One Mindanao - May 8, 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

DOMINIC SANCHEZ, 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

DOLE-13 salutes Filipino workers during the 113th Labor Day in Caraga

Management board installs checkpoint in Allah Valley Protected Landscape

Maguindanao OFWs embark on hair, make-up course

SurSur all set for 30th GSP Eastern Mindanao Regional Encampment

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A leader’s response to the new normal

SSS voluntary provident fund opens enrollment

Deles assures pro-peace cartoonists: Dream of Bangsamoro peace will be completed

NorMin food processors install new officers

Nationwide census of population set in August

DTI launches Weighing Scale SSF in Ipil town Alay-lakad culminates

Earth Month observance in CDO

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By: Iris C. AsisBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

By: Oliver Ross V. RiveraBy: Greg Tataro Jr.

By: Flora Mae M. Tañeca

By: OPAPP

By: Loraine C. BrillantesBy: Jocelyn P. Alvarez

By: Alma L. TIngcang

Cover Story

CARAGA

WESTERN NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGEN

SOUTHERN

NATIONAL

32 Palaro extends from sports to tree growingBy: Michael Uy

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OUR COVER

Contents

By: Eunice G. Montaos

4 MAY 8, 2015One Mindanao

Cover Story A leader’s response to the new normal

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows

the way.

“

“

John C. Maxwell once said,

By: Eunice G. Montaos

5MAY 8, 2015 One Mindanao

John C. Maxwell once said,

Being situated in a place vulnerable to disasters caused by natural calamities, Mayor Cristina Hemady R. Arcillas of Tubod in Surigao del Norte, understands her crucial responsibility in leading her people and increasing their resiliency amidst inevitable challenges posed by climate change.

With this, she has expressed full support to the Kalahi-CIDSS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Kalahi-CIDSS or the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social

Services is one of the national government’s programs which primarily operates to empower communities, improve local governance, and reduce poverty.

The program uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach to which community consultations and participation are done for sub-project prioritization and implementation. In the course of choosing sub-projects to be implemented, criteria are set by the communities which include factors on the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).


On DRRM

As the leader of her municipality, Mayor Arcillas has shown initiative and discretion in DRRM during a Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum for Participatory Resource Allocation (MIBF-PRA) conducted last October 2012.

In the said forum, she has noticed that the project site for Brgy. Del Rosario, which ranked 4th in the prioritization, was situated in a hazard/flood-prone area based on the hazard map provided by the Project NOAH/MGB. This was after the required documents (social, technical, environmental compliance, etc.) were sorted.

As the municipal DRRM head, Mayor Arcillas has advised the Municipal Building Official not to issue the building permit if the proponents will not relocate the said site.

“Outright avoidance should be taken as a mitigating measure to avoid foreseen and sudden occurrences of dangers and accidents especially to the direct beneficiaries of the Program,” she says.

The community volunteers in

Brgy. Del Rosario failed to provide an alternative site, so, the grant assistance was provided to the next in prioritization rank.

In Tubod, most identified sub-projects of the communities are DRRM-considering ones. For instance, the flood resilient hanging footbridge in Barangay Marga which

considered a 50-year maximum flood level, thus, the hanging footbridge is about 2-3 meters above the original existing wooden footbridge used by the community.


Among the sub-projects for DRMM initiative include the construction and installation of rainwater harvesting systems primarily for water conservation to minimize, if not totally prevent, over extraction of ground water source for water preservation purposes.

Resilience, preparedness

Mayor Arcillas believes that resiliency is a character which should be developed in response to the challenges of the new normal.

“Kalahi-CIDSS and its CDD really work, and they work best in developing my peoples’ resiliency,” she shares.

“How I wish all the projects will be done this way; this would lessen the problems of the Mayors,” Mayor Arcillas adds.

In an interview, she opens about preparing a ready local counterpart contribution for the upcoming Kalahi-CIDSS projects in the town.

“I knew that we will have a Kalahi-CIDSS project the following year. So, even if the MOA was not yet signed and no letter was sent about the project, I banked on the reputation of DSWD to follow through on their promised project and budgeted the LGU’s counterpart.” she shares.

“This has enabled our LGU to go forward with the project on schedule, give assistance to barangays for a part of their counterpart without the need to call the Governor or the Congressman. This is what we call readiness in mind and pocket.” quips Mayor Arcillas.


Sharing CDD

Because she is convinced about the efficiency of the CDD technology, she has presented Kalahi-CIDSS to the Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Incorporated (SMMCI) which operates in the municipality.

With the convincing charm of Mayor Arcillas and her confidence with the Program, the said company has adopted the approach used by Kalahi-CIDSS in performing its corporate social responsibility (CSR) through their implementation of SMMCI’s community development program (CDP).

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed on December 9, 2013 signifying the

forged partnership of the two parties-DSWD and SMMCI.

The regional management of Kalahi-CIDSS and the MLGU has actively partnered in providing inputs and discussions on environmental management and DRRM during the

training-orientation and skills enhancement on CDD approach to the SMMCI staff/personnel.

As a public-private partnership initiative, the technical staff has talked about the importance of designing environmentally-responsive, disaster-resilient, and cost-effective sub-projects that will respond to DRRM issues and impacts.

Mayor Arcillas appreciates the inclusion of the Thematic and Environmental Management System (TEMS) and DRRM in the training modules and session plans in the conduct of Project Development Workshop (PDW) and infrastructure training even during accountability reporting.


Inclusive, felt development

“The Kalahi way is different from the usual implementation of projects because in the Program, the decision comes from the grassroots sector, therefore, the results are realistic and practical,” bares Mayor Arcillas.

Furthermore she shares her appreciation on how the CDD approach and the process of Kalahi-CIDSS have strengthened the Filipino values such as the bayanihan.

“The CDD approach has shown our constituents how the Government processes work,

including the strengths and weaknesses,” she adds.

She also voices her strong willingness to recommend the Kalahi-CIDSS program to anyone because she believes that it teaches the people about sustainable development.

The communities in Tubod haven’t felt that they are alone in their plight for inclusive development because of the overwhelming support of the local chief executive.

As an adage says, though values are taught, but most of the time they are caught.


President Aquino meets with executives of top business organizations in Chicago

CHICAGO, Illinois - President Benigno S. Aquino III met with executives of leading business organizations in the United States during his one-day working visit here on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).


President Aquino, accompanied by some of his key Cabinet secretaries, had a roundtable discussion with representatives of various international companies organized by the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce, and the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at the TransUnion Headquarters here.

During the discussion, the President had the opportunity to hear from the participants their experiences in doing business in the Philippines, as well as to get their feedback on how the government could improve the country’s business climate.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., who was present during the meeting, shared to the media several key points discussed by the officials.

Secretary Coloma said David Neenan, president of International TransUnion, was the first to say his piece, expressing his company’s appreciation of the Philippine government’s thrust of promoting inclusive growth.

He said Neenan also mentioned his organization’s efforts in working with the Land Bank of the Philippines in assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain access to financing.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima noted that the government is taking steps to reduce the cost of doing business for SMEs in the Philippines, said Coloma.

Senior executive of GE Transportation, Thomas La France, meanwhile expressed interest in participating in the country’s infrastructure


development efforts.

“President Aquino replied that being an archipelagic country, the Philippines needs to improve connectivity by expanding the existing nautical highway, improving roll-on

roll-off and port facilities. Possibilities for improving the country’s railway system were also mentioned,” said Coloma.

Federal Express managing director for legal, trade and international affairs, Ralph

Carter, then spoke about his company’s involvement in improving the Philippines’ links with the global supply chain.

“President Aquino cited his recent experience in seeing high-quality marble products in

Romblon that need to be transported to international markets,” said Coloma.

He said Carter expressed his willingness to assist in transporting marble and also discussed ways to improve trade facilitation.

For his part, Secretary Purisima said the proposed Customs modernization law is being discussed in Congress to address the issue on transport and trade facilitation.


President and CEO of Underwriters Laboratories and a former Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Keith Williams, discussed the importance of generation-skipping technology in accelerating the pace of Philippine growth and development, said Coloma.

In response, President Aquino noted that the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is implementing the concept of greater and faster connectivity.

Meanwhile, JP Morgan Chase & Company’s US Midwest Chairwoman, Melissa Bean, expressed great satisfaction with the competence and talent of Filipino workers. Noting the company’s existence in the Philippines since 2005, she said JP Morgan’s service centers in the country have more than 13,000 employees.

Another participant, Julie Hoeniges of Caterpillar, spoke of the company’s expanding involvement in the Philippines, particularly in the mining industry.

Secretary Purisima discussed the government’s program to ensure that mining activities are conducted in a socially responsible manner and that local governments and communities obtain a fair share of the revenues, said Coloma.

Michael Fernandes of Cargill likewise expressed interest in increasing investments in agri-business, noting that the company has been actively involved in the Philippines since 1948.

“He also lauded the recent issuance by President Aquino of Executive Order Nos. 179 and 180 on the use of coconut levy funds to promote the growth of


the industry and the welfare of coconut farmers,” said Coloma.

Another participant, a senior officer of Microsoft, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improve the competitiveness of Filipino talent.

Coloma said the officer mentioned a joint project between Microsoft and the Philippine National Police in the sphere of cyber-security.

President of the National Center for APEC, Monica Whaley, meanwhile lauded the Philippine government’s path-finding initiatives in promoting financial inclusion across all spheres of socio-economic activity.

At the end of the forum, Mark Mealy, Vice President for Policy of the US-ASEAN Business Council, presented President Aquino two NBA jerseys: a red Chicago Bulls shirt bearing the

President’s surname, and a green Boston Celtics shirt, in honor of the President’s working visit to Chicago and his being a Celtics fan during his family’s stay in Boston in the early 1980s.

Other Cabinet members present during the meeting were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Arsenio Balisacan, and head of the Presidential Management Staff Julia Abad. Also present were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, Jr., and Consul General Generoso Calonge. (PCOO/PND (jb)


SSS voluntary provident fund opens enrollment

QUEZON CITY - The Social Security System (SSS) is now accepting enrollment applications for the Personal Equity and Savings Option (SSS-PESO) Fund program, a provident-fund scheme that aims to increase savings among SSS members, particularly for building their retirement fund.


The program is open to all members who are 54 years old and below, and have at least six consecutive contributions under the SSS regular program within the last 12 months prior to enrollment. The member’s effective date of membership commences at the month a contribution is first made to the SSS-PESO fund.

“They can participate for an initial contribution of P1,000 with succeeding contributions of at least P1,000, in multiples of P100. An SSS-PESO member can contribute up to a maximum P100,000 per year,” SSS Vice President for Benefits Administration Division Agnes San Jose said.

For the pilot implementation of the SSS-PESO Fund, interested members may apply at the following branches in the National Capital Region: Diliman, Cubao, San Francisco Del Monte, Pasig-

Shaw, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Makati-Gil Puyat, Alabang, Legarda, Pasay-Roxas Boulevard.

Members are required to personally appear before an SSS authorized representative to sign the accomplished forms for confirmation.

“This procedure allows us to verify the authenticity of the document and the identity of the applicant,” San Jose explained.

By September 2015, all SSS branches nationwide will accept applications to the SSS-PESO Fund. Eventually, enrollment may be done online through the My.SSS portal.

The program’s guidelines which came out recently, stated that employed members, regardless of the amount of their current monthly contributions, could join the SSS-PESO Fund while self-employed, voluntary


and OFW members should be paying the maximum SSS contribution to be able to contribute in the SSS-PESO Fund.

The guidelines further explained that there has to be a corresponding SSS contribution on the month the member will make contributions to the SSS-PESO Fund account.

Refunds, withdrawals or benefit claims will be credited to the member’s single savings or current account with an SSS depository bank. Early termination of membership is not allowed.

In a previous statement, the SSS said members can enjoy higher return on their savings under the tax-free fund, which offers guaranteed earnings that are based on rates higher than those offered in a savings account or bank deposit.

According to San Jose, SSS-PESO Fund contributions are

invested in government securities to ensure safety and liquidity and are guaranteed to earn based on prevailing Treasury bill rates.

SSS-PESO Fund savings are allocated to three accounts namely, retirement, medical, and general purpose, which covers education, housing, livelihood, and unemployment. Only the portions allotted for medical and general purpose can be withdrawn before the member’s date of retirement.

A corresponding management fee will be charged for each SSS-PESO account while penalties will be charged for any withdrawals made before the fifth year of membership in the SSS-PESO Fund.

SSS-PESO Fund members may also receive additional earnings depending on the actual income of the fund at the end of each year. (SSS)


Deles assures pro-peace cartoonists: Dream of Bangsamoro peace will be completed

MANILA - Despite the tragedy that was Mamasapano, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles on Tuesday said the government and the Bangsamoro people are unwavering in their quest for peace in southern Mindanao and determined more than ever to complete that dream.


In a dinner hosted by the Swiss embassy for the visiting Cartoonists for Peace, Deles said the Filipino people have reached a crossroad where they have to make up their minds. “Some people are saying we cannot make a leap of faith. But I think taking a leap of faith is a better way to go than returning to our dark and divided past,” she said referring to the ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which was shook up by the Mamasapano tragedy last January. “I believe, the Filipino people, having passed through all these, will make the right choice here. We will complete this dream. We will make sure that our future generation will not suffer the fate of those of have experienced the horrors of war.” Feted during the welcome dinner at the Bayleaf Restaurant in Intramuros were five visiting European members of the Cartooning for Peace Project in Manila who will attend a three-day convention on peace through cartooning with their local counterparts. They hope to bridge the communication gap

between cultures, ethnicities and religions, which is the main objective of the Cartoonists for Peace worldwide. The five European cartoonists in the project include Bob Katzenelson (Denmark), Plantu (France), Thomas Plassmann and Miriam Wurster (Germany) and Philippe Baumann (Switzerland)). Six Filipino cartoonists have also been invited. They are Steven Pabalinas (The Manila Times), Norman Isaac (Tempo), Rene Aranda (Philippine Star), Manix Abrera (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Rob Cham and Roni Santiago (Manila Bulletin). The event aims to give opportunities for interactions between the international cartoonists and journalists, academe and the public in the Philippines, in line with the promotion of peace, press freedom and responsible journalism. The event presents a cartoons exhibition and a series of conferences, master classes, interviews, and cartoons contest. It is being spearheaded by EUNIC Philippines, a network of national institutes for culture from EU


including, Goethe Institute and Alliance Française de Manille, Philippine-Italian Association along with the Embassies of Denmark, France and Switzerland in the Philippines, and involves many partners in the Philippines. Thought up by the French cartoonist Plantu, Cartooning for Peace is an initiative born on 16 October 2006 at the UN headquarters in New York. A two-day conference organized by Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, brought together the 12 best-known political cartoonists in the world for “unlearning intolerance”. Today “Cartooning for peace” is a network of 104 cartoonists around the world who use the power and language of images to fight for peace and freedom of expression. The network aims to promote a better understanding and mutual respect between people of different cultures and beliefs using cartoons as a universal language.

One of the 10 murdered journalists in Paris last January 8, cartoonist Bernard Verlhac who went by the pen name of Tignous, was a member of Cartooning for Peace. Tignous worked for Charlie Hebdo, the satirical French magazine that the murderers targeted. In welcoming the visiting cartoonists, Deles said: “I’m very happy that you’ve come here and make us see the realities that must be changed. I hope I can join you. You see, I used to draw too in my past lifetimes before my work took over my life. But thank you, I wish you good peace.” (OPAPP)


By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is now preparing for the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN) set in August this year.With this develop-ment, PSA convened on Tuesday the Re-gional Census Coordi-nating Board (RCCB- ZamPen Region) to discuss and address issues concerning the upcoming conduct of the POPCEN.

Dr. Mewchun WS. Pamaran of the PSA and Executive Officer of the RCCB said POPCEN would be conducted nationwide in 86 prov-inces, 1,634 cities and municipalities, 42,029 barangays- thus a to-tal of 82,858 manpow

PSA gears up for 2015 Census on Population


er will b needed to carry out the census.“For Zamboanga City alone, we need 527 manpower. We are ac-tually in the process of hiring people that will serve as team supervisors; census area super-visors; assistant area coordina-tors and district clerks,” Pamaran said.Pamaran said that PSA has been prepping up since April for the conduct of the POPCEN . “We have started gearing up by networking with LGU, and we are happy that Mayor Beng Climaco convened the Zamboanga City Census Co-ordinating Board (ZCCCB) for a meeting on April 16 .” “We have also negotiated with local papers to provide us with a statistics corner starting this

month,” Pamaran said of the ground works they have been doing.Member-agencies of the RCCB are also to provide assistance to PSA in the preparation for this activity. Pamaran appeal to the public not to be afraid to give data when PSA accredited enumerators will come knocking at their doors in August to conduct census.“Everyone counts. Count every-one. So Please give truthful - fac-tual data so that we will also get accurate data entries for enu-meration,” she said.POPCEN is a complete enumera-tion of households in the country and is designed to take invento-ry of the entire population in the Philippines.

Nationwide census of population set in AugustBy Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The 14th census of population to be undertaken in the country since the first census in 1903 is set in August this year and the listing and enumeration will be done for 25 working days.


The 2015 Census of Population is a complete enumeration of house-holds in the country. It also col-lects information on some char-acteristics of the population such as age, sex, marital status and highest grade completed. This year’s POPCEN is the third popu-lation census to be conducted in between two decennial censuses. Mid-decade censuses were car-ried out in 1995 and 2007.

POPCEN is necessary, as data derived from this census will provide government executives, policy and decision makers and planners with population data, especially updated population counts of all barangays in the country, on which to base their social and economic plans, poli-cies and programs.

Respondents to this census in-clude head of household or his/her spouse, or any responsible member of the household who can provide accurate answers to the questions; the manager, ad-ministrator or individual mem-bers of the institution; and the Punong Barangay or any incum-bent barangay official.

There are three types of ques-

tionnaire to be used in this cen-sus: the Household Question-naire, the Institutional Population Questionnaire, and the Barangay Schedule.

Would be respondents to the cen-sus are obliged to provide truth-ful and complete answers. This is per Section 27 of Republic Act 10625, which stipulates that “re-spondents of primary data collec-tion activities such as censuses and sample surveys are obliged to give truthful and complete an-swers to statistical inquires.” Any respondent who refuses or fail to give truthful and complete an-swers shall be meted out a pen-alty of one year imprisonment and a fine of P100 thousand.

The Philippines Statistics Au-thority (PSA) will hire enumera-tors (ENs) and team supervisors (TSs) for the census. The EN will be tasked to conduct the house-to-house interview. Each TS will supervise a group of ENs while regular personnel of PSA shall serve as Census Area Supervi-sors (CAS). Additional CAS shall be hired to augment the number of PSA’s regular personnel who will act as CAS. The CAS will su-pervise a group of TSs and ENs.


DTI launches Weighing Scale SSF in Ipil townBy Alma L. TIngcang

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - To address the issue on the manipulation of weighing scales in the rubber industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 launched the Weighing Scale Shared Service Facility (SSF) at the Ipil Rubber Trading Center in Barangay Pangi here on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipae, DTI pro-vincial director said this is the 11th SSF project for Zamboanga Sibugay and there are still sev-eral lined-up projects for imple-

mentation this year.

Dr. Sitti Amina M. Jain, acting re-gional director of DTI-9, said in previous meetings with rubber


traders and farmers, one of the issues that cropped up was the manipulation of weighing scales. Thus, to help the farmers, 5 weighing scales with a project cost of P69,440 were turned-over to Ipil LGU as cooperator under the SSF project.

“Accordingly, traders resort to manipulation of their weighing scales because farmers bring their raw rubber to the Bagsakan Center mixed with wood, soil, stones and other waste mate-rials, even jackfruit,” Dr. Jain stressed.

“We wanted to correct that prac-tice, for both traders and farm-ers to follow ethical standards of doing business,” she added.

Board Member Joel D. Ebol, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture said he has gone to several bagsakan centers and observed that traders are re-ally manipulating their weighing scales because they said farmers bring in adulterated raw rubber.

Ebol urged traders not to buy adulterated rubber products. “We should improve the quality of rubber we produce because

what will happen to the rubber industry in the next 5 years? It will surely deteriorate and af-fect the economy of Zamboanga Sibugay,” he quoted.

The MOA signing between LGU Ipil and DTI was witnessed by LGU officials, partner agencies; Department of Agriculture, De-partment of Agrarian Reform, Department of Labor and Em-ployment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Tech-nical Education and Skills De-velopment Authority, Philippine Information Agency, rubber trad-ers/farmers and the media.

The SSF is a strategic comple-mentary project of DTI that in-tends to achieve inclusive growth as envisioned by the current ad-ministration.

It entails the setting up of com-mon service facilities or produc-tion center for certain processes to give MSMEs access to better technology and more sophisti-cated equipment to accelerate their bid for competitiveness and help them graduate to the next level where they could tap a bet-ter and wider market and be inte-grated in the global supply chain.

OWWA conducts pre-departure orientation, ensures OFW safety

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Northern Mindanao residents planning to work abroad no longer need to go to Manila because Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 10 handles pre-departure orientation for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) hopefuls.

by Jose Angelo Lorenzo S. Gomos

Located on the 2nd floor of the Trinidad Bldg., Yacapin St., Cagayan de Oro, OWWA currently deploys approximately 80 OFW’s per week with a total number of 69, 348 both based in land and sea. “Ing-ana kadaghan ang demand sa OFW’s abroad especially sa Middle East countries,”


(That’s how high the demand of OFWs in the Middle East countries) says OWWA 10 Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Director Harry B. Borres during the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Mega Job Fair press conference held on April 29. OWWA is an attached agency to DOLE and promotes the welfare and protects the interests of OFW’s. Part of OWWA’s concern is finding solutions to address problems of Filipinos working abroad. “They [OFW’s] are often overworked by their employers, abused verbally, and suffered maltreatment,” said OIC-RD Borres. He specifies that countries which have the most distressed OFW’s are in the Middle East. “The visa of household service workers is not registered with the local market and their local authority.” Seventy among the 80 deployed OFW’s in Northern Mindanao are household service workers and over 50 problematic cases have been recorded, 30 of which are cases of maltreatment. Other cases include contract violation, expired visa, locked-up

OFW’s, and underpaid workers. However, OWWA 10 offers four-day training for OFW hopefuls which includes culture of familiarization and self-defense. Arabic language will also be taught to prime trainees for effective communication. In addition to OFW protection, OWWA established 36 posts abroad. Along with this, OWWA coordinates with the police to rescue distressed OFW’s. OWWA also provides hotlines and addresses of their office and of the Philippine Embassy to the OFW’s. “We sent crisis management team to Yemen and Libya,” said Borres, ensuring OWWA’s mandate to impose security and safety to OFW’s in Arab nations where wars are currently waged. Recently, P10,000 was granted to OFW’s who returned from Libya. Furthermore, OWWA’s responsibility is to cater the employment of OFW’s returning to the Philippines and securing their family’s needs. “Katung mga OFW’s nga dili na gusto manar’baho, naa ta’y tie-up with OWWA Landbank nga nag approve ug P865 million para negosyo,” (For those OFWs


who do not want to work abroad anymore, we have a tie up with OWWA and Landbank with an approved P865 million for business capital) Borres said. A total of 1, 257 OFW’s have availed to this amount and their businesses generated employment with 5,632 jobs.

Besides this, OWWA also grants scholarship to OFW dependents in the Philippines. With Labor Day ahead, OIC-RD Borres commends OFW’s, saying, “Our Filipino workers are very skilled, can speak English fluently, and can multi-task.”

NorMin food processors install new officers

The following were declared newly elected officers and members of the board of trustees: President: Ma. Luisa N. Tumang of Jokos Industries (Owner of VITACee Brand); Vice-President: Jonathan V. Cabrera of Nanay Choleng’s Muron; Secretary: Cassandra T. Sy of Flor’s All Time Favorite Pasalubong (Owner of Ato Kini Brand); Treasurer: Miguel P. Mejia of SLERS Industries Inc.; Auditor: Josefina S. Ferrer of Joji’s Delights; and Public Relations Officer: Rodolfo N. Mariano, Jr. of

Fresco Limonsito. The immediate past president, Gina M. Obsina of TGO Foods (Makers of Pine Ham), completes the seven members of the board of trustees. The newly elected officers was formally inducted into office on April 30, at the Negosyo Center, Tiano-Akut Sts., Cagayan de Oro City by Elsie A. Limosnero, Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- After celebrating their 15th anniversary on April 25, the Food Processors Association of Northern Mindanao conducted their 6th election with the Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Oriental (DTI-MOR) Provincial Office presiding over the election process.

by Loraine C. Brillantes


Alay-lakad culminates Earth Month observance in CDO by Flora Mae M. Tañeca

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 10 leads this year’s Earth Month culmination activity through an early walk or Alay Lakad at the city’s main thoroughfare on April 30, 2015.

The culmination program was also highlighted with an on-the-spot poster making contest and Zumba dance. It was joined by various line agencies in the government and other stakeholders, and culminated

at the provincial capitol grounds. In his message, EMB Regional Director Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar reminds people to their share by starting individually. “You have to think globally but act locally, mother earth can continue to exist even if it’s not livable anymore, it can continue to exist but people will not, by doing so, we are actually protecting ourselves,” he noted. Abubacar said the culmination of the earth month observance also

marks as the beginning of a more strengthened cooperation in the protection of the environment--a day-to-day effort of every individual.


Ombudsman Mindanao to have own home

DAVAO CITY- After 26 years of renting their offices, Ombudsman Mindanao will have a new home they can call their own. A groundbreak-ing ceremony was held yesterday (May 7) for a state-of-the-art three storey building which will house the office of the Ombudsman for Mind-anao. “The tenant will now be the inhabitant.” Says Ombudsman Con-chita Carpio-Morales during her speech at the groundbreaking ceremo-nies which was attended by top officials of the Of-fice of the Ombudsman.The site of the soon-to-be constructed building is a 2,798 square meter lot which was brought from the GSIS. It is lo-cated inside a housing community built by the Government Service In-surance System. According to Deputy Ombudsman for Mind-anao Rodolfo Elman the proposed budget for the building is about P190-

million and will be com-pleted in less than a year. The building will have conference rooms, a library, a hostel for vis-iting staff and a canteen.It is expected to house in one roof the different bureaus and divisions of the Ombudsman-Mind-anao which includes Pub-lic Assistance and Graft Prevention, Prosecution, Investigation, Fact-Find-ing, Records and Admin-istrative Division. “This is where citi-zens will find refuge from government abuse.” Om-budsman Morales said.The building will incorpo-rate the basic four-pillar feature of the Ombuds-man main building in Quezon City. The building will be modern yet eco-nomical, energy-saving and environment friend-ly. The Ombudsman-Mindanao is currently renting office space at a commercial building along Alvarez Street in Davao City’s Chinatown district. (PIA/RG Alama)


Ombudsman Justice Conchita Carpio Morales during the ground-breaking ceremony of the P190-million Ombudsman for Mindanao building at Davao City’s GSIS Heights


Palaro extends from sports to tree grow-ing

DAVAO DEL NORTE - Participants of the Palarong Pambansa 2015 focused not only on winning med-als in the different sporting events but also in battling climate change through tree growing. Department of Education (DepEd) officials and coaches from Regions V and XII participating in the Palarong Pambansa conducted tree growing activities along the Liboga-non River, Purok Banana, Mankilam Tagum City on April 30 and May 6, respectively. In the separate tree growing

activities, 50 DepEd officials, staff and coaches joined from Region V, while 34 from Region XII, along with the barangay officials, ten 4Ps fami-lies and provincial government em-ployees. According to the Provincial En-vironment and Natural Resources Office of the province (PENRO-LGU), each delegation planted 100 Ma-lubago trees and 150 Vetiver grasses along the river. Liboganon River is part of the Oplan ANDAM and River Bank Pro-tection Program of the provincial government. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

Banana congress to highlight Fusarium wilt control, managementBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May -- Hundreds of banana growers and other stakeholders of banana industry will gather in General Santos City on May 12 and 13 for a regional banana congress

According to the Department of Agricul-ture 12,the regional congress will high-light Fusarium wilt, considered a major threat to banana plantations.

Anchored on theme “Empowering Banana Stakeholders as Viable Leaders in Economic Development,” the gathering will expose the participants to the status of the ba-nana industry as well as updates in the


market of banana and its products.

The participants will also de-liberate concerns on certifica-tion for good agricultural prac-tice and other issues.

DA 12 the event intends to boost the quality of banana products from the region and

help banana grow-ers prepare for the ASEAN economic inte-gration.

Apart from the aforementioned, ac-cording to the event briefer, the congress will also bring into fo-cus research and de-velopment in banana with emphasis on control and manage-ment of Fusarium wilt.

ProMusa, a knowl-edge-sharing platform on bananas managed by Bioversity Interna-tional through fund-ing from the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Ba-nana, described Fu-sarium wilt as “lethal fungal disease caused by the soil-borne fun-gus Fusarium oxyspo-rum.”

It is also called Panama disease.

“The fungus enters the plant through the roots and colo-nizes the xylem vessels thereby blocking the flow of water and nutrients. Disease progression results in the collapse of leaves at the petiole, the splitting of


Management board installs checkpoint in Allah Valley Protected LandscapeBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 8 -- In line with its effort to beef up protection of the Allah Valley Pro-tected Landscape (AVPL), its Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has installed a checkpoint in New Dumang-gas, Tboli, South Cotabato.

Forester Leonisa Alfaro, AVPL protected area superin-tendent, said the checkpoint is intended to strengthen protec-tion of biodiversity, curb illegal cutting of trees and stop de-struction of the forest ecosys-tems AVPL.

Alfaro added, the installation of the facility is an offshoot of a series of consultations and dialogues among concerned par-

ties regarding issues reported illegal activities in the protected area.

Citing reports, Ms. Alfaro said some 39.08 cubic me-ter of forest products including poles, lumber, logs, and flitches; 93 sacks of charcoal; 4 units of chainsaw; and 3 units of con-veyances were apprehended in the area in 2014.

In an earlier interview, she

the pseudostem base and even-tually plant death.

“Fusarium wilt is the first dis-ease of bananas to have spread globally,” the website explains further.

Resource persons include HVCDP National Program Direc-tor Jennifer Remoquillo, Depart-ment of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness Engr.

Leandro Gazmin, Assistant Sec-retary on Regulations and Bu-reau of Plant Industry Director Atty. Paz Benavidez, and many other industry experts.

The banana congress will also offer opportunities for market matching. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from CULAguillon-DA 12)


noted that authorities have intercepted a total of 21,377 board feet of logs and lumber in the area in 2013 and 12,362 board feet in 2012.

These incidents prompted the PAMB to take issue Resolution No. 03 series of 2014 approv-ing the proposal of AVPL Tech-nical Working Group for the establishment of PAMB AVPL checkpoint in Brgy. NewDuman-gas, T’Boli and Barangay Talisay, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

The Board also passed Reso-lution No.06 series of 2014 re-questing the South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes for assistance in establishing composite checkpoint at Baran-gay Salacafe, T’boli, South Cot-abato to control rampant timber poaching in the area.

PAMB also agreed that the checkpoint shall be established in Brgy. New Dumangas, T’boli, South Cotabato since this is a more strategic site compared to Brgy. Salacafe and Brgy.Talisay.

New Dumangas serves as exit point of Barangays Datal Dlanag, T’bolok, Laconon and Salacafe in T’boli, and the vil-lages of Denlag, Klubi, Lamcade and Lamdalag in the adjacent town of Lake Sebu, which are considered logging hotspots.

At the inauguration of the New Dumangas checkpoint, South Cotabato Provincial Envi-ronment and Natural Resources Officer Mama Samaon appealed to the public saying: “ Let us unite and join hands to continu-ally engage in this battle against illegal logging acts with the help of everyone and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ali Hadjinass-er, chief of the Conservation and Development Division of DENR 12 explained that the installa-tion of checkpoint in the Al-lah Valley Protected Landscape is backed by laws, including, Presidential Decree 705 (Re-vised Forestry Code of the Phil-ippines), Executive Order 23 (Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in Natural and Residual Forest and Creat-ing Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force), Republic Act 7586 (Na-tional Integrated Protected Area System Act), and Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources and Conservation Act).

The Protected Areas Man-agement Board is composed of representatives from the DENR 12 and local government units within Allah Valley and its sur-rounding areas. (DEDoguiles- PIA 12 with report from CG Valdez-DENR XII)


COTABATO CITY, May 8 – Overseas Filipino Workers and depen-dents in Maguindanao are currently training on basic cosmetology as a livelihood courtsy of the Overseas Workers Welfare Adminis-tration-ARMM.

Maguindanao OFWs embark on hair, make-up courseBy: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

According to OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Uga Sulaiman, some 35 members of OFW Fam-ily Circles and OWWA IT schol-ars are undergoing intensive course in hairstyling and make-up from May 6-8, 2015 at Al Nor Hotel Convention Center.

Sulaiman said the training aims to arm the participants with new skills in order to en-hance their capabilities so they may start their small businesses and generate additional in-come.

During the three-day course, the participants are taught on use of beauty tools, basic tech-niques on hair cutting styles for men and women, hair color-ing, make-up, hot oil treatment, manicure/pedicure, hair perm-ing and foot spa.

Free beauty and cosmetology kits will be given to the partici-pants after their graduation so

that they can use their newly acquired skills to immediatelt start their small business.

We will also conduct free trainings for OFWs in other provinces of the autonomous region within the year, Sulaiman added.

The training dubbed as “Gan-da mo, kinabukasan ko,” is an initiative of OWWA regional wel-fare office ARMM which started last year.

This is carried out under OWWA’s reintegration program which aims to reintegrate the members to the mainstream Philippine society and to provide them access to the agency’s programs and services which includes community organizing, capability building trainings and livelihood loans. (ORVRivera-PIA12)


BPS issues circular on flat glass PS marks, ICC stickersBy: Rodrigo R. Matabaran

SURIGAO CITY - The Bureau of the Philippine Standards (BPS), an attached agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 15-01 that reiterates the agency’s policy on Philippine Standards (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers for flat glass products.

In the circular, all manufacturers, importers, traders, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, sales agents, consumers and other concerns


need to be aware of the following guidelines: 1. Importers are required to use crates as the unit of measurement in filling ICC applications; 2. The issuance of ICC stickers shall be on a per crate basis; 3. The importer shall ensure that the stickers are permanently affixed to the crates covered by the Import Commodity Clearance; 4. The importer shall ensure that copy of the ICC certificate is available at the traders, wholesalers, distributors or retailers for verification by the DTI monitoring and/or enforcement officers; and 5. For PS license holders, the PS Mark shall be permanently affixed

to the products packaging. Consumers and the buying public are encouraged to familiarize themselves and make it a habit to look for Philippine Standards (PS) mark and ICC stickers to ensure that the products they are buying passed certain quality standards. For more information on product standards, please feel free to visit the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the 2nd Floor, Simtoco Building, Burgos Street, this city or contact telephone number 826-6129 and look for Josephine D. Gabutin, Trade and Industry Development Specialist.

DOLE-13 salutes Filipino workers during the 113th Labor Day in CaragaBy: Iris C. AsisBUTUAN CITY - “We at the Department of Labor and Employment Caraga, through the leadership of our regional director Atty. Johnson G. Cañete, salute the commendable efforts of all our Filipino workers around the globe in providing a steadfast mark that propel our economy today to the heights of economic gains.” This was the statement of Genebelle B. Bal, OIC-assistant regional director of DOLE Caraga during her welcome message on the Labor Day celebration held recently at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city. The men and women of DOLE

Caraga along with its attached agencies hustled to make the Labor Day celebration a success. Over 1,231 job seekers flocked and 264 applicants were hired on the spot on the Labor Day Job Fair; that is 34 percent of the 769 qualified applicants.


Pride and joy fill the air as every hired on the spot was called on stage, interviewed and awarded a token. While applicants sashayed in the venue, mothers were enjoying the free manicure, pedicure, foot spa, massage and as cream of the crop, every girl’s desire, a single red rose. Also, the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) trained personnel form Butuan Manpower Agency entertained over 112 mothers. Meanwhile, promo diskwento fair spearheaded by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity

Board (RTWPB) was happily patronized by the Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) members, DOLE staff and the participants. Over P21,000 worth of products were sold. Two livelihood grants were also awarded at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort. The Chorizo making business worth P88,607 for the Rural improvement Club Women’s Association of Brgy. 2, LGU-Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and P80,000 for Brgy. 6 Women’s League, BLGU – Brgy. 6, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte on their dress and curtain making venture. As part of the continuing


advocacy on labor laws, 86 certificates of compliance and three tripartite certificates of compliance with labor standards were distributed on that day. It was also learned that a synchronized launching of the search kiosk commenced at Robinson’s Mall here, Capitol Hall in Tandag City, Provincial Government office in Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur and Provincial Government office in San Jose, Dinagat Islands. In Agusan del Sur, Philsaga Mining Corporation (PMC), Provident Tree Farms Incorporated and Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative celebrated Labor Day in their respective companies. PMC commemorated the valuable efforts of their employees through a 30-day sports fest; awards were given

on May 1, 2015 in time for the Labor Day. Further, PMC officers and staff initiated the mangrove reforestation program at Wakat, Barobo, Surigao del Sur. In Claver, Surigao del Norte, mining companies such as Taganito Mining Corp., Platinum Group Metals Corp., Taganito Hpal and Adnama Mining Resources Inc. with their contractors and subcontractors unite to honor the special event with a mass and motorcade. They culminated the activity with an orientation on labor laws. “This is our humble offering to our Caraganon beneficiaries who continue to seek gainful opportunities to provide for their families the state of life that we all deserve,” said Bal.


With the theme “I Imagine, I Achieve, I Serve,” Governor Johnny Pimentel, who called up a final meeting on Wednesday for all working committees, told media that everything is already in place. It can be recalled during the initial meeting on April 20, 2015 at the capitol conference room, “no stone was left unturned” on the details of tackling all GSP activities together with the concerned officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division Offices here. All the way from physical arrangement, peace and security, souvenir programs and awards, reception, food, health and sanitation, as well as promotion up to the “off-sites”

of the affair—name it—have been thoroughly threshed out and addressed. Off-sites are venues for particular activities other than the Surigao del Sur Sports Complex. The final meeting was only a matter of following up everything about the much anticipated event with an expected delegation of more than a thousand in conservative estimate, it was learned. Being used to hosting grand occasions, to cite in particular the 2014 and 2015 Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM), which was held here twice in a row, Pimentel has once again been “hands on” every step of the way for the preparation, observers say.

SurSur all set for 30th GSP Eastern Mindanao Regional EncampmentBy: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY - As host, the province of Surigao del Sur is all set for the

30th Regional Encampment of the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Eastern Mindanao Region on May 9-14, 2015 at the Surigao del Sur

Sports Center.





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