PIA News Service - Saturday, March 27, 2010

Minor nabbed for possession of marijuana leaves in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY (March 27) - Police arrested on Thursday a 17- year old boy from Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur for carrying a bag pack of dried marijuana leaves.

Butuan City policemen, headed by SPO4 Arturo Jimenez, caught up the minor in Purok 1, Barangay Ampayon this city.

Caraga police suspected that the dried marijuana leaves would be sold by the minor here in Butuan City.

The items were immediately brought to the Caraga PNP Crime Laboratory for examination.

Police took custody of the minor suspect.

Civil society in Caraga region has been alarmed lately of the rampant proliferation of illegal drugs in the region. (BS/PIA-Caraga)

Denudation of Lake Lanao watershed stokes Mindanao power crisis

BUTUAN CITY (March 27) – The deteriorating state of Lake Lanao’s watershed area contributes to how quickly its water level ebbed with the onslaught of El Nino phenomenon, officials said Saturday.

They said the slash-and-burn system or “kaingin” and the cutting of trees compounded the destruction in the watershed of Lake Lanao.

In plain view, the official said, the watershed was seriously denuded and “needs immediate attention”.

This development came out after top officials of the government, led by Defense Secretary Norberto B. Gonzales and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Chairman Jesus G. Dureza, along with Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) Chairman Vicente T. Lao, inspected early this week the status of Agus power plants, source of Mindanao grid.

The group found the lake's water level had reached its critical level, causing severe power outages in the southern island since late January this year.

They said that the unabated deforestation of the watershed was due to alleged poor implementation of natural resource protection and management laws.

They also said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has a vital role in this regard. They said the island would not have a power crisis of such magnitude if DENR “aggressively managed watershed areas.”

“The DENR should strictly implement watershed management and conservation laws,” said Lao.

The group also flew over the vast portions of the Lake Lanao “that powers the island’s Agus hydroelectric plants (I to IV) and noticed that watershed area appeared “slashed and burned” and heavily denuded.

They said the watershed areas in Mindanao should deligently managed.

The group bared plans to reactivate and convene Lake Lanao stakeholders and other green advocates to address the problem.

“We intend to reactivate the Lake Lanao Development Authority and Lanao-based non-government organization Salaam to draft a comprehensive watershed management plan,” said Dureza, who is a Mindanaon.

At least 70 percent of Mindanao's power supply, mainly from the National Power Corp. (Napocor) generating plants and independent power producers (IPPs), transmitted through its 138 kilovolts (KV) and 69 KV grids, came from hydropower sources.

Meanwhile, the two power barges of the Aboitiz Power Corp. that have been in full operation since their acquisition this year are being used to help ease the electricity shortfall in Mindanao.

Aboitiz Power president and CEO Erramon Aboitiz said Power Barge (PB) 117 and PB 118 each have a generating capacity of 100 megawatts (MW).

Aboitiz said Power Barge (PB) 117 was moored in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, while PB 118 was brought to the province of Compostella Valley.

However, they said the contribution of the power barges in the power demand of 1,500 MWs in Mindanao was just a “tip of the iceberg.”

The water levels in Lake Lanao and other hydropower sources continue to dampen the generating capacities of most power plants in Mindanao.

All the 33 islands’ cooperatives are still sticking to its scheduled rotation of power outages in the range of four to six hours.

On Saturday’s advisory, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the available capacity of power plants reached only 726 MW.

The cooperatives spread all over the southern island said the continuing outages was due to the much-reduced generation capacity of the hydro electric plants in Lake Lanao and Pulangi River in Bukidnon.

Despite of the voluntary de-loading from major industries in the island, Mindanao consumers still suffer power curtailment.

Big Mindanao companies have agreed to de-load during the peak hours around noon and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

Minor sells big vintage bomb in Agusan del Sur

CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City (March 27) – A minor found a vintage bomb believed to be World War ll war material at Purok 2, Barangay (village) San Teodoro, Bunawan town, Agusan del Sur province, police reported Saturday.

Agusan del Sur provincial police office said the minor sold the vintage bomb to a junk shop in Bunawan town.

A concerned citizen, who detected the bomb, immediately reported it to Bunawan Police Station on Friday.

Follow up police team, led by Sr. Insp. Romeo Villalobos, Bunawan police chief, recovered the vintage bomb from the junk shop and brought to the police station for temporary custody.

In a separate development, Chief Supt. Lino D. Calingasan, regional director of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) on Saturday ordered field commanders to help the military in extending security to all construction firms who are currently building government infrastructures such as roads and bridges in their respective areas of jurisdictions.

The region’s police chief also ordered assistance to the Army who were currently conducting massive pursuit operations against the communist-New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Calingasan directives came out after undetermined number of heavily armed communist terrorists burned 2 unit backhoe excavators and 1 bulldozer owned by Markbelt Corp. at Sitio Baclise, Barangay Angas, Sta. Josefa town, Agusan del Sur at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Markbelt was hired by National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to construct a road in the mountainous area infiltrated by the NPA’s.

Calingasan said the suspected arsonists were members of communist-Front Committee 3 of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC). (muc/PIA-Caraga)

P285-M MRDP projects set for Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 27) – The World Bank (WB) and officials and technical men of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP), along with the Department of Agriculture (DA), are preparing for the implementation of P285 million worth of additional development projects for Mindanao, it was learned Saturday.

The World Bank team is now conducting site visits and assessments in the participating areas in Mindanao to review the anti-poverty program of the Department of Agriculture.

The team will assess the impact of these agricultural infrastructure projects, livelihood, governance reform and environmental projects under the MRDP.

It hopes to see attainment of the two program objectives, which are to provide livelihood opportunities to these areas and institutionalize a decentralized system for the delivery of agricultural services.

MRDP program is part of the food security program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration in Mindanao.

MRDP, a five-year WB-funded program, is now on its second phase and third year of implementation of farmers’ countryside development.

The MRDP aims to increase income of farmers, capacitating women and indigenous people, and enhancing local governance and environmental protection.

The MRDP program has already accomplished over P131 million worth of agricultural infrastructure, including close to 66 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, bridges and four units of potable water systems.

The third-year implementation involves P271 million for the rural infrastructure and P14 million for the community fund for agricultural development.

The WB urges more qualified local government units (LGUs) to avail of the MRDP as it holds its second phase of program implementation.

Lealyn Ramos, program director of MRDP, urged qualified LGUs in Mindanao to participate and avail of the program.

Of the 225 municipalities that are allowed to avail of the 50 percent grant from WB through MRDP, only 118 towns participated, Ramos said.

However, it was gathered that the lack of participation was caused by the 50-50 scheme set by MRDP and some LGUs do not have enough financial capacity to carry out the equity share.

However, Ramos said the LGUs can actually source out their equity share from the provincial government or the district representative if the municipality really lacks the money to put in as their counterpart fund. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Friday, March 26, 2010

PNP urges filing of charges vs. nabbed Surigao gubernatorial bet, 5 others in drug buy bust

BUTUAN CITY - Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Gilbert De la Cruz urged officials of the local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to immediately file charges against independent Surigao del Norte gubernatorial bet Ruperto Eludo Deguiñoand five others today or face technicality problem.

Cruz made an appeal after receiving reports that the suspects right after their arrest were brought here in Butuan City possibly at the PDEA Caraga regional office here in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City .

This writer called the PDEA regional office here Wednesday and asked for PDEA Caraga regional director Atty Joel Quiriones but office staff who answered the phone said Quiriones was not around and when asked on whether they knew about the buy-bust operation in Surigao Cityinvolving a candidate, the office staff replied on the negative.

The office staff then hanged the phone and never came back when asked for anybody for an interview. When this writer called up the office again it was so busy then.

The PNP provincial director said that the charges must be filed at Surigao del Norte Provincial Prosecutors’ Office since the alleged crime was committed in Surigao City .

Cruz admitted PDEA personnel made no courtesy call neither informed his office about the operation.

“What I know is that they went to the Surigao City Police Office and made the buy bust proceedings recorded at the police blotter after the arrest. On whether they made coordination with us before the arrest I don’t know”, Cruz claimed in a mobile phone interview.

When asked why it took PDEA to arrest the suspects and not the local police, Cruz said drug buy-bust operations, including arrest are left to the PDEA although he claimed PDEA should sought coordination with PNP intelligence office to affect effective anti-illegal drug campaign.

The Surigao City Police record claimed that an independent Surigao del Norte gubernatorial candidate and his five other companions were arrested in a drug buy bust operation last March 23 afternoon at about 3:30 p.m.

According to Caraga Police Regional Chief for Operations Sr. Supt. Nestor Monton Fajura , PDEA agents have the arrest recorded at the Surigao Cty Police Office but brought the arrested suspects allegedly to the PDEA regional office here in Butuan City more than 120 kilometers away from Surigao City.

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra confirmed there was such an arrest of six persons happened at M. Ortiz St. , Barangay New Washington, Surigao City, a commercial district.

Cruz identified the independent Gubernatorial ber as Ruperto Eludo DeguiÑo, alyas Bebot, who is running for Surigao del Norte Governor.

Cruz said DeguiÑo was arrested in M. Ortiz St , Barangay New Washington, Surigao City together with five others around 3:30 p.m. on March 23.

Cruz identified the five others as Ricardo Ecleo, alias Kayoy; Arlinda Ecleo, alias Nene; Glen Sykimte; Jose Cariaga; and Jenelyn Noriega.

Cruz however did not claimed on whether the Ecleos arrested were relatives of the Ecleo political clan in the island of province Dinagat islands.

Cruz said the operations resulted in the seizure from the suspects white powdered substance believed to be shabu, four mobile phones, marked money cash P1,000, two digital weighing scale, swiss knife and other drug paraphernalias.

This writer tried to call again the PDEA regional office here many times but the phone line was busy. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

Biz groups, major industries cite ways to solve Mindanao power crisis

BUTUAN CITY - With the continuing power crisis in Mindanao, big business groups and major industries in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions called on the national government to come up with short-term and long-term solutions to address the energy shortfall in the southern island.

The association of wood industries and association of mining industries and agriculture group in the Caraga region and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce spread all over the region also asked various electric cooperatives to help the state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) ease the current power crisis.

The business group and major business players in the region and this capital city feared that the power problem might even last up to 2015.

“This is very alarming,” said a Chinese businessman and member of a business chamber here who requested anonymity.

Technical staff and engineers of Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (Aneco), led by general manager Horacio T. Santos, are currently doing their best to mitigate the power problem as they court the Aboitiz Power Corp. to buy some 10 megawatt from their fossil fed-plant stationed at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Meanwhile, three business organizations in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental on Wednesday have unanimously called on the government to come up immediate and long-term solutions to address the Mindanao energy problem.

In a joint resolution, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber), the PIE-MO Industries Association and the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries (Coci) said the energy shortfall had resulted in rotating power cut off, affecting the operation of industries, including the micro, medium and small sized enterprises (MSME’s) where millions of pesos were already lost since January, this year.

They said economic activities in the island, particularly the agriculture-rich Northern Mindanao region, was severely affected by the power crisis.

The group came up with short-term and long-term recommendations to help solve the current power crisis.

They recommended the release of funds by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm) for the dredging of Pulangi IV, which can provide an additional 255 megawatts (MW) capacity, and the full operation of the 100 MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant.

The group also recommended tax exemption or tax rebates for fuel purchases used for power generation for the duration of the crisis in Mindanao and for the NGCP to come up with a realistic forecast on the power shortage for the months of April to June, this year so that distribution utilities can efficiently schedule their power curtailments.

The business group also asked the distribution utilities and grid connected industries to enter into bilateral contracts for the purchase or lease of power barges (bunker fuel) rather than modular generation sets (diesel) that are more expensive. They also called for the lowering of tariffs in the purchase of generating sets.

The joint resolution was signed by Jerome Soldevilla, president of COCI; Augustus N. Adis, president of PIE-MO Industries Association; and Jaime Rafael U. Paguio, president of the Oro Chamber.

As this developed, hydroelectric power plants in Lake Lanao and Pulangi plants in Bukidnon are still suffering low water level brought about by El Nino weather disturbance.

On Thursday, an NGCP advisory showed the power deficiency in Mindanao was still at 769 MW out of 1,279 MW Mindanao’s peak load.

Though there were incidence of rainfall in several areas of the island, water supplies in major lakes and rivers throughout Mindanao region continue to suffer from El Niño, leaving the island's energy supply still unstable. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

 

German gov’t opens first Mindanao office in Caraga Region

BUTUAN CITY (March 26) - In its desire to assist and help peace and development in Mindanao particularly Caraga Region upon the invitation of the Philippine government, the German government opened its first Mindanao office in Caraga in Butuan City late Thursday afternoon.

Attended by nearly 20 German officials headed by German Embassy charge d' affaires Pit Heltmann, the Germans, together with their Philippine government counterparts,cut the ceremonial inaugural ribbon signaling the official opening of their development-centered office dubbed “German House”.

The German House Caraga office clusters are different from other German organizations--namely GTZ or the German Technical Cooperation, German Development Service or DED, German Civil Peace Service or ZFD which will implement development cooperation programs jointly in Caraga Region.

The Caraga Region initiatives will focus more in strengthening people’s and institutions' capacities together with their local counterparts to promote sustaining development as well as peace, social equity and justice.

In his speech, Heltmann vowed transparency and comprehensive dialogues in addressing community problems as key pillars of German Development Assistance for Caraga region.

Heltman promised general welfare and interests for common good of the greater masses, especially the marginalized sector.

This will be the benchmark of the German policies for Joint Germany-RP developmental efforts for sustainable peace and development in the countryside.

“Philippine –German Government Cooperation has a wealth of experience in strengthening local communities by securing participation of all stakeholders” Heltmann said, citing various capability-building especially on coastal environmental successes in the Visayas.

Other German officials present in the inauguration said that Caraga Region is Germany's priority choice and first stop in Mindanao as far as conflict transformation program is concerned.

Caraga Region has a lot to offer to Philippine development efforts in general and to Mindanao in particular, they added.

According to their project briefer, the most outstanding characteristic of Caraga region is its natural resources endowment with highly varied ecosystem with large tract of lands left underdeveloped.

It is rich in natural resources such as iron, chromite, manganese and copper, earning the tag as “RP’s mining capital” because it has 37 national government- approved large scale mining permits and many small-scale mining permits approved by various local government units of the region.

The region’s leading crops are palay, banana and coconut and it has excellent tourism potentials because of its unspoiled and beautiful beaches, abundant and fresh seafood, ancient and historical landmarks, hot and cold springs and ever-green forests.

Caraga region is also noted for its wood- based economy largely dominated by politically- influential illegal loggers.

There are also communist rebels extracting revolutionary taxes, even as concerned public agency enforcers allegedly are engaged in collecting protection money and wide variety of corruption practices.

German financial cooperation arm KfW has already extended more than seven million euros in loans for the development of several Caraga cities and municipalities, small-scale businesses and promising local industries.

Development cooperation between the Philippines and Germany began in 1961 and has generated 876 million euros (P54-B) in total assistance to date.

In 2008 and 2009 alone, fresh commitments bythe German government reached 33.2 million euros or about P2-B, complemented by 80 international experts deployed in various programs nationwide, Heltmann said.

Butuan City Vice Mayor Dino Claudio Sanchez and other government officials like Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),regional director Rene Burdeos, Commission on Higher Education (CHED, Philippine Health Regional Directors, including Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, the chair of the Caraga Conference for Peace and Development, welcomed the establishment of the development-centered “German House” in the region. (BS/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Thursday, March 25, 2010

Cebuano News: FSUU POLICY CENTER mipagawas sa ilang survey sa pulitika
By Michael A. Imbo

BUTUAN CITY (March 25) – Nagpatawag sa usa ka press conference ang Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Policy Center sa mga sakop sa lokal tri-media alang sa pagpagawas sa resulta sa ilang gihimong 1st Poll Survey Result lambigit sa eleksyon karong Mayo 2010.

Ang grupo sa mga researcher sa FSUU PC ang mipahigayon sa survey ug ilang gihimo ang pagkuha sa opinyon sa mga botante kung si kinsa ang pilion panahon unya sa piniliay.

Mitumaw nga si Senators Benigno Aquino ug Mar Roxas ang nanguna sa presidential ug vice presidential nga posisyon.

Apan gipaneguro sa mga botante nga sa napili nga mga political lider dili pa kini sigurado sa ilang baruganan sanglit gisugyot sa kadaghanan sa nakuhaan sa survey nga ilang giklaro ang kandidato nga nag-sentro ang plata porma sa kapobrehon ug ekonomiya.

Ang FSUU PC nagbutyag nga ang ilang grupo sakop sa mga Non-Commissioned Organization ang mipahigayon sa survey nga gisugdan niadto pang bulan sa Pebrero ning tuiga.

Gikuhaan sa pulso ang 27 ka Urban ug 59 ka Rural nga barangay dinhe sa dakbayan nga mikabat sa 396 ka botante nga nagikan sa lain-laing sektor.

Sa nakuhang talaan dunay 10.8% ang naani ni Senator Aquino samtang kang Villar 18.9% gisundan kini ni Teodoro sa significant nga 0.5 level. Kini nga survey ang nakuha gikan sa botante nga may lain-laing estado sa edad ug nag-depende sa ilang income brackets.

Samtang si Senator Roxas ang nanguna sa pagka-bise presidente nga may 47% gisundan ni Senator Legarda (11.1%) ug Mayor Binay nga may (9.1%). Si Senator Roxas ang migahin sa margin nga 35.9%. kini sumala pa sa mga dunay across income bracket ug hugpong sa age group.

Sa bahin sa probinsya si Congressman Joeboy Aquino ang nakakuha sa 57.1% ang labaw batok kang Angelo Jimenez nga may 7.6% ang pabor.

Ilalom sa bando sa pagka mayor ug bise-mayor, sulod sa 10 ka respondents halos 3 niini ang pabor kang Amante, 3 ang Kang Plaza ug 3 sab ang habig sa wala pay desisyon (undecided). Sa pagka-bise-mayor si Incumbent Vice Mayor Dino Sanchez ang nanguna nga may 34.6% samtang si City Councilor Laurence Fortun ang dunay 27.8%.

Ang mga botante ang wala pay konkreto nga napilian sa 10 ka kandidato pagka konsehal sa dakbayan. Gumikan kay wala pa magsugod ang campaign period sa lokal nga kagamhanan daghan ang wala masayod sa midagan sa posisyon aron masayran ug mail-han sa mga botante ang mga nagpapili sa eleksyon.

Apan dunay mga pangalan nga una ng nailhan sa pipila ka mga respondents nga ilang paboran kinsa mga incumbent ug mga former councilors sa dakbayan nanguna na niana ang Plaza-8.3%, Amoc-8.1%, Marticion-7.6%, Calo-6.6%, Dano-5.8%, Culima-5.1%, Carampatana-4.5%, Bernabe-2.3%, Bunol-1.8%, ug Cembrano-1.3%.

Giduso kini sa FSUU PC sa katuyuan nga ma-edukar ang katawhan kabahin sa ipahigayong eleksyon, aron maklaro ang epekto sa mga panghitabo, tutokan ang mga problema ug tukion ang kabag-ohan. Hisgutan ang mga kasamok ug kadaot sa eleksyon sama sa tikas sa resulta, proseso sa automated voting system, epekto sa power outrages, pagpamalit sa boto, ug mga kagubot nga hatod sa piniliay. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Caraga makigduyog sa Earth Hour 2010 
By Michael A. Imbo

BUTUAN CITY (March 25) – Ang City Government sa dakbayan inabagan sa kooperasyon sa Regional Line Agencies makigduyog sa himoong switch-off sulod sa usa ka oras alang sa pagsaulog sa Earth Hour karong Sabado ( March 27) alas 8:30 ang takna sa gabii, didto sa Rizal Park, ni’ng dakbayan.

Gipahigayon ang usa ka meeting sa mga Technical Working Group (TWG) nga gipanguluhan ni Forester Alexander Alaan, City Administrative Office niadtong Biernes (March 19) ug Miyerkules (March 24) alang sa pagpangandam sa kalihukan.

Ang ipahigayong Earth Hour mag-awhag sa katawhan sa boluntaryong partisipasyon sa pagpalong sa ilang kuryente ug mga suga aron pahugtan ang pakigduyog sa dakong epekto sa climate change sa kalibotan.

Gilauman nga tambongan kini sa mga estudyante sa nagkalain-laing eskwelahan, representante sa lokal nga kagamhanan, mga sakop sa ahensya sa gobyerno ug Non Government Organizations ug uban pa.

Ang okasyon suportahan sa dagkong establisemento, mga negosyante, city main billboards aron mukonhod ang pagamit sa elektrisidad sa syudad.

Sugdan ang programa sa mga pasundayag ug mga presentasyon aron ang himoong selebrasyon sa Earth Hour makakuha’g atensyon ngadto sa kalibotan.

Si Butuan City Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II ang mopakitag suporta uban ang mga bisita ug dinapit nga mga guests aron mosalmot sa kalihukan sa pagtimbaya sa kina-iyahan ug pagsalbar sa hulga sa global warming.

Ang Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) ang mohatag pod sa ilang presentasyon kabahin sa Kuryentipid Tips

Pinaagi sa pagpalanog sa siren gi-awhag ang tanan nga makigdungan sa partisipasyon sa pagpakunhod sa kuryente lukop syudad ug nasud alang sa makahulogan nga selebrasyon sa Earth Hour 2010.

Human niana tukion ang mga epekto sa greenhouse, global warming, climate change ug uban pang mga isyu lambigit sa kina-iyahan. 

Ang kalihukan gihimo sa kalibotan aron ipakita ang pagpakabana ug pagpanalipod sa kina-iyahan nga gi-abusohan sa katawhan. (PIA-Caraga)

Tribal Community Avail of Farm to market Road from CIDP

A two kilometer farm to market road amounting to almost P3M from the DA’s Caraga Integrated Development Program (CIDP) which extends from Bangonay, Jabonga Agusan del Norte to a remote barangay of Tagbuaya in the said municipality has been availed by the tribal community of the place composed of Mamanwas.

The said farm to Market Road was realized through the efforts of the LGU of Jabonga headed by the Hon. Mayor Glicerio Monton and DA-RFU-13 in a counter parting scheme which aim at alleviating the present plight of the marginal tribal farmersin bringing their produce to the market at the right time. 

With an influence area of around 1,500 hectares and benefiting around 500 households, farmers can now focused their production to rice, banana, coconut, and vegetables because there is already a sure way of transporting their products to the nearest market.

The road has helped a lot as it entails lesser hauling cost in part of the farmers. It has also made the lives of the tribal folks a lot more convenient because of the good road to traverse with.

Children can now go to school on time and without hassels, not like before that they have to drip their feet in mud just to reach the place.

“Sa una, amo rang pas-anon ang among mga baligya aron makaabot didto sa merkado, o dili ba kaha hinuon amo kining balsahon para makaabot lang didto. Apan karon, duna nay mosulod nga mga sakyanan kay maayo na man ang kalsada ug barato na usab ang among plitehan”. Nagkanayon si Elisa Subanon, usa ka lumulopyo sa maong lugar. (“Before we used to carry our products in our backs or used carabao sleds to bring it to the nearest market, but now, we have transport our products with lesser cost”). CIDP really fosters lives rekindles hopes. (Rebecca R. Atega, DA-RFU13/ PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Cebuano News: KALANDRAKAS gisaulog sa kababaihan
By Michael A. Imbo

BUTUAN CITY – Malampusong gisaulog ang selebrasyon sa Women’s Month, apil na niana ang pagpangandam sa nagkalain-laing aktibidades nga nag-sentro sa mga kalihukan sa kababayen-an alang sa bulan sa Marso, dinhe sa dakbayan.

Pinaagi sa Regional Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) gihan-ay ang mga kalihukan nga gisuportahan sa lokal nga kagamhanan, probinsyal apil na ang ahensya sa gobyerno.

Niadtong Lunes ( Marso 1) gilusad ang “walk for a cause” nga gisalmotan sa nagkalain-laing ahensya ug lokal nga kagamhanan, padulong didto sa Libertad Sports Complex ning syudad. Gisundan kini sa “plant for a cause” niadtong (Marso 5) sa may Ambago Elementary School.

Ang Kalandrakas sa Kababaihan VI gibuhat sab didto sa Balanghai Hotel, aron ablihan ang pagtutok sa kahinungdanon sa teknolohiya, opurtunidad sa livelihood ug pag-padevelop sa skills, trade fair, ukay-ukay ug uban pa.

Dunay padula ug mga pa-premyo, gitudlo sab ang talento sa parlors ug pagpamasahe, gituki ang mga isyu ug pagpasalida sa mga nahimong papel sa kababayen-an sa kumunidad. 

Si Atty. Marylin M. Pintor, Chairperson sa GADCC ang mipahayag nga ang highlights sa kababayen-an mao ang mga achievement ug empowerment nga naipakita sa kababayen-an sa pakig-lambigit sa katilingban.

Dugang ni Atty. Pintor nga luyo sa mga pagpangabuso nga gi-atubang sa kababayen-an sama sa kasong pangpandagmal, pagpanakit, pagpanglugos, apil na ang mga sektor sa kabataan ang aduna na’y proteksyon sa gobyerno.

Ang Republic Act 9262 kon “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004". Ang mipanalipod sa katungod sa kababayen-an ug kabataan.

Gihisgutan sab ang mga nahimong commitment nga nagsusi sa patas nga panlantaw sa katungod sa kababayen-an ang Magna Carta of Women ((a comprehensive women’s human rights law which serves as the national translation of the UN CEDAW, the International Bill of Rights for Women). 

Sa laing bahin ang GADCC nagsugod niadtong tuig 1998 subay sa gipagawas nga Resolution No. 38, Series of 1998 nga gi-aprobahan sa komitiba ubos sa Regional Development Council (RDC).

Katuyuan sa programa sa kababayen-an mao ang pagpasaka sa micro-entrepreneurs, pakig-alyansa sa ahensya sa gobyerno, Non Government Organizations, academe, pribadong sektor ug uban pa.

Gisaysay pod ang lambigit sa micro-enterprise development diin ang programa mahatagan sa pagtagad ang kababayen-an, lakip na ang mga concerns niini.

Sa katapusang bahin, ang pagtuki sa himoong “Candidates’ Forum on their agenda for women/GAD”, nga naglambigit kabahin sa eleksyon sa nasud nga pagasalmotan sa mga kandidato sa Butuan City ug Agusan del Norte aron masayran ang ilang plata-porma nga maghatag ug interes sa kababayen-an sa kinatibuk-an.

Ipadayon ang mga nasugdan nga nahimong tipik sa kalamboan ug kalampusan sa pagsaulog sa selebrasyon sa Women’s Month nga naglawig sa temang : Babae, Tagumpay ka ng Bayan”. (PIA-Caraga)
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6,334 pass civil service exams

Career Service Examinations held November 15 last year yielded a total of 6,334 passers, representing 10.15% of the 62,389 individuals who took the examinations, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reported.

Of the said figure, 4,681 passed the Professional Examination level, and the remaining 1,653 the Sub-Professional level, representing 9.25% and 14.01%, respectively, of the total number of examinees for each level of the career service examination.

They will be conferred the Professional and Sub-Professional Eligibility, respectively, which may qualify them for permanent appointment to vacant positions in the government career service, provided they also meet the education, experience and training requirements of the position being applied for.

According to the CSC, collective figures show that the National Capital Region (NCR) got the highest passing rate at 14.92% or 1,669 out of 11,186 examinees. Other top performing regions of the country in terms of passing rate include Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 13.83%, Region VII (Central Visayas) at 11.64%, Region III (Central Luzon) at 11.12%, and Region IV (Southern Tagalog) at 10.59%.

Further, the CSC reported that the highest passing rate of 14.45% or 1,244 passers out of 8,611 examinees for the Professional level was posted by the NCR. For the Sub-Professional level, the CAR emerged with the highest passing rate from among the regions, registering a passing rate of 20% or 99 out of 495 examinees.

The new Professional and Sub-Professional eligibles are advised to coordinate with the CSC Regional Office in their area on the requirements and procedure for claiming their Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Meanwhile, those who failed may secure a copy of their Report of Rating also through the CSC website. Should they be interested in taking the test again, they may apply for the Career Service Examination-Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) which will be conducted on April 25, 2010. CSC Regional and Field Offices nationwide are accepting examination applications only until March 10. Interested applicants are advised to visit the CSC website for the application form, requirements, filing procedure, and other information regarding the April 25 CSE-PPT.

The CSC, however, reminds retakers of the rule on the frequency of taking the Career Service Examination, which is once every three months and up to four times only for the same level of examination, regardless of the mode (Paper and Pencil Test or Computer Assisted Test). Those who have failed the same level of examination for four times can only apply for the same level after two years from the date the fourth failed examination was taken. For example, an applicant who has failed the Professional test for four times already, the last of which was taken in November 15, 2009, may only retake the same level of exam from November 15, 2011 and beyond.

The CSC clarified that the frequency rule does not apply between and across the two levels of the examination, meaning, should an individual meet the limit of frequency rule for the Professional level, he/she can still take the Sub-Professional level and vice versa.

The complete list of passers of the November 15, 2009 Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional Examinations can be accessed at the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph. (CSC-13/ PIA-Caraga)

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FSUU Policy Center bares 1st Poll Survey Result

BUTUAN CITY - With the presidential elections three months away, Senators Benigno Aquino and Mar Roxas lead in the presidential and vice presidential bid as expressed by the Butuan City voters. However, there is no significant single candidate preference for the local elective positions. The respondents preferred a candidate unstained by corruption and with a clean public service record. They also cited their need for a candidate who has a preference for the poor.

In the non-commissioned February 2010 survey conducted by the Father Saturnino Urios University Policy Center (FSUUPC) covering 27 urban and 59 rural barangays of the city involving 396 voter-respondents using face to face interviews, Aquino is preferred by 31.3% of the respondents. The 10.8% lead of Senator Aquino over Villar and 18.9% over Teodoro are significant at .05 level of signifance. This lead is seen from votes coming from voters across all ages and income brackets.

Senator Roxas leads in the Vice presidential seat with 47% followed by Senator Legarda (11.1%) and Mayor Binay with 9.1% Senator Roxas bested Senator Legarda by a margin of 35.9%. Voter preference for Roxas is essentially the same across income bracket and age groups.

Congressman Aquino showed a big margin of lead over Jimenez with 57.1% of the voter respondents preferring him over Jimenez with only 7.6%.

There is no statistical difference in the voting preference of the respondents, at the time of the survey, for the mayoralty and vice mayoralty positions. For evry 10 respondents, about 3 of them reported to vote for Amante, 3 of them are still undecided. While Sanchez leads in the Vice Mayor Position with 34.6%, this lead over Fortun, with 27.8%, is not statistically significant.

The respondents do not still have the complete set of ten candidates for the city councilor seats. As of the time of the survey, the local campaign period had not yet started which can account for the respondent’s low knowledge of who to vote for the city councilors’ seats. However, the re-electionists dominate the top ten ranks with the following percentages for each: Plaza-8.3%, Amoc-8.1%, Marticion-7.6%, Calo A-6.6%, Dano-5.8%, Culima-5.1%, Carampatana-4.5%, Brnabe-2.3%, Bunol-1.8%, and Cembrano-1.3%. These candidates are ethier incumbent, and/or former councilors.

Apprehensions for the coming election abound primarily on cheating in the election results, on the process of the automated voting system, effects of power outrages, vote buying, and possible election-related violence. (FSUU-PC/PIA-Caraga)
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BIMP-EAGA Task Force on CIQS beefs up initiatives

BUTUAN CITY (March 24) - The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Task Force on Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) has beefed up its plan of action in the four CIQS areas through various initiatives this year. 

In a press statement sent to Philippine News Agency on Monday, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said CIQS emphasized the need to strengthen institutional consultative and coordination mechanisms and continued conduct of dialogues among CIQS agencies and private sector at the port and sub-regional levels. 

"Government cannot do trade facilitation alone. We need to maintain relations and alliances with public and private sector stakeholders, both from the local and international arena," said Morales, who chaired the 5th BIMP-EAGA CIQS Task Force meeting last weekend. 

Morales also noted that CIQS standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been formulated by each EAGA member country that will be implemented at each and between entry points (or ports) across BIMP-EAGA, in support to the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on CIQS Harmonization. 

The CIQS task force reported the establishment of One-Stop CIQS facilities at various designated entry points in EAGA. These include General Santos City Fish Port Complex, Glan, Sarangani, and Brookes Point, Palawan in the Philippines, while new CIQS facilities are expected to be set up in Zamboanga. 

One-stop CIQS facilities are also established in Entikong-Tebedu (Malaysia) border crossing, Muara Port (Brunei), Labuan Port (Malaysia), and Sandakan Port (Malaysia). 

The CIQS task force also proposed capacity building programs for their respective sectors. 

For customs, training on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Techniques, Ship Search and Goods were identified. 

The immigration sector proposed for the conduct of a Training of Trainers capacity building program, while the quarantine sector proposed for the Pest Risk Analysis/Import Risk Analysis and a development program for joint pest surveillance. 

The security sector proposed the updating on new International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) regulation and Maritime Security Council Circulars. 
The capacity building proposals have been proposed for funding by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other BIMP-EAGA development partners such as China and Japan, but no commitments have been finalized yet. 

For its part, the ADB presented during the meeting the results and recommendations Time-Released Study (TRS) which analyzed and identified constraints in import clearance processes. 

The TRS was completed in seven EAGA entry points which are Muara Port (Brunei), Brunei International Airport, Labuan (Malaysia) Port, Sandakan Port, Tebedu (Malaysia) Port, General Santos Port, and Zamboanga Port. 

Each entry point proposed local measures to address the identified constraints in order to improve the import clearance process which includes simplification and fast-tracking of the clearance process, enhanced Customs and coordination with other government agencies (OGA), among others. 

ADB also recommended the conduct of regular TRS every two years to monitor the impact of the trade facilitation measures in terms of reduction in clearance time and standard deviation. 

At least 88 delegates representing BIMP-EAGA attended the BIMP-EAGA meeting in General Santos City, including officials from CIQS agencies of the four member countries, and representatives from BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (BIMP-FC) and ADB. (muc/PIA-Caraga)


Butuan Survey: Noynoy-Mar leads but local LP bets beaten by Lakas bets as Gibo lands third

BUTUAN CITY (March 24) - The non-commissioned February 2010 survey conducted by local Roman Catholic school, Fr. Saturnino Urios University’s Policy Center (FSUU-PC) among 27 urban and 59 rural barangays of Butuan City showed Liberal Party bets Nonoy Aquino and running mate Mar Roxas topped the survey by garnering 30.30 percent, followed by Villar with 20.45 percent and administration bet Gilbert Teodoro with 12.88 percent. 

Surprisingly, presidential bet JC Delos Ryes endorsed recently by some Roman Catholic Bishops got zero vote in the power point presentation by the FSUU Policy Center presented Monday at the University’s audio-visual room. 

Ranked number four in a Roman Catholic school sponsored survey is former President Joseph Estrada with 3.79 percent followed by evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva with 1.52 percent and Gordon with 0.76 percent. 

Like JC Delos Reyes, presidential bet Jamby Madrigal got zero vote. It was not explained in the power point presentation why. The undecided, however, is 28.79 percent. 

In the VP race, Mar Roxas got 48.50 percent while closest rival Senator Loren Legarda only got 15.20 percent followed by Binay, 5.30 percent, Bayani Fernando, 1.52 percent and Edu Manzano of Lakas got 0.76 percent. 

The undecided is 28.79 percent. 

Surprisingly the local LP bets here supporting the Noynoy-Mar tandem were beaten by their local counterpart except in the mayoralty race where LP mayoralty bet Dr. Ferdinand Amante, got 37.10 percent while wife of incumbent Butuan City Mayor, former Butuan Mayor Leonides Theresa Borja Plaza got 31.06 percent. 

Other independent Mayoralty bet, devoted local Roman Catholic lay leader, President of Boholanos Association in Caraga Region and former Butuan City Councilor Atty. Teodoro Emboy got 1.52 percent. 

Independent Mayoralty bets Roberto Rosales got zero in the power point presentation while Romeo Buyan got .0.76 percent. 

Local Lakas congressional bet incumbent Butuan City Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino, II got 56.80 percent while local LP bet former OWWA deputy administrator Angelo Jimenez only got 10.60 percent. 

From Vice Mayoralty bet to City Councilor bets, local Lakas-KAMPI was dominating the survey. 

According to FSUU-PC officials the February 17-24 survey was conducted in a face to face interview covering 27 urban and 59 rural barangays involving 396 respondents. 

According to the officials, the purpose of the survey was to provide correct, transparent and credible information based on accurate and high-quality research for policy and decision makers, the media and the general public. 

Another purpose was to conduct public education on issues of national and regional interest; and undertake capability building activities for citizenship. 

The survey also revealed almost all of the respondents expressed their intention to vote this May 2010 election. 

Senator Aquino leads over Senator Villar from voters across ages and income bracket. 

In his reaction to the survey, local LP bet for Congressman former OWWA deputy administrator Angelo Jimenez in a text message to PNA “Ben, I’ve heard about that survey weeks ago, I congratulate Urios for coming out with one, Am not aware about the methodology used”. 

PNA tried to reach former Butuan City Mayor Leonides Theresa Plaza for comment but to no avail. 

PNA also tried to reach former Butuan City Councilor Atty. Teodoro Emboy who is running independent for Butuan City Mayor but his law office staff claimed Emboy is attending a Catholic Church Mass. 

Although classified as highly urbanized, Butuan Cty has only a total 157, 536 registered voters for May 2010 elections according to the Comelec. 

In past elections it only had an average of 72.35 percent of registered voters who actually voted or cast their votes. (Ben Serrano/ PIA-Caraga)
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Suspected NPAs burn heavy equipment in Agusan del Sur 

BUTUAN CITY (March 24) - Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels burned the heavy equipments of a construction firm constructing irrigation project in sitio Baclesi, Barangay Angas, Sta Josefa, Agusan del Sur Tuesday evening, reports from the police and military here said. 

The area is more than 100 kilometers away from this city, Caraga's regional center. 

Official report from the Caraga Police Regional Information Office here said three backhoe and one bulldozer owned by construction firm Mark Built Corporation were burned by the rebels. The firm is working in a construction project of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the area. 

According to police and military investigations, the construction firm received an extortion letter from the suspected NPA rebels, demanding P4 million. The construction firm refused to give in to the alleged NPAs' demand. 

This is the fourth heavy equipment burning in the first quarter of this year alone. 

Sta. Josefa Municipal Police Office in Agusan del Sur said they are now coordinating with personnel of the 26th IB Charlie Company, Philippine Army assigned in the area for investigation and hot pursuit operations. (BS/PIA-Caraga)


2 Army soldiers, 1 civilian killed, another civilian wounded in bar shooting in CDO 

CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City (March 24) - Two Army soldiers and a civilian were killed in a bar rumble in Cagayan de Oro City before dawn Wednesday, a flash report reaching the police regional command and tactical operation center here stated. 

As this developed, the higher command of the Army’s Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division (ID) did not issue any statement as they are still conducting a separate investigation about the incident. 

Chief Supt. Danilo Empedrad, regional director of Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10), identified the slain soldiers as Cpl. Roque Tagalongan and Sgt. Michael Seno, both assigned at the 4th ID 

The civilian fatality was also identified as certain Leo Acedo. 

The injured civilian was only identified as certain Junjun Sabala. He is currently recuperating in undisclosed hospital in the city. 

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The three victims were killed by two unidentified suspects whom they reportedly engaged in a shootout inside the C @ N Videoke Bar on Agora Road, Barangay Lapasan, this city at about 2:45 a.m. after a heated argument. 

Authorities are conducting a city-wide manhunt operation against the suspects. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Tuesday, March 23, 2010

SPECIAL FEATURE

Honesty begets more blessings for government cashier

That week was a difficult time for Evelyn B. Reonal. Her daughter-in-law just had a caesarian operation and because she and her husband were jobless, Reonal felt obliged to pay for their hospital bills. The P100,000.00 cash she found on top of a counter would have been more than enough to pay off the bills. But she decided to do the right thing and surrendered it to the bank where she found it. Eventually, the money was returned to the rightful owner.

Such exceptional display of honesty was one of the reasons why Reonal, Cashier I at the Department of Public Works and Highways-Albay Engineering District, won the Dangal ng Bayan Award in 2008. The Dangal ng Bayan is one of the three awards given to outstanding public officials and employees under the government’s Honor Awards Program (HAP), which aims to promote a culture of excellence and to recognize and reward state workers for outstanding work performance, contribution and superior accomplishments; or for consistent manifestation of exemplary ethical behavior in the public service.

The Dangal ng Bayan is bestowed to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior, on the basis of observance of the norms of conduct provided under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conductand Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had a nationwide impact on public interest, while the Pagasa Award is granted to an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government on a certain degree of standards.

So that more deserving civil servants like Reonal will be distinguished and rewarded, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) encourages the public to nominate exceptional public servants to the 2010 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees.

Nominees to any of the three award categories should be in the government service at the time of nomination, have been rated at least Very Satisfactory for the last two consecutive performance rating periods, and have not been found guilty of or have no pending administrative or criminal case at the time of nomination. Posthumous nominations are also accepted.

Entries will be accepted until April 30, 2010.

Nominations are accepted through any of the Commission’s Regional and Field Offices nationwide or through the HAP Secretariat at the CSC Central Office, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Deserving awardees will be entitled to automatic promotion, plaque or trophy, cash bonus and other incentives. Conferment of the awards will take place on September to coincide with the celebration of the 110th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.

For more information on the 2010 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees, please contact the HAP Secretariat at telephone numbers 931-7993, 932-0381 and 932-0111. The guidelines and downloadable forms are available at www.csc.gov.ph. (CSC/ PIA-Caraga)

 
Preparation is key to passing civil service exam – CSC

“Just like for any other exam, you have to prepare well in order to pass.” This was the reaction of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chair Francisco T. Duque III on the low passing rate in the career service examinations.

“It is the mandate of the CSC to ensure that entrance into the career service is based on merit and fitness. We need to get the most qualified to enter government because these are the people implementing vital programs and services for the public. This is why we administer competitive examinations. We’re setting a standard here,” Duque said.

Recently, the CSC released the results of its November 15 Career Service Examination-Paper and Pencil Test where 6,334, or 10.15% of 62,389 examinees, passed. The passing grade is 80.

Historical data from the CSC show that career service examinations since April 2005 have yielded an average of 4,417 passers per schedule for the Professional level of examination, and 1,498 passers per schedule for the Sub-Professional level, or a 9.14% and 13.4% average passing rate, respectively.

The area of the test that examinees find most difficult is Analytical Ability for the Professional level, and Numerical Ability for the Sub-Professional level.
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The Professional Examination covers vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, analogy, logic, and numerical reasoning. The Sub-Professional Examination tests for vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, clerical operations, and numerical reasoning.

Both levels of the examination have general information questions on the Philippine Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713), peace and human rights issues and concepts, and environment management and protection.

Filipino citizens who are at least 18 years old and of good moral character, regardless of educational attainment, may apply for the career service examinations.

Those who pass the civil service exams are conferred a civil service eligibility – a basic requirement for entrance to government service. (CSC/ PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Monday, March 22, 2010

PGMA signs RA 9997 creating the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9997 on February 18, 2010, creating the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and abolishing the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) which took effect on March 6, 2010.

In one of the inter-agency meetings held recently, NCMF-Caraga Regional Director Soekarno Mohammad informed the body on the said act and that the NCMF shall have nine (9) commissioners serving on fixed office terms.

Also, Dir. Soekerno bared that among the powers and functions of the NCMF are the following: provide advice and assistance on policies and programs affecting Muslim Filipinos, establishment of Muslim Filipino settlements but not on lands and bodies of water traditionally and actually occupied by Indigenous Peoples and within ancestral domains of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and identify lands for homeless and displaced Muslim families.

“NCMF will also serve as channel for seeking government assistance and redress; participate in peace process; enter into contracts with government and private parties; and promote domestic trade among Muslim Filipino communities,” Dir. Soekarno added.

NCMF-Caraga with Dir. Mohammad assures to give its client and its partner agencies in the government a wider and better services. (PIA-Caraga)
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Butuan City government prepares activities for Earth Hour 2010
By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY - The city government here in cooperation with all the regional line agencies will once again join the cities and towns all over the world in switching off their lights for one hour dubbed as Earth Hour on March 27 at 8:30 in the evening. This is revealed during the Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting presided by Forester Alexander Alaan at the City Administrative Office here, held Friday (March 19).

Earth Hour is a global event that involves the voluntarily turning-off of non-essential lights for an hour to heighten awareness about the effects of climate change.

The event will be participated in by the students from various schools in the city and representatives from the local government units, government agencies and non-government organizations.

On that night, the city government aims for a total darkness in the city's main thoroughfares, landmarks and large establishments. 

Also, to make the event more meaningful and to be able to gather as much support to the endeavor, a short program will be prepared during the switching off of the lights. 

City Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II together with the invited guests and participants will gather at the Rizal Park for a very short program. A few minutes before 8:30 pm, a police siren will then be heard signaling the start of the countdown. 

Finally, at exactly 8:30 pm, lights will be switched off. A ceremonial switch will be prepared at the Rizal Park. 

On its one hour in the darkness, talks on greenhouse effects, global warming, adaptation to global warming and other environmental topics will be discussed by various concerned agencies. (PIA-Caraga)
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Cebuano News: Gob. Barbers padayon nga nagpakabana sa mga panginahanglanon sa mga katawhan sa Surigao Norte

SURIGAO DEL NORTE (March 22) - Padayon nga nagserbisyo ug nagpakabana si Gov. Ace Barbers sa mga panginahanglanon sa tanang katawhan sa Surigao del Norte bisan pa sa kadaghanon sa iyang mga gimbuhaton ug mga importante nga giatiman sulod sa iyang buhatan. Ang iyang mga programa ilawon na sa pagpaningkamot usab sa tanang miyembro sa Kapit-Bisig Community Services Association (KACOSA), anaa nagpabiling epektibo ug makanunayon diin padayon ang ilang gihimo nga mga feeding programs sa nagkalain-laing tulunghaan ug kabaranggayan sa tibuok probinsya.

Sa nasayran, ubay-ubay na nga mga feeding programs ang gipahigayon sa KACOSA, gani sa pinakabag-o nga impormasyon nga nahibaw-an sa buhatan sa Prov’l Information Office, niadtong nakalabay’ng adlaw’ng Miyerkules, Marso 17, 2010, ang maong grupo mi apud-apud ug pipila ka mga school supplies ug raincoats sa may 500 ka mga kabataan sa Brgy. Karihatag, sakop sa lungsod sa Malimono. Ug kagahapong adlawa, ang samang grupo miadto na usab sa San Isidro Elementary School nga anaa nahimutang sa Lungsod sa Gigaquit. Ug sa supplemental feeding program nga ilang gihimo, adunay 500 gihapon ka mga tinun-an ang ilang giatiman ug gihatagan ug mga school supplies.

Gikalipay sa tanang mga ginikanan hilabi na sa tanang mga kabataan ang kaayuhan nga gipaabot didto Ni Gov. Ace Barbers pinaagi na sa mga miyembro sa KACOSA. Sila nanghinaut nga ubay-ubay pa unta nga mga kalihukan sama niini ang ipahigayon ngadto sa ilang dapit. Ang Gobernador usab sa iyang kabahin, mipadayag sa iyang dakong pasalamat sa tanang miyembro sa KACOSA sa katakos nga gipakita niini hilabi na ang pagpaabot sa iyang tabang ngadto sa kahilit-hilitan nga mga barangay sa probinsya ug iya usab nga gilauman nga daghan pa unta ang ilang matabangan ug ma serbisyohan pinaagi sa ilang ubay-ubay nga programa ug kalihukan. (PGO- Surigao Norte Provincial Information Office)
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Free medical, dental mission benefits 350 households in Butuan City 

BUTUAN CITY (March 22) - At least 350 households in Barangay Ong Yui in this city benefitted from the free medical and dental mission conducted on Saturday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Caraga region in coordination with other stakeholders.

The beneficiaries were among the victims of the big fire that gutted some 600 houses in the same barangay recently. 

The humanitarian mission was also participated in by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) led by Regional Director Abner Caga, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Army, City Health Office of Butuan, DXBR-Radyo Bombo and Philippine News Agency. 

Aside from medical and dental consultation, the beneficiaries also received free medicines. 

The PDEA and its partners also distributed sardines, noodles and clothing to hundreds of fire victims from Barangay Ong Yui and Barangay Obrero. The two barangays were hit successively by big fire last Tuesday and Wednesday, causing the death of four persons and destruction of millions of pesos worth of property. 

PDEA Regional Director Joey Quiriones said the humanitarian medical and dental program is their continuing project to bring the government closer to the people, especially to the needy ones. 

City Mayor Democrito Plaza II lauded the humanitarian effort of the PDEA and other stakeholders who participated in the free medical and dental mission (muc/PIA-Caraga)
 

Gov’t launches TVET-ALIVE Part 2 Program in Northern Mindanao 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 22) - The government has launched the Technical Vocational Education and Training with Arabic Language and Islamic Value Education (TVET with ALIVE) Part 2 Program which integrates livelihood skills training component for Muslims in Northern Mindanao. 

The project is undertaken jointly by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The launching was held here over the weekend. 

Northern Mindanao TESDA Regional Director Edwin C. Gatinao said the program is an "opportunity for TESDA to reach out to the greater number of our Muslim brothers and sisters in the region." 

The program is initially eyeing the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental. 

The TVET with ALIVE Part 2 Program aims to produce holistic Muslim workers imbued with better appreciation of the Muslim culture, ability to speak the Arabic language and endowed with employable skills to better prepare them for local and overseas jobs. 

In a meeting with the Asatidz (Arabic term for teachers) in the region last March 7, Brenda Furagganan, national program coordinator of TESDA ALIVE, together with Director Gatinao, discussed the implementation details of the livelihood skills training program which also aims to uplift the welfare of the Filipino Muslims, specifically those residing in urban areas, through socially and economically productive activities. 

Gatinao expressed his full support to the program and targeted for a 100 percent implementation in Northern Mindanao this year. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

 
DILG strengthens roles of LGUs in water preservation, project implementation 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 22) – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its Office of Project Development Services (OPDS), has strengthened the vital role of the local government units (LGUs) on water project implementation and water preservation as the El Nino phenomenon continues to hit various cities and provinces across the country. 

The DILG-OPDS, in coordination with the Project Development Management Unit (PDMU), mobilized the respective Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) teams of the concerned LGUs to properly implement the water project implementation program. 

The agencies conducted a two-day meeting with the WATSAN members on water project implementation at Harbor Lights Hotel here last March 18-19. 

Participants came from four municipalities of the province of Bukidnon. They were also oriented on the Millennium Development Goals Fund (MDGF) 1919 by WATSAN technical experts from the DILG-OPDS office. 

The activity aimed to enhance the capacities and technical skills of the WATSAN teams from the provincial office of Bukidnon and the municipalities of Kitaotao, Kibawe, Kadingilan and Don Carlos. 

They were also reoriented on the functions and roles of the WATSAN teams in the water and sanitation sector, and water preservation and revisiting their respective work plan for the MDGF 1919 implementation. 

It was learned that the preparation of these work plans by the WATSAN teams will be used for the roll-out of the baseline survey and other information needed at the barangay level. 

MDGF 1919: Enhancing Access to and Provision of Water Services with the Active Participation of the Poor is a program aimed to contribute to the improvement of efficiency, access, affordability and quality of potable water services, by establishing support mechanisms which include the development of a range of incentive options and partnership modalities. 

It was also gathered that this project covers 36 waterless municipalities in Regions 2, 5, 9, 10, and CARAGA with project duration from January 2009 to December 2011. 

Project beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao are the municipalities of Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Kadingilan, Kibawe and Kitaotao in Bukidnon; Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte; Baliangao and Sinacaban in Misamis Occidental; and Claveria in Misamis Oriental. (muc/PIA-Caraga)

 
LGU thanks President Arroyo for development projects, social services 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 22) – The whole officialdom of Lanao del Sur on Sunday expressed gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the continuing development program being extended to this province. 

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Adiong Jr. also sent their letter to the Chief Executive in behalf of his constituents for the Arroyo administration for all the programs and projects undertaken by her administration spurring positive growth in the province. 

The governor specifically mentioned the support of the farm-to-market roads and irrigation systems that provided means of livelihood for thousands of farmers to be more productive ensuring food security in the province. 

The Arroyo administration also supported the Lanao del Sur’s anti-poverty measures as the centerpiece of the province’s political platforms, "that is why we in the local government were able to effectively cascade the delivery of basic social services to our constituents," Adiong added. 

The Governor further cited the social assistance programs of the national government with the province as one of the beneficiaries. 

The province is beneficiary to several social services of the national government, including the monthly stipends for the elderly more known as the Katas ng VAT, Pera Para kay Lolo at Lola; the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps for the marginalized families through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

The province is also a beneficiary of the school feeding program of the Department of Education (DepEd), free vaccination of the Department of Health (DOH); and training scholarships through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (muc/PIA-Caraga)
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Water springs hope for Schisto-affected village

ROSARIO, Agusan del Sur – For almost 60 years, Segundo Piamonte and his family would scour the mountains of Barangay Marfil, nestled in the interior of this town, looking for creeks to fetch water.

“This would entail three-to-four-kilometer hike, to and fro, both in the morning and afternoon, every day,” says 57-year-old Piamonte, one of the early settlers of Sitio Ugabon in Marfil , formerly called ‘Mabtay’, from the Bisaya word ‘nangamatay’.

It was named as such after the creek, the source of food and water around which the community was built, dried up, killing all the fish and emitting foul odor across the village. The name was changed in 1958, combining the names of its first punong barangay and his wife, Felimon and Maria.

During rainy season, Piamonte said they would settle for murky waters from these creeks and drink rain water. But during summer, when most of these creeks dried up, they would buy drinking water at P5 per galloon from peddlers and gamble fetching water for washing and bathing from Schistosomiasis-infected Cabugan and Solibao rivers, the last ones to dry up.

“A number of residents, particularly children, got infected with Schistosomiasis during summer,” Piamonte said.

The 66 families living in this sub-village were used to this cycle though the rest of the barangay have already access to potable water.

Schistosomiasis or snail fever is a debilitating chronic disease caused by a worm and affecting people living in swampy areas and mountainous terrains not having sanitation facilities and potable sources of water.

Symptoms of schistosomiasis at early stage are skin itchiness, fever, bloody stools, diarrhea, and dysenteric attacks but may result into enlarged liver and spleen, anemia, weight loss, and severe liver disease.

The Department of Health records show that around 2.5 million people are directly exposed to the disease but 12.5 million are estimated to be at high risk to Schistosomiasis infection in 190 municipalities and 20 cities within the 28 provinces in the country, including Agusan del Sur. 

But Piamonte and 64 other families are hopeful that there would be less cases of Schistosomiasis this year compared to previous years even with the onslaught of the El Niño.

Early this month, a potable water system with two water reservoirs and communal faucets were installed in the sitio to serve residents in the area through the assistance of the GoP-UN ACT for Peace Programme with financial contribution from the barangay and municipal local government units.

“This is indeed a blessing to us. We don’t have to hike for hours just to fetch water. Our children will no longer be late in going to school or spend hours looking for water,” Piamonte said.

During the recent project turnover program, Sec. Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao and national programme director of ACT for Peace, observed the community’s commitment to advance their peace and development.

“Marfil becomes a symbol of unity for peace, the reason why the Programme supports your community,” Dureza added.

Marfil is among the 278 Peace and Development Communities (PDCs) assisted by the ACT for Peace as they undergo transformation processes from being conflict-affected areas toward progressive and self-relient barangays. Thirty-seven of these barangays are in Caraga region.

New Zealand, Australia, Spain and European Union provide support to the Programme that is managed by the United Nations Development Programme and implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in partnership with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Government.

New Zealand Ambassador Andrew Matheson, on the other hand, praised the residents for their “great sense of community and choosing to walk the path of peace.”

“What the donors do is nothing unless embraced by the community and you’re doing a fantastic job,” he told the residents during the turnover ceremony attended by barangay leaders, municipal and provincial officials and other partners.

The barangay was heavily influenced by the New People’s Army in 1980s with 90 per cent of the population were believed to be supporters of the communist rebels. Armed clashes between the rebels and the government soldiers occurred during this period, that at one point, the residents had to flee and take refuge in the town proper to avoid from being caught in the crossfire.

Aside from the water system, other projects supported by the Programme are the construction of a barangay health station, provision of medical equipment and rice trading enterprise. These projects were identified in the barangay development plan updated through a barangay assembly.

The Programme also assists in capacitating barangay leaders and strengthening People’s Organizations through culture of peace sessions and other training that encourage people to get involved in various activities in the community.

For Marfil Barangay Chair Emilio Solidor, Jr., the implementation of projects becomes an opportunity for his constituents to work together, to volunteer their skills and time and to forge stronger relationship among themselves. 

He pointed out that during the construction of these projects, the volunteers outnumbered the paid workers. He also noticed an increasing attendance of his constituents during meetings and other barangay activities.

“We’re thankful of these projects. But we’re glad that these initiatives allow us to be back on our feet as one community and walk the journey towards peace and progress,” Solidor added.

For Piamonte, who is the head of Purok 7, he now enjoys a spring of water that gushes from a few steps away from his home. That spells a lot of difference. (ACT for Peace)