one mindanao - september 28, 2015

Security at Waterfront Insular Hotel beefed up after Samal kidnapping

24 employers jailed, 7,000 others sued for non-remittance of employees’ SSS contributions

MSMEs fortunate to avail SSF projects, says DTI-9 director

Coast Guard District Northern MindanaoArmy thwarts NPA’s plot to kill Bukidnon village chief

By: Joey Sem Dalumpines

FaMEALy: What it’s all about

Malacañang supports UN’s pledge to end extreme poverty

Pope’s UN call for end to armed conflicts;

echoes message of support for Mindanao peace deal during PH

trip

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Cover Story

National

Northern

Western

InFocus

Southern

By: Cpt Norman M Tagros

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Agriculture course, DOST top scholarship priority

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Volume 5 * Issue No. 26

By: Dominic I. Sanchez

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By: Gideon C. Corgue

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25SurSur tribal leaders hold meeting; come out with joint declaration 28

CaragaBy: Greg Tataro Jr.

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By: Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

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 Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ 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

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]

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]

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

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA 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 EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTSDOMINIC SANCHEZ, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EDITORIAL BOARD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

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

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

4 September 28, 2015ONE MINDANAO

FaMEALy: What it’s all about By: Dominic I. Sanchez

Cover Story

5September 28, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

September 21 to 28 is celebrated as Family Week. Part of the advocacy of government and non-government organizations is the “FaMealy,” which, in essence,

underscores the importance of every member of a family to partake meals together, as often as possible.

True enough, many families these days tend to overlook the importance of a meaningful family mealtime, particularly due to the hectic schedules that each member is constrained in. Fathers and mothers tend to come home late because of the taxing work; others would have to remain abroad and away from their children leaving other people to tend to the children. On the other hand, children in school would have extracurricular activities – engaging in sports, debate contests, theatre and others – that would have to eventually sacrifice a family dinner.Realities in families

Aileen Espiritusanto of San Jose Gusu is a nurse and a mother of two children. She shared that her current graveyard shift would make it impossible to have dinner with her family. Her husband works in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as an engineer. “It is

a good thing that my mother, their Lola is around. But on my days off, ta pikura gad yo man bonding kame kay teenager ya el uno (I make it a point to bond with my children on my days off, they are now teenagers),” shares Aileen.

Like many other families, Aileen’s situation is not unique to hers. Irene, a social worker from barangay Sta. Maria and a solo parent says she barely recognizes her 16-year-old son now. “The yaya says he goes home at 10 or 11 every night, and he says that there is always basketball practice, but his attitude has really changed,” shares Irene. She adds that the boy rarely speaks to her anymore, and locks himself up in his room whenever he is home. Irene is assigned in one of the municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay province and only gets to come home every weekend – sometimes not at all.


“Wala akong choice, kailangang maghanap-buhay (I don’t have a choice, I have to work),” she said. Irene makes it a point to have a family bonding with her boy whenever she’s around. “I make up for it by taking him to the movies, going to dinner, inviting his friends over our home and I would prepare snacks for them. I just feel that I need to make double my efforts, I want to be part of my child’s growing up.”

Consequences of no “faMEALy” time Parents need to be part of

the growing up process of their children, especially when they reach adolescence, when the kids may join peer groups that have a negative influence on them. Studies have shown that there is really no substitute to a meaningful family mealtime. Having less and less of it can lead to unwanted consequences.

One such study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University revealed that teenagers who rarely eat together with their families particularly in dinner are more prone to use illegal drugs, and pick up vices such as smoking


and drinking.

Cases of drug abuse among teens are common in Zamboanga City. According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional operations chief Marvin Santos, teenage drug users are not uncommon. “There are many times, during our operations that we apprehend teenagers for drugs.” City Police Director Sr. Supt. Angelito Casimiro had earlier related a case where the parents of a teenager were in fear of their lives because of their child’s erratic behavior due to drugs.

Drug abuse is only one of the problems that can arise due to less or no family interaction, especially among teenagers, the Columbia study emphasized.

Benefits of the ‘faMEALy’

Another study by the University of Michigan showed that children’s characters build up more through family interaction and consistent family mealtime, than in time the kids spend studying, or even in Church.

Aside from social and emotional benefits, eating together brings about good health habits. Said a study by the University of Minnesota, published in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in August 2004, “frequent family meals are related to better nutritional intake, and a decreased risk for unhealthy weight control practices and substance abuse”. These studies together emphasize one thing, summed up by the words of Ron Afable in theasianparent.com: “Eating together brings back everyone to the true essence of what a family is: sharing, communicating, fun and belonging – on a daily basis”.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Zamboanga City is joining other government agencies, civil society groups and non-government organizations in advocating for more family

9 September 28, 2015ONE MINDANAO 9September 28, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

APEC MSMEs marketplace a tool to promote cooperation, linkages

ILOILO CITY, Sep. 28—A rich source of knowledge and information. This is how Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya described the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Marketplace,

a component of the Iloilo Action Initiative.

“So that we do not have to wait for meetings to happen,” said Maglaya in a media briefing at the sidelines of the APEC SME


Ministerial Meeting held here this week.

In a statement issued Friday night, APEC Ministers expressed support for the Philippine initiative to create this virtual marketplace of MSMEs which will facilitate business matching, and provide information about international trade standards and regulations, as well as on trade promotion assistance packages provided by APEC.

The APEC ministers already agreed to launch the “APEC MSME Marketplace” as a one-stop portal to facilitate access to information related to doing business in the region and to inform on projects and activities that promote MSMEs’ integration to international trade.

“The APEC MSME Marketplace is actually a program, a project, that will bring together a lot of information and allow information exchange between

and among the APEC member economies,” Maglaya said.

She said there will be information as to regulations in terms of how APEC can be able to implement the Boracay Action Agenda, and move it forward.

“So it’s really like a platform where we can have information as well as existing initiatives or innovations of programs and projects among the APEC member economies,” Maglaya told reporters covering the APEC meetings here.

The APEC MSME Marketplace has three pillars.

The first pillar is to facilitate business networking and matching involving MSMEs.

This pillar will allow MSMEs to leverage on the vast opportunities offered by international markets, including new niche markets; possibilities


to exploit economies of scale, scope, volume and technological advantages; ways of spreading risks; lowering and sharing costs, and even affording improved access to finance.

This pillar will seek to strengthen MSME participation,

not only in local supply chains, but also in global value chains (GVCs) through long-term, value-driven partnerships with large enterprises (LEs) and small businesses. Through matching opportunities that will be made available by the MSME Marketplace, MSME participation


in cross-border e-Commerce will also be promoted.

To support this activity, APEC economies shall contribute by providing relevant information on MSMEs and LEs which include listings and websites, whichever is practical, to encourage business networking and matching among these enterprises. Economies are also enjoined to identify and or accredit online marketplaces, innovation centers, incubators and accelerators, among others, that support MSMEs. While contribution to the portal is voluntary, its development will be progressive and will tap on the contributions of ABAC, harnessing the outcomes of its various initiatives and research works

The second pillar is to enhance MSME awareness and feedback on trade regulations in order for MSMEs to access information on new non-tariff measures.

The third pillar is to improve mechanisms for knowledge sharing on trade facilitation, business support, partnerships, and capacity building activities for MSMEs. This pillar will provide a platform for information sharing on key development and experiences of MSMEs in the context of global value chains, production and cross-border supply chains.

“It is where everybody is allowed to put in all this information that can be made available to all APEC member economies,” explained Maglaya who said they have invited the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to be a contributor of information on this market place.

The APEC SME Working Group will start the establishment of the APEC MSME Marketplace next year while implementation is eyed by 2017. (PCOO/APEC Communications Group


Malacañang supports UN’s pledge to end extreme poverty

MANILA —Malacañang supports United Nations’ (UN) pledge to end extreme poverty in 15 years, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday. “Nakikiisa ang ating pamahalaan sa United Nations sa hangaring matugunan ang

suliranin sa kahirapan. Sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ng Pangulong Aquino, pinalakas at higit pang

14 September 28, 2015ONE MINDANAO14 September 28, 2015ONE MINDANAO

pinaghusay ang mga programang panlipunan partikular na rito ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4-Ps),” said Coloma over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The Communications Secretary noted that the World Bank recently named 4-Ps as the largest and best targeted social safety net program in the world.

Coloma added that the Aquino administration had even expanded its anti-poverty program since it began last 2008, where it formerly had 360,000 family beneficiaries to 4.5 million families.

“Ipagpapatuloy at lalo

pang pag-iibayuhin ng Aquino administration ang paglaban sa kahirapan upang ganap na matamo ang layuning walang maiiwanan sa pag-unlad ng bansa,” Coloma added.

World leaders on Friday pledged to end extreme poverty by 2030, coinciding with the speech of Pope Francis before the UN General Assembly.

The UN agenda aims to end poverty by ensuring healthy lives, promote education and combat climate change, at a cost of between $3.5 and $5 trillion per year in 15 years. (PCOO/PND (ag)


Pope’s UN call for end to armed conflicts; echoes message of support for Mindanao peace deal during PH trip

UNITED NATIONS —Echoing a message of peace when he visited the Philippines early this year, Pope Francis I has called on the United Nations (UN) to take concrete actions toward instituting and nurturing social justice, and to end all armed conflicts through prevention and mediation. “Real human beings take precedence over partisan

interests, however legitimate the latter may be. In wars and


conflicts there are individual persons, our brothers and sisters, men and women, young and old, boys and girls who weep, suffer and die. Human beings who are easily discarded when our only response is to draw up lists of problems, strategies and disagreements,” said the Pope, who is leader of the Catholic Church and incumbent sovereign of the Vatican City. “War is the negation of all rights and a dramatic assault on the environment. If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and between peoples,” the Pope said.

His words before the UN General Assembly, which is marking its 70th year, reflected his message of hope that lasting peace could finally be realized in the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao due to the signing of a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). During a five-day state and pastoral visit in January 2015, Pope Francis expressed strong support for the Bangsamoro peace process and commended the Aquino administration’s efforts in peace-

building across the country.

While in Malacanang during his Philippine trip, Pope Francis declared that “in a particular way, I express my trust that the progress made in bringing peace to the south of the country will result in just solutions in accord with the nation’s founding principles and respectful of the inalienable rights of all, including the indigenous peoples and religious minorities.”

“I note with pleasure that last March (27, 2014) an agreement was signed to end long years of tension in the Philippines,” the Pope enthused in his statement in Malacanang Palace during his visit to the Philippines.

The Holy Pontiff was referring to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), a landmark peace settlement between the Philippine government and the MILF that seeks an end to the three decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao through socio-economic and political settlement.

The Philippine government is pushing the peace agreement as a response to the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for


genuine autonomy and self-determination as guided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The agreement has served as the basis for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that seeks to establish a new parliamentary political entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In his landmark address before the UN General Assembly, Pope Francis stressed that that “political and economic activity is only effective when it is understood as a prudential activity, guided by a perennial concept of justice.” He added

that government leaders should never forget that “above and beyond our plans and programs, we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights.”

“To enable these real men and women to escape from extreme poverty, we must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny. Integral human development and the full exercise of human dignity cannot be imposed.”

“[Human dignity] must be


built up and allowed to unfold for each individual, for every family, in communion with others, and in a right relationship with all those areas in which human social life develops – friends, communities, towns and cities, schools, businesses and unions, provinces, nations,” Pope Francis emphasized.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Argentinian Pope is the fifth leader of the Catholic Church to visit the United Nations, and the fourth to address the international body’s general assembly.

The Philippine government insists that the proposed Bangsamoro government provides the proposed

autonomous region with more space to exercise socio-economic freedom compared to the current ARMM. It also aims for better political participation regardless of gender, culture, and religion through the provision of sectoral seats and reserved seats for certain groupings such as the indigenous peoples, the minority Christian communities in the region, as well as the youth.

The proposed Bangsamoro law is currently pending before the respective plenary of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Leadership of both Houses are targeting 16 December as the new deadline for the bill’s passage. (OPAPP)


NorMin maritime stakeholders pushes for safe, secure shipping industry

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Port and maritime agencies in Northern Mindanao participate in the National Maritime Week Celebration (NMWC) 2015.

By: Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao

NMWC, an annual festivity in the maritime sector globally, aims to support the government

and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as it continuously quest for a safe and


secure shipping industry. This year’s theme, “Edukasyon at Pagsasanay sa Maritima: Kabalikat sa Patuloy na Kaunlaran,” focuses on the wider spectrum of Maritime Education and Training particularly its adequacy and quality, as the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry, which needs to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources, in order to ensure its sustainability. Lined up activities for the celebration, spearheaded, this year, by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in partnership with allied maritime stakeholders in the country, include: simultaneous blowing of ship’s horn and dressing of ships, floral offering, Holy Mass, opening program and onboard vessels Mass set on September 21. For September 22 will be a lecture/forum/symposium on the proper disposal of garbage with feeding program, updates on maritime education and training, values formation and paralegal lecture. Seajacking scenario, media forum and bloodletting are highlights for September 23. The scenario will be simulated with eight evolutions

at Macabalan, and will be composed of different teams from the different port and maritime agencies, shipping companies and private entities. This activity has been initiated by Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao to raise the public’s awareness and vigilance on seajacking which has become a serious problem of seafarers especially those who has been assigned aboardship both domestic and international vessels plying the seas. Fun golf tournament, coastal cleanup and mangrove planting, bloodletting, awarding and closing ceremony are set on September 24. Underwater cleanup “SCUBAsurero” at Opol Sanctuary and Basic Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) in barangay Kimaya, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental will cap the celebration on the 25th. National Maritime Sunday is set on the 27th, where a Holy Mass will be offered for the observance at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro.


Army thwarts NPA’s plot to kill Bukidnon village chiefKITAOTAO, Bukidnon – The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8thIB) on Saturday thwarted the New Peoples Army’s murder attempt of White Kulaman Barangay Captain in Kitaotao, Bukidnon. In a spot report, the government troops encountered 15 heavily armed NPA rebels while Barangay Captain Felipe S. Cabugnason and his Council members were on a community dialogue in the outskirts of Barangay White Kulaman at around 10:00 a.m, September 19. The fire fight lasted for 15 minutes until the communist rebels fled towards different directions. Army reports said there were casualties in NPA’s group during the gun battle as globs of blood splotched along their escape routes. No casualty reported on the government’s side. Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia, 8thIB Commanding Officer, said the government troops were on security patrol when some residents reported that a group of NPA is lurking in the outskirts where their village chief and the council members are having their

community dialogue. Meanwhile, Barangay Captain Felipe Cabugnason said they are very thankful of the soldiers’ presence in Barangay White Kulaman. “Kung wala nagbantay kanamo ang kasundaluhan. gipangpatay na unta kami sa mga NPA karon. Sa pagkakaron wala na kami laing masaligan gawas sa atong kasundaluhan, kapulisan ug sa atong gobyerno ilabi na ang lokal nga kagamhanan sa Kitaotao. (We would have been killed by NPA’s now without our soldiers. We could not trust anybody except our soldiers, policemen, and our government especially the local government of Kitaotao),” he said. It can be recalled that on 26 August 2015, PNP Bukidnon’s Public Safety Company and the Army’s 8thIB conducted law enforcement operation, which led to the arrest of some personalities due to violation of Republic Act

By: Cpt Norman M Tagros


10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, where, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), blasting caps, IED paraphernalia and subversive documents were recovered from these individuals during operations. Restless local residents filed complaints against the offenders, blaming them responsible in establishing a “shadow government” in their barangay. Barangay folks also claimed that the rebels are out to kill their community leaders due to their defiance in the rebels’ mission. Three days earlier, Cabugnason said, White Kulaman villagers prevented the entry of groups who claimed to be members of Mindanao Interfaith Foundation, Inc.

(MISFI), KARAPATAN, and League of Filipino Students (LFS). “We cannot let anyone fool us again. This is the reason why we prevent unknown groups’ entry to the village. We can’t be blamed on this because for such a long time, we were deceived and threatened by communists. This is our right because this is our barangay and

this is our community,” he said. Meantime, Kitaotao LGU is implementing its “Basic Services Delivery” project in Barangay White Kulaman with the government troops. So, for the first time in many years, the census of population— that was difficult before due to NPA harassments—is going on. “Obviously, the NPA will continually hinder development in the barangays such as construction of school and health facilities, distribution of farm inputs, and other services, because once a government project fails, they (NPAs) will use this as a local issue to blame the government and exploit the “Lumads,” Cabugnason said.


Teresita Superioridad Baluyos, DOST regional scholarship coordinator said during the 3rd Northern Mindanao Career Advocacy Congress on 18 September 2015 in Cagayan de Oro City that DOST is making agriculture courses top priority in their scholarship in response to the demand of the employment sector. During the congress, it was shared by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bureau of Local Employment that Agribusiness is one of the key employment generators in the next 20 years in the country. Baluyos said that there are many privileges of a DOST scholar namely school fees, book allowance, transportation allowance, clothing allowance, monthly living allowance, graduation allowance and health and accident insurance. She said that the Department

has increased the monthly stipend for the scholars in the priority courses from the usual P5,000 to P6,000. This is one way of encouraging students to enroll in Agriculture and its other priority courses. Meanwhile, their obligation to the country includes Grade Requirements, Reports and Service (in the country). Baluyos said that they must maintain a grade not lower than 85 for the first two years; while third year to fourth year students must only maintain a passing grade. However, most DOST scholars really achieve good academic grades. Some graduate as magna cum laude in Math and Physics and cum laude in Engineering, among others, she said. Same is true with those professionals who want to take up

Agriculture course, DOST top scholarship priorityBy: Jasper Marie Oblina-RucatCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) region 10 announces that courses in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, geology, mining engineering, physics and physics teaching are top priority for scholarships that students can take up in their Bachelor’s degree.


scholarship in master’s degree in the science field. They also have privileges and have an obligation for a return service depending on the number of years they have been scholar in the country. Republic Act (RA) 7687 is a law for scholarship in Bachelor of Science degree for qualified students. This Science and Technology (S&T) scholarship award is for the pursuance of a course in a DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) priority

field of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Placement of study for RA 7687 Scholarship include University of the Philippines or any state college/university or other tertiary institutions identified by CHED as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development (COE/COD) for the DOST-SEI priority courses. There are almost 900 scholars in DOST today.


AFP-PNP Press corps wins Bowling for PeaceDAVAO CITY- A team made up of news reporters from the military and police beat, won the Bowl-ing for Peace tournament last Saturday (Sept. 26) at B3 Bowl-ing and Billiards Bar NCCC Mall in Davao City.

By: RG Alama

The AFP-PNP press corps team had to withstand a furious rally made by the Philippine Information Agency XI team in the third game. The cham-pion team scored a total of 1926 pins leading just three pins over the even-tual second-placer PIA-XI team who scored 1,923 pins. The PIA-XI team came out blaz-ing in the third and final game of the tournament as they overtook the PNP team and nearly toppling the AFP/PNP press corps team who came out strong in the first and second game. The Philippine National Police

team grabbed third place with 1,854 pins while All-Out Peace, a selection made up of peace advocates had 1,678 pins good for fourth place they were followed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines team who had 1,584 pins. Television reporter and anchor Paul Palacio had the highest single score for men with 178 pins while Ayan Mellijor of the Philippine Infor-mation Agency team had a highest single games record for women with 132 pins. The Bowling for Peace is a multi-


Brian Lasala, general manager of the Waterfront Insular Hotel said they have been closely coordinating with Task Force Davao, and the Davao City Police Office to ensure that tour-ists staying at the hotel will be as-sured of full security. He said that canine units and armed guards are deployed within the periphery and hotel premises to watch the security of the people round-the-clock. Lasala confirmed that there were clients who backed out patron-age of the hotel following the inci-dent but a large number of patrons

opted to stay when they were as-sured of their security. “At daytime, there are 35 armed guards and canine units de-ployed during the day to look after the security of all people in the hotel and we continue to monitor the situ-ation especially at night,” he said. Lasala believes the abduction in Samal will surely affect the influx of tourists in the region, especially that the incident will be highlighted from time to time in the media. He assured that clients are provided with the right information with re-

DAVAO CITY, Sept 29 (PIA) Security within the premises of the Water-front Insular Hotel has been beefed up following the abduction in the resort at the Island Garden City of Samal.

By: Joey Sem Dalumpines

Security at Waterfront Insular Hotel beefed up after Samal kidnapping

stakeholders sports festival and one of the activities of the 12th National Peace Consciousness Month held on September. It is organized by the Of-fice of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) together with the AFP-PNP Press Corps Southern Mindanao and supported by Maguin-danao Governor Toto Mangudadatu, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, San Miguel Beer and White House Fu-sion Cuisine. According to OPAPP Mindanao

Media Bureau Director Marlon Peter Dedumo the one-day sports festival aims to rally different peace partners from sectors such as the media, the military, police, civil society organi-zations, the MILF (Moro Islamic Lib-eration Front) and the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and other sectoral partners to show unity among the partners and to express commit-ment and support in the ongoing ef-forts of the national government in achieving peace. (PIA/RG Alama)


gards to their security particularly the location of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and the local police which can immediately re-spond in times of contingency. The Waterfront Insular Hotel is one of the favorite tourist destina-tions in the city since 1961. Authorities continue to look for victims Kjartan Sekkinstad a Nor-

wegian, Canadians John Risdel and Robert Hall and a Filipina named Tess following their abduction at a resort in the IGACOS City, Monday night.


SurSur tribal leaders hold meeting; come out with joint declaration By: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 24 (PIA) – The Surigao del Sur Tribal Leaders Confederation, through the initiative of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples’ (NCIP) headed by Engr. Charlyn Binghoy, held a two-day conference/dialogue here on September 21-22, 2015, then came out with a Joint Declaration regarding the five “challenges” being faced and the four “actions that must be undertaken.”

file photo credit to: tonyocruz.com


Signed by 28 tribal leaders, the five challenges identified were the following: Forced evacuation caused by hostilities between government forces and NPA which has caused the proliferation of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) who are mostly IP members; Extra-judicial killing (salvaging) of IP members caught in the cross fires of the hostile forces; Existence of parallel IPs (left-leaning groups that necessarily polarize the once united ICCs (Indigenous Cultural Communities), and this situation resulted to trading of accusations between camps, such as calling the IP leaders as fake; Exploitation of IPs by left-leaning groups, and government forces which resulted into a situation where IPs are pitted against IPs; and Government programs fail to trickle down to the poorest of the poor among the various ICCs. In like manner, four “actions” needed to be undertaken were pointed out, to wit: Institutionalization of the bagani system into the IPS (Indigenous Political Structure), and elimination of the use of bagani not within the IPS; Strengthening of the IPs self-governance or self-determination; Inclusive peace and development among IPs/

ICCs; and Conduct of series of dialogues, thru the creation of a Peace Committee, with Calpito P. Egua, et al. to thresh out certain misunderstanding with concerned ICCs of Surigao del Sur, with the involvement of various sectors: LGU, church, NGOs, GOs. As part of the introduction, the joint declaration presented a “BACKGROUND/PRESSING ISSUES,” citing therein that “The various IP groups of Surigao del Sur composed of Manobo, Mandaya and Mamanwa are historically bonded by blood, customs, traditions and common aspirations,” ending with “what affects one individual must be everyone’s concern.” Cesar Bat-ao, Sr., who was among the signatories to the joint declaration, is the provincial chieftain among IPs of Surigao del Sur.


NGCP holds POWER 103 in DipologBy Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY – HTo maximize the participation of media in its information and dissemination campaign, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) recently conducted a Seminar on System Operation and Project Presentation dubbed as “Power 103” with the local media at the Hotel and Suites here.


NGCP Regional Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Officer Elizabeth Ladaga said Power 103 aims to raise public awareness and appreciation of issues and concerns surrounding the company’s operation and to showcase its projects in Mindanao through media’s active participation.

She reiterated that the role of NGCP in the power industry is to facilitate the distribution of power generated by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) to the distribution utilities or electric cooperatives.

Mr. Jay Martinez, on the other hand updated the local media of the on-going projects of NGCP in Mindanao, citing among others the sub-station and transmission lines in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte which experienced delay due to some legal problems, like the refusal of the landowners to sell the area that will be affected by the implementation of the said project.

However, Martinez is optimistic that it will be implemented the soonest possible as the re-bidding was already held last August 8, and is undergoing evaluation and will hopefully be awarded to the lucky bidder next month for commissioning by early 2016.

Once realized, the new Polanco sub-station and transmission line would ease up the low-voltage problem and would help in addressing the increasing power demand in the province. Aurora-Polanco sub-station and transmission line is one of the 13 projects of NGCP in Mindanao. To avoid the re-occurrence of the power interruption incident caused by the intrusion of a snake into the transmission lines last September 11, Regional Communications Division Head Nelson Bautista said NGCP has already addressed this by putting a plain sheet around the structure to prevent the snakes from going up.On the issue of vegetation under


transmission lines, he urged the concerned local government units to enact ordinances to regulate the planting of trees in areas where the steel structures will be erected and transmission lines to traverse. Power 103, the 3rd of the seminars conducted by NGCP

to promote public awareness on the company’s operation was participated by the officers and members of the Zamboanga del Norte Media Group (formerly Zamboanga del Norte Press Club), Zamboanga del Norte United Correspondents (ZNUC), I-TV and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

In her message during the launching and turnover ceremony at Bogo Calapan Elementary School, Jain said the Molave Abaca Strippers Association (MASA) and Josefina Abaca Strippers Association (JASA) are so lucky to have availed of the project, the last under the DTI’s SSF fund for this year.

Jain said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had allocated P46 million for the SSF for 2014 but it was only implemented in 2015. “The DBM did not give us a single cent for the SSF program for 2016 that is why the SSF projects for MASA and JASA would be our ‘last hurrah’

MSMEs fortunate to avail SSF projects, says DTI-9 directorBy Gideon C. CorgueMOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain recently commended the Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the municipalities of Molave and Josefina for availing themselves of the Shared Service Facility (SSF) project of the agency.


for the MSMEs,” Jain announced.

“Unlike the projects of other national government agencies where the cooperators and or associations will pay the cost of the project that they acquired from the agencies, these SSFs are given by the DTI to MSMEs for free,” Jain said.

Jain appealed to MASA and JASA to use the machines productively and profitably adding that if the associations will fail to use it after

six months, the SSF machines will be pulled out and it will be given to other associations.

“Since the SSF were given to you free, the government is very strict in monitoring the utilization of the projects,” Jain explained.

Jain also disclosed that the department had hired two personnel to monitor the SSF project. “From time to time, these people together with the staff of provincial office will monitor the


utilization of the equipment.” Jain hopes that the facilities will not become a white elephant saying that the money spent for the projects are the taxpayers’ money.

Provincial Director Ma. Socorro M. Atay of DTI-Zamboanga del Sur sought the sincere commitment from the associations to take care

of the equipment so as to improve abaca farmers’ productivity to uplift their living condition.

MASA president Camilo Villarta in his acceptance speech said he vowed to take care of the machines saying that it is a great help for them to increase their income.

“Among atimanon pag-ayo kini


mga makina tungod kay dako ni nga tabang sa imong panginabuhi. Dili na kami mohimo sa kinaraan nga pamaagi paglanot sa abaca ginamit ang among mga kamot (We will take care of these machines. These are a great help to our livelihood. We will no longer use the traditional method of stripping the abaca with our bare hands),” Villarta stressed.

Meanwhile, JASA president Joel Palomares thanked the DTI for its utmost concern to abaca

farmers.

“Malipayon kaayo kami nga makapahimulos ning maong proyekto sa gobyerno tungod kay nagtuo kami nga pinaagi niini molambo na gayud ang among ekonomikanhong kahimtang (We are very happy to avail of this project from the government because we believe that through this, we will be able to improve our economic condition),” Palomares concluded.

PES Mechanisms with Riiver Basin Organization (RBOs) in Min-danao” which highlighted the result of a pilot study on PES for the Libungan Watershed commissioned by MinDA.

The forum was co-organized by MinDA and the Philippine Insti-tute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Dr. Martinez said “the pilot study revealed that 92 percent of respondents are willing to pay for the protection of Libungan Wa-tershed,” while adding “those who cannot pay have expressed will-ingness to volunteer their time in any protection and conservation project.”

In the implementation of PES, the farmers or landowners who have agreed to manage natural resources such as forests, water-sheds, rivers, and streams are given incentive payments for ren-dering ecological services such as replanting of trees and ensuring the survival of the trees planted. Payments are made by the benefi-ciaries of the environmental services such water users, companies that benefit irrigation systems and industry stakeholders.

The PES mechanism is also seen to enhance the protection of biodiversity that provide environmental goods such as food, fresh-water, fuel, fiber and other natural resources that are used as inputs to the production process that help move the economy.

“PES is a market-based mechanism that will employ practical ap-proaches and is not a program designed to reduce poverty,” said Martinez while explaining “that PES is an economic incentive to fos-ter more efficient and sustainable use of ecosystem services pro-vided by the natural environment.”

She added that well-functioning ecosystems provide services that are crucial to human survival such as clean air, pest and disease control, carbon sequestration and storage, controlled greenhouse gases, productive soil, and power sources.

The need to implement PES is bolstered by the findings of the study which revealed watershed degradation in various parts of Mindanao, Libungan included, caused by unregulated agricultural development and eco-tourism, illegal logging, population encroach-ment, and poverty of communities within the watershed area.

The Libungan Watershed is at risk for water pollution, land use change, soil erosion, silt

one mindanao - september 28, 2015

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