by Nora CL Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- The Manobo community of Agusan del Sur will launch the Manobo Community Sago Palm Flour Enterprise in Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela on October 18. This is a clear sign that the continuing efforts of multisectoral groups here to empower the indigenous peoples (IPs)is bearing fruits.
It also shows that this particular IP is now sustainably taking the lead in the development and protection of their ancestral domains, by developing an enterprise friendly to the environment.
According to Veruela municipal mayor Salimar T. Mondejar, the launching marks the start of commercial production of palm sago flour by the Manobo people constituting the Veruela/Sta. Josefa Ancestral Domain Management Organization (VESTA ADMO).
The sago palm flour enterprise was realized through their business arm, the Kayumbyahan Sagu Manobo Corporation (KASAMACOR).
The sago flour is taken out of the natural and organic raw materials found in their ancestral territory.
The enterprise is also part of the continuing effort of the Manobo people to strengthen their individual and collective capacity for income and employment generation in the context of the sustainable development and protection of their ancestral domain, Mayor Mondejar added.
The Manobo community under the Caraga Indigenous Peoples Development Programme (IPDP-Caraga) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) developed the Sago Palm Flour Production Enterprise with support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). It is being implemented with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the municipal government of Veruela, Agusan del Sur.
Also, other stakeholders, including the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and the concerned national government agencies, non-government organizations, and the private sector are likewise providing support to the project through an existing multi-sectoral convergence framework for the development and protection of ancestral domains. (PIA-Caraga)
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MinDA to launch MindaNOW Program
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct.13 (PIA) -- The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) with the collaborative efforts of other government agencies will be launching the ‘MindaNOW’ (Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters) Program on November 2011.
According to Cecilia TriΓ±o of MinDA based in Davao City, the said program is an integrated set of development interventions anchored on sustainable development framework that aims to integrate, harmonize, and rationalize plans, programs, policies, mechanisms, and processes.
“The program shall set guidance for Mindanao that will emphasize ecological value, capitalize water as the most critical resource for human survival, and optimize the full potentials of the river basins and watersheds without necessarily compromising its carrying capacity,” TriΓ±o said.
It also aims to mobilize all Mindanao stakeholders to take collective action in improving, conserving, and maintaining the carrying capacity of the environment and natural resources in the region.
TriΓ±o further bared that one of the objectives of the MindaNOW Program is to integrate Mindanao-wide and interregional plans and programs, and to harmonize approaches/processes to rationalize resources, and mechanisms for the development and management of river basins and watersheds in Mindanao.
Since the said program is a collaborative effort of government agencies and partners from the non-government organizations, private and other sectors, the project holders are mainly the office of MinDA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Climate Change Commission, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The implementing agencies are the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of National Defense (AFP and PNP), and the local government units.
TriΓ±o also stressed that the program targets a six-year Medium-Term Investment Program (2011-2016) and includes strategic programs on governance, reforestation, agriculture, infrastructure, industries, livelihood, and social services.
Meanwhile, along with the launching of said program in November 2011, a Mindanao-wide Tree Growing will also be conducted simultaneously, as well as signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between MinDA and partners.
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Four projects in Jabonga now on
by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton
BUTUAN CITY, Oct.13 (PIA) -- Four huge projects under the KALAHI-Makamasang Tugon “HIPAGLAMBO” by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were inaugurated and handed over to the local government unit (LGU) of Jabonga.
Jabonga municipal Mayor Glicerio M. Monton Jr. bared that the four projects are the following: Barangay Health Station in Barangay A. Beltran, Day Care Center in Barangay Bangonay, and a one unit two classroom school building in Barangays Bunga and San Pablo.
Mayor Monton added that Agusan del Norte headed by Governor Erlpe John M. Amante and Jabonga assisted the completion of said projects. (MRA with reports from RGE/PIA-Caraga)
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Immigration desk in Camiguin to help foreign tourists
CAMIGUIN ISLAND, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced recently that they will be putting up an immigration booth in Camiguin Island when the province celebrates its annual Lanzones Festival next week.
Immigration commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said a team of BI officials will travel to Camiguin and man the booth which will serve as a one-stop shop for foreign tourists who will be visiting the island during the festival.
David said that aside from providing visa extension services, the one-stop shop will also entertain queries and disseminate information about the various services provided by the BI to foreigners visiting the country.
“We hope that through this one-stop shop, foreigners who will join the festivities will be encouraged to frequently visit not only Camiguin but also explore other tourist spots in the Philippines,” David said in a statement.
He added that the BI will study the feasibility of putting similar one-stop shops in other places of the country that hold annual festivities and attract large numbers of foreign tourists.
Associate Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara will lead the BI team and disclosed that the one-stop shop activity will be held in the capital town of Mambajao on Oct. 20 and 21.
Mangotara said personnel from the bureau’s computer section in Manila and the BI-Cagayan de Oro field office, including a payment assessor and cashier, will man the booth to provide visa extension services to foreigners.
It was learned that other agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Statistics Office, National Bureau of Investigation, and Professional Regulation Commission will also participate in the one-stop shop activity that was organized by the Camiguin provincial government.
Mangotara was invited to speak at a public forum to discuss the latest policies and regulations implemented by the BI as chief regulator of the entry and stay of foreigners in the Philippines.
Aside from boosting local tourism, the activity also aims to generate employment opportunities for Camiguin residents, according to a primer released by island’s provincial capitol. (Tonette Mangrobang, BID/PIA-Caraga)
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Army recovers rebels’ cache during clash
ST. CHRISTINE, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- The Bravo Company under 1st Lieutenant Angelo Gomez, executive officer of Bravo Company, 29th Infantry Battalion, recovered New Peoples Army’s cache during the firefight with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF),at Sitio Mimi, Barangay Layog, Tago Surigao del Sur on October 10 at about 9:00 a.m.
According to Col Henry A Robinson Jr., commanding officer of 29th IB, the firefight lasted for 30 minutes which resulted in the recovery of several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ammunitions for AK47 rifle, and other personal belongings of the owned by members of Guerilla Front 19B under certain ka Mitchie.
Investigation reveals that four NPAs got wounded in action.
“The successful seizure of combat materials was a result of effective information given by the community. The cooperation of the populace with the government forces is a huge contribution to the peace, security, and development of our country. Thus, we should maintain unity and vigilance to prevent the risks and losses of life of the Filipino people,” says Col Romeo G Gan, commander of 401stBrigade.
Col Gan commended the troops for the success of their mission, “I am proud of my men for they performed their mission very well. Despite of high risks and hardships in the field they remain responsive and committed to the service.”
Meanwhile the 29IB was directed to pursue military operation in the area. (401st Brigade/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
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46 LGUs get P91M Gawad Pamana awards
MANILA, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- Some 46 provinces, cities, and municipalities throughout the 13 regions of the country were awarded on Tuesday a total of P91 million as incentives for good governance under the government’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi program.
The funds came from the DILG’s Congress-appropriated P500 million Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) aimed to serve as incentives for the country’s local government units to adopt transparent, accountable, and participatory governance.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. presented the awards to the beneficiary LGUs during the culminating activity of the Biyaheng Pinoy, a year-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Local Government Code, held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
The awards consisted of a trophy and a check of P3 million for each provincial winner, a trophy plus a check of P2 million for each of the city awardees, and a trophy and a check of P1 million for each municipal winner.
The governors and mayors of the recipient LGUs personally received the checks to serve as funding support for the implementation of programs and projects under the Millennium Development Goal.
Robredo said the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is conferred to local government units for their exemplary performance across major development initiatives in administrative governance, social governance, economic governance, and environmental governance.
“Through this awards program, we aim to recognize the invaluable contribution of LGUs that have continuously adhered to the good governance principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in local administration and development,” he said.
Of the 46 regional winners, 15 were provinces, 15 were cities, and 16 were municipalities.
The provincial awardees include the provinces of La Union, Quirino, Bulacan, Cavite, Marinduque, Albay, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Cotabato, Agusan del Norte and Benguet, while the cities were: San Fernando, Santiago, San Fernando, Antipolo, Puerto Princesa, Ligao, Iloilo, Cebu, Ormoc, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Tagum, Kidapawan, Surigao, and Tabuk.
On the other hand, the municipal awardees were: Tagudin (Ilocos Sur); Ilagan (Isabela); Llanera (Nueva Ecija); Carmona (Cavite); Odiongan (Romblon); Tiwi (Albay); New Lucena (Iloilo); Amlan (Negros Oriental); Naval (Biliran); Labason (Zamboanga del Norte); Opol (Misamis Oriental); Laak (Compostela Valley); Surallah (South Cotabato); Cagwait (Surigao del Sur); Sta. Marcela (Apayao); and Sultan Mastura (Maguindanao).
The DILG Secretary said the LGUs were chosen based on the following criteria: scores in the development indices from the Local Governance Performance Management System, the Seal of Good Housekeeping, organization of national government bestowed awards, and acknowledged innovations.
“We expect the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi awardees to sustain their outstanding performance and serve as shining exemplars of good governance,” Robredo said. (DILG Public Affairs Office/PIA-Caraga)
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Tagalog News: Aquino: mananatili sa bansa ang mga imbestor sa mina sa kabila ng pag-atake ng mga rebelled
by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton
BUTUAN CITY, Okt. 13 (PIA) -- Sa kabila ng pagsalakay ng mga rebeldeng NPA sa malalaking minahan na matatagpuan sa Claver, Surigao del Norte gaya ng Taganito Mining Corporation, Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., at Platinum Group Metals Corporation at kumitil ng tatlong guwardiya, noong Oktubre 3, mananatili at itutuloy pa rin ng mga banyagang kapitalista sa industriya ng mina ang pangangalakal dito sa Pilipinas, ayon kay Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III.
Sinunog rin ng mga rebelde ang 10 dump truck, walong backhoe, dalawang barge, at isang guest house, dagdag ng mga pulis at militar.
Sa pakikipagpanayam ng Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) sa Pangulo, na naganap doon sa Makati, kahapon, Oktubre 12, sinabi ng Pangulo na nakausap niya ang grupo ng mga mangangalakal na Hapones at isiniguro nila na ipagpatuloy nila ang kanilang pangangalakal dito sa bansa sa kabila ng mga paglusob ng mga rebelde. Aniya, itiniyak ng mga opisyales ng grupong Sumitomo na wala silang intensyong bumaklas sa kabila ng kagulohang naganap.
Bilang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng seguridad, may plano ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas na bigyan ng pagsasanay ang mga special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) upang maging tagapangasiwa ng seguridad sa mga nasabing minahan.
Ayon kay Panulong Aquino, hihigpitan ng pulisya at militar ang pagbabantay sa mga CAFGU upang maiwasan ang pang-aabuso na maari nilang gawin. Aniya, mapapasailalim din ang mga CAFGU sa maingat na pagmamanman ng Commission on Human Rights chair na si Loretta Ann P. Rosales. (MRA/PCOO/PIA-Caraga)
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Cebuano News: Founder sa SPRC nalipay nga Surigaonon ang napiling president sa Caraga Tri-Media
SURIGAO CITY, October 13 (PIA) -- Mipadangat sa iyang dakong kalipay ug kahinangop si Fernando “Jun” Almeda Jr., founder sa Surigao Press and Radio Club (SPRC), nga usa ka Surigaonon ang napiling president sa Caraga Region Tri-Media Practioners Association (CARTRIPA) atol sa gihimong 2nd Caraga Regional Media Conference didto sa Prince Hotel niadtong Sabado.
Kini ang giluwatang pamahayag ni Jun Almeda atol sa usa ka pakighinabi nga gihimo kagahapon sa hapon didto sa Museo nan Surigao sa may Parola, Boulevard ning dakbayan. Matud pa ni Almeda nga ang kadaugan ni Roberto “Jun” Parada isip president sa CARTRIPA angay nga ikapasigarbo sa tanan mga Surigaonon tungod kay mao pa kini ang unang higayon nga natukod sa rehiyon sa Caraga ang usa ka hiniusang puwersa sa mga taga media.
Alang kang Almeda, si Jun Parada angayan gyud nga molingkod isip pangulo sa Caraga Tri-Media tungod sa iyang taas nga kasinatian sa natad sa media.
Dugang pa ni Almeda nga ang pundok sa SPRC andam nga magpasakop ug magpa-accredit sa CARTRIPA ubos sa liderato ni Parada.
Sa laing bahin, dako ang kalipay ug garbo ni Jun Parada nga misalig kaniya ang nailhang “Father of Surigao Media” nga si Jun Almeda, alang kaniya si Almeda ug ang pundok sa SPRC ang hatagan niya og prayoridad sa mga programa unya nga iyang ipatuman isip president sa CARTRIPA.
Sa dugang Kalamboan, natudlo usab isip Vice President sa CARTRIPA alang sa Dinagat Province si Jimmy Jara nga maoy kasamtangang program director ug anchorman sa Dinagat News Cast TV Program.
Si Jara gitudlo ni Parada sa maong posisyon tungod sa iyang katakos sa natad sa broadcasting diin kini kanhi usa ka radio reporter sa DXKS, Surigao City.
Samtang ang pagkatudlo kang Jara sa maong posisyon nasayran nga gikalipay usa og dako sa mga Dinagatnon. (CARTRIPA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Cebuano News: Mining investors magpabilin sa nasod bisan pa sa mga pag-atake sa NPA
ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, October 13 (PIA) -- Ang mga langyaw’ng tigpamuhunan sa industriya sa mina dili mopahawa sa Pilipinas bisan pa sa pag atake sa New Peoples Army (NPA) didto sa Claver, Surigao del Norte bag-ohay pa lamang karon nga bulan.
Ang Pangulo, nga nahinabi sa Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) didto sa Makati Miyerkules sa buntag, miingon nga siya nakigpulong na sa grupo sa mga Japanese investors ug sila misaad sa pasalig nga sila magpadayon paghimo ug patigayon dinhi sa Pilipinas bisan pa sa maong mga pag-atake.
“I actually met with the officers of the Sumitomo group who called on me Tuesday and they assured us that they have no intentions of pulling out,” ang Pangulo misulti sa Focap.
“But there was that request for beefed up security in their areas of operations to which we have already advised them of the corrective actions that are being undertaken. So if the victim of this whole issue has not indicated a lack of interest or lessening of interest, then perhaps I don’t foresee any other foreign investors undertaking the same,” siya midugang.
Isip pagtubag sa mga kritisismo mahitungod sa plano sa gobyerno pagbansay sa mga miyembro sa special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) aron magsilbing guwardya alang sa mga industriya sa mina, ang Pangulo miingon ang pagpakatap kanila estriktong pagamonitoron sa pulisya ug sa military aron malikayan ang mga abuso.
“CAFGUs or special CAFGUs will be territorial-based, will be subject to rules and regulations, and will be under the watchful gaze of our Commission on Human Rights chair Etta Rosales. We do not foresee any abuses from them but rather they will augment the abilities of our security forces to preserve peace and order in our country,” ang Pangulo miingon.
Ang Pangulo mitumbok nga kini dili makiangayon alang sa mga miyembro sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) nga doblehon nila ang ilang paglimbasog aron iseguro ang mga “hot spots” sa nasod tungod sa kadako sa populasyon sa nasod mao nga gikinahanglan gayud nga mapalapdan ang pulisya pinaagi na sa CAFGU.
“We roughly have 250,000 men in uniform, they are guarding close to a hundred million Filipinos,” siya miingon. “That is the exact same number of forces we had in 1986 when he had 50 million Filipinos. So we’re asking the members, our citizens who are in uniform, to do double the work and I think that would be unfair.”
Ang mga rebeldeng NPA mipahigayon og hiniusang pag-atake sa Taganito Mining Corp., Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., ug Platinum Group Metals Corp. nga nag-operate didto sa Claver, Surigao del Norte, niadtong Oktobre 3, 2011, ug mipatay sa tulo ka mga guwardya.
Ang maong mga rebelde misunog sa 10 ka mga dump trucks, otso ka backhoes, duha ka barges ug guest house, ang pulisya ug military miingon. Ang mga rebelde usab mikumpiska sa pipila ka mga pusil sa mga private security guards. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
