one mindanao - june 17, 2015

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western and Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IX

ALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORS

FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga Region

VENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northern Mindanao

Graces’ Building, Antonio Luna StreetCagayan de Oro City 9000Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594Telefax no. (08822) 72-66-83Cellphone no. 0928-5204305, 0917-3084969E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.pia-10.blogspot.com Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

Ground Floor Kanto Motors Bldg.,Quimpo Blvd., New MatinaDavao City 8000Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950E-mail: [email protected]

LAYOUT ARTISTS

GIDEON C. CORGUE, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

DAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

EDITORIAL BOARD

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESOne Mindanao

DAR, ATI roll out farmer business school in NorthCot towns

Kidapawan seeks immediate implementation of health complex expansion

Sibulan Porters Association receives new mountaineering equipment

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Empowering IPs via NCIP scholarship program

President Aquino witnesses turnover of rebels’ weapons, decommissioning of combatants

GSIS extends calamity loan to Davao, Cotabato

ZSPPO implements PGSEnvironmental partners laud DENR feats, inspires convergence work

Surigao Norte guv activates HEALS Caravan

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By: Danilo E. Doguiles

By: KOasay

By: COMELEC

By: Gideon C. Corgue

By: Johny S. Natad

By: John Glenn A. Platil

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN

NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGEN

SOUTHERN

NATIONAL

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ECC intensifies advocacy for Employees’ Compensation Program in MisOccTOG-10’ Brigada Eskwela benefits public schoolsBy: TOG

By: Julius R. Paner

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By: Franklin P. Gumapon

Contents

4 June 17, 2015One Mindanao

Cover Story

5June 17, 2015 One Mindanao

Empowering IPs via NCIP scholarship programBy: Franklin P. Gumapon

Intelligent people are no babblers. When they speak, they are wise and sensible. And now here’s a guy who is one of them: Mohammad

Shafiq Lahaman Kiram, 28, a Sama-Banguingui, a tribe that belongs to the Indigenous Peoples

(IP) in Western Mindanao.


When the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 was conducting a journalistic writing workshop for IP college students and out-of-school youth in Zamboanga City last June 10-11, there was this participant who silently sat at the back but paid attention to the lecture. Never did he raise any question during the lecture as most participants usually do to show off their abilities. He is quiet but with deep-seated intelligence.

Shafiq,asheisfondlycalled,isaresident of Putik, Zamboanga City. HetookupandfinishedBachelorofSecondaryEducation(BSE)majorin English at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), Zamboanga City as a scholar under the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). And he had proved to the NCIP that hedeservedthescholarshipashegraduatedfromhisBSEdegreeCum Laude!

His feat has banished the label uncaring individuals portray the IP people as being slow, laidback and naïve. In his essay submitted totheNCIP,Shafiqwrote:

The early years of my college life was not easy. I already anticipated that I would meet different people with varied personalities, different upbringings, and dissimilar cultural context. With these things in mind, much adjustment was done. Hence, I had to deal with people sensitively… I only wear a simple get-up, just right for my humble personality.

“

“


Need for quality education

Shafiq confided that themostdefiningexperience inhislife during his college days was his practice teaching. “I was awakened by the reality that our schoolchildren are in dire need of quality education and even quality teachers,” he said. He realized that not only the IP communities aredeficient inquality education but in many public schools as well. “Hence, this experience did not onlyprovide me with a leeway to propel and improve my pedagogical competence, but it also taught

me life – nothing more, nothing less,” he declared.

EAP scholars

For this school year, NCIP-9 has extended scholarshipsto more than 300 IP college students throughout the region. Except fora fewmeritscholarswho are receiving P25 thousand financial assistance each persemester, the rest are allotted P10 thousand each per semester. They are also encouraged to study in state colleges and universities, which offer lower matriculation fees.


Parting words to IP scholars

ShafiqempathicallyappealedtoIPscholarsbysaying:

In the grand scheme of things, education is the key in achieving our dreams. Dreams do come true. Trust me, it did happen to me. I believe others can do it, too, only if they have the tenacity in all that they do. I am a Filipino, a true-blooded Sama-Banguingui, a dreamer then, and now, a teacher fulfilling his dreams.

“

“


COMELEC: SK voters who will turn 18 on or before May 9, 2016 must register

MANILA - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced Tuesday that those who are registered Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters that will be turning 18 on or before May 9, 2016 must file their application for voter registration so they will be able to vote in the 2016 elections. “Those who will be turning 18 on or before Election Day next year will be graduatingfrom the SK elections,” COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said. “This is why they need to register anew so they will be able to vote

in the 2016 polls.”

Jimenez said youth voters who will be turning 18 need only bring a valid ID and a copy of his birth certificate when theyregister. (COMELEC)

photo: pinoygov.blogspot.com


President Aquino witnesses turnover of rebels’ weapons, decommissioning of combatants

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao - President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday witnessed here the historic turnover of 75 firearms by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) and the decommissioning of 145 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.


The President said this signifiesthesincerityoftheMILFto the peace process despite the delay in the passage of the BangsamoroBasicLaw.

“Heto ang pruweba ng kanilang katapatan sa ating harapan. Kusang-loob pong inilatag ng ating mga kapatid ang kanilang armas. Ginagawa nga nila ito kahit nakabitin pa ang Bangsamoro BasicLaw, at mangyayari pa lang ang Bangsamoro TransitionAuthority,” the President said during the event held at the Old Capitol in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province.

“Ito po ay napakatibay na patunay ng buo at busilak

na pakikiisa ng MILF sa ating usaping pangkapayapaan, at sa kanilang kahandaang talikuran ang landas ng hidwaan. Iniaabot nila ngayon ang kanilang palad bilang imbitasyon patungo sa higit na pagtitiwala at pagtutulungan,” he added.

The 55 high-powered firearms and 20 crew-serveweapons that were turned over, as well as the returnees, were registeredbytheIDB,whichwasformed in 2014 and mandated to oversee the decommissioning of the MILF’s forces and weapons.

The IDB is composed ofchairman Turkish Ambassador Haydar Berk, a former Turkishrepresentative to the North Atlantic Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and members Major Muhammad Aiman Syazwi Bin Abdul Rahimof theRoyalBruneiLandForce;retired Norwegian BrigadierGeneral Jan Erik Wilhemsen, who served in the United Nations peacekeeping forces to Honduras,


El Salvador, Central Sudan, Nigeria and Nepal; Professor Mario Aguja; retired Lieutenant General Rey Ardo, who servedas Commander of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Von Al Haq, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic ArmedForces;andIsahBato.

The decommissioning program for the MILF forces was inspired by the different peace processes done in Nepal, Northern Ireland, and Aceh, Indonesia.

Moro returnees can avail of any of the socio-economic programs deemed suitable for them, such as the livelihood package, where former combatants may undergo training through the Technical Education and Skilled Development Authority or a literacy program through the Department of Education; and a college study or high school grant, both of which are provided with allowances to enable them

to start schooling.

All returnees will be given immediate assistance and health insurance as part of the socio-economic package.

For his part, MILF Central Committee Chair Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim thanked President Aquino for pushing peace and development in Mindanao.

“We cannot thank President Aquino enough for his unwavering commitment in our partnership to build a truly democratic, peaceful and safe society in the Bangsamoro,”Ebrahim said in his message during the ceremony.

“Today, we begin the long walk towards transformation, not surrender, to a higher struggle, the start of the transformation of the MILF from a revolutionary organization to a political organization ready to govern and serve the Bangsamoro people,”he added.


Present during the ceremony were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, PresidentialAdviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, Autonomous Region inMuslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman, Maguindanao Governor Ismael Mangudadatu, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Central Committee Chair Al Haj

Murad Ebrahim, government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and Archbishop Orlando BeltranQuevedo.(PCOO/PND (ag)


GSIS extends calamity loan to Davao, Cotabato

PASAY CITY - Active members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) working or residing in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and seven municipalities in Cotabato, including old-age pensioners, may apply for emergency loan until July 4. GSIS has alloted P446 million for 14,037 active members in 169 agencies and 2,122 old-age pensioners in drought-stricken Davao

provinces, as well as in the municipalities of Alamada, Aleosan, Antipas, Arakan, Banisilan, Libungan, andPigcawayan in Cotabato.


First-time borrowers may apply for a P20,000 loan, while those with existing emergencyloan may apply for P40,000.

Members are qualified toapply if they are not be on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying their mandatory premium contributions, and have no loans in default.

The loan has a 6 percent interest rate per annum and is payable in 36 monthly installments.

Active members may apply through GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located in GSIS offices, provincial capitols, cityhalls,selectedmunicipaloffices,large government agencies such as the Department of Education, andselectedRobinsonsMalls. Old-age pensioners must apply over the counter in GSIS offices to avail of the P20,000loan. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of demise.

If an active member is also an old-age pensioner, the applicant may borrow only once.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’sGSISeCardorunifiedmultipurpose identification(UMID) card.

For inquiries, interested applicants may call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747. (GSIS)

20 PNP Patrol Jeeps distributed in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Patrol Jeeps of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were distributed to 20 municipal police stations of Bukidnon Provincial Police Office (PPO) on June 10.

by Police Regional Office

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxasattendedtheeventandledthedistributionofthebrandnew4x4PNPpatroljeepsthatwillbeusedfor law enforcement and disaster operations. Furthermore, the vehicles will be used to support PoliceRegionalOffice (PRO)10unit troopmovement/deployment and other special operations such as civil assistance during civic actions, relief andSearchandRescue (SAR)operations, InternalSecurity Operations (ISO) and other related activities. PRO10undertheleadershipofPCSuptLyndel


ECC intensifies advocacy for Employees’ Compensation Program in MisOccOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has intensified its advocacy for the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) in the province, through a seminar, in Oroquieta City, on June 16, this year.

The activity aims to raise the peoples’ awareness in the grassroots level and keep the public abreast of the social protection and safe work programs available to employees, Atty. Jonathan T. Villasoto, ECC DeputyExecutiveDirector,saidduringa press conference held in the city on June 15. In coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),theseminar isthefirstECCactivity held in the province, since its creation in 1975, to promote ECP’s preventive, compensation and rehabilitation services, including the ECC-QuickResponseandthe‘Katulongat Gabay sa Manggagawang may

Kapansanan or KaGabay Program. A government program, the ECP is designed to provide a compensation package to public and private employees or their dependents in the event of work-related injury or death, Villasoto said. About 120 human resource officers, employers/owners/laborunions coming from various private enterprises, government agencies, including uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy, Bureau of FireProtection (BFP), in the province,are expected to attend the seminar,Villasoto added. (ECC)

A Desquitado, acting regional director together with PSSupt Aurelio A Trampe, deputy regional director for operations(DRDO)andPSSuptEdgarMDanielJr,officerincharge,BukidnonPPO witnessed the distribution of PNP Patrol Jeeps.

The turn-over was participated by Governor Jose Maria R. Zubiri,Jr. and accepted by Municipal Mayor Osmundo Dela Rosa, president,League of the Municipal Mayors of the PhilippinesBukidnonChapter.


TOG-10’ Brigada Eskwela benefits public schoolsCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - At least nine public schools were benefitted by the 2015 “Brigada Eskwela” Project of the Tactical Operations Group in Northern Mindanao (TOG-10), Philippine Air Force (PAF), based in Lumbia, this city.

Lt. Col Leo A. Fontanilla, TOG-10 Commander, said the scope of work of TOG-10’ Brigada” consisted ofcutting of grass and trimming of trees within the school premises, painting of roof and blackboard, and painting/ repainting of school buildings, It also included the cleaning of the school’s parade grounds, ground- leveling of demolished buildings and demolitionofunusedcementedflowerboxesandthedonationofatotalof42trash and 18 empty cans, converted from discarded empty drums of

aviation fuel. M e a n w h i l e , Fontanilla said the recipient schools, which are all located within TOG’s area of responsibility (AOR), includedthose of Lumbia National High School (NHS), Iponan Elementary School (ES), Lumbia Central School (CS), Macabalan NHS, City CS, Linangohan ESandP.N.RoaES,

all of Cagayan de Oro City, and the F.R.SibayanCESandLemonES,bothofButuanCity. On the other hand, participants of the TOG-10 “Brigada Eskwela”included the personnel of organic and operational control units of the 71st Air Force Group Reservists (AFGR),CitySavingsBank,BarangayCounciland the General Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA), Fontanilla added. (TOG)

EastMincom receives new ambulance

DAVAO CITY- The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command received a brand-new ambulance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) yesterday (June 16). The turn-over of the ambulance was held at the Eastmincom head-quarters in Camp Pana-can(NavalStationFelixApolinario) with Lt. Gen-eralAurelioBaladadfor-mally receiving the am-bulance from PCSO, he was also joined by Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao

com-mand-er Com-mo-dore RafaelMaria-no. The NFEM has juris-diction

over the Camp Panacan Station Hospital where the ambulance will be deployed.“Theambulancewilldefi-nitely add up to the ca-pability of the Camp Pan-acan Station Hospital in its crucial operations es-pecially emergency situ-ations.”Lt.Gen.Baladadsaid thankful for the very important donation. The Eastmincom is one of the AFP’s wide support commands with jurisdiction over the re-gions of Davao, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and parts of Soccksargen (South Cotabato, Cota


bato, Koronadal, Sarangani and General Santos). It is involved in combating insurgency and terrorism aside from providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in their area of responsibility. (PIA/RGAlama)

facts and figures

hectares under the protected areaofMt.HamuiguitanRangeinDavao Oriental

32,000


STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur, June 16 (PIA) – The Sibulan Porters Asso-ciation (SPA) has recently received a new set of mountaineering gears and equipment as part of the con-tinuing effort to provide Mt. Apo porters with appropriate gears in climbing the country’s highest peak. TheUSAID-BWISER(Biodiver-sity and Watershed Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystems Resilience)providedtheassistancelast June 10. The SPA also received similar grant in 2013 from the Department ofEnvironmentandNaturalResourc-esRegionXIasitsprimeenterprisedevelopment activities that eventu-ally provided alternative livelihood

opportunity to its growing number of membership. The new equipment and suppliesarethefollowing:one camping tent, three backpacks, one tent liner, sixsleepingbags,sixpowerzoom headlamps, one camp-ing lantern, one camping stove, one cooking set, one firstaidkit,12batteriesand 12 butanes. (CDIO-Sta. Cruz/JuliusR.Paner)

Sibulan Porters Association receives new mountaineering equipment

NorthCot health station gets over P750K worth of medical equipment, medicinesBy:Shahana Joy E. Duerme

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, June 17 —Over P750 thousand worth of medical equipment and medicines were recently giv-en to a newly built health station in Baran-gay Batasan, Makilala.


The medical equipment con-sistingofexaminationtable,doppler, delivery cart, delivery table, sterilizer, stainless dress-ing carts, dressing tray and many others were donated by theReforestationWatershedManagement, Health and En-vironment Enhancement Fund (RWMHEEF)oftheDepartmentof Energy (DOE).

Along with the medical equip-ment,theRWMHEEFalsodo-natedmedicinessuchasamoxi-cillin,cefalexin,cotrimoxazole,ascorbic acid tablets and syrups,

multi-vitamin, paracetamol, mefenamic acid, carbocistine and other kinds of medicines.

The medical equipment costs P217,954 while the medicines cost P533,026.75.

It can be noted that the healthstationinBatasanwasjust recently handed to local of-ficialsbytheprovincialgovern-ment with an aim of improving the health services in the vil-lage.

“The health station built in BarangayBatasanwillhelpmeetthe health as well as medi


DAR, ATI roll out farmer business school in NorthCot towns

cal needs of the villagers. The equipment and medicines they obtained will enhance the com-petence of local health providers to serve the community,” Gover-nor Emmylou Mendoza said.

The governor added that the project was implemented out of the royalty share of the provin-cial government from the Mt. Apo Geothermal Project (M1 and M2) of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

Meanwhile, Makilala Munici-palMayorRudyS.Caoagdanexpressedgratefulnesstotheprovincial government for imple-

menting the said infrastructure projectthatcouldbenefittheresidentsofthebeneficiaryvil-lage.

“We aim to provide every vil-lage in Makilala essential ser-vices like health stations and by working hand in hand with the provincial government, we can be sure of its realization in the days to come,” Caoagdan noted stating his full support to the endeavors of the provincial government. (SJDuerme-PIA12/JSta.Cruz-N. Cotabato Provincial Government)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, June 17 -- More than 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries in several places in North Cotaba-to are currently training to become entrepreneurs, an official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here announced.

Emelita Mayol, chief agrar-ianreformprogramofficer,saidtheDARincooperationwiththe Agricultural Training Insti-tute (ATI) has launched Farm BusinessSchool(FBS)Pro-gram in line with their efforts to increase productivity and

profitabilityoflocalfarmers.FBS,Mayolexplained,isa

venue that would bring farmers together to carry out collective and collaborative enquiry to ad-dress business and marketing problems and opportunities.“TheFBSprogramtakesthe


school to the farmers where they will learn about business in their local environment,” she said.DARwilloverseeFBSimple-

mentation in selected agrarian reform areas in the municipali-ties of Antipas, Kidapawan City, Kabacan, and Aleosan to help farmers build knowledge and skills to make their farms more profitable.“AllparticipantsoftheFBS

willundergoseriesofexercisesthrough 25 modules designed around the concept of farm business cycle,” she elaborated further.

“They will set goals for their farms and then develop busi-ness plans which they will im-plement in their own farms to achieve those goals.”Meanwhile,Ma.TeresaLaxa-

mana,ATI-FBSpointperson,saidthatFBSaimstodevelopfarmer’s skills and competen-cies in business while improving

their knowledge, changing their attitudes towards farm entre-preneurship and producing for the market.“FBSisapeer-basedlearning,

wherethereisreallynoexpert,and the farmers learn from each other with the facilitator guiding thelearningprocess,”Laxamanasaid.LaxamanaalsosaidthatFBS

will help build farmers’ capacity in entrepreneurial and manage-ment skills through a learning-by-doing approach.

“This is done through a sea-son-long program that has been designed to be demand respon-sive,flexibleandpractical,”sheadded.FBSwillbeimplementedin

selected agrarian reform areas in North Cotabato from June 2015 to September 2015. (DE-Doguiles-PIA 12 with report fromROrejudos-DARNorthCo-tabato).

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, June 17 -- The local govern

Kidapawan seeks immediate implementation of health complex expansion


ment here is determined to fast track the implementation of the expansion project of the City Health Complex this year.

City Mayor Joseph Evange-lista said he intends to pursue the project before the Comelec election ban takes effect in January 2016.

“ We will do all means to make sure that this project is implemented by this year, that is why we are in constant com-munication with the DOH re-garding this,”, Mayor Evangelista said,expressingapprehensionthat it could be delayed once the election ban is imposed.

Another thing that worries him , he added, is that, it is highly possible that the new ad-ministration that will be running thecitygovernmentnextyearwill have its own set of health program priorities that may notincludetheexpansionofthecity’s health facility.

Mayor Evangelista is set to travel to Manila anytime soon to urge Department of Health of-ficialstoimplementtheexpan-sion.

At present, the City LGU is completingthesecondfloorex-pansion of the City Hospital that is part of the aforementioned project.Oncetheexpansioniscom-

pleted,thecomplexwouldbecome a one-stop shop for public health services, Mayor Evangelista assured.

This would serve as a major component of an improved and efficientdeliveryofhealthser-vices under the Health, Educa-tionandNutritionflagshippro-gram of the City LGU.

Of the P40-million intended fortheCityHealthComplexexpansion,onlyP9.7millionisbeing implemented, the local chiefexecutivesaid.(LKOasay-Kidapawan City LGU/DEDogu-iles-PIA 12)


DAR Caraga distributes farming facilities, checks to CARP beneficiaries By: Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Caraga distributed on Tuesday common service facilities and checks to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries during their 2nd celebration of Ani at Biyaya ng CARP held at the Robinsons Place, this city.


The department had given 11 tractors, 17 rice threshers, four power tilt cultivators and two reapers to Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islandsagrarianbeneficiaries.

All of the mentioned facilities werepartoftheAgrarianReformCommunity Connectivity and EconomicServices(ARCCESS).ItisaprojectimplementedbyDARto help improve productivity and income of agrarian reform ben-eficiaries (ARBs) through theirorganizations. Specifically, theproject seeks to strengthen the businessunitsof theARBorga-nizations, so that they can even-tually manage business assets or activities related to farm pro-duction, post-harvest, marketing

and processing.In order to address the credit

requirements of the agrarian re-formbeneficiaries’organizations(ARBOs), DAR in a joint part-nership with the Department of Agriculture(DA)andLandBankofthePhilippines(LBP)hasdis-tributed checks amounted to P6,975,000 to the ARBOs, thatare not eligible to access the banks regular lending window.

Another set of checks worth P1, 291,087 was also handed to the beneficiaries as insurance pro-tection through premium subsi-dy to Agrarian Credit Production Credit Program (APCP)/ Credit Assistance Program for Program BeneficiariesDevelopment(CAP-PBD)againstcroplossesarisingfrom natural calamities, plant


diseases and pest manifestation. DAR Caraga regional director

Julita Ragandang bared that asof December 2014, the depart-ment had already distributed 92 percent of the lands to the agrar-ianbeneficiaries.“Asyournewly-appointedDAR

Caraga regional director, I am committed to work. Although therearechallenges,expectourfull commitment - from me and therestofmyteam.DAR,withour efforts, will be a more vibrant and productive regional depart-ment,”saidRagandang.

“I want to emphasize to our employees our goal as provided in our 1987 constitution and our existing agrarian reform lawsto protect our farmers’ rights

through providing them the land titles. We will be facing different challenges and trials, but we will not give up. As implementers, we are determined to really con-tribute to the betterment of the beneficariesand theattainmentof food security, among others,” addedRagandang.Right after the opening cere-

mony,Ragandangtogetherwithassistant regional director Day-linda Narisma, DA Caraga re-gional director Edna Mabeza and DAR provincial agrarian reformofficers(PAROs) led theribbon-cutting of the photo gallery ex-hibit and mini-trade fair at the Main Atrium of the RobinsonsPlace, here.


Environmental partners laud DENR feats, inspires convergence work

BUTUAN CITY -- During the “Fiesta sa DENR” recognition of environmental partners held on June 10 at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-13 covered court, the environmental partners commended DENR Caraga for its regional milestone accomplishments over the past years in terms of environmental management and development particularly in the successful implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) and anti-illegal logging campaign in the region.

By: Johny S. Natad

DENR Caraga regionaldirector Nonito M. Tamayo personally handed over the awards and plaque of appreciation

to four farmers and development organizations, 27 local government units, two municipal police stations, and 10 regional


line government agencies who madesignificantcontributionsonthe implementation of successful NGP and intensifying anti-illegal logging campaign in the region. “We are grateful to our partners for sharing to us their unequivocal support that help us in our quest for responsible

management of environment and natural resources. Environmental concern transcends no boundaries. It is very crucial taskofDENRbutwecannotdoitalone. However, we can achieve excellent accomplishmentsin working partnership with

different government line agencies, people’s organization, community, PNP, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Together, we work in harmony, in convergence, there’s success,” Tamayo said. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)

Caraga regional director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño, duringthe recognition of environmental partners cited DENR Caragafor its significantaccomplishments while ensuring that NEDA will continually support the agency. “We have been working with theDENR in areasof environmental development and management in the region. We congratulate

theDENRofficials and staff forits accomplishments as part of its convergence effort. Restassured that NEDA Caraga will always support DENR,” Cariñosaid. In the same occasion, Department of Tourism (DOT)


Caraga regional director Letecia Tan said the region has already hit its one million tourists target in2014withthehelpofDENR’ssupport for eco-tourism and forest tourism. “I was inspired by the DENR’s accomplishments andcommitments with 1,100 bodies. DENRhasbeenalsoourpartnerin convergence and we are more inspired to work with other government agencies not only for eco-tourism with the DENRbut also agri-tourism with the Department of Agriculture,” Tan said. Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga regional director

Edna Mabeza has expressedsatisfaction over the achievements of DENR. “Ouroffice will always support inprotecting the natural resources as we have related mandate”. On the same event, Police RegionalOfficeCaraga regionaldirector PCSupt David Ombao ensures that the PNP has intensifieditscampaignagainstillegal logging in the region as mandated by Executive Order23 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force. “We are committed to help

the DENR on its objectiveon zero-illegal logging incidence in Caraga. The central Philippine National Police is focused on this kind of operations,” said PCSupt Ombao. Meanwhile, the Sibagat Federation of Tribal Community Agro Farmers Development Association, Inc. (SFTCAFDAI), a group of 21 people’s organizations lead by Arnold “Datu Subang” Acebido, thanked


DENR Caraga for providingtechnical and livelihood supports. Datu Subang said that the NGP had changed their lives from being a timber poacher to forest defender. “I used to carry guns with me before.Butwith theassistanceofthePNPandtheDENRofficialsI surrendered everything to the authrories. With the support of DENR, my future and mychildren’s future are already ensured since I have source of income and my 163 hectares of coffee plantation are enough guarantee for us,” Datu Subang

who has been deputized as forest guard said. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga regional director Florencio F. Sunico Jr., commended the DENR Caraga forits accomplishments considering that it inspired convergence to work for success. “With convergence, we can do many things. Although TESDA has unrelated mandates, we coordinated with DENR insome areas of concern.

TESDA has distributed 47,641 chairs that provide backlog chairs to schools in Caraga which was possible because of the convergence between PAGCOR,TESDAandDENR,”Sunicosaid.


Surigao Norte guv activates HEALS CaravanBy: John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - To show that the provincial government is fully committed to serve the people beyond the usual, Governor Sol F. Matugas has activated anew the HEALS Plus victory caravan in all the municipalities of the mainland Surigao del Norte.

The HEALS (Health, Education, Aquaculture and Agriculture, Livelihood and Tourism, Spiritual Enhancement)

Plus Caravan dubbed “Kapitolyo nanBarangay”aimstobringthesocial services of the provincial government closer to the people.


Just recently, the lady governor went to the municipality of Tubod on June 11 and was accompaniedbyBoardMembersMamerto Galanida, Simeon Vicente Castrence, Leonila GorgolonandCesarBagundol. Tubod Mayor Cristina Hemady R. Arcillas togetherwith municipal officials andemployees welcomed the Team Capitol. Governor Matugas, in her message, said that “Kapitolyo nan Barangay” means genuineservices and development to all. Amid the row in principle and difference of opinion, Governor Matugas maintained that she wants total reconciliation, perfect harmony and pure understanding because “we only have one province.” Early on, Governor Matugas led the opening and blessing of the Alegria Police Station, Alegria Chidren’s Park and Playground on top of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Alegria Traveller’s Lounge with the help of Mayor Dominador Esma.

She also went to Surigao West Central Elem. School in Brgy. San Juan, this city todistribute backpacks to school children. She was happily met by the faculty, parents and children. Governor Matugas also went to Mainit on June 9 where she was cheerfully greeted by local officials headed by MayorRamon Mondano and his wife,the present vice mayor. On June 8, in the municipality of Tagana-an, Mayor Cesar Diaz showed to Governor the site wheretheKatungganRestoParkwill soon rise.

DTI turns over 30 weighing scales to Titay townBy Alma L. Tingcang

TITAY, Zamboanga Sibugay, (PIA) – Thirty (30) new weighing scales were recently turned over by the Department of Trade and Industry to Titay Bagsakan Center, this province under the Shared Service Facility (SSF) program.


Dir. Sitti Amina M. Jain, DTI-9 Regional Director turned over properly calibrated weighing scales to Mayor Maria Esperanza Corazon D. Rillera in a brief ceremony inside the Bagsakan Center. “I am so glad to be turning over 30 units of weighing scales which will address the concerns of rubber traders and producers on the manipulation of weighing scales. We thought that giving you properly calibrated weighing scales would hopefully address the problem between traders and farmers,” the lady chief explained. She said producers accuse traders of manipulation, while farmers, on the other hand, use battery solution as coagulant, worse, put foreign matters to their products to make it heavier. For this project, the local government unit of Titay will

be the cooperator for the thirty (30) weighing scale units amounting to Php 326,640.00. Mayor Rillera expressed her gratefulness to DTI for the weighing scales which will benefit all constituents. The good mayor further stressed their commitment to maintain and secure the units of weighing scales. “In behalf of Titay LGU, we are very thankful to DTI for providing us 30 weighing scales that will benefit everybody in our Bagsakan Center. We are indeed blessed for having this project. We can now be assured of the accuracy of our weighing scales as these are properly calibrated,” the lady chief executive said. “Zamboanga Sibugay is the number one rubber producing province in the country, yet we also produce dirty rubber. I am challenging our farmers to make sure that you produce


good quality rubber. Let us cleanse our industry in the province,” Board Member and Committee on Agriculture chair Joel Ebol said. Meanwhile, Yokohama, the only car tire manufacturer in the country, ironically, only source out about 10%-20% of their natural rubber requirement from the Philippines. Dir. Jain said Yokohama officials personally told DTI officials, including her, that

they will not buy rubber from Zamboanga Sibugay because of its poor quality. “We already talked with Yokohama officials and they told us that they will not buy rubber from Zamboanga Sibugay because it is dirty. It pains me because I’m from Region 9. They don’t have problems with rubber from Basilan, nor from other rubber producers in Mindanao.


It is only Zamboanga Sibugay that is always singled-out,” Jain said. However, all is not lost as Dir. Jain bared that Yokohama will be increasing its local sourcing to 32% next year. “Yokohama Philippines will be the biggest tire manufacturer

in the world by 2017, even bigger than its mother plant based in Yokohama, Japan. They are planning to increase their local sourcing to 32% in 2016 provided that producers improve the quality of their produce,” Jain stressed.

ZSPPO implements PGSBy Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, (PIA) – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) recently adopted the Performance Governance System (PGS) as a strategy to achieve its vision of becoming a highly capable, effective and credible police service by 2030.


In his message during the oath-taking of the officers and members of the ZSPPO Provincial Advisory Council held here recently, Superintendent James Turbela, deputy provincial director for administration said the PGS, otherwise known as the “PNP Transformation Roadmap 2030,” envisions that “the PNP will become a highly capable, effective and credible police service in partnership with a responsive community for the

attainment of a safer place to live, work, and do business.” With the new program, Turbela said, the ZSPPO is mandated to pass the four stages, namely: initiation, compliance, proficiency, and institutionalization stage. “The ZSPPO has passed the first stage—the initiation stage - and is now coping to pass the other three stages,” Turbela announced. The initiation stage is the formation of technical working


group and provincial advisory council, formulation of strategy map and governance scorecards. “The command is now on its second stage, the compliance stage,” Turbela disclosed adding, ”what we are doing now is accomplishing the compliance stage which is the organization and formalization of PAC.” Meanwhile, Inspector Joel Galeriana, chief of Dashboard Management and Alignment Police Commission Office said the PGS is a participatory process wherein every individual or objectives must be accomplished. “It is a program of governance that every member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) must get involved,” he added. Galeriana said the PGS is a new program to them since

they are not used to it. “Before a PNP member used to work for his own benefit but with the PGS, we work as an institution to achieve our goals and objectives,” Galeriana added. Turbela expressed optimism that the command will successfully complete the four stages with the help of PAC members and other stakeholders adding that a validation team from PNP central office is slated to visit the command on July to validate the performance of ZSPPO.

one mindanao - june 17, 2015

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