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]: www.piazampen.blogspot.com Facebook: PIA Region-IX
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]: www.pia-10.blogspot.com
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 (SOCCSKSARGEN)
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],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur
PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO
OUR COVER
featuresthe
MunaTo Festivalof Saranggani
Province
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 ……....... NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX
OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII
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
In ThisIssue...
Saturday, Vol. 1 No. 97
Cover StoryAll systems go for Sarangani’s Nov. 24-27 MunaTo Festival
13 City vet nagpaalaala sa mga residente na maging responsable sa mga alaga
WESTERN MINDANAO
NORTHERN MINDANAO
SOUTHERN MINDANAO
CENTRAL MINDANAO
CARAGA REGION
OPAPP tiwalang uusad ang usapang pangka-payapaan
150K awaits 3rd Agri-Aqua Tourism Trade Fair winners
LGU-Butuan, DTI-AgNor to hold Christmas bazaar
WESCOM helps Tagbanuan boy’s treatment of serious disease
Business owners urged to renew permit before deadline
Task Force on Anti-Trafficking set for launching in Cagayan de Oro
Paper highlighting role of parolees gains international recognition
COMVAL conducts Incident Com-mand System Traning
Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX
Apipa Bagumbaran, PIA Region X
JPA/6CRGAFP/RVC, PIA Region X
PIA Region XI
DEDoguiles, PIA Region XII
Ac agad , PIA Region XII
Nida Grace B. Tranquilan , PIA-Caraga
Cristina Dedel, PIA-Caraga
PIA Region IX
14
1718
20
21
2324
25
page 12
page 15
page 19
page 22
page 25
Everly Paoyon
Nat
iona
l
Administration says arrest of Mrs. Arroyo ‘a triumph of justice’ ...............................
10
Hydropower firm’s labor manage-ment council, country’s best
PIA Region XI26
page 4
4 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
All systems go for Sarangani’s Nov. 24-27 MunaTo Festival
Cover Story
by Everly Paoyon
Organizers of the upcoming 9th MunaTo Festival said preparations are all set for the extravaganza of cultural events, exhibits, and crowd-drawing competitions guaranteed to stir excitement over
this year’s celebration.
5 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
All systems go for Sarangani’s Nov. 24-27 MunaTo Festival
MunaTo Festival is a celebration honoring the first people and leaders of Sarangani. MunaTo was derived from the native vernacu-lar meaning “unang tao” or “first people”, the early inhabitants of Sarangani who passed on a rich cul-tural heritage. MunaTo also refers to the makers of the 2000-year old anthropomorphic burial jars discovered in Maitum that are now in the National Museum. As a tribute to the pi-oneering leaders of the province, MunaTo is a cel-ebration of their efforts to spur development in Sa-rangani which is sustained up to this day. Sarangani is rich with the local culture and tra-dition of the Blaan, Tboli, Manobo, Ubo, Kalagan, and Muslim tribes who suc-ceeded in preserving the
cultural heritage and the craftsmanship that are re-flective of their respective culture. This year’s festival is set on November 24-27 with activities lined up to showcase Sarangani’s “history, culture and re-sources.” Acting coordinator of Sarangani Tourism and In-vestment Promotion Cen-ter (STIPC) Larry Asparin anticipated that “sounds and colors” with a festive mood would domi-
6 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
nate the forthcoming Mu-naTo. He expected a huge attendance this year com-pared to the previous cele-brations because activities were properly screened to attract more people. A considerable in-crease of tourists has been noted from the 16,080 in 2009 to 26,100 in 2010 as reported by the STIPC. MunaTo Fun Run: “A Run Against Global Warming”
from the Capitol grounds to barangay Maribulan in Alabel would open up the festival. Male and female runners of all ages are in-vited to join with priz-
7 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
es at stake for both male and female categories of P1,000 - 1st prize, P750 for 2nd prize, and P500 for the 3rd prize. A hero’s welcome for the internationally ac-claimed boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao from his recent victory in Las Ve-gas would also be staged on November 24. The street dance on November 26 is an open competition which the organizer proposed big-ger prizes this time of P100,000; P75,000 and P50,000 respectively for the champion, 1st and 2nd placers. A P12,000 conso-lation prizes would also be given. The cheerdance com-petition, dubbed as “Sayaw Hugyaw sa Kali-naw”, is giving away prizes of P45,000; P30,000 and
P20,000 for the champion, 1st and 2nd and a conso-lation of P10,000 each for the non-winning entries. Other events worth watching are the cultural exhibits, Fabli Gu Ni (mu-nicipal showcase), Photo Exhibit, Moro Pagingadan and Kadtigi sa Kapangiluto (Moro Cottages and Tra-ditional Delicacies), Wall Climbing, Zip Line, Karna-bal sa Kapitolyo, Pearl of Sarangani Pageant, Moto-cross, Eco-Trek, Battle of the Bands, concert featur-ing Cueshe, street party and fireworks display.
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Government lawyers aim for successful prosecution of Mrs Arroyo, Palace says
Malacanang made an assurance Saturday that government lawyers will handle
the electoral case against former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo very well to ensure that justice will be done.
“Our OSG [Of-fice of the Solicitor General] will cer-tainly do its best in all the cases that it represents govern-ment on,” Deputy presidential spokes-person Abigail Valte said in a radio in-terview over gov-ernment-run dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday. “On the part of government, we will certainly be on the ball on making sure that this case -- in doing everything that we can to make sure that there is no delay on the part of
the prosecution,” she added. Valte said the Office of the Solici-tor General will do everything for the successful pros-ecution of Mrs. Ar-royo amid fears that government lawyers will be no
9 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
Government lawyers aim for successful prosecution of Mrs Arroyo, Palace says
match against bril-liant lawyers such as Estelito Mendoza and Jose Flamin-iano, who are the counsels of the Ar-royos. Issues were also raised about the competency of Pasay City Region-al Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas, the judge to try the for-mer leader, as he has been previously sanctioned by the Supreme Court for delaying the cases he was handling. Valte said they hope Judge Mupas has learned his les-sons with regards to the SC sanction believing that he’ll handle the Arroyo case very well. “We can al-ways hope that he learned his lessons after that particular sanction,” she said adding that she be-
lieves the case as-signment is fair because it was raf-fled. The Aquino government said the arrest of Mrs. Arroyo is a welcome development and considered it as “a triumph of justice” in the country with government con-tinuing its pursuit of the Arroyos for alleged abuses and excesses while they were in power. A Pasay City court issued an ar-rest warrant against the former presi-dent for an elector-al sabotage case ef-fectively barring her from a scheduled departure abroad Friday afternoon. In a media brief-ing in Malacanang on Friday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said President Benigno Aquino III
wanted Mrs. Ar-royo treated with utmost respect being a former president of the country. The govern-ment, she said, is open for a pos-sible hospital or house arrest for the former presi-dent and will not insist on putting her in prison. The court’s issuance of an arrest warrant Friday effectively made the tempo-rary restraining order (TRO) is-sued earlier by the Supreme Court moot and academ-ic, averting a possible constitution-al crisis. (AS)
10 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
Administration says arrest of Mrs. Arroyo ‘a triumph of justice’
The Aquino administration welcomed the decision of a Pasay City court issuing an arrest warrant against former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for an electoral sabotage case.
The court de-cision effectively barred the for-mer president from leaving the country and making the t empo ra ry
r e s t r a i n -ing order
i s s u e d e a r -
lier
by the Supreme Court moot and ac-ademic. In a press briefing in Mala-canang on Friday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima de-scribed the recent developments as a “triumph of jus-tice” for the Phil-ippines adding she
has informed and consulted President Benigno S. Aquino III about future government ac-tions on the case. “This is a real triumph of justice and accountability. Ito na iyun. Kaya nga we issued a WLO [watch list or-der] dahil nga nag-
11 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
mo-move na itong kaso na ito. And we wanted her to be here within the reach of our court system,” de Lima said. The President is in Bali, Indonesia, attending a three-day Asean summit there. He is due to arrive in the country Saturday evening.The President, ac-cording to de Lima, instructed her to treat the former leader with utmost respect once the warrant of arrest is served. The govern-ment, she said, is open for a possible hospital or house ar-rest for the Mrs Ar-royo and will not in-sist on putting her in prison. However de Lima said once Mrs Arroyo attempts to leave her house or the hospital the po-lice will arrest her and put her behind
bars. The govern-ment will exercise fairness and impar-tiality and will up-hold every right of the former president as an accused under the Constitution, she said. De Lima said they are optimis-tic about the elec-toral sabotage case against former pres-ident Arroyo say-ing there is strong evidence to pin her down in the fraudu-lent 2007 midterm elections. De Lima also fended off criticisms raised on the timeli-ness of the issuance of warrant of arrest explaining that it is not unusual for a court to issue one in a short period of time. The justice chief also said the Arroyos were given due pro-cess during the inqui-ry on the anomalous
2007 election but they opted not to answer the allegations being raised against them prompting the joint panel to come up with a decision. Instead of giving their side, they questioned the constitution-ality of the on-going hearing of the DOJ and the Comelec, de Lima said. Earlier Fri-day, the SC thrashed a mo-tion for recon-sideration filed by the DOJ seeking to prevent Mrs Arroyo from leaving the c o u n t r y. (AS)
12 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
Lake Sebu town gets ‘most functional’ LCPC awardKORONADAL CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has feted Lake Sebu municipality in South Cotabato for its successful implementation of various programs that uphold the welfare and rights of children.
13 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
Lake Sebu town gets ‘most functional’ LCPC award
Josephine Leysa, DILG-South Cotabato director, said the lake-side town has topped this year’s provincial search for the most functional Local Coun-cil for the Protection of Children (LCPC) that was earlier launched by the agency.
She said the Lake Sebu local government received P75,000 cash award and a plaque of recognition from the Provincial Council for the Protection of Chil-dren of South Cotabato for such accomplish-ment.
“Lake Sebu’s efforts to protect their children from any form of abuse were exceptional be-cause they had the sup-port of non-government organizations and other stakeholders. We hope that this kind of inter-action will also be rep-licated to other LCPCs
in the province,” Leysa said.
She said they launched the search to encourage local govern-ments in the area to implement programs related to child welfare and protection.
Leysa said the LCPC of Tupi town bagged the second place followed by LCPC Polomolok at third place, LCPC Sural-lah at fourth place and LCPC Tantangan at fifth place.
Barangay Rizal in Banga town was also awarded for having the most functional Ba-rangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). It received P55,000 cash award and a plaque of recog-nition.
The establishment of the LCPCs and the BCPCs was mandated among local govern-ment units (LGUs) as
provided for under Ar-ticle 87 of Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code and in Section 15 of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
The national govern-ment has assigned the supervision and moni-toring of the functional-ity of the LCPCs to the DILG.
Aside from facilitating the establishment of the LCPCs, the DILG was also tasked to promote the implementation of training programs on barangay human rights program, which mainly seeks to empower vul-nerable sectors like women and children in pursuing justice through heightened awareness about their basic rights and the country’s ju-dicial system. (DED/PIA12)
City vet nagpaalaala sa mga residente na maging responsable sa mga alagaKORONADAL CITY -- Muling nagpaalalala si Dr. Charlemagne Calo, city veterinarian ng lungsod ng Koronadal sa mga residente na maging re-sponsableng amo ng kanilang mga alagang aso.
14 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
Ayon kay Dr. Calo dapat mananatili lamang ang mga alagang aso sa loob ng bahay nga kanilang amo o nanan-atiling nakatali.
Binigyang-diin pa nito na pasanin ng mga may-ari ang anu-mang pinsalang du-lot ng kanilang mga alaga. Kalimitan aniya, mga asong gala ang nakakakagat ng mga tao o dahilan ng pag-kakadisgrasya ng mga motorista.
Aniya nagpapatuloy
ang kanilang isinasa-gawang kampanya sa mga barangay at paar-alan sa lungsod upang mapalaganap ang im-pormasyon hinggil sa responsableng pag-aala-ga ng mga hayop.
Samantala, inihayag ni Calo na kanilang isi-nusulong ang pagtatayo ng isang dog pound sa lungsod. Base umano sa batas, ang isang first class city tulad ng Ko-ronadal ay dapat um-anong magkaroon ng pasilidad kung saan
pansamantalang ipiit ang mga asong gala.
Subalit inamin ng city veterinarian na mahihirapan silang ip-atupad ng naturang proyekto dahil nangan-gailangan ito ng mahigit P1 milyon para sa pag-bili ng lupa na pagtat-ayuan ng pasilidad at sasakyan na magag-amit sa paghuli ng mga asong gala pati na sa konstruksyon ng pasili-dad, at marami pang iba. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)
OPAPP tiwalang uusad ang usapang pangkapayapaanKORONADAL CITY – Tiwala si Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process sec-retary Teresita Deles na magtatagumpay ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Pamahalaan at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at Na-tional Democratic Front (NDF).
Naniniwala umano siyang maraming hi-mala ang mangyayari sa negotiating table na makakabenepisyo sa lahat ng mga stakehold-ers.
Sa kabila umano ng mga aberya at mga isyung nauugnay sa usaping pangkapaya-paan, umuusad pa rin umano ang prosesong
pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at ng MILF at NDF.
Wala umano sa alin-mang panig ang nag-sasara ng pintuan para dito, kung kayat tiwala siyang makakabuo rin ng kasunduan na katanggap-tanggap sa bawat panig.
Kahit pa man may-roon umanong mga
problema sa labas ng negotiating table, um-uusad pa rin naman umano ang prosesong pangkapayapaan.
Binigyang diin din ni Deles na kasalukuyang nakatuon ang panel sa socio-economic reforms ng usaping pangkapayapaan. (ac agad PIA12)
15 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
GADCC-Caraga bares activities for the 18-Day campaign to End Violence Against Women
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by Jennifer P. Gaitano
In line with this year’s 18-Day campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) and children, the Caraga Regional Development Council – Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC) prepared
activities from November 25 to December 12, 2011.
16 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
On Nov. 22, the Car-aga Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere (MOVE) with the Commission on Pop-ulation (PopCom) will be spearheading the Forum on “Male Involvement in Responsible Parenting” at the Goat2Geder Hotel and Restaurant, wherein every government agen-cy will be sending their male representative to attend the forum. GADCC members are also invited to the 18-Day Campaign Press Conference with chair-person and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga Regional Director Atty. Marylin Pintor with other concerned officials to be held on Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at the Department of Budget and Manage-ment (DBM) Caraga Re-gional Office. On Nov. 25, the 18-Day campaign will offi-cially kick-off through a “Walk for A Cause” from the city’s Rizal Park going to the Agusan del Norte Covered Court, where-in the opening program and ‘Hataw’ exercise will follow.
It was also learned that from Nov. 25-Dec. 12, the GADCC members and Speakers’ Bureau will be conducting GAD Orientation Seminars and Fora. On Nov. 29, the Gesu Eucharistico Chil-dren’s Incorporated will be visiting Manapa, Bue-navista, Agusan del Norte to check the status of the children’s abused. They will be accom-panied by the concerned government agencies. Also, GADCC will be holding the Forum on “Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons” with speaker – Ms. Jean Enriquez on Dec. 2, 1 p.m. at the Luciana Con-vention Center. Meanwhile, on Dec.
12, the following activi-ties will be conducted: 1) Forum on United Nations Security Council Reso-lutions (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820; 2) Launch-ing of the “VAWC-Free LGU Program; and 3) 4th Quarter GADCC Full Committee Meeting cum Christmas Party. All these activities will be held in Butuan City. RDC-GADCC is in-viting the general pub-lic to participate in the lined-up activities and continue to support the committee in their fight against violence to wom-en and children. This year’s celebra-tion is anchored on the theme: “UNITE: Stop VAW, Now!”
17 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
150K awaits 3rd Agri-Aqua Tourism Trade Fair winners by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
SURIGAO DEL SUR -- A total of P150,00 cash prizes await the 3rd Agri-Aqua Tourism Trade Fair winners, in time for the celebration of the 9th Lanuza Surfing Festival 2011.
The competi-tion will be joined by the 13 baran-gays of Lanuza. Lo-cal products as sou-venir items will also be displayed in their respective booths during the weeklong celebration. Accordingly, this year’s competition
mechanics include the following criteria: Backyard Gardening in every household (40%); Implemen-tation of Solid Waste Management (20%); Booth Dressing and Display (20%) and; Sales of Goods dur-ing the weeklong
Surfing Festival Cel-ebration (20%). The contest is an annual activity of the local govern-ment unit in support of the implementa-tion of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecologi-cal Solid Waste Man-agement Act.
18 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
LGU-Butuan, DTI-AgNor to hold Christmas bazaar by Cristina Dedel
BUTUAN CITY -- As part of the city’s month-long celebration for Christmas, the local government is set to hold a Christmas Bazaar on November 22 to December 22, 2011 at the City Hall Complex.
Led by Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr, in cooperation with the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bu-tuan City/Agusan del Norte, the ba-zaar will be joined
by micro entrepre-neurs and farmers from Butuan City. W i d e - a r r a y of products from novelty items, to processed foods and farm prod-ucts are going to
be available at low prices. The Christmas Bazaar is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (DTI-Agusan del Norte)
19 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
1 missing, 60 hectares of farmland damaged in Kumalarang floodsA day after the heavy floods deluged the six (6)
barangays of Kumalarang, this province on Thursday evening, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (MDRRMC) made an immediate on site visit and assessment on the affected areas.
Municipal planning and development coordinator Allel Tabiado said MDRRMC chairman Mayor Allan Damas led the assessment team and visited barangays Boyugan East, Diplo, Gawil, Poblacion, Salagmanok, and
Sicade. Tabiado said the MDRRMC has noticed severe damage to agricutureal areas and few houses in barangays Gawil and Poblacion, respectively. In Poblacion, Tabiado said an estimated 50 hectares of rice farmland and one (1) hanging bridge were severely damaged while in Gawil, 5 houses were swamped by the floods, 10 hectares were damaged, and undetermined number of animals were drowned
and died . In Salagmanok, a man whose surname identified as ‘Sempay”, a resident of Kahayag, Lakewood was missing while crossing the bridge and believed to be carried-out by the strong current of flood waters while the rest of barangays have incurred minor damages of their agricultural crops, Tabiado reported. Tabiado said municipal social welfare and development officer Phoebe Mamhot after the assessment made
by Gideon C. Corgue
20 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
has recommended to the chief executive that financial assistance of P10,000 each from the calamity fund will be
given to the owners of the houses in Gawil. Meanwhile, the chief executive asked the public to be ever vigilant
in case of emergency to save lives and prevent damage to properties. ( J P A / G C C / P I A 9 -Pagadian)
Third-grader Hinth Tibuasan, a Tagbanua native who lives in Bgy Napsan, Puerto Princesa City is suffering from a disease that causes an obstruction in his intes-tines. The 6th Civicl Rela-tions Group of the AFP disclosed that through the initiative of WESCOM Commander LTGen Juan-cho M. Sabban AFP, the boy will be brought to a hospital in Manila where he will receive an opera-tion to treat his medical condition. Because of his condi-tion, called Hirschsprung Disease, Hinth could not defecate normally, par-ticularly since his rectum is closed. A colostomy has
been performed on him, which allows stool to leave his body through an opening in his abdo-men into a pouch that has been attached to the opening. Ivaristo Tibuasan, the boy’s father, said Hinth was diagnosed with the disease two days after he was born and has been living with that pouch in his stom-ach ever since. “We are poor and we could not afford the operation needed to correct his condition,” shared the boy’s father in Filipino, who provides for his 11 children by engaging in slash-and-burn farming. The disease has also made making friends
for Hinth impossible be-cause other children would drive him away because of the smell of the pouch attached to the opening in his abdo-men. Some of his child’s classmates, Tibuasan related, would even try to pull the pouch. In the eyes of his classmates, that pouch made him different from the rest. His condition has also adversely affect-ed his studies. He was supposed to be in high school already but be-cause of the disease, he could not concentrate on his lesson which resulted to him failing every end of the year which is why he is still in third grade. Hinth needs a sur-gical procedure which
A 13-year old boy suffering from a serious medical condition gets a chance of a normal life with the help of the Western Command (WESCOM).
WESCOM helps Tagbanuan boy’s treatment of serious disease
21 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
WESCOM helps Tagbanuan boy’s treatment of serious disease
will remove the segment of his large intestines that lacks nerve cells and connect the healthy segment to his anus. Tibuasan said it was Major Neil Anthony Es-trella, WESCOM Spokes-person, who referred his son’s medical problem to LTGen Sabban, who in turn coordinated with one of the biggest broad-casting networks in the country to bring the boy to Manila and perform a surgery on him in one of the hospitals there. WESCOM will pro-
vide the plane tickets to and the accommodation of the boy and his father in Manila and will also extend a financial assis-tance to them for their stay in the big city. Tibuasan said the generosity shown by LT-Gen Sabban changed his perspectives on the military. “We used to be afraid of the soldiers and every time we see them, we only see their guns,” Tibuasan said in Filipino. “But the help they have extended to my son made me realize that
they can be our partners in improving our wel-fare,” he added. Tibuasan was profusely thankful to WESCOM, particularly to LTGen Sabban, for help-ing them give his child a chance to live a normal life. He and his son will be flying to Manila on November 12 and will be staying there at the WESCOM Liason Officer’s house until November 21, after the surgery is done. (JPA/6CRGAFP/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)
Business owners urged to renew permit before deadlineManagers and owners of business
establishments in the city are urged to start processing applications for renewal of
business permits before the January 20, 2012 deadline.
by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
This call was made by City Mayor Celso Lobregat to business owners for the latter to avoid the rush and payment of penalties based of existing laws. City Information Officer Sheila Covarrubias said Permits and Licensing Division of the City has been
accepting applications for renewal of business permits for 2012 since October. “Late payment will mean a surcharge of 25 percent and 2 percent additional penalty for every month of delay,” Covarrubias said. Under the law, January 20 is the deadline
set for the renewal process and payment of business taxes. “Business permit renewal applicants are advised to bring the original business permit for the year 2010 as basis for renewal,” Covarrubias said.(JPA/PIA-ZBST)
22 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
Opol earns the CROWN AwardEfforts that have been put through the years for the
local nutrition program, here, have finally paid off this year as Opol earned the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award.
Mayor Dexter B. Yasay personally accepted the trophy, together with a cash prize of Php250,000, from Secretary Enrique Ona of the Department of Health at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), recently. With this award, Opol joined the list of only 130 local government units (LGU’s), to date, that have been conferred with the CROWN Award which is given to an LGU that has been adjudged by the Inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team(IRNET) as
outstanding in their region in the implementation of its Nutrition Action Plan for three (3) consecutive years.The increasing investments for the
program and the different initiatives of the town have sustained a good nutrition picture in the last three (3) years, the IRNET said. Prevalence rate of underweight preschool children of 10.82 percent in 2007 was sharply reduced to 3.69 percent in 2009 and further dropped to 2.7 percent in 2010. The town also took pride of Merlinde Hubalan of Barangay Taboc who emerged as one of the national finalists, from among the 38,000
23 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) in the country, in the 2011 Search for National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar Award. For such feat, Hubalan received a certificate of recognition and a notebook computer. Meanwhile, the drive of Mayor Yasay in improving the nutrition
status of his town is no different to his support and commitment to the blood donation program which also earned him his first Sandugo Award during the 13th National Sandugo Awards. He was the only Local Chief Executive (LCE) in Misamis Oriental who received such recognition this year. (PIO)
Task Force on Anti-Trafficking set for launching in Cagayan de OroBy Apipa Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - To intensify the advocacy against crimes on human trafficking, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in region 10, will be launching the Task Force on Anti-Trafficking, here, this coming Nov. 21.
To be conducted in close coordination with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the launching is slated on November 21 at Pearlmont Inn, this city. Lawyer Araceli F. Solamillio, Regional Director of DSWD-10, said the launching will be highlighted by a TV Guesting in an early morning show “Pamahaw Espesyal” of ABS-CBN, Cagayan de Oro, of the same day. The activity will be followed by a press conference with tri-media practitioners at Pearlmont Inn, where a referral network meeting on trafficking will be held, she said. Solamillo said the meeting aims to have a consultation with the referral networks on the flow of referral of trafficking-in-persons (TIP) victims, as well as, to discuss and resolve
issues on their management. Moreover, the meeting is also aimed at strengthening the referral network system by enhancing partnership with line agencies in combating trafficking cases and concerns in need of intervention and assistance.
24 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
Paper highlighting role of parolees gains international recognitionby Melanie Pelosas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental – It is very important that parolees will have some sense of responsibility being in-charge of their lives, as they need to recognize personal strengths.
This was emphasized by Olivia Therezah J. Pajente-Pelagio, Regional Psychologist of the Parole and Probation Administration-Department of Justice (PPA-DOJ), region 10, who wrote a paper on the importance of the role of the community for the parolees to successfully reintegrate them in the society. The study have shown transition challenges that a parolee faces, thus, pre-release and post-release plans must consider a holistic approach for successful reintegration/reentry of a parolee. “It is important that a parolee will have some sense of responsibility being in-charge of their lives, they need to recognize personal strengths. Coordination with the different agencies then is very important,” Pelagio said. Pelagio was invited to present her Paper entitled “Health Condition,
Health Seeking-Behavior and Experiences of Selected Parolees in Region 10” during the International Convention on Psychology of Resilience, held at the University of Indonesia, Depok Indonesia last September 22, and was nominated as Favorite Oral Presenter. The paper that she presented was her working paper during her study at De La Salle University, Manila as a Ford Foundation Scholar with the Degree Master of Health Social Science (Behavioral Science Department). (PPA-DOJ)
25 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
COMVAL CONDUCTS INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM TRAINING
A total of 60 residents of Nabunturan coming from
the Barangays of Bukal, Katipu-nan, Mainit and Tagnucon which was identified as incident prone mining area had undergo an In-cident Command System (ICS) Training last November 17, 2011 at the Social Hall of the provincial Capitol. Incident Command System (ICS) is “a systematic tool used for the command, control, and coordi-nation of emergency response. It’s a set of personnel, policies, pro-cedures, facilities, and equipment, integrated into a common organiza-
tional structure designed to improve emergency response operations of all types and complexities. An ICS is based upon a flexible, scalable response organization pro-viding a common framework within which people can work together effectively. These people may be drawn from multiple agencies that do not routinely work together, and ICS is designed to give standard response and operation procedures to reduce the problems and potential for miscommunication on such inci-dents. ICS has been summarized as a “first-on-scene” structure, where the first responder of a scene has charge of the scene until the incident has been declared resolved, a more qualified responder arrives on scene and receives command, or the Inci-dent Commander appoints another individual Incident Commander. It is a public knowledge that Compostela Valley is one of the di-saster prone province in Davao Re-gion specially that it has may rivers, creeks, lakes and even mountain
26 Saturday, November 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO
ranges, making it very vulnerable to landslide and any form of disaster both natural and man- made prompt-ing the PDRRMC to set up Incident Command System structure in all mu-nicipalities and identified barangays of the province to be always ready should incident occurs. Participants were given back-ground all about Climate Change and Disasters, Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Concepts, ICS Intro, Ba-sic Features, Organization and Staff-ing, Evacuation Center Management and Table Top Simulation. Calamities and disaster is unpre-dictable that we cannot determine nor avoid when it will happen but being always ready and aware makes the community easily manage and orga-nize responders to a given situation. (Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS COMVAL)
Hydropower firm’s labor management council, country’s best
DAVAO CITY- Aboitiz Power wholly owned subsidiary Hedcor, Inc. bested other companies as the hydropower firm received the Outstanding Labor Management Cooperation (LMC) Award for In-dustrial Peace during the LMC Na-tional Convention in Naga City last November 9.
“As responsible corporate citizens, the management and rest of the Hedcor team ensure a good work-ing relationship among all team members”, said Hed-cor president Rene Ron-quillo. “Being part of the Aboitiz group, the company continuously improves la-bor relations as funda-mental to good business performance”, Ronquillo added. The 7th National Search for Outstanding LMC
Awards, led by the National Con-ciliation & Mediation Board of the Department of Labor and Employ-ment and the Philippine League of Labor-Management Cooperation Practitioners, recognizes companies with success stories and best LMC practices. LMC is a mechanism de-signed to preserve industrial peace by encouraging constant communi-
27 Saturday, November 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO
cation and positive interaction be-tween workers and employers. In September, the Hedcor Employees Union (HEU) and the Hedcor management signed a col-lective bargaining agreement after a seven hour-negotiation – the fast-est negotiation to date indicating a healthy working relations between the management and the employ-ees. Early this year, Hedcor was a finalist to the Employer’s Confedera-tion of the Philippines’ Kapatiran sa Industriya Award which recognizes companies that best promote in-dustrial peace and harmony, quality and productivity, social accountabil-ity, and strategic visioning and part-nering. In 2010, to add feather in its cap, two national awards were given by DOLE agencies to Hedcor for its initiatives on providing safe and healthy workplace - the Gawad Kaligtasan and Kalusugan Award for Occupational Safety and Health
and Safety Milestone Award by Bureau of Working Conditions. Hedcor is also OHSAS 18001:2007 certified for Occupational Health and Safety Standards by the Certifi-cation International. Hedcor, the largest developer of run-of-river hydropower plants in the country, operates 18 plants in Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Davao with a total capacity of 150 mega-watts. Tagged as the Hedcor Kabisig Council and formed in 2005, LMC’s members volunteer their time to Hedcor’s Corporate SociaL Respon-sibility projects to its host com-munities particularly in tree plant-ing activities, medical programs as well as Brigada Eskwela and liveli-hood projects. “Hedcor will continue programs that will strengthen workplace coop-eration and partnership while fulfilling its commitments to stakeholders and communities,” Ronquillo explained.
Facts and FiguresP8.5 billion The share of the Autonomous Re-
gion in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the P72-billion stimulus fund of the President Aquino administration
198.2 people persquare kilometer
The population density of Davao del Sur province (2010 figures)