One Mindanao - December 2, 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 ARTISTSGIDEON CORGUE, 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

3 senior PNP officials visit PRO 13

DAR Maguindanao to acquire, distribute 3,000 ha

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Celebrating the Week of Peace in Davao Region

Philippines hopeful on sea row case against China

GPH, MILF peace panels urge Congress to ‘not lose time,’ pass BBL soon

9

By: Noel Najarro

Cover Story

SOUTHERN

SOCCSKSARGEN CARAGA

INFOCUS

WESTERN

NATIONAL

Crime victims urged to help in filing charges against suspects

126

40

Contents

By: Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

30

2016

27PIA ICMs Conference up until December 3By: Alma L. Tingcang

23 Tandag City COMELEC confirms plan to conduct voters education

32


By: Greg Tataro, Jr.

OUR COVER

By: Perlita B. Changco

33 United crusade vs. child labor inkedBy: Carina L. Cayon

4 December 2, 2015One Mindanao

Celebrating the Week of Peace in Davao RegionPartners of peace launched the Mindanao

Week of Peace in November 25 at the entrance of the Ateneo De Davao

University at Roxas Avenue with the theme, “Mindanaon’s Aspiration for Peace,” through music, which William Congreve, an English poet said “soothes the savage breast.”

PHOTOCREDIT: http://sico.addu.edu.ph/


5December 2, 2015 One Mindanao

Partners of peace launched the Mindanao Week of Peace in November 25 at the entrance of the Ateneo De Davao

University at Roxas Avenue with the theme, “Mindanaon’s Aspiration for Peace,” through music, which William Congreve, an English poet said “soothes the savage breast.”

Stakeholders from various sectors who aspire for a lasting peace in Mindanao came to present theirs songs, melody and dances.

Nor Asiah Adilao, convenor of the Mindanao Week of Peace said every presenter provided a very short description of the dance/song based on the theme.She said every song presentation the maximum time was given five minutes while dance presentation had ten minutes to include the preparation and actual presentation.

“It was a meaningful way to present our longing for peace,” Adilao said.

A priest, students, soldiers and ordinary people came to participate.

The MOWP was first launched in 1997 by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga and, subsequently, became a yearly activity now supported by various peace advocacy blocs scattered across Mindanao.

January 16 to 15 early this year, a peace camp was set up at the Holy Cross of

Sasa to highlighting the peace advocates’ longing for a lasting peace in Mindanao by giving, sharing and proclaiming peace.

The Ateneo Al Qalam Institute, Forum ZFD and Mindanaoan Youth Development Center Inc., in partnership with Davao Association of Catholic Schools spearhead the activity.

The celebration reaffirmed that mutual understanding interreligious dialogue and multiculturalism that constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.

One Mindanao6 December 2, 2015

MAKATI CITY-- As the holiday shopping season kicks off, IPC (IP Converge Data Services Inc.), the country’s pioneer DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Mitigation service provider, warned enterprises, especially e-commerce and financial institutions, to be on full alert for cyber attacks. “With so many people turning to online shopping to avoid the holiday rush, cybercriminals will want to take advantage of the

increased traffic. Perpetrators will use this as an opportunity to bring down websites, commit data theft and fraud, and other

IPC warns against heightened cyber attacks leading up to holiday season

photocredit: interaksyon.com


forms of cyber attacks. Thus, it is imperative for enterprises to safeguard their digital presence,” said Niño Valmonte, IPC director for Product Management and Marketing.

In a bid to increase awareness on the dangers of DDoS attacks, one of the most widespread forms of cybercrime, IPC will hold a free webinar today. This learning session seeks to educate enterprises about DDoS attacks and how to protect against and address the risks, regardless of size and industry. Interested parties are encouraged to register via ipc.ph/ddos-awareness-webinar/

IPC will be sharing facts, tips and infographics on DDoS attacks and cyber attacks in general through its Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn pages, as well as its blog thinkoutcloud.ph.

DDoS attacks occur when access to websites, online apps,

and online services are cut-off by malicious entities. The attack often involves flooding the web server with unusually high amounts of traffic simultaneously, causing the server to slow down or crash. This results in disruption of services and communication to enterprises that rely heavily on their servers and online presence in their daily business activities.

Meanwhile, DDoS mitigation refers to implementing processes which will protect the servers and networks from this kind of disruption.

Valmonte explained, “Over 50 percent of cybercrimes in the world are DDoS attacks. As this continues to become more common, criminals are now starting to use this as a diversionary tactic to do worse things. Attackers now use DDoS as a chance to hit other parts of your system, such as confidential data on your business and customers. An attack can also act


as a window of opportunity for them to tamper with your apps and install viruses and malware.”

Asian countries, including those in Europe and the Middle East, are fast falling victim to DDoS incidents accompanied by malware, according to data discussed in an article by Nexusguard, a leading IT security technology provider. Citing a survey posted in IT Pro last September 2015, the paper further reports that 80 percent of EMEA companies have reported a DDoS attack. Of this group, 92 percent also had malware injected, with data stolen in two out of three of these malware incidents.

For IPC, who currently operates the only in-country DDoS scrubbing center, prevention is key.

“This awareness drive, from the webinar to our blog series, is all about helping enterprises

create a good line of defense. It is possible to have an efficient online presence, one that customers trust and enjoy, and be able to withstand malicious activities at the same time,” Valmonte shared.

He added that mitigation solutions have become more efficient and sophisticated over the years, many of them are readily available even for start-up enterprises and small-to-medium businesses. More information on IPC’s DDoS mitigation services is available at http://ipc.ph/network/ddos-mitigation/. (IPC)


MANILA-- The Philippines has expressed optimism that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague would hand down a “truly just solution” to its case against China over disputed waters. According to a bulletin issued by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte from The Hague on Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario summarized the salient points of the arguments presented to the Tribunal over the course of

the First and Second Rounds of Argument.

“We recognize that the Tribunal’s mission is judicial. The Tribunal must decide the claims on the basis of the facts and the law, in this case UNCLOS,”

Philippines hopeful on sea row case against China


Secretary del Rosario said in his speech before the Tribunal on Monday. “We submit that on that basis alone, the Tribunal must sustain all of the Philippines’ claims, especially in regard to the maritime entitlements of the Parties, and the exclusive sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines within 200 M of its coasts, except for the 12 M territorial seas around the disputed insular features.”

“Your mandate to achieve justice is not carried out in a vacuum. Judges and arbitrators are not expected to be oblivious to the realities on the ground. UNCLOS is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The object and purpose of the Charter, as well as those of the Convention, are far from irrelevant. These purposes include the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security. Nothing would contribute more to these objectives than the Tribunal’s

finding that China’s rights and obligations are neither more nor less than those established by UNCLOS. And that the entitlements of the tiny insular features it claims are limited to 12 M,” he added.

Del Rosario further said that finding otherwise would leave the Philippines and its Southeast Asian neighbors “in worse straits than when we embarked on this arbitral voyage.”

According to Del Rosario, it would convert the nine-dash line, or its equivalent in the form of exaggerated maritime zones for tiny, uninhabitable features, into a Berlin Wall of the Sea. A giant fence, owned by, and excluding everyone but, China itself.

He expressed confidence that the Tribunal would interpret and apply the law “in a way that produces a truly just solution,” one that truly promotes peace, security and good neighborliness


in the South China Sea.

The Philippine official also thanked the members of the Tribunal for their “care, dedication, wisdom and courage” during the proceedings. “We confidently entrust our fate, the fate of the region and, indeed, the fate of the Convention to you. We know that in your capable hands, the rule of law will not be reduced to the quaint aspiration of a time now past, but rather will be accorded the primacy that the founders of the United Nations and the drafters of UNCLOS envisioned,” he said.

Del Rosario acknowledged the members of the Philippines’ legal team, led by Principal Counsel Paul Reichler, Lawrence Martin, professors Philippe Sands, Bernard Oxman, Alan Boyle, and Andrew Loewenstein.

“The Philippines could not have entrusted this case, our

fate, to more skilled, principled and determined hands. I know they share the Philippines’ firm conviction about the need to uphold the international rule of law as the bedrock of peace, order and stability in our world,” he said.

After Del Rosario’s speech, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay delivered the closing remarks.

Presiding Arbitrator Judge Thomas Mensah officially adjourned the proceedings. (PCOO/PND)

12 One Mindanao December 2, 2015

GPH, MILF peace panels urge Congress to ‘not lose time,’ pass BBL soon

“Time is short, but there is still time. We ask our legislators to work for the immediate passage of the draft law on the Bangsamoro. Time is of the essence, and opportunity knocks only once,” said GPH peace panel

chair Prof. Miriam Coronel–Ferrer and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal in a joint letter addressed to members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

MANILA -- Through an open letter to the Congress, the chief negotiators of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH–MILF) peace panels appealed to the two chambers of Congress once more to “stop wasting time and work” on the immediate passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).


“We are at the cusp of closing a major armed conflict that has divided our people for decades. But we cannot reach our destination without the goodwill and show of statesmanship from our leaders in the august halls of Congress, in whose hands the legislative power lies,” the two peace panels’ heads stated. They pointed out that the Bangsamoro law will establish a more representative and responsive autonomous government correcting the structural flaws found in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “(The BBL) will sustain the development initiatives that have flourished under the current ceasefire and the normalization programs provided for in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” the two peace panel chairs said. Continuation of MILF decommissioningThe two chief negotiators underscored the importance of passing the BBL if they want to continue the decommissioning of MILF combatants and

armed weapons which started last June 16, when 145 MILF combatants and 75 crew-serve and high-powered weapons were decommissioned as part of the normalization process under the peace agreement signed by both sides. “The passage of the law will pave the way for the decommissioning of thousands of weapons and combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” Ferrer and Iqbal said. They also noted that the enactment into law of the BBL would enable the peaceful transition of an armed group into regular members of society who can participate and compete in free and fair elections in the country. As stipulated in the CAB, 30% of MILF combatants and weapons will be decommissioned upon the passage of the BBL, to be followed by another 35% after the plebiscite and the appointment of members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). The last 35% will be decommissioned two months prior to the signing of an exit agreement by the two


parties. The exit agreement will be signed by both the GPH and the MILF once both parties agree that all provisions of the CAB have been implemented which would end the peace negotiations and seal the ceasefire mechanisms. BBL to generate positive effect on next adminA good legislation passed in this Congress will redound to the benefit of the next administration, said the GPH and MILF peace negotiators. “For one, the next president will be in an immensely better

position to continue the peace and development efforts that have been gradually put in place, without the difficulty of having to reinstate a stalled process,” the chief negotiators said. “Secondly, the next Congress will be able to focus on other important laws. It will be spared the burden of having to go through new rounds of committee hearings and plenary interpellations on a Bangsamoro law.” Responding to the initiatives delaying the BBL passage and passing it to the next Congress, the chief negotiators said all efforts


by the Aquino administration in the Mindanao peace process would be lost and prolong the status quo in the Bangsamoro. “Some say that the next administration and Congress will have more time. Our fear is that it would have lost precious time too -- precious time that could have closed the door to extreme, violent movements that recruit followers by exploiting the alienation of segments of the population from government and society at large.” Bangsamoro law as PH’s message against Islamic extremism

It was also noted passing the BBL into law would serve to arrest the spread of extremism, especially in light of recent terrorist attacks by the Islamic State or ISIS in Paris, Mali and Beirut. Ferrer and Iqbal cited a declaration from the head of the government’s National Security Council (NSC) when the BBL was submitted to Congress for its study and passage into law in 2014.

In a letter addressed to members of Congress, NSC Director General Cesar Garcia emphasized that “passing the BBL can help in curbing the spread of extremism in Mindanao. In particular, the Bangsamoro government would be able to help moderate Islamic leaders to counter the ideology of radicalism being promoted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and steer the Muslim community away from ISIS influence.” According to the chief negotiators, the Bangsamoro peace process earned the support of the international community by providing a model “whereby an Islamic movement can find redress of its grievances through a civilized and democratic process, within the country’s territorial integrity and constitutional framework.” “We ask you, our legislators, to open your hearts and to give our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters this one good chance to enjoy the right to peace, and partake of meaningful reforms and development,” they concluded. (OPAPP)


Health official: Increasing number of HIV patients, not entirely negativeBy: Danilo E Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Dec. 2 — Having an in-creasing number of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome victims is admittedly alarming.


However, Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., head of the Integrated Pro-vincial Health Office said the situation is not entirely gloomy because it also means that their advocacy has been successful and the government is able to extend much needed help to the victims of the disease. \Data from the HIV/AIDS Anti-retroviral Registry of the Philip-pines (HARP) indicated that as of September 2015 South Cota-bato and General Santos City combined have accounted for 348 of the 551 HIV/AIDS cases in SOCCSKSARGEN Region. “Instead of blaming my fellow health workers, I do recognize them because they were able to entice individuals to surface and submit for voluntary counsel-ing and testing, which is why the number of HIV cases in South Cotabato spiked,” Dr. Aturdido told participants of the 1st Regional HIV/AIDS Summit at The Farm@Carpenter Hill, this city, last week. In a separate interview, he explained that the province HIV/AIDS Care Team (HACT) and its partners, including the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups, have intensified their informa-tion and education campaigns

on the disease and their advo-cacy to encourage individuals, especially those with risky be-havior, to undergo HIV testing. These initiatives involve setting up mobile HIV testing facility in events where LGBT groups gather as well as in malls and other venues in the province. They also visit schools to con-duct lectures regarding the dis-ease.South Cotabato Provincial Hos-pital’s HACT clinic is also open 24 hours to receive clients for counseling and testing. Dr. Aturdido pointed out that knowing the HIV victims, the capability of our health ser-vice providers and the avail-able support service system “ is the beginning of winning this battle against HIV.”In their campaign, health of-ficials and other advocates en-courage individuals to undergo counseling and HIV-testing, especially if they do any of the following: having unpro-tected sex, having sex with a partner who has unprotected sex with another partner, hav-ing sex with other men, inject-ing drugs using needles that ave been used by others, hav-ing blood transfusion from un-known sources.


DAR Maguindanao to acquire, distribute 3,000 haBy: Perlita B. Changco

Just recently, the HACT Clinic at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital was recognized as a satellite of the the Research Institute for Tropical Medi-cine (RITM), which according to John Codilla, provincial HIV/AIDS focal person, means that the HACT clinic here is autho-rized to dispense antiretroviral medicines. Previously, patients here need-ed to travel to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in

Davao City to get their free supply of ARV meds. In a press conference in early this month, Codilla disclosed that initially they dispense ARV medicines to 67 patients, a few of them were endorsed by RITM from other provinces.Codilla and other health of-ficialshave repeatedly assured that identity of those who un-dergo HIV testing as well as the HIV patients are strictly confi-dential. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

COTABATO CITY, Dec. 2 — At least 3,000 hectares (ha) of new lands are ready for submission to the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, its Ma-guindanao Provincial Office reported during a recent meeting.

Hadja Bai Cabayan Bacar, provincial agrarian reform officer II,

also disclosed that some “500 ha are already on the pipe-line while 488 ha have been registered with the Registry of Deed and are ready for distribu-tion.”

Bacar made the announce-

ment at the fourth regular meeting of the members of the Provincial CARP Implementing Team (PCIT) here on November 24.


She also announced that “1,075 ha from previously ap-proved survey plans with 513 emancipation patents/certifi-cates of land ownership award (EP/CLOA) generation are now at the Office Regional Governor for signing and sealing while 304 ha with 48 landholdings are at LMS-DENR for verification and approval of survey plans”, Bacar said

For 2015 DAR- Maguindanao aims to acquire and distribute 3,500 ha.

The PCIT aims to sustain and strengthen the strong partner-ship between agrarian reform officers and other agencies to help address the land problems and challenges confronting the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other related issues and concerns in relation to the program implementation in the province.

In ARMM, only Maguindanao has a PCIT.

Data from DAR Provincial Of-fice-Maguindanao indicated that as of November 19, this year, 558.75 ha have been distrib-uted to 221 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB)s in

Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Paglas, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Guindu-

lungan, Kabuntalan, Talayan, Talitay and Upi towns.

Bacal added that in the past 10 months they have intensi-fied their agrarian reform ef-forts, including holding of the 1st ARB provincial conference, distribution of CLOAs, meetings with agrarian reform commu-nities, bamboo planting, turn over of farm-to-market road in conflict-affected areas and oth-ers.

“DAR turned over a six-kilo-meter FMR in Tamburong-Bu-nawan in Datu Paglas town on September 23,” said Bacal

ARBs also received several machineries under the Techni-cal Advisory Support System including one corn sheller of ARBs in Mamasapano, one trac-tor for Kabuntalan and two hand tractors for Datu Paglas.

Several FMR projects are also underway, namely: 5.614 km. in Langkong-Bayanga Norte, Matanog; 3 km. in Gan-ta-Gambar, Kabuntalan; and 6 km in Marang-Gadung, Barira, Bacar added. (IEroy/PBChang-co-PIA Cotabato City/DEDogu-iles-PIA12)


OWWA Caraga holds IT training to SurSur OFCs

BUTUAN CITY- Mobilizing the Information Technology Trainings for the benefit of its members from the distant municipalities, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga, rolled out a back-to-back IT Training to the OFW Family Circles (OFCs) of Tandag City and Carmen, Surigao del Sur.

By: Jean Pearl Millones

The four-day on-site training was carried out last November 16 to 19, 2015 at Tandag City and November 23 to 26, 2015 at Carmen, Surigao del Sur

and was attended by 19 and 30 participants, respectively. In order to keep abreast with therapid evolution of today’s modern technology, the

FILE PHOTO FROM OWWA CARAGA FB ACCOUNT


participants were introduced to computer fundamentals 1 and 2, Microsoft Office including its basics: Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Digital Media Fundamentals, Web Design Fundamentals, Word Processing Fundamentals, and Presentation Fundamentals were likewise taught. To optimize the convenience brought by the internet, the Internet and World Wide Web Module were also discussed during the training. The ability to access the internet makes communication easier between the families and their loved ones abroad. Poblacion, Carmen Barangay Captain Moises C. Tupas, Jr. conveyed his gratitude to the agency for bringing the training to their place. He also challenged the participants to continue

practicing what they learned and apply it in their future endeavors. The IT training is an activity which aims to give OFWs and their dependents access to technology-based training in the hope that this will give them the skills to find better employment opportunities as well as help bridge the physical divide between the workers abroad and their families in the Philippines. Apart from the mobilized IT Trainings, OWWA also offers the same module for walk-in clients: OFWs, their beneficiaries and dependents. Interested applicants may register at the regional office and are required to submit the accomplished form with 1x1 photo, Proof of OWWA Membership (Official Receipt, OWWA I.D., O.E.C., Passport), and Proof of Relationship to OFW.


3 senior PNP officials visit PRO 13By: Noel Najarro

BUTUAN CITY-- Three senior police officials from the Director-ate for Integrated Police Operations-Eastern Mindanao (DIPO-EM) based in Davao City, arrived at the regional headquarters of the Police Regional Office 13, Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez on Friday morning. Police Director Isagani R. Nerez, Director, DIPO-EM; Chief Supt. Luis Ricardo C. Chavez, the Deputy Director and Supt. John Q. Sosito, the Executive Officer of the said directorate were welcomed with foyer honors upon their arrival. The purpose of their visit, according to PRO 13 chief spokesperson Supt. Daniel Peusca in an interview, was to conduct the 4th Quarter Public Safety Forces Validation.

The three senior police officials will evaluate and validate the public safety forces if all the memorandum circulars and orders from the police higher headquarters have been complied with and were properly implemented down the line, Peusca said.According to Peusca, the regional police was confident that under the leadership of Caraga Police chief Chief Supt. Vert T. Chavez, they religiously complied with and


did the proper implementation of the orders and memorandum circulars from their national headquarters. However, they may also welcome whatever guidance, corrections or instructions from

the visiting evaluators. ”In any way, the purpose will always be for the delivery of an effective and efficient police service to the community,” Peusca said.(PNA)

Tandag City COMELEC confirms plan to conduct voters education By: Greg Tataro Jr

TANDAG CITY, Su-rigao del Sur – The Commission on Elec-tions (COMELEC), this city, has con-firmed plan to con-duct voters educa-tion campaign.

Atty. Riza Constantino, city COMELEC chief, said they had been expecting for the official guidelines to be sent to start to carry out such program, relying on the advance information relayed to them. However, she expressed belief that, in the meantime, her office here or any local COMELEC for that matter, had already been indirectly conducting information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign. “These are through

interviews, appearances in fora, regular participation in barangay civic action (CVAC) programs, and other public gatherings,” Atty. Constantino bared. Besides, her office here had also been open to entertaining questions in regard to the upcoming polls, she pointed out. On the other hand, the city COMELEC chief said she would still prefer to conduct a formal voters education program, but added this would “entail budget.”





MANILA, PIA – “Starting in 1993 up to today the country has been able to develop and sustain a very good economic narrative,” said a high ranking official of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday during the opening ceremonies of the three-day Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 2015 Information Center Managers’ Conference held atthe BSP Building, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

By Claro A. Lanipa

PHLrecords very good economic growth, says BSP official


BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in the past the Philippines was called the “Basket Cage of Asia”, with regards to its being the most highly indebted country in the world and the biggest and longest user of International Monetary Fund (IMF) resources. “Sa madaling sabi, tayo ang pinakamatagal na may utang sa IMF,” (in short, we have the longest debt in IMF) he said.However, “the Philippines has changed.Infact, starting in 1999 up to the third quarter of this year,or more than 60 consecutive quarters, the country was able to record positive economic growth,” Gov. Guinigundo said. “We were able to record positive economic growth even through the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009.No other country in the world has done that,” Guinigundo commented.On top of this, the country was able to achieve a positive balance of payments since 2005 up to the present or more than 10 years now, he further said.“Current account position

is in positive territory since 2003, again we find very little comparison with other countries in the world right after the global financial crisis,” the deputy governor continued. “On public finance, in the past we have been showing big fiscal deficit to growth domestic product (GDP) ratio, which means we have always been in the red indicator for so many years – 5 percent of GDP, 6 percent of GDP, today our GDP ratio is less than 1 percent,” Guinigundo reported. Meanwhile, on external debt to GDP ratio, the government was able to reduced this ratio from more than 80-90 percent, 15-20 years back to just about 25 percent today which means we have more resources to use to fund infrastructure, social protection and other services, the BSP official said. What is behind these significant improvements in our economy, since 1993 up to today is that significant structural and policy reforms have been put in place. In other words, “the Philippines has unleashed the potential


of the market, the potential of investments, competition, greater consumption, a free-flow of merchandise goods and capital across borders from our perspective,” the governor explained. Adding, he said “we have liberalized our trade, payments and investment flows in the country and as a result we have been able to benefit from these very important deregulation and liberalization of both our government and the other government in the ASEAN region”. As a result of these, “our potential capabilities or our potential to grow has gone up, not like in the past”, Guinigundo emphasized. The potential capacity of an economy is something akin

to a balloon, says Guinigundo. “In the past our balloon was very small so when we blow air into the balloon at a certain point it will burst. Today, our balloon is bigger, so even if we blow more and more air it will not burst because the potential capacity has gone up precisely because of the positive input of these policies and structural reforms that the government have put in place since 1993,” Guinigundo explained. The conference was attended by more than 70 information center managers and 16 regional directors and assistant regional directors all over the country together with officials and staff of PIA central office headed by Director General Jose Mari Oquinena.


PIA ICMs Conference up until December 3By Alma L. TingcangMANILA, PIA - - “We’re together to learn from each other and share best practices in the places where you come from.”

This was the gist of the message of Jose Mari M. Oquiñena, Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency to about 72 information center managers (ICMs) from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who converged at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the 3rd ICMs Conference on December 1-3, 2015.

“In the past, we were called the most highly indebted country in the world, biggest and longest user of IMF resources which means na tayo ang may pinakamatagal na utang sa International Monetary Fund. People called us hopeless,” BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said.


But things have changed. From 1999 up to the 3rd Quarter of 2015, the Philippines was able to record positive economic growth and we have been able to achieve positive balance of payment since 2005-2015 which is a good story to tell the public. Even through the global economic crisis of 2007-2009, we were able to experience significant improvement because of policy and structural reforms. As a result, our potential to grow has gone up, unlike in the past. Ms. Maja Gratia Malik of BSP also gave an economic briefing to the participants and explained that the New Design Series (NDS) bank notes will be demonetized to align with the practice of other central banks in the world which change

the design of their currency every 10 years. The NDS will be replaced with the New Generation Currency (NGC). The BSP has launched a massive demonetization campaign in all provinces of the country in partnership with the PIA. Meanwhile, Rupert Ambil of Rappler shared the value of information and the use of social media for information gathering in times of disaster. They have launched Project AGOS, a disaster preparedness advocacy to raise public awareness, and cited the important role of netizens in times of disaster. “It is our responsibility to share information with people who need it the most,” he stressed.


LTO-XI awaits guideline professional driver’s licensesDAVAO CITY-Land Transporta-tion Office 11 Assistant Regional Director Macario “Bong” Gonza-ga advised drivers whose licens-es need to be renewed to go on with the procedure even if they already acquire the respective clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and the police. He explained the LTO 11 still awaits the guideline suspending both the NBI and police clearanc-es as requirements for the renew-al of professional drivers’ license

following the pronouncement of Transportation and Communi-cation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya during the Senate hearing to stop these requirements. Gonzaga surmised that with the suspension of the NBI clear-ance as a requirement, the police clearance which is easier to ac-quire remains. “We may require the police clearance which is easier to get as a requirement for the renewal of professional driver’s license,” he said. He affirmed the many com-plaints raised by motorists like the longer days to acquire an NBI clearance especially if a person’s name is hit after a similar name is implicated in a criminal case. Gonzaga said getting an NBI clearance indeed takes time. He explained that it was the DOTC secretary’s intent to raise the standard in classifying the drivers and to protect the com-


muters from individuals who tru-ly have criminal backgrounds. Abaya suspended adminis-trative order AVT 2015-029 that requires all applicants of drivers’ licenses to present police and NBI clearances after Senate Ma-jor Floor Leader Franklin Drilon

and Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto questioned the directive which he looks to have an impact on the drivers’ livelihood as it in-curs more expenses. The LTO directive took effect on November 9, 2015. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Crime victims urged to help in filing charg-es against suspects DAVAO CITY-Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office urged victims of criminalities to file charges against the perpe-trators. She said the police need the cooperation of victims for the due process to run. Driz said there are incidents where the victims have identified the suspects following a thor-ough investigation, but as inves-tigators pursue, the victims tend not showing interest in pursuing the case. She mentioned particular in-cidents where the van of a ciga-rette company is frequently hit by robbers in the crime prone ar-

eas of Buhangin and Panacan. Driz said the police have identified the perpetrators but the victims who initially pointed at the suspects would no longer cooperate in the filing of appro-priate charges to send the re-spondents to jail. “We urge the victims of crim-inalities to come out because the police are willing and capable to help you through the due pro-cess,” she pointed out. Driz said the police have ex-tended its investigation on the protocol being imposed by the cigarette firm which might be ex-ploited by individuals with crimi-nal tendencies. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

United crusade vs. child labor inkedDAVAO CITY – Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz unified with the partner agencies of the Department of Labor and Employment in Davao Region in upholding the crusade against child labor.


Baldoz recently witnessed the signing of a Joint Memoran-dum Circular (JMC) by DOLE and its partner government agencies that would strengthen the imple-mentation of the Help Me Con-vergence Program that aims to address child labor in Davao Re-gion. The Help Me Convergence Program adopts the communi-ty-based approach and focused, converged and synchronized strategies in providing social ser-vices such as food, clothing, and education assistance among oth-ers. Help Me stands for health services and medical assistance, education and training, livelihood opportunities to parents of child laborers, prevention, protection and prosecution, monitoring and evaluation. In the recently-held 1st Re-gional Anti-Child Labor Summit and Children’s Festival where the Secretary was the guest of honor, joining DOLE in the fight against child labor include other government agencies such as DSWD, DOH, DILG, DepEd, DA, DOJ, TESDA, NEDA, CWC, PIA and NCIP. Baldoz commended the con-vergence and initiatives in the region saying that this would be a big step to remove child labor-

ers from hazardous and exploit-ative forms of work. There is an estimate two mil-lion youth aged fifteen years old and below who are exposed in hazardous and risky works, she bared. These children, she said, are mostly seen toiling as mining and quarry workers, deep sea fish-ers, household helps, farm work-ers and even as commercial sex workers. The Help Me Convergence Program in Davao Region which started in 2013 has already ex-tended help to 332 parents of child laborers who have been provided livelihood assistance amounting to more than PhP2 million. The program is pursuant to and aligned with Republic Act No. 9231 or an Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stron-ger Protection for the Working Child. During the 1st Regional An-ti-Child Labor Summit and Chil-dren’s Festival, another featured program to help stop child la-bor in the region was the Project Angel Tree where child laborers in Davao City were given early Christmas gifts by sponsors from the private companies. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

Documents

One Mindanao - December 2, 2015