one mindanao – september 9, 2015

By: Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos

SurSur PNP files raps vs. 3 suspects on slay of IP school director, 2 lumads

TB DOTS clinic for Davao Oriental

Education tops 2016 budget

Palace activates task force to disband private armies in

Bangsamoro, adjacent regions

Kalahi-CIDSS gab held for CSOs

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Cover Story

National

Caraga

Northern

SOCCSKSARGEN

InFocus

Southern

By: Greg Tataro Jr.

By: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

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PNP chief visits NorMin, turns over troop carrier

Maguindanao OFWs benefit from OWWA services caravan

DTI releases September SRPs of basic goods

Govt troops locate NPA training facility in Bukidnon

contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No. 14

By: Norman M. Tagros

23 Japan turns over training center to Bangsamoro AgencyBy: Perlita B. Changco

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 ARTISTS EMMANUEL D. TAGHOY, 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. OQUIENA 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 9, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story


5September 9, 2015 ONE MINDANAO


Intensifying the fight against tuberculosis disease, a newly completed clinic for TB DOTS (Tuberculosis Directly-Observed Treatment Shortcourse) was recently launched at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC) compound, bringing accessible treatment to tuberculosis patients here in the province.


Funded by the Department of Health (DOH) XI in joint partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the facility hopes to make a significant dent in the cases of tuberculosis here in the province and ultimately materialize the Provincial Governments vision of bringing free TB DOTS Program

closer to the people of Davao Oriental. With this facility we can cater many TB patients to avail free TB DOTS services, said DOPMC Chief of Hospital Dr. Ariel dela Cruz.

DOH Region XI Coordinator


for the National TB Program (NTP), Evelyn Gelito said, based on the latest TB prevalence survey, that more than 30% of the presumptive tuberculosis patients opts a hospital consultation rather than going to health centers and most of these cases not being reported to the program. Making matters worse

is that other patients do not seek proper treatment, thus, giving them no chance for a cure. Gelito said that building this TB DOTS Clinic is a right move for the Provincial Government in its bid to win its long-running combat against TB. We are very optimistic that more TB patients will be given more attention with


this new clinic, she said.

She further lauded the Provincial Governments commitment to help the people of Davao Oriental in fighting TB as well as the eagerness of the staff who will operate the facility. Dr. Joy Sanico of the Provincial Public Health Technical Division emphasized that building this facility is indeed very significant in treating this infectious disease, especially that multi-drug resistant cases of tuberculosis can occur if the patient neglects to seek proper medical care. MDR cases do not respond to conventional treatment and are very hard to treat, she said. Sanico said that the Public Health Office is incorporating sputum collection in their regular medical consultation and outreach programs as part of the efforts

in accounting and treating TB patients in the communities. She said they have already started in Barangay Malibago in Cateel, as well as in the Provincial Jail, as mandated by Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, in an effort to detect and reach all TB patients and treat them. Sanico laid emphasis that treating this communicable disease requires concerted efforts of all health care providers, both in the hospital as curative and public health as preventive. The work here will always be integration. We will work hand in hand. With this new facility we will be able to realize our goal of seeing more healthy people and put an end to the stigma of TB. (Text and Photos PIO Davao Oriental)


APEC economies form worlds largest coalition to push reforms in services

CEBU CITY -- The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have launched the worlds largest coalition, aiming to further liberalize the services sectors in Asia-Pacific markets.

The Asia-Pacific Services Coalition, formed by all services coalitions in APEC economies, is meant to promote an effective platform for the different

sectors to increase dialogue and cooperation, and share experiences and best practices to boost growth, both in the domestic and regional levels.

photocredit: Rappler.com


Cebu has to be proud because many years from now, when the services agenda, when trade in services across the APEC region would be reaping all the benefits, like creating inclusive growth, people will remember Cebu 2015...where the Asia-Pacific Services Coalition was born, said Peter Perfecto, director of the Philippine Services Coalition.

Anthony Nightingale, a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Hong Kong, said services account for 70 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and contribute to 50 percent of world trade exports.

These figures underscore the need for APEC to have a consistent, higher priority and attention, with the view to getting our regulatory houses in order,

photocredit to: Sunstar.com


he said. Nightingale added that APEC economies should thus make the development of efficient services sectors imperative to achieve inclusive growth in the region.

The services sector is the largest sector of economic activity in most economies and is a major employer.

If you have inefficient, uncompetitive (and) overprotective services industries, that leads to higher costs. That means your manufacturing products will be more expensive, your mining products, your agriculture products so uncompetitive, he explained during a press briefing here.

The ABAC strongly supports the Philippine-led APEC Services Cooperation Framework with a view to make the services sector centrally relevant in the APEC

agenda.

What we are looking for are basic principles (in the framework). We are looking for transparency in government regulations, simplicity, consistency and predictability, (particularly) consistency at the application of regulations (and) a level playing field, said Nightingale, who is also head of the ABAC for the two-day 2nd APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) that ended here yesterday. We are looking for speed because at the end of the day, time is money particularly for SMEs (small and medium enterprises). When they get faced with difficult, unreasonable regulations or long delays, it is very tough for them to deal with bureaucracy, he added.

For her part, Jane Drake-Brockman, senior services advisor at the Geneva-based

photocredit to: Sunstar.com


International Trade Centre (ITC), believes that the services sector holds huge prospects for growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The big objective here is to really boost development in the APEC region. The services sector offers tremendous opportunities for poverty alleviation and inclusive growth in local communities and across all sectors of the economy. We are supportive of this thrust, she said.

The services sector is closely linked to efficiency in all other sectors, Brockman said, noting

that if you want to be competitive in agriculture, fishery, forestry, mining and manufacturing, you want to make sure services inputs are efficient.

The Asia-Pacific Services Coalition will be convened initially by the Australian Services Roundtable and the United States Coalition of Services Industries, with the support of the Philippine Services Coalition and the Lima Chamber of Commerce. The coalition is very large, probably now the worlds largest coalition, Brockman noted. (PCOO/PNA)

photocredit: Rappler.com


Education tops 2016 budget

MANILA -- With the Aquino administration intensifying its support of social services, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is proposing P435.9 billion for the countrys public education sector under the proposed P3.002-trillion National Budget.

photocredit: PhilStar.com


The proposed budget for this sector will help widen access to, and improve public education in the country.

The previous years budgets successfully addressed our classroom and teacher shortages,

and this year, were strengthening the implementation of the K-12 program. With the proposed 2016 budget, we can broaden the reach of our public education reform efforts. Ultimately, what we want is to give more Filipinos, especially our poorest, better


access to quality education, Budget Secretary Florencio Butch Abad said.

Of the P1.11-trillion allocation to Social Services in the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P435.9-billion will be given to the Department of Education (DepEd). This increase of 15.4 percent or P58.2 billion, as compared with their 2015 budget of P377.7 billion, makes DepEds proposed budget the highest among all departments and agencies.

Aside from supporting the DepEds K-12 Basic Education Reform Program including the implementation of the first year of senior high school in 2016, the DepEd budget also includes allocations for their Basic Education Facilities program amounting to P82.3 billion for the construction of 47,553 classrooms and technical-vocational laboratories.

Meanwhile, P16.9 billion of the education agencys budget is set for the hiring of 79,691 teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The DepEd will likewise have a P4.2-billion budget for the provision of 103.2 million new textbooks and instructional materials, and a P21.2-billion allocation to provide Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) to 1.81 million grantees of tuition subsidy.

As the number of students increase every year, its also become more crucial for us to strengthen the capacity of our public schools. By investing on programs and projects that have a real and measurable impact on the lives of our people, we can ensure that the countrys economic growth will be wholly inclusive, Abad added. (DBM)


Palace activates task force to disband private armies in Bangsamoro, adjacent regions

MANILA -- The Office of the President (OP), through Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., released yesterday Memorandum Circular No. 83 entitled Creating the National Task Force for the Disbandment of the Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGs) in the Areas of the Proposed Bangsamoro and the Adjacent Regions IX to XII.


There is a need for the creation of the National Task Force that would focus on disbanding the PAGs in the proposed Bangsamoro core territory and adjacent regions in order to stabilize the security situation, said the memo.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace accord signed by the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014, provides for a comprehensive approach toward achieving security and peace in the proposed autonomous region. The disbandment of the PAGs, together with the gradual and phased decommissioning of MILF weapons and combatants, are part of the bigger normalization process under the accord.

The normalization process has not been included in the original draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the legal iteration of the said agreement, due to it being part of the mandate of the executive branch, meaning the normalization process does not require additional legislation.

Moreover, Section 24, Article

XVIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution already mandates the dismantling of private armies and other armed groups not recognized by duly constituted authorities of the country.

The memo also touched on the urgency to disband PAGs in the Bangsamoro as the major causes which primarily contribute to its proliferation such as very low level of human security, gun culture, rido or clan war, political dynasties and the use of military and police auxiliaries still exist in some affected communities.

The NTF-DPAGs shall be in charge of policy, planning and implementation of the program for the disbandment of the PAGs including coordination with the relevant bodies pursuant to the CAB and other entities as may be necessary in accordance with the schedule provided in the Annex on Normalization, as indicated in the memo.

The NTF-DPAGs will be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with representatives from other government agencies such as the


Department of National Defense (DND); the Department of Justice (DOJ); the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA); the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are heavily represented in the task force with the following also sitting as members: PNP Director for Intelligence; PNP Director

for Operations; PNP regional directors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and from Region IX to XII; PNP Focal Team Head for the Peace Process; AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence; AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; AFP Peace Process Office Chief and the Commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM).

The chair of the Government of the Philippines Negotiating Panel for Talks with the MILF,


currently held by Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, will also sit as member while the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will help develop a monitoring and reporting system to determine the development and level of achievements of the activities designed for the dismantling of the PAGs. The memo also stipulated that the task force would begin immediately and that it would only cease to operate until it had

determined that the PAGs had already been dismantled or the GPH and the MILF had signed an Exit Agreement, whichever comes earlier. The CAB stipulates that the signing of an exit agreement by the GPH and the MILF will signal the termination of the peace process and that it will only be signed if and only when all agreements have been implemented. (OPAPP)


Sugbahan sa Dalan debuts at Tuna Festival

GENERAL SANTOS CITY Sept 9 Hundreds of residents of Gen-eral Santos City were treated to a sumptuous feast of tuna and other seafood during the first ever Sugbahan sa Dalan (Grill on the Street) as part of the 17th Tuna Festival.


Half of Pioneer Avenue was closed for almost six hours Fri-day, September 4, to hold the mass grilling in the city show-casing the bounty and products that placed Gensan in the map.

Some 120 grills measur-ing 1.5 meter-long each were placed on both sides of Pioneer Avenue.

Around 600 kilos of locally caught seafood and tuna prod-ucts were grilled and given to patrons and the public for free.

Many of these fishes were do-nated by several fishing firms operating at the General Santos City Fishport Complex to show their support to the activity.

The RD Fishing and the San

Andres Fishingtwo fishing gi-ants in the cityalso shared their marine bounties during the Sugbahan sa Dalan.

Each of the grills was manned by different companies or orga-nization. The people were also able to grill other food aside from fish, such as meats, barbe-cues, and even corn.

Families and group of friends came in droves to join the Sug-bahan, turning Pioneer Avenue into a virtual recreation, bond-ing, and leisure area where free food, music and fun abound.

Karl Aries Laoc, a personnel from Philbest Company, was not exaggerating when he said that it only took minutes before they


Maguindanao OFWs benefit from OWWA services caravanBy Oliver Ross V. Rivera

ran out of fish.It was really fun. For just

five minutes, all of our grilled fish were already taken by the people. Hopefully, this will hap-pen again next year and for the years to come, Laoc said.

While the grilling was on-go-ing, a band sponsored by City Councilor Dominador Lagare III was also playingcreating a more cheerful mood to the event.

Eventually, many agreed that the Sugbahan sa Dalan was in-deed the highlight of the 17th Tuna Festival as it gave the peo-ple a taste of the product that made General Santos City the Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

Gensan Tourism Council (GTC) president Jane Gollon-Rivera, the lady behind the activity, ex-pressed her gratitude to all the

people who joined the event.I am very thankful to the

people who joined this event. We are not really expecting that there are a lot of people who will join this, given that we had a little time to prepare for this. I promise that next year, we will make this bigger and more or-ganized, she said.

Janes better half, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, promised that the city government will give its support to the event and to other activities that promote the tuna industry of the city.

The Sugbahan sa Dalan was organized by the GTC, Philippine Fisheries Development Author-ity, the city government, and private institutions to support the 17th Tuna Festival. (IJL-agare-Gensan CPIO/DEDogu-iles-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept 9 -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Admin-istration (OWWA) is undertaking an aggressive information and services caravan for overseas Filipino workers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).


Japan turns over training center to Bangsamoro Agency ByPerlita B. Changco

OWWA-ARMM OIC Habib Malik said they already finished three trainings last month for some 129 OFWs from the towns of Upi and Mamasapano in Maguindan-ao.

The training covers financial literacy, entrepreneurship devel-opment and values formation.

Aside from this, OWWA also conducted an orientation of the agencys programs and services which include social benefits, workers welfare assistance pro-gram education and training benefits, repatriation and reinte-gration programs.

Activities like this allows us to bring OWWA programs and

services closer to clients and inform them of the benefits and trainings which they can avail, Malik said.

This is part of OWWAs man-date for ensuring that the wel-fare and well-being of OFWs and their families are promoted, the official said.

Malik added that the capabil-ity building trainings for OFWs will also roll out to other prov-inces of ARMM.

We already scheduled two trainings for Lanao Del Sur, two for Basilan, one for Sulu and one for Tawi-Tawi, Malik added. (ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, Sept. 9 The Embassy of Japan (EOJ) through its Minister for Economic Affairs Hiroyuki Uchida personally hand-over the training center for the Bangsam-oro people to Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) Chairman Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan recently, in this city.

Uchida was accompanied by Japans Director for Country As-sistance Mr. Keiichi Hara and Japan International Cooperation

Agency (JICA) Country Repre-sentative Mr. Noriaki Niwa.

The Php 4,754,793 training center is a 3-storey building and


was established under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

According to Uchida, since the launching of Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BiRD) in 2006, Japan has been actively supporting project that contrib-ute peace and development in conflict affected areas in Mind-anao.

Uchida said, a total of Php 6.1 million has been provided in the J-BiRD including 82 GGPs.

The GGP includes the con-struction of 232 classrooms, 5 health facilities, 16 training cen-ters, 6 water systems and distri-bution of 29 agricultural equip-ments, he added.

I am happy to announced that the project for the con-struction of a training center for the Bangsamoro has been completed that can hold various capacity building trainings for at least 1,150 people every year and it also include 50 capac-ity dormitory and equipments for the efficient and effective implementation of the training program for the Bangsamoro, Uchida cited.

He stressed, human resources is a most important factor for development I sincerely hope

that all the stakeholders will take good care of the facility and fully maintain as a symbol of the collective efforts of the Japanese and the Bangsamoro people towards our ultimately goal for long lasting peace and development.

May the training conducted in this facility will contribute to the improvement of human pro-ductivity in Mindanao, he points out.

Uchida assures that the Japa-nese government will continue to remain strongly committed to support the Mindanao peace process.

The said 3-storey training center has kitchen, dining area, a lobby, bedroom and an of-fice at the ground floor; four (4) rooms with 16 units of double-decked beds to accommodate participants for live-in events at the second floor and a confer-ence room located at the third floor that can accommodate 80 individuals.(IEroy/PBChangco/PIA Cotabato City)


DILG-13 trains 18 Caraga LGUs on GISBy: Naomi C. Orog

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region XIII (DILG 13) conducted a Training on Geographic Information System (GIS) for Climate and Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction for 18 local government units in the region. The activity was held in two batches, the first was held on August 12-14, 2015 while the second was on August 17-19, 2015 in one of the convention centers here.


Target participants of the training were the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (MDDRMOs), Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDCs), Information and Technology Staff, and DILG Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs) of the municipalities involved. The participants were coming from municipalities of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands which are located along the eastern seaboard and others that are highly vulnerable to disasters.

Those involved for the first batch were: Surigao del Surs Carmen, Carrascal, Cortes, Lianga, Madrid, Marihatag, Tago and San Agustin. While those trained during the second batch were: Surigao del Surs Cantilan, San Miguel and Lingig; Surigao del Nortes Del Carmen, General Luna, and San Isidro; the Province of Dinagat Islands Dinagat, Basilisa and Tubajon; and Agusan del Nortes Nasipit. The main objective of the training was to train remaining highly vulnerable coastal LGUs to develop a local geographic information system which they


can use to enhance their disaster preparedness and response capacity, specifically, to produce respective geographical hazard maps towards better decision-making on local development planning and disaster mitigation. Geographic Information System (GIS) is an application that integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. It allows the user to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, reports, and charts. At the end of the training, the participants were able create and print hazard maps of their own municipality showing the areas that are vulnerable to flood, storm surge, tsunami,

and other hazards. The Post Evaluation Result also showed a huge increase in their level of understanding or knowledge about the topics. The activity increased the capacity of local government units as frontline stakeholders. Through this training, the LGUs were able to enhance their disaster preparedness and response capacity. Last year, the same GIS training was given to vulnerable LGUs along the Agusan River Basin, i.e. all 14 LGUs of Agusan del Sur (Bayugan City, Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Sta. Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento and Veruela) along with the province; Butuan City; and Agusan del Nortes Las Nieves, and Buenavista.


SurSur PNP files raps vs. 3 suspects on slay of IP school director, 2 lumads By: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur Surigao del Sur PNP Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said charges of multiple murder, arson, grave coercions, robbery, and grave threats had been filed with the Provincial Prosecutors Office here on Monday in Lianga against three suspects who were allegedly behind the killings of Emerito Samarca, executive director, Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV); Dionel Campos, chair, Malahutayong Pakigbisug alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu); and Aurello Sinzo, a civilian.

PHOTOCREDIT: INTERAKSYON.COM

Named in the charge sheets were siblings Bobby and Loloy Tejero, Garito Layno, and 20 John Does. Allegedly, during the early morning of September 1, Samarcas throat was cut aside from being stabbed to

death while hogtied inside the ALCADEV school; Campos and Sinzo, on the other hand, were gunned down in front of civilians who were gathered by armed suspects believed to be members of Bagani Forces, at a basketball court in Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-


PHOTOCREDIT: NEWSUNITED.COM

ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, 90 kilometers south, this city. Due to the scary incident, over a thousand of lumads had to flee their homes immediately afterwards and took refuge at Surigao del Sur Sports Center here travelling en masse by public transport and other kinds of vehicles. However, since Day One, the number of refugees has continued to rise, according to Abel De Guzman, PDRRMO chief. May Salinas, provincial social welfare and development officer, placed the number of families at 589 as of last count, adding that the number of individuals have yet to be updated. It was posted

at 2,883 as of last count, she pointed out. Governor Johnny Pimentel indicated the provincial government can only give so much but this cannot last for a long time. The national government, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the DSWD, and Sec. Ging Deles of OPAPP have already been tapped for support. Meanwhile, the 402nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Isidro Purisima, including its two battalionsthe 36th and 75th Infantries, has continued to deny involvement in whatever manner about what happened since the


incident took place. Col. Purisima even went to the extent of condemning the acts of the perpetrators. In an earlier statement Purisima said, the army... will not condone this act and they have negated all our peace initiatives here in the area, led of course by the governor, and they have destroyed actually what we have started for the past months to have a peaceful resolution of our context here in the province. The 402nd Infantry Brigade headquarters has just been established in Surigao del Sur since April, this year. Both Lt. Col. Randolph Rojas and Lt. Col. Haron Akaz, battalion commanders of 36th IB and 75th IB, respectively, have likewise denied allegations. However, Lt. Col. Akaz admitted his men, together with Corporal Bebot Bigante Brital, who belongs to the 29IB, is under their opcon, (short for operational control in military parlance), was nearby in the area of the crime scene (about 400 to 500 meters) during the incident but could not just react after the burst of gunfire was heard, explaining immediately going to the area might worsen the situation as this might result

to more killings since the armed men could easily take the civilians as hostage or human shield. He added that the army corporal, a day or two before the incident even introduced himself to a certain Gloria Campos, one of the Lumads distinguished leaders, to request a pulong-pulong (dialogue), but was asked to put off the plan due to the death of an elder in the clan. It can be recalled that Governor Pimentel has been open in implicating the Bagani Forces, an alleged army creation also known among locals as Magahat-Bagani Forces used in combating insurgency, as having a direct hand in the murderous attack. On the contrary, Col. Purisima maintained that the military, especially his battalion, has nothing to do with its creation or what not, adding that cases have already been filed by the PNP; and they support the police with this action taken. As of press time, both army and police forces have remained to be in the area to hunt down rogue armed men apart from trying to restore back peace in the said community, it was learned.


DTI releases September SRPs of basic goods

The newly released SRPs succeeded the July 23, 2015 SRPs, it was learned. Almost all SRPs of basic and prime commodities remained the same except for the P1.60 increase of Alaska Powdered Milk Drink (150grams) from P44.15 in the July 23 SRPs to P45.75. Major retail establishments in the city will be provided of the latest SRPs for their information.

The SRPs will be posted at the establishments premises for the reading of the buying public. Consumers interested to know more about SRPs and other related concerns are encouraged to visit and contact the DTI-Surigao del Norte at the 2nd Floor of Simtoco Building, Burgos Street, this city or contact at telephone number 826-6129. (DTI)

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte The Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) under the Consumer Protection Group of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently released the suggested retail prices (SRPs) of basic necessities and prime commodities, as of September 1, 2015.


Ozamiz City cites winners in NDCM IEC contests

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental The Ozamiz City Government has awarded the winners of the Poster-Making, Essay-Writing and Oratorical Contests held during the culmination of the July National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM).

By: Rutchie C. Aguhob

Part of the information, education and communication

(IEC) campaign on NDCM, the activities focused on this years


theme:Pamilya at Pamayanang Handa, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bansa (Prepared Families and Communities, Partners in National Progress). Held at the Ozamiz City Central School (OCCS), the contests were participated by students from the citys secondary schools, Dr. Rebonfamil R. Baguio, schools division superintendent, Department of Education, Division of Ozamiz City, said. Meanwhile, the following students were declared winners in the contests: Oratorical Contest Chesca Mae C. Elmedolan, La Salle University-Integrated School (LSU-IS), 1st place, Shaena Mae G. Segovia, Ozamiz City National High School (OCNHS), 2nd place

and Lyka C. Lapiz, Tabid NHS, 3rd place. Essay-Writing Contest Lady Diamond F. Biernes, Tabid NHS, 1st place, Essell Grace M. Gomez, Ozamiz City NHS, 2nd place and Kaye Danielle Teresa V. Soronda, LSU-IS, 3rd place. Poster-Making Contest Jeefy Lloyd C. Zumel, Pulot NHS, 1st place, Felven M. Monteverde, Tabid NHS, 2nd place, and Renato N. Jumawan, Jr., Labo NHS, 3rd place. Cash prizes of P4,000, P3,000 and P2,000, were given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, respectively, plus a plaque of recognition, each, while the non-winners received consolation prizes of P500, each.

PNP chief visits NorMin, turns over troop carriersCAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao welcomes on September 4, 2015 the chief of the Philippine National Police with arrival honors at the regional headquarters parade ground, Camp Alagar, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

PDG Ricardo C Marquez, PNP chief, presided over a three

hour command conference at the multipurpose hall attended by


the top officers of PRO 10 for his directive and guidance. Marquez also spearheaded the blessing and turnover of nine troop carrier vehicles to city public safety company, provincial public safety company and regional public safety battalion.

The brand new 4x4 troop carrier vehicle will be used for law enforcement and disaster operations by the maneuvering units. (PRO10)

Govt troops locate NPA training facility in BukidnonBy: Norman M. TagrosIMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon An area that seems to be a training facility of the NPA rebels was discovered on August 30 by composite troops coming from the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) and the Public Safety Company of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a nearby vicinity in Barangay White Kulaman, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

Government troops were able to recover more items in the area. Among which are: one M14 rifle, one RPG grenade launcher, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 12 sets of military Battle Dress Uniforms, one sack of cut steel bars used as IED fragments, blasting caps, steel bar cutter, and a 5-meter long explosive detonating cord. The troops were on a security patrol following a report from a

local resident about an existence of yet another NPA arms cache in the area when they recovered said items and located a firing range which is believed to be used by the rebels. Within the area, troops also located a book entitled New Peoples Army Demolition Course Manual, which may have been used in teaching their recruits how to make explosives, as evidenced by the significant numbers of


IEDs recovered in the area. It has been reported earlier that the government troops conducted a coordinated law enforcement operations wherein the PNP executed a search warrant issued by court after complaints of local residents about the existence of firearms and ammunition as well as explosives cache in their community perpetrated by NPA rebels. Government troops continue to secure the area as local residents become fretted by a possible attack of the NPA rebels in retaliation to their bold act of going against the armed group and preventing them to rule over their community once more. A Lumad (Indigenous Peoples)-dominated community, Barangay White Kulaman in Kitaotao, Bukidnon has suffered years of agony under the threatening rule of the NPA that subjected them to force taxation and extortion, coercion, and several other abuses that, to this day, still haunt the local residents who only wanted to attend to their farms and live peacefully. Many of the residents consider the law enforcement operation that was conducted in their barangay as liberation from the hostile rule of the abusive

NPA rebels. We will continue to protect the people of White Kulaman if only to uplift their rights and their desire to live peacefully, free from the mischiefs of the NPA. Let us all look after our people here in this community. After all, these are the people whom we truly serve. Let us continue to uphold their human rights especially our Lumad brothers who have long suffered from abuses and the futility of the armed struggle that is perpetrated by our rebel brothers. These series of events and the recovery of significant number of firearms and explosives are vivid portrayals of the NPA militarizing our communities by building up arms and explosives in a barangay and asking our people to fight the government, says Ltc Lennon G. Babilonia, commanding officer of the Armys 8th Infantry Battalion based in Bukidnon.


Pnoy to visit IGaCoS, Davao City

DAVAO CITY- President Beningo Aquino III is expected to visit Davao City and the Island Garden City of Davao in a series of engagements tomorrow Sept.9.

The President is expected to arrive in the Island Garden City of Samal to conduct an inspec-tion of the Samal Circumferential

Road project at around 1:25 pm. He will be joined by Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Ji-menez and Department of Pub-

FILE PHOTO


Kalahi-CIDSS gab held for CSOsDavao City The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently conducted an orientation with Civil Society Organiza-tions (CSOs) on Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

lic Works and Highway chief Sec. Rogelio Singson. The circumferential road is a convergence project of the DPWH and the DOT under the Tourism Roads Infrastructure Program (TRIP). After Samal, the President will proceed to the Teodoro Pal-ma Gil Elementary School in Davao City billed as a visit to the treevolution of the young. He will meet with pupils who partici-pated in the Treevolution of the Young a tree-planting activity conducted by the Supreme Pupil Government of the T. Palma Gil Elementary School and the SPG Federation of the Davao Central District. The tree-planting activity is conducted the morning in Ba-rangay Tigatto. The students will plant about 2,000 seedlings of

Mahogany, Narra, Cacao, Jack-fruit and other endemic trees. The President will be joined during the school visit by Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje and Climate Change Commis-sioner Mary Anne Lucille Sering. The visit is the Presidents response to the invitation of Ju-rijunn Juri M. Lopoz, president of the Supreme Pupil Govern-ment of T. Palma Gil Elementary School who personally handed a letter to President Aquino in Malacanang inviting him to the activity of which the President expressed interest in attending. The visit will culminate with President Aquinos attendance to a gathering of friends and sup-porters late in the afternoon at SMX Lanang. (PIA/RG Alama)


This orientation aimed to: 1] Orient new and prospective CSO partners about Kalahi-CIDSS and other DSWD core programs; 2] Present the menu of engagement for CSO partnership; and 3] In-vite CSOs to signify their com-mitment to engage with DSWD through Kalahi-CIDSS. Through public-private part-nership, the DSWD has been mo-bilizing CSOs as partners in im-plementing its major programs and initiatives like Sustainable Livelihood Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Con-vergence Strategy and now, Ka-lahi-CIDSS. Non-government organiza-tions (NGOs), peoples organiza-tions, cooperatives, trade unions, professional associations, faith-based organizations, indigenous peoples foundations, and other civic groups were formed primar-ily for social and economic devel-opment, shares Ma. Annabelle S. Jabla, Deputy Regional Pro-gram Manager for Kalahi-CIDSS. These prospective CSO part-ners have a vital role in targeted areas of Kalahi-CIDSS. Through new partnerships forged, Kalahi CIDSS will be able to empow-er more community volunteers. These new partnerships will be sealed through manifestos of

support, Jabla added. Also discussed at the forum were the different programs of DSWD, its partnership frame-work, points of intervention for CSO partners, as well as brief background on the various types of engagements. Following the presentations, a consultation on the details of the area of engagement was held. To facilitate matching of needs and preferences for en-gagement, a gallery of major ac-tivities in Kalahi-CIDSS was in-stalled. The event was capped with the signing of Manifesto of Sup-port by all participants. A total of 21 municipalities are implementing Kalahi-CIDSS this year, covering 375 baran-gays with a total grant of Php 173,980,750. (DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos)

one mindanao – september 9, 2015

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