One Mindanao – September 10, 2015

By: Carina L. Cayon

DENR Caraga chief seeks protection, conservation of 3 rare species found in Lake Mainit

PAMANA R.I.P

Services sector a game changer in APEC economies

Bangsamoro peace process takes center stage in International

Meeting for Peace

Davao student leaders launch “TreeVolution of the Young”, plant 2,000 seedlings

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Cover Story

National

Caraga

Northern

SOCCSKSARGEN

Western

InFocus

Southern

By: Johny S. Natad

By: Rutchie C. Aguhob

By: Danilo E. Doguiles

By: Claro A. Lanipa

OUR C

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CAAP reports completion of Ozamiz Airport Development Project

DOLE 12 brings services to villages

ZamboSur marks 63rd founding anniversary

SILG seeks more help from DSWD, DOH for displaced villagers in SurSur

Camiguin scales up rabies control program

contents

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Volume 5 * Issue No. 15

By: Greg Tataro, Jr.

By: Jorie C. Valcorza

22 City Government releases P7 Million PTA subsidy

37 WESMINCOM deputy chief bids farewell after 37 years of serviceBy: Emmanuel D. Taghoy

44 46 ARMM

Over P636 million worth infra projects to roll out in ARMM

Pinksher’s hawk-eagle rescued in Sibulan 51

By: RG Alama

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

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

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

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

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

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

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

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

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTS EMMANUEL D. TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EDITORIAL BOARD

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western &Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

4 September 10, 2015ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story

Pamana R.I.P.By: RG Alama

Pamana, a rescued Philippine Eagle which was released in Mt.

Hamiguitan last June 12 was found dead last August 16.

Scientists from the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) found her when her signal tracker went into mortality mode which indicated that the 3-year old eagle was dead.

Pamana was found with a bullet hole in her right breast that shattered her left shoulder, a metal pellet believed to be the one that killed her was found on the scene of the crime.

5September 10, 2015 ONE MINDANAO

one of the major highlights of Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival is the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan or the Street Dance Competition.

In 2012, Pamana shot by an airgun was found and rescued and brought to the PEF facility in Davao City where she was nursed back and rehabilitated.

Three years after, amidst

fanfare she was released into the wild with no less than celebrity host and animal rights advocate Kim Atienza unlocking her cage.

Pamana’s death shocked many with indignation spreading

PHOTO FROM PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL FACEBOOK PAGE


across the internet.

Investigation

DENR-XI Regional Director Marcus Joselin Fragada said that Pamana was released and later found dead in an agro-ecosystem, a vegetation site composed of farmlands, communities and partly forested areas.

Fragada surmised that the eagle could have stayed in the agricultural areas since food was readily available there citing the presence of prey like farm animals.

He said it could have helped if the eagle was released in the protected area.

Pamana’s chances would have been bigger if he was released in the protected forests.

Mt. Hamuiguitan is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site and is a strictly protected area being guarded by the provincial government of Davao Oriental and the DENR.

Fragada said the lesson learned from Pamana’s death would be the need to establish an multi-agency task force to


monitor the eagle’s survival. He added that if the PEF team would have known its location but the police and the authorities are not aware of its whereabouts.

There is currently a P600 thousand-peso bounty to catch the killers of Pamana.

The Police Regional OfficeXI assistant regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino said that Pamana was shot at close range while seating at the branc of the tree.

Aquino said the police provincial office of DavaoOriental is conducting a separate investigation.

The PEF has vowed to press the charges against the killers of Pamana.

The shooting of the eagle is a violation of Administrative Order No. 235, s. 1970 which prohibits wounding, taking, selling, exchanging, and/or exporting, processing and killing of the Philippine Eagle.


TESDA launches technical vocational training programs rating system

TAGUIG -- Executives of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), technical vocational institutions, and other stakeholders have come together to talk about scaling up their programs to produce better graduates.


At the recent Quality Forum, TESDA also launched the TVET Programs Star Rating System to recognize the accomplishments, innovations and improvements that technical vocational institutions have instituted beyond the minimum requirements set in the UTPRAS.

TVET stands for technical vocational education and training, while UTPRAS is the UnifiedTVET Program Registration and Accreditation System, a quality-assured process implemented by TESDA to ensure compliance of training institutions with TESDA’s standards.

The TVET Programs Star Rating System will categorize TVET programs into good, better or best with corresponding stars.

The forum held yesterday in

Cebu was organized by the Cebu Association of Public-Private TVET Institutions, Inc. (CAPPTI) in collaboration with the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), TESDA Region VII Office and the CertificationOffice.

Around 700 participants attended the forum consisting of representatives from training institutions, industry associations,TESDAofficialsandconcerned stakeholders. TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the gathering


hopes to drumbeat the importance of Quality Management Systems (QMS) that can be adopted by schools to produce quality skilled graduates who can be assets to the workforce.

“TESDA is working together with training institutions and other stakeholders so that the country will have a more competitive workforce,” Villanueva said. “The reasons are urgent in the light of global challenges. Developing quality education policies, programs and structures is imperative,” he added.

During the forum, training institutions were oriented on the different QMS standards/awards they can adopt as they implement their programs. The goal is the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class competence and positive work values.

Among the topics discussed

during the forum were the Philippine Quality Award which adopts the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award of the U.S.A; Philippine National Standard – 29990:2012 - Learning services for non-formal education and training – Basic requirements forserviceproviders;Asia-PacificAccreditation and CertificationCommission (APACC) - Accreditation and Certificationof TVET Institutions ; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) - Accreditation of TVET Program; and STAR Rating System of TVET Programs.

There were also sharing of TVET experiences from representatives of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), TESDA Women’s Center (TWC), KorPhil Davao and APACC Gold Level Awardee from Malaysia. (TESDA)


Services sector a game changer in APEC economies

CEBU CITY-- The services sector can be a game changer, not only in domestic and regional development but also in member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), business groups from the public and private sector across the Asia-Pacific, said at the culminating event of an APEC dialogue here Tuesday. Delegates to the Regional Conference of Services Coalition thus urged the APEC to “take action to realize the transformative benefits” of this

sector, which provides services ranging from restaurants, shipping, accounting, information technology, and entertainment, among other services-centered


enterprises.

According to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC),thesebenefitscanonlybe enjoyed by making the services sector more competitive, and competitiveness can be achieved with “structural reform in APEC economies.”

“Competitive services help to create jobs, produce quality goods, widen choices for consumers, harness opportunities for businesses, improve living standards, and spur economic growth,” the ABAC said in a statement.

Reforms should include addressing behind-the-border barriers, such as business registration procedures, the council said, adding that international trade negotiations alonewillnotbeabletofixthem.

“Governments need to take

unilateral action to encourage competitive services industries,” the ABAC said.

Opening and facilitating trade and investments in the servicessectorhavesignificantlybenefited micro, small, andmedium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking to enter global markets, it noted.

Member of ABAC Hong Kong Anthony Nightingale also pointed out that an uncompetitive services sector means an uncompetitive manufacturing sector. He said this has led to lower exports and higher prices for consumers.

Representatives of both the private and public sectors meanwhile welcomed the development of an APEC Services Cooperation Framework, which APEC Leaders will consider at their annual summit scheduled in Manila on November 18 to 19.


The framework would signal the importance of services to APEC member-economies and introduce an action plan for the next 10 years on improving services competitiveness.

The ABAC and other

businessmen also said engaging the business community is important in formulating meaningful domestic reforms.

Government policies need to “embrace the new global worker,” said Guillermo Luz, lead

14 September 10, 2015ONE MINDANAO14 September 10, 2015ONE MINDANAO

coordinator for the private sector in the APEC National Organizing Council.

The Regional Conferences of Services Coalition was held on the margins of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and the APECStructural Reform Ministerial Meeting here in Cebu City.

While a non-binding formation, the APEC meetings are able to set domestic, regional, and industrial policies to achieve free and open trade and investment intheAsia-Pacific.

The APEC’s 21 member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

The APEC Leaders

established the ABAC in 1995. A private sector body, it presents recommendations to APEC Leaders in an annual dialogue and advises APEC officials onbusiness sector priorities and concerns.

The ABAC meets four times a year, and ABAC representatives also attend Senior Officials’Meetings, the Annual Ministerial Meeting, and the sectoral Ministerial Meetings.

The ABAC comprises up to three senior business people from each APEC economy and the appointments are made by the Leader of the member economy concerned. The Chair of the ABAC comes from the economy that is hosting the APEC and therefore changes annually. The ABAC represents a diverse range of sectors and includes small and large enterprises. (PCOO/acg)


Bangsamoro peace process takes center stage in International Meeting for Peace

TIRANA, ALBANIA -- Peace advocates from all over the world once again lauded the Bangsamoro peace process as a model for peace building during the International Meeting for Peace in this southern European country.


In the panel discussing the deteriorating situation in Syria and the Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Bangsamoro peace process provided examples and hope of how peace can be made possible. Government of the Philippines (GPH) chief peace negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer underscored the role of trust and faith in the Bangsamoro peace process which led to the signing of the peace agreement between the GPH and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“What made the peace agreement that we are now implementing possible? How did we get this far in our peace process despite the huge gap that divided us? [T]here were definitely two things thatmadethe comprehensive peace agreement between us possible. Without these two, we would not have gone this far. These two elements are none other than trust and faith,” said Ferrer in her speech Tuesday.

Entitled “Peace is Always Possible - Religions and Cultures in Dialogue,” the three-day international meeting, which

opened Sunday, was organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio in cooperation with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Albanian Episcopal Conference.

Ferrer shared how “[i]t took 17 years of negotiations to get us that peace agreement. Many mini-wars before and even during the talks had erupted in the southern part of the Philippines, where the minority Muslims or Moros, lived. More than 120,000 people have died since the 1970s up to the 1990s. Millions have been displaced from time to time. Children missed school, properties were destroyed, and sickness haunted the evacuation centers.”

The government and the MILF signed on March 27, 2014 the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) to end thedecades-longarmedconflictin Mindanao and to improve the lives of people in the conflict-affected areas through socio-economic interventions. The CAB also served as basis for the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) – a bill aimed at institutionalizing a parliamentary


autonomous government to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ferrer has received international acclaim for her work for peace. She has been given the 2015 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Women in Peace and Security, which cited Ferrer’s historic role as the first female chief negotiator tosign a comprehensive peace agreement.

A report released by the New York-based International Peace Institute (IPI) earlier this

year also feted Ferrer along with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles as ideal women peacemakers. The report highlighted the breakthroughs in the country’s peace process from the time Deles,thePhilippines’firstwomanpeace presidential adviser, took the lead in the peace talks in 2010, and underscored the critical roles played by Deles and Ferrer in the GPH-MILF peace negotiations.

The chief peace negotiator together with MILF negotiating panel member Prof. Abhoud Lingga were joined in a panel discussion by Mario Giro, Undersecretary of


State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy; Mauro Garofalo of the Community of Sant’Egidio; Vidya Jain, Director of the Centre for Gandhian Studies of India; Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, a Catholic Archbishop from Nigeria; Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos from the Institute of Geopolitics in France; and Din Syamsuddin Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council Center. “TheMindanaoarmedconflictis after all not a simple problem. There are many other armed groups and different stakeholders such as the migrants who have settled here, and the non-Moro indigenous peoples. Many see the complexity as reason to doubt the process, or any process for that matter, as all complexities cannot be solved by one process alone,” Ferrer shared. “Trust alone was not enough to sustain our process. We needed to have faith because that trust is challenged by every difficult phase of the processand unwanted incidents. It can be challenged especially by those others who do not trust – politicians, other leaders, or ordinary folk who do not believe

in giving this peace a chance,” she added. “Without the trust in each other and the faith that our good intentions will see us through, our process would not have withstood all the challenges. We would have doubted and wavered. Only with trust and faith can we have the generosity of spirit and the compassionate understanding that are essential to make peace in Mindanao, peace on earth possible,” she added. International partners have also been helping in the conduct of the peace process; for instance, the International Contact Group, which observes the conduct of the peace negotiations between the government and MILF, is composed of Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Saudi Arabia along with four international non-governmental organizations such as the Community of Sant’Egidio.

Members of the international community are also providing valuable support for the Independent Decommissioning Body, which facilitates the turnover and decommissioning of MILF weapons and forces, and


the Third Party Monitoring Team, which is tasked to monitor the compliance of the government and MILF to all signed agreements. Back in the Philippines, members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate continue to work hard on the passage of the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), the amended version of the BBL endorsed by the House ad hoc committee on the BBL and the Senate committee on local government for debates in their respective chambers.

“Without trust in the other we become stingy – for instance in the kind of law that we will pass to institute the Bangsamoro autonomous government. Or even begrudge our patience, openness and understanding, and our financial resources,”Ferrer said. She added that the government continues its efforts in building the trust and the faith in the peace process on the Bangsamoro, before the greater Filipino public and the bigger community of nations.


Pastor runs to raise P2M scholarship fund

MALUNGON, Sarangani -- Pastor Ferdie Cabiling raises his hand as he reaches the 50 kilome-ter mark in Barangay JP Laurel Monday, September 7. His GPS watch recorded a total time of 8 hours and 29 minutes, burning over 3,359 calories, and reached the 50.01 mark at 11:49 a.m.. Cabiling, a pastor from Victory Christian Fellowship-Manila, aims to raise P1,000 donation for every kilometer he runs. He is doing an average of 50 kilometers per a day as part of his hope to raise P2 million for Real Life Foundation’s scholarship program and to commemorate his 50th birthday on September 8. The running pastor started his journey in Maasim, Sarangani last September 5 and will finish it in Aparri over a distance of 2,180 kilometers. #RUN50 (Kim Tiblani/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)


DOLE 12 brings services to villages

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Sept 10 -- In line with its efforts to bring services closer to its clientele, the Department of Labor and Employment 12 has rolled out “Barangay Mo, Serbi-syuhan Ko” Convergence Project recently.

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Spearheaded by the agency’s Regional Coordinating Commit-tee, “Barangay Mo, Serbisyuhan Ko” aims to focus on the delivery of programs and services to vil-lages and remote communities.

Regional Director Ofelia B. Do-mingo said with the cooperation of line agencies programs and services will be felt and sus-tained at the grassroots.

“We need to go down and reach out to our clients in baran-gays. They need to understand what we are doing as govern-ment agencies. We also hope that this project will be replicated to help those who are in need of our programs and services,” RD Domingo said.

RD Domingo earlier facilitated a workshop with DOLE XII-RCC member agencies and Region XII LeagueofPESOManagersoffi-cers to identify objectives, data needed, interventions and ser-vices needed for target commu-nities.

The convergence project is expected to advocate DOLE XII-RCC programs and services, help parevent illegal recruitment and undocumented OFWs cases, as-sist access to reintegration and repatriation programs of OWWA and NRCO, reach out to Em-ployees Compensation Com-mission (ECC) covered clients/ families, strengthen registration of “Kasambahay” in partnership with homeowners group/ PESOs/ existing/ functional domestic workers group.

The project is also set to pro-mote safe practices and lessen occupational and health hazards during barangay-based Infra-structure and related projects.

It would also be a means to increase awareness and access to scholarship and training and nationalcertificationprogramsofTESDA, clarify technical and le-gal assistance to be availed from NCMB and NLRC and enhance networking among and between


DOLE XII-RCC. (KZTurnos- DOLE 12/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

City Government releases P7 Million PTA subsidy

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Sept 10 - The city government here has begun releasing the P200 per student Parents Teachers Association subsidy this year.

“These subsidies will help less-en the fees of parents for PTA school development projects this academic year,” Mayor Joseph Evangelista said.

The city government has allo-cated P7 million to subsidize the PTA project fees of about 35,000 pupils and students enrolled in public pre-school, elementary and high schools in the city.

The P200-subsidy per student is twice the amount of PTA sub-sidy given in the project’s initial implementation last year.

Funds for the PTA subsidies were sourced from the Special Education Fund (SEF).

The SEF is half of the total real property taxes paid for by local taxpayers in the City Govern-ment.

PTA per school depends on the number of students enrolled in the facility for the present school year, Mayor Evangelista ex-plained.

Public Elementary schools in the barangays of Linangcob, Macebolig, Manongol, Gayola and Paco already received their PTA subsidies during the Brigadahan sa Eskwelahan activities initiated by Mayor Evangelista.

Brigadahan sa Eskwelahan serves as opportunity for City LGUofficialstoreachouttopar-ents, teachers and students in addressing school related con-cerns.

Other schools will receive their PTA subsidies for the whole month of September through the scheduled Brigadahan sa Es-kwelahan.

In school year 2016-2017, the amount will be increased to P300 per student since it has been incorporated in the Annual Investment Plan of the City Gov-ernment next year. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from LGU-Kidapawan City)


DILG Secretary Roxas visits Caraga regionBy: Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY -- Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas visited theCaraga region to be the guest of an important celebration in Tandag City, in Surigao del Sur


From Bancasi airport, the DILG secretary dropped by in Butuan City to guest in a morning local radio program before proceeding to his destination in Tandag City. During his radio guesting at DXBC-RMN, Secretary Roxas discussed on the continued equipping of the Philippine National Police and other entities under the DILG, his vow to the Filipino people of pursuing the present administration’s “Tuwid Na Daan,” (The Straight Path) and the reforms under the Aquino Administration. According to him the country had already gone this far in introducingreformsandthefightagainst graft and corruption. He said that the government had already gained success in advancing forward and improved the country’s economy. ”It is not over yet, but we have to continue the fight andto tread the straight path that the Aquino administration had envisioned,” Roxas said. He said that four and a half million families of the country had now crossed the bridge from poverty to self-sufficiencyand sustenance through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which is among

the concrete measures of the government’s poverty alleviation program. More than 13,000 of these families are here in Butuan City and the government is determined to reach out to more similar impoverished families, he said. Roxas also discussed the “call center industry” which he introduced while he was still the Secretary of the department of Trade and Industry and the cheaper medicine law. According to him, when he ran for the Vice-presidency 2010, it was propelled by a good ambition to serve the country on a better and greater plane. This time he said, he considers it as his mission to pursue the reforms this administration had started, to help achieve the dreams and realize the hope of the 100 million Filipinos for a better country, Secretary Roxas said


DENR Caraga chief seeks protection, conservation of 3 rare species found in Lake Mainit By: Johny S. Natad

BUTUAN CITY – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 regional director Nonito M. Tamayo sought for the protection and conservation of the three rare species found at Lake Mainit Key Biodiversity Area (LMKBA) in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte provinces. These are the species of Rufous hornbill, Rafflesia, andGoby. The three species of LMKBA were identified to be significantaccording to the current biological study conducted in the area by the Biodiversity Partnerships Projects (BPP).

“Based on the result of the biological assessment and the environmental and economic significanceofthethreespecies,the ‘hornbill,’ ‘rafflesia’ and‘goby’ were selected as the icon flora and fauna species in LakeMainit,” Tamayo said. “The Rufous hornbill


(Buceros hydrocorax), a bird locally called as ‘kalaw’ is found in the mountainous area of Zapanta Valley, Bangayan, Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte. It isclassifiedasvulnerablespecieby the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The hornbill is also called the mountain clock,” he added. The chief of Protected Area, Biodiversity and Eco-tourism Josephine L. Araojo considers theRafflesia(Rafflesiamixta)asone of the large flowers in theworld. It is found thriving at the high plains of Cantugas, Mainit in Surigao del Norte. This specie is said to be a mixture of other speciesandclassifiedascriticallyendangered by IUCN. Araojo said Goby (Glossogobius giuris), a fishlocally called as ‘Pidjanga’ or ‘Pijanga’ is endemic in Lake Mainit. “This fish specie hassignificant economic importancebecause of its abundance in the lake ecosystem. The goby is the

lifebloodof the lakefishersandcould be a legitimate symbol of the Lake Mainit,” she said. The LMKBA has identifiedthese importantfloraand faunaas their priority or icon species for conservation. LMKBA is one of the key biodiversity areas (KBA) in the world and a recipient of the Biodiversity Partnerships Projects (BPP) funded by the United Nations Development Program – Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) through the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau and DENR-13 Protected Area, Biodiversity and Eco-tourism as the responsible partner and implemented by Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA). DENR and LMDA have requested the mayors in the municipalities surrounding the KBA to adopt the icon species and install mechanism including fund allocation to ensure the protectionoftheserarefloraandfauna.


SILG seeks more help from DSWD, DOH for displaced villagers in SurSur

He both called up DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and DOH Secretary Janet Garin, relaying immediate needs and also the scenario of worsening sanitation. Aside from health services,

Roxas suggested that “food for work and livelihood assistance” have to be extended. The DILG chief was also informed of a death that occurred inside the sports center’s compound at 4:00

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Interior Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday had to seek more help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as from the Department of Health (DOH) upon seeing firsthand the plight of the displaced villagers taking refuge at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center here on Tuesday after fleeing their homes for fear of their lives since September 1.

By: Greg Tataro, Jr.

PHOTOCREDIT: SUNSTAR.COM


a.m. on September 8—a certain Reynabel Enriquez, 4 years old, who succumbed to asthma but declared dead on arrival (DOA) when brought to Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC). Around the same time, a woman-leader identified asJosephine Pagalan went to Roxas’s side, telling the secretary about their basic needs as well as their desire to return to their respective abodes as soon as possible. Afterwards, the secretary gave instruction to P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero, provincial police chief, to speed up restoration of law and order in the abodes of the displaced villagers for their immediate return, particularly in Km. 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town, 90 kilometers south, this city, where the murder of their kin took place. In return, Verdadero assured the DILG chief of what the police was expected to do, adding that criminal charges have already been filed against the threesuspects—siblings Bobby and Loloy Tejero, Garito Layno, and 20 John Does. It can be recalled that the mass evacuation was a result of

the murder of Emerito Samarca, IP school director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (Alcadev); Dionel Campos, chair, Malahutayong Pakigbisug alang sa mga Sumusunod (MAPASU); and Aurelio Sinzo, a civilian, were brutally murdered by alleged rogue members of Magahat-Bagani Forces at the said place early morning of September 1. Allegedly, Samarca suffered from a cut throat and stab wounds while Campos and Sinzo instantly died from bullets wounds. Also, a structure in the area was reportedly burned down. In his brief visit to Tandag City, being the guest of honor and speaker during the opening program yesterday for the 393rd Fiesta celebration, Roxas who suddenly veered away from his itinerary, had to delay his departure for almost an hour to Bislig City, 175 kilometers down south, to see for himself the situation of the evacuees. To date, according to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)headed by May Navidad Salinas, the number of evacuees has already reached up to 598 families or 3,227 individuals.





Netizens remember Zambo siege 2 years after

Photo courtesy of Joey Bautista of City Hall PIO

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Two years after the infamous Zamboanga siege on September 9 yesterday, Zamboangueño netizens relive their memories by sharing “throwback photos” and posts on social media.


Many remember the vivid gunshots, the mortars, the bombardments, the evacuations and the curfew. However, many more remember the bravery and resiliency that the people of Zamboanga showed in that time of adversity. Here are some of the posts:“2nd year Anniversary of Zamboanga Siege, and all the memories are coming back,” posted Jill Iiee on Facebook. “Durante el Zamboanga Siege talli el tiempo donde hinde iyo ta puede bolbe na casa siendo ta necesita que reporta cada hora y espera con grande noticia que ay rebenta,” (The Zamboanga siege was the time when I could not

go home since I had to report the events every hour and wait for developments) shared Kikay Taola, a local journalist. She continued, “pero ta vusca iyo siempre tiempo para bolbe y asegura cae na bien mio dos anak. Talli el dia que ta bolbe iyo donde ya llena sila deila bagpack de ropa para entalcaso daw anda maga rebelde, kore yalang sila dayun”. (But I had to look for ways to go home to make sure that my two children are safe. There was a time when I was able to come home when I saw my children prepare their backpacks in case the rebels would come and there is a need to evacuate.) “Sept. 9, 2013... It’s been two


years… it’s been an experience for me being in the middle of the gunshots and mortars,” shared Oyette Villares Bandiez.Other netizens seem to find ithard to believe that two years had already passed since the siege. “2 years na gale since Zamboanga siege happened,” Krizia Mei Julian-Yvanoff Camoro twitted. Some contemplated on the present situation, and asked whether the crisis is indeed over. In a post shared by Alexis Roa Baldia, he recounted, “today, I couldn’t help but wonder, did the war really end? Did the crisis really stop? Have we left them (IDPs) with an even greater battle?”Baldia continues: “Today, may we remember, but more importantly, may we find the courage andwisdom to truly see that despite ample and significant efforts,there is more to be done.” Ramada Jose shares her concern overthestilldifficultsituationofthe internally-displaced persons (IDPs). “Magdadalawang taon na. nagtitis pa rin sa loob ng elementary.school ng Marikih, wala pang permanent bahay maging bunkhouse wala pa rin natapos,” (It’s been two years,

the IDPs are still suffering inside the elementary school of Marikih, the permanent houses are still notfinished)Joselamented.Queenie Casimiro, an ABS-CBN broadcaster commented on the bravery of the firefighters, whowere just as dedicated to their jobs as the armed forces. “At one point these firefighterswere accused of not doing their job. Na hinayaan lang nilang masunog ang mga bahay dahil tropa ng gobyerno daw ang nanunog. But these photos show how these firemen braved theheatcausedbothbythefireandsniper fires,” (Firefighters wereaccused of leaving the burning houses since people accused government troops themselves of starting the fires) Casimirosaid. Meanwhile, Ulysses John Pagente Almocera, a humanitarian worker said: “It was two years ago when I was awakened by the noise of gun shots. I went to my dorm’s living room and everyone was watching TV; a video of a soldier who fell down while he was running with his platoon was being played over and over again. I was confused. Is there a commotion somewhere in Zamboanga or am I just watching another spoof show where they


are trying to make fun of that soldier? The TV commentators were speaking in Chabacano and I can only understand a few words.”“I received calls and texts from my mom. She was worried. I told her I’ll just stay at home. After a few hours, I received messages from friends asking if I can volunteer at the Grandstand to help feed the IDPs... I went to the grandstand without my mom’s

permission. Little did I know that it would be the start of my career as a humanitarian.” Yesterday, the city government held several activities in remembrance of that fateful day in 2013, and the series of events that followed afterwards. Mayor Beng Climaco emphasized that “we should remember those who fought for the safety and security of the city during those times of trials.”

ZamboSur marks 63rd founding anniversary

By Claro A. Lanipa

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The province of Zamboanga del Sur will be celebrating its 63rd Founding Anniversary starting today, September 10 until Sept. 17 with the theme, “Lig-on nga Pangagamhanan, Sandigan sa Mauswagong Katawhan sa Lalawigan.” (Strong Governance, Foundation of Prosperous People in the Province)


The week-long celebration depicts various activities and nightly presentations which will be participated by the 26 municipalities and Pagadian City. The programs and activities are all designed to celebrate the uniqueness and peaceful co-existence of Zambosurians in the midst of its diversity in religion, culture and creed.To drum up the week-long festivities, a thanksgiving mass will be held today at the Megayon Stage, Provincial Government Center in Barangay Dao, which will be attended by all local

officials and employees of theprovince. This will be followed by a flag raising ceremony andthe raising of the banners of the province’s 26 municipalities and one city, including all national governmentofficesat theUnityPark.The Organic Agri Trade Fair Opening Ceremonies and Farmers’ Congress will follow at the same venue highlighted by the Organic Cooking Contest participated in by 26 lovely candidates for Miss Zamboanga del Sur 2015.Meanwhile, forming part of the celebration is the Philippine


WESMINCOM deputy chief bids farewell after 37 years of service By Emmanuel D. Taghoy

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Brigadier General Orlando E. De Leon, deputy commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) has bowed out of service recently after serving for 37 years in the military.

National Games Mindanao Qualifying Leg hosted by the province from September 10-14 where some 5,000 to 6,000 athletes, coaches and sports officials from the differentprovinces and cities in Mindanao are expected to participate.Other activities lined-up to highlight the celebration are; Women’s Assembly spearheaded by the Women Empowerment Movement-Rural Improvement Club (WEM-RIC), Liga ng mga Barangay Convention, JosefinaH. Cerilles School Campuses Day, Boy Scout of the Philippines Court of Honor, Festival Dance Competition and the Search for

Miss Zamboanga del Sur 2015.Back to back are the nightly activities such as the Governor’s Night, Peace and Order Night, Teacher’s Night, WEM-RIC Night, Liga ng mga Barangay Night highlighted by the awarding of the Most Outstanding Punong Barangay and the Most Outstanding Zambosurians’ Night.On September 17, prior to the anniversary program and the Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT) General Assembly, an anniversary mass will be held at the same venue, the Megayon Stage.


In a testimonial review and retirement ceremony, the deputy chief expressed his gratitude to all his peers witnessing the event.Lieutenant General Rustico O. Guerrero, WESMINCOM commander officiated theceremony along with other commanders of the different units, civilian employees and personnel who witnessed the activity.“We now relieve him of his duty. He can now spend more time

with his family,” Lt.Gen Guerrero said.De Leon had served as deputy commander of WESMINCOM for over two years replacing BGen. Eugenio Clemen in 2013. Prior to this, he was the commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade in the Province of Sulu, who was instrumental in the transformation of the Marines.“As a public servant, he has dedicated his life to God, his country and people. He has been


a role model to his staff, showing that discipline and hard work gets the job done,” said Lt.Gen. Guerrero.BGen de Leon has served in Mindanao for most of his career. Among the positions he held include: Platoon Commander and CommandingOfficerofthe31stMarine Company and 5th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) between 1984-1988IntelligenceOfficeroftheMBLT 3, IntelligenceOfficer

of 3rd Marine Brigade in 1995-1996, Deputy for Intelligence of the then Southcom between 1999-2001, Executive Officerat MBLT 5 in 1997-1999, Chief of Staff of the Philippine Marine Corps, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade all between 2004-2006.“Today the feeling is of both happiness and sadness. We wish you the best of luck in your new endeavors,” concluded Guerrero.


Mindanao gets most project approval in PRDP

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Mindanao is getting the bigger chunk in terms of approval of projects in the Department of Agriculture (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) through funding from the World Bank, the Philippine Government and Local Government Units (LGUs).

By: Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat


In a press conference hosted by DA in Cagayan de Oro on 8 September 2015, the department reiterated that in fact more than 50% of the approved project for infrastructure is from Mindanao. DA Undersecretary Emerson Palad said that the ultimate goal of PRDP is to increase income of farmers by 30% at the end of the project. PRDP is a six year national government platform for an inclusive, value chain-oriented and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It is theupscale version of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) where innovations are introduced to address current and emerging challenges like climate change and make rural development more effective. Arnel De Mesa, Deputy Project Director of PRDP said that there is no specific budget allocationper island for this project. With a total of P27.5B fund resources to spend for six years, 67% or P18.5B goes to infrastructure support, 22% or P7B goes to investments in enterprise, 8% goes to planning and 2% goes to project management. The projects that will be approved come from the proposals of each LGU. However,

prior to the approval, proposals must go through processes. First, proposal must be demand driven and must be the need of the community. Second, it must be commodity and market driven wherein there is an assurance of income due to its demand in the market, thus will increase income and generate employment. Third, an LGU must have a Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) where various stakeholders have been consulted. According to DA regional director Lealyn Ramos, the LGUs of Mindanao have been receptive about the program. This is because they will only spend 10% of the total budget for a project approved; 80% would come from the World Bank and the other 10% from the national government. Ramos said that there is no limit to the project an LGU wants to propose provided that they can produce their 10% share and they can provide documents.In Mindanao, she said that there are already 75 provincial LGUs out of 81 who are engaged in PRDP. Total of 23 farm-to-market road (FMR) projects or P930M budget have already been approved for Northern Mindanao. Meanwhile,


CAAP reports completion of Ozamiz Airport Development ProjectBy: Rutchie C. AguhobOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), in Ozamiz City, has reported a 100 percent completion of the Ozamiz Airport Development Project (OADP), as of Aug. 30, this year.

With a programmed amount of P67,140,924.80, the project involved the widening of the airport runway, extension of box culvert, provision of asphalt transition and shoulder grade correction with open canal of the airport in the city. Funded from the 2012 savings of the Department of Transportation and

Communication (DOTC), implementation of the OADP was made by contract with Mindanao Rock. The OADP had an original contract duration of 270 calendar days (c.d.) with an additional contract time of 60 c.d. or a total of 330 c.d., Engr. Edwin B. Luching, CAAP manager of Ozamiz Airport, said.

P4.9B worth of various projects have already been approved for Mindanao island and another P4.9B is waitlisted for review. Ramos said that we are now into up scaling of products. If a farmer is into cacao, then products would include chocolates; there will be factory and packaging will be improved. The Department reiterates that they are very strict in terms

of the implementation of this project. They have now what you call online tracking tool, geotag, wherein photos of the before, during and after of the project will be put online by contractors. Through geotagging, they will know if a project is already done in the area. The department assures that there is no duplication of project in the same area.


The OADP was started on May 18, 2014, about six days after the notice to proceed (NTP) was received by Mindanao Rock on May 12, last year. The original expiry date of the OADP was set on February

11, 2015, but was moved to September 30, this year, with incurred suspension due to unfavorable weather condition and time needed for the preparation and approval of the variation order, Luching also said.

“We have been strictly observing entries of dogs in ports and airports, in fact have confiscatedfourdogsalreadyinthe first semester of the year,”said provincial veterinarian Louis S. Bollozos. Other than quarantine, the provincial government has ensured the continuous implementation of the rabies control program which includes the bi-annual conduct of house-to-house rabies vaccination throughout the province, and the provision of free vaccines to walk-in clients.

The accomplishment to date records some 3,636 cats and dogs vaccinated or some 2,246 families served. The Rabies Information and Education (IEC) program which intends to push awareness on the dangers of rabies has also been carried out, including the random catching activities for stray dogs.

Camiguin scales up rabies control programMAMBAJAO, Camiguin – Upholding its rabies free status, authorities here have also scaled up efforts in strengthening quarantine measures.

By: Jorie C. Valcorza


DRRMOs in Lanao del Sur undergo second round of ICS training

Provincial and Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMO) of Lanao del Sur have completed the second level of the Integrated Planning Course on Incident Command System, facilitated and funded by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao- Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM-

HEART) on September 1-6, 2015 at the Seda Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

by: Apipa P. Bagumbaran


“The course was aimed to strengthen the capacity DRRMO in incident commanding should a natural or human disaster incident occur in the area,” said Myrna Jo Henry, media/communications officerofARMM-HEART. Henry said the course responds to issues and problems that usually crop up during calamities and disasters such as having many responders than necessary, unclear lines of authority and unclear incident objectives. Participants were DRRMO of the provincial government and the municipalities of Bacolod Kalawi, Bayang, Binidayan, Buadi Puso Buntong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Lumba Bayabao, Lumbaca Unayan, Lumbatan, Marogong, Molondo, Piagapo, Saguiaran, and Wao. There were also participants from the Philippine Army who are consideredasthefirst-lineofdefensewhen a calamity or disaster strikes. Ret. Colonel Tatar M. Boriongan, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officeof Lanao del Sur, said most of the incidents in the province are human-induced such as family and clan feuds except for the municipalities of Ramain, Bubong and Buadi Puso Buntongwhichexperiencedfloodingduring typhoon Pablo last December 2012. “When it comes to settling family and clan disputes and feuds in the province, Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr. is at the

forefront and with him are respected religious leaders of the province and his Provincial Council of Elders,” said Boriongan. He said the governor is serious in extending help to all his constituents and this is the reason why he wants all the disaster risk and reduction officers in the municipalities to becapacitated and prepared for any unfortunate incident. “Our DRRM office is alsofully-equipped with rubber boats, generator sets, water pumps, rescue vehicles, ambulances, ropes, shovels, and even mannequins for our local trainings,” Boriongan added. The ARMM-HEART is a brainchild of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman. It is an emergency rapid response team providing coordinated actions by all regional line agencies and humanitarian organizations to limit the effects of disasters in the region. It has a state-of-the-art emergency and operation center based in Cotabato City working 24/7 to monitor disaster, weather and occurrences affecting the people residinginthefiveprovincesoftheregion namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (PIO Lanao del Sur/APB/PIA-10)


Over P636 million worth infra projects to roll out in ARMMMARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - Over P636 million worth of infrastructure projects “are expected to roll out immediately” within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) after two memorandums of agreement were signed on September 4, at the ARMM Compound in Cotabato City.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, who led the signing of the agreements, said the infrastructure projects “ will roll out immediately after a series of simultaneous preparations were conducted.” One hundred barangays located in 82 townsacross theARMMwill benefitfrom the 2015 ARMM Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (HELPS) support infrastructure projects.

The ARMM’s Integrated Project Management Office (IPMO) overseesthe implementation of the 2015 HELPS projects. It also serves as the fund manager and lead agency in monitoring and evaluation of district engineering offices to ensure high quality, on-timedelivery, and consistency with respect to the program of work. Noor Saada, regional director of IPMO-ARMM, said 506 HELPS infrastructure projects will be built,


amounting to about P512 million. These include construction of barangay halls; multi-purpose buildings; children’s parks; barangay health stations; water, waste and sanitation facilities; botika ng barangay; community learning centers; and support to livelihood activities. According to Saada, the projects were identified by residents andstakeholders of target communities. Details of the projects were communicated with partner line agencies to ensure propriety and complementation, to avoid duplication, and to promote synergy. Saada also noted that ARMM HELPS projects in 2013-2014 have a completion rate of about 80 to 90 percent. Meanwhile, a memorandum of agreement for the concreting of three roads in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur was also signed on Friday between the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-ARMM) and three municipal government units.

Don Mustapha Loong, regional secretary of DPWH-ARMM, said the concreting of three roads is worth P124 million. The projects in Maguindanao include the concreting of the four-kilometer Parang-Buldon Road in the towns of Parang and Buldon worth P72 million and the two-kilometer Macabiso-Namuken Taraken Road in Sultan Mastura worth P40 million. The one-kilometer, P12 million, Tubok Municipal Road in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur will also be built. The regional government has chosen the three towns as partners in the implementation for their capability to undertake such infrastructure projects. “These projects are part of the continuing legacy of the reform agenda of Governor Mujiv Hataman and DPWH-ARMM to close the gap in terms of unpaved national, provincial and municipal roads in the ARMM,” Loong added. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)


DavSur villages undergo disaster prepared-ness trainingSTA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur – Under Hedcor’s capability building pro-gram, First Aid and Basic Community Disaster Preparedness Training was done for its host communities in Davao del Sur.

The host communities – in-cluding Brgy. Astorga, Brgy. Da-rong, Brgy. Kapatagan and Brgy. Sibulan – were given an opportu-nity to undergo disaster prepared-ness training through Hedcor. The project aimed to train and equip residents with knowledge and skills on how to properly respond to nat-ural catastrophes and mishaps. With the help of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Digos Chap-ter, useful first aid practicesweretaught to the participants during the two-day training. “Asabarangayofficial,Iwouldlike to thank AboitizPower and Hedcor for giving our barangay an opportunity to attend this kind of training. I have learned a lot espe-cially in bandaging wounds which I consider helpful in disastrous ac-cidents. This will greatly help our community in times of emergen-cies if applied properly,” Brgy. As-torga Kagawad Norman A. Claman-

cha expressed. “We greatly thank Hedcor for initiating this training, at least now we can be of help to our commu-nity and family when natural and man-made disasters occur espe-cially since we reside in locations without easy access to hospitals,” added day care worker Aurea S. Laidan. The training was filled withdiscussions and demonstrations. At the end of the training, written and practical examinations were given to evaluate the participants’ capa-bility in handling emergencies and toassess if theywerequalifiedtobecome reliable first aiders. Ulti-mately, the project was successful after all participants positively as-similated the ideas communicated by the trainers. Furthermore, PRC thanked Hedcor for serving as the bridge that connected them to the people. “On behalf of Red Cross, I would


Davao student leaders launch “TreeVolution of the Young”, plant 2,000 seedlingsDAVAO CITY – The student leaders from seven public elementary schools here led on Wednesday around 500 graders including their teachers in a tree planting activity dubbed as “TreeVolution of the Young,” that aimed at helping mitigate the impact of climate change. TheofficersoftheSupremePu-pil Government District Federation of Davao Central District launched the “TreeVolution of the Young” at Tigatto, Buhangin in Davao City where the pupils planted 2,000 seedlings of mahogany, narra, ca-cao, jackfruit and other fruit trees. “Our goal is to contribute, no matter how small, in saving Mother Earth and in making our environ-ment more livable. Especially be-cause we, the younger generation, will inherit this earth,” stated SPG federation president Jirojunn Juri

Lopoz. “What we are doing now is to provide a healthful environment for the future generation,” emphasized Lopoz, a Grade 6 pupil leader of Te-odoro Palma Gil Elementary School (TPGES), who took the initiative of upholding the care for the environ-ment as a platform and advocacy of the school’s student government. The “TreeVolution of the Young” planting event gained the interest of President Benigno Aqui-no III who was personally invited by Lopoz in a visit to Malacanang

like to thank Hedcor, because with-out them, we would not have been able to engage with these commu-nities. With these basic knowledge and skills they are prepared to face unfortunate events and disasters,” said Red Cross Digos Chapter Ser-vice Representative of Safety Ser-vices and Disaster Management Services Winston Jan S. Malinao. Hedcor also ensures that its own employees are also well-trained to respond to disasters that may occur. The employees located

in Benguet, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Davao and Bukidnon have reg-ular schedules in conducting prac-ticaldrillsforearthquake,fireandflood. Hedcor is a subsidiary of AboitizPower engaged in run-of-river hydro development and oper-ations. It is currently expanding in Bukidnon with the 68.8-MW Mano-lo Fortich Hydropower Project. Cur-rently, Hedcor operates 22 hydro-power plants with a total capacity of 185 MW. (PR/Hedcor)


on June 30 this year. Though he was not able to per-sonally join the event in the morn-ing of September 9, Pres. Aquino took time in the afternoon to hear the report of Lopoz during the “Vis-it to the TreeVolution of the Young” at TPGES where the President also answered questions from student leaders which were focused on is-sues on the environment and K to 12. The Mindanao Development Authority, Department of Educa-tion and Department of Environ-ment and Natural Resources jointly supported the tree planting activ-ity. MinDA Secretary Lualhati An-tonino and Climate Change Com-mission Secretary Mary Ann Lu-cille Sering along with Davao City Councilor Leonardo Avila III have heeded the call of the young envi-ronmentalists and joined the tree planting activity. Both Secretaries lauded the initiative of the student leaders and their show of care for the environ-ment. “I’m so proud of our young people today. They are now aware and conscious of what the environ-ment needs right now. Sila din na-man ang makikinabang nito,” An-tonino said in an interview during the tree planting event. “I’m so happy of this initiative

of the youth, because I come from Mindanao… What we’re actually doing is preparing for the future,” Sering stated. She said that planting trees is one of the 15 ways to Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) which CCC is promoting through the “One Million Filipino Youth Voices,” in partnership with the US Agency for International Develop-ment (USAID). The “TreeVolution of the Young” gained inspiration from the TreeVolution: Greening MindaN-OW, a massive tree planting activ-ity jointly organized by DENR and MinDA in September last year that successfully facilitated the planting of four million trees in six regions in Mindanao. The event presently holds the Guinness World Record for Most Trees Planted Simultaneously at Multiple Locations, beating the re-cord of India. “The TreeVolution was a good experience,itbenefitedalotpeo-ple. We’re hoping that it would give birth to more events like this,” DENR-XI regional director Joselin Marcus Fragada said as he lauded the student leaders’ project cen-tered on the protection for the en-vironment. He said the urban area was given to the grader planters to pro-vide easy access and for them to


Pinksher’s hawk-eagle rescued in SibulanSTA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur – There is hope for a puny eagle after it was rescued by a Sta. Cruz resident on Monday, September 07.

readily monitor in the future what they have planted at present. “Pwede nilang balikan at tingnan kung tumubo ang mga puno na tinanim nila,” he added. The other elementary schools which participated in the tree plant-ing were Bolton Elementary School,

Cesario Villa-Abrille Elementary School, Dona Pilar L. Marfori El-ementary School, Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School, Magallanes Elementary School, and Wireless Elementary School. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

Bernardo “Berny” Apal, 36, of Brgy. Sibulan, together with his two companions, rescued a helpless three-year-old Pinsker’s hawk-eagle after they found it en-tangled in tree roots while walk-ing within the system of Hedcor’s Sibulan Hydropower Plant A. Berny narrated that they then rushed to ask help from Hedcor. The hydro firm quick-ly responded and contacted the Philippine Eagle Foundation for proper care. After preliminary observa-tion, the Philippine Eagle Cen-ter Curator Anna Mae T. Sumaya confirmed its breed as a Pin-sker’s hawk-eagle after it was mistakenlyidentifiedasaPhilip-pine Eagle. She also disclosed

that the eagle was unresponsive, scrawny, and its left eye was in-jured. “It’s good that the eagle was immediately brought here, at least we still have enough time to help it survive unlike some peo-ple who only bring it here when it’s already in a fatal situation. As much as possible, we want to give immediate care to these helpless birds,” Sumaya said. The community’s swift and appropriate response under-scores their crucial role in wild-life protection. Furthermore, this validates Hedcor’s Information Education Campaigns (IEC) for its Bagobo-Tagabawa host com-munities in Sta. Cruz. Hedcor’s IEC includes Biodi-


versity Orientation, Birdshow Ex-perience, Birds Habitat Restora-tion and the newly inked Wildlife Inventory and Biodiversity As-sessment Project with University of the Philippines-Mindanao. For now, the Pinsker’s hawk-eagle is under the care of vet-erinarian Dr. Roberto Puentespi-na, Jr. According to him, he will nurse the bird back to health and provide medication on the ea-gle’s left eye in preparation for the bird’s release back to the wild once it is capable. Hedcor, a subsidiary of AboitizPower engaged in run-of-river hydro development and operations. It operates 57 MWs hydros in Davao del Sur and cur-rently expanding its operations in Bukidnon with the 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich Hydro. To date, Hedcor operates 22 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 185MW across the Philippines. (PR/Hedcor)

Documents

One Mindanao – September 10, 2015