One Mindanao - August 11, 2014

Meet PO3 Cheryl Lyn Wagas Ano-os: An Ozamiznon, one of the country’s 10 Outstanding PolicewomenRutchie Cabahug-AguhobNORTHERN MINDANAO

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 238

Malacanang: All Filipinos in Iraq are safe and accounted for

NATIONAL

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NORTHERN MINDANAO

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

CARAGA REGION

WESTERN MINDANAO

500 leaders attend full disclosure policy, disaster consciousness confab in MisOcc

PMCC Diwalwal trained in rescue operations

Agusan solon seeks to declare Butuan as heritage tourism zone

Four rice retailers in SurSur mete out suspension

Basilan holds 1st Coco Summit to curb cocolisap infestation

Info drive on Oro’s environment fee law pushed

Dipolog gets “very high” net score in CSIS survey

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Information to Empower Filipinos

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Michael L. Uy

LAWig Katawhan

Greg Tataro Jr.

Rene V. Carbayas

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CdeOSP

Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Franklin P. Gumapon

Meet PO3 Cheryl Lyn Wagas Ano-os: An Ozamiznon, one of the country’s 10 Outstanding Policewomen


Police Officer (PO) 3 Cheryl Lyn Wagas Ano-os of the Ozamiz City Police Station (OCPS) has been chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding

Police Women of the Philippines (TOPWP) for 2012-2013.

Cheryl was chosen for her outstanding and exceptional accomplishments in Police Community Relations (PCR), after seven years of assignment as Family Protection and Gender Specialist (FPGS), Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PNCO), at OCPS, by the Zonta Club of Makati that sponsored the search, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Arms Corporation (Arms Corp.) of the Philippines. Just recently, she and the rest of her batch of TOPWP paid their courtesy call to the Chief Executive

of the Land, President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang, an experience she said she will never forget. “It does make us very proud that one of our Policewomen, PO3

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

COVER STORY

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Ano-os, was chosen one of the TOPWP and the first one to have come from the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office (MOPPO),” P/Supt. Michael Cadiogan Bawayan, Jr., OCPS Chief, said. Being a mother to her 4-year

old child, Precious Dorothy, and wife to P02 Felan Jose Baloran Ano-os, has not hindered Cheryl to hone her skills in human relations and communications. After all “My husband is very supportive of my work and encourages me to enrich and shine in my profession,” she said. Born in the city on Sept. 12, 1982, homegrown Cheryl, the eldest of three

siblings, has taken interest in police work from her father, Leo Tamparong Wagas, a Retired PNP Officer. She graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the

Immaculate Conception College-La Salle, Ozamiz City in 2003, and worked at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) with the position of Salary Loan Bookkeeper. Cheryl joined the PNP in 2006,

and began reaping awards after only two years, among which were: the “Medalya ng Papuri” in 2008, PCR PNCO in MOPPO and PNP, region 10, in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and Best Junior PCR PNCO, also

Province-wide in 2011, and Region-wide in 2012 and 2013, respectively. She has been adjudged “Best Family Protection and Gender Specialist (FPGS) PNCO” in the whole of MOPPO, this year.

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Philippines remains Ebola-free, says PalaceMalacanang on Sunday has dispelled fears that the fatal ebola

virus may have reached the country. Presidential Communication Operations

Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., told reporters in a press briefing over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, that the country remains ebola-free.

“Ayon sa Department of Health (DOH), ang Pilipinas ay nananatiling ebola-free. Wala pang natutunton o naiulat na kaso ng ebola sa bansa,” said Coloma.

Across the Nation

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On Friday, DOH has cleared five out of 15 Filipino migrant workers from Sierra Leone who returned in the country last month, while two others are still being closely monitored.

Coloma added that the DOH is equipped to handle the situation should there be a case of ebola reaching our shores.

“Tinitiyak po ng DOH sa pangunguna ni Kalihim (Enrique) Ona na may sapat na kakayahan at kahandaan ang pamahalaan

na tumugon sa ebola virus o ebola epidemic dahil ito po ay idineklara na ng World Health Organization bilang isang panganib sa pandaigdigang kalusugan,” he said.

As for Filipino citizens still in the affected countries in West Africa, Coloma said the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are monitoring the situation. PND


All Filipinos in Iraq are safe and accounted for, said a Palace official on Sunday.

“Ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),

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ang tinatayang 900 Pilipino sa Iraq ay nananatiling ligtas. Ayon din sa DFA, ang mga airtstrikes ay sa mga lugar na malayo sa mga pamayanan ng mga Pilipino o Filipino communities,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretray Herminio Coloma, Jr.

US President Barack Obama has ordered limited air strikes against the Islamic militants in the Northern region of Iraq. This is in response to the “potential act of genocide” in that region.

DFA has now raised the warning in Kurdistan, Iraq to Alert Level II (restriction phase), while Alert Level IV is still in effect in the remaining parts of the country.

“Masinsing tinututukan ang sitwasyon at handang tumulong ang DFA kung kailangan sa paglilikas sa higit na ligtas na lugar ng mga Pilipino sa Iraq,” Coloma added.

The Communications Secretary said the government is monitoring the situation in Iraq closely to ensure the safety of the Filipinos there.

“Sa kahuli-hulihang ulat, marami pa ring nananatili doon sa Baghdad, dahil hindi naman yata mismo doon ang airstrikes. Pero tinututukan ito ng DFA para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan,” Coloma said. PND

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Cardinal Quevedo hopeful Pope Francis’ visit to PHL in 2015 would help achieve peace, stability in Mindanao

A Filipino cardinal is hoping that the visit of Pope Francis to the country next year would help in achieving peace process in

Mindanao.Cotabato Archbishop Orlando

Cardinal Quevedo said that the four-day visit of the Holy Father will support peace and stability in southern Philippines.

According to an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)website, the Mindanao prelate, “thinks the papal visit and continued


Cardinal Quevedo hopeful Pope Francis’ visit to PHL in 2015 would help achieve peace, stability in Mindanao

church engagement in the peace agreement and the Islamic presence in the Philippines could be helpful”.

The pontiff is slated to be in the country from January 15 to 19, 2014, where he would likely visit the survivors of calamities that hit the country last year particularly in Eastern Visayas.

Quevedo was recently at an international gathering of the Knights of Columbus in Orlando, Florida, where he spoke about the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Signed peace agreements do not guarantee a just and lasting peace, when the political and economic causes of war are aggravated by cultural and religious biases and prejudices that have been operative in the minds and hearts of Muslims and Christians for four centuries,” he said.

Quevedo added, “The only way to respond to this injustice is to look at their territory now as a product of political realism: They can no longer own the entire area, therefore the idea is a win-win solution to make sure national sovereignty is preserved, he said, “but also to acknowledge

this culture, which is distinctly different (from) the Christian culture of the rest of the country.”

He noted that poverty and injustice which include human rights violations, corruption and land conflict which are the root causes of conflict in the region, must also be addressed to attain peace.

“The root cause of the conflict is injustice, and after studying Moro history I began to believe they have lost their own sovereignty, their own identity as a distinct group and because of that the government has neglected them in terms of development,” Quevedo said.

Last week, both parties have started a new round of talks over the delayed filing of a measure that would create a new Bangsamoro political entity.


Students urged to avail of library servicesby CdeOSP

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The City Council committee on education encourages students especially in public schools to avail of the services of the City Public Library.

“Bisan ang atong mga kabataan sa atong mga Day Care Center mahimong ipabisita aron ilang ma appreciate ang Children’s Library nga gilain alang kanila,” said councilor Barba.

“The public can also borrow and take home fiction books provided that they will register and pay the annual membership fee of P30.00, as provided for in Ordinance No. 8637-2003,” councilor Barba, chair of the

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Focused on the theme: “Kalihokang Alerto sa Misamis Occidental (KAMO)-Kaabag sa mga Barangay Batok sa Nagkalain-lain nga Hulga sa Atong Panahon (Alert Activities of Misamis Occidental- Partner of the Barangays Against the Different Threats of Our Time),” the summit was participated by the 490 barangay captains from both the First and Second Congressional Districts of the province. It was also attended by Members of the Provincial Board led by Gov. Herminia M. Ramiro and the following officials of Liga ng Mga Barangay (LMB): Rodin M. Romualdo, Region 10

LMB President, Edmund R. Abesamis, National LMB President and Lorenzo B. Zuniga, Jr., LMB Secretary General. Meanwhile, participants were given an overview of the FDP of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), as contained in Memorandum Circular No. 2013-140, by Sanivier G. Patoc, DILG Provincial Director of Misamis Occidental. Patoc also discussed the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10632, an “Act to Postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.”

500 leaders attend full disclosure policy, disaster consciousness confab in MisOccby Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - More than 500 barangay leaders of Misamis Occidental attended the Provincial Summit on the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) and Disaster Consciousness Congress held at Naomi’s Botanical Gardens, Ozamiz City, last Aug. 7-8.

committee added. Barba said the ordinance was amended by Ordinance No. 8905-2003 to accommodate and exempt the indigents and poor students from paying the membership fee. A certification from the City Social Welfare and Development

Office (CSWD) is needed before membership cards are issued to poor students and indigent residents. The City Public Library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday without noon break.


Included in the discussions/presentations were the Smoke-Free Campaign and Nutrition Updates of the province and the enforcement of RA 9262 or “The Act on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).” On the other hand, Gain Paul De Barras, Provincial Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management (DRRM) Coordinator discussed the mechanics of KAMO and the salient features of RA 10121 or “The Philippine Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.”

Info drive on Oro’s environment fee law pushedby CdeOSP

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The city government is already collecting environment fees for use of plastic bags in big malls, said city treasurer Glenn Banez during the meeting of the City Council committee on finance and ways and means, August 5.

This is in line with the implementation of Ordinance No. 12440-2012, which regulates the distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags and requires retail establishments to collect a pass-through charge from customers requesting single-use plastic carryout bags. The city treasurer said in a few months or next year the ordinance will also be implemented in other establishments. The committee, chaired by councilor President Elipe, invited the city treasurer to attend the meeting in response to the letter of a proprietor

regarding the alleged “urgent demand” by employees of the City Treasurer’s Office to collect the fine imposed for violation of the ordinance. The city treasurer said no such instruction was given as it has been agreed that an information drive will first be conducted, as requested by councilor Elipe weeks ago. The councilor proposed that 2014 be allotted for the campaign before its full implementation in 2015. “Tell us what we can do in the City Council,” said councilor Elipe. It was recommended that common posters and signages be placed in establishments for the


information of the public.PROCEEDS The ordinance provides that the proceeds of the pass-through charge or plastic carryout bag fee shall be held in trust by the retail store and remitted to the executive board created by the city mayor. Councilor Elipe stressed that the ordinance is meant to discourage the use of plastic bags, which are environmentally hazardous. He said if there is no collection from environment fees since no plastic bag was used, it would mean that the campaign is a success. He said establishments should not shoulder the pass-through charge intended for customers as it will defeat the purpose of the ordinance. The ordinance aims to reduce the

millions of single-use carryout bags currently used in the shopping malls and stores in the city and to maintain and enhance natural resources by reducing the negative environmental impact of single-use carryout bags.AMENDMENT In view of concerns that the use of paper bags for bread products could have chemical reactions, the committee endorsed to the committee on environment and natural resources chaired by Councilor Zaldy Ocon, the proposal to amend the ordinance. Councilor Elipe said a public hearing on this should be held. He said the effects of plastic to cooked food products should also be studied.

http://pinoy99.blogspot.com/2012/08/quezon-city-magbabayad-ka-ng-dalawang.html


80,000 Butuan city studes mobilized for ‘Project Green Friday’ By Eric F. Gallego


The move was formalized dur-ing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) among the School Division Superintendent Dr. Joseta B. Carmen of the DepED, Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. of Bu-tuan City and Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo of DENR-13 in a simple rite held at the City Mayor’s Conference Hall in Barangay Doon-gan, this city on August 4, 2014. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Forester Mari-tess M. Ocampo, OIC, Technical Director of the Forest Manage-ment Services, DENR-13, City Engineer Lorden Vizmanos and the Punong Barangays from the different barangays in the city.

Carmen said “Project Green Friday” shall require every student from the various public schools to participate in the tree planting ac-tivities as part of their compliance of requirements on the subject “Pan-tahanan at Pangkabuhayan, Tech-nology and Livelihood Education.” Director Tamayo said Project Green Friday is “a strong mani-festation of support of the Butu-anons to the National Greening Program in which the DENR has a goal of 30,000 hectare produc-tion land and beaches to be plant-ed with tree seedlings and man-grove propagules and beach forest by supporters from the various sectors this year,” Tamayo said.

80,000 Butuan city studes mobilized for ‘Project Green Friday’

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga, Department of Education (DepEd) and the city government here launched on Tuesday “Project Green Friday” which will mobilize some 80,000 high-school students in this city to plant tree seedlings every week.


He said the Provincial and Community Environment Offi-cers in the five provinces of Agu-san del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Su-rigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and the Dinagat province have been directed to conduct full swing of tree planting activities in their respective area of jurisdiction. According to Mayor Amante the youths must be convinced to set aside a seed to raise and grow, in line with the vision of transform-ing the city into a mecca of for-est resources by the year 2020. “We will do everything possible to restore the glory of Butuan City once dubbed as the Timber City of the South,” Amante said. Mayor Amante has challenged his con-stituents to support the National Greening Program and the vision. Also, Mayor Amante has en-couraged the people to collect ev-ery kind of seeds and bring them to the DENR Macrosomatic and Clonal Center at Barangay Buod or to the City Government where these seeds will be germinated us-ing the proper technology. The dif-ferent barangay chairpersons in the city, likewise have been tasked to identify planting sites that are accessible to the students where they can plant these seedlings. As defined in their respective role to actualize Project Green Fri-day, the DepEd shall develop and implement a module on the value of tree growing to the place, peo-ple, community and economy with

the assistance of the DENR and the city. It shall also enjoin the students to participate in a tree planting ex-ercise every Friday of each week to include the bringing of seedlings per DepEd Order No. 5 s. 2014. Un-der Project Green Friday, the bring-ing of seedlings is contemplated to inculcate in each student the value of sponsoring life for each seed-ling he/she gathers and to indi-rectly draw the participation of par-ents in this tree growing exercise. The city government on the other hand shall enjoin its LGU barangay to coordinate with the Teacher In-Charge, Head Teacher, Principal to provide support dur-ing the course of the implemen-tation of Project Green Friday. It shall also provide policy support in the implementation of the Mod-ule that will be developed by the DEPED under this partnership to highlight the value of tree grow-ing in its EPP and TLE subjects. The DENR shall provide tech-nical assistance to the DEPED in the nursery operation and during planting. It shall also extend sup-port to the DepEd in the formula-tion of the Module that highlights the value of sustainable tree grow-ing, provide training for the Geo-tagging of Planting Sites, Geo-graphic Information System (GIS) and Mapping needs for the Proj-ect Green Friday and Certificate of Tree Planting to elementary and secondary graduating students who can plant ten trees per year.


Agusan solon seeks to declare Butuan as heritage tourism zone By LAWig KatawhanBUTUAN CITY - Agusan del Norte first district representative Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun on Tuesday filed House Bill 4823, seeking to declare Butuan City as a heritage tourism zone.

“Butuan City has a vibrant his-tory and rich cultural heritage. Be-fore colonization, it was called the Kingdom of Butuan and was known for its metallurgic industry and so-phisticated naval technology,” said Fortun in his explanatory note. Exigency of the bill is anchored on Section 15 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which reads: “The State shall conserve, pro-mote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic cre-ations,” and also in Section 16 of the same article: “All the coun-try’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasures of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State which may regulate its disposition.” Butuan has been the discovery site of the first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia, the Ba-langay Boat, believed to rule South-east Asian waters as early as 320 AD. The utilization of these boats to maintain trade relations with neigh-boring islands and empires prove robust commercial activities in the

area. Numerous archeological arti-facts have also been excavated – gold jewelry, death mask, weigh-ing scales and porcelains – beefing up Butuan’s claim as then center of trade and commerce in the region. Numerous historical accounts show that on March 31, 1521, an Easter Sunday, Ferdinand Magellan ordered the celebration of a mass in Butuan. “In remembrance of this important historical Christian event that is claimed to be first in the country, the Bood Promontory…was built,” Fortun added. Butuan is also the host of Banza Church Ru-ins, a church built by Spanish fri-ars in 1625 and believed to be the first Christian Church in Mindanao. Way older than the mentioned historical and cultural treasures are the Bequibel and Bitor shell mid-dens in Brgy. Bonbon, supporting claims of human habitation and ac-tivities of early thriving civilization in Butuan – as early as the Neolith-ic Age or about 7,000 years ago. Once the bill is passed, Bu-tuan will be accorded with priority development by the Department of


In NFA parlance, diversion means converting the government rice into commercial rice which commands a much higher price. NFA rice is sold at P27 or P32 per kilo depending on its variety. Gleen Echin, NFA Officer-In-Charge (OIC) provincial manager here, cited “unreasonable deple-tion” as root of their course of ac-tion against the said retailers in accordance with the Deed of Un-derstanding (DOU) with all Bigasan sa Palengke (BSP) owners, stress-

ing that this may also serve as stern warning to potential violators. She added that these BSP owners, whose business address and operations are conducted in Cantilan, San Miguel, Mari-hatag, and San Agustin, respec-tively, can no longer deal with the NFA for the rest of their lives. Echin believes that these peo-ple behind the “diversion” could have been doing such unscrupu-lous business a long time ago.

Four rice retailers in SurSur mete out suspension By Greg Tataro Jr.

BUTUAN CITY - Four of the 30 accredited rice retailers of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Surigao del Sur suspected of “diversion” meted out suspension immediately after the agency learned of their anomalous transactions following the report of the respective job order (JO) workers hired to monitor their daily operations.

Tourism (DOT) in coordination with the National Historical Institute, the National Museum and other concerned government agencies. It will also recognize areas of po-tential for historical and cultural tourism development, such as his-torical and cultural landmarks, riv-ers and mountain resources, indig-enous communities, among others. “Butuan City’s cultural heritage need to be preserved and made known to our people and peoples of

the world. Butuan City is a center of learning and discovery for its heri-tage and historical past. It is hoped that with the passage of this bill, the DOT and other appropriate agencies can implement institutionalized and sustained programs for the intro-duction of the necessary facilities, infrastructure, information and pro-motion mechanisms for the preser-vation and promotion of Butuan’s rich heritage,” Fortun explained.

Dominga MallongaDOST-Caraga Regional Director

for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.phDOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph


Davao Region LCEs pledge to advocate climate change adaptation, mitigation

DAVAO CITY- Local chief execu-tives and local chief representa-tives in the Davo Region recently took a pledge of commitment to advance the advocacy on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Attending the Public Advocacy on Climate Change for Local Chief Executives on Aug. 5, they signed

the “LakasLikasan Pledge of Local Chief Executives” which stated their vow of commitment to go an extra mile of safeguarding the environment. The signing of the pledge wrapped up the one-day Public Advocacy on Climate Change for LCEs organized by the Regional Task Force on

Public Advocacy on Climate Change and held at the Social Hall of the University of Southern Philippines (USEP) Bo. Obrero Campus, Davao City. Spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XI, the Department of Environment

by Michael Uy


and Natural Resources (DENR) XI and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI, the Regional Task Force on Public Advocacy on Climate Changes takes as members the regional offices of the departments of Agriculture, Health, Interior and Local Government, Science and Technology, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) XI and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI. DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada took advantage of the presence of municipal mayors to discuss the National Greening Program through which the DENR this year targeted to etch a record of the most number trees, in the Guinness Book of World Records. Other topics discussed during the event were the Overview of Global Warming and Climate Change by Ma. Socorro Mallare of the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau; the New Normal Weather by Engr. Gerry Pedrico of PAGASA ; and the Sustainable Environment under the Regional Development Plan by Regional Development Council Vice Chairperson Ma. Lourdes Lim of NEDA XI. Meanwhile, in his message during the forum OCD Regional Director Loreto Rirao (AFP retired Brig. Gen) lauded the municipal mayors who personally came to

attend the event which he viewed as a necessary advocacy initiative to help LCEs better understand the need to prepare and mitigate disaster caused by catastrophic weather conditions that might happen as a result of climate change. PIA XI Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena also lauded the LCEs for their support to the activity but he urged them to widen climate change awareness among its constituents especially those at the grassroots level to help them prepare for the adverse weather conditions that might cause disaster. Among the mayors who personally came were Compostela Valley President of the Municipal Mayors League, Mayor Eutropio Jayectin of Montevista; and Davao Oriental Municipal Mayors League President, Mayor Vicente Orencia of Governor Generoso. Other LCEs present were Mayor Justina Yu of San Isidro, Davao Oriental; Mayor Lorenzo Balbin of New Bataan, Compostela Valley; Mayor Benigno Andamon of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; Mayor Joel Lopez of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Other LCEs in Davao Region sent their representatives who were either their information officers or their disaster risk reduction and management officer. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)


PMCC Diwalwal trained in rescue operationsDAVAO DEL NORTE- Members of the Program Monitoring and Co-ordination Center (PMCC) Proj-ect-Diwalwal participated in the two-day (August 7-8) rescue op-erations training at Felis Resort, Davao City. Fifty three PMCC members from three barangays near Mount Diwalwal and different national government agencies concerned took the Technical Training for Flood and Mud Flow Resulting to Landslide Rescue Operations. Joselin Marcus Fragada, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and head of PMCC, said that as a lesson from Typhoon Pablo, the community needs to be prepared in rescue operations to mitigate the impact of a disaster. “There is no way of preventing landslides or typhoons, but there are ways of preparing for it,” Regional Director Fragada said. Fragada said that the government can give them more trainings but it is still up for the people to use it to save themselves during disasters. Conducted by the Philippine Air Force, the training included practical tips on responding for flood and landslide incidents, life

saving techniques, flood rescue boat recovery operations, and ropemanship, anchoring and mechanical advantage techniques. TSG Edward Medina PAF, head of the trainers’ delegation, said while they usually conduct rescue operations training for 16 days, they to develop the training that is fitted only to the participants for two days. “This is a good way because they will not wait anymore for us or the rescue team from the local government unit to save their family, relatives or friends. Instead, they will do it themselves,” Medina said. TSG Medina added that they keep on training the community in disaster rescue operations for them to assist local rescuers in performing immediate actions during crisis to mitigate the effects of the disaster. “While the national and local governments are primarily responsible for disaster management; however, everybody is equally responsible to undertake disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation activities to prevent or reduce disasters risks and ensure one’s survival and safety during emergency situation,” Medina said. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)


Mothers urged to love, care for children By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC) chief of clinics, Dr. Aurito Ampong, has called on all mothers love and care for their children.


Mothers urged to love, care for children By Gideon C. Corgue

Basilan holds 1st Coco Summit to curb cocolisap infestationBy Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Basilan held the first Coco Summit rrecently to address the coconut scale insect infestation that threatens the local coconut industry.

In his message during the culmination of the National Breastfeeding Week celebration Thursday, Ampong quoted award-winning singer/song writer Gary Valenciano who said: “the secret of serving is loving.” “I encourage you all mothers to serve and love your children. You can show your love by breastfeeding them,” Ampong stressed. Ampong explained the importance of breastfeeding to 12 postpartum mothers from the OB-Gyne and private wards who attended the activity along with the doctors and nurses of the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, a mother-baby friendly hospital Breastfeeding, Ampong said, provides ideal nutrition for infants. “If you breastfeed your children, they will grow healthy and strong.” Ampong encouraged also his fellow doctors and nurses to continue doing advocacy on breastfeeding to the mothers in the hospital to address the prevalence of malnutrition. In related development, Dr.

Ma. Rovelle Blancia, provincial health officer and acting hospital administrator of the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center said the hospital’s administration has a reason to celebrate saying that the ZSMC was awarded by the Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Committee (regional level) a certificate of commitment as breastfeeding hospital for two years for sustaining the guidelines and implementation of the program. Blancia said it also received another certificate of commitment for establishing lactation rooms for their breastfeeding employees at the OB-Gyne ward located and the 2nd floor and for their patients and watchers at the outpatient department at the first floor. The establishment of lactation rooms is one way of promoting and encouraging breastfeeding and gave opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child.


Government agencies, non-government organizations, and the local government units converged at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Hall at the Capitol building of the Provincial Government of Basilan to gain public support and generate strategies to control the spread of cocolisap. Officials from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Central Office in Manila, the regional office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and region 9 were present to respond to the issues and concerns confronting PCA’s intervention in curbing the cocolisap infestation in the affected city and province. Efren Carba of PCA-9 gave an audio-visual presentation on the status of implementation of the region’s intervention to control cocolisap in Isabela City, while Marina Wahab and Onesima Hayawan of PCA-ARMM also provided updates.

Carba said that since the infestation was first verified in October 2012, various activities and initiatives were conducted by PCA in partnership with government agencies in the control and treatment of the cocolisap. PCA reported that as of end of July 2014, some 92,359 coconut trees were already infected in Isabela City alone. Isabela has some 954,722 coconut trees as per record of PCA-9. In the ARMM province of Basilan, data are still being collated. Of the 6.5 million coconut trees in the province, the number of infected trees is still to be determined. But, since it was sighted and verified in Batungal of Maluso town last September 2013, some 2,482 coconut trees were reportedly infected in Lamitan City as well as in Lantawan, Maluso, and Tuburan towns. PCA-ARMM said that some 1,143 were given treatment through pruning and biological control.


PCA Deputy Administrator Roel Rosales admitted that the coconut industry is now in danger. He, however, thanked the local stakeholders for the expression of support to fight the cocolisap and for recognizing the lack of personnel of PCA in the locality. Rosales said that additional personnel were already hired in Isabela City and soon for the province. “While it is a concern, the number of infected trees is still small, which is barely one percent of the total population of coconuts in the Philippines. But it does not mean that the government will be complacent as the spread is rapid,” Rosales said. With the infestation, Rosales believes that the coconut farmers are the ones who can fully respond to the crisis when fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in handling the infestation in their farms. With this Rosales said they will strengthen the capacity of the farmers by putting up coconut farmers’ schools and FITS (Farmers’ Information and Technology Service) Center. When asked where government failed in curbing the spread of infestation, Rosales said that one has to put things in perspective. He said that the scale insect was endemic in the Philippines and that the local specie was not destructive. But when the spread was rapid, authorities have suspected that the specie may not be local. He said that scientists have verified that indeed the destructive scale insect foreign in origin. After the PCA presentations, discussions and forum in the morning, almost half of the participants came back in the afternoon for the action

planning. Some participants observed that some key stakeholders in the crisis were not present, like the local chief executives, who play vital roles in terms of local government unit’s responsibility in controlling the infestation. Provincial Administrator Tahira Ismael said that the mayors were invited because the summit was intended for them. She only hoped that the mayors’ representatives who were present would update their respective mayors as to the results of the Summit. The Summit has identified some issues and concerns in curbing the cocolisap menace. Among them was the continued spread of the scale insect in spite of PCA’s intervention, the lack of local PCA personnel, the poor knowledge of coconut farmers on the infestation, the lack of engagement with unresponsive landowners/farmers, and the lack of pertinent data. Some interventions were also identified, such as: strict implementation of quarantine in all ports and borders of the province, deputation training, massive information drive, continue with PCA’s intensive treatment program, documentation and data gathering, and personnel augmentation by the province and agencies concerned. Moreover, Rosales has encouraged the coconut farmers to start value-adding with their coco lands by intercropping and livestock-raising as alternative livelihood while waiting for the infected coconuts to recover for about a year.


This was the result of the 2013 Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS) survey as presented during the recently held CSIS utilization conference attended by the city mayor, city councilors, department heads as well as representatives from civil society organization and academe. Registering a very high net score of 83.75 percent, the city government received a positive support from its constituents, according to CSIS Focal Person Russell Jef Castañeda of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-9. In 2013 the CSIS survey was being administered to 34 priority cities based on the National Competitive Council’s list of 50 competitive cities and provinces nationwide. Dipolog City was chosen as the pilot local government unit (LGU) in region 9 with the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) as implementing partner. In his opening statement in the said conference, DILG-9 Assistant Regional Director Pedro G. Cuevas Jr. said “any institution, whether government of private, the ultimate

goal is provide its clients the best service possible.” “The real essence is defined and determined by the level of client satisfaction with the services these institutions provide,” Cuevas added. For her part, Mayor Evelyn T. Uy found the CSIS very challenging, saying “first we are quite apprehensive but, on the other hand, enthusiastic of how we can improve based on its result.” However, the city government scored low on the aspect of peoples’ awareness of the city government’s programs, projects and services. So, Mayor Uy urged the different departments to inform the City Information Office (CIO) of their programs and services for public dissemination. The lady mayor hopes that the level of awareness of her constituents on the city government’s programs and services will improve after six months. “So, let us all work together to achieve this while maintaining also the satisfaction that our people have on us,” she urged. The survey was conducted on Dec. 11-19, 2013 to 150 respondents in 16 of the 21 barangays of the city. (Lemuel Mejares/DILG9)

Dipolog gets “very high” net score in CSIS survey By Franklin P. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY – The people here are ready to join the city government in improving the quality of life of the community, as they have expressed willingness to coordinate and engage with the local officials in any development endeavor.

One Mindanao - August 11, 2014

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