One Mindanao - June 3, 2015

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western and Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IX

ALMA 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 EDITORS

FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga Region

VENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

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 BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

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Northern Mindanao

Graces’ 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 Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

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Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

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LAYOUT ARTISTS

GIDEON CORGUE, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

DAISY JANE APIT, 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

EDITORIAL BOARD

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESOne Mindanao

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Farmer group eyes revival of coffee industry in Tupi

COMELEC OKs bidding for PCOS refurbishment and purchase of more than 100k units of optical mark readers

ARMM observes Islamic holiday

13

By: Carina L. Cayon

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGENSOUTHERN

NATIONAL

169

18

OUR COVER

Contents

By: Danilo E. Doguiles

37

Save the reefs, DENR 13 chief urges Filipinos

Dabawenyos join milk world day fun run

GSIS offers loan to members, pensioners in drought-stricken Mindanao areas

Application for Career Service Exam for Foreign Service Officer extended

35

3639

Barangay San Pedro placed under state of calamity

27By: Jasper Marie O. Rucat

By: Eric Herzon Gallego

33

PNP, AFP keep an eye on NPA as 117th Independence Day gets nearBy: Greg Tataro, Jr.

By: Gideon C. Corgue

DOLE 10 discusses anew Labor Laws Compliance SystemBy: Egypt F. del Rosario

Gensan launches Likay DrogaBy: IJLagare

41 By: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

4 June 3, 2015One Mindanao

A group of coffee growers here is leading the revival of the town’s coffee industry.

Cover Story

Farmer group eyes revival of coffee industry in TupiBy: Danilo Doguiles

5June 3, 2015 One Mindanao

In 1960s, Tupi town was vastly planted to coffee and supplied tons of coffee beans to adjacent provinces as well as some provinces in Visayas.

During the heyday of Tupi’scoffee industry here, almost every household had areas planted to Arabica and Robusta coffee. In those days brewing of freshly-harvested coffee beans was a familiar scene.

However, in 1980s, the price of coffee in the market sharply declined resulting in an abrupt drop in coffee production in the municipality. Farmers ceased to expand coffee plantations. Many others went further by cutting

fully mature and productive coffee trees to be replaced by other commodities believed to offer better financial advantage to the farm families.

Trusting on potential of coffee as a high value crop , the Tupi Coffee Growers’ Association Inc. (TUCOGAI), took on mission to regain the former glory of the town’s coffee industry.

Marcos Gabat, president of TUCOGAI said, their initiative took a leap in 2013 when the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program granted the association P5 million worth of coffee processing plant complete with equipment including bean

Farmer group eyes revival of coffee industry in Tupi


separator and automated roasting machine.

According to the Department of Agriculture they backed the formation of TUCOGAI because it could serve as a means for discussion and resolution of issues and concerns affecting the coffee sector.

As an organization, it has also been tasked to design and implement development projects for the coffee industry in its jurisdiction; conduct campaigns and advocacies to promote good industry; conduct forums and events as well as trade and selling missions; and conduct technology research

and development for the coffee industry. As a service-oriented association, TUCOGAI is also tasked to implement specific projects intented to increase sales of the members, develop respective industries and forge alliance with other entities specific to the development of the sector It can also enter into agreements with national and local government entities, non-government, and other private voluntary organizations for the coffee industry in this part of the country. “After DA’s interventions, we have become a really different


association. Coffee growers who were not members are now eager to take part of TUCOGAI. Because of the help we acquired from MRDP, we are already known throughout the region.

“In the past, fellow coffee growers could hardly get seedlings, but through DA’s help, we were able to plant 400 hectares more which benefited almost 200 coffee producers,” he added. More importantly, the assistance from DA-MRDP has also protected local coffee farmers from fluctuating prices since TUCOGAI buys its members’ coffee produce at

higher price – a minimum of P85 per kilogram as compared to only P69/kg offered by commercial traders.

“[DA’s provision of a coffee processing plant] has also helped improve the quality of our products,” Gabat said, emphasizing further that they get better prices because of the quality of their products. More significantly, Gabat noted, TUCOGAI has developed a coffee brand named Tufico, which he said is increasingly becoming known to coffee drinkers and coffee shops.

Some walk-in customers in


their shop even buy Tufico coffee to be brought as “pasalubong” to friends and relatives abroad. In this manner, he said, Tufico has already reached as far as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gabat as well boasted that in trade fairs they participated in, TUCOGAI’s Tufico coffee always receive favorable feedback as have one of the best taste and aroma. At times, people would queue in front of the TUCOGAI

booth for a taste of their coffee and return for more sampling. With the continuing assistance of DA – 12, making coffee a major industry in Tupi municipality is not an impossible mission, Gabat said. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from CULAguillon-DA 12 RAFIS)


President Aquino issues Executive Order on comprehensive automotive resurgence strategy program

MANILA-- President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 182, which provides for a comprehensive automotive resurgence strategy program in the country.


Signed by the President last May 29, the Order is aimed at improving the automotive industry to boost the manufacturing capability of the overall industrial sector, spur the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and create more jobs.

In the EO, President Aquino noted “the need to enable the country’s a u t o m o t i v e industry to seize market oppor tun i t i es opened by the ASEAN Economic C o m m u n i t y and deepen its p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the regional supply chain.”

The President likewise recognized “the need to augment and enhance the policy and directions of existing motor vehicle development programs towards ensuring a resurgent automotive industry that supports innovation, technology transfer,


environmental protection, and SMEs development.”

The Order states that the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program will “attract new investments, stimulate demand and effectively implement industry regulations that will revitalize the Philippine automotive industry, and develop the country as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.”

The program’s thrust is “to provide time-bound, and output or performance-based fiscal support to attract strategic investments in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts.”

The CARS Program is limited to the manufacture of three models of four-wheeled motor

vehicles, and shall cover the models’ production, manufacture of body shell assembly and large plastic assemblies of the model, manufacture of common parts and strategic parts not currently produced in the country at original equipment manufacturer standards, and shared testing facility for vehicles and/or parts.

According to EO No. 182, the Board of Investment (BOI), as the lead implementing and coordinating agency of the CARS Program, will act upon the recommendations of the Inter-agency Committee on Automotive Industry Development, oversee the implementation of the program, submit the annual report of the performance of the program to the Office of the President, and coordinate automotive industry development


efforts of all concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the government.

An Inter-agency Committee on Automotive Industry Development will be created to administer and implement the CARS Program.

The committee will be chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry-BOI representative, with members from the Department of Finance, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Science and Technology, National Economic and Development Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the co-chairman of the Industry Development Council, and the co-chairman of the National Competitiveness Council.

The Order likewise states that the Department of Budget and Management, in coordination with the BOI, shall propose through the National Expenditure Program, the inclusion of an Automotive Development Fund in the annual General Appropriations Act, to fund the fiscal support to be granted to registered and eligible participants.

The total fiscal support for the program will be given beginning 2016, and shall not exceed P27 billion, with each enrolled model qualified to a fiscal support in an amount not exceeding P9 billion. (PCOO/PND (jm)


COMELEC OKs bidding for PCOS refurbishment and purchase of more than 100k units of optical mark readers

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in Minute Resolution No. 15-0355, has ruled to approve the conduct of a simultaneous bidding for the refurbishment of existing Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and for the

procurement, with option to purchase, of more than one hundred thousand units of optical mark readers (OMRs). The poll body’s approval came after its Law Department, in a Memorandum dated April 28, 2015, recommended the conduct of “parallel bidding” as there is no prohibition against the same and “considering that

time is of the essence due to the proximity of the May 9, 2016 National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections.”

For the purpose of the parallel bidding, the COMELEC


has resolved to approve the creation of two separate Special Bids and Awards Committees (SBAC) and the designation of two (2) additional members of the SBAC considering the technical expertise needed in the bidding process.

A total budgetary requirement of P14, 579,000,000 has been approved for the simultaneous bidding. The COMELEC has also ruled to require, as additional bidding requirement, “an undertaking

of the bidder that it has no right or cause of action to compel the BAC of this Commission to award the contract to it, as it is the Commission which has the authority to ascertain or decide what options to choose or award bearing in mind the course of action most advantageous to, and in the best interest of the


government.”

COMELEC remains open to alternative proposals For his part, COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez stressed that in coming up with this decision, the poll body, under the leadership of Chairman Andres Bautista, have undertaken consultations with various stakeholders on how best we can conduct honest and credible elections next year.

Just last week, Chairman Bautista along with COMELEC Field Directors met with various stakeholders which include, among others, the

COMELEC Advisory Council, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the group of former Commissioner Gus Lagman to hear their proposal for a Transparent and Credible Election System (TCrES), a hybrid of manual voting and counting and automated transmission and canvassing. “The COMELEC remains open to suggestions and alternative proposals on how to make the automated election system more transparent and how it can be further improved,” Jimenez emphasized. (COMELEC)


MANILA --The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is granting emergency loan to active members who are residing or working in the drought-stricken municipalities of Malungon and Malapatan in Saranggani Province and Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte. Old age pensioners residing in said areas may also avail of the loan. The deadline for

filing of application is on June 23.

GSIS offers loan to members, pensioners in drought-stricken Mindanao areas

Members who are not on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying their premium contributions, and have no loans in default may

apply. A total of 1,073 members who wish to renew their existing loans may borrow P40,000 while 1,277 members with no


current emergency loans may avail of P20,000. A total of 195 old-age pensioners are entitled to a P20,000 loan. In case an old-age pensioner is also an active member, the applicant may borrow only once.

GSIS has earmarked P72.4 million in funds for the loan’s implementation.

The GSIS emergency loan bears a 6% interest per annum and is payable in 36 monthly instalments. The first loan amortization is deducted from the borrower’s salary or pension three months after the loan is granted.

The pension emergency loan is covered by a loan redemption insurance that waives the payment of the outstanding loan balance in case of the pensioner’s demise. Members may apply through the GSIS Wireless

Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located in GSIS offices, provincial capitols, city halls, selected municipal offices, large government agencies such as the Department of Education, and selected Robinsons Malls. Pensioners must apply over the counter.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS eCard or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card.

For inquiries, interested applicants may call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747. (GSIS).


DOST promotes SET-UP in Caraga municipalities

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga is continuously promoting the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) in the different municipalities in Caraga region.

By: Jennifer P. Gaitano

According to DOST-Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga, SET-UP is a nationwide


strategy encouraging and assisting SMEs to adopt technology innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness. “SMEs is the backbone of the Philippine economy and forms the driving force for the country’s manufacturing sector and determine economic stability,” explained Mallonga. Mallonga also bared that SET-UP has the following areas: food processing; furniture; gifts, decors and handicrafts; agriculture/marine/aquaculture; metals and engineering; and information and communication technology, pharmaceuticals and health products. “The program enables firms to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technology interventions to improve productivity primarily through enhanced product quality, upgraded manpower, cost reduction, effective waste management, and operations tune-up,” added Mallonga. When asked what beneficiaries can get from SET-UP, Mallonga revealed that a cliet SME can now address current problems; get free technical

advice from consultants; avail of technical training courses for workers/employees; acquire new equipment to mechanize and/or improve production lines; standardize and improve the quality of products; and be more competitive. Mallonga further disclosed that an applicant need to submit the following: 1) Proponent’s letter of interest to avail of the SETUP assistance, stating commitment to refund the cost of technology acquisition/innovation system support; 2) Copy of business permits and licenses from relevant local government units and other government offices; 3) Certificate of Registration of Business Name with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Security Exchange Commission (SEC) or Cooperative Development Authority (CDA); 4) Three Quotations from suppliers/fabricators of the equipment to be purchased/fabricated; 5) Financial statements at least for the past three years duly signed by a Certified Public Accountant with Board of Accountancy (BOA) Certificate of Registration; 6) Board/Legislative Council Resolution authorizing the availment of the assistane and designating authorized signatory


for the financial assistance (in case of cooperatives, non-single proprietorship, LGUs and organizations); and 7) Comprehensive Proposal showing the technical, marketing,

management/administrative and financial aspects including waste disposal.

Save the reefs, DENR 13 chief urges Filipinos

BUTUAN CITY -- The 240- million hectare Philippine waters which hosts the second biggest coral reefs in Southeast Asia next to Indonesia may face inevitable destruction by excess human intervention unless the people conduct more efforts in protecting it.

By: Eric Herzon Gallego

“Small effort such as keeping away from throwing plastic products and bag container into the sea can do a significant contribution in protecting our reefs,” Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional director Nonito M.Tamayo said. “Let us save the reefs,“ Director Tamayo said as the Filipino people throughout the county join hands in celebrating


the Ocean Month in May. Based on records obtained from the DENR’s Bio-diversity Management Bureau (BMB), the coral reefs are now in crisis because of dynamite fishing, overfishing, ill-planned coastal development, pollution and the global effects on climate change such as warming seas.

The DENR said that so far most of the coral reef system found in the waters of the Philippines are still in good condition but the people should stop using destructive methods of fishing and polluting the sea waters to protect the

coral reefs.

“Plastic wastes which carried back to the shores by sea currents get entangled often into the mangrove plantation which can upset its growth and damage the entire ecological system,” he said.

The Philippine seas are home to some 468 species of scleractinian corals, over 50 soft corals, 1,755 reef-associated fishes, 648 mollusks, and 27 marine mammals.

The reefs protect shorelines from waves and storms that case flooding and erosion, support commercial and subsistence fisheries, and are home to a thriving recreation and tourism industry.


PNP, AFP keep an eye on NPA as 117th Independence Day gets near

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Despite being busy in securing the opening of classes, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Surigao del Sur admitted to having a close watch on the possible activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels come Independence Day on June 12.

By: Greg Tataro Jr.


While both camps agreed

that NPA rebels are not keen on

meeting this early with student

prospects in furtherance of

their so-called cause but the

possibility of organizing rallies on

Independence Day celebration is

not remote, they claimed.

For his part, P/SSupt. Narciso

Verdadero said the PNP is already

familiar with the situation in the

province hinting leftist groups

might take the contrary idea to

“K to 12” program as one of their

platforms.

Capt. Regie Go, civil military

operations (CMO) officer of the

army 402nd Brigade, shared the

same view.

However, both have admitted

that as far as K to 12 program is

concerned, protest action on the

contrary has not been recorded

yet in any part of the province.

Meanwhile, Go said the

brigade under Col. Isidro Purisima

is always open to extending

services to school that have

remaining classrooms for repair,

suggesting a request letter will

do to make it formal.

It can be recalled that both

the PNP and AFP, among others,

have actively participated in the

conduct of Brigada Eskwela and

Oplan Balik Eskwela.

In a brief exchange with

Col. Al Jaji, the deputy brigade

commander said that by now

insurgency situation is under

control and manageable.

In the same manner, the

provincial chief PNP also pointed

out that peace and order

situation remains good. (NGBT/

Greg Tataro Jr., Radyo ng Bayan-

Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)




Earthquake expert urges preparation for the ‘big one’By Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – While residents have been worrying over the “big one” that is believed to occur anytime soon in Luzon’s Marikina Fault Valley, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) local chief Engr. Allan Rommel Labayog begs to differ.


“Before worrying about Manila, we have something more to worry about here,” Labayog said in an interview. According to the seismology expert, the region had already experienced an intensity 7.8 quake which devastated Zamboanga City and nearby areas in Mindanao in 1897 and 1976 and the possibility of it recurring is very likely. “It is only a matter of time, hinog na,” (the time is ripe) he warned. Labayog said that the

Marikina Fault Valley is estimated to reap a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, as learned through Phivolcs reports and from the resulting media publicity recently. This quake could cause considerable devastation in the Luzon areas, but Zamboanga and other parts of Mindanao will not be affected, explained Labayog. Yet, Marikina will only manifest horizontal displacement of the faults resulting to intense ground-shaking only.


The presence of earthquake generators -- two active trenches in Mindanao, particularly in the vicinity of the region is far more disturbing. The Sulu and Cotabato trenches that surround the region have the tendency to displace vertically instead of just horizontally. This fact was learned through decades of observation as well as from historical documents. “When these trenches move causing earthquakes, we are to expect the worst,” Labayog said, hinting not only powerful, devastating ground-shaking, but the dreaded tsunami as well. “Tsunami is inherent to a vertical displacement of the trenches.” Labayog illustrated that in such a scenario, the city’s structures, center of governance, commercial areas, schools and other infrastructures will be

devastated. These strategic areas, located within the 8-kilometer town radius happen to be located near the coastline. In the event an earthquake with a 7.8-8 magnitude will strike again, chances are these areas, already ravaged by the quake will be swept by a tsunami as well. “We have to worry about this so that we will realize we have to be prepared now,” he said. Labayog emphasizes the need for disaster preparedness plans for offices, schools, barangays down to the household level. The planning has to penetrate every resident. He said that everyone has to know what to do before, during and after the disaster. “We just have to ask ourselves, do we want to survive this catastrophe? If yes, how?” Labayog challenged.


By Gideon C. Corgue

Barangay San Pedro placed under state of calamity

PAGADIAN CITY, (PIA) – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has declared barangay San Pedro under a state of calamity, thus authorizing the release of funds for mitigating measures. Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones said in a special session on Tuesday morning, June 2, the SP discussed the recommendation of the Crisis Management Committee and

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to declare barangay San Pedro under state of calamity.


The CDRRMC, chaired by the good mayor, made the recommendation in view of the damage brought about by the massive fire that broke out Monday morning in barangays San Pedro and Santiago, causing an estimated P20 million damage. The 4-hour fire gutted 1,500 houses, killed a 60-year old resident, and forced majority of residents to leave the area.

“We declared barangay San Pedro under a state of calamity to expedite the government’s rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in barangay San Pedro which was greatly devastated by the fire,” Pulmones said during the press conference. Pulmones said he approved the release of “quick response fund” for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help the victims. Financial


assistance of P1,500/family was immediately extended by the city government for their immediate needs. He assured that the city government will give additional cash assistance to fire victims for them to rebuild their houses. “Mohatag pa kita sa dugang nga cash assistance apan gihimo pa sa kagamhanang lokal ning dakbayan ang makuti nga pagsusi sa ngalan sa mga biktima sa sunog aron malikayan ang double entry,” Pulmones added. (We will give additional cash assistance but the city government is doing a thorough assessment on the names of fire victims to avoid double entry.) Pulmones said an initial P5-M was spent by the city government on the day of the fire to provide immediate

needs of the victims especially food, water and other basic necessities. He revealed that a technical team had already been dispatched in the area to speed up survey, for the lot owners to immediately rebuild their houses. We will do everything within our means to help the fire victims,” Pulmones concluded.

DSWD ground breaks disaster response operation management projects in Camiguin

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin - DSWD Assistant Secretary Teodulo R. Romo, Jr. led the information caravan and mass ground breaking of various Disaster Response Operation Management (DROM) projects here on Thursday, May 28.

by Jorie C. Valcorza

Camiguin pioneers the implementation and utilization of DROM through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP).


Application for Career Service Exam for Foreign Service Officer extended

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The deadline for filing of application for the Career Service Examination for Foreign Service Officer (CSE-FSO) is extended to 24 June 2015.

by Jasper Marie O. Rucat

According to Adams D. Torres, regional director of Civil Service Commission (CSC) region 10, that CSE-FSO is administered by the CSC. CSE-FSO is a qualifying test, the first of the five parts of the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) examination. It covers verbal ability; analytical ability; numerical ability; and managerial ability. For this year, it is scheduled

on 16 August 2015, Sunday. Meanwhile, acceptance of application for the CSE-FSO is still ongoing until the new deadline on 24 June 2015. Interested applicants are advised to visit the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or its Regional Consular Offices (RCO) or from the Philippine Embassies/Consulates abroad for more information.

“We are here to put to life the collective goal of empowering and improving the lives of our KALAHI-CIDSS beneficiaries, but more than the community project, is the act of putting the powers into the hands of the people,” Romo stressed. The approach entails an improved access to services and a more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation at the community level. “It’s more than just infrastructure, it is the development of capacity of people, the capacity in understanding their environment, the capacity in asking and making decisions on what

priority projects to take, and the capacity in implementing projects,” he added. Romo said that for the first time, people are given the opportunity to handle and implement million worth projects on their own. In Camiguin, some 58 DROM projects amounting to P60-million were identified with corresponding local counterpart. These include access roads, flood control/sea wall/drainage, water system, barangay halls, evacuation centers, barangay health centers and solar street lights, among others.


DOLE 10 discusses anew Labor Laws Compliance System

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - A fresh episode of “Talakayan sa PIA” of Philippine Information Agency region 10 taped on 29 May 2015, featured guests from the regional office of Department of Labor and Employment who talked on DOLE Department Order No. 131-13 or the Rules on Labor Laws Compliance System (LLCS).

by Egypt F. del Rosario

According to the Assistant Regional Director of DOLE 10, Albert Gutib, LLCS is a brainchild of DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis Baldoz. It is a mix of developmental and regulatory approaches in implementing labor standards which comprises of two types: the general labor standard and the occupational and health labor standard. Gutib also pointed out three component or strategies of LLCS particularly joint assessment, compliance visit, and occupational safety and health investigation (OSHI). Joint assessment is the coordination of LLCS officers and the management’s representative to assess labor standards of private establishments. Meanwhile, compliance visit happens when LLCS officers are sent to address or assess complaints from the workers.

Occupational Safety and Health Investigation focuses on the investigation of accidents in the workplace. DOLE 10 Technical Support and Services Division Head, Atheneus Vasallo, emphasized the purpose of DOLE’s LLCS. Vasallo said that unlike their then role as merely inspectors, DOLE now serves as compliance workers whose goal is to teach establishments and workers on complying the standards of employee-to-employer relationship including health and safety standards of workplaces. Finally, the guests clarified that DOLE 10 caters complaints even from anonymous employees granting that the complete name and address of the company or establishment is indicated together with its alleged violations.

ARMM stays if the proposed BBL fails to pass Congress- Marcos

DAVAO CITY-Senate committee chair on Local Government and Public Works Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., foresees the retention of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Min-danao if the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will not pass before the 2016 national and local elections. Speaking to report-ers, he said the ARMM will remain given that the first act of the proposed BLL is

to abolish the ARMM. Marcos said without the BBL, there will be no changes in the system of governance in the af-fected territories and lo-cal candidates have to file their certificates of candi-dacies by October and will be part of the elections in May, 2016. He said the fate of the proposed BBL might be like the destiny of the Memorandum of Agree-ment on Ancestral Do-main in 2008 which was struck down by the Su-preme Court.


DAVAO CITY– Dabawenyos took part of the simultaneous family fun run intended to donate milk supply to Children’s Hour, a fund raising organization catering to young children. The fun run of Alaska Milk Corp. was aimed at contributing to the chil-dren’s organization supplies of milk equivalent to 1.8 liters per person who joined the fun run activities including Zumba dance exercise on Sunday. Project manager Yam Maramba said 277 Davaoenos joined the fam-ily run and 280 participated in the Zumba exercise where each partici-pant was also given one can of Alaska powdered milk and other give aways. Maramba said the fun run was to celebrate the World Milk Day under-scoring the message to “combat obe-sity and malnutrition in the country.” Alaska’s press statement cited a 2008 survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, stating that not less than 16 million Filipinos above 20 years old to be overweight. The 3rd year family fun run of Alaska was held simultaneously in Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao with live telecast on wide screen at the re-spective activity site. In Davao City, the organizers

declared the winners of the three-kilometer run for female category, namely Nadia Villata as the cham-pion, Jennifer Toria (2nd) and Daisy Famador (3rd). For the male category, Michael Jhon Sanico was declared champi-on, Michael Barosa (2nd) and Symon Cubal (3rd). The milk company is expecting to gather more families to participate in the yearly-held fun run to contrib-ute more milk to a children’s organi-zation. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

Dabawenyos join milk world day fun run

Mindanao LGUs propose P6-B infra projects under PRDP in 2015KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 3 -- Local government units in Mindanao have asked the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to fund some P6 billion worth of infra-structure projects for 2015.

A statement from the PRDP said the fresh proposals comprised of 75 subproj-ects that bring the total infrastructure portfolio for Mindanao to 161 subprojects worth P8.7 billion as of April 2015, including proposed and ongoing projects in 2014.

The Mindanao portfolio consists mainly of 141 farm-to-market roads covering 741 kilo-meters with a cost of P8.1 billion.

The Mindanao portfolio is also higher com-pared to other clusters. Visayas has a total of P6.3 billion worth of projects, while Luzon A and Luzon B clusters have proposed projects worth P3.4 billion and P3.9 billion, respec-tively.

Other projects proposed include the con-struction of single-lane bridges, irrigation fa-cilities, potable water supply (PWS) systems and other small infrastructure such as post-harvest facilities.

LGUs are required to provide 10 percent equity for infrastructure projects.

To date, Region 12 has the most number of projects with a cost of P2.1 billion, fol-


lowed by Region 10, P1.9 bil-lion; Region 9, P1.54 billion; Re-gion 11, P1.5 billion; CARAGA Region, P1.1 billion; and ARMM, P361 million worth of infrastruc-ture projects.

PRDP Mindanao cluster proj-ect director Lealyn Ramos said that proposals for infrastructure projects are being evaluated by PRDP through site validation and technical review of proposed works.

“As in the case of PRDP’s pre-decessor, the Mindanao Rural De-velopment Program, infrastruc-

ture projects that do not adhere to quality standards and speci-fications are required to adopt corrective measures including remove-and-replace orders,” she said.

Ramos added that LGUs must also submit of geotagged photos that will ensure the existence of the proposed project.

“It also serves a useful trans-parency tool to monitor the prog-ress of project implementation,” she said.

Under PRDP, one of the crite


ARMM observes Islamic holidayBy: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

ria for selecting infrastructure projects is its economic impact to enterprise development and ag-riculture production in the area, particularly priority commodities identified in the provincial com-modity investment plans (PCIP).

The current PRDP infrastruc-ture portfolio includes the recent-ly approved P298-million worth of FMRs in Davao del Norte and the P183-million worth of FMRs in Lanao del Norte.

The FMRs in Region XI is ex-pected to contribute to the de-

velopment province’s cacao in-dustry, which has been identified as a regional priority commodity under PRDP. The Lanao del Norte FMRs is expected to service more than 3,000 hectares of rice, corn and coconut production areas.

PRDP is a P27-billion World Bank-funded project implement-ed by the Department of Agricul-ture, with counterpart funding from the national government and local government units. (JRo-sas-PRDP Mindanao/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

COTABATO CITY, Jun 3 – Residents of the Autonomous Re-gion in Muslim Mindanao are observing, Nisfu Sha’ban an Islamic religious even Tuesday.

Pursuant to the Muslim Auton-omy Act No. 17 declaring every 15th day of the month of Sha’ban according to the Hijrah calendar as a special non-working holiday, work is suspended in the ARMM.

All government officials, em-ployees and constituents of ARMM are enjoined to observe this re-

ligious event based on Memo-randum Order No. 323 Series of 2015 issued by the Office of the Regional Governor.

Muslims observe Nisfu Sha’ban as a night of worship and salva-tion; it is a night noted for its great blessings and virtues. It is a common practice for Muslims


Gensan launches Likay Droga

to recite the Surah Yasin after the Maghrib prayers, followed by special dua orprayers.

\ARMM covers the provinces of

Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguin-danao, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu and cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 3 -- In line with its advocacy to protect its your sector from the influence of illegal drugs, the city government here launched recently is Likay Droga initia-tive.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera led the formal launching of the Likay Droga initiative on May 23 during the closing ceremony of the 2nd Gensan Summer Youth

Festival.“The Likay Droga (Lingap Ka-

bataang Ayaw sa Droga) pro-gram is a collective effort which aims to intensify the anti-drug


campaign and information drive and to bring the anti-drug abuse campaign to the out-of-school-youth,” Mayor Rivera ex-plained.

Likay Droga is one of the pro-grams he promised to carry out during his State of the City Ad-dress (SOCA) in August 2014.

Director Aileen Lovitos of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12, indicated that her office will fully support the anti-drug campaign of the city gov-ernment.

Mayor Rivera revealed that the PDEA will be its main partner in the Likay Droga program, along with the Philippine National Po-lice (PNP), Department of Educa-tion (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and various private aca-demic institutions.

The teachers from DepEd will conduct seminars in schools and communities using the Likay Droga module. They will be ac-companied by personnel from the PDEA, PNP, and student vol-unteers.

“I am confident that although it is undeniable that our young people are facing many chal-lenges these days, the local gov-ernment of General Santos City

has taken serious yet fun and di-verse steps in bringing our youth towards better path,” the local chief executive said.

Among these initiatives is the Gensan Summer Youth Festival—a newly launched program festi-val in the city which encourages the youth to harness their skills in sports and the arts.

The festival also educates the youth regarding issues that con-cern them such as premature teenage pregnancy and drug ad-diction.

Around 1,000 youth partici-pants joined this year’s Gensan Summer Youth Festival.

“Let me reiterate to you that my passion and eagerness on programs and initiatives towards youth development will remain my priority. This is because I be-lieve that the local government has a crucial role in providing support, avenue, and opportuni-ty for total development for our younger generation,” Mayor Ri-vera said.

“If we want to make our chil-dren to become good people and good future leaders of our coun-try, then it is our duty to guide them while they are still young,” he added. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

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