One Mindanao - December 25, 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

Celebrating Christmas

the LGU way

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 Doguiles Central Mindanao page 4

Today’s issue...Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 Vol. 1 No. 133

Central Mindanao

CT Apelacio, Central Mindanao

SP GenSan to pass ordinance protecting integrity of crime scene

Jay Vincent V. Demain, Caraga Region

DSWD 12 sumasangguni sa mga Civil Society Group, Business Sectors

PCSO reg’l office to rise in Agusan Norte capitol compound

Western MindanaoTawi-Tawi gets P1B of P8.5B ARMM stimulus fund

Smokers urged to observe anti-smoking ordinanceFranklin P. Gumapon, Western Mindanao

DENR calls for collaborative efforts of all sectors, citizenry in regreening our environment L.Calvez, Northern Mindanao

UN and humanitarian partners appeal for US$28 million for immediate needs of flash flood victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in southern PhilippinesNorthern Mindanao

Bright hopes for mining industry Jeanevive Abangan, Southern Mindanao

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

9

26

15

17

20

22

232528

30

32

14

Noel B. Najarro, Caraga RegionPolice office appoints OIC 21

U.S. gives $100,000 for ‘Sendong’ victims12

18

32

4 Sunday, December 25, 2011ONE MINDANAO

Celebrating Christmas the LGU way

Cover Story

Christmas carols, greeting of “Merry Christmas” – even giving hints on what sorts of gift we want to receive from our friends ang loved ones -- start on the first day

of September and lasts until past January 6. In roughly a decade, another trend has increasingly become pop-ular: local government units spear-

This is a given: Filipinos celebrate Christmas longer than any nation in the entire world.

by Dani Doguiles

5 Sunday, December 25, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

heading Christmas festivities for their constituents. Soccsksargen Region is never one to be left out. Let’s consider some I person-ally believe are most notable Christ-mas celebrations this year. Magpet, North Cotabato: Christ-mas for the Environment This municipality, which sits within the slopes of the majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s tallest moun-tain, celebrates the yuletide season with utmost concern for the envi-ronment. Taking off as “Pasko sa Basura” four years ago, the cel-ebration is now called 3K party: “Ki-naiyahan Kasadya sa Kapaskuhan.” All decorations in the town’s plaza are made mostly of indige-nous and recyclable materials. All other activities in the event, albeit just a day, are focused on underlin-ing the importance of the protec-tion of Mother Earth. In his message during the 3K party on December 16, Mayor Efren Piñol, challenged his constituents: “Let us unite to save our environment before it is too late.”

For the first time in four years -- reportedly also the first in the entire North Cotabato -- Magpet constitu-ents released about 200 paper lan-terns that turned the town’s skyline into a simpler version of a sky lantern scene in Disney movie, Tangled. Tupi, South Cotabato: Ablaze in Lights “It looks like the entire town hall is covered in a giant blanket of

lights,” says Boyet Reyes, a resident of Kidapawan City who dropped by the town plaza on his way to General Santos City. “I am already late for an appointment, I couldn’t help but park my car and take pictures,” he said. Every pine tree within the town plaza is also filled with lights in red, orange green, blue and many other colors. The town plaza is perfect for friends to hang out until the wee hours or individuals who simply want to sit on one of the bench-es or the park’s lawn and listen to the Christmas song playing from the


LGU’s sound system. Tupi’s “Paskuhan ng Bayan” kicked off on December 17 with a torch parade participated by hun-dreds of residents. Highlights of the festivities include nightly band competition, , singing competition, gift-giving for children, amateur box-ing competition, among others. Ac-tivities culminate on December 23. South Cotabato Provincial Gov-ernment: December Fest Of all the LGU-based Christ-mas celebrations in the entire Soccsksargen Region, only South Cotabato has successfully mixed merriments, private-public part-nership, and delivery of social ser-vices in one package. From December 9 until De-cember 23, the province’s Produc-tivity and Technology (Protech) Cen-ter becomes a venue of nightly live bands, singing contests, and shows from 6:00 pm until mid-night. Each day, a partner of the pro-vincial government -- to name a few: Sagittarius Mines, Inc., private and public schools, DepEd, Socoteco -- sponsors presentation that show-case the province’s unique pool of talents in dancing, singing, stage play, etc. Unlike most Christmas celebra-tions, South Cotabato makes sure that amidst the jubilations of the 15-day celebration, residents gain more than festivities. The provin-cial government has partnered with DOLE for a jobs fair. This year, a total of 23 local and foreign em-

ployers offered hundreds of jobs. The LGU and the DOST also conducted livelihood trainings and business seminars purposely to de-velop local entrepreneurs. The provincial government also sets a night wholly devoted to chil-dren. One December 22, hundreds of children came to the provincial capitol grounds for a night of party, food, gift-giving, and games. For the activity, the provincial government has partnered with the three malls in Koronadal City, a giant food chain (which provided party mascots), and other private partners. Yearly, the capitol compound turns into a Christmas village of lights and sounds perfect for pic-


ture-taking and get-together. Last year, a giant Santa Claus straddled the main building’s canopy; this year, a nativity scene, complete with life-size camels and sheep, takes center stage. General Santos City: Honoring its Champion’s Yearly, the city government of General Santos City in partnership with the barangay councils, trans-forms the city’s oval plaza into a “Paskuhan Village,” a showcase of culture, tourism and economic rich-ness of the twenty-six barangays of the Tuna Capital. A tour in the Paskuhan Village is like a quick visit to the major at-tractions of the city’s 26 barangays.

Barangay Fatima’s booth has a rep-lica of the international airport. That of the Barangay Ligaya, known for it’s poultry industry has a “Santa Nok” (a santa chicken) with a giant egg. Booths of coastal barangays like Bawing, Bula, Buayan, and Calump-ang adorned their respective booths with a real “bangka” and fishnets. A giant shrimp made of luminous plastic in Bula, and the dried fish and squid for sale in Calumpang indicated the abundance of the sea in these baran-gays with fishing as the main source of income. This year, Gensan’s Christmas celebration, tagged “Kampeon ang Pasko sa Gensan” pays tribute the personalities who have made a name for themselves and the city. World boxing champion hails from Barangay Labangal while Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup comes from Baran-gay Katangawan. Other personalities that have achieved stardom include actor Gerard Anderson, actress-comedi-enne Melai Cantiveros, boxer Nonito Donaire, and dance group XB-Gen-san. These are only four of the sev-eral LGUs I have visited these year. In fact, wherever one may visit in the four provinces and five cit-ies of Soccsksargen Region and the barangays plazas are adorned with lights and decorations that remind us that the last quarter of each year, is a Merry Christmas.



Task force created to unify and strengthen performance monitoring of national government agencies

President Benigno S. Aquino III has created an inter-agency task force that will simplify, harmonize and further boost the monitoring and reporting systems of the performance of

national government agencies.

10 Sunday, December 25, 2011

Administrative Or-der No. 25, signed by the President on December 21, seeks the develop-ment of a collaborative in-strument that will warrant “a unified and integrated” Results-Based Perfor-mance Management Sys-tem (RBPMS) across all department and agencies in government. “In line with the President’s commitment to streamline processes and systems in the bu-reaucracy, as well as his administration’s commit-ment to transparency, accountability, participa-tory and effective gover-nance, our office initiated efforts to bring into line and integrate government performance monitor-ing systems,” said Execu-tive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Sunday. “We conducted sev-eral meetings on this with NEDA, Presidential Man-agement Staff (PMS), DBM, CSC and the Devel-opment Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and

it was the consensus that there is a need for a cost-effective and in-tegrated framework to simplify existing report-ing mechanisms used by the oversight agencies and ensure that the data requirements are met by the reports submitted by the government agen-cies,” he added. According to Ochoa, various over-sight agencies currently employ different perfor-mance monitoring and reporting systems with-in the Executive Branch that have resulted in re-dundant data, reports in different formats, delay in submissions, inaccurate results and inefficiencies in performance monitor-ing evaluation and report-ing. To date, oversight agencies such as the Na-tional Economic and Devel-opment Authority (NEDA) uses Results Matrix (RM); the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Organizational Perfor-

mance Indicators Frame-work (OPIF); the Civil Service Commission, Stra-tegic Performance Man-agement System (SPMS); and Career Executive Ser-vice Board (CESB), the Career Executive Service Performance Evaluation System (CESPES). But with the cre-ation of the inter-agency task force, Ochoa said a Common Set Performance Scorecard and Govern-ment Executive Informa-tion System shall be de-


veloped and designed, among others, towards ad-dressing deficiencies and duplication in the present performance monitoring systems and processes. Ochoa said the RM and OPIF shall be the un-derlying framework for the proposed RBPMS, which will be used by all govern-ment agencies mandated to exercise broad oversight over the performance of all agencies. The harmo-nized RBPMS, he added, shall also be used for de-

termining entitlement to performance-based allow-ances, incentives, or com-pensation of government personnel. “In order to attain Millennium Challenge Cor-poration (MCC) compact status, the Philippine gov-ernment had previously committed three Policy Improvement Processes (PIPs) to further improve good governance. One of them is the introduction and institutionalization of a balanced scorecard framework,” Ochoa not-ed. “So, there is a need for this unification of the efforts of government agencies mandated to ex-ercise broad oversight of government agencies’ per-formance relative to our commitments and targets, as well as the National Leadership’s Agenda and Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.” The Executive Secre-tary added this effort also strengthens public institu-

tions in order to regain the trust and confidence of the public in government. “This measure is one big step toward the specific goal of strengthening the capacity of government institutions to link their respective budgets with performance outcomes and enabling citizens and civil society to monitor and evaluate these.” Under AO 25, the in-ter-agency task force shall compose of the DBM, as chair with the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) as co-chair. Mem-bers of the task force in-clude the NEDA, PMS and the Department of Finance (DOF). Other government oversight offices like the CSC and the CESB shall also be involved in the inter-agency task force in order to align the SPMS and CESPES to the pro-posed RBPMS. The Com-mission on Audit and the Office of the Ombudsman may also be invited by the task force to provide in-

12 Sunday, December 25, 2011

sights on the harmonization process. The private sector will likewise be involved in the task force through the National Competitiveness Council for the purpose of providing inputs and aligning other performance management sys-tems with the proposed unified RBPMS. The DAP, meanwhile, shall serve as the Secretariat of the inter-agency

task force as well as its technical resource institution, accord-ing to the President’s directive. President Aquino also directed the task force to submit to him within six months its recommendation on the RBPMS through the Executive Secretary. Funding for the task force shall be pro-vided for by the DBM.

U.S. gives $100,000 for ‘Sendong’ victims

The United States has given $ 100,000 (P4.3 million) to support the Philippine government’s rehabilitation efforts for victims of tropical storm “Sendong” in Central Visayas and Northern

Mindanao.


Delivering on a pledge by United States President Barack Obama, U.S. Am-bassador Harry K. Thom-as Jr. announced the aid after President Benigno S. Aquino III officially de-clared a state of national calamity in the Philippines while visiting devastated barangays of Northern Mindanao earlier in the week. Thomas announced his government’s assis-tance through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID)

Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), which will partner with U.S.-based non-governmental organization Catholic Re-lief Services. USAID and OFDA teams visited the flood-stricken areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Their assessments will determine whether additional U.S. funding might be needed, accord-ing to the U.S. embassy. “On behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, I extend

my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those who have suffered the tragic loss of loved ones, homes, and livelihoods due to floods caused by Tropical Storm Sendong,” Thomas said “From our discus-sions with the Philippine authorities, it appears that among the immediate needs of flood-affected communities are non-food emergency supplies, in-cluding water purification tablets, hygiene kits, and containers for potable wa-ter, so the United States’ initial contribution in this instance will be used to provide these types of items to the most-affected individuals in Mindanao,” Thomas added. “As a good friend and long-standing devel-opment partner, the Unit-ed States will continue our work with the Philippine government and remain committed to help Filipi-nos overcome this great tragedy,” the U.S. Ambas-sador also said.


PNP 12’s OPLAN Yuletide Season in place

by Olive Sudaria

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Philippine National Police, region XII has set operational guidelines and procedures for the security coverage and other public safety measures during the yuletide season.


In his directive to the provincial and city directors of PNP XII, director Police Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele ordered the strict en-forcement of fire crack-er zone, police presence at all churches and in-tensified inspections of firecracker/pyrotechic warehouses and man-ufacturing sites.

Mantele also ordered the strict enforcement of police checkpoint operations to prevent proliferation of loose firearms and imple-ment intensified intel-ligence operations.

The PNP, he said, will implement appropriate measures to prevent police personnel and other gun holders from illegally discharging their firearms during the yuletide season.

The PNP XII director

said the PNP will deploy Route Safety Marshals for motorists and es-tablish assistance hubs for the general public, handicapped, disabled and elderly during the season, particularly at the different places of convergence.

Mantele disclosed the intensified drive for security and pub-lic safety in view of the traditional Yuletide Season which starts with a nine-day nove-na, “Simbang Gabi” in Catholic

Churches all over the country and extends up to the first week of January.

During this period, he continued, econom-ic activities and influx of people particularly in urban centers are expected to increase which may trigger

the increase of street crimes, traffic conges-tion and traffic acci-dents.

Mantele said the sit-uation might also be taken advantaged of by terrorists and other criminal elements in carrying out their ne-farious activities.

Likewise, the PNP official pointed out, the traditional way of using firecrackers and other pyrotechnics to cel-ebrate Christmas and New Year may result to accidents causing loss of lives and damage to properties.

OPLAN Yuletide Sea-son is a coordinative efforts of the Depart-ment of Health, the lo-cal government units and other government and non-government agencies, Mantele add-ed.

SP GenSan to pass ordinance protecting integrity of crime sceneby CT Apelacio

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government here is set to formulate an ordinance to ensure the integrity of crime scenes.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Com-

mittee on Public Order and Safety is expected

to initiate soon the pass-ing of the ordinance for


the smooth conduct of the collection of physi-cal evidence in crime scenes. This is to protect the integrity of evidence at any given crime scene, City councilor Dante Vicente, chair of the SP Committee on Public Order and Safe-ty, said. Dante has earlier called for a committee hearing to “purposely hear the side of cops in the 8 police precincts” here.The Scene of the Crime Operative or SOCO as primary responsible en-tity in collecting physi-cal evidence in crime

scenes was also invited to the discussion. Usually, police put a yellow line to cordon crime scenes in order to preserve pieces of evi-dence so it will not be ac-cessed by anyone other than the investigators, Dante explained.The SOCO office based here said investiga-tors must “protect and preserve” traces and pieces of evidence in its entirety as they are vi-tal to the investigation to be able to solve any crime. A SOCO official here also said process-ing a crime scene en-tails a keen and imagi-

native mind to carefully collect physical evi-dence that is accurate and helpful to the case being investigated. Dante said the proposed ordinance will prevent bystand-ers or any “unauthor-ized persons to go in-side the police line or yellow line.” The mea-sure shall “identify the persons allowed inside the police line,” Dante said. Violators of the would-be ordinance will be punished with a fine of P5,000 or an imprisonment of 15 days or both.


DSWD 12 sumasangguni sa mga Civil Society Group, Business SectorsKORONADAL CITY —Kasalukuyang pinapalakas ng Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12 ang tatlong pangunahing programa nito laban sa kahirapan sa tulong ng matatag na partisipasyon ng civil soci-ety groups at pribadong sector sa paglaban sa kahirapan.

Ayon kay Gemma Ri-vera, assistant regional director ng DSWD-12, ang partisipasyon ng mga civil society orga-nization o CSO bilang gabay, bantay, kaaga-pay at tulay ay upang palakasin palakasin ang pagpuksa sa kahirapan sa rehiyon. Gayunpa-man, patuloy ang paghi-kayat ng ahensya sa bo-luntaryong partisipasyon ng business sector at iba pang non-government organization.

Ang Pantawid Pami-lyang Pilipino Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Compre-hensive at Integrat-ed Delivery ng Social Services (Kalahi-CI-DSS) at Self-Employ-ment Assistance-Kaunlaran (Sea-K) ay

tatlong pangu-nahing programa ng DSWD na saklaw ng DSWD convergence

framework.Kabilang sa mga CSO

na handang mabigay ng aktibong paglahok sa DSWD Convergence Framework ay ang Kad-tuntaya Foundation Inc., United Youth of the Philippines o UNYPH-IL, PASALI Gen Santos, Mahintana Foundation, ChildFund, World Vision, Hauman Foundation, Don Bosco Foundation B’laan Self-help Inc., Tribal Leaders Develop-ment Foundation, , at iba pa.

Ang mga sektor na nabangit ay boluntary-

ong lalahok batay sa kanilang interes, bilang Bantay sa pamamagitan ng pagsagawa ng anti-corruption campaign, Gabay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng tech-nical assistance, Kaaga-pay sa pamamagitan ng pagpatupad ng poverty-reduction projects, o bil-ang Tulay sa pamamagi-tan ng pagpatupad ng feedback at pagmaman-man sa mekanismo ng mga tatlong programa.

Ayon kay Rivera, ang mekasnimong ito ng pa-mahalaan ay magbibig-ay ng pagkakataon sa

mga partner nito ng rekomendasyon para lalo pang maiangat nito ang ang kam-panyang transparen-cy, accountability at participatory ng mga programa ng DSWD. ( D S W D - 1 2 / D E -Doguiles/PIA 12)


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

[email protected][email protected]

Brgy. Kauswagan residents in CdO thanked Butuanons, Agusanonsby Robert E. Roperos

Residents of Barangay Kauswagan in Cagayan de Oro City thanked the people of Butuan and the Agusanons for the relief extended to them after typhoon “Sendong” devastated the area last week.


Brgy. Kauswagan residents in CdO thanked Butuanons, Agusanons

The relief opera-tions, spearheaded by Bombo Radyo in Bu-tuan, have gain posi-tive response from people of Butuan and the neighboring mu-nicipalities and prov-inces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, and were able to collect used cloth-ings and other relief goods such as noo-dles, canned goods, rice, etc. The distribution was made in Barangay Kauswagan on Friday morning with two of Bombo Radyo anchor-men/reporters lead-ing the event: Bom-

bo Roniel Cinco and Bombo Steb Paican, in cooperation with their sister-station Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro through Assistant Station Manager Mark Alvarez. With this devel-opment, the manage-ment of Bombo Radyo Butuan and Cagayan de Oro also extended their heartfelt thanks to those who re-sponded to the call of their stations to help the flashflood victims in the area. In a related de-velopment, the city government here is also conducting relief

operations as May-or Amante and Vice Mayor Lawrence Le-muel Fortun are ap-pealing to all Butuan-ons to extend help to the people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cit-ies by donating relief goods, items and oth-er things that can still be used. The officials fur-ther reiterated that they are still accept-ing donations from all sectors of society. Furthermore, the officials said those who wish to donate may bring their dona-tions to the city hall here, as this will be brought to the affect-ed areas as soon as possible. Also, it was learned that local government units in Caraga Region are conducting relief op-erations in their areas of responsibilities to help the victims.


PCSO reg’l office to rise in Agusan Norte capitol compoundby Jay Vincent V. Demain

AGUSAN DEL NORTE – A regional Office of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will soon be built inside the capitol compound. This, after the pro-vincial government here gave its go signal by vir-tue of a resolution. Through Sangguni-an Resolution No. 290-2011, it allowed PCSO to occupy 728 square-meter lot adjacent to the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan office which will be used for the construction of its regional branch to serve as its Provincial District Office here in the prov-

ince. According to PCSO officials, the agency chose the provincial capitol for its strategic location, ac-cessibility to human traf-fic and cost-efficient in terms of lease found most advantageous to the government. Under the terms of a memorandum of agree-ment between PCSO and the provincial govern-ment, the agency will

lease the lot for a period of 50 years, renewable for another 25 years. Upon the expiration of the agreement, the building and its improve-ments shall become the property of the province. Building construc-tion will start six months after the signing of the Memorandum of Agree-ment. (Agusan del Norte PIO)


Police office appoints OICby Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY – A new officer-in-charge assumed the reins of the Butuan City Police Office as City Director Police Senior Supt. Jose V. Carillo is moving up to his new designation as a staff member of the aviation security group (AVSEG) national office.

In a well-attended turn-over rites held at the newly in-augurated multi-purpose hall and mini-library of the BCPO headquarters held recently, Senior Supt. Carillo ended his ten-month stint as director of the city police force in a novel manner – he delivered his relin-quishment message through a poem entitled “Ang Una at Hul-ing Paalam.” Taking over his post as an officer-in-charge, pursuant to Section 2 of the same order in his concurrent capacity as the acting chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division of PRO 13 is Police Supt. Pedro U. Obaldo, Jr. Attending the turn-over rites were top city officials led by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., the guest of honor and speaker of the occasion, Hon. Ryan Anthony Culima, chair of the city council Com-

mittee on Police Matters, Public Safety and Order and former City Councilor Salvador “Benjie” Calo top regional and city police officials led by CSupt. Reynaldo S. Rafal and the counterpart from the Philippine Army led by Lt. Col. Ferdinand Napuli, of the Philippine Army Special Forces. Carillo in his relinquish-ment “poem” consisting of 13-stanzas started with its general introduction or preliminaries. Supt. Obaldo in his mes-sage of acceptance mentioned that assuming as BCPO chief was least expected by him af-ter his relief as city chief of San Fernando City, La Union also of December 15, last year after a 2-year and three months tour of duty. He admitted that the present task assigned to him is a tough and challenging one. Among the guidelines he will issue are:discipline, the strict implementation of the “tamang-

bihis” program, enhancement of the police-community relations and intensified crime prevention and resolution. Mayor Amante in his brief message pointed out that the changing of the guards was done in commitment to the mainte-nance of peace and order. He described the occasion as both exciting and nostalgic. Meanwhile, he also out-lined his expectations for the incoming police chief such as: a strong leadership among his sub-ordinates, strict implementation of discipline among the ranks, must be active and visible on the field, should not compromise his position with offers from gam-bling lords and illegal drug traf-fickers, pro-active in crime pre-vention and in the maintenance of peace and order, be innovative in his ways, an advocate for anti-illegal logging, mining and drug trafficking, and must be hon-est.


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

http://www.philippinetravel.ws

Dipolog earmarks P43.89-M for infra projects

The city government here has allocated some P43.89 million for the implementation of its infrastructure projects programmed for this year.

by Franklin P. Gumapon


Dipolog earmarks P43.89-M for infra projects

A report released by the City Engineering Office (CEO) disclosed that the said amount was used in the construction of new school buildings, water supply, drain-age canals, farm dikes, cold storage condenser pad at the Dipolog fish port, improvement of the city memorial gar-den, expansion of the city jail dormitory, repair of school buildings, and many others. Mayor Evelyn Tang-Uy said these infrastruc-ture projects had been implemented to pro-vide the people with the needed infrastructures and to help facilitate the delivery of social servic-es to the public. In a related devel-opment, the city gov-ernment has also in-

dipologcity.com

pinoyprogress.com

dipolognon.com

tensified its campaign against illegal drugs and all forms of criminality to keep the city peaceful and orderly. It can be recalled that a number of drug pushers have been ar-rested in drug buy bust

operations jointly con-ducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency (PDEA) and Team David from January to December this year. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

Tawi-Tawi gets P1B of P8.5B ARMM stimulus fundISABELA CITY – Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali hailed the Aquino administration for allotting to his province P1-billion out of the P8.5-billion stimulus fund it programmed to hasten development in the 22-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.


“We are very grateful to President Aquino’s administra-tion for providing our province a share of P1-billion from the P8.5-billion stimulus fund for ARMM. The amount will propel our efforts in bringing our province to greater heights,” Gov. Sahali said after learning from officials of the Aquino govern-ment about his prov-ince’s share. Sahali said the P8.5 billion stimu-lus fund allotted for the autonomous re-gion under the “ARMM Transition and Invest-ment Support Plan” is derived from the P72-billion saved by the current national lead-ership from cancelling project contracts under the past regime. The saving is now termed as a national stimulus package of the Aqui-no administration, he said.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for your concern and kindness to us. The provincial government and the people of Tawi-Tawi is so grateful for the P1 billion allotted to im-prove our province’s socio-economic condi-tion,” Sahali said. He said that all the projects lined-up under the P1 billion stimulus package are geared to-wards poverty allevia-tion and improvement of the socio-economic condition of the prov-ince, which is known to be the country’s poor-est zone. According to him, the provincial offices of DPWH in Tawi-Tawi got P240 million; De-partment of Health, P140-M; Department of Agriculture, P91-M; Department of Sci-ence and Technology, P3.6-M; Department of Interior and Local Government, P80-M;

Department of Trans-portation and Com-munications, P30-M; Department of Ener-gy, P200-M and their Electric Cooperative, P200-M. Sahali said the projects funded out of P1-billion will greatly help his province and its people, adding that implementation of the development programs will also provide addi-tional employment to his constituents. He said his prov-ince’s share from the stimulus fund also in-cludes welfare proj-ects like cash-for-work programs, construc-tion of additional day-care centers and core shelters, supplemental feedings, and various infrastructure projects like irrigations and farm-to-market roads. (JPA/BPI-ARMM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)

lpp.gov.ph


To avoid penal-ty and/or getting de-tained for violating the city’s anti-smoking or-dinance, the smokers have been reminded not to smoke inside the public buses/jeepneys, restaurants, malls, marketplaces and oth-er public places within the city. Reports from the City Information Of-fice (CIO) disclosed

that most smok-ers apprehended last month were coming from the neighboring towns. Many of these violators were caught smoking in “en-closed public places” such as night clubs, said the CIO. With this, the city government through the City Health Office

Smokers urged to observe anti-smoking ordinance

DIPOLOG CITY - Smokers beware while in the city.

(CHO) is appealing to the public to always follow the law. It can be recalled that the city govern-ment came up with the anti-smoking or-dinance in support of the Department of Health’s (DOH) cam-paign against smok-ing, which has already taken toll on the health of millions of people worldwide. The DOH has con-ferred on the city gov-ernment the pink orchid awards in recognition of its full support to the anti-smoking drive. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zam-boanga del Norte)


PNP steps-up Sendong rescue, recovery, retrieval operationsby Elaine O. Ratunil

The Philippine

National Police (PNP) has stepped-up its operation in helping Sendong-stricken Northern Mindanao.

PNP Chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome, in his visit, Thursday, to cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, said he has ordered the deployment of additional police elements in the region for the continuing rescue, recovery and retrieval operations. As of yesterday, the PNP has already deployed at least 300 police officers coming from regional offices of Region 11, Caraga and Special Action

Force (SAF), Bartolome revealed. He further said all other regional offices of the PNP are on alert status should there be a need for additional augmentation in regard to the operation. Police Chief Inspector Regina Abanales, chief, Regional Public Information Office (RPIO)-Police Regional Office (PRO)-10, on the other


hand, said 150 elements from the Caraga region are assigned in Iligan city and started to clear the streets of Orchids Subdivision from rubble, logs, mud and damaged vehicles and helped the residents recover their belongings as well as assisting them in clearing mud and debris from their houses. The other 96 personnel from Region 11 are assigned in Cagayan de

Oro. Abanales, however, said they did not include those houses that were not yet occupied back by the homeowners. Meanwhile, PNP Crime Laboratory dispatched 10-man team to conduct dead victim identification (DVI) in Cagayan de Oro City. PDG Bartolome visited Iligan and Cagayan de Oro to oversee the continuing rescue,

recovery and retrieval operations of the PNP. Bartolome also headed the distribution of relief goods in selected evacuation centers in the two (2) cities amounting to P1 Million each city containing a pail, pair of slipper, bottled water and food packs. During his visit to Macasandig evacuation center in Cagayan de Oro,


he revealed to the affected families that more relief goods are coming and these are just the initial batch of relief goods being distributed. Pregnant women were given priority to receive the relief goods during the visit. PNP band also played Christmas carols during the distribution. He also visited the wake of SPO1 Chalon Edrote who was killed when he was swept away by the flash flood. He also visited other police officers who were affected by Sendong. Meantime, he reiterated the order of President Benigno S. Aquino III to prevent affected residents from returning to the danger areas in the city following the flash flood caused by Sendong that killed hundreds of people, December 17.

Bartolome said those residents should remain and stay in the evacuation center while the government is still looking for relocation sites and the PNP will always be ready to assist them. Asked on the capability of the PNP in responding disaster, Bartolome said it is included in their module to train personnel among its ranks on disaster response like this the moment any aspirants join the force. Abanales added the PNP needs equipment to be used for disaster response. It is difficult to respond such disaster if there is no equipment to be used, Abanales clarified.

DENR calls for collaborative efforts of all sectors, citizenry in regreening our environmentCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources urged for a unified effort in conserving the country’s natural resources in the aftermath of the killer flash flood spawned by tropical storm Sendong in some parts of Northern Mindanao.

“It’s high time for us to fortify our collaborative efforts in protecting and conserving of our natural resources and environment”, DENR Regional Executive Director Corazon B. Galinato made this call after flash floods hit Cagayan de Oro City and other areas of Northern Mindanao. Director Galinato said that each individual must do his/her share

for our Mother Earth. She said the DENR is reaching out to concerned stakeholders for partnerships in the implementation of DENR programs and projects. She noted that more volunteers have lend a hand in the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP). “We seek the commitment of stakeholders to pursue the tree


growing campaign as we need to reforest degraded areas in the region”, Director Galinato said. She is thankful that the military, police and other government agencies have been actively supporting the campaign to protect our forests. The DENR seeks the support of local government units in enforcing forestry rules and regulations. The DENR through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is vigorously pursuing technical assistance in the solid waste m a n a g e m e n t campaign of local government units and other stakeholders. M e a n w h i l e , Director Galinato has asked DENR 10 employees to cooperate in alleviating the plight of employees

who were affected of the flashflood in Cagayan de Oro City and other areas of the region. “We are grateful to Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje for making extending assistance to the affected DENR 10 employees,” Director Galinato added.She instructed regional bureau directors and technical regional directors to extend assistance to the affected DENR employees. She said the DENR 10 also lost a comrade and more than 104 employees have been affected by the flash flood. The Operations Center of DENR 10 is overseeing the donations of cash and used clothing to be distributed to DENR employees and other residents of the city.She assured the public of the continuous delivery of DENR services by the regional, provincial and community offices including line bureaus. (L.Calvez/denr-10)

http://greensideupeh.blogspot.com

http://images.judycquilab.multiply.com


UN and humanitarian partners appeal for US$28 million for immediate needs of flash flood victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in southern PhilippinesMANILA/GENEVA/NEW YORK - The United Nations and humanitarian partners called for US$28.6 million to support the Government of the Philippines to respond to the serious humanitarian needs caused by the devastating Tropical Storm Sendong (international code name “Washi”) in Northern Mindanao.

The Emergency Revision of the Philippines (Mindanao) Humanitarian Action Plan 2012 aims to provide clean water for drinking and bathing, food, emergency shelter, and essential household items to 471,000 worst-affected people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities for three months. Debris clearing to reduce health risks and logistics services that ensure uninterrupted delivery of life-saving programmes are also a priority. Acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, who returned yesterday from a two-day visit to the two cities, was shocked by the scale of destruction that he saw firsthand. “It was as if the cities were hit by an inland tsunami,” he said. “Entire areas were completely flattened; only a few sturdy buildings remain standing, and these had sustained a

lot of damage. Debris from houses, buildings and other structures that had been destroyed by the storm was all swept out to the sea, leaving huge areas devoid of all traces of habitation.” To date, more than 1,060 people are dead or missing and 28,030 homes have been damaged or destroyed, according to the Government. More than 43,600 people are taking shelter in 51 evacuation centers and another 266,000 people are staying with relatives or in makeshift structures. These figures are expected to rise as more information becomes available. In Iligan city, where two thirds of the 44 barangays have been affected, a third of water sources are reported as damaged, and there is a city-wide lack of potable water. “The overflowing generosity of the Filipino people is saving lives,”


said Dr. Soe, adding that “the United Nations and humanitarian partners are working very hard to support Government-led efforts. The needs are however overwhelming.” The Government declared a state of national calamity in the hardest hit areas, and accepted the international support offered by the United Nations and the Philippine Humanitarian Country Team. The Emergency Revision outlines the Humanitarian Country Team’s strategy to complement national and local efforts. The humanitarian response plan for Tropical Storm Washi will be revised within six (6) weeks to reflect ongoing sectoral assessments and evolving humanitarian needs.

Shelter requirements for those whose houses have been destroyed or those who will be unable to return to their neighbourhoods categorized as hazardous and high risk areas will likely feature in the revision.Livelihood support to help people rebuild their lives will also be key. For more information: http://unocha.org/cap/ (UN PR)

http://www.unocha.org

UN and humanitarian partners appeal for US$28 million for immediate needs of flash flood victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in southern Philippines


Bright hopes for mining industryby Jeanevive Abangan

Forests get bald. Mountains either blasted or burrowed.

Streams turn murky with silts. Thousands have died, and many have been injured. These are among the adverse effects of min-ing, tagged as the most “environ-mentally destructive” industry on earth. So what bright hopes for the future can we paint out of mining? Hope for jobs

“For me the mining industry is the last frontier, the last natural re-source to propel us from a develop-ing country into a newly industrial-ized country,” Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez told media practitioners in an interview during the recently held Mindanao Media Summit that bannered the theme, “Environment Watch: Mindanao.” Citing the fast-depleting agri-culture and fishery-based resources, Dominguez pondered at how jobs would be generated in the next 20


years for children of the next genera-tion. He sighed as he said “Oh my!” when he thought of again driving them to go abroad in seach of much better-paying jobs. He found it “foolish” for some politicians to assure youths of jobs either at the municipal hall or at the capitol amidst failure of the coun-try’s economy to provide sufficient jobs for new graduates. “I’m looking for jobs for my grade 1 (children) today, so in the next 20 years I will no longer send them abroad,” he said. Though mining is still fierce-ly meet with opposition, Dominguez revealed to have been preparing his people through “sending them to college so that once the industry is opened our people will become the most competent to be hired.” So much minerals The Philippines has more than US$840 billion worth of untapped minerals deposits. Environment Sec-

retary Ramon Paje revealed such huge volume of minerals in the coun-try during the Mindanao Mining Sum-mit held in August this year. Mindanao alone has so much minerals to mine. Philippine Chamber of Mines Chairman Artemio F. Disini in the same summit said that Mind-anao treasures the country’s biggest volume of gold, nickel and copper as revealed by Using a data from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB), Disini showed that 44 percent or 2.968 bil-lion metric tons (MT) of the country’s 6.757 billion MT total copper mineral resources, can be mined in Mindan-ao. In terms of gold resources, Min-danao holds 3.057 billion MT or 76 percent of the country’s 4.018 billion MT total gold deposits , and that it treasures 954 million MT nickel or 57 percent of the 1.665 billion MT total nickel deposits. Consequently, Mindanao is rak-ing in the huge bulk of investments

on


mining projects which are set to start operating within 2013 to 2017. Dissini further revealed that Mindanao corners US$8.2 billion or 78 percent of the US$10.5 billion total copper project investments na-tionwide. More than half, specifically US$203 million of the US$353 million

total investments for gold projects , go to Mindanao where five mining companies are in the pipeline to start their operation within the next six years. Mindanao also gets US$2.5 bil-lion or 51 percent of the country’s US$ 4.9 billion total investments for nickel mining projects. Citing the 2010 Mining Industry Statistics, Dissini projected the new investments in the minerals industry

to bring along employment benefits to 1.75 million more Filipinos, in ad-dition to the 8.5 million Filipinos who are currently benefiting directly from such industry. Answer to poverty alleviation Meanwhile, Mindanao Business Council Chairperson Vicente Lao looks at mining industry as the solution to the country’s long-been fight against poverty. During the Plan Caravan orga-nized by the National Development Authority (NEDA) in November this year, Lao said the revenues and oth-er earnings from the mining industry can spell great difference to the pov-erty situation in the country. However, the mineral resources have to be extracted from the ground to fully maximize their benefits spe-cially to the lives of the poor. Lao envisioned the mining industry to further bring down the poverty in-cidence to a much lower level of 8 percent from the current 15 percent in 2016 as targeted by NEDA when the mining industry would be given the chance to fully take its course. “Are we going to deny the peo-ple the benefits of a much improved, (much) better life?,” he raised the question in the open forum during the one-day Plan Caravan which fea-tured the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). “(The) Mining industry is not really that bad,” he added. Lao had understood the strong opposition hoisted against mining say-ing, “the industry is paying the sins of the past.” Citing such, Lao urged


the need to ensure that “safeguards should be delivered as promised.”

People’s Mining More than environment safe-guards, Bayan Muna Party-List Representative Teddy Casino wants a shift in the mining policy of the country from resource utilization to preservation, from foreign inves-tors’ preference to prioritizing the welfare of the Filipino people. Speaking during the 7th Min-danao Media Summit, Casino said the mining policy should not only consider “how much money we are going to make but who is going to benefit.” “These are the things that we should balance,” he said. In discussing House Bill 4315 or “The People’s Mining Act of 2011” to the private media practi-tioners, Casino raised no absolute opposition against mining as he recognized the indispensable day-to-day necessities that mining pro-vides. However, he pointed out the need to preserve the mineral re-sources for Filipino people and to place the “strategic value of mining on the progress of the country.” “Kung may makikinabang man sa mina, di dapat ang taga ibang bansa. It is our mineral wealth, dapat tayo ang makikinabang,” he said. The bill also seeks not an “all-out” mining but the preservation of minerals for the future genera-

tion. “Huwag nating uubusin,” he said. The bill also guarantees free and prior informed consent (FPIC) as it upholds rights-based prin-ciples balanced with food security and environment protection. While Gov. Dominguez, during the media summit, pushed for the devolution of environment protec-tion policy enforcement to local government units, Casino pre-fers the creation of multi-sectoral mineral council to “approve, disap-prove and monitor the conduct of mining.”

The Mining Act While the People’s Mining Law is still a work in progress, the na-tional government has at hand the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 to provide environmental safeguards and to ensure social benefits and people’s participation in the mining industry . These, aside from the economic gains it can draw from mining. The Philippine Mining Act sets the social parameter which re-quires mining investors to recog-nize the rights and participation of communities and indigenous peo-ples (IPs) in mining operations and in decision-making processes. It also provides paramaters to ad-equately protect the environment before, during and after the min-ing operation.

Documents

One Mindanao - December 25, 2011