One Mindanao - December 19, 2011

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info Blitz

Northern Mindanao

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

2/F 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]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN)

Provincial Capitol Compound 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)

Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

Cover Story

Youth camp in N.

Cotabato teaches peace

Executive Editor ……......... EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor ……......... ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors ……....... NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors …... Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editors ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

Dani DoguilesCentral Mindanao page 4

Today’s issue...Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 Vol. 1 No. 127

DEDoguiles, Central Mindanao

Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing envoy of the People’s Republic of China

DEDoguiles, Central Mindanao

Police establishes lounge for retirees 15

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

P3-M inilaan para sa programang pangkapayapaan sa Tupi, So. Cotabato

CDA-Caraga chief says more trainings were given to coops in 2011

Jocelyn P. Alvarez, Western MindanaoNat’l gov’t bent on implementing new policy on PhilHealth sponsorship starting 2012

“Palarong Panlalawigan” opens in Sindangan townFranklin P. Gumapon , Western Mindanao

Death toll in Cagayan de Oro flood rises to 336Elaine O. Ratunil, Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy, Northern Mindanao

NDRRMC issues final severe bulletin for SendongElaine O. Ratunil, Northern Mindanao

R-XI disaster councils urged to lend hand to Sendong-stricken Region 10Jeanevive duron-abangan, Southern Mindanao

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

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10

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FE Abkilan, Caraga RegionPNoy to visit CdO, Iligan tomorrow-22

Aquino swears in Hataman as officer-in-charge of ARMM13

19

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4 Monday, December 19, 2011ONE MINDANAO

Youth camp in N. Cotabato teaches peace

Cover Story

For Melody delas Alas, a student of Linangcob National High School in barangay Linangcob, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, the recent provincial leadership camp was an eye-opener.

by Dani Doguiles

5 Monday, December 19, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story

She said the leadership peace camp did not only help her gain a better perception about other tribes, especially Muslims, but also boosted her confidence as a student. Ac-cording to her, she will return to her school proud of her experi-ence. Delas Alas is one of the 210 high school student leaders who have participated in the First Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza leadership peace camp at the provincial capitol on December 1 to 3. Participants were from pub-

lic and private secondary schools in the 17 municipalities and one city of North Cotabato. Many of them said they were overwhelmed with the opportunity that the provin-cial government has provided them, which taught them to re-spect other people’s culture and improve the manner by which they should treat other people. The high school peace camp is in accordance with Gov. Em-mylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza’s advocacy to start peace edu-cation of North Cotabateños at young age.


From April to May this year, more than 24,000 fifth graders in province attended the first summer kids peace camp of the provincial LGU and the provin-cial office of the Department of Education. The three-day peace camp held in relation to “search for the path of peace” focused on several topics including un-derstanding cultural diversi-ty, the government and how it works for them (students), cli-mate change, and leadership in schools with emphasis on lead-ership styles and anger man-agement.

After each session, students are allowed to exchange views regarding the topics presented to them to gain real grasp of is-sues. At the closing program, delas Alas , along with three other students were given leadership awards, in recogni-tion of their efforts as council presidents in their respective schools. Also accorded leader-ship awards were Efren Temario of Ginatilan (Magpet) National High School, Irah Valleser of Kabacan National High School , and Paolo Javier of Kidapawan City National High School.


Also during the closing cer-emony, Ma. Ronora C. Comis-sion of President Roxas High School, who attended the camp as a teacher-guardian said, she is very thankful for the “noble” efforts of the provincial govern-ment to hold a peace leadership camp free of charge. She added, similar activities in Baguio City could have cost each student at least P20,000 to P25,000. The leadership peace camp

is an initiative of the present administration to guide partici-pants through an exploration of non-violent principles and an analysis of social change and peace building. Meanwhile, Vice Governor Gregorio T. Ipong in his mes-sage, likened participant to a lighted candle. “You are now lighted can-dles. With your experience and learning here, you have been equipped with skills and knowl-edge you need as you go through life’s journey. Please make use of what you have learned, don’t just keep them,” he asked the students. “We are all counting on you to help us achieve genuine and lasting peace,” the vice gover-nor ended.



Aquino to visit Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Tuesday

President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to visit typhoon-ravaged areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete tomorrow to personally oversee the ongoing relief efforts by the government and

inspect the damages wrought by the disaster, Malacañang said.

Presidential Spokes-man Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a news brief-ing on Monday in Mala-canang that the President

will be having briefings from local government officials in the said areas and will take some time to discuss with them their

concerns. “He (President Aqui-no) will be briefed also by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and

10 Monday, December 19, 2011

Development) there in Cagayan de Oro and he will fly to Iligan and then to Dumaguete to inspect the damages and also to provide relief efforts as well,” he added. Lacierda said the President would have wanted to visit as early as Sunday but the Presi-dential Security Group as well as the Department of National Defense ad-vised him to reschedule it for Tuesday citing bad weather conditions as the primary reason. After he was in-formed of the extent of the damages inflicted by storm ‘Sendong’ on the government and the peo-ple of Northern Mindan-ao, President Aquino has been in touch constantly with his Cabinet officials that were already on the ground. Lacierda said the President regularly gives instructions and receives updates from Interior and

Local Government Secre-tary Jesse Robredo, So-cial Welfare and Develop-ment Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and National Disaster Risk Reduction Manage-ment Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos who were already on the ground. “The President was very much aware of what was going on and he made sure that all relief efforts and all necessary efforts insofar as search and rescue are given to the people affected,” he stressed, dispelling talks that the Chief Executive was again missing in ac-tion in times of crisis. Lacierda, more-over, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “compre-hensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days

“to see if adequate ser-vice was provided for the people of Mindanao.” Lacierda, more-over, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “compre-hensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days. President Aquino, during his briefing at the NDRRMC headquar-ters last Saturday had already tasked Robredo and Science and Tech-nology Secretary Mario Montejo to review of the country’s weather fore-casting system. “We recognize that there have been a lot of deaths in Mindanao and therefore that (weath-er forecasting system) is something that we should really look into and the President wants that looked into,” he said. (HDC)


Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing envoy of the People’s Republic of China

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna on the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchiao in recognition of his important role in further

strengthening the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries.

In his farewell call at the Music Room of the Palace on Mon-day, Ambassador Liu received the Order of

Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu, Grand Cross (Gold Distinction) from President Aqui-no for outstanding ef-

forts in strengthening relations through the conduct of high lev-el meetings between the Philippines and


the Peoples’ Republic of China, the prepara-tions of visits of high-ranking officials from both sides including the State Visit of Presi-dent Aquino to China. The Chinese en-voy was regarded for his part in convening the bilateral consulta-tive mechanisms in-cluding Foreign Min-istry Consultations and facilitation activi-ties between the two countries in celebra-tion of the 35th Anni-versary of the Philip-pine-China diplomatic relations, the signing of key bilateral agree-ments and his con-structive role follow-ing the Hong Kong hostage crisis. The President also noted Ambassa-dor Liu’s efforts in en-hancing economic co-operation between the

two countries, making China one of the top trading partners of the Philippines and one of the largest source of development assis-tance. Ambassador Liu was accompanied by his wife, Wang Yihong and other officials of the Chinese embassy during his farewell call in Malacanang. Also present dur-ing the event were Foreign Affairs Secre-tary Albert del Rosa-rio and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, among oth-ers. Later, the incom-ing Ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Panama presented their respective Cre-

dentials to President Aquino. First to present his credentials was Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Mohamma-di who is on his sec-ond tour of duty to the country. Ambassador Mohammadi extended his President’s best regards to President Aquino, who in return, expressed gratitude in welcoming the envoy. Panamanian Am-bassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino More-no also presented his credentials to the President. The former maritime lawyer has served the Panama Maritime Authority be-fore assuming his po-sition as envoy to the country. Ambassador Moreno is married to a Filipina. (JCL)


Aquino swears in Hataman as officer-in-charge of ARMM

Newly appointed officer-in-charge

governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) took his oath of office before President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday in Malacanan Palace.

President Aqui-no administered the oath of office of Hataman, a for-mer Anak Mindanao

Party-list represen-tative, and Hadja Bainon Karon, who was appointed as OIC-regional vice

governor of ARMM. P r e s i d e n t i a l Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that


President Aquino has instructed the newly appointed OIC governor of ARMM to ensure the proper implemen-tation of reforms in the region. “He is a former congressman and he knows the poli-tics and the people of ARMM. We be-lieve that he could be a person who can advance the reforms in ARMM,”

Lacierda said dur-ing a press brief-ing. President Aqui-no signed into law on June 30 this year Republic Act 10153, postponing the elections set in August 2010 at the ARMM and synchro-nizing the elections to the national and local polls in May 2013. “The reason why we went for

a synchronization and also, in partic-ular, the ARMM, is to make sure that all the excesses of the past, all the corruption be erad-icated and make sure that ARMM … would really push to advance the wel-fare of the people from ARMM,” Laci-erda said. Under RA 10153, President Aquino is autho-rized to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) for the re-gional elective of-ficers of ARMM. Appointed OICs in ARMM will hold of-fice until the May 2013 synchronized elections. (CO)


In a press release sent today by P/Supt Resty Damaso of the PRO-12’s information office, said the cere-

mony was held at the police regional headquarter at Baran-gay Tambler, General Santos City on De-

cember 12. He said, it was held

in accordance with Proclamation No. 1172 “declaring November 25 to December 12 of each year as the 18-day campaign to end violence against wom-en.”

He added, the blow-ing of whistles was a symbolic gesture of a commitment to pre-vent VAW, to speak out against VAW, and help women suffering from VAW.

Police Chief Super-intendent Lester Cam-ba, deputy regional

Police blew whistles in support of VAW campaignby Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY – Officials and members of the Police Region-al Office 12 (PRO-12) recently blew whistles to show support to the campaign against violence on women (VAW).


director for adminis-tration of PRO-12, who led the whistle-blow-ing ceremony said, “Together, let us help our nation to build a better future. Let us stop abuse against women.”

He challenged all policemen to be “well-versed with the rights of women” and to be “fully equipped with full knowledge on where and how to re-port actual VAW cas-es.”

“Let us help and sympathize with [those who suffer] from that abuse and … help the victims seek assistance from service provid-

ers like us, social and health workers,” he said.

He also reminded them “to respect wom-en as we respect our mothers” and never to forget that “law enforcers are the pro-tectors of the abused,

weak, and innocent.” Besides the whistle

–blowing ceremony, PRO-12 personnel also joined in a sym-bolic sign-up campaign symbolic of their par-ticipation in the fight against VAW.

Police establishes lounge for retirees

KORONADAL CITY-- Police Regional Office – 12 has recently established a Pensioner’s Lounge inside Camp Fermin Lira in Barangay Tambler, General Santos City.

Police Chief Superin-tendent Rizaldo Tungala Jr., director of the Re-gional Finance Service Office (RSFO), which spearheaded the con-struction of the lounge

said, it was made in honor of police pension-ers , considered “un-sung heroes for hav-ing rendered service and dedicated three-fourths of their lives in

the cause of God, peo-ple, and country.”

The building which was inaugurated on December 14, accord-ing to P/Supt. Resty Damaso of PRO-12’s in-


formation office said, “ was established to pay tribute to the courage and gallantry the retir-ees manifested through the years.”

“This was also a thanksgiving for the ster-ling performance they have shown during the past years and seen that they are still commit-ted and dedi-cated in ensur-ing public safety and maintaining peace and order up to this time,” he added.

He said the RFSO 12 family do not only look for the morale and welfare of its personnel but also that of the personnel who had served the organization for many decades, which is why they decided to build a conducive place where retirees could rest. It should also serve as a satellite of-fice of the RFSO-12 ex-clusively to cater the needs of the retirees.

During the inaugu-ration, Tungala con-gratulated members of RFSO-12 for being awarded as the Best Regional Finance Ser-vice Office in the coun-try.

He told them, “You should not rest on your laurels. Continue doing

what is right, work for every peso of your sala-ry, so that when you bow out of the service, you have something good to look back to because of your accomplishments.”

Police Regional Di-rector P/CSupt. Ben-

jardi Mantele in his message said, “I thank all the persons who have supported the establishment of this building. I am so proud of the RSFO-12 for their hard work and initiative.”

“Let is serve our retirees because it

is through their ef-forts that the region has remained peace-ful and orderly,” he said. “This building is a proof that the police organization loves and cares for its retirees.” ( DEDoguiles)


P3-M inilaan para sa programang pangkapayapaan sa Tupi, So. CotabatoKORONADAL CITY -- Patunay na nagpapatuloy ang gawain ng pa-mahalaan sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao, tatlong milyong pisong”stimulus fund” ang nakatakdang ibinigay ng pamahalaan sa bayan ng Tupi, South Cotabato.

Ang pondong ay ini-laan sa pamamagitan ng Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) ng Office of the Presi-dential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), partikular para sa ku-munidad sa Barangay Palian, Tupi,

Kamakailan, nag-padala ng kinatawan si OPAPP Secretary Teres-ita Quintos-Deles kay South Cotabato Gov. Ar-thur Y. Pingoy Jr. upang pag-usapan ang tulong pinansyal sa Brgy. Pa-lian na dating apektado ng kaguluhan sa pagitan ng makakaliwang grupo at mga tropa ng goby-

erno at mapag-usapan kung paano maililipat ang naturang halaga para sa mga proyektong pangkaunlaran sa lugar.

Ang PAMANA ay pro-grama ng pamahalaang Aquino na naglalayong maibsan ang kahirapan partikular sa mga nay-on na apektado ng ar-madong kaguluhan sa pamamagitan ng com-munity empowerment. Layon din nito na masig-urong makakarating sa kumunidad ang kailan-gan at mas mabuting serbisyong panlipunan.

Nauna nang naka-tanggap ang Barangay Palian ng P4.9 milyon

mula sa United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)- ACT for Peace. Ginamit ng kumunidad sa pagbuo ng Mindan-ao Coco-Sugar Corpora-tion (MCSC) na ngayon ay ngayon ay nagpapa-bili nan g coco-sugar sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lalawigan at rehiyon.

Ayon kay Marcos Gabat, isang peace ad-vocate na itinalagang area supervisor ng MCSC, nagagalak sila sa hakbang ng OPAPP para sa karagdagang tulong sa Barangay Palian na sigurado aniyang mas magpapalago sa kanil-ang kabuhayan.

Umaasa silang magag-amit nila ang naturang pondo sa pagpapatayo ng isang training center na susuporta sa kanil-ang pangangailangan sa pagpapalago ng kanilang negosyo tulad ng kara-gdagang manggagawa, kasanasayan at teknolo-hiya. (DEDoguiles)


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Search is on for the 2012 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees by Nora CL Molde

The search for the 2012 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees is now on. This was announced by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Dr. Francisco T. Duque III.


Three awards cat-egories are at stake in-cluding the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or the Dangal ng Bayan Award and the Civil Service Com-mission Pagasa Award. The Awards for Out-staning Work Performance that of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contribu-tions which had nationwide impact on public interest,

security and patrimony. The contribution may be a suggestion, innovation, in-vention or superior accom-plishment. According to CSC, the Agency’s Pagasa Award is conferred on an individual or group of individual for outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one de-partment of the govern-ment. Meanwhile, the Award for Exemplary Con-duct and Ethical Behavior is the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or the Dangal ng Bayan Award. This award is conferred on an individual for performance of extraor-dinary act or public service and consistent demonstra-

tion of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under Republic Act (RA) No. 6713. In Caraga region, nominations may be sub-mitted to their regional of-fice located at Upper Doon-gan, Butuan City or to any of the CSC field offices in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Deadline for submis-sion of nominations is on April 30, 2012. The Search is man-dated in the 1987 Philip-pine Constitution, Execu-tive Order Nos. 292 and 508, s. 1992, as amended by Executive Order No. 77, s. 1993 and Republic Act No. 6713.

CDA-Caraga chief says more trainings were given to coops in 2011by Robert E. Roperos

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Caraga Regional Director Manuela Pelaez recently said they have conducted more trainings to local cooperatives in the region to ensure their effectivity and

productivity.


According to Dir. Pelaez, a total of 35 trainings were conducted to some 1,778 cooperative members and offi-cials region-wide as of October 2011. The CDA chief of the region also said

that in 2012, they will be conducting more trainings to those registered coopera-tives in an effort to provide them strate-gies, therefore, en-suring sustainability. With these de-velopments, Dir. Pe-

laez is hopeful that the participants will apply the knowl-edge and skills they learned in the train-ings to obtain a more effective and productive coopera-tive, thus sustaining the transaction. These CDA proj-ects support the eco-nomic agenda of the Aquino administra-tion that is featured in the Philippine De-velopment Plan. According to Pres. Benigno Aquino III, the plan serves as the Philippines’ guide in formulating policies and imple-menting develop-ment programs until the end of his term in 2016.


PNoy to visit CDO, Iligan tomorrow

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit tomorrow, Dec. 20, 2011, here and in Iligan City to lead the distribution of relief goods and assess the extent of damage brought by Typhoon Sendong.

Accompanying the president are Interior and Local Government Secre-tary Jesse Robre-

do, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Jul iano-Sol iman, Defense Secretary

Voltaire Gazmin, Health Secretary En-rique Ona and Min-danao Development Authority Secretary

by FE Abkilan


Luwalhati Antonino. He will be wel-comed by Cagayan de Oro City May-or Vicente Emano, EASTMINCOM Com-manding General MGen. Arthur Ta-baquero, 4th Infan-try Division (4ID) MGen. Victor Felix, Directorate for Inte-grated Police Oper-ations Dir. P/CSupt. Victorino Pangani-ban, Jr., PNP-10 Re-gional Director P/CSupt. Jufel Adria-tico, Tactical Opera-tions Group (TOG) Commander LTC El-pidio Talja, Jr., and Civil Aviation Au-thority Area Man-ager Naga Rascal at Lumbia Airport. The president will proceed imme-diately to the VIP lounge of TOG-4-

ID for the briefing on the Cagayan de Oro City situa-tion. National Di-saster Risk Reduc-tion Management Council executive director Usec. Ben-ito Ramos will brief the president on the effects of Ty-phoon Sendong in the city, including the status of relief operations, the im-mediate needs of the affected fami-lies, and the recom-mended short and long term solutions to the flooding in the city. Right after the briefing, the presi-dent will proceed immediately to Ili-gan City to person-ally see the on-go-ing relief efforts of

the government at Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) auditorium and as-sess the damages wrought by the di-saster in the area via aerial inspection. He will be joined by DND Sec. Gazmin and Usec Ramos. Afterwards, the president will be brought back to Ca-gayan de Oro City to visit the evacuees at the City Central School and lead the distribution of relief goods and interact with the evacuees. PNoy will then motored to Lumbia Airport to proceed to Dumaguete City for another presiden-tial engagement. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


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House Speaker Belmonte inducts JCISP 2012 National Board by Alma L. Tingcang

H ouse Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” R. Belmonte Jr. was the guest of honor and inducting officer during the 45th Induction Ceremonies of

the JCI Senate Philippines held at the Megayon Stage, Provincial Government Complex, Dao, this city on December 17, 2011.


Belmonte, who is also a JCI Senator in-ducted the 2012 Nation-al Board of the JCISP headed by JCI Sena-tor and Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio H. Cerilles. It can be recalled that Governor Cerilles was elected president of the JCI Senate in Panglao, Bohol last No-vember. In his speech, Belmonte said as far as the house is con-cerned, their objective is to make the Philip-pines more competitive in order to get more

investments. “It would mean jobs, economic activities for everybody. Together with competi-tiveness comes good infrastructure, good ed-ucation and good social services.” He said he has complete confidence in our own abilities, the abilities of fellow Filipi-nos. “Can you imagine, almost 10 million Filipi-nos valued everywhere in the world because of their abilities? Kung hindi man natin vina-value sometimes ang ating mga kababayans, they are well valued

everywhere!” drawing a loud cheer and ap-plause from the crowd. “As I said, we want to improve our compet-itiveness. Last Decem-ber 15, President Beni-gno Aquino III signed the budget for 2012. Since 1986, this is the first time that the presi-dent has ever signed a budget that early. Be-cause we worked early, we worked hard and we were able to produce it. Anong ibig sabihin nito? This means we will be able to release the money and get it going,” Belmonte said.


“Last year, na-huli tayo ng paggastos sa pera and it contrib-uted to a decline in our gross domestic product (GDP). Pero ngayon, the promise is that P150B will be released soon at nang ma-jumpstart na ang ating mga in-frastructure programs,” explained Belmonte. Talking about the impeachment issue, he cited the words of Plato saying, “where the law is subject to some other operative and has none of its own, the collapse of the state, in my view, is not far off. But if the law is the master of the government and the government is its slave, then the situation is full of promise…” The impeachment of the chief justice along with the president, vice president, heads of constitutional bodies including the ombuds-man is the only method mentioned in the consti-tution to remove them from office. “What we are talking about is that everybody is subject to accountability for what they do in office. This

process does not mean that they are guilty. It means they are be-ing given the chance to defend themselves, to prove themselves right. This is not a question of constitutional crisis or anything else. This is not a question of per-sonality at all. This is a democratic process at work. Nobody is above the law and everybody has to abide by the law,” Belmonte said. Congress, with 285 members where 188 voted for the filing of impeachment raps against Chief Justice Re-nato Corona is the most public of all institutions in our country where districts, party lists, all of them come together. The house speaker also noted that there are several members of Congress who are fellow Jaycees, even those in government service. At all levels, they got their first phase of politics in the Jaycees. He called on them to do more, to help ameliorate the condition of everybody in the country. “Sayang ang ating pinagkagal-

ingan sa pagiging JC at sa paglilingkod sa bayan kung hindi nating ipag-papatuloy ang gusto nating gawin. That is the challenge that I want to give you, tayong mga JCI senators, let’s be more active dahil tayo ay mga leaders. If we all strive to do this, even our post JC days will continue to be meaningful to us, meaningful to our com-munities and meaning-ful to our country,” he said in conclusion. The Junior Cham-ber International Sen-ate Philippines (JCISP) is an organization of JCI members who, in recog-nition of their outstand-ing achievements and contribution to the JCI movement have been awarded lifetime mem-bership as JCI senators. The following core values are imbued in every JC member : faith in God, brother-hood of man, individual freedom and dignity, government of laws, human personality and service to humanity. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo-Sur)


Nat’l gov’t bent on implementing new policy on PhilHealth sponsorship starting 2012

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The national government is bent on implementing starting next year the new PhilHealth insurance sponsorship policy involving local government units (LGUs) nationwide.

The new policy makes the National Housing Targeting Sys-tem (NHTS) survey re-sult as the government’s data base for the iden-tification of eligible Phil Health insurance ben-eficiaries. LGU sponsored PhilHealth insurance beneficiary is entitled to a one-year health insur-ance for P1,200, of which the LGU shoulders the P600 while the national government shoulders the remaining P600.

It can be recalled, the NHTS survey was done in 2009 purposely to identify the poorest of the poor and the gov-ernment is set to use the NHTS list in the national sponsorship program starting 2012. City Information Officer Sheila Cova-rrubias said “with the implementation and the city’s compliance to the new policy, some 20,000 beneficiaries of the city government’s PhilHealth insurance

program are set to lose their benefits starting January 2012. The city, at pres-ent, has 25,792 total number of PhilHealth insurance beneficiaries. The new policy also seeks to increase the insurance sponsorship from P1,200 per bene-ficiary to P2, 400 in the coming years, which means that each bene-ficiary will have bigger/higher amount allotted for them for their health insurance.

by Jocelyn P. Alvarez


Key officials of the Department of Educa-tion (DepED)-Zam-boanga del Norte divi-sion headed by Dr. Elsa Refugio-Cruz as well as the provincial and mu-

nicipal officials graced the opening ceremo-nies that followed a grand parade around the major thorough-fares in said town. Zamboanga del

Norte second district board member Ricky M. Mejorada III, who represented Governor Rolando E. Yebes, told the athletes, coaches and officiating officials

“Palarong Panlalawigan” opens in Sindangan town

by Franklin P. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY - The yearly “Palarong Panlalawigan” has been formally opened yesterday in Sindangan town with seven athletic delegations from secondary schools and four from elementary schools joining.


not to allow cheating in the conduct of the ath-letic competitions. He reminded them that “it is not how we win the game but how we play the game” that matters most in sports compe-titions. Atty. Crisologo Decierdo, who was sent by Cong. Rosendo S. Labadlabad of the province’s second dis-trict to speak on his

behalf, posed a chal-lenge to the athletes to produce from among them another Manny Pacquiao, a boxer from General Santos City who became a world boxing champion. Decierdo also as-sured the athletes and the school officials of Cong. Labadlabad’s support to DepED’s sports development program. He cited the

construction of cov-ered courts in every barangay/school in his district as a proof of the legislator’s support to education. Sindangan is 83 kilometers south of this city and it will be celebrating its 75th founding anniver-sary come Dec. 23. ( J P A / F P G / P I A -Zamboanga de l Nor te)


Water please..., residents of CDO cry outby Elaine O. Ratunil

Though ‘Sendong’ stormed out of the Philippine Area

of Responsibility (PAR), residents here still cry for water as most of the city experience water outage.

In its advisory, the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) notified the city “Due to the flooding which has affected our facilities and the power interruption which has affected water supply in almost the entire service area, the COWD shall be undertaking disinfection procedures to ensure safety and potability of water. The public is therefore advised to boil the water from the faucet before drinking.” Regional Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Council revealed 29 barangays in the city were affected with flash floods leaving many residents trapped on the rooftop and walls of their homes, and caused 76 totally and 50 partially damaged houses,

as of 6:00 a.m., today. The tropical storm also left the city with power outage. Sixty percent had been restored in the city, as of 5:17 p.m., December 18. Meanwhile, there are at least 6,738 families, consisting of 38,767 persons affected of the flashflood, of which, 5,343 families, consisting of 34,291 persons who are now inside the 10 evacuation centers in the city.


Death toll in Cagayan de Oro flood rises to 336by Elaine O. Ratunil and Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - The death toll due to flooding in the city of Cagayan de Oro now rose to 336. This was according to the official report the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) region 10 office at 12:00 NN today. Twenty three (23) persons were already identified while identities of the other 313 died are yet to be established. The bodies are now at the different funeral homes in the city. RDRRMC said all the immediate kin of the reported fatalities are currently being attended by the concerned local government unit and disaster council in the city. Office of Civil Defense(OCD)Regional Director Ana Cañeda said 22 barangays in the city were affected with flashfloods leaving many residents trapped on the rooftop and walls of their homes, power and water outrages. While some residents took refuge on trees, others had to climb nearby storey buildings to avoid being swept away by the flood waters. Buildings and household items such as television sets and fridges were destroyed and swept away by the flood waters. The heavy downpour, that

started about 4:00 p.m. Friday and lasted until about 3:00 a.m. Saturday, brought almost every activity in the capital city to a halt.Some businesses had to close down because the flood waters had taken over their premises and also of the power and water outages. Walls were broken down while wooden structures and even some buildings, particularly those on water courses, were destroyed by the floods. Military personnel and other rescue teams used boats to rescue some of the trapped residents, especially in areas where flooding was very extensive. Cañeda, on the other hand, said


due to communication problems as a result of power outages, cities of Valencia, Iligan and Ozamiz are yet to submit their reports and damages are still to be determined. RDRRMC is led by Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Northern Mindanao, Department of Interior and Local

Government (DILG)-10, National Economic D e v e l o p m e n t Authority (NEDA)-10 and other line agencies of the government including military and police commanders. The OCD, RDRRMC, and all concerned branches of the government, including the private sectors are now joining hands and efforts in giving relief assistance to the flood

victims. Sendong, the 19th storm to hit the Philippines this year, has made another landfall in the vicinity of Puerto Princesa city and is now heading towards West Philippine Sea.


NDRRMC issues final severe bulletin for SendongCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Operation Center (NDRRMC-OpCen) issued final severe weather bulletin for tropical storm Sendong (Washi) at 10:30 p.m., yesterday.

People living near the mountain slopes and in low-lying areas of the river systems of Northern Mindanao are still being alerted for possible flashfloods and landslides. Based on satellite and surface data, Sendong was estimated at 480 km west-northwest of Puerto Princesa, with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness up to 80 kph. It is forecasted to move west at 24 kph. By Monday morning, Sendong is expected to be at 740 km west of Puerto Princesa. In Northern Mindanao, the observed rainfall for the past 24 hours ending at 8:00 a.m., yesterday, recorded 12.44 mm rainfall in Malaybalay, while the forecast rainfall is light rains for the next 24 hours, the NDRRMC said. Hence, Northern Mindanao DRRMC has issued general flood advisory No. 3 for the region. Watercourses that are likely to be affected are rivers and streams in all the five provinces of the region: Bukidnon, Camiguin Island, Lanao del Norte, Misamis

Oriental and Misamis Occidental. The public and the local DRRMC’s are reminded to take appropriate pro-active actions to aim for “zero” casualties. Earlier, fishing boats and other small sea crafts in the region were also advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels were alerted against big waves, Regional Director Ana C. Cañeda of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Chairperson of Regional DRRMC region 10, said.(Elaine O. Ratunil)


R-XI disaster councils urged to lend hand to Sendong-stricken Region 10

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI is encouraging all

Disaster Risk Reduction Manage-ment Councils (DRRMCs) to do-nate in cash or in kind to typhoon-affected families in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro where tropical storm Sendong heavily poured rains last Saturday. In a memorandum order released Monday morning (Dec. 19), OCD

Regional Director and DRRMC chair-person Liza Mazo asked RDRRMC and PDRRMC members to forward their do-nations to the De-partment of Social Welfare and Devel-opment (DSWD) 11 referred to as the receiving center of donations. In a separate interview,

Disaster Management and Crisis In-tervention Unit head Desiree Pingol of DSWD -XI said that their office had yet to receive an order from the na-tional office to extend relief assistance to Northern Mindanao “but our office is open to receive donations.” She asked donors to properly turn over cash or items to DSWD 11 office so they would be properly ac-knowledged while also appealing them to give “non-perishable items.”


R-XI disaster councils urged to lend hand to Sendong-stricken Region 10

She suggested items to be donat-ed such as blankets, slippers, mosqui-to nets, clothing. In case food items, either canned or pouched goods are preferred. Meanwhile, OCD-XI revealed that flood-water levels in the 15 TS Send-ong-affected barangays had already subsided and bodies of casualties had been taken cared of. In its monitoring report as of 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, OCD 11 revealed TS Sendong left five persons dead and 15 barangays flooded, affecting a to-tal of 910 families as it passed last Fri-day (Dec. 16) in Northeastern Mind-anao areas which were then placed by PAGASA under storm signal number 2. It also wrought 382 hectares of agricultural areas in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley; totally damaged 16 houses in Compostela Valley and partially dam-aged two others in the same province; and took a toll on road infrastructure at an estimated value of P750,000 in Asuncion, Davao del Norte. In the Davao Region, TS Send-ong badly lashed Compostela Valley where it caused landslide in gold-rush Mt. Diwata, Monkayo and triggered

flashfloods in six other barangays of Monkayo particularly in its Poblacion, Pasian, Baylo, Naboc, Upper Ulip, and Rizal. Other flashflood-affected towns in Compostela were Nabunturan, New Bataan and Montevista .Mt. Diwata landslide victim Rosita Dela Pena, 57 is now at Angel Funeral Homes in Monkayo. Other landslide casualties, Tuan siblings Nasser, Rake-ma and Ashlia have been brought to Tagum City while Julito Lumactod is still in Mt. Diwata. In Davao del Norte, TS Sendong caused flood only in barangay Napun-gas of Asuncion where 514 families were reportedly affected. OCD XI reported no incident re-lated to TS in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur. Meanwhile, only the municipalities of Compostela, Monkayo and Monte-vista have created evacuation centers at the height of the flashfloods. How-ever, evacuees returned home when flood-waters subsided. Most roads leading to flooded barangays are now declared pass-able except in Matangad, Upper Ulip in Monkayo and Purok 3 of the same town where bridges are still under re-pair. (jeanevive duron-abangan)

facts and figures

o Number of firecracker-related injury in Davao City for the past three years (according to data from the Southern Philippine Medical Center)

Documents

One Mindanao - December 19, 2011