One Mindanao - December 22, 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]: 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

Tarsier conservation

research in South

Cotabato resumes

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...Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 Vol. 1 No. 130

Jorie C. Valcorza, Northern Mindanao

Aquino launches P10-billion housing program for Metro Manila informal settlers

Apipa Bagumbaran, Northern Mindanao

City health office provides health services to Sendong victims

Noel Baguio, Southern Mindanao

COWD ‘doing everything’ to restore normal water supply operations

Del Rosario sends P1-M worth of aid for Sendong victims

Pops Gumana-Fruylan, Central MindanaoPRO 12 heightens security for “Simbang Gabi”

MGB-12 isinusulong ng pagpapatayo ng mga “rain guage” sa matataas na lugarDEDoguiles , Central Mindanao

JICA to turnover P13.7M farm-to-market road project to Carrascal, Surigao del SurMyra Q. Yu, Caraga Region

DAR hands-in CLOAS to Dinagat farmersJoie L. Ceballos, Caraga Region

ZamboSur donates 100 caskets; conducts medical mission in Iligan CityGideon C. Corgue, Western Mindanao

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

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31

13

1921

23

27

29303334

38

18

Mai Gevera-Macapagat, Southern MindanaoGood Samaritans pour in for Sendong victims25

Aquino to join Christmas celebration for street children at Cuneta Astrodome 16

Adiong signs into law ARMM admin codeWestern Mindanao40

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4 Thursday, December 22, 2011ONE MINDANAO

Tarsier conservation research in South Cotabato resumes

Cover Story

Research and conservation project for the tarsiers in Barangay Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato has resumed with the recent arrival of an international research team.

by Dani Doguiles

5Thursday, December 22, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

Tupi Mayor Mayor Reynal-do Tamayo Jr. announced that Dr. Pierre Fidenci, presi-dent and founder of the con-servation group Endangered Species International (ESI) arrived in November to pre-pare the logistics for the ar-rival of researchers that would conduct and study the habi-tat of the primates inside the Mt. Matutum Protected Land-scape (MMPL). Loiues Lechat, 27, a French ecotourism special-ist, arrived in Tupi on De-cember 10 and another was expected to follow soon. Lechat has been work-ing for the conservation of critically endangered “goril-la” in the Republic of Congo in Central Africa. He will be in-charge in looking into the “tarsier sanctuary” eco-tour-ism development and the setting up necessary signag-es in the site. A Filipino biologist, Richelda Galapia, is also part of the ESI research team. The research team will be here, particularly in Brgy.

Linan, Tupi for two months. They will set up research in two sites within Linan: Sitio Bagong Silang and Sitio For-tuna. “The research is very im-portant to ensure sustainable intervention [for the tarsiers in MMPL],” Fidenci said. Mayor Tamayo assured Fidenci of the local govern-ment’s full support because this would boost tourism and economic potential in the area. “We welcome this devel-opment, we have been wait-ing for this for so long, and


we will be extending our full support to the ESI and to their project,” Tamayo said. On January 20, this year, DENR 12 Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual signed the Wildlife Gratuitous Permit allowing the Endan-gered Species International (ESI) to collect and study the tarsiers in the area of MMPL.

Fidenci said, “the study aims to assess the tarsiers distri-bution, population size and density, habitat association, and status in Mt. Matutum.” “We also plan to establish a core conservation center at Sitio Bagong Silang in Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato to bet-ter protect their habitat and

to prevent the tarsiers from total extinction.” However, in May, Fidenci announced the suspension of the research and conser-vation project.Two of his researchers based in London were not given clearance to travel to Mind-anao due to security reasons brought about by the killing of international terrorist Osa-ma bin Laden.


ESIisanonprofitorgani-zation headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. It is strongly committed in re-versing the trend of human induced species extinction, saving endangered species, and preserving their vital ecosystems. Tarsier, scientificallynamed Tarsius syrichta, is one of the smallest primates in the world, no larger than

an adult’s hand. It is noc-turnal and lives on a diet of insects. Although a popular objec-tive of tourists in the is-land of Bohol in the Visayas, tarsiers are reportedly found in the islands of Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. Bohol’s tourism website states: “Currently, the Philip-pine tarsier is categorized as a “lower risk, conservation dependent” species, which means that, although it is not yet categorized as vulnerable, endangered, or critically en-dangered, it could qualify for one of those categories within fiveyearsifthepresentprotec-tion programs are stopped.” Presence of tarsiers in Barangay Linan became a public in 2009 when a tar-sier, along with a ground owl, was captured in the village’s Sitio Bagong Silang by B’laan villagers. The new information re-sulted in a frenzy of locals who came to Barangay Linan


to get a glimpse of the pri-mates, which in turn encour-aged locals to capture tarsi-ers for visitors to view. In May this year, in an effort to curtail the com-mercialization of the primates in the area, Mayor Tamano issued a restraining order which prohibits the commu-nity from capturing tarsiers from the wild to be presented to visitors. His order came after Dr. Fidenci requested the lo-

cal government to secure and free the area from further dis-turbance. He said he was “alarmed with the reports that the locals are hunting the tar-siers and held it in captivity as showcase to visiting tourists.” Tupi LGU and the provin-cial government hope to de-velop the area as a sustain-able eco-tourism destination with the tarsier, along with other scenic spots and ad-venture sites in the MMPL, as centerpiece.


Aquino cites Christmas wish for Filipino youth

President Benigno S. Aquino III said that his Christmas wish this year is for the Filipino youth, especially the underprivileged, to emulate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and be good citizens of the country.

In his message to the participating children from various key cities in the National Capital Re-gion (NCR) during the “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy”

Grand Christmas celebra-tion at the Cuneta Astro-dome in Pasay City, on Thursday, the President wished the youth a bet-ter celebration of Christ-

mas and for them to live their lives in love, care and concern for others towards a progressive and peaceful nation. “Ang wish ko po

10 Thursday, December 22, 2011

ngayon, maging mas lig-tas, masaya at masigla hindi lamang ang inyong darating na Kapasku-han, kundi pati na ang inyong pamumuhay sa mga susunod na taon,” the President said. “Pasko man o hindi, patuloy nating tularan at isabuhay ang mga aral ni Hesukristo. Panatili-hin natin ang pagmama-halan, pagmamalasakit at pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa tungo sa isang masa-gana at payapang ban-sa,” he noted. The Chief Execu-tive assured the young-er generation of Filipinos that the Aquino govern-ment, through the De-partment of Social Wel-fare and Development (DSWD) with Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soli-man at the helm, will re-lentlessly pursue social programs to provide and ensure them the best for their future.

“Narito po kaming mga nakakatanda para isakatuparan ang wish na ito. Gumagawa kami ng mga paraan para bigyan kayo ng pag-kakataon na marana-san din ang pinagdada-anan ng karaniwang mga bata --- pag-aaral sa eskuwela, pakikip-aglaro sa mga kaibigan, at pag-aaruga ng mga maituturing ninyong pamilya… Nagtatraba-ho kami para itaguyod ang inyong magandang kinabukasan,” the Presi-dent said. With all these ef-forts, the President said that in return, the gov-ernment is expecting a more responsible breed of Filipinos in the years to come as they mature into law-abiding and righteous members of society. “Ano naman ang in-aasahan namin sa inyo? Simple lang: ang maging

responsableng kabataan kayo; ang maging mati-nong Pilipino. Habang tinutupad ng pamaha-laan ang mga paraan para mabigyan kayo ng edukasyon, mahandu-gan ang inyong mga magulang ng trabaho, mabigyan ang mga kap-atid at kaibigan ninyo ng pagkain at gamot, sana naman ay tulungan din ninyo kami,” President Aquino said citing the numerous ways the ad-ministration is trying to

11 Thursday, December 22, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

achieve its goal of creat-ing a better nation. “Paano kayo makakatulong? Sun-din ang batas, mag-aral nang mabuti, ilayo ang sarili sa bisyo at dro-ga: sapat na iyon para makapag-ambag kayo sa pagtahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Itigil na ang pagiging pasaway; huwag nang pairalin ang katigasan ng ulo. Marami tayong magagawa kung gagawin lang natin ang tama,” he added.

“Wala na nga pong sasaya pa sa pagdiri-wang ng Kapaskuhan basta’t tayo ay mag-kakasama at nagkakai-sa…” the President continued. Also present during the celebration were DSWD Secretary Soli-man, Pasay City Repre-sentative Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City mayor Antonio Ca-lixto and Presidential sister Kris Aquino and

her children Josh and Bimby, among others. The President, as-sisted by Kris and her children, distributed gifts to the children from each LGU in NCR following the cultural presentations by various groups from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas and Manila. “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” celebration was organized by the DSWD in partnership with the local government units

(LGUs) and non-gov-ernment organizations (NGOs) in NCR. The street children, who participated in the event, were reached out by the LGUs and NGOs from the streets and have been participating in various developmen-tal activities identified with the DSWD’s Com-prehensive Program for street children, street families and indigenous peoples, especially the Badjaos.

This DSWD program targets zero street chil-dren, street families and Badjaos in ten priority areas in Metro Manila where there are large concentration of the said groups. Through the program, the home-less street families and Badjaos were provided with social preparation for possible permanent shelter as well as access


to income-generating opportunities, livelihood assistance and oppor-tunities for home-based families of street chil-dren through Self-Em-

ployment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K); educational assistance for street children and alternative education to other members of the

family; and health and nutrition services and other support interven-tions through LGUs and partner NGOs. (JCL)


Aquino launches P10-billion housing program for Metro Manila informal settlers

President Benigno S. Aquino III led Wednesday the groundbreaking of a housing project in Pasay City intended for the relocation of informal settlers residing in the city’s danger

areas.


The Pasay City housing project is part of the P10-billion hous-ing program launched by the Aquino adminis-tration for the National Capital Region to give decent housing to poor urban dwellers. “Ang groundbreak-ing pong ito ay isang konkretong hakbang sa pagsusumikap nat-ing maisakatuparan ang ating mga pangarap. Isa itong patunay na nasa tamang landas ang ating tinatahak. Alinsunod po sa ating shelter program para sa informal settler families, ito ay para sa mga housing units na ipatatayo sa Lungsod ng Pasay, Quezon at Maynila,” the President said. People will be moved from danger ar-eas in the cities of Metro Manila and will be given in-city houses as well as the option to go back to the provinces under the government’s Balik-

Probinsya program. As the President led the event in Pasay City, similar events were being held in Ma-nila and Quezon City to jumpstart the con-struction of the hous-ing projects there. The President has recently organized an inter-agency techni-cal working group on informal settlers with the Department of In-terior and Local Gov-ernment (DILG) as the lead agency. According to DILG, Pasay City, Manila and Quezon City were se-lected because of their ready shelter program and their willingness to undertake in-city hous-ing projects. The DILG said more than 19,000 fam-ilies living in danger zones in those three cities will benefit from the P10 million housing fund initially released by the budget depart-


ment under President Aquino’s disbursement accelerated program. During the event, the President thanked Pasay City Mayor An-tonino Calixto and the entire city govern-ment for working hard to achieve the housing projects for informal settlers of Pasay City. Pasay City has the third largest number of informal settlers in Met-ro Manila. Quezon City and Manila also have a big number of poor ur-ban dwellers that’s why they were also priori-tized for the launch of the housing project. Despite the gar-gantuan task to solve the problem of informal settlers, the President said his government will continue to work with its non-government or-ganizations (NGO) part-ners to find solutions. “Oras po na mata-pos ang proyektong ito

at maipatayo ang mga gusali at bahay totoong bagong umaga na ang naghinihintay sa mga boss natin sa Quezon City, Maynila at dito po sa Pasay,” he said. The President also appealed to the peo-ple to strengthen the spirit of Bayanihan to help their fellowmen in need. “Alalahanin po na-tin na bilang mga Pili-pino ay nasa ilalim la-mang tayo ng iisang bubong. Patuloy nawa tayong magkapit-kamay at magtulong-tulong sa iisang direksyon kung saan naghihintay ang kinabukasang mas mati-wasay at mas maunlad,” the President said. Aside from the ini-tial P10 billion released this year, the govern-ment will be allocating P50 billion each year until 2016 for housing projects in Metro Manila, the DILG said. (AS)


Aquino to join Christmas celebration for street children at Cuneta Astrodome

President Benigno S. Aquino III will spread the cheer and joy of the season with Filipino street children and indigenous peoples at the Pasko ng Batang Pinoy that will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on

Thursday, December 22.

The President, who will be joined by Social Welfare and Development Secre-

tary Corazon Soliman, will address the 1,500 participants and their families who are ex-

pected to attend the event. The Pasko ng Batang Pinoy Project


Aquino to join Christmas celebration for street children at Cuneta Astrodome

is organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Develop-ment in partnership with the local govern-ment units and Non-Government Organi-zations (NGOs) of the National Capital Re-gion. The program aims to provide home-

less street families with social prepara-tion modules to pre-pare them for possi-ble permanent shelter supported with access to income-generating opportunities; liveli-hood assistance and opportunities through the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran

(SEA-K) program; ed-ucational assistance for street children and alternative education to other members of the family; and health and nutrition services and other support in-terventions through LGUs and partner NGOs. The DSWD said, this will help in the agency’s advocacy of achieving “zero” street children, street families and Bajaws in 10 priority areas in Metro Manila. DSWD Ambas-sadress of Children’s Rights and Welfare, Ms. Venus Raj will fa-cilitate the fun games while child stars will provide entertain-ment to the children. (RCK)


Pres. Aquino orders LGUs to continue looking for missing personsby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

C oncerned over reports

that many of the flashflood victims are still

missing, President Benigno S. Aquino

III has ordered his cabinet and the

leaders of the local government units (LGU) to exhaust

all possible and available means to

look for them.

The President was in the city for an ocular inspection of the damage done by Typhoon Sendong that struck several barangays of the city, mostly located along the Cagayan de Oro River banks, last Dec. 16. He was briefed on the Cagayan de Oro situation by Undersecretary Benito Ramos, chairperson of the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) Northern Mindanao, Philippine Air Force Headquarters, in Lumbia Airport, this city. It was the second visit of the PresidentsinceheassumedofficeonJune 30, last year. HefirstvisitedCagayandeOro


foraneconomicbriefing lastMarch23, and broke ground for the region andthecity’sfirstfly-overprojectinBarangay Puerto, which eased the trafficsituationatthejunctionoftheCagayan de Oro-Butuan Road and Sayre Highway in Bukidnon. As of 6 a.m., today, the Regional DRRMC has reported 573 deaths due to tropical storm “Sendong” based on the body count in the funeral parlors in the city. Of these, 533 were identified. The briefing was attendedby Senator Teopisto Guingona III, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Congressmen Benjamin Benaldo, First District, Cagayan de Oro, Rufus Rodriguez, Second District, Peter Unabia, First District, Misamis Oriental, Yefgenny Emano, Second District, Mis. Or. Governor Oscar S. Moreno, City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, and Vice Mayor Ian Acenas. Also present were Cabinet Secretaries Corazon Soliman of the Departement of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Rogelio Singson, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Jesse Robredo, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Maj. Gen.

Victor A. Felix, Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and Police/Chief Supt. Jufel Adriatico, Regional Director of the Philippine National Police (PNP), among others. Meanwhile, the President, issued a verbal order to the P/Chief Supt. Adriatico to use police powers to prevent the residents from going back to their homes where their safety in not assured. He also ordered the concerned LGUs to relocate all the affected residents to areas where they will not be exposed to danger. “The tragedy of Isla de Oro, an island supposedly formed from silts in the middle of the Cagayan de Oro River--where a number of people lost their lives--should not be repeated because it is not only dangerous, but ‘very, very’ dangerous,” he said. The President was referring to a presentation of the geo-hazard map provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), showing 172 municipalities, nationwide, which are vulnerable to flashfloods and landslides. (RDA/RCA/PIA-10)

City health office provides health services to Sendong victimsby Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - City health personnel have their hands full as barangay health centers and stations in the city respond to the health needs of Sendong victims.


Dr. Joselito Retuya, city epidemiologist and assistant city health officer saidthey have augmented their workforce to attend to the medical needs of the displaced families. Injured victims were given tetanus toxoid vaccines, which will protect them the disease for one year. Prophylaxis for leptospirosis were likewise administered and distributed along with the paracetamol and antibacterial medications. Aside from free medications, Retuya said the health team also dressed the wound of patients who got hurt during the storm. He added that the health responders prepare daily reports on their assigned stations. “I come here daily to get needed medical care for my wound,” Norman Luzano, a resident of Isla de Oro said. His residence lies on the mouth of the Cagayan de Oro river and is one of the hard hit areas hit by tropical storm “Sendong.” Luzano said his four children with ages 3, 6, 7, and 10 years old have gone missing for four days now. His wife survived but is now in a worse condition than he is. Luzano worked as a butcher while his wife also earns a meager income from private establishment within the city. “Dili nami mabalik didto, mobalhin na gyd mi, naanod hurot ang akong balay ug dili na naku ibutang pa sa kakuyaw ang among kinabuhi,” he said. “I will never reside in that place

again, my house and belongings were all gone and I will never put our life at stake again,” he said.He noted that only three percent of the houses were not destroyed in Isla de Oro. Luzano’s tragedy is only one among 1,582 victims who were left homeless by the typhoon. Rescuers saved 432 people, but the said tropical storm left 957 people dead. There are 19 registered evacuation centers in the city, receiving aid from the government, non-government organizations and other private institutions. Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III visited today the evacuation site at the City Central School, and personally handed food packs to 1,550 families housed in the covered court.He appealed to the people not to go back to disaster prone areas and ordered theRegionalPoliceOffice10PCSupt. Jufel C. Adriatico to monitor and prevent their return. (RDA/JCV/PIA 10)


COWD ‘doing everything’ to restore normal water supply operationsby Apipa Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental - The Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) management assured the public that it is “doing everything ...to restore normal (water) supply operations at the soonest possible time.”

In its advisory, the COWD management explained that their quality control laboratory in Pilot de Lara, Macasandig has been totally damaged rendering the agency incapable of monitoring the level of residual chlorine in its distribution lines. The COWD will also be undertaking the cleaning of collector wells; rehabilitation of 10 electric motors; testing and rehabilitation of six (6) transformers; rehabilitation of 11 motor controllers; disinfection of six (6)production wells; and testing and commissioning of facilities in the next 31 days. The COWD’s main booster pumping station and six (6) production

wells have been completely damaged by Typhoon Sendong. Thus, public has been accessing water from the cluster of public faucets installed by COWDmanagementbesidetheirfirehydrants. Meanwhile, today, December 20, the following schedule of water rationing is implemented: every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, from 12 midnight to 4:00 a.m., in Kauswagan, Bayabas and Bonbon; and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from 12 midnight to 4:00 a.m., from Elipe Park in Carmen to Apovel Subdivision. Daily rationing, on a 24-hour basis, for hydrants and faucets along Vamenta Boulevard in Carmen and public faucets outside City Hall and City Tennis Court, as well as, for hydrants and faucets from Lapasan to Bugo including Lapasan Plaza, Mindanao University of Science and Technology, across Capitol University Medical Center and entrance of Capistrano Complex. The management of the (COWD) urgedthepublictoboilthewaterfirstbefore drinking for their own safety and protection.


DOLE-XI implements amended rules on service contractors, subcontractorsby Mai Gevera-Macapagat

Department of Labor and Employ-ment regional director Joffrey Suyao announced that the regional office started to implement last December 5 the amended imple-menting rules concerning service contractors and subcontractors. The Department Order No. 18-A known as “Rules Implementing Arti-cles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, as Amended clearly states some changes that were brought about the depart-ment’s effort of providing protection to the workers employed by service

contractors. Thesaidorderclarifiesthatcon-tracting and subcontracting arrange-ments are allowed by law and are subject to regulations for the promo-tion of employment and observance of workers to just and humane condi-tions. However, certain provisions in the new directive order shows how the DOLE tightens the requirement to ensure that only legitimate subcon-tractors can subcontract jobs or ser-vices. It also reiterates the prohibition on labor-only contracting and the test for legitimate engagement as set in the previous D.O. 18-02. Starting December 5, applicants need to pay P25,000 as payment for registration. Along with this amount is a long list of requirements that should be complied with by the ap-plicant. The Certificate of Registration will be effective for three years


unless cancelled by due process. Applicants for registration re-newal will also have to pay another P25,000totheDOLERegionalOffice.The application must be made thirty days before the expiration of the reg-istrationcertificate.Thisisarequire-ment to remain in the roster of legiti-mate service contractors. It was also required that com-panies (a corporation, partnership, or cooperative) engaging in subcontract-

ing, must at least have a minimum fully paid up capital of P3 million, as a requirement. A single proprietorship on the other hand must have net worth of at least P3 million. The DOLE says that this direc-tive is a result from a consensus-based approach from several years of tripartite consultations and separate sectoral and organizational sittings.

Del Rosario sends P1-M worth of aid for Sendong victimsTAGUM CITY- Four relief-laden dump trucks of Davao del Norte Capitol set out on Tuesday afternoon to bring the much-needed assistance to the victims of flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City. Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario sent the heavy motor vehicles car-rying P1- million worth of donations, after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, led by Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr. approved the assistance for the survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao. “This is our way of sharing our sympathy to the families of the vic-tims of TS Sendong,” the governor said. Gov. Del Rosario, who is also the chair of the Confederation of all the Local Chief Executives in Mindanao (Confed), asked particularly all the governors and mayors of all the LGUs in the island to send their donations,

as well, to the victims of Sendong. “Being the Chair of the Confed, I am urging, especially all the local chief executives in Mindanao to share their bit in trying to alleviate the situ-ation in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City,” he appealed. Reports said the death toll from one of the deadliest storms that ever hit the country has already reached 1,000. As he lamented the loss of many lives due to TS Sendong, the gover-nor underscored the preparedness of all LGUs in order to reduce the vul-nerability of communities, especial-ly with the stark realities of climate change. “Let us take this as a lesson for us to be always prepared,” the governor said, as he asked the respective local disaster risk reduction management councils in the island to strengthen their disaster preparedness and


mitigation measures. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduc-tionManagementActionOfficerSonioSanchez led the convoy of relief-lad-en trucks in transporting 200 sacks of rice, 180 boxes of 100-can sardines, 152 boxes of 72-pack noodles, and 10,000 bottles of 1.5-liter mineral water to Northern Mindanao. The caravan, which is escorted by a military vehicle of the 1003rd In-fantry Brigade, is expected to arrive at their destination on Wednesday morning (December 21, 2011). The army truck also carries 20 sacks of rice courtesy of the Molave

Hotel and Heroben of Tagum City. Del Rosario further urged indi-viduals and organizations in the prov-ince who wish to give their donations tothefloodvictimsinRegion10maydrop their relief goods or assistance at theDRRMofficeattheCapitolCom-pound in Mankilam, Tagum City. Or better yet, they can also channel their contributions to the foundations of media giants ABS-CBN and GMA, among other charity insti-tutions, or at the headquarters of the army’s 10th Infantry Division and its operational units. (Noel Baguio)

Good Samaritans pour in for Sendong victimsDAVAO CITY – Local government units and various private organiza-tions here in Region XI sent finan-cial and other forms of donation to help the Tropical Storm Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro and Ili-gan City. Starting Tuesday morning, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte sent off P3-million assistance; P2-million of which was in the form of relief goods while the remaining P1 millionwasincashasfinancialas-sistance to the victims. That same day, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosa-rio led the send-off of four dump trucks filledwith P1millionworthof relief goods. As chair of the Con-

federation of Local Chief Executives in Mindanao, he then asked all gov-ernors and mayors of all LGUS in the island to send donation to vic-tims of Sendong. Seeingtheneedsoftheflash-flood victims in Cagayan de Oroand Iligan City made the local gov-ernment of Mati City , Davao Ori-ental through Mayor Michelle Rabat send P200,000 cash assistance for both Cagayan and Iligan calamity victims. Other initiatives from the pri-vate sector also surfaced after they’ve learned about the catastro-phe that hit both cities. Professional photographers in the city like Jojie


Alcantara, Rene Lumawag, Rhonson Ng, Bob Mata, Paul Borromeo is orga-nizing Shoot for Hope on December 30, a photography workshop aimed at raising funds for the victims of the typhoon Sendong.

Private establishment like the Mail and More has become a drop off point for bottled waters, clothes, noodles, biscuits, coffee, canned goods, medi-cines, blankets, mats, mosquito nets. Donations will be sent directly to DSWD 10 which will be airlifted by Air 21. Other drop off points are LBC Express branch, Davao Peace-builder Community located at the 2nd Flr. Coffee for Peace, McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City (be-side EastWest bank, across McDon-alds), JCI Davao Region, Philippine Red Cross, ABS CBN Davao, Smart subscribers all over the country may send help to those af-

fected by typhoon Sendong. Smart Money users can instantly transfer funds through their mobile phones to the official Baha Fund account number 5577 5130 6822 1104. Do-nors may also deposit cash to the same Smart Money account number

in any Banco De Oro branch nation-wide or through Hapinoy and Ce-buana Lhuillier outlets. Subscribers may donate to #Sendong victims via text. Just send RED to 4143. Valid donation amounts are 10, 25, 50, 100.” Globe Subscribers may also send donation through GCASH by texting DONATE and send to 2882. Also,theCebuPacificAirlinesisoffering free shipping of donations.The Mindanao Development Authority shares this directory information to guide the public who want to send in their cash or kind donations through these institutions. (Mai Gevera-Macapagat)


ALABEL, Sarangani – Governor Migs Dominguez and municipal planning officer Tomas Mon-tefalcon (left) inspect one of the capital town’s two new firetrucks Tuesday, December 20. The firetrucks were procured through a counterparting scheme where the provincial government al-lotted P1.3 million and the municipal government P700,000. (Romina Rabina)

Capital town of Sarangani gets new firetrucks

Photo release


Capital town of Sarangani gets new firetrucks

US Embassy official applauds 7th Mindanao Media Summit in GenSanby CT Apelacio

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A US Embassy official commended the 7th Mind-anao Media Summit (MMS) and its organizers for bringing together media practitioners all over Mindanao to relevantly discuss environmental issues to the forefront.

“We applaud your ef-forts and congratulate you on the successful implementation of the 7th Mindanao Media Summit,” US Embassy Press Attache Bettina

Malone said. In her message, she

stressed that “gaining an understanding” of en-vironmental issues may be daunting but because the “world is changing”

journalists must take on the task to inform and educate the public.

Malone, however, not-ed that along with envi-ronmental issues, media are also faced with

Source: MindaNews


“multiple pressures and many competing priorities” that they are “often criticized for not doing enough to educate the public.”

But “perhaps even journalists need to re-think their ways of re-searching, writing, and reporting on issues per-taining to the environ-ment and to climate change,” she told the more than a hundred media practitioners at-tending the event at the Anchor Driving Range here on December 8 and 9.

Malone also said that a “change in conscious-ness” among journalists maybe necessary at this time to “transform the way people perceive” for them “to become critically-thinking, glob-ally-minded and earth-conscious individuals, communities, and na-tions.”

Meanwhile, Sec. Lu-walhati Antonino, chair-person of Mindanao Development Author-ity (MinDA) presented the agency’s brainchild environment program dubbed as “MindaNOW:

Nurturing Our Waters.”Antonino said the pro-

gram is government’s commitment “to take a more serious step in the protection, rehabilita-tion, and proper man-agement of our natural resources in Mindanao.”

According to her, the program is in support of the “social contract” of President Benigno S. Aquino Jr., with the Fili-pino people to responsi-bly harness the country’s natural resources.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez also spoke on Sarangani’s disas-ter experience wrought about by the ramming of a cargo ship in Saran-gani Bay early this year.

He said the incident resulted in the massive destruction of the Bay’s corals and other marine habitats. The governor also spoke on how the province was able to bring the issue to higher authorities to make the suspects accountable for the damage they caused to the Bay due to negli-gence.

Dominguez also called for the devolution of en-vironmental regulation

of the Department of Environment and Natu-ral Resources to the lo-cal government units (LGUs) and holding the local chief executive ac-countable for “any infrac-tion or non implementa-tion of environmental regulation.”

But Bayan Muna Par-tylist Representative Teddy Casino, who pre-sented House Bill 4315 otherwise known as the People’s Mining BilLde-scribing the bill as right-based and earth-based that would serve both the interests of people and the environment.

Other speakers during the summit also includ-ed Philippine Misereor campaignprojectofficerAtty. Mario Maderazo whose topic revolved on Why Not Mining?

Jane Deita of the Al-liance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) also discussed solar power as renew-able source of energy in the Philippines while Hedcor manager Boy Ja-bonillo talked about “the Run of River” manage-ment.

The summit, which


was formally opened by former Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, was made possible through the sup-

port of The Asia Founda-tion, the Voice of Mind-anao, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Aboitiz

Power, CocaCola, Canadian Embassy, the US Embassy in Manila, and the MindaNews as organizer.

PRO 12 heightens security for “Simbang Gabi”by Pops Gumana-Fruylan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 recently de-ployed more personnel to different Catholic churches in the city to ensure the security of early church-goers who would complete the nine-day novena of the “Simbang Gabi.”

PSupt. Resty Damaso, public infor-mation officer (PIO) ofPRO 12, revealed that policeofficersevenat-tended the series of

dawn masses not only as a spiritual prepara-tion for Christmas, but also to personally over-see the deployment of security forces especial-

ly in populated areas. “In fact, this is my

fourth simbang gabi since I’ve started on December 16,” he dis-closed.


The Archdiocese of Manila described “Sim-bang Gabi or Mass at Dawn as a “nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother.”

“The novena be-gins December 16 as early as 4 in the morn-ing and culminates with the Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve to wel-come the birth of our

Savior Jesus Christ.” Shortly after the

mass, Filipino delicacies sold in stalls outside the church await the church goers like the tradition-al bibingka, puto bung-bong, suman, palitaw sa latik (sweet rice dump-lings in coconut milk), and a lot more.

Damaso explained that PCSupt Benjardi

Mantele, the Region-al Director of PRO 12, wanted to make sure that this kind of Filipino tradition will not be ru-ined by petty crimes.

He said increased police visibility will not only lower the risk of victimization among public, but also expect-ed to decrease their fear of crime.

MGB-12 isinusulong ng pagpapatayo ng mga “rain guage” sa matataas na lugarKORONADAL CITY -- Isinusulong ngayon ng Mines and Geosciences Bu-reau – 12 (MGB-12) ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources ang paglalagay ng mga “rain gauge” sa mga barangay sa bulubunduking bahagi ng Rehiyon.

Ayon kay MBG-12 Regional Director Con-stancio Paye Jr., inirereko-menda nila sa mga lokal na pamahalaan, kabilang ang mga barangay, mu-nisipyo at mga lung-sod ang pagpapalakas ng early warning system kabilang ang pagtatayo ng mga “rain gauge” na magagamit sa pagtaya sa volume na binubuhos na tubig-ulan.

Sa pamamagitan ng ganitong hakbang, mas mapapadali aniya

ang pagbibigay ng baba-la sa mga residente na nakatira sa mas maba-bababang mga lugar kung may nakaambang peligro tulad ng mala-kas na baha at mabibig-yan ng panahon ang mga residente na agad maghanda at makaiwas sa sakuna.

Hinikayat din ni Paye ang bawat local govern-ment unit na bumuo at magpatupad ng disas-ter reduction program para mapaghandaan ang

posibleng pagdating ng mga kalamidad dulot ng climate change.

Pinaalalahanan na-man nito ang mga resi-dente sa buong Soc-cksargen Region na nakatira malapit sa mga sapa, ilog, baybayin at mga dahili na maging mapagmatyag at palag-ing maging alerto lalung lalo na sa panahon ng tag-ulan upang mai-wasang mabiktima ng kalamidad. (DEDogu-iles)


www.piacaraga.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

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Butuan City Jail inmates to celebrate with family on Christmas, New Year’s Daysby Robert E. Roperos

In time with Christmas and New Year’s Days, family members of the inmates are given the opportunity to celebrate with them inside their cells.


This was learned from Jail Supt. Neil Avisado, jail warden of the city jail here, in an interview with a local radio station re-cently. According to Supt. Avisado, they have been regularly conducting this ev-ery year so that the inmates will be unit-ed with their families during the celebration of Christmas and New Year. Avisado added this is one way of al-lowing the inmates to personally communi-cate with their fami-lies and relatives dur-

ing this time of the year. The official fur-ther said from De-cember 26 to Janu-ary 1, legally-married couples and those who are living-in for quite some time are given the opportunity for an overnight stay for bonding. “After Christmas day, ang mga legal na asawa ng mga preso ay bibigyan ng pag-kakataon na maka-pag-stay-in para ma-ka-selebrar ng pasko,” Avisado said. (After Christmas day, legal spouses of the inmates are given

the chance to stay in-side the jail for them to celebrate Christ-mas.) Furthermore, the jail warden said this activity is conduct-ed to boost the mo-rale of the inmates who were separated from their families for serving the sentence imposed on them by the court for violating the law. However, Avisa-do assured that se-curity measures will be more tightened during these days to avoid any untoward incidents to happen. This undertaking is a manifestation of good governance that is being implemented by the management of the city jail here which also supports the Human Develop-ment Agenda of the present administra-tion as presented in the Philippine Devel-opment Plan.


JICA to turnover P13.7M farm-to-market road project to Carrascal, Surigao del Surby Myra Q. Yu

SURIGAO DEL SUR – Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Benjamin Mataksil confirmed that the P13.7 million farm-to-market road project funded by Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP III) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in association with the Local Government Unit of Carrascal, is set to be given before the year ends at Barangay Adlay, Carrascal Surigao del Sur.

Said project in-volved 1.702 kilometers rehabilitation/improve-ment of barangay Adlay

farm to market road with box culvert. The imple-mentation started on June 23, 2011 and will

end by December 20, 2011 but it was complet-ed ahead of the schedule on November 25, 2011.


DAR hands-in CLOAS to Dinagat farmersby Joie L. Ceballos

This accomplishment is another milestone for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) being the lead agency of this project, in partnership with the De-partment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the implementing agency. With this partnership the government was able to assist in the develop-ment of Adlay ARC (Agrar-ian Reform Community) that provided convenience

and comfort for the resi-dents and the local farmers especially in the delivery of

their farm products to the nearby barangays and mu-nicipalities.

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) handed over Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) composed of 95 hectares to some 94 farmers in the Province of Dinagat Islands recently.


Of the 94 benefi-ciaries, 36 farmers are from Cagdianao, 29 from San Jose and an-other 29 from Dinagat. Provincial Admin-istrator Ben Glen Ecleo, Provincial Agrarian Re-form Officer (PARO) Jamil Amatonding, Jr. and Dinagat Vice May-or Lilibeth Edradan led the distribution of the land titles.

In her message, Ecleo thanked DAR for its Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Pro-gram (CARP), which paved way for the dis-tribution of these titles and many other devel-opment opportunities for the said province. He also challenged the beneficiaries to pay their taxes in order to augment the income of

the province, and make their lands as produc-tive as possible. PARO Amatonding, on the other hand, said that more lands and opportunities are com-ing to the province. He also urged the farmers to continue uniting its efforts with the LGU to support CARP. (DAR-13)


piazampen.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-WesMin-Info-Blitz/204864762911310 [email protected]

City Hall’s rep delivers P2M assistance, P400K from private groups for “Sendong” victimsby Jocelyn P. Alvarez

T he P2 Million financial assistance from the city and some P400,000 from civic groups and private individuals for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong in Cagayan De Oro (CDO) and

Iligan were personally delivered by City Hall’s Chief Executive Assistant (CEA) Mario Roca to LGUs of CDO and Iligan.


City Hall’s rep delivers P2M assistance, P400K from private groups for “Sendong” victims

City Information Officer(IO)SheilaCo-varrubias said “May-or Celso Lobregat on Wednesday tasked his CEAtofly toCDOviaManila and later to Ili-gan City to turn over the financial assis-tance for victims of the flashfloodspawnedbySendong.” Covarrubias said Roca will hand over a P1million check each to Mayor Vicente Emano of CDO City and Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan City. “Each check is addressed to the lo-cal government units of CDO and Iligan and is intended to augment the relief operations in the areas concerned,” Covarrubias informed. Roca will also turn over P400,000 cash as-sistance donated by civ-ic groups and a private individual from the city. Covarrubias said “these groups include the Progressive Mason Club-Zamboan-ga chapter, Amity Club-Zamboanga chapter, Zamboanga Chinese-Friendship Association and Lin Tick Kiong Tem-ple, Zamboanga City GMA Fishing Corpora-

tion and Benny Yu . “Asidefromthefi-nancial assistance, the city government has also joined efforts with Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU), Tzu Chi Foundation and oth-er non-government or-ganizations in appealing for donations for cloth-ing, blankets,

water, canned goods, ice and other relief goods,” Covarrubias added. The active lady IO said “all donations are being consolidated at the ADZU gym and will be brought to CDO and Iligan in bulk for distri-butiontoflashfloodvic-tims.” (JPA/PIA-ZB-ST)


ZamboSur donates 100 caskets; conducts medical mission in Iligan Cityby Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – To show utmost concern to the victims of the flash floods spawned by typhoon Sendong on December 17, the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur donated 100 handmade caskets for victims who died in the worst calamity that hit Southern Philippines.

Provincial informa-tionofficerLeoSantillansaid Governor Antonio H. Cerilles on Tuesday has ordered the provincial warden to immediately prepare caskets for the victims. Santillan said the caskets handcrafted by the 103 inmates of pro-vincial jail were loaded in 5 dumptrucks delivered and turned-over this morning to a morgue n Iligan City. Santillan said the

caskets were intended for the victims in Iligan saying that it is nearer compared to Cagayan de Oro. Typhoon Send-ong claimed hundreds of lives and severe de-struction to properties. OIC-provincial war-den Arnell Joe Arcoy was impressed with the car-pentry skills of the in-mates adding that they have successfully pro-duced the number of caskets as ordered by the chief executive

despite the short num-ber of hours given to them. Arcoy closely su-pervised the inmates in making the caskets in-side the Zamboanga del Sur reformatory center. “The efforts exert-ed is a show of unity be-tween the government and civic organizations who manifested their great concern over the well-being of those who were victims of flash-floods,”Santillansaid


ZamboSur donates 100 caskets; conducts medical mission in Iligan City

quoting Cerilles. “Despite the vicissitudes and turbulence in life, we, Fili-pinos still have the courage to rise up,” Santillan added. Meanwhile, Governor Antonio Cerilles with his wife, 2nd district representative Aurora Cerilles visited the af-fected areas in Iligan City to-day where he sent 24 medical doctors from the province led by Dr. Maria Rovel Blancia. A medical check up and medicines were given to the affected families in Iligan Cen-tral Elementary School where the displaced families were temporarily housed. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)


Adiong signs into law ARMM admin code

ISABELA CITY – The Bureau of Public Information announced that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has finally got its own administrative code after six long years of waiting, owing to the assertive operation of the current regional officials and the relentless backing of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Information chief Ali Macabalang disclosed that outgoing Acting ARMM Governor An-saruddin Alonto-Adiong signed into law Thurs-

day Muslim Mindanao Act (MMA) No. 287, also known as the Adminis-trative Code of the au-tonomous region, in ful-ly-packed ceremonies at

the huge Shariff Kabun-suan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City. In his speech, Adi-ong expressed his plea-sure that it is during his


term of office that the code was completed and signed into law to firm up and strengthen the ARMM bureaucracy towards bringing the au-tonomous region to de-velopment. “This is a milestone achievement as it goes beyond politics and per-sonal interests,” he said. Adiong, who is serv-ing on a holdover capac-ity alongside 23 other elected officials pend-ing final decision of the Supreme Court on a law allowing the President to appoint caretakers, urged the ARMM workers “to perform and exercise powers, duties, respon-sibilities and f u n c t i o n s within the parameters of the ad-ministrative code.” He also cited the J a p a n e s e government and its peo-ple who pro-vided signifi-

cant support during the more than five years of protracted crafting the regional Administrative Code. “I convey my thanks to the Japanese government and its peo-ple through the JICA for being with us as we en-deavored to craft poli-cies, principles and pro-visions for an effective administrative code,” he said. He also lauded the technical working group and the Regional Leg-islative Assembly (RLA) for the drafting and subsequent passage of the law he described as “very vital” in the en-

hancement of the ARMM bureaucracy. A s s e m b l y m a n Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong, Regional Assem-bly Assistant Majority Floor Leader and MMA 287 principal author, ex-pressed his confidence that the administrative code, formerly filed as RLA Bill No. 72, will in-stitutionalize the much needed reforms in the ARMM. “This will strengthen our bureaucracy towards efficiency, effectiveness and transparency to be at par with national counterparts in terms of providing services to the people, by placing ahead

the idea of com-m o n g o o d ,” he said. “ T h e A d m i n Code is our an-swer to P-Noy’s call for ‘Daang


Matuwid’,” he added. ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo delved deeper into the significance of the MMA 287 by explain-ing to the employees and officials of ARMM the im-plications of the law to the ARMM bureaucracy. He said that the code would bring radi-cal consequences on the current positions of em-ployees of ARMM. “We should go be-yond personalities, and we need to find a deep-er meaning and reason to report to our duties in ARMM,” Sinarimbo said adding that every employee and officials of ARMM must reflect on the vision for ARMM as well as the steps by which this vision will be collectively pursued. “Let us ask our-selves what is the val-ue proposition that we could offer to our con-stituents,” he added. He said that the administrative code will be the mechanism to pursue the vision for

ARMM and in effectively responding to the needs of its people. “The administrative code is a testament of our commitment to in-stitute serious reforms in ARMM,” he said. Earlier, Sinarimbo said that the Adminis-trative code will insulate the regional bureaucra-cy from the inescapable changes in its leadership which tends to disrupt the continuity and per-manence of critical ex-pertise and knowledge in its line agencies as ap-pointments in key posi-tions in the bureaucracy are prone to political pa-tronage and influence. Administrative Di-rector Lydia Udaundo-Mastura, head of the Technical Working Group in the Preparation of the Code Director, explained that the edict has been drafted since 2005 but was “overtaken by time.” According to her, it was included also in 2006 during the term of former ARMM Governor

Zaldy Uy Ampatuan as a priority in his Regional Executive Agenda. In 2008, with the continued support of JICA, she said, they em-barked again on write-shops and consultations with help from their le-gal consultant, Atty. Randolph Parcasio. They submitted the draft to Acting Regional Gover-nor Ansaruddin Adiong on January 28, 2011 who in turn signed it as a pri-ority bill for the Regional Assembly to pass. Mastura said that the code now sets the rules, mandates, sys-tems, procedures of the ARMM agencies such as accountability and trans-parency and efficiency in responding to the needs of the agencies, local government units and other stakeholders. “I wish to congratu-late all of us for this his-toric event and for those who will be ‘adversely’ affected by this code we extend our sincere apol-ogies,” she said. (JPA/BPI-ARMM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)

Documents

One Mindanao - December 22, 2011