One Mindanao - May 27, 2014

A beauty queen with a big heart Gideon C. CorgueWESTERN MINDANAO TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 186

President observes Navy’s capability demonstration in Palawan naval station

NATIONAL

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CARAGA REGIONSOUTHERN MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

CENTRAL MINDANAO

67,000 registrants in S. Cotabato lack biometric data – Comelec

BFP-ARMM to hire 200 new firemen CSC announces conduct of Career Service for Foreign Service Officer exam

DSWD to extend age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children

DPWH in SurSur does job for ‘Balik Eskwela’

Mabini PNP Chief: Shooting in media man’s house not profession-related

More than 2,500 Ozamiznons benefit from city gov’t program

Health research awards up for grabs

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Information to Empower Filipinos

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WESTERN MINDANAO

Michael Uy

Danilo E. Doguiles

Oliver Ross Rivera

Tess Superioridad Baluyos

Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Stella Maris Barlisan

Jocelyn P. Alvarez

Greg tataro, Jr.

A beauty queen with a big heart

No one would ever think that a beauty queen has a big heart for the poor especially those who became victims to Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) that hit the Visayas in November last year.

Miss Kallula Razonado Dixon, 25, Filipino-British who was crowned Miss United Kingdom-Philippines in 2013, recently visited Pagadian City,

her mother’s hometown and spoke to the members of the fourth estate in a press conference arranged by the City Tourism Office at the Executive Function Hall right at the City Mayor’s Office. Miss Dixon, who made her first visit to the city, told the press that she was moved with great compassion upon seeing on television the

unimaginable devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda in November last year in the Visayas, prompting her to spearhead fund-raising activities to help the victims.

Representing Pagadian “We are delighted that Dixon brought honor and glory to our city by representing Pagadian in the

by Gideon C. Corgue

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prestigious beauty pageant in London,” said Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu, as she welcomed the beauty queen. For his part, Councilor Bienvenido Culve who represented Mayor Romeo Pulmones in welcoming the beauty queen expressed elation over Dixon’s visit to the city. “We are very much proud that a beautiful y o u n g lady, the r e i g n i n g Miss UK-Philippines 2 0 1 3 visited our place,” Culve declared. Miss Dixon was the second beauty queen to visit Pagadian, following 1995 Miss Philippines International, Gladys Dueñas, whose roots are also traceable to this city. She visited here right after she won the title.

Beautiful name Miss Dixon is the daughter of Marietta Razonado, a Filipina, and John Jin, a British. Marietta is a native of Pagadian City. She met John Jin, an employee of National Power Corporation in Leyte when she was then working in Cebu

City. After that, they got married. The couple went to England where they raised their three children - 2 daughters and a son – of whom Kalulla is the youngest.

Marietta said they gave her the name “Kallula,”

which is a Latin word that means

beautiful.Committed to help Yolanda victims A f t e r winning the title, Dixon expressed h e r

commitment to provide

assistance to the victims of

Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as

Yolanda, by holding fund raising activities for the victims. Dixon said her heart broke whenever she saw on the television the destruction wrought by the supertyphoon, leaving almost 10 thousand people perished, billions of infrastructure damaged and most of the survivors homeless.“I am deeply saddened by the great devastation wrought by supertyphoon Yolanda in Central Visayas. Thousands of Filipino people lost their lives and homes, and even their livelihood,”

Dixon

said.For the b e a u t y q u e e n , the natural disaster did not dampen her spirit. Instead, it encouraged her to stay strong by raising funds for the victims.“Though I am thousands of miles away from the victims, I initiated a fund raising activity to help them,” stressed the beauty queen who now serves as account manager in Newcastle adding, “I want to be part of the relief effort in deference to my Filipino heritage.”

Tourism industry Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Yu sought the assistance of the beauty queen in helping promote the tourism industry in the city to create more job opportunities here. Yu was hopeful that Dixon’s visit to the city would help provide job

opportunities for unemployed college graduates through job placement here or abroad. Dixon said she would facilitate

the request of the vice mayor to her boss of the company she is

working. “As a half

Filipino, I’ll be willing to extend help to my fellow Pagad ianon ’s by doing charity work and assist u n e m p l o y e d graduates to work abroad

to improve their quality of life,” she

concluded.

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Across the NationPhilippines might elevate violations of agreement to ASEAN, says President Aquino

Vietnam, Malaysia, China and other countries are building or improving facilities in islands or atolls they claim, which President Aquino

said is a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea agreed by the ASEAN and China in 2002.

President Benigno S. Aquino III said Tuesday he is against developments being done by other claimant countries in the

South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and that the Philippines might bring the issue to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

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“We brought this up and we will be bringing it up again before the ASEAN and probably also in ITLOS,” the President said in an interview during the celebration of the Philippine Navy’s 116th anniversary here in Palawan.

If the Philippines follows suit and builds its own facilities in the contested territories, the country will be guilty of violating the spirit of the 2002 declaration, he said.

Claimant countries agreed in 2002 not to inhabit previously uninhabitable areas and maintain the status quo to prevent the escalation of tensions, he said.

Reading a portion of the declaration, the President said: “The parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability...”

This includes refraining from inhabiting the uninhabited island, reef, shoals, and other features, and countries must handle their differences in a constructive manner, he said.

China’s reclamation activities in the Mabini Reef are obviously a violation of the declaration, he said.

The President said he is alarmed by

unconfirmed reports of recent clashes in the Paracel Islands involving China and Vietnam. The reports said a Vietnamese vessel was sunk by China.

In the recent ASEAN meeting in Myanmar, President Aquino said he joined dialogues expressing alarm over the developments in the contested areas.

“Naaalarma tayo dito at sumama tayo sa panawagan na meron nga tayong usapan, nandun na nga sa DOC, iyong sa pag-i-increase ng tension,” he said.

“Nandun nga iyong lahat na nagsabi, ‘will conform to international law,’ lahat nagsabi ng ‘peaceful negotiations’ at tayo ay nababahala na bakit ganito ang nangyaring mga developments.”

In his recent meeting with President Aquino, Vietnamese Prime Minister Tan Dung reported that the number of Chinese vessels in the Paracel Islands has increased to more than 100.

Asked by reporters how the country would respond in case it encounters similar problems, the president said government agencies and the Department of National Defense are constantly monitoring the situation and will respond accordingly. PND

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The Navy’s anniversary, held for the first time at the Naval Forces West, Naval Station Carlito Cunanan, aimed to showcase the Navy’s future plans to develop and improve its forward operating base in Palawan, facing the West Philippine Sea.

In an interview during the occasion, the President denied that the holding of the event in Puerto Princesa has anything to do with the country’s recent row with China.

Despite their differences, the Philippines is still pursuing better relations with China, he said.

The Navy is improving its facilities in Palawan given the

strategic location of the Naval Station Carlito Cunanan, he said.

He noted that the Navy could save money and fuel, and reduce harm to the environment if it operates from a strategic location such as the naval station in Puerto Princesa.

“This is our closest geographical facility to an area where we have a lot of interest,” he said.

“And instead of delaying the ability of our forces to respond to anything, be it a man-made or a natural disaster, it is logical to put them in a position where they can address the particular issue at the soonest possible time,” he added. PND

President observes Navy’s capability demonstration in Palawan naval station

President Benigno S. Aquino III attended a capability demonstration of the Naval Forces West (NFW) Command

Center during the Philippine Navy’s 116th anniversary celebration here Tuesday.

10MAY2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |

Mindanao river basin master plan secures inter-regional support

Three regional development councils in Mindanao endorsed the implementation of the Mindanao River Basin (MRB) master plan,

paving the way for its operationalization and the eventual creation of an institution that will manage, rehabilitate, and develop the river basin and its resources.

The Regional Development Councils of Regions X and XII as well as the Regional Economic Development and Planning Board (REDPB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) submitted separate resolutions endorsing the master plan and pushing for the creation of the MRB Management Council.

Resolution No. 4, Series of 2014, Resolution No. 81, Series of 2013,

and ARMM REDPB Resolution No. 06 were passed by the regional development councils of regions X, XII, and ARMM respectively.

“These developments will concretize efforts to come up with sustainable but environmentally-sound solutions to the recurring problems within the river basin such as the perennial flooding of the towns and provinces in the area,” said Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao


Mindanao river basin master plan secures inter-regional support

Development Authority (MinDA). She added that the MRB master plan

is a result of a two-year study conducted from 2010-2012 by Woodfields Consultants, Inc. (WCI) with the support of the departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government, National Irrigation Administration, and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). The study sought for the long-term rehabilitation and development of the river basin.

The DENR-River Basin Coordinating Office (DENR-RBCO) commissioned the study, while MinDA, through MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program facilitated for the approval and endorsement of the master plan by the regional development councils.

In July 2011, Executive Order No. 50 transferred the tasks and functions of the Presidential Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development to regular government agencies which include MinDA, DENR-RBCO, and the National Risk Reduction Management Council-OCD.

With a total catchment area of 21,503 square kilometers, the MRB is the second largest river basin in the country encompassing large areas of three regions in Central Mindanao.

Recognizing the fact that the MRB spans multiple regions and provinces, the master plan also recommends the creation of the MRB management council to coordinate and provide directions on the effective and efficient management and development of

the river basin and its resources. The proposed river basin council

will be composed of representatives from the concerned provincial and local government units, national government agencies, river basin and LGU alliances, non-government organizations and the private sector.

“A multi-stakeholder and collaborative approach in the implementation of sustainable solutions is eyed to respond to limitations posed by geo-political boundaries and administrative jurisdictions in addressing river basin issues,” said Marcia Isip, executive director of the DENR-RBCO.

She added “this setup ensures that all efforts and initiatives to rehabilitate and develop the MRB are well-coordinated and with a cohesiveness of objectives.”

Isip said the endorsement of the master plan by all three regional development councils is seen to ease the perennial flooding and improve the overall condition of the river basin.

Last year, P6.97 billion worth of flood control projects within the MRB were included in DPWH’s 2014 budget, providing long-term solutions to flooding in areas around the Rio Grande de Mindanao and its tributaries. The projects, which are in their pre-construction phase are designed to mitigate recurring flooding within the river basin.

“We are optimistic that these projects will not only solve problems of flooding but also help accelerate socioeconomic growth and development in the area,” she said.


PIA, DENR to hold regional orientation on climate change advocacy for information officersBy Claro A. Lanipa

PAGADIAN CITY – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 will hold a regional orientation on climate change advocacy campaign for information officers tomorrow (May 28) at Four Queens Resort, this city. Some 30 information officers representing the different Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) and Provincial Environment and

Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) together with the Provincial Information Center Managers of PIA from all over the region are expected to attend the said activity. Prior to the orientation proper, DENR-9 Regional Director Arleigh J. Adorable and PIA-9 Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga will deliver their respective messages in the opening program. Mr. Rosevirico Tan, chief of the DENR-9’s Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO) will present the Climate Change Advocacy (Perspective Change), while Mr. Cidur S. Julsadjiri, chief of the Protected Areas & Wildlife Division (PAWD) and PIA Director Noemi B. Edaga will present and Regional Communication Plan and


PIA, DENR to hold regional orientation on climate change advocacy for information officers

Regional IEC Implementation Plan on Climate Change, respectively. To give the participants a glimpse on the impact of global warming, a one-hour documentary film entitled “Chasing Ice” will also be shown during the session. On the other hand, the Regional

Development Council (RDC)-9 Task Force on Climate Change chaired by the DENR will also convene in the afternoon of the same day to reactivate and discuss the duties and functions of the different task groups organized two years ago.

CSC announces conduct of Career Service for Foreign Service Officer examBy Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The regional office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC)-9 is slated to conduct the Career Service for Foreign Service Officer (CSE-FSO) examination slated on Aug. 10, 2014 “The Civil Service Commission will administer the CSE-FSO in select testing centers across the country on Aug. 10,” CSC-9 Regional Director Macybel Alfaro-Sahi said in a press statement. Director Sahi advised examination applicants to file or submit their applications in person at any Regional Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) until June 13 or at the Philippine embassies or consulates and until June 20, 2014 at the DFA-Board of Foreign Service Examinations in Pasay City. Sahi explained, the CSE-FSO is the first qualifying test of the five-part

Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSOE) of the DFA. She said passing the said exam is a requisite to be able to proceed to the succeeding parts of the FSOE which include interview, written test, psychological test, and oral test. CSE-FSO eligibility is comparable to Career Service Professional Eligibility and is appropriate to first level (clerical) and second level (technical) positions in government. Conduct of said examination is in collaboration with DFA. For more details, please log on to www.dfa.gov.ph and check FSOE announcement.


Digos mayor condemns broadcaster’s killing

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – Di-gos City Mayor Joseph Peñas has strongly condemned the killing of radio broadcaster Samuel Oliverio who was shot on the head early morning of Friday last week. The mayor has also asked Police authorities to investigate thoroughly in order to resolve the case and attain justice for

the victim who was a job order e m p l o y e e of the local government of Digos City, working as anchorperson to the LGU’s program over DXDS Radyo Ukay. S P O 3 R o l a n d D a g o n d o n , c h i e f

investigator of Digos City Police Station, bared that they already have a lead on the identity of the triggerman who is still at large, but said they could not reveal the name yet. “We still need to verify the identity of the suspect through


the wife of the victim and another witness,” Dagondon said, adding “we have to be sure about our information.” Based on their information and on a photo of the triggerman taken by a witness, the police investigator disclosed that the suspect previously faced a case and was jailed at the police station. Dagondon said they are still looking into the real motive behind the killing, whether it was due to a personal grudge or related to work as radio broadcaster. Oliverio sustained gunshot wounds in the nape and head that caused his instant death after he was shot by a motorcycle riding in tandem about 7:15 am on May 23, along Gregorio del Pilar St. in Digos City. The victim was going home onboard his motorcycle with his wife who both came from the public market when the

triggerman fired at Oliverio. Fortunately, the wife was not hit, but she sustained bruises on the left knee when they fell with the motorcycle. Oliverio, 57 and who was fondly called Sammy, had also a broadcasting stint at DXPM Supreme Radio FM in Digos City, with a program entitled “Bulgaran.” His LGU-sponsored blocktime program as commentator over DXDS Radyo Ukay AM station, also in Digos City, had a title “Isumbong kang Palos ug Tirador.” Radyo Ukay station manager Ramon Sibya also condemned the killing, and challenged the authorities to deeply investigate the case. Prior to the killing, Sibya said Oliverio was on temporary leave due to health reasons. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)


Mabini PNP Chief: Shooting in media man’s house not profession-related

DAVAO DEL NORTE- - - The chief of police in Mabini, Compostela Valley province discounted the risk in the journalist profession on the investigation of the shooting of the house of Tagum-based media man in the locality that killed his father and injured his mother. Police Senior Inspector Sabo Derawatun said that the shooting of the house of Ruel Dagsangan, a broadcaster in Radyo Ukay, was aimed at his parents and not to him as a journalist. PSI Derawatun said that they are looking into two angles of the

shooting, which will not be stated as of this writing to not pre-empt the investigation. PSI Derawatun also said that they are still looking for an eye witness since the incident happen in around 8:00 in the evening and it is near to impossible to identify the perpetrators due to the darkness of the area. He added that they are also now studying the two empty shells from 45 caliber gun that they recovered just outside the house of the victims. According to reports, identified gunmen shoot blindly at the house of Dagsangan in Mabini on the evening of May 24. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)


The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the World Bank-backed P27.5-billion Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) will use

the said approach to improve market linkage of farm products. “PRDP will be using the value chain analysis (VCA) to guide local

DA adopts value chain as basis for rural investmentsby Noel T. Provido

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Commodity value chain will now be used in granting investment in rural areas.


government units in identifying priority interventions that will enhance competitiveness of selected commodities,” said national deputy program director Arnel De Mesa. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its Guidelines for Value Chain Analysis (VCA) defines value chain as a full range of activities to bring product or services to markets. The VCA on the other hand focuses on creating value along the chain as well as the rational distribution of benefits among participating actors such as producer, processor, and traders. To integrate supply chain approach in rural areas, De Mesa said PRDP will focus on building capacities of farmers and ensures the provision of strategic network of rural logistics infrastructure within the priority value chains. “Infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads and postharvest facilities should be within the identified priority value chain in a particular province or region,” De Mesa said. In Mindanao, identified regional pilot commodity value chains are: rubber in Region 9; coconut, Region 10; cacao, Region 11; cassava, Region 12; abaca, Region 13; and oil palm and Cavendish banana, ARMM. “VCA promotes efficient allocation of government resources by providing funds only to identified commodities with potentials for expansion and value-adding activities,” he added. Taking-off from the Mindanao Rural Development Program’s (MRDP) big-ticket projects, PRDP will continue to assist farmer organizations’ capacities to expand production of raw

materials into high-value processing. Among the MRDP-assisted projects that will be supported under PRDP include cassava processing in Banga, South Cotabato. The cooperative is now supplying dried cassava chips to a nearby feed processor. In Kapalong, Davao del Norte, a cooperative processes bananas rejected for exports into banana flour and supplies food processors. In Zambonga Peninsula, rubber is being processed into higher-value crumb rubber for export. PRDP will assist so that rubber exports do not need to be re-certified in Malaysia. “MRDP has helped augment their capacities and incomes. In PRDP, we want to see more of these enterprises not only in Mindanao but across the country,” De Mesa said. He said VCA also promotes public-private partnership by presenting opportunities for private sector investment to make agricultural production and processing a viable business. Initial government and private sector partnership include the development of 3,000-banana plantation in conflict-affected areas in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. De Mesa said PRDP is also partnering with another private company in setting-up of cacao demonstration farms and nurseries as well as plantations in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Palawan, Southern Leyte, and Bohol.


Health research awards up for grabsby Tess Superioridad Baluyos

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Cash prizes await the winners for the health research competitions with the theme: “Research and Innovation in Health for Disaster and Emergency Health Management.”

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 10, secretariat of the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorminCoHRD) sponsors the contest, along with the Department of Health Region 10 (DOH-10) and Liceo de Cagayan de University (LDCU). The contest has three categories, namely: Oral Research Presentation (student and professional), Research poster (student and professional) and consortium poster. Winners will receive cash prizes and certificates and will vie for the national level of the competition.

For the research presentation, a cash prize of P6K, 3K , and 1.5K, respectively will be awarded for the professional category for the first, second and third winners. For the student category, winners will receive 5K, 2K and 1K for the first, second and third placers. In the poster exhibit, professional category, 5K, 3K and 1.5K await the first, second and third placers while the student

will receive 3K, 1.5K and 1K for the first, second and third placers, respectively. First placer in the consortium poster will receive a cash prize of 10K while the second placer and third placer will receive 5K and 2K, respectively. Deadline for submission of full research paper in four copies is on May 28 while confirmation of entries for the research poster and consortium poster is on June 6. For more information and details, please contact Ms. Ma. Christina Elena Lisondra at telephone number 8583931, local 26.


More than 2,500 Ozamiznons benefit from city gov’t programby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - Some 2,589 residents of the city were benefited by the Barangay NOVA or New Ozamiznon Visitation and Alignment (NOVA) of Services Program, during the first quarter, this year.

These beneficiaries came from the clustered five of the city’s 51 barangays, namely: Gango, Catadman, Digu-an, Labo and Sangay Diot, Vice-Mayor Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez said. A strategy of bringing the government closer to the people, the Barangay NOVA Program is a caravan of sort that aims to make available the various government services, in the rural areas, thereby saving time and money of the residents, which they could use for other needs. The program began when the Vice-Mayor was the City Mayor in 2010, the conduct of which was held during market days of the barangays and made a one-stop-shop for availing of the basic services. Among others, Barangay NOVA’s core services include medical and dental check-up, tooth extraction, medicine dispensing, medical consultations, tuberculin skin testing and taking of blood pressure, while the veterinary services include the animal/livestock consultation and treatment, castration, deworming and anti-rabbies vaccination, and the

agricultural services, the distribution of seeds, vermin tea and vermi cast. Meanwhile, about 80 applications for registration of birth and six for marriage licenses were received by the City Registrar’s Office, while 76 community tax certificates and 21 registrations of large cattle were issued and 41 notices of tax bills and delinquencies were delivered by the City Treasurer’s Office. About 13 applications for local and overseas employment and four for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) were received by the Public Employment Services Office (PESO). Thirty applications for electrical connections were received by the City Engineer’s Office, while 381 daycare children were given food, 81 applications for membership of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), 44 for registration of senior citizens, 11 for persons with disability (PWD) and 29 for Solo Parents, were received by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD).


GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Local chief executives and other local govern-ment officials, disaster managers, and other stakeholders are gathering in General Santos Monday, May 26, for the SOCCSKSARGEN leg of the “Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities” information cam-paign.

DOST showcases latest S&T-based disaster preparedness technologiesBy: Danilo E. Doguiles


“The activity is designed to extensively enlighten and inspire participants on the latest information, tools, and technologies crucial in disaster prevention and mitigation in the region,” DOST 12 Regional Director Zenaida Laidan told Philippine Information Agency.

According the information campaign’s website, the “Iba na ang panahon” is a two-pronged slogan: 1) time (‘panahon”) has changed (“Iba na”) which requires a move from antiquated “tools” to science and technology-based information and tools in designing disaster preparedness plans; and 2) Climate (“panahon”) change (“iba”) necessitates communities to be more prepared for hazards to make their communities safer.

These latest S & T tools include 3D hazard maps, flood models, Project NOAH, mobile applications and other modern tools for early warning of hazards, Laidan said.

The event also “aims to draw up early action plans as well as review and update disaster preparedness plans based on hazard maps at the regional and community levels,” she added.

According to the event briefer, the activities will take off with overviews on the Project DINA (Disaster Information for Nationwide Awareness, Project

NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), Project DREAM (Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM), local hydrometeorological hazards and warning systems, and local geologic hazards and warning systems.

Workshops aimed at boosting the participants’ knowledge on the use of hazard maps, geological hazards, hydrometeorological maps, and early warning tools, will follow.

Activities on Tuesday will focus on the presentation of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and strategizing actions and responses.

For the campaign, DOST has partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department (DILG) and National Defense – Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD).

DOST-attached agencies, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) as well as DOST’s Project NOAH also take part in the advocacy in the 17 regions of the Philippines. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Over 67,000 registered voters in South Cotabato, including General Santos City, do not have or lack one or two biometric data, according to Atty. Jay Gerada.

67,000 registrants in S. Cotabato lack bio-metric data – ComelecBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

Biometrics refer to voter’s photograph, fingerprints, and signature digitally taken using the data capture machine (DCM) at the municipal and city Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices.

“Based on records, we have around 67,000 registrants without biometrics; of these, 30,000 are from General Santos City,” Atty. Gerada said.

He warned that according to Republic Act 10367 (An Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration), those who will fail to validate until the deadline on October 31, 2015 will not be allowed to vote in the May 2016 elections.

Registrants who would like to ascertain if they are among registrants who have no biometrics or have lacking data may look at the list posted in their barangay hall. They may also see their municipal or city Comelec office.

Voter registration started May 6, 2014.

“Based on the figures that we received from different field offices, our information campaign for voter registration has received positive response,” he said. “In a week’s time we were able to register over 3,000 in the province,” he said.

Besides those who come for validation of biometric data, Comelec offices also entertain new registrants, voters who ask for reactivation of their records, and voters seeking correction of information on their records.

However, Gerada noted that all Comelec offices under his supervision had experienced delays in the registration due to rotating brownout that lasted from 2 to 4 hours.

Although, power situation in the area has recently improved, power curtailment may be expected recur within the 17-month voter registration as the power situation in Mindanao has remained volatile based on reports from the South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative


COTABATO CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection-ARMM is hiring 200 new fire fighters this year to strengthen its manpower.

and South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative.

When asked how would Comelec South Cotabato address the impending problem, Atty. Gerada announced that Comelec Central Office has already approved deployment of generator sets to Comelec offices in Mindanao, including 13 gensets set for South Cotabato and General Santos City offices.

These gensets are expected to arrive before end of May or early June, he added, explaining further that the gensets are part of the same units that Comelec

deployed to remote areas that lack electricity in the recent elections.

Once again, Gerada reiterated their appeal to the public to come to the municipal and city Comelec offices for registration or validation and not wait for the finals days of the registration period when Comelec offices are expected to be overcrowded.

For the current voter registration, Comelec offices are open from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday to Friday. The last day of registration will be on October 31, 2015. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

BFP-ARMM to hire 200 new firemenBy Oliver Ross Rivera

Along with its modernization program, the hiring of new personnel is seen to strengthen the capability of the BFP in responding to fires and other emergencies, said Atty. Baltazar Saradain of BFP-ARMM Regional Admin Division.

Saradain said the recruitment is also expected to address the insufficient number of BFP personnel and effectively stir public awareness on fire prevention.

Atty. Saradain noted that the applicants will go through a

comprehensive screening.The applicants will undergo a series

of tests, namely: qualifying exam, panel interview, physical agility tests, medical/dental/neuro-psychiatric exams, he said.

Meanwhile, the official said new firefighters will be deployed in 30 new fire stations in the region’s five provinces.

“We are also expecting the arrival of 30 new fire trucks for the new fire stations,” he added. (ORVRivera-PIA12)


PRC AgNor-Butuan to hold 9th Biennial Chapter Assembly By Venus L. GarciaBUTUAN CITY - In time with the 65th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Norte-Butuan City (PRC AgNor-Butuan) Chapter, its 9th Biennial Chapter Assembly will also be held at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center on July 23, 2014, this city.


This year’s theme is “Red Cross 143: United Strong, Everywhere Against All Formidable Challenges.”

The assembly will be a venue to elect nine members of the Board of Directors to succeed elected members whose terms will be expiring on July this year.

Chairperson on Nomination and Election Committee Renato Jose Villanueva said the nomination is open for those who have the willingness to serve and commitment to work with the local chapter on a voluntary capacity.

There will be an orientation of nominees on the 16th of July.

Also, the Chapter will conduct a Search for Ms. Red Cross 2014 for which candidates can share to public the PRC’s programs, project and services.

For the first phase of the

competition, canvassing of votes is scheduled on the months of May, June and July while the second phase will be the Beauty and the Brain Competition on July 19, 2014.

The chosen winner of this competition will also represent the chapter during the conduct of “Ms. Red Cross Mindanao” to be held in Zamboanga City come November 2014.

The board of directors of PRC Agnor-Butuan encouraged more support from its members, volunteers and communities and made every effort to strengthen the volunteers’ commitment to the Red Cross’ humanitarian services.

“For a more responsive Red Cross in the province of Agusan del Norte and the city of Butuan, let us be together in achieving PRC’s goals,” said Villanueva.

DSWD to extend age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children BUTUAN CITY -- The government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program also known as the Conditional Cast Transfer (CCT) that is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to all registered Pantawid Pamilya households this June 2014.

by Stella Maris Barlisan


Previously, Pantawid Pamilya covers only households with children aged 0-14 years old. With the extended age coverage, the program will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to 15-18 years old or finishes high school whichever comes first.

The expansion of age coverage will allow Pantawid children to finish high school especially those who are under the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The Department believes that a child will have better opportunities if he or she graduated high school compared to those who only finish elementary.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the flagship poverty reduction programs of the government. The program provides cash grants to beneficiaries provided that they will comply with the set conditionalities of the program.

At present, DSWD Caraga has 158,571 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries benefiting from the program.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the flagship programs of the government in reducing poverty in the country.

The Pantawid Pamilya aims to keep children in school, its beneficiaries healthy and family especially the parents intact.


DPWH in SurSur does job for ‘Balik Eskwela’TANDAG CITY- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st Engineering District Office in Surigao del Sur headed by District Engineer (DE) Alipio Grana has already done with the preparations and commitments in connection with the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) for School Year 2014-2015.

According to Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Asst. District Engr. Ruel Bantogan, everything has already been complied with in line with the memorandum issued by Usec. Alfredo Tolentino to all regional directors and concerned district engineers as well as the subsequent order coming from the Office of the Regional Director in Caraga.

Engr. Bantugan confirmed that the activities undertaken include

repainting of pedestrian lanes, de-clogging of canals, and making of vegetation control projects in various places near school zones.

An accomplishment report was already submitted along with “pictures,” he stressed.

However, DE Eulogio Milla of the 2nd Engineering District, for his part, said that they are still “in the thick of things” doing the same.

He stressed that while they are already nearing completion with their preparations and commitments on school zones along the national highways, requests are likewise coming from those schools in the hinterlands.

Milla vowed that these requests will have to be entertained and accommodated all the same.

by Greg tataro, Jr.

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One Mindanao - May 27, 2014

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