One Mindanao - November 10, 2011

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: hnb_r9pia

Northern Mindanao

Graces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

2/F 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]

Central Mindanao (SOCSKARGEN)

Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506Telephone no. (083) 520-0249Telefax no. (083) 228-9736 / 228-9739 / 520-0100Cellphone no. 0921-6873373 / 0928-5204307E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] [email protected],ph

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

OUR COVER features

Tagum CooperativeYouth Laboratory’s 1st

General Assembly

Executive Editor ……......... EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor ……......... ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region

Associate Editors ……....... OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII NOEMI A. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Regional Desk Editors …... Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora CL Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

Vol. 1, No. 88 NOVEMBER 10, 2011

N A T I O N A L

contentsCover Story :

Tagum Cooperative:Grooming financially secured children

Malacañang moves against group misrepresenting them-selves as government officials

by Jeanevive Duron-Abangan contents

14

Aquino ensures media freedom, says press to remain guardian of democracy

Palace says Arroyos not victims of political persecution

1210

4

10

NORTHERN Mindanao

30

Robredo to LGU’s: “Let’s push PPUR to victory”

NorMin dengue cases drops 77.63 percent in first 10 months, this year

Valencia CDRRMC releases Php300,000 for earthquake victims

Pres. Aquino awards LGU Opol for exemplary governance

29

Foundation for the Disabled honors Opol for accessibility efforts

32

29

31

33

WESTERN Mindanao

25BIR urges professionals to be compliant with tax laws

DOH steps up campaign on newborn screening

24First kidney transplant patient in Zambo City doing well; influx of patients seen

24

CENTRAL Mindanao

Banana plantation opens in Sarangani

Army helps settle family feud

Police on full alert following IED explosion, recovery in Central Mindanao

CHD 12 orients Gensan media on Malaria Control Program20

1918

18

21 dxPR to spearhead planting 3,473 trees on Friday

Tawi-Tawi to propel environment program in Mapun, Turtle Island28

SOUTHERN MindanaoDOST technology upgrading pro-gram helps small enterprises

Solon urges concerted, decisive action on overseas ban37

35

35NFA chief eyes Caraga, Davao as pilot regions for rice production38

CARAGA Region‘Lolong’ is biggest croc in captivity

PRC alarms people on paid blood donors

Mayor Amante calls for the people to be proactive in deal-ing with crimes

4042

40

PDEA Caraga celebrates drug abuse prevention week thru tree planting

Nat’l Congress on Moral Recov-ery Program opens in Butuan City 44

46

43

Mag-aaral, empleyado ng USM pinaalalahan, wag patulan ang bomb scare 23

27Feature: Why farmers must insure their crops15

26

4 Thursday, November 10, 2011


Cover Story

by Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

I never thought that even children from ordinary families can become part of a millionaires group, until I recently attended the first general assembly of Tagum Cooperative Youth

Laboratory Cooperative.

5Thursday, November 10, 2011


I was expecting to see 15 to 24 years of age individuals. I was surprised. The sight of little chil-dren as young as five to below 18 years of age, met my eyes as I approached the assembly hall. They were lining up for registra-tion. They showed their pass-book, got a registration coupon, then picked a little sling bag as token from Tagum Cooperative (TC). About 1,200 children, most of whom were with their mothers, came to join the activity which infected the mature guests with a child-like feeling. Everyone, even guests from national and local government offices and from the House of Congress, showed their wacky pose upon the egg-ing on of Nor-ma Pereyras, chairperson of the Board of Advisers of TC Youth Labora-tory Coopera-tive.

Groups of young savers

The assembly participants were given their heyday on No-vember 05 as young members of Tagum Cooperative. After all, their sector has generated P25,586,951.10 savings depos-its which is 3.69 percent of the P693,629,081 total savings de-posits of Tagum Cooperative. The young savers whose ages range from zero to below 18 years old belong to the Youth Savers, Power Teen, Aflatoun and the Tagum Coop Youth Laboratory. The young sav-ers groups are fast-becoming a force to reckon with, especially in terms of savings. Their membership which to-tals 18,534


makes up 29 percent of the 63,837 total members of Tagum Cooperative. Started in early year 2000, the Power Teens and the Youth Savers draw the biggest volume of savings of P25 million. But Tagum Cooperative OIC General Manager Brendo Bayocot fore-sees more savings to be drawn from elementary and secondary students as TC has adopted Afla-toun in cooperation with the De-partment of Education (DepEd) Tagum City Schools Division. Aflatoun is a “concept to teach children about social val-ues, and rights and responsibili-ties coupled with basic financial education.” Tested in India 18 years ago, the Aflatoun con-

cept is also aimed at facilitat-ing the “inclusion of Child Social and Financial Education into for-mal and informal education sys-tems as a recognition of child’s rights.” DepEd Tagum City Schools Supt. Nenita Lumaad who also chairs the Board of Di-rectors of Tagum Cooperative calls such Aflatoun implemen-tation in Tagum City as Finan-cial Literacy for the Youth (FLY). With TC as its major partner, DepEd Tagum is pilot-testing it in seven Tagum City public el-ementary schools particularly in Rizal, Mankilam, Pilot, La Filipi-na, Laureta, Apokon and Cata-lan.

Aflatoun currently draws 2,167 savers from the pilot schools. Its membership is expected to grow fast as TC plans to spread Aflatoun coverage next year, requiring each branch to adopt one to three schools in its location. Bayocot reveals that roll-ing out Aflatoun in schools is sort of just a social respon-sibility undertaking of Tagum Cooperative. TC has already spent about P300,000 in im-


plementing Aflatoun since June this year, TC Youth Program Of-ficer Clyjenee Dairo said. TC shoulders the production teachers’ manuals of FLY apply-ing the Aflatoun concept, and the printing of passbooks and deposit slips. Social benefits Lumaad admits that Afla-toun is costly to implement. But she is looking at building a com-munity of savers more than just raking in immediate return-of-investment. She remains opti-mistic that TC still can reap real gains, in the long run, not just in terms of money but social capi-tal.

“They will also become very good savers and good payers because of the training that we have given them” she said. As an educator Lumaad puts in a lot of value to the essence learning that Aflatoun brings. The simple filling out of a de-posit slip reinforces reading and mathematical skills aside from the financial planning and bud-geting lessons instilled among students and pupils in schools where Aflatoun is being imple-mented. Lumaad is encouraging parents to reflect on the saving enthusiasm of the young sav-


ers. She is hoping that the Fi-nancial Literacy Program for the Youth would be adopted not just by the school but by the com-

munity. “Once the community owns the program it will continue” she said. “If ang mga bata maka save, how much more the par-ents?,” she poses the challenge for parents to live by the prac-tice of saving. Aside from molding savers, TC is also grooming coopera-tive leaders through its Youth Laboratory Cooperatives estab-lished in Tagum City National High School and in Imelda Ele-mentary School (also in Tagum City). The youth laboratory co-operatives are a miniature or-ganizations of Tagum Coopera-

tive. They have their own board of directors and committees.

Future coop leaders Pereyras pictures the

youth laboratory co-operatives as a train-ing grounds for young members to become future cooperative lead-ers. “We want them to know how to manage a coop-erative while also teach-ing them right values and showing them right lifestyle.”

In most of her speaking engagements Pereyras often speaks a mantra saying “live be-low your means” . TC is also ad-vocating such principle among members of the Youth Labora-tory Cooperative. “They should also know how to do financial planning and budgeting, though they’re still young,” she said. As Youth Laboratory Coop-erative officers and members encourage savings among their fellows, they are also expected to “walk their talk”, and to show in their way of life and in their dealings with people the value


they’ve learned from Tagum Cooperative. “Leaders should save not just money but also values and principles in life because as lead-ers, you cannot give what don’t have,” Pereyras said. Members of the Board of Directors of Tagum Cooperative are united behind the programs for the youth. They are putting at stake substantial investment, based on well calculated risk principle, for the welfare of the young members of Tagum Cooperative. Tagum Cooperative has

made a significant dent in mak-ing a difference on the lives of people in its community. As of October, 2011, it posted P1.39 billion net asset and a net sur-plus of P88. 7 million. As it continues to seek im-provement in the lives of its members, it now flies as the “wind beneath the wings” of young people. It wants to be-come part of their journey to-wards becoming future leaders who are financially secured, who lives in a right way with right values in life.



President Benigno Aquino III is serious in bringing in foreign medical experts to examine former president Gloria Arroyo to debunk speculations that the Arroyo family is being persecuted by the

present administration, a Palace spokesperson said on Thursday.



In an interview over dzBB radio Thursday morning, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abi-gail Valte said the President is serious in his offer to pro-vide medical experts for the former lead-ers after the Depart-ment of Justice (DOJ) rejected her request to travel abroad to seek medical help. Valte admitted that they got a lot of comments regard-ing the President’s pronouncements adding however that the announcement of the president is made out of human-itarian reason. “The way that we look at it, it’s out of humanitarian considerations at nag-offer lang na-man po tayo. Ang

sinasabi ho kasi nila mayroon daw politi-cal persecution – o talagang pagdidiin kay Ginang Arroyo. Gusto lang po natin ding ipakita na hindi ito personal,” Valte said. Valte added that the President is open to having a di-alogue with the for-mer president with regards the Palace offer although the Arroyos have earlier rejected the idea. On Wednesday, President Aquino III said he fully sup-ports Justice Secre-tary Leila De Lima’s decision disallow-ing former president and now congress-woman Gloria Maca-pagal-Arroyo from traveling abroad to seek medical treat-ment.

T h e P r e s i d en t said in a press briefing in Malaca-ñang that not permit-ting Arroyo to travel abroad ensures her being present to face the charges of electoral sabotage, a non-bailable of-fense, being leveled at her. He said the gov-ernment was willing to shoulder the ex-penses of flying in medical specialists to look into Arroyo’s medical condition to ease the former president’s need to travel. The DoJ on Tuesday denied the former president’s request for an Allow Departure Order for lack of merit. (AS)



President Benigno Aquino III made an assurance Wednesday that his administration will not curtail media freedom in the country noting the press will continue to become the guardian of Philippine

democracy.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his message during the 37th Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Top Level Management Conference (TLMC) at the Molave Room, Holiday Inn, Clark Free-port Zone, Pampanga Wednesday November 09, 2011. The TLMC is an annual meeting of the KBP where critical issues affecting the broadcast industry are discussed



“Sa tuwid na daan walang maglalagay ng tali sa inyong (media) leeg upang maging su-nud-sunuran. Walang gagamit sa radyo at diaryo para bumanat nang bumanat ng wa-lang katuturan,” the President said in his message during the top-level conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in Clark Free-port Zone, Pampanga, on Wednesday. “ M a n a n a t i l -ing tagapagbantay ng demokrasya ang media ng bansa at kabalikat ninyo ang inyong administra-syon sa pagpapanatli ng pinakamataas ng propesyunalismo, in-tegridad at kredibilidad sa inyong larangan,” he added. The President praised KBP’s con-tinuing work in ensur-ing that information is provided to the public since the dark years of martial rule in the country. When politics cloud public percep-tion, the KBP plays a major role in raising

important issues that also elevate the degree of public discourse in the country, the Presi-dent said. At the same time, the President recog-nized the role and dedication of KBP as it functions as the “fourth state” in Philippine so-ciety particularly the introduction of a new-er form of media—the Internet. But the President also acknowledged that the press is not perfect underscoring the need of the media to police itself of cor-rupt and unscrupulous individuals that taint the good reputation of many practitioners. The media should match the expecta-tions of the people, the President said, noting that the press must maintain a high degree of integrity similar to the public expectation of elected officials. “Ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng sinumpaan naming mandato—katapatan, paghahayag ng kato-tohanan, malasakit sa

ating k a b a -bayan, lahat ng ito ay sumasa-lamin din sa tungkulin ng media,” he said. “ Samaka tuw id kapwa tayo may pana-nagutan sa mamama-yan, kapwa tayo may utang na loob sa taum-bayan” As a leading me-dia organization in the country, the President encouraged KBP to maintain a stronger relation with govern-ment for the benefit of the people. In concluding his speech, the President asked the press and the public to show to the world the changes and reforms that are happening in the coun-try bringing new confi-dence to the people for a better future. “Sa lakas ng nag-kakaisang bayan, tu-luy-tuloy na ang ating pagbangon at sa tulong ng KBP tunay ngang napipinto na ang katu-paran ng ating mga pangarap,” he said. (AS)


P r e s i d e n t i a l Spokesperson Ed-win Lacierda issued this appeal in a press briefing in Malacañang Thursday afternoon. He asked that all officials and employ-ees to be wary about these individuals who may prey on them by “dropping names” to instill fear or ask for a favor. “Ang request ko sa mga government officials and employ-ees, don’t hesitate to confirm the identity of the person calling you,”

Lacierda said. “I would like to ask the government em-ployees to verify first the identity of the per-son calling because ang government employees kasi, pag binitawan ng pangalan naniniwala kaagad so I ask the government employees to verify first the iden-tity of the person and to ask for further proof that that person they are speaking to is re-ally that person whom he or she claims to be,” he added. Lacierda said any

person who may be contacted by these spurious individuals may report the incident to his office number 0917-8085329. Lacierda also said that a text message currently circulating saying that his office, the Office of the Presi-dential Spokesperson is giving out raffle prizes, is not true. “There’s no truth to that. The govern-ment does not hold raffle contests nor give raffle prizes,” Lacierda said. (rck)

Malacañang moves against group misrepresenting themselves as government officialsIn a move to address the rising incidents of unscrupulous

individuals misrepresenting themselves as government officials to victimize government employees, Malacañang appealed to all government officials and employees to

confirm first the identity of the person contacting them.


Feature: Why farmers must insure their crops

To give farmers a bird’s eye view on what crop insurance is all about,here is a brief so that during times of unforeseen disasters,

farmers will not be holding an empty bag.

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan

The government’s crop indemnity pro-gram provides insur-ance protection to agricultural produc-ers against loss of the crops on the account

of natural calamities, plant pests and dis-ease, and/or other per-ils. The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) is the govern-ment agency directly

responsible for its im-plementation by vir-tue of PD 1467 signed on June 11, 1978 and implemented nation-wide on May 7, 1981, initially covering pa-


lay and followed by corn beginning July 1, 1982. R.A. 8175 signed into law in December 1995 amended P.D. 1467 and is known as the “Revised Charter of Philippine Crop In-surance Corporation. Under the program, rice and corn farmers and high value com-mercial crop growers may be able to avail loans from any lend-ing institution (LI) be it commercial, devel-opment, rural bank, coop banks, and other LI and lending con-duits and other quasi LI, NGOs, coops, and government entities.

Once enrolled, a farm-er is assured that he will recover his invest-ment if he suffers crop and other agricultural project losses caused by natural calamities, pest and disease in-festation, and other losses. Likewise, be-ing enrolled in the program enhances the farmer’s credit stand-ing. The program ex-tends to loans to farm-ers, or those obtaining produ tion loan under the government super-vised credit program; and to self-financed

farmers (optional), provided they agree to place themselves un-der the supervision of a PCIC accredited Ag-ricultural Production Technician. Moreover, a regu-lar crop insurance cov-ers up to P16,800 per hectare for palay and up to P20,000 for hy-brid rice (F1). While, for corn farmers, their crops are protected up to P8,000 per hectare for any open-pollinat-ed variety, and up to P 14,000 for any hybrid variety. The program also offers government premium subsidy but only for subsistence farmers or those who are tilling seven hect-ares or less rice/corn land. The coverage pe-riod include from the direct seeding or upon transplanting up to harvest privided that insurance shall com-


mence from the date of issuance of the Cer-tificate of Insurance Cover (CIC) or ac-tual direct seeding or upon transplanting for rice and emergence of the first leaf for corn. Generally, farmers also have the option to choose from among the types of insurance coverage they would be applying which include Natural Disaster Cov-er--damage due to ty-phoon, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, and earthquake; and Multi-Risk Cover-- risks due to natu-ral disasters, plus pest infestation and diseas-es. To apply for in-surance coverage, an individual borrowing farmer may file his ap-plication for produc-tion loan with a lend-ing institution/bank; while borrowing farm-ers as a group must submit List of Borrow-

ers (LOB), Standard Farm Plan and Bud-get (SFPB) and Con-trol Map (CM) / Loca-tion Sketch Plan (LSP) Similarly, self-financed farmers should file Ap-plication for Crop In-surance (ACI) any day before actual trans-planting/direct seed-ing. The farmer may file ACI with PCIC In-surance Underwriter, accredited solicitor or underwriting agent.On the other hand, farmers applying for coverage under the GroupCrop Insurance Scheme (GCIS) must submit the following:- List of Participants (LOP)-Standard Farm Plan and Budget (SFPB) -Control Map (CM) / Location Sketch Plan (SFPB) W h e n filing for Notice of Loss, the farmer should take note that it s h o u l d be filed within 10 cal-endar days from occur-

rence of loss. Where damage is gradual or progressive, NL should be filed not later than 20 calendar days be-fore the scheduled date of harvest. Finally, claims for Indemnity (CI) should be filed within 45 cal-endar days from oc-currence of loss.Dur-ing an earlier episode of the Communica-tions and News Ex-change (CNEX) Forum held at the Philippine Information Agency, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that crop insurance is readily available to any farmer who meets the Department of Ag-riculture (DA) eligibil-ity requirements. As Alcala urged all rice and corn farm-ers to avail of the pro-gram, he said that “if worse comes to worst, farmers will be able to recover their losses and replant again.


ALABEL, Sarangani – Sarangani Agriventures, Inc., a newly established Cav-endish banana plantation in Sarangani, opens its farm in barangay Baluntay Tuesday, November 8, with guests Colonel Glorioso Miranda (left), com-manding officer of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army; Mayor Corazon Grafilo (center); Governor Migs Dominguez; Madeline Dizon Marfori (right), corporate secretary of Sarangani Agriventures, Inc.; and local offi-cials. (Russel Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Banana plantation opens in Sarangani


Army helps settle family feudBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- The Philippine Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Kalandagan, Tacurong City, along with the municipal government of Pandag, Maguindanao recently helped in the reconciliation of two families involved in a rido (family feud).

In a press release, Cpt. Ariel Morlejo, civil military opera-tions officer of 601st IB said, commanding officer BGen. Leo Cresente Ferrer, and Pandag Mayor Datu Zajid Mangudadatu, led in the settle-ment ceremony be-tween the families of Nords Sangkigay and Teng Manebpil of Brgy. Kabuling on Tuesday, November 18.

At the ceremony, an outcome of a se-ries of negotia-tions, the families in conflict took oath to end of the prac-tice of exacting re-venge against one another ang put to stop the retaliations for the benefit of their future genera-tions, Morlejo said.

Both families also pledged to for-give previous of-fenses the other party have inflicted on them. They also swore to rekindle unity and alliance between the two families.

After the oath-taking ceremonies, the families a played a game of basketball to signify the beginning of a renewed friendship.

The also shared a

meal in the military tradition of “budol-budol.”

BGen Ferrer thanked both fami-lies for giving rec-onciliation a chance. He hopes other families involved in feuds will follow their example of re-solving long-running conflicts.

Incidentally, 601st IB is also called “Unifier” Infantry Brigade. (PIA 12/DPAO-PA)


CHD 12 orients Gensan media on Malaria Control ProgramBy Pops Gumana-Fruylan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, – The Department of Health -Center for Health De-velopment (DOH-CHD) 12 on Tuesday (Nov. 8) presented the concepts of the Malaria Control Program (MCP) to media practitioners here in the city in a move to empower residents of the region on the agency’s vision of con-trolling malaria cases and moving towards elimination by year 2020.

Regional Malaria Coordinator, Dr. Jebie Areen Biron, asked the support of the lo-cal media to help the agency disseminate the key communica-tion messages of the MCP to concerned in-

dividuals especially to “population at risk.”

Biron explained that there is a need to “significantly reduce the malaria burden so that it will no longer affect the socio-eco-nomic development of

individuals and fami-lies in endemic ar-eas.”

“Malaria is danger-ous but is a prevent-able and curable dis-ease,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Ocat, Health Educa-tor of the City Health Office (CHO) revealed that as of September 24, 2011 Gensan re-corded seven malaria cases with one death.

Ocat disclosed that out of the sev-en cases, only three are “indigenous” or originated in Gensan while the other four cases got the disease outside of the city- one from Indonesia, two from Papua New Guinea, and one mor-tality case came from Balut Island, Davao


del Sur.Biron said the

agency has identi-fied the indigenous cases of malaria from Barangays Labangal, Apopong, City Heights and San Isidro, which are currently under close monitoring be-cause of their proxim-ity to a slow-flowing stream-the perfect breeding place for mosquitoes.

To stop the pro-liferation of the dis-ease, Dr. Corazon Rodaje, malaria and dengue coordinator of the City Health Of-fice (CHO) revealed

that they have been distributing 3,000 In-secticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to affected areas in the city since October this year.

Rodaje is encourag-ing the use of ITNs or chemically-treated nets because they repel or kill mosqui-toes especially during night time, the biting time for the disease vectors.

The city health of-ficial also shared the proper care of ITNs to maintain the effec-tiveness of the insec-ticide against mosqui-toes.

Aside from sleeping inside the ITNs every night, CHD 12 ento-mologist, Roy Boholst, also revealed other tips to prevent ma-laria which include: wearing long sleeves and long pants during night time activities, use of insect repel-lant; the use of in-door residual spraying (IRS) as determined by the Municipal Health Officer (MHO), and the clearing of streams when appro-priate and advised by MHO, among others. (PIA-General Santos City)

Police on full alert following IED explosion, recovery in Central MindanaoBy Dani Doguiles and Roderick Beñez

KORONADAL CITY -- Director Felicisimo Khu of the Directorate for In-tegrated Police Operations – Western Mindanao (DIP0-WS) today con-firmed police in possible target areas in the Region 12 have been placed on full alert following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) and recovery of five others in two separate municipalities in the past two days.

“All provincial po-lice directors of tar-geted areas in the

region have been di-rected to enhance their alert status

with this renewed EID threats,” Khu said in an interview with a


local radio station in Koronadal City this morning.

Khu identified the possible targets of bombing as the mu-nicipalities of Mid-sayap, Carmen, and Kabacan and the city of Kidapawan in North Cotabato; Co-tabato City, Isulan and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat; Ko-ronadal in South Co-tabato, and General Santos City.

Around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday an IED made from an 81 mm mor-tar with cellular phone as triggering device exploded outside Kakuan Dryer along USM Avenue, Kaba-can, North Cotabato. The site is about 200 meters outside the main gate of the University of Southern Mindanao, the largest state-owned academic institution in the Cen-tral Mindanao.

No casualty or in-jury was reported in the bomb blast. The area is near boarding and lodging houses

and the street is a pri-mary route going into or coming out of the campus.

P/Supt. Joseph Se-millano, chief of Kaba-can PNP said another bomb was recovered from the same area.

With tips from lo-cal residents, three more EIDs made of the same materials were recovered from separate sites in Ka-bacan early yesterday morning. These were diffused by explo-sive ordnance disposal team of the Philippine Army and the PNP.

These IEDs were planted outside a bakery along Rizal Avenue, in front of the municipal hall, and outside the public market.

Another EID was re-covered from a Fly-ing V gasoline station in Poblacion, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat prov-ince around 11:00 in the morning yester-day. This, too, was diffused by 63rd EOD team of the AFP.

The sixth IED was made from a 60 mm

mortar. Khu said they are

“validating raw in-telligence report” that the IEDs were planted by the group of Jemaah Islamiyah-trained Abdul Basit Usman.

Meanwhile, COP Semillano have called on the students and employees of the state university not to panic over text mes-sages that say USM is the target of the bombing.

He, however, ad-vised the USM’s se-curity force to tighten security in the univer-sity campus.

The explosion was the second in Kabacan in one month.

On October 24 a roadside bomb ex-ploded in Barangay Kayaga while a Rural Transit bus was pass-ing by. One student from USM sustained minor injuries from that bombing. Police believes the motive of the first bombing was extortion. (DXVL/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA 12)


Mag-aaral, empleyado ng USM pinaalalahan, wag patulan ang bomb scare

KORONADAL CITY -- Pinaala-lahan ni P/Supt Joseph Se-millano ang mga mag-aaral, guro at empleyado ng Uni-versity of Southern Mindanao na huwag patulan ang ku-makalat na mga text mes-sage na umano’y target ng

pambobomba ng masasa-mang elemento ang state university.

Nanawagan din si Semi-llano na huwag nang ika-lat pa ang matatanggap na kaparehong text message upang huwag nang magdulot pa ang panic o matinding takot sa kumunidad, lalung lalo na sa libu-libong mag-

aaral at empleyedo ng USM. Matatandaang isang im-

provised explosive device (IED) ang sumabog mga dalawang daang metro lang sa labas ng main gate ng USM bandang alas – ocho ng gabi noong Martes, kasabay nito ang isa pang bomba na hindi sumabog.

Tatlong bomba pa ang na-rekober ng mga otoridad at iba’t ibang bahagi ng Kaba-can kinabukasan.

Aminado si Semillano na bagama’t walang nasawi o nasugatan sa pagsabog na nangyari malapit sa nakahi-lerang mga boarding house sa kalsada na kalimitang di-nadaan papasok at palabas sa unibersidad, nagdulot pa rin ito ng takot sa kumunidad.

Samantala, inatasan na rin ni Semillano ang security force ng USM na mas hig-pitan pa ang pagbabantay sa kanilang nasasakupan.

Ang USM ay pinakamalak-ing state university sa Re-hiyon Dose. May lawak itong 1,024 ektarya at may stu-dent population na umaabot ng mahigit labintatlong libo. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12/RBenez/DXVL Radyo ng Bayan)


First kidney transplant patient in Zambo City doing well; influx of patients seen

The first-ever kidney transplant patient in the city, and the whole of region 9, is doing well, along with the donor, Dr. Michael Abutazil, head of Renal

Transplantation of Western Mindanao Medical Center, said.

by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

In an interview with PIA, Dr. Abutazil was visibly happy to see that the patient and do-nor are responding well with the medication. “The patient is do-ing well. His creatinin is back to normal. He visits me every week for mon-itoring”, Abutazil said. He said they are

now taper-ing down the dosage of maintenance m e d i c i n e intake and pointed that it’s a good sign. “This is a good sign of recovery.

The lower the dosage is the better. It is an indi-cation that the patient is responding well. Abutazil added that the donor also doing well and is now back in Sin-dangan, Zamboanga del Norte. “The donor visits us once a month, also

for monitoring. This will go for six months”, the youthful doctor said. After six months of monthly check up, the donor will be checked every two months, for two years. “Hindi natin pwe-deng pabayaan yung do-nor. We have to monitor both”, Abutazil stressed. With the success of the first transplant pro-cedure, Dr. Abutazil said they are now working out on six other patients for transplant. “If all goes well, one of them will under-go the procedure within the next two months. We are looking to oper


First kidney transplant patient in Zambo City doing well; influx of patients seen

by Franklin P. GumaponTo give all newborns a chance to live a normal life, the Department of Health (DOH) through the city/municipal health centers is now urging the parents

to have their infants undergo newborn screening (NBS).

ate all of them in around 6 months. We are just waiting for the compat-ibility test”, he said. “We are working for one of the patients for possible cadaver donor program”, he furthered. When asked on the readiness of the city as the region’s center for kidney transplant, Abutazil assured the public that the city has enough facilities and technical specialty to ca-ter patients. “We have five neph-rologists here in the city, including me, all of us are trained to conduct transplant”, he said.

Abutazil said this will also

help the city on medical tourism. “I’m looking into the big potential of our city on medical tourism. Nearby regions and prov-inces will opt to come here rather than go to Cebu, Davao or Manila as it will be much cheap-er to have the transplant here”, he explained. Abutazil pointed that the expense will be two-thirds lower here. “The usual cost of the procedure is around P1.5 M, but here it’s only around P800,000 to P900,000. And they don’t have to fly to other places and rent a house for the duration of their stay,” he said.

“Again, we are al-ready equipped with the knowledge and exper-tise, so we are ready for possible influx of pa-tients. But of course, we have to keep ourselves (nephrologists) updat-ed with the new trends on transplantation”, he added. Abutazil is also hoping for more support to realize all operations here. “We recently re-ceived donations from individuals for the next transplant. We hope more will come from the government and private sectors alike”. (JPA/MVC/PIA-ZBST)

NBS coordinator Liberty S. Sybico of the City Health Office (CHO) here said the newborns should be screened to find out whether they have metabolic congeni-

tal disorder that may lead to mental retardation or early death. “Should a child have a metabolic congenital disorder, NBS provides the opportu-nity for early treatment

of diseases,” explained Sybico. NBS is a simple procedure to find out if the baby has a congeni-tal metabolic disorder which may lead to men

DOH steps up campaign on newborn screening


tal retardation and even death if left untreated. Public and private hospitals as well as birth-ing homes are required

to promote NBS as man-dated un-der Republic Act No. 9288 o t h e r w i s e known as the Newborn S c r e e n i n g Act of 2004. This law aims to en-sure that

every newborn has ac-cess to newborn screen-ing for certain heritable condition that can result

in mental retardation, serious health complica-tions or death if left un-detected and untreated and that the parents must recognize their re-sponsibility in promot-ing their child’s right to health and full devel-opment by protecting him/her from prevent-able causes of disability and death through new-born screening. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambonga del Norte)

BIR urges professionals to be compliant with tax lawsRevenue District Officer (RDO) of the Bureau of Internal

Revenue (BIR) in Zamboanga Sibugay, Monib Dimakuta, urged professionals to comply with tax laws and file their

income tax correctly and on time.

by Paulnazer T.Lontua

According to Dima-kuta, he is putting on his priority list the monitor-ing and checking of all the tax obligations of professionals in his ar-eas of responsibility. “I would like to post this invitation to all the professionals out there who have tax ob-ligations to comply and

make sure they file their income tax correctly and on time because I am putting this monitoring on all professionals,” Di-makuta emphasized. In Zamboan-ga Sibugay, Dimakuta urged doctors, lawyers, engineers and all pro-fessionals to abide by the tax law to prevent

any trouble with the Bu-reau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the future as it will not hesitate to im-plement the Oplan Kan-dado to delinquent tax payers. The BIR raised its revenue collections last year and expected to do the same this year. The bulk of the increase


BIR urges professionals to be compliant with tax laws

by Gideon C. CorgueAs part of the corporate social responsibility of Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN) and in support of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s National

Greening Program (NGP), the dxPR radio station is set to plant 3,473 trees on Friday.

Station manag-er Alejandro E. Gesta said the event dubbed “Reverde Ako: Tutulong Ako’ is the brainchild and the heroic service of the environmentalist Don Henry Canoy, the founder of RMN, which started 59 years ago. The ‘Reverde Ako: Tutulong Ako’, Gesta said is a regular public service activity of RMN which gives importance on the date, November

11, 2011 (11/11/11) in accomplishing a monu-mental planting of the generation “Z”, com-monly known as ‘Net generation.” Gesta said the event also envisions to save our mother earth and aims to have a greener future for the next generation. “It will teach and moti-vate the new generation on how to appreciate the essence of public service at their young age, en-

courage them and make them realize how poten-tial they are in molding the next generations’ fu-ture,” Gesta added. The event will be simultaneously conduct-ed by all AM and FM ra-dio stations nationwide, Gesta added. Gesta said the lo-cal station has identi-fied four (4) barangays as tree planting sites, namely: Danlugan, Ma-casing, Lala, and Pedu

dxPR to spearhead planting 3,473 trees on Friday

would come from the professional segment com-prise of doctors, lawyers, accoun-tants and other high-earning self-em-ployed individuals. The country has about 700,000 profes-sionals, but they con-tributed only P7 billion to government coffers

in 2009. Depart-ment of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima earlier said this amount would translate to

an average contribution of P5,000 from each of the 700,000 profession-als for that year. According to the Professional Regulatory Commission, the Philip-

pines have three million professionals, including nurses, doctors, engi-neers and seamen who are either self-employed or employed. Lawyers and doctors, who are presumed to earn the most among profession-als, numbered 190,000. (NBE R IX / P. Lontua)


lonan where the 3,473 seeds will be planted.Gesta said over 400 ju-nior and senior students from the Pagadian City National High School in Danlugan and Lala Na-tional High School, Lala,

and the barangay of-ficials of Macasing and Pedulonan will join the activity. Gesta said 1st dis-trict representative Vic-tor Yu will provide the seeds for the event.

It was learned that 32 AM and FM organic stations will plant 3,473 seeds to meet the quota of 111,111 seeds nation-wide. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

Tawi-Tawi to propel environment program in Mapun, Turtle IslandThe Province of Tawi-Tawi is on another leg next week

of propelling its Natural Resources Management (NRM) program in Mapun and Turtle Island, two

far-flung municipalities of this southern province. Provincial Infor-mation Officer Abdel Nasser Tahang report-ed that in a planning meeting at the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan Session Hall Tuesday, Vice Governor Ruby Sahali discussed the agenda with the con-cerned agencies par-ticipating in the im-plementation of the program. The NRM activi-ties include mangrove planting in partnership with the DENR, fruit-bearing tree planting with the DA, dive ex-ploration with WWF, and Coastal Resource Management and Cli-

mate Change with WWF and DA. Tahang added that social services that will be included are Brigada Iskwela, maternal and child care, 4P’s benefi-ciary assessment, Is-lamic lectures, assis-tance to Mother’s Club of Turtle Island, opera-tion gupit, and medi-cal/dental services. Vice Governor Sa-hali said these are the programs and activi-ties that the provincial government is under-taking since 2010 in line with its implemen-tation of the province’s NRM program. She said that af-

ter Mapun and Turtle Island, she has eyed for Sapa-Sapa munici-pality as the next re-cipient. “We are doing this public service for the benefits of the people and we have set aside politics here,” she said. Meanwhile, Task Force 62 command-er, Captain Renato Yongque, PN, GSC, has assured the availability of a navy boat to ferry the Mapun and Turtle Island-bound group this week end. (JPA/RVC/PIA9 ZamBaSul-Ta)


Tawi-Tawi to propel environment program in Mapun, Turtle Island

Robredo to LGU’s: “Let’s push PPUR to victory”

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, today, called on all governors, city and municipal mayors, and other local government officials in Northern Mindanao, to vigorously urge their constituents to

vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).

Robredo’s call was made two (2) more days before the final voting on Friday, November 11, for the worldwide search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN). “The local government sector should play a pivotal role in the final push to victory for the PPUR,” Robredo, who is the Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the PPUR campaign created under Presidential

Proclamation 182, said. The DILG secretary said he was delighted to learn that PPUR has made it to the top 10 finalists in a recent update on the ongoing worldwide voting. Aside from the PPUR, other nominees that made it to the top 10 N7WN are the following: Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan/Palestine), Grand Canyon (United


States), Great Barrier Reef ( A u s t r a l i a /Papua New G u i n e a ) , Halong Bay ( V i e t n a m ) , Jeita Grotto ( L e b a n o n ) , Jeju Island (South Korea), Komodo Island ( Indones ia) ,

Sundarbans (Bangladesh/India), and Vesuvius (Italy). Robredo said the report about the PPUR’s overall standing is indeed a positive development, although only seven will be chosen among the 10 finalists. “Hence, there is a need to close ranks and demonstrate patriotism in order for our entry to get into the magic seven,” he said.

“The help of our local government officials is very crucial at this critical juncture” he said. Robredo reiterated his call to local officials and the public to vote through text messaging or SMS by typing PPUR and send it to 2861, or via internet by logging on to www.new7wonders.com. He said “Ang pakiusap po natin sa ating mga mayors at governors na sa lahat ng gagawin nilang pulong mula ngayon hanggang Nov. 11, pakiusapan nila ang kanilang mga kapulong na ilabas muna ang kanilang cell phones at mag-text upang bumoto para sa PPUR.” (My only request is for our mayors and governors that in every meeting they attend from now on up to Nov. 11, they would request those attending the and meetings to get their cellphones vote for PPUR).

Valencia CDRRMC releases Php300,000 for earthquake victimsBy Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental – Some Php300,000 had been allocated by the Valencia City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) for the Nov. 7 earthquake victims in the city.

Of this amount, Php200,000 was used for the hospitalization and medical assistance of the victims while Php100,000 was allocated for food assistance in th form of rice, sardines, beef loaves and noodles. Regional Director Ana Caňeda of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) who is also the Chairperson of the Regional

DRRMC, in the region, said based on the reports of the Valencia CDRRMC there were about 31 individuals who were injured due the earthquake that occurred in the city, last Nov. 7. Of those injured, 16 were confined in the hospital in Valencia,while the other 15 were treated as out-patients, the oldest of whom was aged 58 while


Valencia CDRRMC releases Php300,000 for earthquake victims

the youngest was aged one (1) year old. Immediately after the earthquake that occurred at 5:42 p.m, last Nov. 7, about 40 admitted patients of the Sanitarium Hospital in the city were brought to safer grounds by the hospital staff. Although the main columns of the Sanitarium Hospital were intact, some cracks on the walls of the 3-storey, 200-bed capacity, secondary hospital were visible. A rapid damage assessment of the affected hospital done by the Office of the Building Official of the City Engineer’s Office (OBO-CEO) revealed that although the building sustained hairline cracks, no major damage was done.

On a scale of 0-10, the effect of the cracks was rated 0.5, and thus safe for re-occupancy, so the hospital employees and patients were allowed to go back to the hospital at about 8:00 pm. of that day. Electric power in the city, which went off immediately after the quake, was partially restored by local electric company at about 7:55 p.m., last Nov. 7. With an intensity of 5.2, the quake which was of tectonic origin, was felt in Valenciaand the neighboring areas: Intensity 3 in Malaybalay City and Quezon town in Bukidnon, Intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City, and Intensity 1 in Camiguin.

NorMin dengue cases drops 77.63 percent in first 10 months, this yearBy: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - A total of 1,605 dengue cases were admitted to different sentinel hospitals, in Northern Mindanao, during the first 10 months, this year. This figure is actually 77.63 percent lower compared to 7,177 cases in the same period, last year, Dr. Jaime Bernadas, Regional Director of the Department of Health (DOH), region 10 said. Bernadas said the ages of those afflicted by dengue ranged from less than one (1) month to 90 years of age, with the median age placed at 10.5 yrs. old and about 56 percent of those afflicted with dengue were males.

There were nine (9) deaths placing the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) at 0.57%. Highest among the age group was the 5-9 years old which noted a CFR of 0.97 percent. Meanwhile, Dr. David Mendoza, Chief of the Regional Epidemiology Surveilance and Disaster Response Unit of DOH-10 said most of the cases were from the following provinces: Bukidnon, 5 percent, Camiguin, 1.0 percent, Lanao del Norte, 16 percent, Misamis OccidentaI, 25 percent and


Pres. Aquino awards LGU Opol for exemplary governanceOPOL, Misamis Oriental - President Benigno S. Aquino III and Secretary Jesse Robredo has awarded the Municipal Government of Opol for its commendable performance in local governance.

This, as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conferred upon it the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award(GPLA) for Region 10 Municipality Category,

consisting of a trophy and a check of Php1.0 million, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), last October 14. The GPLA is conferred to a province, city or municipality for its exemplary performance in governance as evidenced by its Local Government Performance Monitoring System (LGPMS) Over-all Performance Index

which is at least 4.0, Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), awards and recognitions received, and acknowledged innovations. Last September, Opol also made

Misamis Oriental, 53 percent. So far, only the province of Misamis Occidental had an increasing number of cases, 11.11 percent, compared to the same period last year. Among the cities, however, Ozamiz City has the highest increase of the dengue cases of more than 191.23 percent. Mendoza said the cluster of cases were noted in the following areas, which had three (3) or more in a barangay during the past four (4) weeks:

Barangays Carmen, Kauswagan, Lapasan and Patag in Cagayan de Oro City, Taytay in El Salvador City, and Barra, Opol, all of Misamis Oriental and Malaubang in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.There were nine (9) deaths placing the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) at 0.57%. Highest among the age group was the 5-9 years old which noted a CFR of 0.97 percent.Mendoza said five (5) of these deaths were reported in Misamis Oriental, while two (2) each were reported in the provinces of Lanao del Norte.


Pres. Aquino awards LGU Opol for exemplary governance

Foundation for the Disabled honors Opol for accessibility effortsOPOL, Misamis Oriental - The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. (PFRD) gave a special LGU Award to the Municipality of Opol for its full cooperation on the adoption of PWD-friendly facilities.

The award was given during the 26th Awarding Ceremonies of the Apolinario Mabini Awards held at the Heroes Hall, Malacañang Palace last October 24. President Benigno S. Aquino III and Ambassador Cristina C. Ponce-Enrile, Chairperson of 2011 Apolinario Mabini Awards Committee, handed the plaque to Mayor Dexter B. Yasay. Opol is one of the four LGUs recognized this year. With the implementation of the Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) Project for Persons with Disabilities in

cooperation with National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), physical changes were effected not only in public buildings but also in private

it to the list of local governments that passed the criteria of the SGH of DILG. As such, Opol is eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) of the DILG in the amount of Php1.0 million which can help fund local development projects. The SGH is a program that

recognizes LGUs that adheres to the principles of accountability and transparency. These LGU’s have complied with the full disclosure policy of the DILG and their financial reports have no adverse opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA). (PIO)


commercial establishments in Opol. The Municipal Hall now has signages and a ramp with handrail leading to an accessible comfort room and to the different offices. Doors of offices are now accessible to PWDs and compliant to BP 344. The Municipal Library, the venue for the weekly sign language class for the deaf and mute and academics class for those with Down Syndrome facilitated by the LGU, now has signages and an accessible comfort room. The Local Government Unit also renovated the stage of the Development Learning Resource Center to make it accessible to PWDs. The DLRC is regularly u s e d by the different sectors in their gatherings and events. The private sector supports the LGU as well. Two restaurants already renovated their establishments and installed ramps.The rest of the private e s t a b l i s h m e n t s committed to construct ramps and accessible comfort rooms. To intensify the creation of a Non-Handicapping community, Mayor Dexter B. Yasay issued

Executive Order No. 5 series of 2011 which requires public and private buildings for public use to install and incorporate five basic accessibility facilities and features: washrooms and toilets, non-skid flooring, parking area, signages and ramps. The Awards was named after one of the country’s foremost heroes, Apolinario Mabini, also known as the Sublime Paralytic. In his speech during the awarding ceremony, President Aquino said it was his honor to recognize the modern Apolinario Mabini of the country - the organizations, institutions and individuals who demonstrated genuine concern for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities. (PIO)


DOST technology upgrading program helps small enterprises

The technology upgrading program of the Department

of Science and Technology has helped several small enterprises in the region boost their respec-tive productions and improve their income. Among the assisted business is the Tadeco Livelihood and Train-ing Center in Panabo City of Davao del Norte province, which engages in the production of expert quality handicrafts from indigenous materi-als such as abaca, banana and pine-apple fiber. The training center has availed of almost P900,000 funding from DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) that im-proved the handmade paper produc-tion process and minimized produc-tion time in drying by 50 percent. According to DOST project profile, TLTC used the amount to purchase handmade paper dyer de-signed by local inventor and labora-tory tools for dyeing and laboratory apparatus for standardized dyeing.TLTC was also able to construct handmade paper cooker with design

assistance from Forest Products Re-search and Development Institute. Its workforce undertook technology training on dyeing and wrought iron metal forming. The business is presently selling most of the handmade paper prod-ucts to the local markets, and some are being exported to Egypt, USA and Australia. Its tinalak-based prod-ucts are also being sold abroad.DOST SETUP has also brought the upgrading of the Cavendish banana flour production of the AMS Employ-ees Fresh Fruits Producers Coopera-tive in Kapalong town in Davao del Norte. The P500,00 funding from the program acquired hammer mill and slicing machine for the cooperative that was able to make improvements in its production process that signifi-cantly increased by 91.42%. The banana-based cooperative is engaged in the production of food and feed grade banana flour pro-duced from the rejects of Cavendish bananas in a 200-hectare plantation. In Davao City, the P90,000 SETUP assistance improved the qual

by Carina Cayon


ity and packaging of the processed durian products of Rosario’s Fruits Stop owned by Mary Grace Belviz in Calinan District, and with an in-creased sales of 20%. The single proprietorship busi-ness produces durian candies, tarts and frozen fresh durian, and other products that include decorative items from young durian fruits. The SETUP project purchased an auto-matic mixer that shortens mixing time of durian pulp and improves product quality and productivity. The assistance also covered training on Good Manufacturing Pro-cesses and food safety, provision of stainless steel food processing fix-ture, product development, improve-ment of plant lay-out and provision of label design. Another SETUP project that was recently approved was the up-grading of the manufacturing pro-cess of dry type transformer of the Oriental American Technologies Electrical Construction Services Inc. (ORAMTECH Inc.) in Buhangin, Davao City. The project amounted to P460,000 that was utilized to pur-chase processing equipment such as bender and shear/core cutter ex-pected to increase production effi-ciency and projected to boost income by 100 to 300%.In Davao del Sur, the technology up-grading program assisted the Wood-works Kiln Dried Products based in Digos City that specializes in panel doors and moldings. Woodworks obtained the 20-board foot capacity Kiln Lumber

Dryer, milling machine, wide-belt sander and engraving machine from the nearly P1 million SETUP assis-tance, to address the need for an upgrading of facilities and to cater to the increasing market for panel doors. The DOST-SETUP has also im-proved the coconut sugar/syrup ven-ture of the Lao Integrated Farms, Inc. in Bansalan, also of Davao del Sur, which received a financial assis-tance of P660,000 that acquired the firm a double jacketed steel pasteur-izer and rotary dryer project. The assistance helped develop the production process and quality of coconut sugar/syrup products com-plying with the export market stan-dards. The DOST SETUP has been providing cash assistance to small enterprises in the country with no interest and payable for three years. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)


Solon urges concerted, decisive action on overseas ban

by Mai Gevera Macapagat

DAVAO CITY- Following the an-nouncement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the 41 countries found to be non-compliant to the provisions of RA 10022 or Migrant Workers Act, Compostela Valley First District Representative Mari-car Apsay who is one of the four-man team who assessed foreign countries like Saudi Arabia asked the DFA, the POEA, and the DOLE to talk and put their acts together. The role of the four house representatives who personally as-sessed the condition of migrant workers in some areas of the Middle East was to come up with an assess-ment straight from the mouth of the workers. However, Apsay said that it is now the role of the DFA to decide

whether these countries which vio-lated the Migrant Workers Act should be banned from deployment. She said these three agencies should talk and decide what to do with those 41 non-compliant coun-tries. Apsay stressed that the first consideration should be the welfare of Filipino migrant workers. “ There are countries which are friendlier to Filipino migrant workers so why don’t we prioritize deployment to these countries rather than to coun-tries with records of violating the rights of the workers” she said. The legislator, after person-ally visiting some countries in the Middle East advised Filipinos not to work as domestic helper in Saudi Arabia. There is not much of a prob-lem for those working as profession-als as they are treated well. Apsay believed that violations done could have rooted from the culture and beliefs in those countries. In Saudi, Filipino women could not just go out any time they want without being accompanied by her husband or by her employer. Caught walking down the street with a male who is not her husband could bring her to jail. This, according to her, is just one of the many culture-based poli-cies in the said country which Filipino migrant workers should strictly


follow. “ We cannot do anything to break their culture. Rather, we should inform those who are about to work in those countries that this is the kind of environment they are to get in” she added. Meanwhile, the DFA recently committed to submit new certifica-tions after 90 days taking into ac-count the dialogues made by the DFA with the countries listed as non-compliant to the migrant work-ers law. It was in November 2 that the POEA release board resolutions

that approve OFW deployment to 49 countries and another that bans OFWs from 41 countries. However, the DFA sought the effectivity of the ban to be delayed as Philippine diplomats are to dia-logue first with the affected coun-tries. The Department then recom-mended that implementation of the ban take effect on February next year for enough time to deliberate. (PIA/Mai Gevera-Macapagat)

NFA chief eyes Caraga, Davao as pilot regions for rice production

TAGUM CITY- National Food Au-thority Administrator Angelito T. Banayo called for the establish-ment of two model regions for rice production in Mindanao, if the country is to achieve its aim of rice sufficiency in the near future. After urging the national gov-ernment to refocus its food security program in Mindanao, Banayo named the Caraga and Davao regions as ideal pilot areas for the production of the staple food because of their prominence as the agribusiness hubs of the island. He said the enormous agricul-ture potentials of Mindanao, being tagged as the country’s ‘food basket’, remains to be seen as government’s interventions have not really been specific to Mindanao. “We have to establish pilot

areas for rice production in these two regions of Mindanao,” Banayo stressed, during his recent meeting with the stakeholders of the rice in-dustry in Davao del Norte at the Bul-wagan ng Lalawigan in Tagum City. Appropriate and adequate inter-ventions, such as certified and hybrid seeds, improved irrigation system and farm-to-market roads, fertilizer subsidy and other assistance must be provided to ensure that farmers in the region are able to meet their production potential. After the success of these pilot areas, the program shall then be ex-panded to other potential regions of Mindanao. Banayo revealed rice sufficiency in the country is now difficult to at-tain by 2013 after a series of natural calamities, particularly typhoons Pe-dring and Quiel, that recently hit the


country. In order to meet the challenge of food security, the government must have to craft the right policies and programs now, to include refo-cusing its food security program to Mindanao. He said Mindanao’s rich agri-cultural resources and generally fair tropical and relatively typhoon-free climate makes it an ideal location for a wide variety of economic activities, particularly intensive rice production. “It is only a matter of taking many of the resources that are in Manila and bringing them where they are needed most and where they are most productive,” he said. In the same forum, Banayo also lauded the quality intervention of the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, led by Governor Rodolfo del

Rosario, in achieving food sufficiency, as well as in mitigating the effects of climate change in the agricultural lands of the province. The NFA official cited the prov-ince’s feat of remaining the biggest rice-producing province in the Davao region despite some factors. “We are doing some mitigat-ing measures on how we can sustain our production level,” Gov. del Ro-sario said. He bared some inter-ventions being done by the province to include distribution of certified seeds and hybrid seeds, improving the irrigation system and farm-to-market road network, and providing farmer field schools for both farm-ers and students, among other sup-port mechanisms. (Noel Baguio PIO DAVNOR)

THE REGIONAL GALLERY

A DPWH road upgrading program in Davao del Sur


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by David M. Suyao

‘Lolong’ is biggest croc in captivity

It’s now official.


“Lolong” is the big-gest crocodile in captiv-ity. This was announced last Wednesday by Dr. Adam Briton, an Austra-lian expert on wild ani-mals and authenticator of the Guiness Book of World Record for rep-tiles and snakes. Dr. Adam Briton, together with a team from the National Geo-graphic Channel arrived in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on October 31, 2011 and has been observing the characteristics of Lo-long, including the rep-tile’s health condition. Last Tuesday, No-vember 8, when Dr. Brit-on first measured the length of Lolong, his es-timate reached 21 feet and three inches. To en-sure accuracy, a series of measurement were done and the final results re-vealed that Lolong is 20 feet, three inches long. This makes Lolong 15

inches longer than Cas-sius Clay, former title holder from Australia as the biggest crocodile in captivity as declared in July 2011. “I am glad to pro-nounce tonight, that the actual and final mea-surement of crocodile named Lolong here in Bunawan is 20 feet and three inches long, the biggest so far all over the world. Because of this final report, Lolong will now be the title holder as the biggest crocodile in captivity worldwide,” Dr. Briton said. Dr. Briton also said that despite some petty scratches on the scales of Lolong, the crocodile is in good health condi-tion. “I advise that the caretaker must always change the water in the pond where Lolong is staying so that bacte-ria will not accumulate

in the area. We must remember that Lolong used to live in moving waters in Agusan Marsh and moving waters are usually clean for them to live in,” Dr. Briton said.Besides Lolong’s pond, another much bigger pond being prepared by the locals is nearing completion. This will be used for Lolong’s mate who is still at large. According to May-or Edwin Elorde of Bu-nawan, they are just awaiting the go signal from proper authori-ties to capture the much bigger crocodile, which according to residents of Barangay Nueva Era, is just within the river where Lolong was cap-tured. As evidence of its presence, traces of its trails are sometimes visible especially during rainy season when the river sides are soft and wet.

‘Lolong’ is biggest croc in captivity


Mayor Amante calls for the people to be proactive in dealing with crimes

BUTUAN CITY -- To address the problems concerning the occurrence of crimes, the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) conducted a strategic workshop on Wednesday in one of the local hotels here.

by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton

The local govern-ment unit (LGU) of this city and representatives from different national and regional line agen-cies convened to give inputs on peace and or-der. Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. said he was glad for the initiative of the CPOC in

conducting the said ac-tivity most especially the efforts of City Director Romeo Solis of the De-partment of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and City Coun-cilor Ryan Culima. “I am very glad that the local govern-ment has come up with this workshop. This will

really help in solving the problems being experi-enced by our commu-nity”, Amante said. He added that this work-shop will be of great as-sistance in evaluating, assessing and finally coming up with solu-tions to the crimes that is happening in the city. “We can never pre-


Mayor Amante calls for the people to be proactive in dealing with crimes

PRC alarms people on paid blood donors

BUTUAN CITY -- While the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) encourages people to donate blood, it discourages people from selling their blood to those who are in need.

vent a crime from hap-pening, we can never be always at the scene of the crime but one thing is for sure… we are doing our best, we have slow-ly resolved the crimes; in fact, some suspects were already arrested. But let us not stop there, we must continue in sta-bilizing peace and order in this city,” the mayor said. According to Mayor Amante, the barangay tanods are deployed to secure every baran-

gay. “We have already trained them and gave them uniforms. If any-thing may happen, at least they are insured”. Moreover, the may-or said that the towns-people must not only be reactive if there are crime incidences but they must also be pro-active. He said that the community must help and coordinate with the government in dealing with crime. “Let us show to the people that their taxes

will be compensated in terms of more govern-ment services and po-lice visibility,” Amante disclosed. However, due to some cases where the victims were children, the mayor warned the parents to be respon-sible in securing their children at home. He said everyone should remember that crime is everywhere and people should always be alert and ready to deal with this.


Nat’l Congress on Moral Recovery Program opens in Butuan City

According to PRC Chapter Administrator Teodoro Cairo of Agusan del Norte and Butuan City, as early as 2002, PRC has been discourag-ing paid blood donors. “People must not sell their blood to the needy,” Cairo said. “Blood must be voluntarily given.” He added that although this can help some people who are very poor that they resort in selling their blood and even their own organs, people must also be aware that this kind of act is prohibited.

Cairo made the statement during the re-cently concluded Board of Directors meeting of the PRC Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter. “The reason why the Red Cross discour-ages paid donors is that some of them are abus-ing their body. Some paid donors were unhealthy and are not qualified to donate blood,” Cairo said. The official added most paid donors are not adequately screened if they have any disease

or they are taking medi-cation that disqualified them in donating blood. “What kind of qual-ity of blood will they give to the patients if they are unhealthy? A donor must be healthy in order for him to give blood,” said Cairo. Cairo added do-nors are not allowed to donate blood more than three times a year. This will endanger the donor, who may become weak and anemic, he said. (MRA)

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY -- The first national congress of the moral recovery program opened Wednesday in one of the local convention centers here.


In his welcome message during the opening ceremony, Vice-Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun empha-sized the importance of proper upbringing of children to achieve peace and order. Fortun said no matter how equipped and how efficient the police forces are, the issue of peace and order will only be achieved if people are educated about soci-etal norms. “Even if all crimi-nal will be prosecuted

and put to jail right now, there will still be new breed of crimi-nals who will be doing criminal acts… in this way, the problem will not be solved,” Fortun said. Vice Mayor Fortun also emphasized that the activity is not only important for address-ing good governance but also in upholding peace and order “be-cause it always have to start with the mo-rality of the people.” Anchored on the theme “Empower-

ing the Filipino Peo-ple through Values”, the program is in line with the mandate of Presidential Proclama-tion No. 62, otherwise known as Moral Re-covery Program. The Moral Re-covery Program is a movement which aims to mobilize Filipinos for nation-building through the exercise of “personal operative values” as citizens and to awaken them to the power of these values in achieving individual and national goals.


PDEA Caraga celebrates drug abuse prevention week thru tree plantingby Nora CL Molde

BUTUAN CITY -- In support of the city government’s program “Plant a Million Tree Project,” the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga regional office will conduct a tree planting activity on November 15.

PDEA Caraga act-ing regional director Joel B. Plaza said the tree planting activity is in line with the celebra-tion of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week on November 12-18 and also to combat the key challenge of the 21st century – the Cli-mate Change. The activity will be conducted at baran-

gay Kinamlutan at five o’clock in the morning. There will also be activities to help the agency bring drug abuse issues to the forefront of the people’s conscious-ness in the weeklong celebration with the theme “Global Action for Healthy Communities.” PDEA is the lead anti-drugs law enforce-ment agency, responsi-

ble for preventing, inves-tigating and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforce-ment of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Danger-ous Drugs Act of 2002.


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One Mindanao - November 10, 2011

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