One Mindanao - May 11, 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

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]

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)

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

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]

LAYOUT ARTISTS

VICTORIANO B. VILLACRUZ, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

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

NIA bares P159.8M “El Niño funds” for SurSur

DILG backs Gensan Summer Youth Festival

Negosyo Center opens in Gensan

DTI Surigao Norte enjoins LGUs to participate in e-Gov services

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The threat of drugs in Zamboanga

Philippines, British Columbia ink labor agreement

Deles hopes Congress will fulfill promise of meaningful autonomy for Bangsamoro

6 colleges in Oro seek tuition hike

Palad-Palad Festival highlights Bayog town’s 48th founding anniversary

Vice mayor thanks RTC for deferment of writ of demolition

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By: Greg Tataro Jr.

By: IJLagare

By: Rodrigo R. Matabaran

By: OPAPP

By: CdeOSP

By Gideon C. Corgue

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN

NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGENSOUTHERN

NATIONAL

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Sports Academy Bill to pass Senate by June

Palaro hosting enlivens Tagum City

By: Michael Uy

By: Jeanevive D. Abangan

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OUR COVER

Contents

By: Dominic I. Sanchez

4 MAY 11, 2015One Mindanao

Cover Story

threatThe

of

inZamboanga

drugsPart of a policeman’s job is to listen to people’s problems. But one father’s problem, which was shared with the local police chief was unlike any usual concern. The father wanted his son dead.

By: Dominic I. Sanchez

5MAY 11, 2015 One Mindanao

“Mas bueno pa siguro mata ya lang con este bata (maybe it would be better to just kill this boy),” said the father, as Sr. Supt. Angelito C a s i m i r o narrated during a recent meeting with local communicators. “Why would the father want his own son dead?” the police chief asked.

The boy has been addicted to drugs. According to Casimiro, the father shared with him that the boy would steal furniture, appliances, anything from their own home and sell them – just to be able to get shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride) to quench his addiction. The worst part is the boy would hurt his own mother physically, assaulting her on several occasions whenever she refused to give him money for drugs. The boy has become a menace to his own family. Both the father and the mother live in fear that one day, the boy himself

would kill them both.

Seriousness of the problem

The drug problem in the city is very serious. Casimiro shared that a huge chunk of the more or less 200 shooting incidents in the city from 2011 to the present is drug-related. People have been killed because of drugs.

“It penetrates many sectors of society,” said Casimiro. “It’s not a question whether you’re rich or poor – there have been habal-habal drivers, fishermen, teachers, school principals, even doctors, nurses and politicians who either take drugs or are involved in the drug trade business.”

The city jail currently houses


about 1,800 inmates and 60 percent of them are jailed for drugs, shared Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operations and planning chief Marvin Santos in a recent press conference. The jail is severely congested as a result, and another problem arises: “It’s inhuman,” Santos said in relation to the living conditions inside the jail.

Meanwhile, PDEA Regional Director Joseph Ladip said “even when the drug operators are in jail, the drug trade outside still continues. Consequentially, the families of the jailed suspects would carry on with the business. This has become a family thing.”Ladip explained that one of the most common reasons why people go into the drugs business

is because of its profitability, as 100 grams of shabu is sold as much as P100 thousand. “It is easy business,” he said.

An aftermath of the September 2013 siege is the further spread of illegal drugs. Santos said that the siege has caused the loss of income for many residents and large numbers turned to drugs. “Drug

syndicates have chanced upon this opportunity to offer ‘ cons ignments ’ with the victims of the siege,” he explained.

The movement of drugs: From China, Luzon to Zambo Peninsula

According to Ladip, majority of the drugs proliferating in the city and in the neighboring towns come mainly from China. Others come from “clandestine laboratories” particularly in the Luzon area, which are being


manned by Chinese chemists. Many of these laboratories have been shut down by the PDEA and government authorities, and the hunt for others still continues.

The drugs are usually shipped through couriers and would arrive in the city through plane or boat. They are well concealed and would sometimes just pass through terminal x-rays undetected.

Today, the syndicates also use the RORO, buses and public transportation to ship their drugs through unlikely persons – like elderlies and even children.

“They are becoming more unpredictable in their operations,” Santos emphasized recently. “The more ‘hot’ they feel, the more elusive they become.”

Santos enumerated Lower and Upper Calarian, Recodo, Sinunuc, Baliwasan, Suterville and Sta. Catalina as the “hotspots” for the illegal drug trade. Drug syndicates however are moving constantly in other areas to avoid stiff monitoring by authorities, said Santos.

What authorities have been doing

Meanwhile, the PDEA and the local police have been stretching their monitoring and buy-bust operations efforts with significant arrests and developments, risking life and limb in the process.

Last May 5, a certain Nurhana Lao, tagged by PDEA as the city’s “Shabu Queen” was apprehended along with her son Pedimar and niece Maureen in a buy-bust operation in barangay Tetuan. The arrest came after undercover PDEA agents posed to buy 100 grams of shabu from the 54-year-old Lao. According to Santos, the shabu queen is allegedly in control of 85 percent of the drug business in the city.

The local police for its part has been relentless in the fight against the spread of illegal drugs in the city. “We do an average of 48 anti-drug operations in a month,” said Sr. Supt. Casimiro. “If we cannot meet our target for the month, we need to compensate for them the following month.”

The anti-illegal drugs operations of both PDEA


and the police have resulted in numerous apprehensions, for both small-time and big-time dealers.

But these positive developments do not come without a cost.

On Good Friday (April 3), the Ayala Police Station was rocked by an explosion after an unidentified person lodged an improvised explosive device to a pick-up truck within the impounding area. Several passers-by were injured. The police link the incident to the arrest of suspected drug operators in the Recodo area. They are also currently investigating if Lao is involved in that explosion.

Policemen have been constantly receiving death threats.

“They are aware of our efforts, and they are retaliating,” Sr. Supt. Casimiro said.

The drug lords have grown

furious. “Bahala na daw maubos pera nila basta mamatay lang ang pulis (They care more about killing the cops than losing money),” shared Casimiro.

Everyone’s stake

The fight against drugs does not only involve the police, PDEA and other government


bodies. “It must be fought by all,” Casimiro said.

From the homes, to schools, offices and institutions, people should be made aware of its dangers, Casimiro emphasized. Homes were ruined; lives were lost all because of drugs and addiction. “We cannot do this alone,” he appealed.

Government agencies, civil society groups and media together play an important part in the advocacy against the use of drugs.

The parents for one, according to Santos must exert extra effort to monitor their children’s activities away from home, when peer pressure and bad influences often come in throngs. The schools also have a great responsibility to the children, which would come in the form of advocacies against the use of drugs.

The police meanwhile have been pushing for a “drug summit”, which aims to gather all stakeholders in an advocacy campaign

on the dangers of drugs.

The drugs business, like any other exists because of its demand. “When we cut off the demand, we destroy their business,” Santos said.

Asked if the war on drugs still has hope, Santos replied: “Yes, there is. Give us time.”


Filipinos in Canada lauds with Aquino’s leadership, governance

VANCOUVER, Canada - Members of the Filipino community in Canada hailed President Benigno S. Aquino III’s effective leadership and commitment to transparency and good governance.


During a meeting with the Filipino community here Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer said Filipinos here in Canada are impressed with the “significant accomplishments” under the Aquino administration.

“The community is impressed with your effective leadership and commitment to transparency and good governance. They are proud of the country’s strong economic growth and achievements,” Ferrer said.

“The community here shares your passion for inclusive growth and development and would like to see the country’s economic gains to be sustained in the years to come,” he added.

Ferrer also said the business and international community in this region also recognized the Aquino administration’s

accomplishments, citing that some of the Canadian companies and enterprises based in British Columbia already have investments in the country and “are looking towards expanding these investments.”

President Aquino wrapped up his 3-day state visit to Canada with a meeting with the members of the Filipino community living and working in Vancouver before flying back to Manila.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia said President Aquino’s meeting with the members of the Filipino community “is a recognition of the outstanding contribution of the overseas Filipinos” in the country.

“It is also a testament of the Philippine government’s commitment to promote the welfare and advance the interests of all our kababayans overseas,”


Ambassador Garcia told Filipino-Canadians here.

“Despite being away from home, they have not forgotten our country. In times of great tragedy like Typhoon Haiyan, they quickly mobilized their resources and gave immense contributions to the relief and rehabilitation efforts,” she said.

“As Filipinos we keep looking back and keep giving back to our families and communities back in the Philippines. This is why

Filipinos here value good and upright governance back home and are very comforted by your leadership and steadfast pursuit for the straight and righteous path,” she added.

President Aquino and his official delegation returned to Manila Saturday evening (Sunday in Manila) after completing a successful 3-day state visit to Canada from May 7 to 9 and one-day working visit to Chicago, USA, on May 6. (PCOO/PND (co)


Philippines, British Columbia ink labor agreement

VANCOUVER, Canada - The Philippines and the Province of British Columbia (BC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at improving the plight of Filipinos here.


President Benigno S. Aquino III and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark witnessed the signing of the MOU Concerning Cooperation in Human Resource Deployment and Development.

The cooperation was signed by Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and British Columbia Minister for International Trade Teresa Wat in a simple ceremony at Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver.

The labor agreement affirms the strong friendship and growing ties between the Philippines and the Province of British Columbia.

The MOU aims to facilitate the employment and deployment of Filipino workers in British Columbia to meet labor needs as identified by BC’s labor market information.

The cooperation also aims

to enforce existing regulations to protect the workers and promote sound, ethical, and equitable recruitment and employment practices.

The MOU is also expected to strengthen collaborative effort to eliminate barriers on the certification, recognition, and matching of skills and qualifications of Filipinos in accordance with the requirements set by BC regulations.

Through the Philippine-Province of British Columbia MOU, Filipino workers who wish to permanently work and immigrate to BC will be assisted. (PCOO/PND (co)


Deles hopes Congress will fulfill promise of meaningful autonomy for Bangsamoro

MANILA - As members of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) cast their votes on the draft law, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Monday called on legislators to fulfill their historic role in bringing good governance, peace, prosperity and security in Mindanao through the passage of the BBL.


“The Philippines is faced with the historic opportunity to finally fulfill the Constitutional mandate and promise of true autonomy; bring to an end four decades of violent conflict in Mindanao; install and strengthen democratic institutions to overcome deprivation and lawlessness; and collectively embrace and celebrate the richness of our multiple identities, cultures, and narratives,” said Deles in a statement.

Ad Hoc Committee chair and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the three-day voting on the BBL will start today and it is expected that by Thursday (May 14), the committee will be able to endorse the measure to the plenary for floor debates and a final vote.

Rodriguez added that the committee will vote section by section on all the 244 sections of the BBL and assured the public of the transparency on the manner of voting.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte had earlier expressed confidence that the committee will be able to pass the proposed measure as scheduled.

Deles pointed out that fulfilling the promise for a genuine autonomy in the Bangsamoro is an opportunity given to the members of the Lower Chamber in their lifetime.

“I hope and pray that our legislators will wholeheartedly claim -- and not deny nor squander -- their key role in fulfilling this opportunity that may not come again within our lifetime,” the peace adviser said.

She also emphasized that the constituencies in the Bangsamoro need a law that will embody their best hopes for the future of their children.

“We need a BBL that will embody our best hopes and not give in to our worst fears. In the coming vote on the BBL, please let the children be the focus of attention and concern -- their lives, their future -- the children of Mamasapano equally with the children of Metro Manila,” said Deles.

Various civil society organizations (CSOs) and peace advocacy groups have also trooped to the HOR to lobby Congress to pass the BBL. (PNA)

Region 10 finalist in ‘Tatak TESDA Video Making Contest Year 2’CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Good News! The video entries of region 10 for the ‘Tatak TESDA Video Making Contest Year 2’ for both categories (individual and school) have been included in the National Level Top 20 Finalists.

By Honey Analou E. Doña

For the individual category, entry sender is Faith Q. Baldonado, a graduate of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) with the course Mechatronics Servicing NC III and

Instrumentation and Control Servicing NC II. At present, she is now working with MSU-IIT as an instructor. For the school category, entry sender is the school itself – MSU-IIT. Featured in


their video is Roque B. Requino who is a graduate and a holder of National Certificates for Electrical Installation and Maintenance and Instrumentation and Control Servicing. Requino is now also working at MSU-IIT. The Tatak TESDA Video Making Contest Year 2 seeks to promote technical vocational education and training to Filipinos, especially among the youth, as a viable option to attain better opportunities in life. It is designed to boost TESDA’s efforts to remove the stigma or the second-

rate status assigned to tech-voc courses in the country. Through the success stories of tech-voc graduates, more Filipinos will be encouraged to take the path to tech-voc. The video entries are posted in Facebook for public viewing and voting to determine the People’s Choice Award. Everyone is encouraged to check the video and like. Only the “Likes” received from the time of posting until 12:00 noon of May 11, 2015 shall be considered for the award.

6 colleges in Oro seek tuition hikeCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The City Council committee on education chaired by Councilor Adrian Barba will soon deliberate on the letter from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) informing that six out of 20 or 30% of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the city have applied for an increase in their tuition and other school fees for SY 2015-2016. for SY 2015-2016. These include Southern de Oro Philippines College which applied for an increase of 15% for its tuition and miscellaneous fee; Xavier University, 6%; Capitol University and Liceo de Cagayan University, 5% increase for both tuition and miscellaneous fees; Cagayan de Oro College, 4% for

tuition fee; and Lourdes College, 3% for its tuition fee only. The committee will also tackle the request of Punong Barangay Sunshine Obsioma of Taglimao for the conduct of a relocation survey of Lot No. 20777 which will be used as site of Taglimao National High School.(ELB/CdeOSP)


Vice mayor thanks RTC for deferment of writ of demolition CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Cagayan de Oro City vice mayor is thanking Presiding Judge of Branch 25, Regional Trial Court (RTC) for the deferment of the implementation of Writ of Demolition at the lot occupied by the Cagayan Integrated Landless Residents Association, Inc. in Barangays Puntod and Macabalan for 35 days. Through Resolution No. 12025-2015, the City Council during its regular session on Monday requested for the extension of the deferment of the implementation of the Writ of Demolition, which expired last April 27, 2015. The order, released by Presiding Judge Arthur L. Abundiente dated April 29, 2015, a copy of which was received by the office of the vice mayor, grants the request of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cagayan de Oro, as well as the Motion to Defer the implementation of the Writ of Demolition for reasons of equality, and to give the city government of Cagayan de Oro sufficient time to finish constructing the houses in the relocation site. “The Motion to Defer the implementation of the Writ of Demolition, as well as the request of the Office of the City Vice Mayor was heard in the morning of April 29, 2015. In order to give the NHA

and the ATCO Enterprises the opportunity to present its side, Atty. Antonio Amarga appeared for NHA and the Intervenors while Atty. Ramon Tabor and Atty. Edgar Cabanlas appeared for the city of Cagayan de Oro, which this Court accepted although not a party litigant, but as parens patria of the defendants,” the order read in part. Councilor Tabor reported on Monday that the 90-day period given by the court for the deferment of the demolition ended last April 27, 2015.ONSITE Vice Mayor Ceasar Ian Acenas expresses hopes that there can be negotiations with the lot owners for a possible onsite relocation site in the affected areas. In this way, he said the status and livelihood of members of CILRAI and the education of their children will not be affected.(CdeOSP)

Duterte reminds taxi driv-ers, finders on honesty

DAVAO CITY-Mayor Ro-drigo Duterte told taxi operators to provide their drivers with loose change readily avail-able in their transaction with passengers. Speaking in the public affairs program, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” He said loose change is a must for drivers to have an oper-ating fund in the course of their job. Duterte stressed drivers must give the change since passengers have the right to sue them either for estafa or theft if they failed to do so. Duterte said drivers must return to the pas-senger, any excess of the amount paid to the ser-vice rendered.He said making excuses or mambo-jambo may not lead to arrest due to traffic violation, but an arrest due to estafa under Revised Penal Code 318 which is other deceits 1, 2, 3, for get-ting away with someone

else’s money. “It carries a penalty of two years and one day to six years and three months,” Duterte pointed out. He said even finding valuables and then ap-propriating them for one self can be looked upon as theft. Duterte said on recovered items, find-ers can report them to the police with the re-covery reported on the police blotter with the corresponding name of the policeman, either the station commander or the deputy station com-mander noted on the report. Earlier, he lauded three athletes who hail from Davao Region dur-ing the latest’s Palarong Pambansa for honesty, after they returned to authorities P50,000 cash while practicing their event. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)


Sports Academy Bill to pass Senate by June

DAVAO DEL NORTE - Davao del Norte District 1 Congressman An-thony del Rosario hoped that bill establishing the Davao Sports Academy at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City will pass the Senate before its recess on June 11. “We are actually hoping that the approval of the bill will come before the start of the Palaro but because of what happened in the country like the Mamasapano and so on and so forth, it was delayed,” Del Rosario said. Cong. Del Rosario said that Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports as-sured him that bill will be approved in the plenary before the recess. But the good things is, it is al-ready approved in the Senate Com-

mitte on Sports; so we are just waiting for the bill to approve in the plenary,” he said. The Davao Sports Acad-emy bill will firm the dream of his father Governor Rodolfo del Rosario to place Davao del Norte as the sports capital of the region. According to the bill, it will institutionalize the provision of support to enable potential ath-letes to combine their sport and academic/working careers while training intensively in pursuit of

world class sports excellence. Meanwhile, Congressman Del Rosario said that he got positive feedbacks and praises for the con-duct of Palarong Pambansa 2015 at the province of Davao del Norte on May 3-9. “I really can’t say if we did good or not because I was only here dur-ing the opening and the closing (pro-grams). But what I’ve been hearing around are positive feedbacks and praises especially from the Deped. Hopefully, totoo ang mga sinasabi nila sa akin (Hopefully, what they’ve been telling me are true),” he said. (PIA11, Michael Uy)


Palaro hosting enlivens Tagum City

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, May 08 (PIA)—Tagum City gets a big boost being the host of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. It reaps much economic gains drawn from the Palaro while it shoul-ders 80 percent of the burden of providing the billeting sites to about 11,000 Palaro delegates. Tagum City Mayor Allan Rel-lon in a press conference revealed having noted that hotel rooms were filled to maximum capacity, trans-portation services grew in demand, church-goers increased in number, and micro and underground en-

trepreneurs gained more. In going around the city, he even got feedback how a small school canteen earned P12,000 to P15,000 a day from purchases of Palaro del-egates. “We in-vested so much effort, time and talent to make this Palaro the best ever,” he said citing the

aspiration of Davao dle Norte Provin-cial Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario. “I think we made it; the common feedback is positive,” he added. The city government allotted about P14 million budget to meet the requirements of hosting the stay of Palaro delegates in schools tapped as billeting areas. The city government bought water pumps, stainless water tanks, among others. Of the 30 billeting sites for Pal-aro delegates, 16 were in Tagum City.


These were Tagum City National High School, Mangga Elementary School, Apokon Elementary School, Laureta Elemetnaty School, Laureta High School, Magugpo Pilot Elementary School, Don Ricardo Briz Elementary School, Magugpo Pilot Elementary School, Tagum National Comprehen-sive High School, La Filipina National High School, La Filipina Elemen-tary School, University of Mindanao Tagum College, Bethel UCCP Learn-ing Center, Jose Tuason Jr. Memorial High School, Madaum Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School. Schools in Tagum City also opened doors for Palaro technical officials who were billeted in Tagum National Trade School, Visayan Vil-lage Elementary School, Mankilam Elementary School, Union Elemen-tary School, St. Mary’s College. The daily spending of visitors, guests and parents added to the consumption of about 11,000 Palaro delegates, was enough to stir vigor of the city’s economy. The mush-rooming micro enterprises inside and outside the Davao del Norte Sports and Toursim Complex spelled much money in circulation. What used to be sleepy Provincial Capitol lane in Mankilam Tagum City teemed at its side with a number of food outlets, souvenir stores and even sari sari stores. The Provincial Capitol area came alive with so many tricycle units plying to and fro the national

highway and the bus terminal of Tagum City. Vendors brushed each other’s shoulders as they went on hawking bottled water, colas, snack food to thirsty and hungry spectators and athletes. On the other hand, Governor del Rosario estimated that some P100 million was circulating in Tagum City and in nearby towns, and that even the city of Davao benefited from the influx of guests, visitors and Palaro athletes. He based his estimates on the P1,000 daily allowance given to the Palaro delegate in their 10-day stay in Tagum City. With 20,000 esti-mated number of athletic delegates, guests, visitors and parents, much money was circulated in the local economy. No wonder, Tagum City became much alive as economic ac-tivities become brisk during the Pal-arong Pambansa. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

DOLE extends aid to balut vendors in TacurongBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat May 11 -- At least 50 balut (fertilizes duck egg) vendors in Tacurong City will soon be peddling their baluts in mobile stalls.

The local government unit of Tacurong City announced today that the Depart-ment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12 will hand out P749,000 worth of livelihood assistance the Tacurong City Balut Vendors Association with 50 members.

The aid, the report continues, will be in a form of NegoKart (mobile stalls) which will be granted to the beneficiaries under the DOLE - Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP)

The LGU, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO), lobbied for said assis-tance in 2014.

According to Mayor Lina O. Montilla, she was compelled to take action because she saw the need first-hand.

“Every afternoon when I leave the city hall, I would see these balut vendors un-loading all their instruments and merchan-dize, which they do daily,” Mayor Lina Mon-tilla, shared.

With the amount that DOLE 12 extended, the LGU will purchase and customize mobile stalls for the balut vendors.


Mayor Montilla received the check for the livelihood assis-tance from DOLE XII Regional Director Ofelia Domingo at the DOLE Regional Office in Koro-nadal City on May 6.

Mayor Montilla was joined by City Accountant Elma Bides, LGU PESO In Charge Allan Fre-no, and City Treasury staff Wil-fredo Asuzena.

Also present during the turn-over of check were DOLE Sultan Kudarat Field Officer Edwin Mo-rales, Senior Labor Employment Officer Domingo Baron, and DOLE XII DILEEP Focal Person

Mary Grace Pauya.Montilla shared the good news

to the balut vendors during the launching of DSWD’s BUB-Fund-ed Sustainable Livelihood Pro-gram in Tacurong on Thursday, May 7. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from LGU-Tacurong City Information)


DILG backs Gensan Summer Youth FestivalGENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 11 – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memoran-dum Monday (May 4) encouraging the youth sector from the 26 barangays of this city to participate in the coming Gensan Summer Youth Festival.

The memorandum was is-sued by DILG City Director Atty. Rochelle Sero. It was is-sued in support of Resolution No. 2014 passed by the Sang-guniang Panlungsod on April 28 which requires barangay officials to bring interested youth from their area to the summer festi-val.

The SP resolution pointed out that the Gensan Summer Youth Festival, as anchored in the R.A. 8044 or Youth in Nation-Building Act, was enacted by the city government to ensure the full participation of the youth by mobilizing their skills and tal-ents through meaningful civic activities.

The festival—an initiative of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera—is divided into three major compo-nents: youth convergence, sum-merlympics, and youth and the arts.

“This activity is very unique because we can teach the youth the things that are not really taught in school, as useful skills

in life,” Atty. Sero said.“What I really like in the Sum-

mer Youth Festival is that we can equip the younger genera-tion to be our future leaders. We are like passing the torch to them,” Sero emphasized.

She also revealed that she will also be participating in the Gensan Summer Youth Festival, specifically in a sub-event called the Balay Tinun-anan (Learning House).

In the Balay Tinun-anan, dif-ferent partner agencies of the local government in the Sum-mer Youth Festival such as the Philippine National Police will conduct lectures regarding the functions of their offices and how the youth can access their services.

Sero said, she will lecture on the functions of the DILG.

The Gensan Summer Youth Festival is now in its second year.

It will start on May 11 and will end on May 22. But some activi-ties, like basketball games and


Negosyo Center opens in Gensan

other ball games have already started on May 1 and will con-tinue until the end of the month.

The city government is al-ready planning to institutionalize the Gensan Summer Youth Fes-tival and make it an annual cel-ebration of the city—aside from the Kalilangan, Tuna Festival, Yaman Gensan, and Paskuhan sa Gensan.

According to City Population and Management Office head Judith Janiola, the SP is now drafting an ordinance that will make Gensan Summer Youth

Festival at par with the other festivities here in the city.

“When that happens, it will create a big impact to the lo-cal government as well as of the youth sector. It will really reflect the advocacy of Mayor Rivera to empower and organize the youth,” Janiola said.

Part of the budget for the Summer Youth Festival came from the 10 percent of the Sangguniang Kabataan Fund as embodied in the Youth Develop-ment Plan. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY May 12 - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has opened its first Negosyo Center in Gensan Tuesday, May 5, to further strengthen the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the city.

The Negosyo Center is a stra-tegic hub to educate interested entrepreneurs on how to suc-cessfully run a business pursu-ant to the Go Negosyo Act which took effect last January.

Specifically, the Negosyo Cen-ter will be providing services such as skills training, easier ac-cess to market information, and business registration assistance for MSMEs.

Dorecita Delima, DTI 12 as-sistant regional director, sad LGU-Gensan will detail some of

its employees to the Negosyo Center to assist entrepreneurs in the business registration pro-cess.

“We do not only assist clients in their business registration; there is much more. We can as-sist them with the help of Mayor Rivera and his support to the Negosyo Center,” Delima said.

DTI Undersecretary of Re-gional Operations Group (ROG) Zenaida Maglaya, who graced the event, emphasized that the Negosyo Center is a means to


create more jobs as it as-sists hundreds of entrepreneurs to set up and run small busi-nesses.

“We want to make sure that we can come up with Negosyo Center that will be open and will continuously be working to as-sist the entrepreneurs,” Maglaya stated.

She commended Mayor Rivera for his efforts to strengthen the business atmosphere of Gensan and cited the city as an “eco-nomic trailblazer.”

“Gensan is considered as one of the fastest developing region-al trade and commercial hubs,” she said, citing the 2014 Cit-ies and Municipalities Competi-tiveness Index of the National Competitiveness Council where Gensan ranked 12th in the most competitive cities and 5th in economic dynamism.

Meanwhile Mayor Rivera vowed that the city LGU will continue its thrust to develop and diversify the economy of the city.

“It is our direction in the lo-cal government to improve the economy of the city, as well as help our entrepreneurs to have more opportunity here,” he said.

The Negosyo Center is now housed in the former DTI – 12

National Economic Research and Business Assistance Cen-ter (NERBAC) office along South Osmeña Street.

NERBAC has been transferred to the DTI – 12 Regional Office in Koronadal City.

There are already eight Nego-syo Centers established in the country. These are located in Cagayan, Iloilo, Daet, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Kalibo, and General Santos. (IJ Lagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA)

Butuan: Kadyawon on its 28th Balangay Festival By: Daisy M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY - The Filipino culture had been considered as one of the joyous and colorful ethnicities because our archipelagic country has plenty of festivals and celebrations to offer for the world to celebrate with. And amid this scorching summer heat of May, our beloved Butuan City is celebrating its 28th Balangay Festival.


The City Tourism Office and the City Tourism Council through the Butuan City Arts, Culture, Tourism and Sports (BC ACTS) Council Inc., being the organizers, have lined up several activities that will surely turn the city into a jam-packed funhouse. Highlights of the month-long festival are the opening day on May 1, which had been done with a motorcade from City Hall to Guingona Park. Not only were the eyes of spectators satisfied with the sight Butuan beauties during the Mutya Hong Butuan introduction was done. But also with all the Butuanon pride materials and products presented at the trade. People had ridden to their heart’s contents also at the carnival fair. The day had been sealed with a magical display of fireworks. The Balik Butuan Dinner Reception on May 12 which will cater and welcome back all

Butuanon balikbayans, definitely a night of nostalgia for all participants. Another enjoyable major event is on May 15 where the Kaliwatan Fun Walk: Tree Nurturing will be held. One of the most awaited affairs where the city’s muses show their beauties, talents and wits to win one prestigious crown, the Mutya Hong Butuan Pageant and Coronation Night is on May 18 at the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) gym. Balangay Float Parade which will be participated by LGUs, NGOs, other city stakeholders and barangays is on May 19. The gigantic and thunderous parade will be held at the streets of City Hall grounds to the Sports Complex. Excited for all these and other fun-filled events? Well, what are you waiting for? Come and join the fun kay ato ini, kadyawon ta! (this is ours, let’s nurture it!)

NIA bares P159.8M “El Niño funds” for SurSur By: Greg Tataro Jr.TANDAG CITY - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) through the Provincial Irrigation Management Office (PIMO) here bared a total amount of P159,876,550 intended for the purchase and installation of 104 units of water pumps in order to cushion the impact of El Niño in Surigao del Sur.


Engr. Dexter Sablaon, PIMO chief, said this is contained in the “List of Projects for El Niño Funds” to be implemented province-wide. A total of fourteen municipalities where various irrigation systems or projects are found have been identified for the installation of said units,

it was learned. Sablaon clarified that projects will come either in the form of centrifugal type/surface pumps or shallow tube wells (STWs) to be used as “back-up” source for mostly communal irrigation systems (CIS); the rest for national irrigation systems (IS). The remainder of the funds will be used for canal construction, he added. In the meantime, the PIMO manager advised farmers to plant early so palay can

be harvested by the month of August. Program of Works (POWs) has already been approved of irrigation systems/projects with water pumps while the others are undergoing preparation, Sablaon remarked.

DTI Surigao Norte enjoins LGUs to participate in e-Gov servicesSURIGAO CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office enjoins the local government units (LGUs) to participate the Capability Building on Electronic Government (e-Gov) Services on May 13, 2015 at Almont Hotel, JC Aquino Avenue, Butuan City.

By: Rodrigo R. Matabaran


The activity is sponsored by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) in cooperation with DTI – Caraga and the Regional Competitiveness Committee of the Caraga Regional Development Council. The purpose of the activity is to promote the use of electronic-based automated system to improve efficiency on the delivery of government services particularly in the business registration and licensing. All Business Permits and Licensing Officers (BPLOs), their staff as well as LGUs Information Technology (IT) technical officers are encouraged to join the said activity.

Experts from the Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philhealth and Pag-IBIG will be invited to introduce and present the new electronic service facilities and demonstrate to participants how it works. Registration to the Capability Building on Electronic Governance Services is free. Those who are interested to join the roadshow can contact DTI Regional Office through email to [email protected]; fax or call at 085-815-1271on or before May 11, 2015 or through DTI Surigao del Norte Provincial Office at 826-2373.

Zambo economy bullish, says city investment officerBy Dominic I. Sanchez

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city’s economy has notably been on the rise, as more investments, malls, trade opportunities and business ventures are continuously moving in.


According to City Investment and Promotions Officer Apple Go recently, the city’s economic climate looks “very promising”.“We have many applications for new businesses, and these are aside from the new malls that are being constructed here,” Go said. Recently, the Yubenco local mall chain has opened another establishment in barangay Tetuan, adding to the two already existing in Putik and in Suterville. Three more malls are under construction and nearing completion namely CityMall in Tetuan and Guiwan and the KCC Mall along Governor Camins avenue. Both CityMalls cover a total of approximately two hectares, while KCC mall covers 3.5 hectares. KCC will be the biggest mall in the city when completed. CityMall is a subsidiary of CityMall Commercial Centers, which is also an affiliate of the SM investments Corporation. KCC, which stands for Koronadal Commercial Center has two other malls located in General Santos City and Koronadal City. KCC Mall has released the possible tenants on its Facebook page, which include new franchises in the city such as the National Bookstore, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Yellowcab, Krispy Kreme, Folded and Hung, Lacoste, Samsun and others. KCC Mall may be open within the year. Meanwhile, residents have been clamoring for an SM mall

in Zamboanga. In a news article published in the Philippine Star’s website on April 16, SM Prime’s president Hans Sy has hinted about an expansion in Mindanao, which will include Zamboanga City. “We have property in Zamboanga,” Sy said. He said that as prerequisite for putting up malls, the demand for them must be high. “If the market wants it, then we should really go into it. And I think the market wants it now.”


Palad-Palad Festival, which is held yearly showcases tribal dance and music with the participants in indigenous costumes.

Bayog, a third class municipality located some 78 kilometers from Pagadian City, became the 29th municipality of the province on May 8, 1967, by virtue of Republic Act No.

4872 authored by the then congressman Vincenso Sagun.

Mayor Leonadro Babasa Jr. said the town’s 28 barangays, which are grouped into four clusters participated in the festival, each depicting the culture, tradition and way of life of the tribes living in the municipality through dances.

Almost 300 dancers composed mostly of high school students dressed in colorful and outlandish costumes show off their dancing skills to the delight of the audience.

Palad-Palad Festival highlights Bayog town’s 48th founding anniversaryBy Gideon C. Corgue

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur – The municipality of Bayog marked its 48th founding anniversary on Friday featuring street dancing competition locally known as “Palad-Palad Festival.”


In the three-hour showdown, cluster 2 barangays-Kahayagan, Dipili Pulangbato, Dimalinao, Bantal, Liba, and Conacon-emerged as grand prize winner, taking home P80 thousand.

Cluster 4 consists of Balukbahan, Bobuan, Caoayan, Datagan, Deprorehan, Matin-ao and Sigacad bagged the second prize of P60 thousand.

Cluster 3, which comprises Poblacion, Matun-og, Camp Blessing, Supon, Kanipaan, Baking and Dagum was declared second runner up and took home P40 thousand.

While Cluster 1, composed San Isidro, Depore. Balumbunan, Lamare, Salawagan, Damit and Depore, was adjudged third runner up and received P30 thousand.

Cluster 2 was chosen by the judges as best in headdress, while the 19 year-old Sheena Mejares of cluster 4 was chosen as festival queen.

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