one mindanao - october 30, 2015

DSWD-9 conducts forum on Senate Bill 2960, House Bill 154

By: IJLagare

PIA Caraga continues to be a trailblazer, to use drones in coverages

Foreign aid improves performance in 2014

‘Lumads’ denounce atrocities, yearn for

peace13 17

Cover Story

National InFocus

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contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No.50

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By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Army warns public on effects of NPA extortion

By: Shahana Joy E. Duerme

By: Claro A. Lanipa

People empowerment best crime prevention, says Panabo Mayor

DTI gears up for PRIME 2015 21

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Western

Southern

Northern

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33SOCCSKSARGEN

31Biggest number of PNP recruits in Caraga region take their oath 37 35Caraga

23By: Alma L. Tingcang

28 PAG-ASA says El Niño will persist

Gensan’s water district opens new reservoir

39PNP, AFP all set for “Undas”By: Greg Tataro Jr.

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 ARTISTSDOMINIC SANCHEZ, 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 30, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story PIA Caraga continues to be a trailblazer, to use drones in coverages

As the technology advances, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga being the information arm of the governmen has been creating and adopting various techniques in reaching out to the masses in the delivery of timely, accurate,

relevant, and free-flowing information. This time, the agency will soon launch the use of drones on its significant coverages in the region.

5October 30, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

PIA Caraga continues to be a trailblazer, to use drones in coverages

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

As the technology advances, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga being the information arm of the governmen has been creating and adopting various techniques in reaching out to the masses in the delivery of timely, accurate,

relevant, and free-flowing information. This time, the agency will soon launch the use of drones on its significant coverages in the region.


According to PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga, drones are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or robot vehicle in general. The drones would help capture a wider picture from above of what is happening on the grounds which will also give a broader perspective to the readers/viewers/subscribers of news from PIA.

“PIA Caraga will be the first one among its regional offices nationwide to apply this technology. This was a long overdue plan and will soon be implemented in the region,” emphasized Caga. Caga bared that through the drone, it allows one to capture footages streamed and recorded directly to a smartphone using the inbuilt 720p High Definition (HD) camera, and with a single touch to the phone’s screen, one can control the drone’s take-off, land, hover and flip.

“With the complete features of the drone, our personnel who will be on field covering an event such as during disaster/calamity will no longer be at much risk, aside from being handy and accessible. The drones have also flight recorder GPS, director

mode which helps create high-quality and stable movie shots, and controlling devices,” added Caga.

PIA Caraga has been known for its distinct and expedient platforms in the region which include its textblast operation, press and photo releases, One Mindanao electronic news magazine, One Mindanao mobile application, and just recently the Viber public chat. “The Viber public chat is a place where one or more people can send messages to each other that anyone can see,” he explained.

Also, it is only in Caraga that the agency has established its own radio station – the 107.8 MHz Power FM/ Advance Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network which can also be heard online through the live streaming.

The agency has also been conducting trainings, seminar-workshops on news writing, photography, broadcasting/


telecasting, lay-outing, and other communication-related activities to its partner government agencies, as well as in the academe and media.

“Being guided with our mission, we are committed to continuously innovate for more strategies in achieving effective communication to our customers and that will help enhance people’s capabilities in decision-making; enable them to identify opportunities for their growth and development of their communities; and promote their active participation in democratic processes,” Caga stressed.

On its day to day operation, the agency has been receiving feedbacks from its recipients and is responding to queries from time to time since the agency believes that communication must be honest, open and two-way.

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9 October 30, 2015ONE MINDANAO 9October 30, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

PH revives Joint Economic Committee with France

MAKATI CITY -- Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and French Minister of State for Foreign Trade Mathias Fekl met in Paris, France recently to reconvene the Philippines-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) after a 12-year hiatus. The high level meeting fulfilled a political commitment between President Benigno S.

Aquino III and President Francois Hollande when the two Heads of State met on September 2014

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and February 2015. The PH-France JEC was established in 1994 and was last convened in 2003.

Domingo welcomed the reactivation of the Philippines-France JEC, saying that this is an integral part of the Philippines’ overall strategy for Europe. The Philippines has been aggressively pursuing trade partnerships with the European

Union (EU) and was given beneficiary country status under the EU Generalized System of Preferences Plus (EU-GSP+).

The JEC focuses on broadening cooperation in the areas of creative industries, tourism, sustainable development, aerospace, and aeronautics.

“The aerospace and


aeronautics sector is an area that both Ph and France are eager to pursue. This is a growing sector with huge potential for the Philippines to become an aerospace hub in the field of aircraft maintenance and production. We welcome the commitment to deepen existing cooperation between the civil aviation agencies of the Philippines and France and the companies in the aerospace sector,” said Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr.

The Philippines’ domestic aerospace industry has an estimated .15% share of the 2013 GDP, and a projected 0.57% share of the 2022 GDP. It contributes 2,200 in direct employment, generating an estimated 10 million dollars as salaries of direct and allied workers. It expects to generate 1.5 billion dollars in revenues in the next 10 years.

Partners in climate change mitigation

Likewise, both parties acknowledge the commitment to achieving the objectives for the forthcoming Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) which France will host. COP21 focuses on the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. To highlight the Philippines’ commitment to sustainable development, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) representatives met with urban planning companies involved in ‘smart cities’ development such as Dassault Systems, Vivapolis, and Archetype.

The next JEC meeting will be in Manila in 2016. Preparatory seminars and conferences will be conducted to advance and implement cooperation measures on participating in the global supply chain for aerospace; collaboration on the creative industries sector; responsible


tourism, “eco-tourism” and the relationships between tourism and development; participation in the global supply chain for agriculture, animal health, responsible food and protection of fishery resources; and the fight against the effects of climate change and natural disasters, among others. In 2014, France was the Philippines’ 13th trading partner, with total bilateral trade valued at 2.57 billion dollars which

accounts for 2.02% share of the country’s trade with the world. Exports to France rose to 331.63 million dollars in 2014, which is attributed to the increased demand for transistors, spectacle lenses of other materials, digital and other digital monolithic integrated circuits.

EU-GSP+ grants the Philippines, as beneficiary country, tariff free exports for more than 6,000 products. (DTI)


Foreign aid improves performance in 2014

MANILA -- The financial performance of projects and programs funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) improved in 2014, indicating greater government efficiency in resource and program management, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The NEDA ODA Portfolio Review for 2014 reported that the Philippines’ ODA portfolio consists of 76 loans and 449

grants totaling USD 14.37 billion. The report showed that indicators of government’s absorptive capacity for ODA


Loans – disbursement level, disbursement rate, availment rate and disbursement ratio, showed improved performance in year 2014 as compared with the previous year.

The NEDA report showed that the overall disbursement level or the amount of ODA fund allotment that were actually used for ODA funded projects and programs, increased to USD 1.77 billion in 2014 from USD 856 million in 2013. This was mainly due to

higher disbursement of program loans amounting to USD 1.28 billion and comprising about 73 percent of total disbursements made for the year.

Likewise, the disbursement rate, or the actual disbursement as a percentage of target disbursement for the period, increased from 60 percent in 2013 to 76 percent in 2014. Drawdowns of program loans accounted for more than half of the disbursements.


Further, the availment rate increased from 76 percent in CY 2013 to 83 percent as of end of CY 2014. Availment rate is the cumulative actual disbursements as a percentage of cumulative scheduled disbursement, both reckoned from the start of implementation up to the reporting period.

On the other hand, the grants financial performance (50 percent) registered a 2-percentage-point decrease in 2014 compared with the previous year. As of December 2014, USD 1.60 billion was disbursed out of the USD 3.19 billion allotted for 449 active grants.

Of the total USD 14.37 billion ODA, the World Bank had the largest share in the portfolio representing 32 percent (USD 4.54 billion). Japan came second with 23 percent share (USD 3.33 billion), followed by Asian Development Bank and USA with 16 percent share (USD

2.35 billion) and 8 percent share (USD 1.15 billion), respectively. The total assistance from these development partners comprised 80 percent or USD 11.36 billion of the portfolio for the year.

Meanwhile, the United States, United Nation System and Australia were recorded as top providers of grant assistance to the Philippines with USD 1,148.56 million (36% share), USD 608.48 million (19%), and USD 587.02 million (18%), respectively.

The Infrastructure Development sector accounted for the largest share of the loans portfolio in terms of net commitment with 39 percentage share (USD 4.32 billion for 34 loans), followed by the Social Reform and Community Development (SRCD) with 24 percentage share (USD 2.68 billion for 11 loans) and Governance and Institution Development (GID) with 22 percentage share (USD 2.46 billion for 8 loans).

16 October 30, 2015ONE MINDANAO16 October 30, 2015ONE MINDANAO

For ODA grants, the SRCD, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Natural Resources, and GID registered the highest percentage share in terms of grant amount with 37 percent (USD 1,193.51 million for 151 grants), 25 percent (USD 793.71 million for 90 grants), and 18 percent (USD 583.04 million for 141 grants), respectively.

NEDA conducts regular consultations with implementing

agencies, development partners, sector staff and regional offices to discuss and resolve issues affecting delivery of ODA commitments towards improving portfolio management and information system support. (NEDA)

The complete 2014 ODA Portfolio Review Report submitted to congress can be viewed through this link: http://www.neda.gov.ph/?p=7001


‘Lumads’ denounce atrocities, yearn for peace

IMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon – About 1,000 “Lumads” of various tribes lighted candles on the occasion of the National Indigenous People’s Month in this tribal capital of Northern Mindanao, the military said Thursday. Capt. Norman M. Tagros, the spokesperson of the army’s 8th Infantry Battalion, said that the Lumads (tribal natives)

simultaneously lighted the candles to dramatize the quest for lasting peace in the tribal communities in Mindanao.

FILE PHOTO


The Lumads also denounced the atrocious killings of the tribal leaders purportedly by communist rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) and enjoined the relatives, friends, and Lumads who have joined the rebel movement to denounce armed struggle and live normal lives.

Anaclito Sagula a.k.a. “Datu Mantungkaban,” one of the respected leaders of the Higa-onon tribal communities, urged the NPA rebels to spare the tribal communities from the armed struggle and leave the ancestral lands.

In his message of peace, Sagula said that the presence of the NPA rebels in the ancestral lands endanger the lives of the Lumads because once the government troopers come, the

ancestral land is turned into a strife-torn tribal homeland.

Tagros said that Lumads also offered a prayer for the late Mayor Mario T. Okinlay, the town mayor of Impasugong, Bukidnon and the late Mayor Dario E. Otaza, of Loreto town in Agusan Del Sur.

Both Okinlay and Otaza were Lumads who led their people toward peace and prosperity, but were murdered by the NPAs who, after their brutal executions, made trumped-up charges in order to justify the barbaric killings, Martinez said.

Lt. Col.Lennon G. Babilonia, Commanding Officer of the 8IB based here, thanked the Lumads for the continued support and commitment to peace.

FILE PHOTO


Zambo supports DOH’s HI-5 programBy Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Barangay officials, health workers and other stakeholders have attended a summit on the Department of Health’s (DOH) High Impact 5, or HI-5 program held Tuesday at the Astoria Regency in Pasonanca this city. Speaking in the opening program, Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar underscored the importance of

being health conscious and of the HI-5 itself in improving the health situation of all the residents here,


as she emphasized the roles of the barangay officials and the health workers in realizing this goal.“You are at the frontline in delivering these important health services to the community, and your work is very important,” Mayor Climaco-Salazar said.She said the HI-5 focuses on five areas such as maternal health care, infant care, child protection, HIV/AIDS and improving the service delivery network.On the other hand, Rep. Lilia Nuño expressed her support to the strategy, citing her own contributions to address health issues in the communities. “We will be distributing health kits to help the barangay health workers in both districts,” she said.DOH-9 officer-in-charge Dr. Ruby Constantino explained to the participants that the national government had launched HI-5 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of universal health care, with special emphasis on the poor

and vulnerable groups. She also lauded the efforts of the local government units at improving the delivery of health services in their respective communities. HI-5 was launched in Manila last June 8 followed by similar launching activities in several other cities and provinces nationwide.In its website, the DOH says “the HI-5 is a strategy which aims to produce the greatest improvements in health outcomes and the highest impact on the priority, vulnerable population, with focus on five critical interventions prioritizing the poor, providing tangible outputs which are ‘felt’ within a breakthrough period of 15 months through synchronized nationwide implementation of activities. Its main objectives are to intensify regional operations and converge in priority poverty program areas and to implement model plans on the 5 key high impact interventions.”


DTI gears up for PRIME 2015By Alma L. Tingcang

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (PIA) – To push further for the development of the Philippine rubber industry by building a nationwide strategic alliance among industry stakeholders, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will spearhead the 2nd Philippine Rubber Investment and Market Encounter (PRIME) on Nov. 10-11 at SMX Convention Center, SM Premier, Lanang Davao City. Dubbed as PRIME 2015 Roadshow, DTI partners with the Philippine Rubber Industries Association (PRIA), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to propel the rubber industry in the region.On Tuesday, October 27, DTI-9

Regional Director Sitti Amina M. Jain met with heads of national government agencies, rubber farmers and stakeholders to discuss the forthcoming activity which was held at Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel. Another issue deliberated was the localization of rubber and rubber products


roadmap. The roadmap targets to push rubber products to become a key contributor to Philippine economic development and gain a foothold in foreign markets especially in the ASEAN region. Dr. Jain encouraged rubber stakeholders to maintain good rubber quality to be able to pass the ISO 2000 standard which is the basis to compete with international markets in Japan, China and India.Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipae, DTI Provincial Director and Regional Coordinator of the Rubber Industry Cluster said a total of 750 participants are expected to attend PRIME 2015. Experts from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and India will share their knowledge and expertise in the rubber industry.Accordingly, PRIME 2015 will have business conference, business matching and industry exhibit which will provide access to information related to business opportunities in the entire rubber industry and value chain with emphasis on value adding through processing and

manufacturing.It is intended to serve as a platform to launch the manufacturing resurgence program for the rubber industry by positioning at least 3 business-friendly regions in Mindanao as new manufacturing hubs for rubber products. Lipae encouraged rubber stakeholders to participate in the upcoming event anchored on the theme, “Expanding Opportunities for Sustainable Growth.”In 2014, Japan sourced USD 26.320 million of its rubber products from the Philippines. Around 70 percent of the country’s rubber production is exported to other countries. The rubber products industry provides employment for 3,915 persons.The top rubber producing regions in 2014 were Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCCKSARGEN and ARMM with respective contributions of 42.3 percent, 38.4 percent and 11.9 to the yearly production. The combined production of these regions accounted for 92.6 percent of the country’s rubber production.


DSWD-9 conducts forum on Senate Bill 2960, House Bill 154By Claro A. Lanipa

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IX (DSWD FO-9) conducted a forum on Senate Bill 2960 and House Bill 154 better known as “An Act to Reduce Poverty and Promote Human Capital Development by Institutionalizing a Conditional Cash Transfer Program,” held at Four Queens Resort, this city.

Senate Bill 2960 was introduced by Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, while House Bill 154 was authored by Representative Susan A. Yap of the Second District of Tarlac.Regional Director Zenaida L. Arevalo said the forum aimed to discuss the provisions of the bill

and at the same time propose and suggest significant measures for possible inclusion in the bill.Participants include all provincial, city and municipal social welfare and development officers from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur together with


representatives from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH), DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).The suggested measures made by forum participants for possible inclusion in the bill are: prohibition of program beneficiaries to use the cash assistance for their vices such as; purchase of liquor or any alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, gambling and illegal drugs. Every household must also establish their own toilet in support to cleanliness and sanitation, among others.

As the department mandated to look into the social protection services and various welfare programs, DSWD has started implementing the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program since 2009 promoting education, health and values formation among families and their children.DSWD believes that this move to institutionalize CCT is a sound step considering the substantive and significant impact of the program among the 4.4 million households nationwide as shown by various evaluations conducted by private and government organizations.


1st ClaJaViTa, MisOr youth leadership confab held

Youth leaders in Claveria, Jasaan, Villanueva and Tagoloan town in the province of Misamis Oriental participated during the 1st

ClaJaViTa Cluster Youth Leadership Summit 2015 with the theme “Filipino Youth: Rising to the Challenge,” 16–18 October 2015.

The activity, held at Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) in Claveria,

is facilitated by the Propelling Our Inherited Nation Through Our Youth (POINTY) Inc.


Misamis Oriental Provincial Chapter through the initiatives of the 58th Infantry (Dimalulupig) Battalion, 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army, and the local government units of municipality of Claveria, Jasaan, Villanueva and Tagoloan (ClaJaViTa). Likewise, this is in partnership with the Regional Association of Government Communicators (RAGCOM) and with the support from the private sectors. This summit aims to provide an avenue to develop and mold a Responsible, Productive and Well-informed Youths of the Society which is the Hope of Our Mother Land. (58IB/4ID/PA)


Army warns public on effects of NPA extortionThe 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army warns the public on effects of New People’s Army’s Permit To Campaign (PTC) and Permit To Win (PTW) with the upcoming 2016 elections.

It reiterates PTC and PTW are illegal and are not sanctioned by the government It is also a violation of section 10 Paragraph C of Article IX of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that states that “Bona fide candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of harassment and discrimination. This likewise breeds the idea of corruption.

Since aspiring politicians are being forced to pay these amounts to the NPAs, they may think of getting back the same amount from their public funds that would be entrusted in their office if they won in the election. Similarly, this kills the hopes and dreams of millions of Filipinos for this undermines the capability of some aspiring political leaders, especially the poor, who also want to hold a

public office but cannot afford to pay the demand of the NPAs. Thus, PTC and PTW violates our right to suffrage and makes our electoral process a laughing stock because it is the exact opposite of having a democratic government that is a government by the people, of the people and for the people. For the NPAs, more politicians duped more money to collect, more opportunities to sow threat. Graft and corruption would be rampant. (4ID)


PAG-ASA says El Niño will persistThe Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) said moderate El Niño conditions will continue to persist across the equatorial Pacific Ocean and may intensify towards the last quarter of 2015 and may last until early 2016.

This is contained in the Memorandum Circular issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as an advisory that the entire places of the country will be possibly experiencing El Niño. A copy of the memorandum was received by the City Council committee on public utilities chaired by Councilor Roger Abaday. It cites that the provinces of Aurora, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro and Quirino were affected by dry spell three consecutive months below normal rainfall conditions or two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall conditions. Based on the advisory, the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bohol, Camiguin, Quezon, Siquijor were affected by drought for three consecutive months of way below normal or five consecutive months of

below normal rainfall conditions. Above normal rainfall is predicted over Samar Provinces and Misamis Oriental. The provinces of Bohol, Cagayan, Camarines Norte and Isabela will likely experience drought or dry spell while conditions in Misamis Oriental, Aurora, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Quezon, Quirino and Siquijor are likely to improve. The DILG advises concerned agencies to take precautionary measures in their respective areas of responsibility. (JBD/CdeOSP)


Comval rice congress sees potentials for higher rice yield

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley — More than 500 farmers in the 11 municipalities of the province gathered for the 1st Provincial Rice Con-gress and the Launching of IPaD Project in Comval on October 23 at Compostela Municipal Gym.

economy which in turn will bring a fair price in the market. High-er yield also means planting the right and high-value variety of rice with higher output produced at a low-cost.” “And this is now the pur-pose of rice congress which gives

an opportunity to farmers to be guided with the best rice variety for higher produce,” he added. The IPAD project aims to improve technology promotion and delivery through capability enhancement of the next-gen-eration of rice extension profes-


sionals and other intermediaries. “I am happy that with this rice congress, we can help main-tain Mindanao being the food basket of our country and by ac-celerating the adoption of high

yielding rice varieties, soon we can make Compostela Valley known as one of the top rice pro-ducers in the country,” said Bolo. (IDS Comval/Rey Antibo)

People empowerment best crime preven-tion, says Panabo MayorPANABO CITY– Mayor James G. Gamao said that people empower-ment is the best crime prevention. Gamao said that to empow-er the Police, the local govern-ment will be providing support facilities such as two motorcycle with complete police accessories, one brand new four-wheel vehi-cle and Php400,000.00 worth of communication facilities. He raised the importance of partnerships for peace and order in the city, and urged the Pan-aboans to cooperate and report to PNP authorities any irregular-ity for proper action. PNP Chief Thor Valiente Pu-nay Cuyos earlier assured that Panabo City is peaceful and man-ageable despite petty crimes and robbery consequence of a grow-ing city. Cuyos said that his office is intensifying operations on buy bust, apprehensions , check

points , operations kapkap , mo-bile patrolling in the barangays , police community relations , contra buga, illegal gambling and drugs, among others . (CIO Panabo)

31October 30, 2015 ONE MINDANAO 31

Cotabato advances to finals of most business-friendly LGUs By: Danilo E. Doguiles

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 30— Cotabato City has once again reached the top 3 spot in the 2015 Search for the Most Business Friendly Cities and Municipalities of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).


This year’s search began last August with business cham-bers nominating their respective LGUs and the nominated LGU submitting to the PCCI the filled out official entry form.

With the city qualifying to the search’s finals, Mayor Japal Guiani, assisted by Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.

“It was not an easy journey. The PCCI is very strict with the documents. They also verify the data that is why we really needed to be very meticulous and also accurate,” Mayor Guiani said.

Judging is based on the nom-inee LGU’s achievements on trade, investments, and tourism promotions; public-private sec-tor partnership; MSME devel-opment; quality management system, innovations, and human resources development; quality customer service; and local gov-ernment collaborations.

Having achieved this recogni-tion is very important, Mayor Guiani said, especially during this time when the city govern-ment is on the process of invit-ing more investors.

“We want to build up the im-age of Cotabato City. We work-ing hard to show that we are not what is portrayed in the me-

dia as conflict-ridden,” the May-or added.

At the final judging, the city government highlighted, among many advances, the LGU’s con-tinuously increasing income, from PhP85 million in 2008 to PhP129 million in 2014.

Mayor Guiani also empha-sized the efforts of the city gov-ernment to attain zero out-of -school in partnership with the Mindanao Youth for Develop-ment Organization. At present, this collaboration capacitates OSYs who would like to be-come workers of malls and su-permarkets that are being built in the city.

This effort has aided in lower-ing the unemployment and pov-erty rates of the city.

Regarding the major concern of PCCI regarding the city gov-ernment’s aid to MSMEs, Atty. Guiani-Sayadi: “We are continu-ously extending our assistance to our farmers and fisher folks. Aside from the seedlings and the equipment that we are giv-ing them, we are also letting them participate in business seminars.”

Cotabato City started joining the Search for the Most Busi-ness Friendly Cities and Munici-palities in 2014. Since then, it


Gensan’s water district opens new reservoir

has consistently landed on the Top 3 spot and advanced to the final judging.

In 2014, Cotabato City was up against San Fernando, Pam-panga and Calamba, Laguna, all hall-of-famers to the search.

This year, the city is contend-ing with Ilagan City, Isabela and San Fernando, Pampanga.

Cotabato City is the only first

class city in Mindanao to have advanced to the final judging of the 2015 Search for the Most Business Friendly Cities and Mu-nicipalities.

The results for this year’s awarding are yet to be an-nounced by the PCCI.(DEDogu-iles-PIA12 with report from LGU-Cotabato City)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY Oct. 30– The General Santos City Water District (GSCWD) has improved its services by building a new res-ervoir.

A 1,500 cubic meter cylindri-cal steel reservoir of GSCWD in Barangay Sinawal started oper-ating on October 20 to comple-ment the increasing water de-mand of consumers.

The P11-million reservoir was augmented by GSCWD with an-other P35 million for the devel-opment of its area and installa-tion of support facilities.

Manny Yaphockun, GSCWD board chairman, explained that the reservoir was constructed to complement the rapid develop-ment Gensan is undertaking.

“The development now in Gen-

san is very overwhelming that’s why we have to improve our services,” Yaphockun said.

Since the mid 2013—the time Ronnel Rivera became the local chief executive of the city—Gen-san has seen various improve-ments, especially in the entry of investments.

One of these is the increasing number of subdivisions and re-alty projects in Gensan such as the Robinsons Homes and Palm Spring subdivisions.

New malls will also be estab-lished in the city, namely the RD Mall and Unitop Mall.


Increasing number of micro, small, and medium enterpris-es which compose 98% of the businesses in the city have also grown in numbers, specifically 8,032 as of 2015.

Series of construction of new roads and drainage as well as the expansion of major high-ways in Gensan by the Depart-ment of Public Works and High-ways (DPWH) indicate the city’s growth.

The lighting of the main thor-oughfares of the city is now also being undertaken by the city government, DPWH and SO-COTECO II to further improve the business climate and safety of the city.

All these, Yaphockun said, jus-tify the need for the GSCWD to augment and expand its servic-es.

He said the GSCWD wants to strengthen its partnership with the city government in bringing services to the people.

One of the first ventures of GSCWD and City Hall is the zero billing of all day care centers in Gensan. This initiative started when Mayor Rivera asked GSC-WD if it can condone the month-ly water billing of these day care centers as part of his education-al thrust.

The GSCWD board has already approved the mayor’s request through a resolution and it is currently finalizing necessary procedures before formaliza-tion and implementation. Aside from that, Mayor Rivera and ex-ecutives of the GSCWD signed a Memorandum of Agreement on October 20 that allows the City Health Office to freely use the water testing facilities of the water district.

According to the city mayor, the partnership with the GSC-WD is a great help in extending the necessary services that are needed by the public.

“Partnerships are really impor-tant. When we work together, we can accomplish many things. And I hope that our strong partnership with the GSCWD will make the living of our con-stituents better,” Mayor Rivera stated. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA12)


DILG, DTI, CABPLO strengthen Business Permits & Licensing in Caraga By: Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Govern-ment (DILG) Region 13 (Caraga) in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office Caraga and the Caraga Asso-ciation of Business Permit and Licensing Officers (CABPLO) conducted the “Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Advocacy on Regulatory Simplification for Local Governments’ (RS4LG) Business Permit and Licensing Processes cum 1st Caraga Business Permit and Licensing Officers Convention” on October 27-28, 2015 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city.


The event is to strengthen and sustain the streamlining of Business Permits and Licens-ing System (BPLS) in the region by bringing up-to-date business registration procedures and re-quirements of select national government agencies (NGAs) and the introduction of the elec-tronic BPLS system. It was also supported by the Department of Science of Technology (DOST) as it promotes automation or com-puterization of the BPLS process-es. DILG Caraga regional direc-tor Lilibeth Famacion empha-sized the role of the BPLOs in lo-cal revenue and how this affects the growth of a local economy as it provides a good business envi-ronment for business investors, more so with the small and me-dium entrepreneurs. Speakers from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Home Development Mutual Fund or PAG-IBIG, Philippine Health In-surance Corporation (PHIC), Bu-reau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Trade and Indus-try (DTI) provided their roles in the regulatory processes and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dis-cussed their function in the pro-motion of streamlining BPLS of

the local government units in the region. Topics include Business Reg-istration with the BIR; Issuance of Clearance and Clearance Re-quirements with the SSS, PHIC and PAG-IBIG; Issuance of Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC); and the Registration of Business Name. The BPLOs were also provided with discussions on the ASEAN Economic Community with a review on the BPLS Moni-toring and Evaluation. Results of the 2015 BPLS Customer Experience Survey (CES) and the 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) were announced by DTI with notable LGUs such as Butuan City ranking 19th and Surigao City ranking 50th from 142 cities in the country. Like-wise, the municipalities of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur rank-ing 27th; Buenavista, Agusan del Norte ranking 44th; and Claver, Surigao del Norte ranking 49th among 978 municipalities na-tionwide. An election and oath-taking of the 2015 CABPLO Officer and Board of Trustees culminated the event with Clemente M. Penados, the BPLO of Bislig City, Surigao del Sur maintaining his post as CABPLO President.


Biggest number of PNP recruits in Caraga region take their oath

BUTUAN CITY -- The biggest number of recruits so far in the his-tory of Police Regional Office XIII, took their oath as the newest members of the Philippine National Police Wednesday morning.

By: PNA

Taking their oath as at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, at the PNP re-gional camp grandstand attend-ed by the top regional police of-ficials and the families, relatives and friends as Police Officers 1 (in temporary status) before Caraga PNP chief PCSupt. Vert T. Chavez, were the 553 success-ful PNP applicants for the sec-ond cycle of the 2015 Police Of-ficer 1 recruitment. They will be receiving a monthly salary rate of P14,834.00 effective October

28, 2015. Their appointment or-ders based on Special Order No. 1307-1336, dated October 27, 2015, signed by PCSupt. Chavez, Police Regional Office 13 acting regional director. The Directorate for Person-nel Resource Management of the PNP national headquarters, dated April 28, 2015 had alloted Caraga Regional Police 947 re-cruitment quota for the current year 2015, intended for the pub-lic safety forces.

Photo credit: Kris Maravilla


There were 306 recruits who took their oath during the first cycle, and are now about to end their 6-months training at Camp Barbers, Brgy. Lipata, Surigao City. During the first cycle, there were 30 excess qualified appli-cants and 27 applicants which were conditional status based on the physical, medical and dental examination. All of them were already included in yesterday’s oath-taking. The second cycle needed to fill up the 641 quota. Obaldo cit-ed during his welcome message that the applicants have under-gone the necessary processes of recruitment selection. They were selected out of the 778 appli-cants at the start of the recruit-ment process. Of the 553 new police officers, 441 of them were males and 112 were females. Among the applicants, 234 were graduates of Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BS Crim); 31 of Education Courses; 23 of Bach-elor of Science in Administration (BSBA); 21 of BS Nursing and the rest from other courses. BS Criminology, Educa-tion and BSBA are the top three courses among the recruits. As to their places of origin, Surigao del Sur has the highest number of applicants at 65; followed by Surigao del Norte with 57; Agu-

san del Sur (48); Butuan City (47); Agusan del Norte (29); and Dinagat Island with (5). The rest came from Regions 6,7,9, 10, 11 and 12 as Caraga was not able to fill-up the allotted regional quo-ta. The youngest of the appli-cants, a female had just turned 21 years-old last August and the oldest a 30 year-old male who will turn 31 on November. CSupt. Chavez quipped during his mes-sage that had the oath-taking been delayed for some weeks of November, the oldest applicant would have already been dis-qualified. The screening committee in-cludes PCSupt. Pedro U. Obaldo, Deputy Regional Director for Ad-ministration (DRDA) as the com-mittee chair, Ms. Nenita A. Salva-cion (NAPOLCOM) representative as the vice-chairperson, Ms. Ma. Victoria C. Torrefranca-Trojedo, representing the women sector, Ms. Virginia P. Noreens, RPOC representative and PSSupt. Romaldo Bayting, chief of the RPHRDD and committee secre-tariat. After their oath-taking, the applicants boarded the 13 buses which transported them to the PRO 13 Regional Training School, at Camp Barbers, Brgy. Lipata in Surigao City. (PNA)


PNP, AFP all set for “Undas”

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines here are ready for their security plan on the occasion of the observance of “Undas” (All Saints’ and Souls’ Days) come November 1 and 2.

By: Greg Tataro Jr.

P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said everything would just be a matter of re-implementing the “Operation Plan Kaluluwa (Oplan Kaluluwa)” to be carried out de-pending on the situation on the ground. He added all lower units had been already informed to take charge of their respective areas of responsibilities (AORs). During such observance, specific things and objects would again be banned inside cemeter-ies like deadly weapons and li-

quors. On the part of Col. Isidro Purisima, commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA), said sol-diers were used to taking a back seat in maintaining peace and or-der during the whole duration of “Undas” as police forces do the lead role. Meanwhile, as of this post-ing, Verdadero said good peace and order situation had contin-ued to prevail in the entire prov-ince.

one mindanao - october 30, 2015

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