One Mindanao - December 1, 2015

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

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

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

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

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

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

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

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

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE 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

DOLE-13 to hold Walk-for-a-Cause, a barangay to benefit proceeds

GSIS pursues regular dialogue with members

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NorMin stakeholders walk for peace, environment

PNoy to share PH resilience in disasters at COP21

DOST’s science and tech fair in Mindanao13

By Jennifer Gaitano:

Cover Story

SOUTHERN SOCCSKSARGEN

CARAGA

INFOCUS

WESTERN

NATIONAL

PaskuJuan in Davao Region to gather 2,000 Pantawid beneficiaries

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Contents

By: Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

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252,000 mangrove seedlings planted in Pagadian

By: Gideon C. Corgue

21 Philippines now No. 7 in “gender equality”

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By: Michelle Love Hilario

By: Noel B. Najarro

OUR COVER

By: Perlita B. Changco

4 December 1, 2015One Mindanao

Amidst the rains, students, teachers, government and non- government organizations, and religious groups in

Cagayan de Oro City walked together from the Provincial Capitol Grounds of Misamis Oriental to Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro on November 26, 2015 as an opening in celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace in the region.

5December 1, 2015 One Mindanao

By: Michelle Love Hilario

NorMin stakeholders walk for peace, environment

Amidst the rains, students, teachers, government and non- government organizations, and religious groups in

Cagayan de Oro City walked together from the Provincial Capitol Grounds of Misamis Oriental to Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro on November 26, 2015 as an opening in celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace in the region.


Interfaith prayers for peace begun as the participants arrived at the Kiosko Kagawasan. Different groups – Lumads, Muslims, and Christians unite for peace through prayers in the endeavor towards peace in Mindanao.

The gathering has emphasized the Lumads, Muslims, and Christian may have different traditions and beliefs, but despite of these differences, there exist common thing among us all, and that is our faith.

With that common faith, all

hope for peace in Mindanao.

With this year’s theme: “Mindanaoans Aspirations for Peace: Kalinaw sa Dios – Katawhan – Kinaiyahan,”Archbishop Antonio Ledesma SJ DD further discussed on the theme.

Archbishop Ledesma said the activity on Mindanao Week of Peace started on the year 1998 - 1999.

Each year since then, the Mindanao Week of Peace continues throughout Mindanao because this is the organization of Bishops Ulama Forum long ago


until now.

The purpose of this is to show our unity in all sectors in all community in consideration for peace in Mindanao, the Archbishop said.

“Ang katawhan mao ang pinaka importante apan walay kalambuan alang sa katawhan kung walay kalinaw ug karun kita ginahagit sa pag amping sa kinaiyahan,” he said.

(People are the most important. However, there is no development for the people if there is no peace. And now, we are

also challenged in safeguarding our environment) “We have to be reminded always that we Muslims, Christians, and Lumads are one in hope, one in aspirations, and live a life that is vibrant with peace of mind. Let us continue to live harmoniously with love, respect and understanding with one another,”says National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) in region 10 Director Ombra C. Gandamra.

“Today, we can hear lots of chaos from one place to another. There is a need for us to motivate


other people in spreading peace particularly in Mindanao since we know that there is a conflict between Muslims and Christians especially the rebels and others. We need peace and that is why I am here,” says Kristal Baldon, a student from Camaman-an National Highs School.

Meanwhile, participants from different groups gather together, extending their right thumb connecting one hand to another as a sign of peace which symbolizes that each people is part in creating peace--the kind

of peace that will be shared to everybody – Muslim, Christian, and Lumad united as one. Mindanao Week of Peace is being celebrated annually throughout Mindanao from the last Thursday of November until the first Wednesday of December per Presidential Proclamation No. 127. The proclamation stipulates that the government recognizes the common aspirations of Mindanaoans to live in peace, unity and harmony with each


other regardless of status in life, religion, or culture and in order to raise consciousness for a culture of peace among the peoples of Mindanao.

It provides that all government agencies and its instrumentalities, as well as civil society based in Mindanao, are enjoined and encouraged to engage in relevant and meaningful activities in this annual celebration.

One Mindanao10 December 1, 2015

MANILA -- The recent hosting of the Philippines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) expanded the country’s opportunities for trade in Latin America.

“We have numerous products that can be showcased to those countries and because of APEC, we have tapped those markets

(Marami tayong mga products na makikilala sa mga bansang iyon at dahil dito sa APEC, marami tayong na-tap na market),” Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Habitan

said. During the APEC Leader’s

APEC expanded opportunities for the Philippines in Latin America---DOF Asec. Habitan


Week, the Philippines signed a Letter of Intent on Enhancing Trade Relations with Chile. Through this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines and the General Directorate for International Economic Relations (Direcon) of Chile will continue their talks in 2016 and develop a framework for a mutually beneficial trade agreement between both countries. `The Philippines is also welcoming two business agreements with Mexico, which both nations signed earlier this year.

According to the foreign trade statistics of the Philippines, $48.175 billion or 80.8 percent of the country’s total external trade in the first half of 2015 came from APEC member economies.

The country’s top trading partner from APEC was Japan with $8.765 billion or 14.7

percent share of the APEC trade followed by the United States of America with $7.743 billion or 13.0 percent share.

On the other hand, the country’s trade with APEC member economies from Latin America are trailing behind. Among trading partners, Mexico ranked no. 16 with $ 226.47 million (0.4 %); Chile was at no. 19 with $51.57 million (0.1 %); and Peru was at no.20 with $7.23 M.

Habitan also said that the APEC meetings held in the country renewed our historical ties with the Latin America.

“Our history and culture resembles that of our Latin American partners in APEC. So during our hosting of APEC, especially during leader’s week, when we converse with them we heard them saying ‘this looks so much like home. (Marami kasi sa ating history at sa ating culture


ay kapareho ng ating mga Latin American partners dito sa APEC. So sa pagkikita-kita natin during the leader’s week, matutuwa ka kasi pag makakausap mo sila sasabihin nila “this looks so much like home).”

Habitan was guest at the Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan yesterday. Kapihan airs live every

Friday over Radyo ng Bayan DZRB 738 AM from 10am to 11am, and delayed telecast over PTV4 from 7 pm to 8pm, and IBC 13 from 10.30 to 11.30 pm. (Andrea Lynne Reposo/Media ng Bayan Operations Center)


PARIS, France -- President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived here on Sunday for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to share valuable insights on how the country has so far been putting up with the serious challenges posed by climate change. “Ibabahagi natin sa ibang mga bansa ang ating karanasan sa pagharap at pagbangon sa

matitinding kalamidad,” the President said in a statement.

PNoy to share PH resilience in disasters at COP21


Aquino would be joining today, over a hundred heads of state and government to further discuss climate change mitigation proposals.

“Magandang pagkakataon po ang mga pagtitipon sa Paris upang muling humakbang at idiin ang halaga ng pagkakaisa ukol sa climate change,” he added.

The President would spearhead as well the Climate Vulnerable Forum high-level

event on behalf of other developing countries most affected by frequent and intense natural disasters owing to climate change.

The COP21, otherwise known as the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference runs from November 30 to December 11 amid an extremely heightened security across the French capital.

France underwent a series of terrorist attacks perpetrated


by the Islamic State a couple of weeks ago and the presence of world leaders in COP21 has been considered a significant expression of solidarity to the French government following the tragedy.

“Ipapaabot natin ang ating pakikidalamhati sa kanilang mamamayan sa karumal-dumal na pangyayari sa kanilang bansa kamakailan lang. Nakikiisa po tayo sa kanila sa pagkondena sa ganitong karahasan na dulot ng pansariling interes ng masasamang elemento,” President Aquino said.

Apart from his speaking engagements, business meetings with French, Japanese, and Irish companies would also keep President Aquino occupied during his working visit here.

He would witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Bases Conversion Development

Authority and the French organization, Vivapolis, for the development of the Green City project in Clark, Pampanga

Aquino would wrap up his official activities in the French capital before moving to Rome, Italy for a Filipino community event as well as meet with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. In the coming days, President Aquino will be in Vatican City for a reciprocal visit to His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace, with climate change also expected to figure prominently in their discussion.

Pope Francis has recently issued an encyclical regarding his concerns on climate change especially as it affects the poorer sectors of the world population. He has also spoken about violent extremism and the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe. (PRC/PCOO/PND)

16 One Mindanao December 1, 2015

DOST’s science and tech fair in Mindanao

DOST Region IX will be spearheading the S&T Fair to be held in Palacio del Sur, Marcian Garden Hotel in Zamboanga City, and which carries the theme “Philippines: A Science

Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness.”One of the major activities is a SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program) Consultative Dialogue for all

The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) mantra, “Agham na Ramdam!” is truly on its way to make science and technology felt by Zamboangueños and everyone throughout Mindanao with the 2015 Mindanao Cluster Science and Technology (S&T) Fair slated from December 3-5, 2015.

17One MindanaoDecember 1, 2015

existing SETUP beneficiaries, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in Mindanao. SETUP is a program of DOST which extends assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises in the country to upgrade product quality and boost competitiveness, as well as improve production processes. Assistance is given in the form of funding, technology upgrade, and capability training.There will be project visits to SETUP beneficiaries within Zamboanga Sibugay, namely Complementary Food Processing Plant in Tungawan, Mon-Mon Bakeshoppe and Snack Haus in Ipil, and Philippine Pioneer Rubber Product Corporation in La Paz, Naga. Another project visit

will also be conducted at the Coral Reef Res to ra t i on Project in Sta. Cruz Island.E x h i b i t s , a campus s c i e n c e j o u r n a l i s m s e m i n a r -w o r k s h o p , and forums entitled “In the Specific Case of Research,

are Colleges and Universities Relevant?” and “Developing an Innovation Ecosystem through Science and Technology,” are some of the other activities during the fair.Mindana, via the Zamboanga Peninsula and DOST-IX, opens its doors to welcome everyone to the 2015 Mindanao Cluster S&T Fair and make them aware of S&T’s impact in their everyday life and seize opportunities that will make their lives better through science, technology and innovation. (S&T Media Service)


Agusan del Norte Police undergo compli-ance evaluation process

BUTUAN CITY-- The Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office un-derwent the 2-days compliance evaluation process starting today, Monday.

By: Noel B. Najarro

The activity held at the Resource and Learning Center of the Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office, Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, this city is conducted by the members of the Police Regional Office 13 Technical

Working Group and the 13th RPSMU. During the entrance briefing held this morning at the aforementioned venue, attended by the Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Office key officials, headed


by its Acting Provincial Director PSSupt. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the Audit Team headed by PSSupt. Arthur M. Sanchez, chief of the Regional Police Community Relations Division (RPCRD) and PSupt. Marco B. Archinue, chief of the 13th RPSMU and members of the Provincial Police Advisory Council. The participants were welcomed by SSupt. Marbil and the key officers of the Agusan del Norte PPO were introduced by PSupt. Rudy T. Cuyop, ADN PPO Deputy Director for Administration. The audit team members were introduced by PSupt. Archinue who also briefed the participants on the purpose and mechanics of the performance audit. PSSupt. Sanchez served as the moderator during the open forum following Supt. Archinue’s briefing. Other activities of the entrance briefing included a focus group discussion, interviews of the key officers, the performance audit which will comprise the documents review, on-site visits and personnel interviews by the audit team. An exit briefing will

also be conducted on Tuesday afternoon which will comprise the presentation of findings and outputs, an open forum and the guidance on the next steps by the audit team leader. The composition of the audit team from the PRO 13 includes PSSupt. Ernesto V. Flores, the Regional Chief of the Directorial Staff (RCDS) 13, Asst. Team Leader PSSupt. Arthur M. Sanchez, PSSupt. Leo M. Francisco, PSSupt. Romaldo Bayting, PSupt. Ramir P. Perlas, PSupt. Marco B. Archinue, PO3 Honorio B. Campos, PO3 Philip C. Ecleo, PO3 Brian A. Sitones and PO1 Arthur Elmedulan. (PNA)


DOLE-13 to hold Walk-for-a-Cause, a barangay to benefit proceeds By: Jennifer Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – In support to its Labor Prevention and Elimination Program implemented in the barangays, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga will be conducting a region-wide ‘Walk for a Cause’ on December 16, 2015, 6:15 a.m. from the city’s Guingona Park to DOLE’s regional office, where a short program will follow. “This activity is in support of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program of the department especially on the identified barangays in the region with the existence of Child Labor. All five DOLE provincial field offices in Caraga will simultaneously conduct the said walk for a cause,” disclosed Keith Duran, DOLE-Agusan del Norte field office head. Duran further revealed that participants will pay a minimum registration fee of P20.00. Proceeds from the registration fee will be given to Barangays Dulag,

Dumalagan, and Lumbucan, all of this city to help them eliminate existing child laborers and send these children back to school. Said activity is anchored on the theme “Ang Bata Amomahon ug Paeskwelahon, Dili Patrabahoon (Children must be taken cared of, send to school, and not let them work)” For more information, DOLE-Agusan del Norte can be reached at telephone numbers: (085) 341-3198 or 300-0013.


Philippines now No. 7 in “gender equality”BUTUAN CITY -- The Philippines has now improved in terms of “gender equality,” a regional development council top official said in a forum on Wednes-day.

By: Noel B. Najarro

Ms. Edna Hontiveros, co-chairperson of the RDC-GADCC here, in her message during the Regional Development Council-Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC) and Men Opposed To Violence Everywhere (MOVE) initiated fun-walk to celebrate the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, said that the country had risen some notch higher in terms of gender equality in the international scene. “From being number nine during the previous years, now we have improved our place to number seven according to a United Nation’s latest list,” Hontiveros said. Though she admitted that we still have so many things which needed to be

done in order to improve the rank higher, yet according to her that it is already encouraging

that the country had consistently placed ourselves at the top ten. Hontiveros calls on all the participants, the other stakeholders as well as the community that we in the region should be involved in the active participation of ending violence against women and their children and to improve further our ranking on gender equality, particularly here in our region. “We should always have this in our minds, not only during this period where we are celebrating the 18-day campaign to end the violence against our women, but on the rest of our days as this will contribute to the well-being and peace to our families and eventually to our communities,” Hontiveros said. (PNA)





ZAMBOANGA CITY – “We are undertaking the yearly celebration of the regional children’s congress to promote and showcase children’s talents, from wherever they are in the region,” said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional director Zenaida Arevalo during the congress held at the Zamboanga Ecozone and Freeport Authority (ZAMBOECOZONE) last November 20.

Children’s congress showcases kids’ talents from region 9

By Felipo David G. Malcampo


During the congress, children coming from key towns and cities in the region including Dipolog City, Dapitan City, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City converged at the Ecozone and performed in competitions such as the speech choir, dance sport and show and tell. In a message read by Councilor Roel Natividad, Sr., Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar praised the DSWD for the yearly conduct of the congress. “We are sharing our felicitations to the DSWD for continuously promoting children’s welfare in the region,” she said. The message continued “we have been advocating for programs to make children’s aspirations

a reality today,” citing that under her administration, security, health and education are the main thrusts. “We believe that if our youth have access to quality education, then they will be equipped with the knowledge and skills for a better and brighter future,” the mayor said in a statement. “As elders, we are responsible for the children and the youth, we

should endeavor to mould them into peace-loving citizens.” Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) city director Mohammad Taha Arakama said that the DILG “fully supports programs on children, since if children are well-taken cared of, the community in turn will be the same”. The DSWD’s flagship poverty-alleviation program is the Pantawid Pamilya, which provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor families nationwide. The program provides for the children’s good health and to ensure their continuous education for a brighter future out of poverty.


By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Committed to treating our environment with love and utmost care, a group of 200 people from national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and other well-meaning citizens participated on Friday in the mangrove tree planting activity here.

Some 2,000 mangrove seedlings were planted along the wetlands mangrove area in barangay White Beach. The mangrove tree planting is part of the lined up of activities for the celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace which runs from Nov. 26 to December 10. Monsignor Foelan Echavez, Catholic convenor of Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace (IFSP) also said the mangrove tree planting activity was “part of our massive wake-up call for everyone to protect and conserve our natural resources as an effective defense against the ill effects of climate change.” “The activity is a symbolic gesture of a deeper commitment of our people to environmental

protection,” he pointed out, adding “we take the keen interest not only in the cause of environmental protection, but also implement this ideal in action by encouraging the barangay officials and residents living in the area to take care of the planted mangrove seedlings.” Meanwhile, City Councilor Cesar Dacal Jr., who represented Mayor Romeo Pulmones in his message said he was grateful to the IFSP for spearheading the initiative saying “it does not only foster unity of all sectors of society, but it also demonstrates a global concern for the protection of our environment.”

2,000 mangrove seedlings planted in Pagadian


“We are stewards of the God’s creation. We care for the earth and act in ways that will restore and help protect the environment by planting mangrove trees,” Dacal urged. As a gesture of support to the climate change mitigation and adaptation of the national government, Dacal disclosed that the Pulmones administration had strictly implemented Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as “Solid Waste Management Act of 2001” where institutional mechanisms for proper treatment of waste and waste disposal were introduced to the 54 barangays such as segregation, transport,

collections, disposal and recycling procedures. “Although at the start of the implementation of the project, it drew public resistance, eventually the constituents learned to appreciate its benefits,” he observed. Dacal urged the participants to show to the world their love for the environment by actively doing adaptation and mitigation measures saying “it is our duty and responsibility to protect and preserve the earth that we live in not only for our survival but to save the future generation.”


Mindanao Film Festival presents films from the provinces

DAVAO CITY- Short films shot and pro-duced in the prov-inces in Region-XI will take the spot-light during the 11th Mindanao Film Festi-val.

Among these films from the provinces include a selection coming from the Nabunturan In-dependent Film Exchange (Nabi-filmex ), a film festival held in Nabunturan, the capital town of Compostela Valley Province. These films from Nabifilmex in-clude Supot, Tami-aw, Pangagho and Pantok, these films were cre-ated by Comvalenyo filmmakers

deriving from local stories. Tami-aw a short docu-nar-rative film about a conditional cash transfer (CCT) ben-eficiary won special citation on docu-

mentary and the NCCCA Sulyap Kultura Award in the recent Nabi-filmex while Supot was awarded as Best DepEd Comval film. Another Comval shot short film titled “Pakot” will also be screened in the festival it tells the story of a young volunteer teacher serving a hinterland in-digenous community in Comval. Pagsalig a short film about


the last faith healer in Talikud Island was created by a produc-tion team composed of personnel coming from the Davao del Norte Provincial Information Office, the film was shot in the scenic Tali-kud Island in Davao del Norte. Another short from Davao del Norte is the student film “Usahay sa Tulay” created by Panabo City National High School students under the auspices of the Popu-lation Commission (PopCom). “Usahay sa Tulay” is the regional representative to Popcom’s Ado-lescent Health and Youth Devel-opment Film Festival in Manila. These films from the provinc-es are among the nearly 27 films to be screened in the film festi-val which will be held on Decem-

ber 9-15 at Gaisano Mall Cinema 6. Aside from films from Davao Region, various shorts produced across the different parts of Min-danao will also be shown. Films from Iligan City, Surigao del Sur and South Cotabato will also be shown. The Mindanao Film Festival now on its 11th year is the coun-try’s longest running regional film festival, it is organized by the Mindanao Film and Televi-sion Development Foundation together with the National Com-mission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Davao Autism Interven-tion Center Foundation Inc (DAC-FI). (PIA/RG Alama)

PaskuJuan in Davao Region to gather 2,000 Pantawid beneficiariesDAVAO DEL NORTE—Some 2,000 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya Program have been invited to showcase the products during the Pasku-Juan Bazaar on November 29, 2015 at Tagum Trade Cultural Center in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Exhibitors are also benefi-ciaries of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) through which Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are trained either to become en-trepreneurs or be trained for employment.

Guesting during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, SLP Regional Proj-ect Coordinator Raynel C. Ayun-gao assured that products to be displayed on Sunday by SLP beneficiaries will be of quality worthy to be purchased by con-


sumers and traders as well. “What’s good for our benefi-ciaries is that they are given the chance to showcase their prod-ucts,” he said. Among their products are handicrafts, processed foods and agricultural products,” he said. Though most of the SLP ben-eficiaries present will be coming from Davao del Norte, some will be coming from the provinces of Davao del Sur, Compostela Val-ley and Davao Oriental. Paskujuan 2015 program in-charge Wilfredo Planas in the same forum said Paskujuan will simultaneously be held nation-wide, that will be opened with a Christmas show featuring the DSWD artists and a magic show. As the show goes on, the ba-zaar shall have been opened for selling and will go on the whole day. SLP PaskuJuan Bazaar par-ticipants together with invited guests and DSWD officials will come together during lunch for the Boodle Salu-Salo afterwhich tutorial on various handicraft-making will follow. SLP participants will get to learn Christmas Holiday ideas on how to make gift-bags, coco quire, plastic flower pots, pillow-case, puto kutsinta and Christ-

mas décor. Meanwhile, SLP Davao del Norte Project Coordinator Dexter Lara revealed that DSWD had poured a total of P423,590,670.39 funds for livelihood assistance to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries to take entrepreneurial or career path. “This is government inter-vention for our 4Ps beneficiaries to have sustainable livelihood,” he said. (PIA 11/Jeanevive Du-ron-Abangan)


DOST to inventors: Showcase your creations By: Danilo E Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Dec 1 — The regional office of the Department of Science and Technology is urging inventors, manufacturers, researchers and others to put on show their in-ventions.

Dr. Zenaida P. Hadji Raof-Laidan, DOST 12 region-al director, made the call as she an-nounced the conduct of the 2016 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE) on February 16-19 at the KCC Conven-tion Center in Gen-eral Santos City.

Dr. Laidan said, the event is an op-portunity for inven-tors and developers to showcase their


GSIS pursues regular dialogue with membersBy: Perlita B. Changco

scientific and technological cre-ations.

It is also a chance for the academic and research and de-velopment communities to pres-ent breakthroughs in R&D, she added.

Supported by the DOST-Tech-nology Application and Promotion Institute, RICE is open to ama-teur and professional inventors in SOCCSKSARGEN Region who wish to highlight their ingenuity and craft through their research and locally developed creations.

“The regional contest serves as the qualifying round for the Na-tional Inventions Contest and Ex-hibits (NICE),” Laidan said.

The RICE is divided into catego-ries: invention, utility model, in-dustrial design, creative research,

research for high school students, and creative research for college students.

Winners will be composed of one qualifier and two runners-up per category. Cash prizes and plaques await regional winners.

The deadline of submission of entries is on December 20, 2015.

For inquiries you may contact DOST 12 at telephone numbers, (064) 421-6908 or (064) 421-2711 or send email to [email protected] or [email protected].

Contact numbers of the PSTCs are as follows: South Cotabato – (083) 228-2342; SarGen - (083 )554-7997; Sultan Kudarat - 0905 835 6458; and North Cotabato – (064) 288-5174. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from DOST 12)

COTABATO CITY, Dec 1 – To regain the trust and confidence of its members and pensioners all over the country, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) continuously conducts consultative meetings and dialogues through its regional and municipal offices nationwide.

On November 18, hundreds of the GSIS-Cotabato Branch Office members and pensioners were in

attendance during the four-hour stakeholders’ dialogue at Alnor Convention Center, this city.


The dialogue aims to provide an update on the initiatives and re-forms undertaken by GSIS to fos-ter closer ties with members and other stakeholders.

According to Senior Vice-Pres-ident for Visayas and Mindanao Operations, Lawyer Dionisio Eb-dane, Jr., when Pres. Aquino as-sumed office in 2010, he vowed that the GSIS will be more trans-parent, more consultative and more member-focused to be of better service to its clients.

“The administration creates reconciliation task forces to help reduce the volume of inaccurate statements of accounts from P30-billion in 2010, P11-billion in 2011, P8.9-billion in 2012, PhP3.6-billion in 2013 and finally decreased to PhP2.4-billion in 2014 and hope-fully, a billion lower this end of 2015”, Ebdane said.

He added, the GSIS posting efficiency rate increased from 83.51% in 2010 to 97% of August 2015 - because of the sustained database cleansing, closer coordi-nation with the Agency Authorized Officers (AAOs), distribution of Statement of Loan Accounts (SO-LAs) and signing of Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) and Memo-randum of Understanding (MOUs) with suspended agencies.

Aside from presenting the 2014 accomplishments, Edbane dis-cussed the reason behind the sus-pension of an office or department

that affects personnel and em-ployees.

“The agency that cannot pay the premiums in just 1-month will be considered a suspended agency and once the agency is suspend-ed, the members or employees will not receive their dividends and cannot apply for any type of loans,” he emphasized.

He said, there were 315 sus-pended agencies in 2010, 199 in 2013 and 79 as of October 2015.

“Many of these suspended agencies are in Mindanao particu-larly the provinces under the Au-tonomous Region in Muslim Mind-anao (ARMM),” he stressed.

The SVP appealed for the assis-tance of local government units in addressing the prerennial problem of non-remittance of government share in the insurance of employ-ees.

“We are asking the assistance of Gov. Mujiv Hataman and the officials of the Local Govern-ment Units (LGUs) of each prov-ince to help us resolve this before Pres. Aquino ends his term next year,”Ebdane stressed.

The said dialogue was the sec-ond such meeting in 2015. (IEroy/PBChangco-PIA Cotabato City)

Documents

One Mindanao - December 1, 2015