under the municipal category.

Results of the panel interview are expected to be released within this week and the awarding ceremonies are tentatively scheduled on October 26.

“Being in the top five and the only one from Mindanao is already a huge accomplishment of the city government,” Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla said.

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is one of the highest awards conferred by the DILG to a province, city or municipality that exhibited exemplary performance in five areas of governance, namely: administrative, social, economic,

and environmental governance. It is also an instrument to scale-up the valuing of accountability, transparency and inclusivity in local administration and development.

To become eligible for the National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a local government unit (LGU) must be a regional winner of the said award in its region. It must also have a validated Local Government P e r f o r m a n c e Management System (LGPMS) average rating of 4.31 (the highest rating is 5).

It must also be stamped with the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping, which means the LGU excels in the areas of accountable g o v e r n a n c e , t r a n s p a r e n t

governance, and frontline service performance.

Another requirement to become eligible for the National GPL is that an LGU must have introduced high-impact innovations in governance in the last three years; and that it must be at least a regional or national awardee of any award in local governance in the preceding year of the evaluation.

After besting other cities in Region 12 during the evaluation conducted in September, Tacurong was declared as the regional winner and automatically became a finalist for the national award.

From among the thirteen regional winners under the city category, top five cities were selected.

66 farmers graduate FFS-IPM on corn prod’nBy Lito Salvo & Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Sixty-six farmers from two remote barangays of Bagumbayan town in Sultan Kudarat completed last week the Farmers’ Field School-Integrated Pest Management (FFS-IPM) on corn production.


66 farmers graduate FFS-IPM on corn prod’n

New graduates of the Department of Agriculture (DA) - 12’s season-long hands-on training on plant breeding for corn were from barangays Monteverde and Daluga.

Training facilitator Jonathan Falco said these farmers were educated on different techniques in selecting the best variety with desirable characteristics.

Agriculturist Dina Casa of the Regional Crop Protection Center

led the graduation rites in collaboration with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Bagumbayan.

In her speech, Casa encouraged the farmers to apply their learning at their respective areas to increase their production.

She also announced that Bagumbayan town has five local farmer-technicians who can help the agriculturist’s office in introducing to farmers in the locality the best farming practices.

She added that the new graduates are now eligible to undergo training for “Bantay Peste” Brigade, which is tasked to regularly monitor pest incidence.

M e a n w h i l e , municipal agriculturist Bernardo Fermocil told the graduates that they were very fortunate to have been included among farmers given the opportunity to gain training at no cost on their part.

He challenged them to share the knowledge they gained from the season-long training to their fellow farmers.

“More importantly, you have to apply the best farming practices taught to you by the facilitators,” he added.

Feliza Alquiza, one of the farmer-graduates from Brgy. Monteverde said in the dialect, “The facilitators were excellent. Thank you so much because we have learned so much.”


TAGUM CITY-General Lysander A. Suerte, Commander of the 1003d Brigade, yesterday stressed the important role played by reservists in disaster management especially in the province of Davao del Norte and Davao City. “The reservists are trained and organized so they are easy to mobilize whenever there is a disaster,” Suerte

said during the Provincial Peace and Order Council Meeting held in Tagum City. This has already been proven in previous disasters in Davao City and in the municipality of Kapalong in Davao del Norte, he added. Suerte said 1,400 new reservists have been added to their roster, after 500 reservists from the municipality of Kapalong and 900 reservists from the

municipality of Asuncion graduated from the Special Basic Citizen Military Training (SBCMT). He said the training of these reservists is focused on disaster preparedness and not military training. This is a reflection of the changing paradigm within the Armed Forces of the Philippines which now seeks to win

AFP cites role of reservists in disaster managementby Lovely Carillo


TAGUM CITY DAVAO DEL NORTE-The local government of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) is preparing for the declaration of the city as rabies-free by 2015, five years earlier than the national target of 2020. “Samal would have been declared rabies-free as early as two years ago if not for the single rabies case which was inadvertently attributed to the city,” Provincial Veterinarian Office chief Dr. Renato Embate said. The rabies case actually came from Davao del Sur and brought to the island. When it was monitored, it resulted to the forfeiture of the city’s bid to be declared rabies-free, he

said. Embate said the bid to be declared rabies-free is spearheaded by city veterinarian Edunil Sala and in close coordination with the Department of Health. He said there are many requisites before the city can be declared rabies-free and that includes the absence of a positive dog or human rabies case during the past five years. “The proper implementation of Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 is also important,” he said. All the provisions under this law and supporting ordinances are already in place, he added. However, Embate said the city is faced with many challenges including

the war through community service and development efforts instead of through guns and bullets. Data presented by Suerte during the PPOC shows a significant reduction in the activities of enemy armed groups in the province particularly in the municipalities of Asuncion, San Isidro, New Corella and Kapalong after they completed their immersion activities in 2011 compared to the statistics in 2010. “We are conducting support operations to win the peace—we only support the local government units in their peace efforts,” he said. A total

of 61 barangays have been cleared of any enemy activity, he added, but they are eyeing March next year for the completion of their peace and development efforts. Suerte, who has confirmed that the percentage of their non-military activities is greater than their military activities, cited the Convergence Program of Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario as an important factor in reducing enemy activities in the province. Del Rosario’s Convergence Program brings a variety of government services to the hinterlands on a regular basis.

Rabies-free IGaCoS eyed by 2015by Lovely Carillo


the presence of many entry points in the island-city. That includes the barge in Sasa and the many other ports in IGaCoS and surrounding cities. He also cited the lack of manpower needed to monitor the entry of possible rabies cases in the city. The support of the other agencies like the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture, especially in terms of manpower is welcome, he added. The island-city has a very

large area, he said, as it consists of Penaplata, Kaputian and Babac. However, he added, other areas like Siquijor have already been declared rabies-free. Embate said IGaCoS has a dog pound which can help in keeping stray dogs away from the streets. The City Veterinarian Office has also conducted rabies vaccinations during the World Rabies Day last September 28.

facts and figures

14 number of cars seized by police from notorious carnapping syndicate mastermind Ryan Yu during a raid by the Davao City Police Oiffce and the Highway Patrol Group at a fenced property in Davao last October 22


Basilan holds Prov’l Health SummitBy Rene V. Carbayas

Clad in colorful traditional dresses, close to a hundred health personnel and community health workers from the different municipalities and one city in Basilan, including representatives from the different government line agencies and non-government organizations, the military, and the religious sector participated in the one-day technical forum of the summit. A photo exhibit also donned the venue that displayed the accomplishments and activities of health workers in the different towns of Basilan. Dr. Rhoda Delgado-Principe,

provincial health officer said the Department of Health (DOH) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the technical assistance from the United States Agency for International Development had been adapting high impact evidence-based interventions in Basilan through the Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) project. They include among others Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL), Essential Newborn Care (ENC) and Long Acting Permanent Method (LAPM)—

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Celebrating the success in the implementation of life-saving intervention in Basilan, a provincial health summit was concluded Thursday (Oct 18) in Zamboanga City’s Garden Orchid Hotel.


Bilateral Tubal Ligation (LAPM-BTL) and Postpartum Intrauterine Device (PPIUD). “These interventions are included in the Caring for Mothers and children in the Community (CMNC) training package participated by service providers in ARMM provinces and cities,” she said. Dr. Leonardo Alcantara, SHIELD Project chief of party took pride of the significant accomplishments of the provincial health office in improving the health conditions of mother and child care in Basilan. “(Before) ang estado ng kalusugan ay laging nasa dulo ang ARMM, but now no more,” he said, noting that the Family Health Survey of 2011 attested to the improved state of health in ARMM. He explained that the SHIELD project is being supported by the USAID and that the Hellen Keller International (HKI) was the

instrument that introduced the programs in the ARMM. HKI is leading an NGO consortium to implement a five-year, $15 million program to improve family health in the Philippines’ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Cooperative Agreement to HKI to serve as the prime organization of the EnRICH Grantees Consortium. Partners include ACDI/VOCA, Christian Children’s Fund, and Save the Children. The goal of the consortium is to enable communities in the ARMM to achieve and sustain improved family health. Project SHIELD is based on viable Family Planning, Maternal and Newborn/Child Health, Tuberculosis Control and Malaria Control strategies, and involves related health promotion and nutrition activities.

one mindanao - october 23, 2012

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