One Mindanao - August 15, 2011

Vol . 1 No. 1

Monday, August 15, 2011 MAIDEN ISSUE

Western Mindanao

P. Urro Street, San Francisco District Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016 Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038 Cellphone no. 0908-8843404 E-mail : [email protected] [email protected] Skype : hnb_r9pia

Northern Mindanao Graces' Building, Antonio Luna Street Cagayan de Oro City 9000 Telefax No. (08822) 72-66-83 Telephone no. (088) 856-8178 / 729-594 Cellphone no. 0928-5204305 0917-3084969 E-mail : [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Southern Mindanao 2/F Kanto Motors Bldg., Quimpo Blvd., New Matina Davao City 8000 Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580 Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044 Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950 E-mail : [email protected]

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

Northeastern Mindanao Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg., J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City Telephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239 Telefax no. (085) 341-2370 Cellphone no. 0917-7188834 Email: [email protected] [email protected],ph

Today’s News… NATIONAL Aquino declares August 29-30 as regular holidays Malacañang urges Syrian gov't to end violence Malacañang says Aquino approves in principle

the Freedom of Information Bill Western Mindanao Sibugay solon turns-over completed PNP barracks 20 youngsters undergo ICT workshop for peace building NEDA Director says Zambo City’s growth to continue

without being the regional center Ipil LGU set to launch mobile pharmacy service Youth urged to use ICT for peace-building

Northern Mindanao Cong. Rodriguez prioritizes Cag. De Oro City road

improvement 13th MRP congress set Nov. 9-11 in Butuan City Deadline of submission of entries for CSC’s “Give It

Your Best Shot” Photo Contest is Aug. 17 Region 10 braces for the BIMP-EAGA SOMM in Oct.

10-14, this year Cebuano news: Gobyerno mokunsulta sa tanan nga

mga hingtungdan sa dili pa ipahigayon ang pormal nga panagsabot tali sa MILF

Southern Mindanao Regional tourism dir. cites outgoing DOT Secretary

gains Pres. Aquino thinks of Mindanao, says Rep. del

Rosario NYC consults Davao stakeholders for youth dev’t plan Del Rosario: PNP should regain lost glory Guvs glad over Pnoy’s pledge to mitigate impacts of

2012 IRA cut Northeastern Mindanao PHO-Agusan del Sur bares awards and recognition NFA-Caraga chief urges employees to make most of

resources Agusan del Norte solons, LGU execs sound alarm on

eviction of NFA granaries, ask P-Noy for help Surigao Norte to receive aid from AusAID

PIA REGIONAL OFFICES IN MINDANAO

FEATURED COVER OF THE WEEK:

ONE MINDANAO

Monday, August 15, 2011

Aquino declares August 29-30 as regular holidays

resident Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Proclamation No. 234 declaring August 30, 2011 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan).

The proclamation,

which was signed on August

11, this year by Executive

Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa

Jr., was issued in line with

the Republic Act No. 9177

that declared Eid’l Fitr or

Feast of Ramadhan as a

regular holiday throughout

the country.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated

by the Muslim World for

three (3) days after the end of

the month of fasting.

“To promote cultural

understanding and

integration, the entire Filipino

nation should have the full

opportunity to join their

Muslim brothers and sisters

in the observance and

celebration of Eid’l Fitr,”

President Aquino said.

The President stressed

that “In order to bring the

religious and cultural

significance of the Eid’l Fitr

to the fore of national

consciousness, it is necessary

to declare Tuesday, 30

August 2011, as a regular

holiday throughout the

country.”

Ramadhan is the

month when Muslims

observe a strict fast for a

period of 12 hours daily,

from sunrise to sunset.

The holy month of

Ramadhan started on August

1, 2011, and will end with the

holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, which

takes place either 29 or 30

days after the beginning of

the month.

By fasting, the

Muslims hope to strengthen

their self restraint and

develop piety.

Ramadhan is also a

month of sacrifice and

purification as the Muslims

worldwide fast, pray and act

with kindness towards the

poor and less fortunate.

President Aquino also

declared August 29, 2011

which falls on a Monday,

also as a regular holiday in

celebration of National

Heroes Day or Araw ng mga

Bayani.

Malacañang urges Syrian gov't to end violence

alacañang called on the Syrian Government for a peaceful end to violence in Syria.

“We are calling on the

Syrian government for a

peaceful resolution of the

situation in Syria,”

Presidential Spokesperson

Edwin Lacierda said in a

regular press briefing in

Malacanang on Monday.

Lacierda said the

Department of Foreign

Affairs (DFA) continues to

monitor the situation of some

17,000 overseas Filipino

workers in Syria. He assured

that contingency measures

are now in place to address

the needs of the OFWs.

“We view with deep

concern the escalating

violence in Syria and call on

P

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the Syrian government to do

its utmost to halt this

violence, and to ensure the

safety and security of its

people and all foreign

nationals,” Lacierda said

quoting the statement of

Foreign Affairs Secretary

Albert del Rosario.

“We therefore urge

the Syrian Government to

address the Syrian people’s

concerns and to immediately

implement the reforms

promised to them,” Rosario’s

statement added

The U.N. Security

Council on August 4 issued a

statement condemning the

Syrian government's

crackdown on protesters and

calling for an immediate end

to violence by all parties.

Since mid-March,

anti-government protesters

have taken to the streets

across the whole country of

Syria to demand reforms.

Malacañang says Aquino approves in principle the Freedom of Information Bill

alacañang said that President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved in principle the passage of the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill pending several concerns that are

yet to be addressed through careful study and deliberation.

In a press briefing at

the Palace on Monday,

Presidential Spokesperson

Edwin Lacierda said that the

President himself has

approved in principle the FOI

Bill as he clarified that there

were just several concerns

that need to be discussed.

“The President agrees with

the FOI in principle but there

are certain things which we

have to address...,” Lacierda

said.

Lacierda further said

that the President wants more

time to study and flesh out

the bill.

“We’ve got four years

and 11 months to go,”

Lacierda said.

The Palace version of

the FOI bill provides for the

creation of an independent

Information Commission,

with its own budget and

quasi-judicial functions such

as the power to subpoena.

The commission

would be the “arbiter”

between government and any

parties who have questions

regarding the bill’s

enforcement.

At least 13 FOI bills

were studied and reviewed --

including those enforced in

the United States, Canada,

United Kingdom, Australia,

and South Africa -- for

exemptions covering

classified information and

documents that would be

prejudicial to national

defense or security.

The FOI bill seeks to

answer a Constitutional

provision that guarantees the

right of people to access to

information and documents

in the custody of government

officials and agencies.

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Sibugay solon turns-over completed PNP barracks by Paulnazer Lontua PAGADIAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- The morale of the PNP Sibugay enlisted men augers well with the newly constructed PNP barracks.

Very recently, Zamboanga

Sibugay 2nd District Congressman,

Romeo Jalosjos, Jr., formally

turned-over the newly completed

P1M Philippine National Police

(PNP) Barracks constructed inside

the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial

Police Headquarters Compound in

Barangay Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga

Sibugay.

In his speech, Cong.

Jalosjos said the barracks is just

one of the many projects his office

plans to grant the Sibugay PNP. He

added that acquisition of water

system equipment like pipes, water

pumps and tanks for the

enhancement and upgrading of the

water system of the PNP Provincial

Headquarters amounting to P1M is

underway.

PSSupt. Ruben D.

Cariaga, Sr., Provincial Director of

PNP-Sibugay, expressed his

gratitude to Jalosjos for granting

them projects to improve the PNP’s

structures.

“I am very thankful our

Congressman prioritized our

requests for a new barracks; a

morale- booster to uniformed men

and women of the PNP here in the

Sibugay Headquarters, stressed

Cariaga.

It took the Provincial Engineering

Office (PEO) barely took two

months to see completion of the

PNP headquarters.

The turn-over ceremony

was attended and graced by PSSupt

Felixberto Candado, Assistant

Regional Director for Operations of

PNP-IX. Father Arnel Demegillo

led the new blessing of the

building. (NBE/PIA9/Paulnazer

Lontua/Ipil, Zambo Sibugay)

20 youngsters undergo ICT workshop for peace building by Jasmine Mohammadsali ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- Twenty participants composed of secondary students and out-of-school youths (OSYs) underwent comprehensive sessions on blogging, social media networks and video content creation in a seminar workshop entitled "Use of ICT in Conflict and Post-Conflict Areas" initiated by the National Computer Center Field Operations Office – Zamboanga (NCC-FOO), in partnership with the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from August 3-6.

The 4-day activity sought

to help youths in conflict areas in

developing content to promote

peace and appreciation of cultural

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NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director

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diversity through information and

communication technology (ICT)

tools.

"We want to hear you

express your views on current and

emerging issues using the

information and communications

technology", said Cheryl C. Ortega,

Acting Director of the NCC-FOO.

"We want to hear your

voices, read your blogs and watch

your videos on how you think

peace can be attained”, she added.

Aside from helping

participants gain proficiency in

various ICT tools, the seminar-

workshop also sought to provide an

online venue where youths in

conflict areas can express their

thoughts, opinions and views on

issues and concerns about peace.

As part of their output, participants

will be managing their own social

media accounts to continue their

efforts to promote peace.

"An insider's point of view

is important, especially when

reporting about Mindanao," said

blogger Oliver Robillo, one of the

resource persons for the activity.

Serving as resource persons for the

seminar-workshop were Ana

Lourdes Lopez, AIJC director for

Research and Policy, Oliver

Robillo, founder of the Mindanao

Bloggers Community, Joel

Yuvienco, country representative of

Edu 2.0 and Florjannelle Dagaas,

AIJC director for Professional

Development Program.

The conduct of the

seminar-workshop is the first of its

kind in the country. According to

Flordeliza Azarcon, AIJC director

for ICT for Development, this ICT

for peace project will also be

replicated and conducted in other

areas as well. (MVC/JM/PIA9-

Zambo City/NCC-FOO)

NEDA Director says Zambo City’s growth to continue without being the regional center by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The city will still grow whether it’s the regional center or not, National Economic Development Authority 9 Regional Director Arturo Valero said. Valero was referring to the

economic effects of the transfer of

the regional center from the city to

Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur.

“Even if Zamboanga City is not the

regional center, it will still grow”,

Valero said.

Instead, he pointed that

the city should focus on being the

industrial or commercial center of

the region.

The city government is

still lobbying for the return of the

regional seat to the city which was

relegated to Pagadian City in 2004

as ordered by then President and

now Pampanga 3rd

District

Representative Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo.

However, President

Benigno Aquino III issued

Memorandum Circular no. 11,

calling for a 30-day moratorium on

the transfer of regional offices from

the city to Pagadian.

The Memorandum also

tasked and inter-agency committee

headed by NEDA to conduct

studies on the issue.

Malacañang issued

another memorandum, MC no. 11 –

A, extending the studies on the

matter and asking all affected

agencies to submit to NEDA the

stand on the regional seat transfer.

Dir. Valero, however, said there is

no official result of the study yet as

it is still being collated by NEDA.

(MVC/PIA9-Zambo City)

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Ipil LGU set to launch mobile pharmacy service by Paulnazer Lontua

PAGADIAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- Now in the works is the launching of a mobile pharmacy designed to cater to the basic health needs of the poor Ipileños who are in dire need for medicine and treatment.

“A mobile pharmacy with

the slogan: “Resita Mo, Gamot Ko”

is one good way of helping Ipileños

get proper medication for free”,

said Atty. Edna Alibutdan-Diaz,

Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member

of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Ipil, especially its remote

and far-flung barangays, needs

special attention in terms of

acquiring free medicines to ensure

that their health is well taken cared

of, added Diaz.

Having a mobile

pharmacy, according to Diaz, can

maximize the operation and serve

the purpose of the Local

Government of Ipil to deliver good

health services in the homes of the

needy Ipileños.

Diaz emphasized that the

mobile pharmacy will dispense

medicines upon the prescription of

doctors from the Municipal Health

Office (MHO) to ensure that the

medicines given are appropriate to

avoid negative side effects and

results.

“The mobile pharmacy is

considered one of its kind in the

municipality. Its impact may be

minimal but people now having

access to medicine at their doorstep

equates to assurance that their

government is working for their

welfare,” Diaz expressed.

“I am giving back what

the people had given me. The

Ipileños made me one of their SB

members and one way of

expressing my gratitude is through

this project. I will personally fund

this endeavor and would just hope

that everybody will see it as a

gesture of pubic service and not as

a political strategy”, Diaz pointed

out.

Youth urged to use ICT for peace -building ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 15 (PIA) – Selected youths of Zamboanga City were trained to use the Information Communication Technology (ICT) or the internet for peace-building through blogging and social networking, recently.

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Selected youths of Zamboanga City were trained to use the Information Communication Technology (ICT) or the internet for peace-building through blogging and social networking, recently. (NCCFOO/PIA9-BST)

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ONE MINDANAO


The National Computer

Center - Field Operations Office

(NCC-FOO), in partnership with

the Asian Institute of Journalism

and Communication (AIJC) and the

United Nations Educational

Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO),

successfully spearheaded the

conduct of a seminar workshop

entitled "Use of ICT in Conflict

and Post-Conflict Areas" at the

NCC-FOO computer laboratory

from August 3 to 6.

A total of 20 participants

composed of secondary students

and out-of-school youths (OSYs),

underwent comprehensive sessions

on blogging, social media networks

and video content creation.

"We want to hear you to

express your views on current and

emerging issues using the

information and communications

technology," said Cheryl C. Ortega,

Acting Director of the NCC-FOO.

"We want to hear your voices, read

your blogs and watch your videos

on how you think peace can be

attained," she added.

The 4-day activity sought

to help youths in conflict areas in

developing content to promote

peace and appreciation of cultural

diversity through information and

communication technology (ICT)

tools.

Aside from helping

participants gain proficiency in

various ICT tools, the seminar-

workshop also sought to provide an

online venue where youths in

conflict areas can express their

thoughts, opinions and views on

issues and concerns about peace.

As part of their output, participants

will be managing their own social

media accounts to continue their

efforts to promote peace.

"An insider's point of view

is important, especially when

reporting about Mindanao," said

blogger Oliver Robillo, one of the

resource persons for the activity.

Serving as resource persons for the

seminar-workshop were Ana

Lourdes Lopez, AIJC director for

Research and Policy; Oliver

Robillo, founder of the Mindanao

Bloggers Community; Joel

Yuvienco, country representative of

Edu 2.0; and Florjannelle Dagaas,

AIJC director for Professional

Development Program.

The conduct of the

seminar-workshop is the first of its

kind in the country. According to

Flordeliza Azarcon, AIJC director

for ICT for Development, this ICT

for peace project will also be

replicated and conducted in other

areas as well. (NCCFOO/RVC-

PIA9 BaSulTa)

A plan to conduct a

medical outreach in every barangay

is also underway in coordination

with the MHO doctors and the

mobile pharmacy. (NBE-

PIA9/Paulnazer Lontua/Ipil,

Zambo Sibugay)

Cong. Rodriguez prioritizes Cag. De Oro city road improvement

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) has vowed to prioritize the improvement of the city roads in time for the opening of the Laguindingan International Airport (LIA).

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RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge

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ONE MINDANAO


Located in Laguindingan

town, some 30 km. from CDO

going to the western part of

Mindanao, the airport is expected

to be completed in the first quarter

of 2012.

One of the identified

concerns, once the airport project is

completed, is the increase in

volume of traffic along the national

highway, specifically, along the

Butuan -Cagayan de Oro City-

Iligan City Road (BCIR).

Right now, a 195 lineal-

meter flyover costing more than

P362 million is being constructed

in Sitio Puerto, Barangay Bugo at

the CDO-Bukidnon-Butuan City

junction, a bottleneck area in the

eastern portion of the city.

“This is one project that

has a big impact to the city

considering that Puerto is one of its

busiest areas with business

establishments sprouting in the

city’s hub,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez

turned-over three (3) road

improvement projects worth some

Php35.17 million to the CDO City

Government, recently.

“These are just a few of

our projects, but we are going to

have more of these because I see

that we should take part in the

development of LIA by not only

improving but also widening our

roads,” he said.

The first of these projects

included the concreting of some

99.84 linear meters of road with an

average width of 11 meters and

thickness of 0.23 meters in the

South Divisoria of the city.

Along with its drainage,

the project had an appropriation of

Php3.383 million and was

undertaken by the Angel & Sam

Construction and General

Merchandise for 90 calendar days.

The second was the

concreting of some 311.60 linear

meters of road, also with an

average width of 11 meters and

thickness of 0.23 meters in North

Divisoria.

Including the installation

of pipe culverts for drainage, it had

an appropriation of Php6.785

million and was undertaken by C.

Dy Builders & General

Merchandise for 120 calendar days.

The third project was as asphalt

overlay of some 1.046 km. of road

along the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-

Iligan City Road in Barangay

Lapasan section with an

appropriation of Php25 million,

undertaken by SOKOR Construc-

tion for 45 calendar days. (PIA-10)

13th MRP congress set Nov. 9-11 in Butuan City


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The Moral Recovery Officers Foundation (MROFI) will be holding this year’s Moral Recovery Program Convention-Seminar at Balanghai Hotel, Butuan City, on November 9-11.

Dr. Francisco T. Duque,

Chairperson of the Civil Service

Commission (CSC) has called on

the heads of constitutional bodies,

departments, bureaus and agencies

of the national government to

attend the event.

Also called to participate

in the convention are heads of local

government units (LGU’s),

government-owned and control

corporations (GOCC), with original

charters and state universities and

colleges (SUC’s).

Now on its 13th

year, the

convention which coincides with

the annual celebration of the

Filipino Values Month per

Proclamation No. 479, s. 1994, will

be anchored on the theme

“Empowering the Filipino People

Through Values.

The 3-day activity aims to

serve as a venue for the

exchange/gathering of

ideas/concepts which are of

national concerns that can

contribute to the realization of the

government’s desired change and

resolution to current

issues/problems of our country,

Duque said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Jose A.

Fabia, Director General of the

Philippine Information Agency

(PIA) has directed all the Regional

Directors and Officers-in-Charge of

PIA throughout the country to

attend and actively participate in

the MRP Congress.

For more details, you may

call up the Convention

Chairperson, Pastor Charlie Prior at

telefax (o85) 225-5737, mobile

phone 0919-408-2745 or 0929-801-

9316 and email address:

[email protected]. (PIA-10)

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Deadline of submission of entries for CSC’s “Give It Your Best Shot” Photo Contest is Aug. 17

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Entries for the “Give It Your Best Shot” Photo Contest of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) will be accepted until Aug. 17, 2011.

Anchored on the theme

“Excellence in Public Service,” to

celebrate the 111th

Philippine Civil

Service Anniversary, photos should

capture the essence of public

service at its best in the Filipino’s

everyday life and must have been

shot since the start of the term of

President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Lawyer Lourdes Clavite-

Vidal, Regional Director of CSC,

region 10, said the contest is open

to all employees in public

service/government employees

holding permanent positions,

except employees of the CSC and

all government employees

affiliated with the National Press

Club (NPC) and the Press

Photographers of the Philippines

(PPP).

Vidal said the following

photographs are disqualified:

Photos that are digitally or

otherwise enhanced or manipulated

and applied with special effects,

such as, coloring, toning, collage,

photo composites, etc., for creative

purposes.

Also disqualified are

photos that have been submitted to

or won in any other contests or

have been published in print or

online and those that violate

another person’s rights, including

but not limited to copyright.

Only one (1)

entry/photograph per entrant with

the following requirements: 8R

size, color print, un-mounted, JPEG

format file with a minimum size of

1MB in a compact disc are

accepted

Criteria in judging are as

follows: Relevance to the theme

or how well the photo interprets

theme, 25%, creativity, how the

photographer showed some

creative thoughts and how the

subject matter is pictured in a

unique and interesting way, 25% .

Technique or use of

elements of photography, whether

the photo showed balance in light,

focus, depth of field, etc., 25% and

overall impact or whether the

photo was able to grab and hold the

viewers’ attention and made them

wish they were there when the

event happened, 25%.

Top 10 entries from the

CSC’s 16 regions will be

forwarded to the national level

wherein the top 10 will be

determined by a panel coming from

representatives from partner

organizations and the CSC.

Vidal said the top three (3)

winners in the national level will

receive cash prizes of Php10,000,

Php5,000 and Php3,000 to the first

place, 2nd

place and 3rd

winners,

respectively.

For more information, you

may visit the CSC-10 Regional

Office at Vamenta Boulevard,

Carmen, this city, or call telephone

numbers (08822) 71-00-57/72-31-

08/72-82-67or (088) 858-7583 or

send an email to

[email protected].

You may also visit the

CSC Field Offices in each of the

provinces in Region 10 at

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon,

Mambajao, Camiguin, Iligan City,

Lanao del Norte, Oroquieta City,

Misamis Occidental and Cagayan

de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

(PIA-10)

Region 10 braces for the BIMP-EAGA SOMM in Oct. 10-14, this year


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Preparations are underway for holding the BIMP-EAGA Senor Official’s and Ministers Meeting (SOMM) in the city, on October 10-14, this year.

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An annual activity of the

BIMP-EAGA, the SOMM is an

activity wherein senior officials and

ministers meet, together with the

chairpersons and members of

various sectoral clusters, working

groups and task forces, for the

purpose of discussing the status and

progress of the sub-regional

priority programs and projects,

including issues and concerns

affecting its implementation.

Comprised of Brunei

Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia

and the Philippines (BIMP)-East

ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) is a

shared strategy of the four (4)

governments in addressing the

imbalance in economic

development, especially, for their

less developed and more remote

territories.

“It is the standing

instruction of President Benigno S.

Aquino III for the Philippines to

take the lead in showing substantial

gains and outcome of this sub-

regional cooperation at the

sidelines of the 7th

BIMP-EAGA

Leaders Summit held last May 8 in

Jakarta, Indonesia,” said Jon Miral

of the Mindanao Development

Authority (MinDA).

He said MinDA is on top

in the over-all coordination with

regard to SOMM preparations, but

will closely work and touch-base

with the CDO City Government,

through the Department of Trade

and Industry in Misamis Oriental

(DTI-Mis. Or.) provincial office,

particularly in the exchange of

information and other relevant

documents.

Relatedly, the Regional

Development Plan (RDP) 2010-

2016 sees the importance of BIMP-

EAGA in boosting investments,

trade and exports for the region,

recognizing the opportunities

offered by the participating

governments in effecting cross-

border consolidation,

complementation, industry and

value-chain management.

The principal mechanism

for consultations between and

among the participating countries

of the BIMP-EAGA is the SOMM

which provides the strategic

directions and general policy

guidelines in addition to drawing

the attention of the central

governments to the development

requirements of the focal areas.

Meanwhile, Ruben

Vegafria, President of Promote

CDO Foundation, said the conduct

of the SOMM in region 10 will

enable the region to promote its

products and services, thereby,

encourage the participating

countries to strengthen and open up

linkages in the Northern part of

Mindanao.

Featuring major events

such as the Northern Mindanao

Agro-Industrial Trade Fair and

Exhibit, BIMP-EAGA Investment

Conference on Agro-Industry and

Tourism and the MindaONE Trade

Fair and Exhibit, the SOMM will

showcase not just Region 10’s best

products and services but also

create complementation with the

rest of Mindanao’s products,

thereby, increasing the island’s

prospects for business with the

partner nations, Vegafria added.

(PIA-10)

Cebuano news: Gobyerno mokunsulta sa tanan nga mga hingtungdan sa dili pa ipahigayon ang pormal nga panagsabot tali sa MILF

(Government to consult all stakeholders concerned ahead of formal talks with MILF)

by Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, August 15 (PIA) – Giseguro sa gobyerno nga i-konsidera usab ang mga panglantaw sa tanan nga mga dunay kalabutan sa ‘peace talks’ tali sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa dili pa ipahigayon ang ‘meeting’ karong umaabot August 22-23, matud ni Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Sa gisulti ni Secretary

Teresita Deles sa Office of the

Presidential Adviser on the Peace

Process (OPPAP), ang panig sa

gobyerno magpadayon sa

pagtrabaho kauban ang mga grupo

sa katilingban aron sa pag-andam

sa mga gimbuhaton sa nasangpit

nga’ meeting’.

Kabahin sa pangutana

kung ang administrasyon andam ba

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sa pag-amendar sa konstitusyon

segun sa gisugyot sa MILF alang sa

gitawag nga ‘sub-state’, si Valte

miingon nga dili pa siya makasulti

bahin niana hangtud nga dili

mapahigayon ang pormal nga

panagsabot tali sa MILF.

Apan anaa sa Presidente

ang posisyon kon ugaling dili niya

suportahan ang pagduso sa ‘charter

change’.

Sa usa ka ‘press briefing’

sa miaging semana, ang ‘chief

negotiator’ sa gobyerno nga si

Marvic Leonin miingon nga ang

isig ka panig mag baylo-ay sa

huna-huna sa mga mahinungdanon

nga hisgutanan atol sa umaabot nga

panagtagbo.

Kini himoon human sa

panagtagbo usab sa Presidente

kauban ang mga ‘leaders’ sa MILF

didto sa Japan sa miaging semana.

“Kada ‘meeting’ aduna

masabutan nga mahinungdanon nga

‘agenda’. Ug akong subli-on pag-

ingon nga kada human sa

panagtagbo, ang isig ka panig

magkasinabot usab nga

kinahanglan nila dali-on ang ‘peace

talks’ nga proseso, matud ni Leonin

kabahin sa meeting sa Japan.

Ang pakigtagbo ni

Presidente Aquino sa MILF didto

sa Japan nagpakita kini nga sinsero

ug matinud-anon ang gobyerno sa

pagpadali sa ‘peace talks’ tali sa

mga rebeldeng Muslim.

Gipahayag usab ni Leonin

nga ang Presidente ug si Murad

hinigalaay nga nagsultihanay

kabahin sa mga pamaagi sa isig ka

panig aron usab makab-ot ang

kalinaw sa Mindanao.

“Ang pag-adto sa Presidente

sa Japan kauban ang tibuok pwersa

sa gabinete nagpasabot nga

matinud-anon ang kagamhanan sa

mao nga ‘peace negotiations’,

dugang ni Leonin.

Ang ‘chief negotiator’

miingon nga walay ‘secret deal’ sa

mao nga panagtagbo tali sa

MILF ug kagamhanan. Miingon

siya nga dili gusto ang

administrasyong Aquino nga

mausab pa ang nahimo nga sayop

sa miagi nga adminis-

trasyon. (NCR/PIA-10)

Regional tourism dir. cites outgoing DOT Secretary gains

DAVAO CITY Aug. 15 (PIA) – Department of Tourism Regional Director Art Boncato said that outgoing Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim will leave behind notable accomplishments in the tourism industry.

Boncato said that

Secretary Lim’s hallmark

achievement would be his pushing

of the open skies policy of which

Executive Order 29 or the pocket

open skies policy was signed by

President Benigno Aquino III

during Sec. Lim’s term.

Executive Order 29 allows

foreign airlines to fly in and out of

selected international airports

outside of Metro Manila connecting

it with destinations abroad.

However the E.O. disallows

cabotaging or the act of foreign

airlines transporting people and

goods between two different routes

within the country.

A pocket open skies

policy enables the growth of local

destinations as more flight

connections are opened particularly

from other foreign cities.

Boncato also said that

under Lim’s leadership the

National Tourism Development

Plan was drawn up.

The National Tourism

Development Plan acts as a

medium term plan for Philippine

tourism as mandated by the

Tourism Act of 2009. The regional

director says that the main goal of

the NTDP to make the country “a

must-experience destination in

Asia.”

Under the plan, the plan

targets 6.3 million foreign visitors

by 2016, also in that year there will

be a targeted 30-million domestic

tourists and tourism receipts would

reach $1.7 billion dollars and about

6.7% of the Gross Domestic

Product.

As of 2010 figures there

are about 3.5-million foreign tourist

arrivals and 28-million domestic

tourists.

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EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Regional Director

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ONE MINDANAO


Boncato said the plan will

cover the entire country with

Tourism Development Areas where

destinations are clustered together

by geographical proximity and

thematic similarities.

The NTDP is ready to be

presented to President Aquino

which can be used by future

Department of Tourism secretaries.

Secretary Lim tendered

his resignation as Secretary of the

Department of Tourism last week

citing personal reasons for his

decision. Sec. Lim’s resignation

which is effective August 31 has

been accepted by the President.

(PIA/RG Alama)

Pres. Aquino thinks of Mindanao, says Rep. del Rosario

by Jeanevive D. Abangan

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Davao del Norte 1st District Congressman Antonio Rafael del Rosario has dispelled notions that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III thinks less of Mindanao.

Guesting in the latest

Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, Cong. Del

Rosario surmised the President to

be as much concerned about

Mindanao though he talked less

about it in his latest State of the

Nation Address (SONA) contrary

to what most Mindanawans

expected.

He pointed

out the increased national budget

share of Mindanao and the move to

push the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF) peace talk as

manifestations of the President’s

favored attention to Mindanao

Basing on the recent budget

hearing in Congress, Del Rosario

revealed that Mindanao is due to

get 26 percent share from the P1.8

trillion 2012 national budget, an

increased share from the measly

11 percent that it cornered this

year.

Del Rosario viewed this

development as an indication that

President Aquino did not sidetrack

Mindanao. “Dili pasabot nga wala

hatagi ug importansiya ang

Mindanao because based on 2012

budget proposal, dako ang makuha

sa Mindanao. (I t doesn’t mean

that Mindanao has not been given

importance because based on 2012

budget, Mindanao will be getting a

much bigger share.)” he said.

He could not categorically

say what sectors in Mindanao

would be receiving substantial

budget shares but he explained that

sectoral budget sharing follows

with the national sharing.

He was sure that the

education sector would get the

biggest share of the pie as the

Department of Education (DepEd)

has the biggest share of P238.8

billion which is 15.2 percent from

its P207.3 billion budget in 2011.

In a separate talk,

Mindanao Development Authority

(MinDA) Secretary Luwalhati

Antonino confirmed that Mindanao

corners a much substantial share of

the national budget next year, and

that she saw the huge chunk of

such budget would go to

infrastructure other than education

and social welfare.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario

further dispelled the notion that

President Aquino was not keen

about Mindanao’s

development saying, the President

was showing deep interest for

Mindanao’s peace and

development.

He was referring to the

secret meeting of the President with

Moro Islamic Liberation Front

(MILF) chair AlHaj Murad in

Tokyo, Japan.

“Mindanao is in the back

of the mind of the President,” he

said.

However, he still was

looking forward for the President to

publicly lay bare the commitments

of the Philippine government with

regard to GPH and MILF peace

talks though be believe that the

President remained true to his

statement saying “no agreement is

final without the approval of the

people.”

Meanwhile, Del Rosario

remained optimistic that he could

corner funds for his district

especially for the concreting of

Asuncion to Laak Road as initial

construction works are being

started with the P50 million

funding from Senator Ramon

Revilla Jr.

He was hoping to get

additional P45 million for the road

concreting from the national

government.

Del Rosario also revealed

that he had made President Aquino

commit P500 million for the

Cancer Center at the Davao

Regional Hospital even before he

went for a one-year leave.

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ONE MINDANAO


In 2010, P200 million was

released for the Cancer Center

construction and equipment

purchase, and that another P100

was released this year for

additional purchases of equipment.

Del Rosario bared the

President committed to release the

funding for the Cancer Center in

tranches until the end of his

presidential term in 2016. (PIA

11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

NYC consults Davao stakeholders for youth dev’t plan

by Mai Gevera-Macapagat

DAVAO CITY Aug. 15 (PIA) – The National Youth Commission gathers representatives from various regional line agencies, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders as the NYC is set to formulate the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP).

NYC Commissioner Earl

Saavedra said the office conducted

several consultations from different

regions as the result of this would

be the basis for the projects to be

implemented by the commission.

During the consultation,

the office also presented the

National Youth Situation in the

Philippines, a result of the

commissioned survey and study

that involved 5,800 youth

respondents.

“ After presenting the

situationer, we expect the

stakeholders to respond and

validate the given survey. And

from there, we come up with a

lined-up projects until 2016.”,

Saavedra said.

Some of the topics

discussed during the consultation

are key issues facing the youth,

opportunities, enabling conditions

and proposed strategies and

policies which government, other

duty bearers and stakeholders

should create and provide.

Saavedra also stressed that

NYC is optimistic for the approval

of their request for representation

in the Peace Sub-Panel wherein the

commission sees the need for a

voice of the youth in the peace

process.

“It is now in review for

the inclusion of a youth

representative. NYC had submitted

the proposal to the OPAPP and we

are awaiting for the answer of this

particular request.” he said.

NYC, although providing

consultations nationwide, is now

more particular on the situation of

the youth in Mindanao especially

that most of the youth in this part of

the country claimed to have been

deprived from their rights due to

the effects of the peace conflict.

“ On peace and order, we

are already done on some key

processes like interfaith dialogue

and immersions. This time, we

wish to tap and focus on areas

affecting the youth like education,

health, and employment.” Saavedra

added.

The PYDP Regional

Consultation in Mindanao is now

being held at the DSWD

Conference Hall, this city.

(PIA/Mai Gevera-Macapagat)

Del Rosario: PNP should regain lost glory

by Noel Baguio

Davao City – Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to rise above its tarnished image by bringing about complete and effective change to be able to regain its former glory.

Del Rosario, in his

keynote speech at the 110th

Police

Service Anniversary of the Police

Regional Office 11 at the Camp

Catitipan, Davao City on August

10, 2011, said the PNP leadership

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15

ONE MINDANAO


should try to make a change for the

better and take back its former

glory as protector of the people and

the constitution.

“The PNP should seize the

opportunity to rise from where it

fell,” he said.

The President of the

confederation of all the local chief

executives in Mindanao (Confed),

said the various issues thrown

against the PNP, which are brought

about by the “vicious cycle of co-

optation by unscrupulous civilian

powers”, crippled the institution in

performing its lead role in nation-

building.

However, he stressed the

institution must be allowed to self-

rejuvenate and regain its moral

confidence and commitment to

uphold and protect the people and

the constitution.

As it continues its quest for

change in line with the president’s

“Tuwid na Daan” (Straight Path)

advocacy, the governor said the

agency should redefine the depth

and extent of obedience expected

upon its officers, which should

mean “working within the legal

parameters.”

“We need a politically-free

PNP that is not beholden to any

powers that be, but solely to the

constitution and the legal system of

this country,” del Rosario said.

Del Rosario, who is also

the new chair of the Regional Peace

and Order Council (RPOC) –XI

hinted that apart from keeping

watch over its own ranks, the PNP

can redeem itself by also

dynamically engaging in peace and

development works.

In his speech, Gov. del

Rosario cited the pioneering

convergence for peace and

development in Davao del Norte,

which saw the LGUs, the army, the

police and the community pooling

their resources together in bringing

medical and other basic

government services to the far-

flung, impoverished communities.

He bared thousands of poor

indigenous people were served

during the launch of the

convergence initiative in Barangay

Gupitan in Kapalong town on

August 9, 2011.

“We need to show our

constituents that we in the

government must be willing to

work together in the service of our

people,” he told the media

afterwards.

By being active in

community work and peace-

building activities, the governor

said the police can greatly reverse

its image from being “vulnerable

tool for malevolent intents to one

that is potent partner for positive

change.”

When asked by the media

about his assessment on the

performance of the police force in

the region, del Rosario was quick

to say that the police officials and

officers in the region appear to be

well-disciplined.

PRO-11 Regional Director

PCSUPT. Jaime Morente said this

is so because the PNP leadership in

the region has not been remiss in its

duty of reminding the police

personnel of their sworn duties and

responsibilities.

He said his leadership does

not condone illegal activities of

men in uniform and that police

officers found guilty of

wrongdoings are met with

corresponding punishment.

“If they do grave mistakes,

of course they will be discharged or

dismissed from the service,” he

said.

He also revealed his

command is taking the negative

issues haunting the PNP national

command positively.

“We take the criticisms and

investigations going on positively.

Kasi it will redound to the

improvement of services and

system of the PNP,” he said.

Guvs glad over Pnoy’s pledge to mitigate impacts of 2012 IRA cut

by Romulo D. Tagalo

Malacañan Palace, Manila – Anxious on the impending 4.8 per cent cut on Local Government Units’ internal revenue allotment (IRA) in 2012, members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) trooped to Malacañan Palace for a brief dialogue with President Noynoy Aquino last August 7, 2011.

Early in the day, the

governors consolidated their

positions in its 19th

General

Assembly at the Century Park

Hotel, Manila, where 50 governors

attended for a crucial deliberation.

Various options were raised in

order to avert the reduction which

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ONE MINDANAO


is expected to result in reduced

social welfare spending.

At the outset, the

governors agreed to insist upon the

President the P5 billion collectible

due to LGUs as an offshoot to the

Mandanas vs. Ermita case. It can be

recounted that during the time of

Pres. Estrada, the IRA releases

were short of P20 billion, which

became the subject of the aforesaid

court litigation. The Arroyo

government paid 75 per cent

through a Land Bank-facilitated

monetization scheme charged to the

national government coffers in

seven years. The scheme was made

possible during Gov. del Rosario’s

presidency of the League of

Provinces in the Philippines (LPP),

and Union of Local Authorities in

the Philippines (ULAP)

“In our meeting with the

President, Sec. Butch Abad briefed

him about this long overdue

balance. We expressed the general

sentiment of all LGUs about the

negative impact of this IRA

reduction next year, especially on

our health program and other social

services. And we are glad that

President Pnoy pledged to consider

our plea,” Governor del Rosario

said.

“I think that among other

options, this one was feasible; and

sure enough, we had no trouble

convincing the President of our

position,” he stressed.

Gov. del Rosario was one

among the seven governors

originally chosen by the assembly

to meet and present the proposal to

President Pnoy.

The budget cut for LGUs

is said to be the true impact of

typhoons Peping and Ondoy in

2009, since the 40 per cent IRA

allocation is computed against the

local tax collection three years

prior to any fiscal year. (Romulo D.

Tagalo, IO III, Exec. Asst.)

PHO-Agusan del Sur bares awards and recognition

by David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, August 15 (PIA) – The Provincial Health Office (PHO-AdS) here has made it to the top in terms of service delivery and management and presented the awards and recognition bestowed upon them by health authorities from the regional and national levels.

On July 28 this year, Dr.

Joel Esparagoza, Provincial Health

Officer and chief of the D. O. Plaza

Memorial Hospital receives from

the Department of Health (DOH)

Caraga Region an award

recognizing the PHO for achieving

the highest immunization coverage

in Caraga Region on Measles

Rubella Supplemental

Immunization Activity (MRSIA)

for 2011, with 98.12 percent.

Before that, Caraga Center for

Health and Development was also

recognized as the number one

performer in the entire country, and

Agusan del Sur is the highest in the

entire region. But before anyone

knows, PHO-Agusan del Sur has

been consistently on the top since

2004 delivering the same services.

Another award that the

PHO-Agusan del Sur presented

during the Monday flag raising

ceremony is the plaque of

recognition for its management in

sustaining the revolving trust fund

that started in 2003 called the local

health system development fund

(LHSD), funded by the Inter-local

Health zone, the DOH, the health

sector reform project and the

provincial hospital trust fund

funded by the provincial

government.

The LHSD was

established through a District

Health Board Resolution No. 01

series of 2002 requesting the five-

member municipal LGUs to

allocate funds for medicines and

supplies for Philhealth-enrolled

patients including medicare sa

masa admitted at the D. O. Plaza

Memrial Hospital. As result, seed

capital reached up to more than

P1.8 Million where P205,000 as

five- municipal LGUs share,

ABNER M. CAGA Regional Director

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P100,000 Center for Health and

Development-Caraga share, P1

Million from Health Sector Reform

Project share and another P500,000

from the provincial government of

Agusan del Sur. The P500,000 will

be sourced-out from the hospital

income every year after the

provincial government gave the

amount as seed money.

Another recognition

received by the PHO-AdS is the

amount of P997,400 handed over to

Dr. Esparagoza by the DOH-

Caraga as DOH counterpart for the

enrolment of 1,629 indigent

families who were recognized

based on the Community-Based

Management System.

To date, Agusan del Sur is

recognized to have reached

universal coverage required by

Philhealth, where Philhealth

Sabado program has contributed

much. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

NFA-Caraga chief urges employees to ma ke most of resources

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, August 15 (PIA) - NFA Caraga Regional Director Javier Lozada, jr., urged employees to make the most of the resources of their office.

Lozada shared this

message in a turn-over ceremony

held recently in Surigao del Sur

between then Provincial Manager

Raymundo Cotianco and newly re-

instated Provincial Manager

Sebastian Solano, Jr.

According to RD Lozada,

even if NFA Budget was slashed in

favors of the Conditional Cash

Transfer (CCT), his administration

will continue to push on with the

enhancement of their respective

offices.

RD Lozada also suggested

to employ “multi-tasking” as an

extra effort referri ng to the present

lean staffing.

He added that “initiative is

not only limited to managers” but

expected of an employee. Lozada

emphasized, the main role of

managers is direction-

setting. (Radyo ng Bayan /PIA

Surigao del Sur)

Agusan del Norte solons, LGU execs sound alarm on eviction of NFA granaries, ask P -Noy for help

BUTUAN CITY, AUGUST 15 - In a memorandum for President Aquino signed jointly on July 27, 2011, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr, Agusan del Norte Gov. Erlpe John M. Amante, Rep. Jose S. Aquino II (1st Dist.) and Rep. Angelica Rosedelle A. Matba (2nd Dist.) joined the PAFC and GRECON in saying that the eviction of NFA warehouses in Libertad here will unduly disrupt the food security program in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte and adversely affect peace and order. They urged the President to amend Proclamation No. 725 as requested by PAFC and GRECON in order to confirm NFA’s continued use of the site where two grains facilities, each with a capacity of 100,000 bags of rice, are situated.

The petitions arose after

the local PNP authorities demanded

of NFA to vacate the area so that it

could put up its own training and

dormitory buildings. The PNP

asserted the claim saying that it is

included in the seven-hectare site

allegedly allocated to it. It was

learned however that under

Proclamation No. 725 issued in

1960 it was the defunct Philippine

Constabulary, then an organic part

of the Armed Forces of the

Philippines, that was given the

portion of the military reservation

that was previously created under

Proclamation No. 526.

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ONE MINDANAO


In 1979, the AFP granted

NFA permission to use a portion of

the military reservation comprising

16,448 square meters for its

operations. On the basis of the

permit, NFA constructed the

warehouses and since then NFA

has been in continuous possession.

The AFP has not revoked the

permit up to this time. NFA

Regional Director Javier P. Lozada,

Jr. said that the construction of

similar warehouses will cost an

estimated P50 Million excluding

the cost of the land and its

development. NFA authorities

could not ascertain if funds could

be available for the purpose nor

could a suitable alternative site be

found. In the meantime, the

operations to keep the supply of the

staple in the market would be

disrupted.

Doubts have been

expressed on the legal standing of

PNP to evict NFA since the land is

a military reservation and that the

1987 Constitution abolished the

Philippine Constabulary, creating

in its place the PNP but

categorically classifying it as a

purely civilian agency. Military

reservations pertain to the

patrimonial property of the State

and are absolutely under the control

of the President of the Philippines

being lands of the public domain.

The Agusan del Norte

officials see the amendment of

Proclamation No. 725 by another

presidential proclamation affirming

NFA’s right to stay in the site as

the most expeditious way to settle

the emerging controversy. (NFA-

13/PIA-Caraga

Surigao Norte to receive aid from AusAID

SURIGAO CITY, August 15 (PIA) - The province of Surigao del Norte is set to receive an incentive grant under the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF), a facility funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID), Gov. Sol Matugas said recently.

Matugas said the incentive

grant costs around AUD 1,134,087

(Australian Dollars) or an

equivalent of P49, 015,240.00 in

addition to the P50 million grant

fund in the second year (FY 2011-

2012) of the PRMF.

In a letter from Andrew

Egan, Development Cooperation

Counsellor of AUSAID, the PRMF

informed the governor that the

province has fully achieved its

targets after having been assessed

of its performance in the first year

of implementation. Based on this

performance – based program, the

province will continue to receive

base grant and incentive grant

funds.

It could be recalled that

Surigao del Norte is one of the

seven (7) pilot provinces in the

country for this AUSAID program.

With the recent addition of three

(3) more provinces as pilot, the

Provincial Government under the

watch of Governor Matugas, will

continue to achieve the targets set

by this five-year program.(PPDO-

Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del

Norte)

Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas. Forecast: Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Light to moderate winds blowing from the Southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the South to Southeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST issued at 5:00 a.m., 15 Aug. 2011

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Documents

One Mindanao - August 15, 2011