one mindanao - july 4, 2014

Zambo. Sur IP students, OSY undergo climate change advocacy writing workshop Alma L. TingcangWestern Mindanao

FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 213

Supreme Court acknowledged Disbursement Acceleration Program has yielded positive results: Palace

NATIONAL

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CARAGA REGION

CENTRAL MINDANAO

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

WESTERN MINDANAO

Data sharing of gov’t & partner agencies on Listahanan requires MOA, says DSWD-Caraga

DSWD-13 asks partners’ support on database streamlining of Listahanan

GenSan to implement approved ordinance requiring residents to plant a tree

Cotabato City launches various projects for Disaster

10th ID counts on convergence of LGUs, NGAs to end insurgency

DA-10 participates in 50th SIAL

OWWA-10 accepts scholarship applications until July 31

PNP-9 chief lauds Dipolognons for being ‘peace-loving’

CANA holds transparency, accountability training in Ipil town

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Information to Empower Filipinos

7Mary May A. Abellon

Emmanuel D. Taghoy

Jennifer P. Gaitano

Catherine T. Apelacio

Oliver Ross V. Rivera

Jeanevive D. Abangan

Cyrus Seraspe

Apipa P. Bagumbaran 10

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Jennifer P. Gaitano

Zambo. Sur IP students, OSY undergo climate change advocacy writing workshop

Zambo. Sur IP students, OSY undergo climate change advocacy writing workshop

The two-day Journalistic Writing Workshop sponsored by the Philippine Information

Agency (PIA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), with the support of the US Embassy winds up here today at Anastacia Pensionne here.

About 30 participants who are grantees of the NCIP’s Educational Assistance Program (EAP), including out-of-school youth attended the workshop with the theme, “IP Youth: Advocates for Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency.” NCIP Regional Director Timuey Woylim P. Wong inspired the students with his own story. His father died when he was still eight years old. Being a working student, he encountered difficulties and struggled with inferiority complex, but

that d i d n o t deter him from pursuing his goal. “This is a great opportunity to learn and to develop your skills. With all our office’s limitations, we have to partner

by Alma L. Tingcang

COVER STORY

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with other agencies to provide you with this training,” the NCIP-9 chief said. A brainchild of PIA-9 Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga, the journalistic writing workshop hones the writing skills of participants, complementing the training acquired in school. Ms. Yolanda De Guzman of the Public Affairs Division, US Embassy, Manila told the participants: “RD Wong’s story is very inspiring because you cannot get anything or everything just by doing nothing, you really have to work hard for it.” “The US embassy is very glad that we are partners in this undertaking. And this is the first time that we are having this kind of project with indigenous peoples,” De Guzman pointed out.She said 70 percent of the assistance funds that the US Embassy gives goes to Mindanao to help build better communities. She also urged the participants to put their heart and mind into the writing workshop and actively participate in the exercises. “Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your skills in English and learn the basic skills in writing,” Ms. De Guzman urged.Mr. Fidel Ebillo, Jr. NCIP Community Affairs Officer also discussed government interventions to help the indigenous peoples in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

Across the Nation

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Across the Nation

Palace asks Filipinos to serve country with utmost dedication, self-sacrifice

The Palace encouraged Filipinos to serve the nation with integrity, solidarity, and sincere sacrifice as the country celebrated

Republic Day on Friday (July 4).

8 JULY 2014 | PAGE

“Today, we celebrate 68 years since the restoration of our nation’s independence, marking our country’s return to becoming a full member of the wider family of nations,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.

“As President Aquino has always reminded us: it has been the task of every subsequent generation, since our liberation from foreign occupation to this day, to turn the political reality of independence into a living reality for every Filipino family—to work hand-in-hand in ending the vicious cycle of poverty and injustice, and, in turn, usher in an era of hope, opportunity, and shared advancement.”

Valte said that over the past six decades since the restoration of the republic, the government has tried to realize the promise of nationhood, going through four constitutions, witnessing 11 presidencies, and constantly striving to empower its people.

The Palace official urged all Filipinos to take time to re-consecrate themselves in service to the nation based on the principles of integrity, solidarity, and sincere sacrifice.

The Philippine Republic Day, also known as Filipino-American Friendship Day, commemorates the official recognition of Philippine independence by the United States.

The Philippines was a US territory from 1898 to 1946. Between 1941 and 1946, during the Japanese occupation, it remained a US territory with a government in exile, headed by Manuel Quezon.

After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the country eventually gained complete independence on July 4, 1946. PND

9 JULY| PAGE

Supreme Court acknowledged Disbursement Acceleration Program has yielded positive results: Palace

The Supreme Court (SC) acknowledged that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has yielded positive results that

enhanced the economy, but diverged in its interpretation of the Constitution on the fine details of budget execution, Malacañang said.

In a statement issued during Thursday’s press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said, “We note that the Supreme Court affirmed the authority of the President as Chief Executive to implement the Disbursement Acceleration Program as a stimulus program to achieve economic growth and as an administrative system of prioritizing spending in the execution of the national budget.”

“It is in the interpretation of the Constitution and applicable laws on the fine details of budget execution that the views of the executive and the Supreme Court diverged,” he added.

Coloma further said that according to the Supreme Court, “the implementation of the DAP yielded undeniably positive results that enhanced the economic welfare of the country.”

The Court cited such infrastructure as roads, bridges, homes for the homeless,

hospitals, and classrooms as among the “visible” results of the program.

Coloma meanwhile noted that in implementing the DAP, the executive branch “exercised good faith and due diligence, in accordance with existing laws and pertinent auditing rules and procedures.”

“We will review the decision further to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its ramifications and study the appropriate legal options,” the Palace official said.

The High Tribunal on Wednesday declared in a 92-page decision that the DAP has violated Section 25 (5) Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

Among the acts violated were the cross-border transfer of savings of the Executive Branch to augment the appropriations of offices under the other branches of government; and the funding of projects, activities and programs not covered by any appropriation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). PND (ag)

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

Mindanao town seals cacao deal with Kennemer Foods International The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said

Wednesday that about 63,335 poor families in Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are benefiting from its livelihood projects.

Marihatag Mayor Alan Pelenio and KFI President Simon Bakker led the signing of agreement at the Seda Abreeza Hotel, which will initiate the massive

planting of four million cacao trees in the town’s 5,000 hectare pilot site.

KFI is a major supplier of US-based Mars chocolate and specializes in growing


and trading high-quality agricultural crops including fermented cacao beans.

“We are more than excited about our partnership with KFI and we’re optimistic that the people of Marihatag will enjoy long-term benefits from this initiative particularly that the project will be managed by our people organizations (POs),” said Pelenio.

He added that the local government plans to integrate cacao with its existing coconut plantations since “cacao is best suited to be inter-cropped with coconut trees.”

Pelenio said that part of the agreement with KFI is the capacity building of its POs since these organizations will be trained on the latest cacao production technologies to ensure the project’s success.

The initial planting of the cacao trees commenced on Friday in which 1,600 trees were planted in the town’s 2-hectare demo farm. The event was participated in by officials and staff of the Marihatag Local Government Unit (LGU), local chief executives of the province of Surigao del Sur, staff members of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and farmers in the area.

“A P600,000 worth of cacao seedlings, or 30,000 trees will be planted next week,” said Pelenio while adding “we will be spending P50,000.00 per hectare for land preparation and eventual harvesting since it would take at least 18 months for cacao trees to mature and bear fruits.”

An estimated annual gross income of P180,000.00 per hectare is projected to be generated from the project which is expected to generate more than 500 jobs.

“Aside from providing us with technical support, KFI is the assured market for our produce,” he said.

MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino, who witnessed the agreement signing encouraged local chief executives in the island-region to grow chocolate-producing cacao, of which its demand is currently seeing a spike in the global market.

“Chocolate is a multi-billion dollar industry and Mindanao has vast tracts of land suitable for cacao,” she said while adding “Mindanao strives to become the country’s leader in cacao production.”

Mindanao’s effort to scale-up its cacao production is part of the ongoing initiatives of MinDA’s “Inclusive Growth Program,” which seeks to facilitate investments that result in jobs and community empowerment, such as agribusiness projects where communities become integral to the supply chain.

The initiative is also part of the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Program (BSFP), a project of MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program, which supports the National Greening Program (NGP) that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares across the country from 2011 to 2016.


IPs, OSYs undergo training on journalistic writing By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

PAGADIAN CITY - At least 30 Indigenous People (IP)-students and Out-of-School-Youth (OSY) participated in a two-day Journalistic Writing Workshop conducted at Anastacia Pensionne House in this city starting July 3.


Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 9 Assistant Regional Director Franklin Gumapon said the activity hopes to enhance the writing skills of the participants with end in view of empowering them since “they are the most marginalized sector in the region.” Gumapon said the student-participants are scholars of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). “The participants are NCIP scholars taking up different courses like HRM, education and other courses,” Gumapon said. He added “the training/workshop hopes to complement the formal training in school so they would become skilled once they graduate.” NCIPCommunityAffairsOfficerofdistrict 1, Fidel Ebillo, in his welcome messagesaid“firsttimenanainvolvesa ganitong pagsasanay ang aming -Educational Assistance Program (EAP) grantees. Ito ay isang malaking simula at hakbangin ng ating mga EAP grantees.” (It’s the first time that we getinvolved in this kind of training for our Educational Assistance Program (EAP) grantees. This a big step toward helping our EAP grantees.) Addressing the participants, he said: “magamit ninyo ni puhun inig manarbaho na mo, o inig manguli mo sa inyong kaugalingung komunidad, nga dili na mu maulaw mag communicate ug makatabang mo pamaagi sa pagsuwat (You can use your learning from this training when you start looking for a job. This will help you improve your communication skills.)”


He said this activity is one great opportunity “na makita o madiscover nga naa diay mo kapasidad sa pagsulat (you will see and discover your talents in writing).” Meanwhile, Yolly de Guzman of the US Embassy Public Affairs Division, who came here to personally observe the activity, said “this is the first time that we arehaving this kind of project with IPs.” She encouraged the participants to really pay attention and put at heart this training-workshop for their own benefit.

I P - s t u d e n t participants came from Western Mindanao State University-Pagadian City; St. Columban College; Southern Mindanao College; JH Cerilles State College- Ramon Magsaysay Campus; JH Cerilles State College -Molave, JH Cerilles State College–Dumingag; JH Cerilles State College Mahayag; JH Cerilles State -Mati, and JH Cerilles State College -San Pablo. This activity is spearheaded by PIA-9 in partnership with NCIP and US Embassy.


PNP-9 chief lauds Dipolognons for being ‘peace-loving’By Mary May A. AbellonDIPOLOG CITY – Regional Director PCSupt. Edgar O. Basbas of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-9 commended the people here during the city’s 101st founding anniversary last July 1 at the Dipolog Boulevard for being peace-loving. Basbas, who served as keynote speaker during the said event, said “Dipolog is now an economic and tourist hub in the region because of its peaceful ambience.” He added that the people should continue supporting the PNP and the local government unit (LGU) for the advancement and development of the community.

“All these achievements are not only through the efforts of PNP but the community and the people as well,” he said. The anniversary program was preceded by a grand parade from Plaza Magsaysay to the boulevard withtheofficialsandemployeesoftheprovincial government of Zamboanga del Norte and the city government of


CANA holds transparency, accountability training in Ipil townBy Emmanuel D. Taghoy

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – “Economies collapsed due to human’s extreme greed,” said Monsignor Gilbert Gente, vicar-general of the Diocese Ipil during an orientation-training on transparency and accountability held here recently.

Dipolog,barangaysofficials,officialsand employees of the national government agencies, students, teachers, banking institutions, non-government organizations and other private groups. Also present in the program were Governor Roberto Y. Uy, Vice-Governor Senen O. Angeles, second district Representative Rosendo S. Labadlabad, third district Representative Isagani S. Amatong, provincial board members, Mayor

Evelyn T. Uy, Vice-Mayor Horacio Velasco and the city councilors. P’gsalabuk presentation of the Baile Filipina Dance Company and the Coco Festival presentation by the Dipag Dance Organization highlighted the anniversary program. The public was also regaled with Coco Couture, a fashion show of dresses made of materials from the coconut tree.


CANA holds transparency, accountability training in Ipil town “Corruption does not only enslave

the people, but it insults humanity in general,” the vicar general furthered. The transparency and accountability training was spearheaded by the Citizen’s Action Network for Accountability (CANA), a non-government organization which believes that “the more ordinary people can understand and engage with the government, the more accountable and effective the people can be.” In his presentation, Ipil Mayor Eldwin Alibutdan said that transparency is a continuing struggle of each and every local government unit. He presented the initiatives undertaken by the municipal government to be more transparent and accountable in all its undertakings. “LGU Ipil is the only town with a working Electronic Business Permit and Licensing System (eBPLS),” disclosed Mayor Alibutdan. Mr. Sonny Fernandez, director of the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) lauded the presentation of Mayor Alibutdan citing

the town’s best practices. “Mayor Alibutdan showed that the town is really exerting its efforts to be transparent and to address the needs of the Ipileños,” said Fernandez. Fernandez also commended the CANA for spearheading the training saying “it is a good opportunity for the organized segments of the community, like the church and other people’s organization to engage with the local government.” The training also included a discussion about the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the government followed by an open forum. CANA is the third collaboration of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IPWR), the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), the MindaNews and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). Barangayofficials,thecivilsocietygroups, some local chief executives and the media were also present in the said activity.


NGCP confident to counter climate change By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY- “It is not an issue meant to be solved only by the powers that be, but rather a matter to be dealt with by the entirety of human race. It’s a responsibility of all and sundry to help and advocate on climate change (CC) mitigation and daptaton,” firmly stated by National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) District-4 Mindanao Operations and Maintenance head Camilo Gamolo.


The NGCP has demonstrated sup-port for being thefirst institution todisplay the required CC tarpaulins imprinted with thematic brand logo, “Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Pa-nahon na Para Magbago” in Butu-an City. This is in adherence to the call of the national government to intensify the campaign on Climate Change mitigation and adaptation. The three huge tarps were spread out in conspicuous walls out-side their establishment to catch extra attention to the public. This concrete action is just part of the significant strategies to popularizethe ‘new normal’ of climate change. The high branding presence and visibility of this material is di-rected towards community aware-ness and active cooperation for indi-

vidual’s own protection. Gamolo said, ”the challenge of climate change to the human race is to re-deem ourselves as a breed capable of paramount changes to correct what we have authored upon ourselves.” He meant real transformation from being complacent to being pro-active, resilient and responsive to the factors affecting the environment including the threats brought by climate change. Meanwhile, Philippine Informa-tion Agency Caraga regional director Abner Caga expressed that “building resiliency is everyone’s concern and as individual stakeholders, therefore, each is encouraged to contribute in any manner to hype responsive-ness on climate change challenge.”

Data sharing of gov’t & partner agencies on Listahanan requires MOA, says DSWD-Caraga By Jennifer P. Gaitano BUTUAN CITY- During the Consultation Dialogue on the Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga with partners from the regional line agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and academe on Thursday in one of the local convention centers here, DSWD emphasized that data sharing on Listahanan by its partners requires execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).


Dante Rosales, regional focal person of DSWD-Caraga’s Listahanan explained that the Listahanan’s data is protected under a MOA which ensures that the data will be used only for its intended purpose.

“This is also in consonance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which is intended to protect the integrity and security of personal data in both the private and public sectors,” said Rosales. Rosales further clarified that the

data sharing agreement stipulates that the data user must integrate Listahanan in all its social marketing activities – highlighting or emphasizing the use of the targeting system in identifying beneficiaries of its socialprotection programs and projects.

“Data user must also provide regular feedback on the data utilization and resolution on complaints regarding beneficiaryeligibility andensure theconfidentiality and use of requesteddata only for purposes agreed upon,” Rosales added.

Meanwhile, Christopher Saavedra, regional information technology officer of DSWD-Caraga reiteratedthat “information such as statistics and magnitude can be obtained through official data requests. However, aMOA is required if the information being requested includes the names of family or household members.”

Listahanan is an information management system that identifieswho and where the poor are nationwide. The system makes available to national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders a socio-economic database of poor households as basis in identifying potential beneficiaries of socialprotection programs & services.

The DSWD’s Listahanan data and statistics can also be accessed at the Listahanan website - http://listahanan.dswd.gov.ph. From the home page, click the “Statistics” tab and log in as a guest (instructions provided on the page). Users may view data down to the barangay level.


DSWD-13 asks partners’ support on database streamlining of Listahanan BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga asked support and cooperation from its partner government agencies and other stakeholders for the database streamlining of Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

As per Executive Order No. 866, national government agencies and other stakeholders adopted the Listahanan or NHTS-PR of DSWD as a mechanism for identifying poor households who shall be recipients of social protection programs nationwide.

During the Consultation Dialogue on the Listahanan or NHTS-PR with partners from the regional line agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and academe on Thursday in one of the local convention centers here, assistant regional director for Administration/Listahanan - deputy regional project manager Nerisa Murih bared that the goals of said activity is to get the support of the partner agencies and organizations on the second round household assessment and to engage partnership for data-sharing by forging respective memorandum of agreements to utilize the available data in

identifyingpotentialbeneficiaries.“We also intend to promote the

new brand name of NHTS-PR which is Listahanan,” added Murih.

Dante Rosales, regional focal person of DSWD-Caraga’s Listahanan reiterated that the Listahanan is an information managementsystemthatidentifieswho and where the poor are nationwide. “The system makes available to national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders a socio-economic database of poor families as basis inidentifyingpotentialbeneficiariesof social protection programs and services,” he said.

It was also emphasized that data sharing on Listahanan by its partners require execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Rosales explained that the Listahanan’s data is protected under a MOA which ensures that the data will be used only for its intended purposes.

By Jennifer P. Gaitano


“This is also in consonance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which is intended to protect the integrity and security of personal data in both the private and public sectors,” said Rosales.

Also, Therese Margarette Babanto,regionalfieldcoordinatorof Listahanan in DSWD-Caraga, revealed that of the 405,310 assessed households in Caraga, 232,301householdsare identifiedas poor.

“Consistent with Executive Order 867, the updating of the Listahanan database of poor families shall be done every four years thereafter,” emphasized Babanto.

Babanto further stressed that with the participation of its partners who will utilize the Listahanan, multiple provision of same programs and servicestothebeneficiarieswillbeavoided.

Christopher Saavedra, regional information technology officer of

DSWD-Caraga cited that the objectives of Listahanan include the following: 1) formulate a uniform set of criteria for identifying poor families through scientificmeans;2) facilitate sharing of high quality database to public and private social protection stakeholders; 3) reduce leakage or inclusion of non-poor and undercoverage or exclusion of poor from necessary social protection programs and servicer; and 5) lessen the implementation cost of social protection programs by saving resources intended for targeting.

Meanwhile, Cale Pineda, regional associate statistician of DSWD-Caraga revealed that the database of Listahanan is lodged with the National Housing Targeting Office(NHTO) at the central office ofDSWD. “The Listahanan database is secured by standard procedures followed by a limited number of


LGU Ozamiz intensifies IEC on national disaster consciousness and nutrition month by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - The City Government, here, has waged an intensified information, education and communication (IEC) campaign on the National Disaster Consciousness and Nutrition Month (NDCM/NNM), which are both observed, this July.


The IEC activities will focus on the NDCM theme: “Kahandaan at Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan, Pundasyon ng Kaunlaran (Preparedness and Safety of Communities, Foundations of Progress),” said Mark Vincent C. Israel, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management(CDRRM)Officer,duringa press conference held yesterday, June 30. Israel said, so far, the CDRRM Council has lined-up the following activities during the month: Simultaneous earthquake drill in schools, July 2, and Walk for a Cause, followed by a Zumba Marathon, July 12, city-wide cleaning of esteros/canals, July 23, Blood-letting, July 26, oratorical, essay-writing and poster-making contest, July 30 and symposia, launching of vertical farming and gardening and tree-growing, to be scheduled with the City Nutrition Council (CNC). The press conference was held

after the twin-launching of the NDCM and the NNM, immediately following theflag-raising at theCityHall Ground, which was preceded by a motorcade along the city’s main thoroughfare and a mass offering for the dead victims of natural and human-made disasters at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Meanwhile, Lelita G. Navarez, City Nutritionist, who was in the same press conference, said the activities of the NNM will focus on the theme: “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan! (Prepare for Disasters: Prevent Hunger and Malnutrition).” Navarez said the CNC will embark on a reorientation program for the Barangay Nutrition Workers on the importance of preparedness and prevention of hunger and malnutrition to minimize the impact of calamities and disasters.


DA-10 participates in 50th SIALby Cyrus Seraspe

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Agriculture of Region 10 (DA-10) through the Marketing Assistance Division (MAD-10) took part on the ASEAN leg of Salon International de I’Agroalimtaire (SIAL ASEAN) held at the World Trade Center in Pasay, Manila on June 11-13, 2014.

Chedy V. Ansale, chief of MAD-10, said that they participated in the event to invite potential private investors for northern Mindanao. She added that through this, they were able to showcase the products of each province in the region. To attract more investors, they prepared brochures and other promotion paraphernalia containing the commodities, proposed investment projects, and the contact persons of each projects for inquires and communication purposes. Currently named as the Most Competitive City by the National

Competitiveness Council, Cagayan de Oro was chosen as the featured city of Northern Mindanao showcasing its advantages in terms of investment, among others. They also showed its proposed investment projects such as the palm oil plantation and the class ‘AAA’ poultry dressing plant. Majority of the queries that the investors inquired was on the exporting of products such as bananas, mangoes, pineapple, and coconut from the region to Manila and in the different parts of the world.

Celebrating their 50th year, SIAL is the world’s largest food innovation observatory which started in Paris, France in 1964 expanding to different places such as North and South America, Canada, China, and in the Middle East. SIAL opened the South East Asian food market (SIAL ASEAN) for the first time in Manila,Philippines in partnership with DA and the Department of Tourism. It was participated by more than 500 exhibitors from 20 countries and 15,000 trade visitors around the world.


OWWA-10 accepts scholarship applications until July 31by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Overseas Wokers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office 10 is now accepting applications for the Education Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) for school year 2015-2016.

OWWA-10 announced that prospective applicants have until July 31, 2014 to submit the documentary requirements to their officeat2FTrinidadBldg.Corrales-Yacapin Sts., this city. The EDSP is a scholarship program intended for Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) dependents who intend to enrol in a baccalaureate course. The OFW, however, should have a valid and active OWWA membership. CMWSP, on the other hand, is intended for a child of a former OFW who intends to pursue a baccalaureate course in Science and Technology, Engineering or any applied Sciences. Applicants for the programs must not be more than 21 years of age, high school graduating students or high school graduates but have not enrolled in post-secondary course or college. They must belong to the upper 20 percent of graduating class (for those who have graduated) or must have a general average of 80 percent

and above from two preceding school year. CMWSP applicants must also have a family gross annual income, for OFW as single earner, of US$4,800 or P208,080.00. The documentary requirements include ID picture, birth certificate,and proof of OWWA membership, among others. Interested applicants can visit OWWA-10 Regional Office orcontact them at telephone number (08822)722863 for further details.


COTABATO CITY -- Members of the Mindanao River Basin Technical Work-ing Group (MRB-TWG) met in Cotabato City Tuesday to review ongoing projects that would provide long-term solutions to the flooding within the area.

MinDA reviews Mindanao River Basin flood control projects

The meeting also intended to fast track technical preparations needed to jumpstart the construction and implementation of both structural and non-structural flood controlinterventions

Convened by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the meeting gathered the core members of the MRB-TWG composed of representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of Regions X, XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), along with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Regional Planning Development Office, Department of Environmentand Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG),andtheOfficeofCivil Defense (OCD).

Structural interventions are composed of infrastructure and

other flood-control projects,while non-structural interventions include reforestation, mangrove rehabilitation, and sustainable watershed management.

“Both of these structural and non-structural interventions are aimed to addresstheissueoffloodingbeyonda piece-meal method and are part of the strategic programs prioritized in the MRB Master Plan which adopts the ridge-to-reef approach,” said MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino.

The ridge-to-reef is a development approach that requires the protection, utilization, and rehabilitation of the environment from the mountains to the seas. Mindanao’s roadmap for peace and development or Mindanao 2020 calls for the full implementation of this strategy.

Initiated by MinDA, the MRB Master Plan is a result of several years of study that delved into the root causes


of the constant flooding in the riverbasin, and at the same time outlined recommendations on interventions to address the problem in an integrated and holistic approach that cuts across regional and provincial borders.

Completed in 2013, the MRB Master Plan was subsequently endorsed by the Regional Development Councils of Regions X and XII, as well as the Regional Economic Development and Planning Board of the ARMM by the first quarter of this year. The sameplan was also adopted by the Cabinet Cluster on the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation during its meeting in Quezon City last month.

To date, there are seven structural projects that are on going and designed to relieve the flooding problem inthe area. These include the P39.89 million River Bank Protection Project along the Cotabato-GenSan Road in Tamontaka, Cotabato City which is expected to be completed in June 2014; the P174.19 million Simuay Flood Control Project in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014; the P46 million Allah River Flood Control Project in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat which is expected to be completed in July 2014; a P50 million and P74.5 million Libungan Flood Control Projects Phase III both in Libungan, Cotabato which are expected to be completed in August and October of 2014, respectively; a P72.5 million Carmen River Bank Protection with Revetment Flood Control Project in Lumayong, Carmen, Cotabato to be completed in November 2014; and a

P15.2 million University of Southern Mindanao Flood Control Project Phase I in Kabacan, Cotabato which is already substantially completed.

Aside from these existing structural projects, MinDA has been proactively advocating for the fast tracking of the implementation of six priority floodcontrol projects in the MRB with a budget of P6.9 billion from DPWH. Thesixidentifiedpriorityprojectsare:Channel modification of the Ambal-Simuay River; Dredging of the Rio Grande de Mindanao; Dredging and dike construction along the Tunggol River including the expansion of the Tunggol bridge; Construction of revetment dikes along the Ala River; Construction of revetments along the Buluan River; and the Construction of revetments along the Tamontaka River.TheDPWHcentralofficehasalready

prioritized these projects and the detailed engineering is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Along with the River Basin Control Office(RBCO)andtheOfficeofCivilDefense (OCD), MinDA has been mandated by Executive Order No. 50 to not only complete the MRB Master Plan and to facilitate development interventions, but also to create the MRB Management council to serve as lead organization that will oversee the protection and management of waters and natural resources within the MRB.

In line with efforts to climate change-proof the MRB Master Plan, the MRB-TWG recently completed its second module of the Disaster


Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (DRRM-CCAM) training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to include DRRM and CCAM initiatives in the master plan.

“This is part of our integrated effort to also prepare our partner agencies including the LGU alliances within the MRB to implement their respective preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures,” said Antonino.

As part of non-structural efforts to address flooding in Mindanao,MinDA, the DENR and the DILG are collaborating in massive reforestation efforts in areas in and around critical rivers, mountain ranges, watershed and identified flooded areas inMindanao.

Under the Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP), an initial 200 barangays throughout the island-region will be actively engaged

in reforestation efforts in support of the National Greening Program.

The BSFP, a sub-project of MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program will help mobilize stakeholders, resources and partnerships in reforestation efforts not only as a mitigating measure against further flooding, but is alsoenvisioned to restore the forest cover of the island-region. From the initial 200 barangays, the BSFP is planned to expand to an eventual total of 1,700 barangays all over Mindanao.

Also present during the meeting are Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia, and Ching Ayupan, representativeoftheofficeofCardinalOrlando Quevedo. (MinDA/DED-PIA 12)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY— Mayor Ronnel Rivera has recently approved a city ordinance enjoining every able-bodied resident here to plant a tree.

GenSan to implement approved ordinance requiring residents to plant a treeBy: Catherine T. Apelacio

Known as Arbor Day Ordinance, the law declaring “every 3rd Friday of the month of June of every year as Arbor Day” requires every resident here from 12 years old to plant at least one seedling of a tree each year.

Mayor Rivera described the ordinance

a must “because the city government is bent on preserving and protecting its remaining natural reserve and doubling its effort to mitigate the effect of climate change.”

Sponsoring its enactment, City Councilor Eduardo Leyson IV maintains


that it’s about time that all residents starting from12-year old child begin to take the responsibility of taking care the environment and what better way to do it than to teach them to plant trees at early age.

According to him, putting in place Ordinance No. 6, s 2014 will formalize the task and strengthen every individual’s resolve to carry on their obligation to nurture Mother Nature.

“There is a need for every one of us to get involved and own the effort of rejuvenating the environment by planting a tree in our respective area,” he explained.

Republic Act 10176 otherwise known as the Arbor Day Act of 2012 authorizes the local government units to celebrate and make Arbor Day as annual event.

According to Leyson, a collaborated effort between the government and its constituents need to take place if “we were to save and combat the loss of natural resources.”

The ordinance also ordered the creation of Arbor Day Celebration Committee to oversee and organize the planning, coordination, and the implementation of tree planting activityindifferentidentifiedsites.

It also mandates the city’s 26 component barangays, government agencies as well as the non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and private sectors here to cooperate and participate in the observance.

To ensure all sectoral participation, the ordinance has also declared

“every 3rd Friday of June as public working holiday.”

The Arbor Day Committee, Leyson added will determine the planting area or site in every barangay before the scheduled celebration.

Meanwhile, all sectors are also encouraged to consider planting endemic or indigenous specie in places identifiedasprotected.

Designated areas for tree planting include public school grounds, gardens or other available areas within the school premises; idle or vacant public lands; public parks in urban and rural areas; and private schools, parks and lands with the consent of the owner.

The Bureau of Plant Industry in coordination with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office willsupply and distribute the seedlings to the city government, according to the ordinance.

As to the maintenance of planted trees, Leyson said it will be the primary responsibilityofthebarangayofficialsand deputized NGOs.

Mayor Rivera has also assured its sustainability guaranteeing the allocation of fund to implement the ordinance which will be appropriated either from the annual or supplemental budget.

With the implementing rules and regulations in the pipeline, Rivera is confidentthatnothingcangowrongwith its implementation. (CT Apelacio with Lipsy Grace Carayo/PIA-12 General Santos City)


COTABATO CITY – With July as National Disaster Consciousness Month, the city government of Cotabato has lined up several activities to promote pub-lic awareness on natural hazards and disseminate information on the steps to be undertaken to mitigate the adverse effects of such hazards.

Cotabato City launches various projects for Disaster Consciousness Month By: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

The month-long observance was formally launched yesterday, July 2 with the conduct of a simultaneous earthquake drill at Notre Dame Village National High School.

A clean up drive and mangrove tree planting is set to be conducted on July 9 at Barangay Kalanganan 2.

On July 15, the CDRRMO will have a supplemental feeding program at aselectedfloodpronebarangayinthe city.

“All of these activities are conducted in accordance with the memorandum issued by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office on Civil Defense”, actionofficerFrankPootsaid.

Meanwhile, City Administrator Atty. Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said the quick response and preparedness of the local government and its partners is vital in responding to disasters.

“We, in the local government, are always prepared when it comes to responding to the needs of our constituents in the event of a

flooding.Ourcalamity fund isstillintact and is ready for disbursement anytime a calamity strikes,” Atty. Guiani-Sayadi said.

“We also have strong ties with our partners in the line agencies and local authorities so that they can immediately send help during thesetimes”,theofficialadded.

The City Administrator also said they are frequently conducting earthquake and fire drills toraise awareness on disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and adaptation to reduce disaster risk.

“This is why we are frequently conductingtheearthquakeandfiredrills, because these calamities are unpredictable. We just want our constituents to know what to do and be updated of the programs that we have in case of any calamity”, Atty. Guiani-Sayadi added.

This year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month is anchored on the theme “Kahandaan at Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan, Pundasyon ng Kaunlaran”. (ORVRivera-PIA12/CotabatoCityInformationOffice)


LGUs urged to pass ordinances on fisheries to protect Davao Gulf

DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Fish-eries and Aquatic Resources to-gether with the Department of In-terior and Local Government in the region has urged the local chief executives to pass ordinances or directives on fisheries to protect Davao Gulf. The call came in time for the strict enforcement of the three-

month closure season of the Davao Gulffromcommercialfishingforthemonths of June to August this year in an aim to protect the spawning periodoffishesinthegulf. BFAR-11 regional director Fatma Idris said only a few local government units in the region havepassedcity/municipalfisheriesordinance which she said should


be in accordance with Republic Act 8850 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. Idris said though that some of the passed ordinances are not strictly implemented and that the LGUs lack the equipment such as patrol vessels to safeguard the municipal waters from illegal fishing. She clarified that protectingthe municipal waters is the main responsibility of the LGUs. Jose Longno, Jr., BFAR-11 provincialfisheriesofficerofDavaoCity, said the city LGU has an existing ordinance, but added that several coastal barangay councils could not strictly implement the policy “because they are not familiar with thefisherieslaw.” DILG-11 regional director Atty. Wilhelm Suyko said they will work hand in hand with BFAR and Department of Agriculture to boostthecampaignonthefishingindustries in the region. He said they will go around the region to encourage the LCEs and the provincial, city and municipal councilsforthepassageoffisheriesordinances and directives. Idris said BFAR-11 has also intensified its informationdissemination drive to make fisherfolks understand andcooperate with authorities in preserving and protecting the Davao Gulf. BFAR-11 has initially dispatched three patrol boats that would safeguard the entire Davao Gulf from illegalfishing,and from

commercial fishingduring the closure season. Idris bared that bigger patrol vessel will be coming. The patrol boats are jointly operated by BFAR, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police and representatives from the local government units. The closure season of the Davao Gulf is a mandate stipulated in the Joint Memorandum Order No. 2 of DA, BFAR and DILG aiming to protect the spawning period of pelagicfisheswithinthe23-hectaregulf area which covers the municipal waters from Don Marcelino town in Davao Occidental up to the municipality of Governor Generoso in Davao Occidental. Idrissaidbagnetsandfishnetswhich are commonly used by commercialfishingvesselsarenotallowed in the gulf, and that small scalefishingboats andfish cagesare not covered in the closure season. However she said big scale fishing is allowed outside themunicipal waters with a distance of 15 kilometers. She emphasized the need to strengthen the watch over Davao Gulf due to the continuous decline in the production of fishes foundin the gulf such as karabalyas, hasa-hasa, buraw, lumahan and anduhan, matambaka, atulay, tamrong, budlatan, galunggong, moro-moro, alumahan and burot-burot. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)


10th ID counts on convergence of LGUs, NGAs to end insurgency

COMPOSTELA VALLEY- The 10th Infantry “Agila” Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counts on convergence of efforts of the national line agen-cies and the local government to end insurgency. In a press conference at Camp Manuel Yan in Mawab, Compostela Valley, 10th Inf. Div. commanding general Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo described as “whole of government approach” the convergence of government delivery of services. The 10th ID along the local government of Davao City and the

OfficeofthePresidentialAssistanton the Peace Process (OPAPP) in June this year brought the ARENA Serbisyo Caravan to Paquibato known as the lair of “Kumander Parago.” The AFP also counted the ARENA Serbisyo Caravan as instrumental in gaining back mass-base support of insurgency problem areas in Davao Oriental which the 10th Inf. Div. last year declared as “insurgency-free.” Bernardo was glad of the support and interest of Davao


City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to introduce development initiatives particularly those that will lead to creating sources of livelihood for the people. “People are expectant, we need to satisfy them para dili na sila ma-recruit (So they won’t get recruited),” he said. Meanwhile, Bernardo bared that forces of the New People’s Army were noted thinning out and consequently problem areas “are getting few”. Bernardo said that Kapalong and Talaingod towns are the remaining insurgency-concern areas in Davao del Norte, while Laak, Maco, Mabini, Mawab and Pantukan in Compostela Valley are also beset with the same concern. Bernardo viewed this as shrinkingareasofinfluenceoftheNPA but he saw the need for the armed forces to go “inch-by-inch” down to every barangay, closely tying up with municipal mayors of insurgency-affected areas. He also banked on the “redeployment of forces” as a consequence of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) implementation expected to result in the pulling out of AFP forces in the Bangsamoro areas once the Bangsamoro police force will be put

in place. “We can demobilize their movement if there is counter mobilization and social pressure,” he said as he explained the need for the government to gain the support of people at the grassroots level. “The strength of the enemy is notwithfirearms;theirstrengthisstill the people’s support,” he said. “If we can isolate them and sever their connection with the people, they will become insignificant nomatter how many they are,” he added. Aside from addressing the root-causes of insurgency, the 10th ID also adopts coverage areas strategy that goes beyond political boundaries to ward off NPAs taking refuge and building hide-outs at the boundaries of provinces. He took as an instance the 701st Infantry Brigade which used to cover the entire province of Davao Oriental only but it now expands its area coverage towards neighboring Compostela Valley Province. The 1003rd Infantry Brigade which covers the entire province of Davao del Norte also extends its reach and coverage in Davao City. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

one mindanao - july 4, 2014

Documents

writing skills of participants

sur ip students

climate change adaptation

ip youth

us embassy winds

gaitano zambo

basic skills

indigenous peoples ncip