one mindanao - february 13, 2014

Zambo stakeholders call for MNLF, other groups’ involvement in peace processDominic I. SanchezWestern Mindanao

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 119

Palace: Government to intensify efforts to safeguard journalists, freedom of expression

NATIONAL

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CARAGA REGION

WESTERN MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

CENTRAL MINDANAO

DTI-9 holds regional industry assessment, planning workshop for ZamPen champion products

DOLE-Zambo. Norte releases financial aid to SPES beneficiaries

Sec. Alcala inaugurates P15.7 M projects in S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat

LCE Ozamiz orders inventory of fishing boats in coastal barangays

All set for 17th CRAM in Surigao Sur

Iliganons to join global ‘One Billion Rising for Justice’ on February

3,000 students take NorthCot LGU’s scholarship exam

RPRAT of Caraga Grassroots Participatory Budgeting in full swing

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Emmanuel D. Taghoy

Mary May A. Abellon

Danilo E. Doguiles

Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Lorry V. Gabule

Shahana Joy Duerme

Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

Nida Grace P. Barcena

Information to Empower Filipinos

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Zambo stakeholders call for MNLF, other groups’ involvement in peace process

In a public forum that one might consider to be emotionally-charged, various representatives from the

different sectors here yesterday have called for the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) composed of government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) representatives to involve the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and even the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the peace process and the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Sana po magkaisa na lang tayo, sana po bigyan ninyo ng pansin ang ibang grupo,” (Let us all be united, and we hope that other groups would also be given attention), said Sheik Mahir Gustahah of Darul Iftah. “YoualreadycommittedthefirstmistakeofnotincludingtheMNLF.Please do not commit another. Zamboanga City has already suffered a lot,”saidFr.SebastianoD’Ambra,anItalianpriestbasedinthecityandfounder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. Other participants coming from different religious denominations, sectoral and civil society groups voiced similar concern. InanearlymorninginterviewtodayatRMN,MayorMariaIsabelleClimaco–Salazarreiteratedthepeople’scalltoinvolvetheothergroups.

By Dominic I. Sanchez

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“Hinde lang deve exclusivo para na un grupo,” (the process should not be exclusive to only one group), she said.

‘Itwillnothappen’ In response to the recommendations during the forum, Chairman Mohagher Iqbal of the BTC andMILF peace panel chairsaid: “It is an ideal thing, but it would not happen.” “TheMNLFandgovernment’stalks are already concluded. On the

other hand, theAbu Sayyaf doesnot want to talk to the government,” he furthered. But Iqbal emphasized that the Bangsamoro is nonetheless inclusive – it is for the “entire Bangsamoro people”. ‘Join the Bangsamoro, but walangpilitan’ Meanwhile, Commissioner Ahmad Sakkam of the BTCgovernment panel invited Zamboanga City to “join the

Bangsamoro”. Most of the participants strongly expressed dissent over his invitation. Earlier in the forum, Mayor Climaco-Salazar has already pronounced and reiterated the city and all its ninety-eightbarangays’firmstanceagainst being included in the entity, directly or indirectly. Commissioner Raissa Jajurie of the BTC explained that the process is democratic. “Walang pilitan.” (Nobody will be forced tojoin). “The government has said that it will not sign anything that it

cannot deliver, or anything that is unconstitutional, and we respect that,” added Chairman Iqbal. The duty of the BTC and the purpose of the public forums, said CommissionerRobertAlonto,“istoinform, gather opinions so we can meet somewhere in the middle.” The BTC’s primary task is todraft the Basic Law that will govern the Bangsamoro entity.

Across the Nation

7FEBRUARY 2014 | PAGE

United States President Barack Obama to visit Philippines in April, Palace says

United States (US) President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a historic visit to the Philippines in late April upon the

invitation of President Benigno S. Aquino III, a Palace official said on Thursday.

Across the Nation

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. announced during the regular briefing in Malacanang the visit of the US Head of State.

“According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, President Obama will meet with President Aquino to discuss ways to further strengthen the enduring Philippines-


US alliance, including the expansion of security, economic and people-to-people ties,” the Communications Secretary said.

President Obama’s visit will provide a new momentum to Philippines-US relations that will strengthen the partnership of the two nations in many areas, Coloma said.

The Philippines and the United States have an enduring alliance that is based on deep historical and cultural ties. The Philippines gained its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, and diplomatic relations were formally established on the same day.

The Philippines’ relationship with the

United States has been robust, dynamic and strategic. This relationship is nurtured by a shared history and adherence to common values, especially a commitment to freedom, democracy and a market economy. From combating war against terrorism to war against poverty, the partnership between the Philippines and the US is broad-based, opening fresh avenues for greater cooperation.

The official visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Washington, D.C., capped by his meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on June 8, 2012 further strengthened Philippine-U.S. relations. PND

Palace: Government to intensify efforts to safeguard journalists, freedom of expression

The government will intensify its efforts to safeguard journalists and freedom of expression, Malacañang said

Thursday.


Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. stressed this following the reported decline of the Philippines in an international watchdog group’s press freedom index.

“We acknowledge the decline in the ranking, and we will intensify our efforts to safeguard our journalists, and uphold the freedom of expression. We remain committed to the regime of freedom of the press and freedom of expresion where there are no prior restraints and no censorship,” Coloma said at a media briefing.

He said the government will continue its efforts to solve the killings of journalists.

The Philippines slipped in this year’s World Press Freedom Index by international media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, placing 149th from 147th in 2013 and 140th in 2011-2012.

Coloma pointed out that freedom of expression is one of the c o m m i t m e n t s of the Philippine government since

the EDSA-1 People Power revolt that catapulted President Benigno Aquino III’s late mother Corazon Aquino to the presidency.

“Mataas ang ating commitment sa pangangalaga sa kalayaan ng mamamahayag. Sa buwang ito pinagdiriwang natin ang ika-28 na anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power revolution. Isa ito sa mahalagang kalayaang pinagwagi ng EDSA People Power (We have a major commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression. This month we are marking the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power 1 revolution. Freedom of expression was one of the liberties we earned in 1986),” he said. PND

10FEBRUARY 2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |

ARMM lists record P1.451 billion investments in Q1While the peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic

Liberation Front (MILF) is yet to be finalized within the year, investments have started coming in, the Regional Board of Investment in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said.

In its meeting Thursday, the RBOI-ARMM approved for registration a record P1.451-

billion worth of investments in the ARMM for the first quarter of 2014.

“This is a record for the ARMM


ARMM lists record P1.451 billion investments in Q1

since it is almost the same as the total amount of investments registered with the RBOI for the whole of 2013, which stood at P1.463 billion by year end,” Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI chair and managing head, said in statement.

“Moreover, this is the first time that investments in the ARMM reached more than P1 billion a year, which may even reach P2 billion this year,” he added.

The strong surge in investments in the ARMM comes in the wake of the signing in Kuala Lumpur last month of the “Annex on Normalization,” considered as the last annex to the “Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” between the government and MILF peace process.

Mastura said the new investments are mostly coming from local investors, who are registering with the RBOI because of their increased confidence in the improving peace and order situation in the area, brought about by the success of the peace negotiations.

“We are actually getting more inquiries about how to invest in the ARMM from foreign companies,” Mastura said, projecting more investments to come in the next months.

Mastura stressed that good governance was also a contributing factor in the increased confidence of investors to the region. He also cited the “hands-on” investment promotion conducted by ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman had been convincing local investors and telling them that ARMM is serious about wooing and securing investors to expand their operations or to set-up new enterprises in the region.

However, on a cautionary note, registration with the RBOI may be a way for investors to hedge in case of uncertainty in investment policies in the region as the new autonomous Bangsamoro political entity is set-up possibly in 2015.

But he quickly added once the new Bangsamoro government is in place, the region will even become more investment friendly.

Among the agency that registered with RBOI are Lamsan Power Corporation, SR Languyan Mining Corporation and ABSCOR Multi-Trading Company.

Lamsan Power Corporation based in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao registered a pioneer biomass renewable energy project costing P921.56 million.


The power plant is utilizing rice hull, corn husks, cobs and other agricultural wastage from its own cornstarch plant with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW).

It is expected that this will reduce the commercial power consumption of its cornstarch operations. This will also augment power reserves of the National Power Corporation and the Mindanao Grid since Lamsan Power will be selling 11.5 MW to these power companies.

Governor Hataman said that this power project is good news since this will help ease power shortages being experienced by some areas in Mindanao.

“The power plant is a very important support facility that would encourage more businesses to flourish in the region,” Hataman said in a statement.

SR Languyan Mining Corporation has invested P520 million for a nickel ore mining project with a capacity of 1 million metric tons (WMT) per year in Barangay Darussalam, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi.

ABSCOR Multi-Trading Company based in Port Holland, Maluso, Basilan has put-in P10 million for an import and export trading business.

The company transacts its

business undertakings in the geographic areas of the countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines that are under the East ASEAN Growth Area, more commonly known as the BIMP-EAGA.

Mastura said the two firms from the Sulu archipelago implies that despite the “Zamboanga siege” a few months ago and the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF disgruntlement with the peace deal with its rival MILF, investors remain resilient and some are even optimistic on business prospects in the area.

In all, about 1,122 local people are to be employed by these three firms.

Meanwhile, Haron Bandila, ARMM Business Council chair, has been wary over the current status of the Cotabato (Awang) Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

“Before we have four flights daily, but now we only have limited flights from Friday to Monday even if there are no repairs being done to the airport since December 2013,” Bandila said.

He said this is a negative factor for investors to easily come in the region, including Cotabato City, the provisional administrative capital of the ARMM where its line agencies hold offices. (PNA)


Garbage may glitter as goldBy Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - Mountain of garbage - especially the plastics generated from every household - either contributes to the clogging of the waterways or pollutes the environment.

Whenfloodingoccursdueto plastic wastes clogging thewaterways, the blame goesstraighttothelocalofficialsfortheirfailuretoproperlydisposeofthegarbage. Most households are alsoburning theirplasticwastes tothe destruction of the ozonelayer that protects the earthfromthescorchingheatofthesun. All this may not happenanymore if proper wastedisposal is strictly followed:reduce,reuseandrecycle. Recyclingwaste-thatis


taking something old and makingit something new – is what MariaReina O. Apala, 43, a housewifefromMinaog, Dipolog City, is doingrightnowwithhernewlydiscoveredlivelihood. InDecember2012,shewenttoZamboangaCitytovisitherhusband’srelatives.Duringherstaythere,shesawhermother-in-lawmakingpurse,bags, and mats using silver foodwrappersfromNescafe,Oishiandthelike.Thesewrappersarewashedandcut insizesbeforemakingthemintobags,matsandsimilaritems. When she returned home, Apalaimmediatelystartedhernewlivelihood.She goes out every morning togathertheneededmaterialsfromtheneighborhood. Whenaskedhowmuchsheneedsto produce a bag, her reply was: “Ionlyneedthosesilver foodwrappersfromthethrash,no.18nylonthreadandaneedle. “Pil-on nako na siya ginagmay,magporma ug zigzag, sumpay-sumpayon,dayontahionugpormahongpitaka,bag,okahabanig.Hagolanggyudkaykinamotmanangpagtahi,”shesaid. (Ihavetofoldthewrappersintosmall pieces, form some zigzags,andsow them together intopurse,bagormats.It’squitebackbreakingbecauseitishandmade.) Her handmade bag is sold atP100each,hermatatP250eachandthepurseatP50–P100each. Apala said she enjoys her newcraftandherneighborshavestartedtoappreciateit.“Irealizethatthere’s


DTI-9 holds regional industry assessment, planning workshop for ZamPen champion productsBy Emmanuel D. Taghoy

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – A two-day industry-wide assessment and planning workshop for the six champion products of Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) has been conducted here starting yesterday at the Casa Mea Hotel by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9. In a press release issued tothe Philippine Information Agency(PIA), Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, officer-in-chargeofDTI-9said:“Weneedtoregularlyassesswhereeachindustryisnowrelativetowhereitwaswhenthe Regional Development Council(RDC)-9 first identified them aschampionproductswaybackin2005.Assessment is necessary becausewewanttokeeptractofthegrowthoftheindustryandifsuchgrowthisaresultofourinterventions.” ThechampionproductsDr.Jainreferred to are seaweeds, mango,rubber,coconut,andprocessedfish.Abaca was later added in the listthroughanRDCresolutionin2011. Participantsoftheactivitywerefrom Fiber Industry DevelopmentAuthority(FIDA)forAbacaproducts,Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)for Coconut products, Department

ofTradeandIndustry(DTI)forFishProcessed Products, Departmentof Agriculture (DA) for Mango andRubber products and Bureau ofFisheriesandAquaticResourcesforSeaweedproducts. Theobjectivesoftheassessmentandplanningworkshopare:toassessand evaluate the implementationof the industry cluster program in2013; and to formulate strategiesto better integrate and harmonizeconvergenceactivitiesofconcernedgovernmentandsupportinstitutionstotheclusterplan. “At the end of the two-daysession,weshouldbeabletocomeupwiththe2014actionplanforeachindustrythatalreadyintegrateeachagency’sinterventionsandwhicharedulyvalidatedbytheprivatesectorrepresentatives of said industries,”Dr.Jainsaid.

money in garbage,” she pointedout. While the government keepsadvocatingpropergarbagedisposal,Apala’seffortinrecyclinggarbagetoekeoutalivingmustbeemulated.Itwillnotonlyhelpsolveproblems

on garbage disposal but it willalso provide income to joblessindividuals. Indeed,herChristmasvacationin 2012 in Zamboanga City wasnot only a reunion of sort but aneducationaltouraswell.


DOLE-Zambo. Norte releases financial aid to SPES beneficiaries By Mary May A. Abellon

DIPOLOG CITY – One hundred thirty two out-of-school youths (OSY) undergoing training under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) have received financial aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Zamboanga del Norte recently.

Theseyouthshaveenrolled inshorttermcoursessuchasplumbing,bartending, food processing,housekeeping, shielded metal arcwelding and heavy equipmentoperation at the Livelihood SkillsDevelopment Enhancement Center(LSDEC)inbarangayGalasthiscity.DOLEgaveatotalofP268,224astrainingallowancetothetrainees. DOLEProvincialDirectorHenryP.Tianeroturned-overthecheckstothecitygovernmentthroughMayorEvelyn T. Uywho, in turn, handedthe checks to the SPES grantees.EachgranteereceivedP2,032. LSDEC is a technical skillstraining facility that is operated,maintainedandmanagedbythecitygovernment. The facility seeks to developand enhance employable skills

amongOSYsand toassist them inmarketingtheirproducts. LSDEChasforgedpartnershipswith national and internationalagencies such as the DOLE,Department of Trade and Industry(DTI),RegionalFisheriesLivelihoodProgram of the UN-Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO),Department of Science andTechnology (DOST), TechnicalEducation and Skills DevelopmentAuthority (TESDA), and non-governmentalorganizations(NGO’s)like the Zamboanga del NorteFederation of Parents’ Association(ZNFEPA). Tianero also expressed hisgratitude to Mayor Uy for alwayslooking for ways and strategies todeveloptheyouthsinthearea.


DOLE-Zambo. Norte releases financial aid to SPES beneficiaries

NFA turns-over P.5M assistance to Bukidnon corn farmers coopby: Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy IMPASUGONG,

Bukidnon, February 11 (PIA)—Samahang

Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SNMPC), a corn farmers organization here, received fund support amounting to P500,000 from the National Food Authority (NFA).

Maria Mercedes G. Yacapin,DirectorforCorporatePlanningandManagementServicesofNFAcentraloffice who graced the event heldat Sta. Ana village in Impasugongtown,said theamountwasshelledout from NFA’s Corn DevelopmentFund(CDF). ShesaidtheCDFprovidesfundingfor the SNMPC’s acquisition andinstallationofafeedmilltoaugment

earnings and enhance livelihoodprojectsof thecooperativeas theyshowvibrantcornproduction. “P350,000 of the amount willbeusedtoputupafeedmill,whilethe remainingP150,000will be fortrainings, seminars and workshopsto enhance members’ skills andproductivity,”Yacapinsaid. In her speech, she remindedtherecipientsoftheCDFassistance


toefficientlyusethemoneyandbecountedasamongthenewbreedoffarmersreflectingthevaluesofself-reliance,dependabilityandcareforthecommunity. In response,SNMPCPresidentOliver Aldovino said they arecommitted and obliged to nurturethelivelihoodprojectsgrantedbythegovernment because their successwill then be the basis in accessingmoregrantorcreditassistancefromanyfundinginstitutionsthatwillhelpenhancethecompetitivenessoftheircooperative’scornproduction. In an interview, Aldovino saidthefundsupporttheyreceivedfromNFA’sCDFisabighelpforthecornfeedmill thatwill soon riseon thesite next to their existing 12-ton

capacitymechanicalcorndryer. Meanwhile, NFA BukidnonProvincial Manager Victoria Real-Duray said the CDF is available tocornindustrystakeholdersasagrantand soft loan. She said it providesfinancialsupportforprojectsgearedtowards the development of cornindustry especially for acquisitionand installation of modern cornproductionequipment,post-harvestandmarketingfacilities. It also provides funding foradoption of a mechanism that willlink various sectors of the cornindustry to promote its integratedgrowth and development, which isin linewith thegovernment’sAgri-Pinoyprogram,Duraysaid.


LCE Ozamiz orders inventory of fishing boats in coastal barangays by: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – The Local Chief Executive, here, ordered an inventory of fishing boats/vessels in the different city barangays with coastal areas, along with the list of fisherfolk that operate/own them.

Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog,Sr.,ChairpersonoftheCityDisasterRisk Reduction and ManagementCouncil (CDRRMC), said eachbarangay with coastal areas mustmaintainandhaveacopyofsuchlistintheirrespectivebarangayoffices,whichmustbeupdatedfromtimetotime. Thesefishingboats/vesselsaremarine vessels engaged in fishingactivities thatarebased inthecity

and may be driven by paddle oroutboard motor, including thoseweighinguptofivemetrictons. Pursuant to Executive OrderNo. 0012-14, issued by Parojinog,effective January 31, 2014, theBarangay Chairmen with coastalareas have been deputized toensure thatnofishingboat/vesselswill sail whenever tropical stormsignalsareissuedwithintheirareasofresponsibility(AOR)toavoidany

disaster situation totheir constituents intheirbarangay. P a r t i c u l a r l y,the EO covers 10of the city’s 51barangays, namely:San Antonio, Do?aConsuelo,Maningcol,Catadman, CarmenAnnex, BaybayTriunfo, BaybaySta. Cruz, SanRoque, Tinago andMalaubang. Meanwhile, theBarangayChairmen,


Iliganons to join global ‘One Billion Rising for Justice’ on February 14by: Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY —February 14 is the day of synchronized action dubbed Rise Release Dance when one billion people in 207 countries will dance and demand an end to violence against women and girls. “IliganshallbepartoftheactionandIamsincerelyinvitingallwomenincludingthementoparticipateintheOneBillionRisingforJusticeeventonFebruary14,2014,”saidMayorCelsoG.Regencia. Thus, I issued a memorandumrequiringallwomenintheirrespectiveofficesatcityhalltojointhisactivity,themayorsaid. Also, a memorandum wasissued inviting all offices of thenationalgovernmentlineagencies,allpunong barangays, concerned non-government organizations, this city,tojointheactivityaswell. OneBillionRisingforjustice2014isaglobalcampaigntocallonwomensurvivorsofviolenceandsexualabusetobreaktheirsilence. This is a global call to womensurvivors of violence and thosewho love them to gather safely incommunityoutsideplaceswherethey

areentitledtojustice–courts,policestations,governmentoffices,colleges,workplaces,placesofworship,homes.It isacall tosurvivors tobreak thesilence and release their stories –politically, spiritually, outrageously –through art, dance,marches, ritual,song spoken word, testimonies andwhateverwayfeelsright. Theactivityat3:00p.m.-5:00p.m. at the city plaza is basicallydancing to the beat entitled ‘Breakthe Chain’ which message is aboutending violence against women andgirls. This campaign encourageswomen victims of violence to breakaway from abusive relationship andtoseekjustice. SinceFebruary14isValentine’sDay,thethematiccolorfortheeventisredandblack.Thosewhowilljoinmay come in red to signify love forjustice and black for the fact thatviolencestillexistinthesociety.

in coordination with his barangaycouncilandinconsultationwiththeirrespective fisherfolk, have beenorderedtodevisetheirownsystemof warnings and signals to enforceintheirrespective localities,shouldtherebeanimpendingtropicalstormsignal.

However, in the event that afisherfolk or a fishing boat/vesselhas sailed during an enforcedtropical storm warning signal, theBarangayChairmanoftheconcernedfisherfolk or fishing boat/vessel,must immediately report it to theCDRRMOffice.


Taking the lead in making thisevent meaningful, relevant andcatalytic is the Iligan City Genderand Development Office (GAD) withactive participation and support oftheIlganCityDepartmentGender Focal Personsand some local womenorganizations. As brief description,One Billion Rising wasthe biggest mass actionin human history. Thecampaign began as a callto action based on thestaggeringUNstatisticthatoneinthreewomenontheplanet will be beaten orraped during her lifetime.With theworldpopulationat sevenbillion, thisaddsuptomorethanOneBillionwomenandgirls.Thus,on14February2013,peopleacross the world cametogether to strike, dance,andRISEindefianceoftheinjustices women suffer,demandinganendat lasttoviolenceagainstwomen,over 10,000 events tookplaceonthegroundandthecampaigntookovermediaandsocialmediaworldwidefor 48 hours, trending insevencountries-fourtimesinU.S.alone. In the event, therole of this administrationis to offer the neededspace for release of theirstories of pain and hopebecausejusticebeginswith

acknowledging and recognizing thatgenderviolence,indeed,existsinoursocietyandsomethinghastobedonetoendit,disclosedMayorRegencia.


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The Department of Labor and Em-ployment in SOCCSKSARGEN Region (DOLE 12) is building up its cam-paign to inform the public of the programs and services that could be availed from the agency.

DOLE 12 intensifies campaign for programs, servicesBy: Danilo E. Doguiles


Dawn Ladot-Sonsona,information officer of DOLE12,toldPhilippineInformationAgency12theyhaveproduced24promotional videos to bedistributed to partners formassivepublicdissemination.TheseLaborandEmployment

EducationServices(LEES)promovideos,sheexplained,showcaseDOLE’s programs and servicesto provide employment andlivelihood, promote peace andsafetyintheworkenvironment,andmanyotheradvocacies.Featuredinthesevideosplugs

are:JobSearch,DOLEIntegratedLivelihoodProgram(DILP),LaborLawsComplianceSystem(LLCS),Child Labor Free Philippines,Single Entry Approach (SEnA),Occupational Safety and Health(OSH),EmployeesCompensationProgram (ECP) and overseasemployment,amongothers.Sonsonaadded,thepromotional

videos produced by DOLE’sBureauofLaborRelationswerelaunchedonFebruary6duringtheOrientationandRecognitionof Outstanding Companiescum SPES (Special Programfor Employment of Students)Pledging held at GreenleafHotelinnearbyGeneralSantosCity.Over200guestsrepresenting

atleast150companiesfromacrossSOCCSKSARGENRegionwitnessedtheinauguralscreeningofthevideomaterials.“Eachcompanyrepresentative

was given a copy of the videomaterials,” she said. “With theLEES, the DOLE expects thatmorestakeholderswillappreciatethe role of the department inprovidinglaborandemploymentprograms and services to theFilipino workforce, the heart ofDOLE’sexistence.”Highlighting the event was

the signing of amemorandumof agreement between DOLE,ledbyRegionalDirectorOfeliaDomingoandthreecompanies--KCCMalls,YellowBusLineInc.,andAirTransportationOffice--thathaveagreedtopromotetheLEESvideosintheirrespectiveplaces.ATO manager Allan Punay

pledged to air the promotionalvideos at the General SantosCity Airport’s pre-departureareabutDOLEhastoprovideaLEDmonitor.Same promotional videos

willalsobeshownintheair-conditionedbusesofYBLplyingSultanKudarat,SouthCotabato,and Davao City routes, sheadded.(DEDoguiles-PIA12withreportfromOBD-DOLE-12)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato-- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, during his visit here last week turned over to local farmers and gov-ernment units three development projects, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture 12.

Sec. Alcala inaugurates P15.7 M projects in S. Cotabato, Sultan KudaratBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

Secretary Alcala and other DAofficialswerehereonJanuary5to7 foramanagementcommitteemeetingandvisittoSouthCotabato,Sarangani,andSultanKudarat.OnFriday,thesecretaryledthe

turn-overceremoniesofDA-supportedprojects in Banga, South CotabatoandIsulan,SultanKudarat.Hisactivitiesintheseareastook

off at Barangay Cabuling,BangawhereheturnedovertotheMayorAlbertPalencia,thelocalgovernmentand farmers a P4.5 million 6.8meterby6meterby3meterconcreteboxculvertprojectthatwouldease

transportationof products fromtheareatomarkets.Thesaidprojectwhichservesat

least200ricefarmersconnectBrgyCabuling to three other barangays,namely: Benitez, Barrio 5 and SanJose.“This town,especially the farmers

in the four barangays, are verylucky to have received this P4.5M box culvert through the supportofformerRepresentative,nowGov.Daisy Avance-Fuentes,” said MayorPalencia.MayorPalenciawasmoregrateful

afterSecretaryAlcalapromisedat


KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato -- A total of 3,000 students aspiring to become scholars of the provincial government took the qualifying examina-tion held at the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium at Barangay Amas, this city last week.

leastP6millionfortheconcretingofthefarm-to-marketroadwheretheboxculvertwasbuilt.At the site,SecretaryAlcala also

metwithover1,000farmersforadiscussionofissuesandconcerns.SecretaryAlcalaandhisteamthen

proceeded to Barangay Dansuli inIsulanfortheturn-overoftheP8-M‘AA’slaughterhouse. “The establishment of the said

abattoirisaresponsetogovernment’sbid to provide clean and safe meatto the people of Isulan and nearbyregions,” Isulan Mayor DiosdadoPallasigue.“WewouldliketothankSecretary

Alcala and National Meat InspectionService (NMIS) Executive DirectorMindaManantan for trusting us thisproject.”Besides the slaughterhouse,

Pallasiguenoted,Isulanmunicipalityhas recently benefited fromP117-M worth of farm-to-marketroads through the Mindanao RuralDevelopmentProgram.(MRDP).

SecretaryAlcalaalsounveiledthemarker for theP3.2Mwarehousewithmulti-purposedrying pavement(MPDP)grantedtoKUMASAIrrigators’Association which is comprised ofBarangays Kudanding, Matapol andSampaoofIsulanandcoverscloseto1,000hectares.For this event, over 600 farmer-

membersofKUMASAIAconvenedatBarangay Kudanding to take part intheirannualgeneralassembly.At site, Secretary Alcala and his

teamwere greeted with placardsthat said “Madamo nga salamatSecretary kag DA sa inyo nga mgabulig sa mga mangunguma (ThankyouverymuchSecretaryAlcalaandDAforyourhelptothefarmers).”Lastmonth,AlcalavisitedSouth

Cotabato for the inauguration of aP34-M communal irrigationprojectinBarangayTalisay,LakeSebuandtheofficialopeningoftheP32-MRiceProcessing Center III at BarangayAmbalgan, Sto. Nino. (DEDoguiles-PIA12/LMSalvo-DA12)

3,000 students take NorthCot LGU’s scholarship examBy: Shahana Joy Duerme

Norito Mazo, community affairsofficerIandin-chargeoftheProvincialScholarshipProgram(PSP)saidmostof

thestudentsweregraduatingstudentsof different high schools within theprovince while the rest were already


enrolled in various colleges andotherswereout-of-schoolyouths.Allofthemwentthroughthe initial

screeningandevaluationofapplicationspriortotheexamination.“Theexamineeswerealsoaskedto

submit certain documents pertinenttotheirapplicationsasscholarsoftheprovince. These include applicationletter addressed to the governor,latestgrades,certificateofgoodmoralcharacter, latest income tax return ofparents,certificationfromthebarangayandbirthcertificate,”Mazoadded.Mazoemphasizedthatthescholarship

programaimstoprovidetheprovince’spoor but deserving students to haveequal access to education and inthe process provide them financialassistance while taking up theirrespectivecoursesordegrees.“Qualified students can pursue a

bachelor’s degree or a certificate ofdiploma in vocational courses,” hestated.Mazo further explained that the

objectives of the PSP are embodiedin the Provincial Ordinance No. 508,series of 2012 stating the provisionof access to education of poor butdeserving students in line with theprovincial government’s ‘SerbisyongTotoo’advocacy.Meanwhile, the results of the PSP

qualifyingexamswillbeannouncedinMarch.Thosewhowillsuccessfullypassthe

examswillenjoythebenefitsprovidedunder the scholarship such as freetuitionfeeandallowancepersemesterintheamountofP6,000. “The education of our youth is a

primary endeavor of the provincialgovernmentwherewegiveprominence

tothosewhocannotgotoschoolbutaspiretofinishacourseandeventuallylandadecentwork,”GovernorEmmylouMendozasaid.Mendoza consistently urges the

youthtoprioritizeeducationandfinishwhateverfieldofstudiestheychooseasthiswillhelpthemachievetheirgoalsanduplifttheirlivingconditions.Since 2012, the PSP have already

catered around 2,000 students fromdifferent municipalities who arecurrently enrolled in different publicandprivatecolleges.ThesecollegesincludetheUniversity

of Southern Mindanao (USM) inKabacan,CotabatoFoundationCollegeofScienceandTechnology(CFCST)inArakan,USMKidapawanCityCampus(USM-KCC);CentralMindanaoColleges(CMC); Notre Dame of KidapawanCollege(NDKC);ColegiodeKidapawan(CDK) all in Kidapawan City; NotreDameofMidsayapCollege(NDMC)andSouthern Christian College (SCC) inMidsayapmunicipality.Astheircounterpart,ascholarmust

render service at the end of everyschoolyearforatleast30daysinanydepartment or office of theprovincialgovernment.In the event that they could not

be accommodated in any offices ordepartmentsinthecapitol,theymustrender the required service at thebarangay or municipal governmentunitswherethebeneficiaryresides.Thismeansthatthescholarsunder

the PSP will not repay the provincialgovernment any amount in relationto thescholarship. (SJDuerme-PIA12/JSta.Cruz-N. Cotabato ProvincialGovernment)


Caraga GADCC to perform flash mob dance on Valentine’s Day in Butuan By Jennifer P. GaitanoButuan City - In time with the world’s celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) under the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) will be performing a flash mob dance on February 14, 2014 at the Robinsons lobby, this city.


This is also in support of the“One Billion Rising For Justice”Campaigninthecountry.GADCCchairandCommission

onHumanRights (CHR)Caragaregional director Atty. MarylinPintor relayed that on February14, one billion people in 207countries will rise and danceto demand an end to violenceagainstwomenandgirls.“We are appealing to the

general public to support thiscampaign and help preventviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsinourcommunity,”saidPintor.Now on its second year, the

One Billion Rising For Justicecampaign is a global call towomen survivors of violence

and those who love them togather safely in communityoutside places where they areentitledtojustice–courthouses,police stations, governmentoffices, school administrationbuildings, work places, sites ofenvironmental injustice,militarycourts, embassies, places ofworship,homes,orsimplypublicgathering places where womendeservetofeelsafebuttoooftendonot.Itisacalltosurvivorstobreak

the silence and release theirstories – politically, spiritually,outrageously – through art,dance, marches, ritual, song,spoken word, testimonies andwhateverwayfeelsright.


All set for 17th CRAM in Surigao Sur

TANDAG CITY -- All is set for the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) at the GPM Sports Complex in this city from February 23-27.

The gigantic event will behosted by the Department ofEducation (DepEd) Surigaodel Sur Division and provincialgovernment of Surigao del Sur.Governor Johnny Pimentel said

that around 12 different divisionswillbetheparticipatingteamswithmore than5,000expectedguestsincluding athletic delegations,technical and officiating officials.

The 12 delegation teams arefrom the divisions of Agusan delNorte,AgusandelSur,SurigaodelNorte, Surigao del Sur, DinagatIslands, Tandag City, BisligCity, Butuan City, Surigao City,CabadbaranCityandBayuganCity.CRAMaimstoselectathleteswho

willrepresentCaragaRegionintheforthcoming Palarong Pambansa.

By Nida Grace P. Barcena


By Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

RPRAT of Caraga Grassroots Participatory Budgeting in full swing BUTUAN CITY -- The Caraga implementation of the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting) is in full swing after 30 members of the Regional Poverty Reduction Action Team (RPRAT) of Caraga Region coming from 13 agencies of the government met recently at the DILG Caraga Regional Office, Libertad, this city, setting their eyes on the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) provincial validation for Fiscal year 2015 spread out in the months of January and February this year, 2014. What was once referred to as

the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) isnow called Grassroots ParticipatoryBudgeting (GPB) through the JointMemorandumCircularNumber4(JMCNo.4) issued by the Department ofBudgetandManagement(DBM),theDepartmentoftheInteriorandLocalGovernment (DILG), Departmentof Social Welfare and Development(DSWD)andtheNationalAnti-PovertyCommission (NAPC), to emphasizethe role and significance of thelocal communities in uplifting theirsituation towards inclusive growthanddevelopment.AmongtheprovisosoftheJMCNo.4

isthecompositionandfunctionsoftheRPRATwhichincludestheconductofvalidationofprojectproposals.TheseproposalsaretobeconsolidatedandsubmittedtoNAPCbyMarch2014.The provincial validation was the

main agendum for the January 24RPRAT meeting. It’s objectives are:to validate the project proposals for

GPB 2015; to orient the LPRAT andall personnel involved in theGPBatthe provincial level about the StateofGood LocalGovernance (SGLG)—theevolvedformoftheSealofGoodHousekeeping—and the new LocalGovernancePerformanceManagementSystem(LGPMS);toassessthestatusofGPBimplementationin2013;andto conduct preliminary discussionsto start the implementation of GPBprojectsfor2014.Theschedulesforthevalidationare:

January29forButuanCity;January30 for Surigao del Sur; February 5for Agusan del Sur; February 7 forAgusan del Norte; February 11 forSurigao del Norte; and February 12fortheProvinceofDinagatIslands.Withthis,theRPRAT-13members,

spearheaded by the DILG RegionalDirectorLilibethA.FamacionasRPRATChairperson, come to full-swingimplementation of GPB activities forthisyear.

RPRAT of Caraga Grassroots Participatory Budgeting in full swing

Dominga MallongaDOST-Caraga Regional Director

for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.phDOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph

one mindanao - february 13, 2014

Documents

groups involvement

bangsamoro basic law

entire bangsamoro people

peace processdominic

peace processin

zambo stakeholders

zamboanga city

civil society groups