One Mindanao Enews Magazine - September 10, 2011

2 ONE MINDANAO Saturday, September 10, 2011 Saturday, September 10, 2011

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail : [email protected] [email protected] : hnb_r9pia

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)2/F Kanto Motors Bldg.,Quimpo Blvd., New MatinaDavao City 8000Telephone no. (082) 297-0991 / 301-8580Telefax no. (082) 297-0992 / 304-2044Cellphone no. 0917-7053606 / 0918-9202950E-mail : [email protected]

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] [email protected],ph

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

In This Issue...

NATIONAL

• President Aquino delegates power to inspect accounts of suspected tax cheats to DOF chief• Aquino declares Sept. 12-17 as Printing Industry Week• Ochoa: Anti-terrorism law needs more teeth • Aquino leads unveiling of historical marker in Aquino house in Tarlac• Malacanang enjoins Filipino people to renew commitment to world peace in remembering 9/11 tragedy

Northern Mindanao

• Puerto Sayre flyover ready for inauguration - DPWH• Mahinog holds public hearing on proposed new revenue code• Bukidnon Certified Masonry Worker bags the 2011 Galing Mason Regional Award • City Dads propose• LGU Kauswagannfra projects

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

• Comval, youngest province, among the Top 10 LGUs cited for good governance• COMVAL-2nd Filaria-free Province in Mindanao

Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN)

• 5 pampublikong paaralan makatatanggap ng mga computer at speech lab• Tagalog News: Nakumpiskang mga tabla sa N.Cotabato iimbestigahan ng DENR• DA backs local coop with Php10-M construction of FMR next year

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

• Surigao Sur Gov sees “Dano Abduction” used in peace talks• Butuan dad leads implementation of the “Clean Ground, Zero Waste” Program• BCPO to launch “Basura Ko, Buhat Ko”• Reg’l Cooperative Dev’t Council to celebrate Cooperative Month• Crocodile trappers, mihimo na og bag-ong trap alang sa lain pang buwaya

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)• ARMM observes 111th Philippine Civil Service Month• DOLE-9 to intensify drive against Child Labor• Dipolog solid waste board to ban use of plastics, cellophane by market vendors • GSIS beefs up GW@PS kiosk deployment• US envoys’ presence in Pagadian signifies America’s confidence belief of the region’s peace and development

OUR COVER

Today’s cover features the

THE BONOK-BONOK Festival

2011of

SurigaoCity

3ONE MINDANAOSaturday, September 10, 2011

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Surigao City not to join in Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival 2012

Cover Story:

Surigao City Senior Tourism Operations Officer Roselyn Merlin said the famous Bonok-bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw contingent of the city will not participate in the 2012 Sinulog Festival in Cebu City inspite of the successful staging of this year’s Bonok-bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw

Festival on Friday, Sept. 9 at the Surigao del Norte Provincial Sports Center.

by Robert E. Roperos


Cover Story: Surigao City will ... from page 3

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In an interview at the city hall recently, Merlin said joining in the prestigious Sinu-log Festival in Cebu City next year is not practical considering the finan-cial aspect the city and province will incur to or-ganize a contingent. Merlin said it was in 2004 where Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karad-jaw Contingent from Su-rigao City was last seen in the Sinulog Festival. It can be recalled that the contingent from the Caraga Region has gain prestigious awards in the history of Sinulog Festival. They became champion for consecu-tive years in the 1980s and 1990s, thus bring-ing honor not only to the city but to the region, as well. Merlin said instead of joining in the Sinulog Festival, organizers of the Bonok-Bonok Festi-val is now focusing on how the Festival will be made bigger as a way of promoting the rich cul-ture of Surigaonons. Meanwhile, in time with the fiesta celebra-

tion of the city, ten con-tingents coming from the neighboring munici-palities and barangays vied for the top prize in the Bonok-Bonok based and Free Interpretation categories. Winner in the Bo-nok-bonok based cat-egory is the R.C. Ouano Memorial Elementary School, also declared Best in Streetdancing and Best Choreographer. In the Free Interpreta-tion Category, all-time favorite and defend-ing Champion Surigao del Norte National High School wowed the judg-es and the audience in their breath-taking per-formance. Like the R.C. Ouano Memorial El-ementary School, they also won Best in Street-dancing and Best Cho-reographer. The tourism officer of the city said prizes last year were doubled to invite more contin-gents. She also said lo-cal government units in as far as Visayas were invited to the festival but unfortunately, only the neighboring munici-

palities have confirmed their participation aside from the contingents in the barangays. Prizes for the free interpretation category are as follows: P200,000 plus trophy for the 1st prize; P150,000 plus trophy for the 2nd prize; P100,000 plus trophy for the 3rd prize; and P20,000 each for the consolation prize. Special awards for Best in Street Dancing is P50,000 plus trophy; Best Choreographer is P20,000 plus trophy; and Best in Musicality is P20,000 plus trophy. Winners in the Bo-nok-Bonok based cat-egory received the fol-lowing prizes: P100,000 plus trophy for the 1st prize; P75,000 plus tro-phy for the 2nd prize;


P50,000 plus trophy for the 3rd prize; and P20,000 each for the consolation prize. Special awards for Best in Street Dancing is P50,000 plus trophy; Best Choreogra-pher is P20,000 plus tro-phy; and Best in Costume is P20,000 plus trophy. Moreover, Mr. Rich-ard Amores, Surigao City Tourism Council chair-person and Festival Di-rector said the festival was very successful and

although all participating contingents are from the

province of Surigao del Norte, “this means that Surigaonons have excep-tional talent and skills in terms of showcasing the rich culture and tradition of the province. Amores further said, the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Fes-tival in 2012 promises an event that every Suriga-onon and Caraganon will always remember as big-ger prizes are at stake. (PIA-Caraga)

Cover Story: Surigao City will ... from page 4

6 ONE MINDANAO Saturday, September 10, 2011

I t will now be easier for foreign tax authorities to request information on suspected tax cheats in the country.

President Aquino delegates power to inspect accounts of suspected tax cheats to DOF chief

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Executive Order (EO) No. 56, signed by President Benigno Aqui-no III on September 6, has delegated the authority to order the opening for inspection of income tax returns of selected taxpayers sus-pected of tax evasion to the Secretary of the Department of Finance. The directive was issued as part of the country’s commitment to combat international tax avoidance and eva-sion and to help address tax issues that may af-fect international trade and investment, Execu-tive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa said on Sat-urday. “We recognize that tax information is oftentimes necessary

for authorities in other countries to build cas-es against individuals charged with certain crimes in their jurisdic-tions. This EO seeks to make it easier to share that information.” Republic Act (RA) No. 10021, or the Ex-change of Information on Tax Matters Act of 2009, ensures compli-ance with the commit-ments of the Philippine government under ex-isting tax treaties and in-ternational conventions and authorizes the BIR to exchange informa-tion on tax matters with its foreign counterparts to help combat interna-tional tax evasion. Specifically, the law allows a requesting foreign tax authority to

study the income tax returns of taxpayers, upon approval of the President. In EO 56, the Chief Ex-ecutive delegates this duty to the finance chief, according to Ochoa. EO 56 noted that since RA 10021 does not require the President to personally order the opening of accounts of specific taxpayers sub-ject of a request, such authority may be exer-cised by his alter ego, in this case the DoF chief. “Whereas, under the doctrine of qualified political agency, ex-cept in cases when the President is required by the Constitution or law to act personal-ly or the exigencies of the situation demand


Aquino declares Sept. 12-17 as Printing Industry Week

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared Septem-ber 12 to 17, 2011 as “Printing Industry Week,” coin-ciding with the 15th National Printers Convention and Print Philippines 2011.

Proclamation No. 251 was signed on September 7, 2011 by Executive Sec-retary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. to recognize “the significant role of the printing industry in the economy through the recording, preserving and disseminating of knowledge and information.” The proclamation also aims to promote “an envi-ronment conducive to the

growth and competitive-ness of private enterprises, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).” The Printing Indus-tries Association of the Phil-ippines Inc. (PIAP) will hold its convention on Septem-ber 12-13 at the Heritage Hotel, EDSA corner Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. The PIAP will hold the

Print Philippines 2011 event on Sept. 14 -17 at the World Trade Center on Roxas Blvd. corner Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Pasay City. The theme of the events is “Sustaining Growth through Continuous Innova-tion”. PIAP is one of the big-gest associations of graphic art practitioners with some 600 members. (JS)

President Aquino... from page 6that he acts personally, the multifarious execu-tive and administrative functions of the Presi-dent are performed by and through the execu-tive departments, and the acts of the Secre-taries of such depart-ments, performed and promulgated in the reg-ular course of business, are presumptively the acts of the President,” the EO stated. Ochoa added that aside from being the President’s alter ego, the DOF Secretary was in the best position to

review and assess re-quests from foreign tax authorities since his department over-sees the Bureau of In-ternal Revenue (BIR), which is tasked to rec-ommend action on such requests. The President also directed the Secretary of Finance to issue spe-cific rules and regula-tions that will govern the inspection of in-come tax returns, upon the recommendation of the BIR Commissioner. The EO warned that any information

received by a foreign tax authority as a re-sult of the opening of the accounts “shall be treated by the author-ity as absolutely confi-dential in nature” and “shall be disclosed only to persons or authori-ties, including courts and administrative bod-ies, involved in the as-sessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by such conventions or agreements.”


M alacañang is pushing Congress to amend key provisions in the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 to boost the government’s anti-terrorism initiatives, strengthen prosecution of sus-pected terrorists and address possible abuse of the law by authorities.

Ochoa: Anti-terrorism law needs more teeth

Executive Secre-tary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., who also chairs the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), said on Saturday that the changes the Palace is seeking are designed to give more teeth to the law and make the measure con-sistent with existing in-ternational agreements and Philippine laws. “The government recognizes that terror-ism is a constant threat that requires us to be vigilant. After reviewing our counter-terrorism initiatives, we decided to focus on strengthen-ing anti-terror legisla-tion to make it more re-sponsive to the threats posed by terrorists,” Ochoa said. A bill proposing amendments to the HSA, which was enacted

in 2007 in response to calls for stronger anti-terrorist legislation, is one of the priority leg-islative measures Pres-ident Benigno Aquino III has asked congres-sional leaders to pass. Ochoa said one of the major changes in the law the govern-ment wants lawmakers to consider is to further define terrorism as acts punishable under cer-tain provisions of the Revised Penal Code with the intent, by its nature or context, to either sow and create a con-dition of fear and panic among the populace, or to coerce the govern-ment or an institution imbued with public in-terest to give in to cer-tain demands. Under the law, ter-rorism is punishable by

40 years imprisonment without the benefit of parole. To strengthen prosecution, Ochoa said there is a need to remove sections of the HSA that require au-thorities to inform sus-pected terrorists that they are under surveil-lance and their bank accounts are subject of investigations, as well as the portion of the law that disallows the application of the law one month before and two months after an election. “These provisions defeat the whole pur-pose of covert surveil-lance and investigations by the authorities,” he said. “We want these amended to make our law a more effective tool in our efforts to prevent

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terrorism.” The Executive Sec-retary said Congress should consider modi-fying the HSA provision that entitles a suspect-ed terrorist acquitted by a court or wrongly detained by authori-ties to claim damages of P500,000 per day for every day of detention, to P500,000 for the du-ration of the detention. The proposed mone-tary penalty is over and above the amounts pro-vided in any other ex-isting laws, he added.

A review of the law by the ATC also un-derscored the need to strengthen the HSA to guarantee the right of a person suspected of the crime of terrorism to counsel at any time of the day, and for for-eign nationals, the right to communicate with a representative of his or her state. To deter abuse of of the HSA, the ATC proposes that law en-forcement agents be required to report with-in 30 days, to the CA

division that authorized their surveillance and bank examinations, the results of their investi-gations––to allow the said CA division to as-sess the legitimacy of their operations. “While our goal is to strengthen the law, amendments are also necessary to ensure that the law will not be abused. We believe that ensuring the security of our citizens should not come at the expense of their civil liberties,” Ochoa explained.

CONCEPCION, Tarlac: President Benigno Aquino III led Saturday the unveiling of marker of the Aqui-no family ancestral house in Concepcion, Tarlac, declared by the National Historical Commission (NHC) as historical site in 1987.

Aquino leads unveiling of historical marker in Aquino house in Tarlac

The NHC said the government declared the Aquino ancestral house as a landmark because of its historical significance being the home of well-known patriots from the Aquino clan. Three generations of

Aquinos lived in the house since it was built in 1939. General Servillano Aqui-no, the great grandfather of the present President lived in the house. General Aquino was a Katipunero who joined the revolution against the

Spaniards. He also fought the Americans during the Filipino-American war. The President’s grandfather, Benigno Aquino Sr. also lived in the house. Aquino Sr. was the speaker of the national as-sembly, became a Tarlac

Ochoa: Anti-terrorism... from page 8

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representative, a senator and secretary of agricul-ture and commerce. Also, Benigno Aquino Jr., the father of the presi-dent resided in the ances-tral house when he was the mayor of Concepcion town. He then became Tarlac governor and even-tually senator. He fought the dictatorial leadership of former President Fer-dinand Marcos and was assassinated in August 1983. NHC declared the

Aquino home historical landmark in 1987 based on its board resolution 1 series of 1987. Since its building in 1939 with the help of wood craftsmen from Pampanga, the surviv-ing Aquino family mem-bers decided to renovate the house this year so the public could appreciate its historical value. Aside from unveiling of the marker, the Presi-dent was in Concepcion Saturday to join other

Aquino family members in celebrating the 80th birthday of Maria Auro-ra Aquino Lichauco, the President’s aunt. Aquino-Lichauco is the eldest of all the seven Aquino sib-lings. Among those who joined the occasion were Aquino family members, Rep. Jesli Lapuz (Tarlac District III), Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva and Concepcion barangay officials. (AS)

The Filipino people join the world in commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 11 (9/11) ter-ror attacks.

Malacanang enjoins Filipino people to re-new commitment to world peace in remem-bering 9/11 tragedy

“A decade after the ter-ror attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, the world pauses in solemn re-membrance of the grievous losses in lives on that day,” Deputy Presidential Spokes-person Abigail Valte said in a statement. Valte said, “The Fili-pino people join the world in commemorating the hero-ism demonstrated in so many ways on that day, too. Most of all, this is a day for all na-tions and peoples to reaffirm their commitment to peace

and stability built on mutual respect and dialogue between cultures and religions.” The September 11 at-tacks were a series of four coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaida, a militant Isla-mist group, against targets in New York and Washing-ton, D.C. on September 11, 2001. The group hijacked four commercial aircraft. They crashed one into each tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City, causing the twin towers to

collapse. The third plane crashed into the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters, the Pentagon, in Arlington Coun-ty, Virginia, just outside the capital, Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passen-gers fought back against the hijackers. The attacks were the most lethal ever by a foreign force on the U.S., and the first upon the mainland since the War of 1812. (JS)

Aquino leads... from page 9


Puerto Sayre flyover ready for inauguration - DPWH by Apipa Bagumbaran

This was an-nounced by Engr. Leon-ald L. Pecore, Resident Engineer of the Depart-ment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in region 10, during a recent media forum at the National Economic and Development Au-thority (NEDA), region 10. He said construc-tion of the Puerto-Say-re flyover, started last March 28, some five (5) days after its ground-breaking by President Benigno C. Aquino III, when he visited Ca-gayan de Oro, last March 23. It is expected to be completed, this coming

Sept. 28, yet. Howev-er, it was already com-pleted, last August 31. The project, Pecore said, is made of modular superstruc-ture materials with four (4) piers supported on 1.5m diameter bored piles. The flyover, which is expected to ease the traffic congestion in the area during peak hours, is implemented by the DPWH under the President’s Bridge Pro-gram Office (PBPO) in coordination with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro. Costing Php362-million, the project is funded by the COFACE

Export Credit Guaran-tee Assistance of the French Government, he added.Pecore also announced that the on-going con-struction of the Ca-gayan de Oro City In-ternational Trade and Convention Center is already 29.32 percent completed. An ideal place for international and na-tional trade exhibits, seminars and conven-tions, the center to be constructed has an es-timated cost of Php758-million and will have seating capacity of ap-proximately 7,700. Meanwhile, DPWH-10 Construction Divi-

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 10 (PIA) – The 195 lineal-meter flyover at the junction of Sitio Puerto, Baran-gay Bugo and Sayre highway, towards Bukidnon, here, is now ready for inauguration and turnover.

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sion Chief, Engr. Dante G. Caylo, disclosed that their regional office has a total appropriation of Php4.22 billion for a to-tal of 97 projects, this year. He said projects

costing below Php50-million and implement-ed by the respective District Engineering Offices in the region amounted to Php1.438 billion for a total of 76 projects.

Projects worth above Php50-million and implemented by the DPWH Regional Office amounted Php2.783 billion for a total of 21 projects. (PIA-10)

Mahinog holds public hearing on pro-posed new revenue code by Homer R. Jajalla

MAHINOG, Camiguin, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Ways and Means (CWM) is fast tracking the passage of the proposed Municipal Revenue Code, here, in a bid to update the existing tax code which was last passed in 1992. Thus, a public hearing, attended by more than 200 partici-pants representing var-ious sectors, was held at the municipal gym-nasium to gather public inputs on the proposed revenue measure which is needed to spur local growth. Kagawad Jonard B. Labadan, Chairper-son, SB WMCommit-tee, stressed the need to pass a new revenue measure because it has already been almost 20 years already that the

municipality is operat-ing with the old code. “In 1992, we were the first municipality in Camiguin that was able to come up with a model revenue code, and now we are left behind because we are the only municipality in the province to have been unable to update it,” Labadan told par-ticipants at the hear-ing. He added “Mahi-nognons” are still for-tunate because for al-most 20 years fees

and charges in Mahi-nog have remained un-changed and are even considered minimal compared to other lo-cal government units (LGU) in the province. At the public hear-ing, municipal treasurer Judith P. Baita present-ed the salient provi-sions of the town’s pro-posed Revenue Code. Baita said the pro-posed revision includes ten percent (10%) in-crease of the rates in the existing 1992 rev-enue code as allowed

Puerto Sayre... from page 11

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by Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as The Local Government Code of 1991. Under the code, LGU’s are authorized to adjust their tax rates once every five (5) years but such adjust-ment should not exceed ten percent (10%) of the rates fixed under the code. Baita stressed it has been three (3) times, or more than 15 years, that the LGU chose not to take the

opportunity to adjust its tax rates. “It is high time now ‘to awake from the long sleep’ and pass a new revenue code in order to keep pace with the changing times,” he said. Meanwhile, Dr. Perla J. Garot, a partic-ipant from the business sector, said tax amend-ments are appropriate as long as the money is spent properly and it is also important that during the public hear-

ings taxpayers should be made to under-stand how tax money is used. Mayor Alex R. Ja-jalla said the new reve-nue measures is needed to finance more devel-opmental projects. He also assured that every centavo of the money collected from local taxes will be judiciously used for the purpose it is collected. (MIO/PIA-10)

Bukidnon Certified Masonry Worker bags the 2011 Galing Mason Regional Award

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Sept. 10 (PIA) – Alm-er R. Salinday from Bukidnon has been cited the 2011 “Galing Mason” Awards Regional Winner. This, after Almer beat the other 12 con-tenders from other prov-inces of the region, during the 2011 “Galing Mason” Regional Skills Competi-tion held, last Sept. 5-6, at the Gawad Kalinga Vil-lage, La Paz 1, Lapasan, here. As the Regional Win-

ner, Almer will receive a cash prize and a medal to be given during the Na-tional Competition in Ma-nila, this coming Oct. 21-25. He will have a chance to compete at the nation-al level where the grand winner will bring home a Php150,000 cash prize.

Director Irene M. Isaac of the Technical Ed-ucation and Skills Devel-opment Authority (TES-DA), region 10, said the 2-day skills tilt proved the mastery of the ma-sons on concrete hollow block (CHB) laying, plas-tering, wall smooth fin-ishing, and concrete slab

by Nazario Villamor

Mahinog holds... from page 12

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construction. The criteria for judg-ing include workmanship, technique, speed and work values, as well, as safety practices and housekeep-ing, Isaac said.The event was sucessfuly conducted in partnership with Holcim, Philippines, Inc., a leading cement manufacturer in the country, Gawad Kalinga (GK)-Lapasan Chapter, Lapasan Barangay Coun-cil and TESDA-X. Holcim Phils., Inc.

supplied the cement, competitors and allow-ances for the jury and other incentives for the competition while TESDA screened the competi-tors, identified the jury and provided the techni-cal support. The concrete hollow-blocks, sand and gravel, steel bars, and other sup-plies and materials, were supplied by GK- Lapasan while physical arrange-ment and the security of the contest venue was

handled by the Lapasan Barangay Council. Isaac said TESDA and Holcim have been strong partners for six (6) years in helping train and certify dignified Filipino masons in the country, which to date has record-ed 6,000 certified masons under the program. In unison, they have greeted contenders of “Mabuhay ang mga Gal-ing Mason” in North-ern Mindanao! (TESDA/PIA-10)

SP requests NEDA to conduct feasibility study on proposed Iligan Coastal Road

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- The members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) of Iligan requested the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), region 10, to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Coastal Road Project of the city.

by Melvin T. Anggot

This was done through a resolution en-dorsed by SP Kagawad Jose Zalsos, Chairper-son of the Committee on Public Works, re-cently. Kagawad Zalsos said the plan for the proposed project was discussed in a person-al meeting of Mayor

Lawrence Ll. Cruz with Budget and Manage-ment Secretary Floren-cio Abad in Manila. Zalsos said it was Secretary Abad who suggested that we re-quest NEDA to make the feasibility study as basis and a step to-ward the realization of the project.

Based on the plans, Phase 1 of the coastal road will go through Bacolod Street to the side of the fence of the Philippine Ports Author-ity (PPA) and the beach of Saray connecting to Emilia Khu Street that comes out towards the national highway. (CIO/PIA-10)

Bukidnon Certified... from page 13


Cebuano News: Celebrasyon sa Iligan Business Month, naka kuha’g suporta gikan sa mga stakeholders

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 9 (PIA) – Naka kuha’g suporta gikan sa mga stakeholders ang pagpangandam sa pagsa-ulog sa Business Month sa Iligan karong umaabot nga bulan sa Oktobre.

by Melvin T. Anggot

Atol sa meeting nga gipahigayon didto sa Session Hall sa Sang-guniang Panglalawigan (SP), bag-ohay pa la-mang, ang mga stake-holders mipadayag sa ilang hugot nga pag-suporta sa maong kali-hokan. Lakip niini nga mga stakeholders ang nagk-alain-laing mga pundok sa mga negosyante, ahensiya sa gobyerno, institusyon ug ubang buhatan sa gilaraw nga mga kalihukan alayon sa maong kasaulogan. Kini gilangkuban sa mga mosunod: Chamber of Commerce and Industry Founda-tion of Iligan, Iligan Bay Chamber of Industries, Lanao Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, ug Iligan Hotel-Restau-rants and Resorts Asso-ciation, Department of

Trade and Industry, De-partment of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency ug Mindanao State Univer-sity-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), lakip na ang College of Business Administration and Accountancy niini. City Agriculture Office, Iligan Invest-ment Promotions Cen-ter, City Information Office, Drugstore As-sociation of the Philip-pines-Iligan Chapter ug uban pa. Gilauman nga makahatag og dugang kadasig sa patigayon sa siyudad ang paggahin og usa ka bulan matag tuig kanus-a ipahigayon ang mgabusiness fora, conventions, confer-ences, trade exhibits ug uban pa nga makatutok sa pagpa-uswag sa sek-tor sa patigayon.

Ang business month o gitawag usab nga Asenso Iliganon mao’y usa sa mga proyekto ni SP LKagawad Freder-ick Siao ilalom sa iyang gihuptan ngachairman-ship sa Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry ug gipaluyohan ni Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz. Tinguha sa kag-amhanang lokal nga mamahimo na kining institusyon pinaagi sa pagpasar sa usa ka res-olusyon sa konseho nga gipangamahanan ni Siao kauban sila si Ka-gawad Ruderic Marzo, Michelle Sweet ug Mar-lene Young. Sunod nga laraw karon ni Kagawad Siao ang pagmugna og usa ka komitiba nga mao’y tugyanan nga modu-mala sa Business Month Ce l eb ra t i on .(CIO/PIA-10)

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Comval, youngest province, among the Top 10 LGUs cited for good governance

Compostela Valley is the 78th province among the 86th provinces in the country. Created last March 8, 2008, the province is only 13 years in its existence but had gone so far in terms of governance and administration. Last September 5, the Department of Interior

and Local Government (DILG) lauded the province as one of the top 10 prov-inces who had initiated and implemented programs designed to improve the lives of its constituents, environmental protection, financial accountability and commitment to transparency. Governor Arturo T. Uy had been sincere in his commitment of elevating and maintaining the highest standards of public service delivery in Compostela Valley. Hence, DILG through the annual Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), an assessment tool that measures LGU performance in key governance areas and provide information on the status of LGU’s in terms of local governance and development, commends the province for its shining examples on its performance on administrative, social

economic, environmental governance and fundamentals of good governance which include transparency, participation and financial accountability.

Administrative Governance

Local legislation, development planning, revenue generation, resource allocation and utilization as well as human resource management and development had been properly and justly performed. COMVAL is the only local government unit in the whole bureaucracy

rated as “EXCELLENT” in the implementation of R.A. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 with 95.5% excellent descriptive rating. Among the provinces in Davao Region, Compostela Valley is also a consistent top rank performer in revenue collection and generation having sufficient income which comes from the four local sources (business, fees & charges, economic enterprise and real property tax).

Social Governance

The province had been very speedy in the

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Saturday, September 10, 2011 17ONE MINDANAOSaturday, September 10, 2011

delivery of health services, support to education services, support to housing and basic utilities, peace and security and disaster risk management. A total of 554 scholars is enrolled for school year 2011-2012 under Compostela Valley Scholarship Program (CVSP). Four hundred (400) houses had been built and occupied by the identified poorest of the poor and homeless COMVALEÑOS in the nine municipalities. Series of trainings had been conducted to address quick response during disasters with 23 graduate responders and emergency response vehicle, rubber boat and unified telecommunication system were purchased to fasten emergency services and enhance immediate responses to any form of natural and man made calamities. Combating different kinds of illness either infectious and disabling had been very successful having accorded as a FILIARIASIS FREE province, 2nd in Mindanao and the 7th in the entire country.

Economic Governance Support to agriculture sector, fishery services and enterprise, business and industry promotion becomes the nature of economic activities of the province. Construction of farm to market roads, provision of any form of assistance to fishery sector had been extended including the rehabilitation and construction of fishery related infrastructure (mariculture park, fish port, sea cages). The province is very capable in promoting a business friendly environment and customer-oriented civil application is in place. There had been a management authority created to take the lead in promoting the investment potentials of the province.

Environmental Governance

Forest ecosystem, freshwater ecosystem, coastal marine ecosystem and urban ecosystem management takes the central activity for environment project. Pollution control and

solid waste management are attended and institutionalized. Long term and short term planning are considered and Solid Waste Management Board is very functional. Mining operations had been regulated and environmental code had been drafted to continuously protect the mother nature. Governor Uy takes cognizance of the progressive performance of the province. “I salute my colleagues in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), for sanding with me and delivering the necessary legislative measures supporting my development endeavors and the entire workforce of the provincial government for a job well done. May we always move forward to gain more accomplishments in the years to come” Uy said. Compostela Valley is sti l l very young and much are sti l l to be done but inspired by the spirit of unity and solidarity, many more can sti l l be accomplished and expected in the coming years. (MGM/PIA/Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS COMVAL)

Comval, youngest... from page 16


COMVAL-2nd Filaria-free Province in Mindanao COMPOSTELA VALLEY On the occasion of the 4th Family Health Fair of the province last September 2-3, 2011 at Maco, Comval Province, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of Health (DOH) declare COM-VAL as the 2nd Filaria-free Province in the entire Mindanao and the 7th in the entire country. By virtue of Executive Order No. 036-2008, Compostela Valley celebrates Family Health Day through a 2-day Family Health Fair. This year, the 4th FHF is held in Maco. It’s a back to back activity with the launching of the Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK)- a comprehensive health promotion caravan aiming to bring information and education to families in the remote communities. It is a health program aligned with the Aquino Health Agenda of universal access to quality health care. In 2007, record shows that the province has identified 10 people diagnosed with filariasis. Governor Uy then ordered the Provincial Health Office to strongly support the National Filariasis Program through the Mass Drug Administration in all barangay’s of the 11 municipalities. After the serious implementation of the

continuous mass drug administration, DOH undertake Lot Quality Assurance Survey through random blood samples to 3,000 children examined by the health care providers of PHO, DOH and DepEd. Result of the recently conducted evaluation shows that the province is now free of such disease prompting the WHO and DOH to declare Compostela Valley as Filariasis free. In a message delivered by DOH Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Dr. Romulo Busuego, he congratulates all unsung heroes of the province for making a historical equation in fighting filariasis. He said that Filariasis is a disabling sickness, it needs community effort and Compostela Valley achieves a success story in the battle against it. A performance based award was given by the DOH amounting to P1

million pesos through DOH Assistant Secretary Pauline Jean Obial. The said amount is given to support the continued intervention of different kinds of health problem in the province. Asst. Secretary Obial in her congratulatory message also extends her thanksgiving to the people of Compostela Valley specially Governor Arturo T. Uy for being very supportive and receptive in the program implementation. She added that DOH target is for the country (Philippines) to be filarial-free by year 2015, and for the whole world in 2020. Governor Uy in accepting the performance based award also expresses his sincere thanks to all health care providers and partner stakeholders for the efforts and sincere commitment in addressing health problems and concerns in the province. (MGM/PIA/Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS COMVAL)

Saturday, September 10, 2011 19ONE MINDANAOSaturday, September 10, 2011

5 pampublikong paaralan makatatanggap ng mga computer at speech lab by Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- Lima pang pampublikong paaralan sa lalawigan ng South Cotabato ang makatata-tanggap ng mga computer at speech lab sa mga susu-musunod na araw. Kinumpirma ni South Cotabato 2nd Dis-trict Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes kahapon na nakatanggap na ang kan-yang tanggapan ng opi-syal na kalatas mula sa Department of Education, na nagsasabing handa na ang DepEd na ihatid sa mga paaralan ang mga speech lab package na may kasamang tig-20 na computer. Ani Fuentes galing ang pondo para sa natur-

ang proyekto sa devel-opment funds ng South Cotabato. Ang mga speech lab packages ay nakalaan sa sumusunod na paaralan: Banga Annex National High School sa bayan ng Banga, Lake Sebu Nation-al High School at Upper Maculan National High School sa bayan ng Lake Sebu, Koronadal National High School Matulas An-nex sa Koronadal City, at Libertad National High

School sa bayan ng Sural-lah. Siniguro ni Rep. Fu-entes na mas maraming paaralan at mga mag-aaral ang magkakaroon din ng kaparehong pasili-dad. Aniya, naghahanap na siya ng pondo na maaring magamit para sa pagbili ng kagamitan at pagtatayo ng speech lab para sa iba pang pam-publikong paaralan sa la-lawigan. (PIA 12)

Tagalog News: Nakumpiskang mga tabla sa N.Cotabato iimbestigahan ng DENR by Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, Setyembre 10 (PIA) -- Isasailalim sa administrative proceed-ings ng Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) ang may 10,000 board feet na sliced-lumber na nakumpiska ng pulisya kamakailan habang umano’y hinahanda upang ibiyahe papuntang General Santos City. 20


Ang mga tabla ay pag-aaari umano ng isang konsehal mula sa bayan ng Pikit sa North Cotaba-to. Ayon kay Supt. Alex Tagum, hepe ng Cotabato Police Public Safety Of-fice, nakatanggap na sila ng kopya ng seizure or-der receipt mula sa PEN-RO noong Miyerkules, patunay na binibigay sa kanila ang kostudiya ng mga tabla. Sinabi ni Tagum na nakumpiska nila ang mga

tabla noong Lunes sakay sa isang prime mover na pagmamay-ari ng isang Amina Matua ng Pikit. Ayon umano kay Matua, pang-apat na nilang bi-yahe iyon papuntang Gensan at ang may-ari ay isa umanong konsehal ng Pikit. Agad naman um-anong nagkakuha ng do-kumento mula sa CENRO ng karatig bayan ng Pa-galungan, Maguindanao ang inaakusahang kon-sehal subalit ayon kay

Tagum, kahina-hinala umano ang mga ito. Aniya, galing sa Pag-alungan na parte ng Magu-indanao ang permit ng CENRO habang nakumpis-ka ang mga tabla sa Pikit na bahagi ng North Cota-bato. Wala rin umanong permit mula sa North Co-tabato PENRO ang konse-hal. Dagdag pa ni Tagum, plano umanong ibiyahe ang nakumpiskang mga tabla noong gabi ng Lunes. (PIA 12)

DA backs local coop with Php10-M construc-tion of FMR next year by CT ApelacioGENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Agricul-ture (DA) is allocating an additional Php10-M for the construction of farm-to-market road in support of the Asparagus Packing Facility Plant here which the department is also funding. DA-12 Regional Di-rector Amalia Datukan revealed that Agricul-ture Secretary Proceso Alcala himself “com-mitted to allot Php10-M for the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) next year.” Sec. Alcala recent-ly led the groundbreak-

ing of the plant’s site at barangay San Jose here, some 40-minute drive from the city prop-er. He expressed his desire to see the farm-ers in the area have an improved quality of life in the next years. The Php3.75-M worth facility is expect-

ed to boost production of asparagus, which is seen to transform Soc-CSKSarGen (South Co-tabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General SantosCity) as vital area producer of high value crops. The FMR, accord-ing to Datukan will fa-

Tagalog News: Nakumpiskang... from page 19

21


cilitate the transport of asparagus to the plant thereby increasing the supply besides giving easy access to other high value crops being grown in the region. City Mayor Dar-lene Antonino-Custodio said the good climat-ic condition of the city and its proximity to the international airport and seaport to include its established image with stakeholders and the international mar-ket has made it a viable site for the plant. Currently the city is hailed as the “Tuna Capital of the Philip-pines” having been a top supplier of tuna lo-cally and internation-ally. According to Soc-SKSarGen Federation of Fishing and Allied In-dustries, Incorporated (SFFAII), over 60 per-cent of tuna production is based in Mindanao particularly centering in General Santos City. Agreeing with the mayor, Alcala cited then SocSKSarGen’s pro-

ductive soil and favor-able weather condition year-round as suitable enough for the coop-erative to venture into planting other crops such as onion and gar-lic. He also directed Datukan to scout at least 100 hectares of land suitable for plant-ing such crops while in-structing DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research to come up with the thor-ough study as to the processing and canning potential of asparagus “for domestic and ex-port markets.” To boost market potential of the pro-cessed asparagus, the DA- National Agribusi-ness Corporation (NAB-COR) will help the co-operative “link directly with institutional buy-ers” and will look into the “marketing activi-ties” of the coopera-tive. Meanwhile Datu-kan said the plant will directly benefit the Greenland Asparagus Producers Multi-pur-

pose Cooperative (GAP-MC) with some active 60 farmer- beneficiaries. The cooperative will be receiving assis-tance from DA’s High Value Crops Develop-ment Program (HVCDP) and NABCOR. Organized in 2008, GAPMC has 15 hectares land fully planted to as-paragus and harvesting an average yield of “300 to 400 kilos asparagus shoots daily.” Cooperative chair-man Roger Pascual said the construction of the facility will be complet-ed by October this year. He also hopes to in-crease their production to at least 800 kilos a day with the comple-tion of the facility in the offing. Pascual said the cooperative is cur-rently marketing their produce to “major su-permarkets, restau-rants and hotels in Metro Manila” aside from having a cap-tured market locally. (CTA/PIAGeneral Santos City)

DA Backs... from page 20


Surigao Sur Gov sees “Dano Abduction” used in peace talksTANDAG CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimen-tel, chair of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee and Task Force Dano, believes that handlers of Lingig Mayor Henry Dano are using the abduction issue as leverage on peace talks.

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

According to Gov. Pimentel, despite the ne-gotiations made through short messaging sys-tems (SMS) with his con-tact, whom he referred to as “legitimate emissary”, promises have not been kept. Recently, he said, demands sought are get-ting harder and harder in exchange for Dano’s safe release citing the

cessation of military op-erations in Davao Orien-tal, Compostella Valley province and even up to Bukidnon area, prac-tically in almost half of Mindanao. Earlier, Pimentel dis-closed, they gave in to the demand to stop military operations, with the con-sent of Army 4th Infantry Division Commander Gen. Victor Felix, in the vicin-

ity of Davao Oriental and Caraga where Dano, CPL. Alrey Desamparado, and PFC Rolan Saban where believed to be holed up. It will be recalled that Dano and company were abducted in his residence by about 30 armed NPA men on board three (3) passenger vans on Au-gust 6. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Butuan dad leads implementation of the “Clean Ground, Zero Waste” ProgramBUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) – Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. strong-ly push for a Clean Ground, Zero Waste city through the implemen-taton of proper Solid Waste Management Program. The city shall impose a “No Segregation, No Collection” policy in barangays to ensure that trash will be segregated at source.

23

by Jennifer P. Gaitano


24

According to Mr. Bong Alcala, Technical Consultant/External Re-sources Technical Work-ing Group of the City May-or’s Office bared that the volume of waste in Butuan is estimated at 95 tons per day. The highest percent-age of this waste is biode-gradable. “The financial bur-den of waste for the city government here is roughly P80 million an-nually, he said. (This in-cludes) the cost of the construction of the sani-tary landfill...the mainte-nance cost and the an-nual operations cost of garbage collection (P.37 cents per kilo or P13M per year).” Alcala added that this amount could have been spent on basic social and economic services such as “more health care

providers and medicines, more teachers, more live-lihood programs, more welfare assistance, more seedlings and trees, and the like.” The Clean Ground, Zero Waste Program was initiated to: 1) Facilitate social transformation pro-cesses among residents to manifest the desired behavior of segregating waste at source, clean-ing the surroundings and converting wastes into money; and 2) Massive conversion of waste into organic fertilizers (biode-gradables) by the organic fertilizer production facili-ties and useful materials (non-biodegradables). The program ele-ments elements and ap-proaches include: a) Awarding of Clean Seals as a behavior change strategy to households,

puroks, barangay, class-rooms, stall, business es-tablishments; b) Deploy-ment of Eco Marshalls to barangays; c) Mobilization of existing community vol-unteers and employ CD strategies; d) Waste con-version to organic fertiliz-ers (with national, regional and local policy and finan-cial back-up). Setting up of CB Organic Fertilizer Production Facilities and Faith gardens; e) Conver-gence and multi-sector mobilization; f) Integration with other community “felt” concerns (dengue, anti-rabies campaign); and g) Meaningful community participation and massive community actions. With this develop-ment, Mayor Amante hoped for the full support and cooperation from the general public. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Butuan dad... from page 22

BCPO to launch “Basura Ko, Buhat Ko”BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) – Living-up to its sworn commitment of protecting the environment as “maka-kalikasan,” the local police office here will launch the “Basura ko, Buhat ko” Project on Sep-tember 11, 2011.


BCPO to launch... from page 23

The “Basura Ko, Buhat Ko” is a component of the Discipline Zone which emphasizes the enforcement of laws and ordinances in the sidewalks and city streets of Butuan particularly along A.D. Curato Street and JC Aquino Avenue. The project will enforce the anti-littering ordinances of Butuan City to be predominated by massive cleanliness and information drive focusing only on the city streets thru

close coordination with the stakeholders, and with Butuan City Police Office in the lead role. Police Senior Superintendent Jose V. Carillo, City Director of BCPO and an advocate of said project is confident on the success of this endeavor. “As the City Director of Butuan City Police Office, I intend to support all environmental protection initiatives of the national and local government

by way of initiating and implementing a cleanliness drive along the Discipline Zone areas to instill discipline and environmental concern to the people of Butuan the importance of a clean environment and a healthy community and vibrant society,” Carillo stressed. BCPO is calling on to public to participate and help the PNP in this campaign. (BCPO/PIA-Caraga)

Reg’l Cooperative Dev’t Council to celebrate Co-operative MonthBUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) – The Regional Cooperative Develop-ment Council (RCDC) Caraga chaired by Agusan del Norte Teach-ers, Retirees, and Employees Cooperative (ANTRECO) Manager Francis Loque with Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Car-aga Regional Director Manuela Pelaez as secretariat will once again spearhead this year’s Cooperative Month celebration come October 2011.

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

According to Dir. Pelaez, said celebration will kick off on October 1 (Saturday) with a simultaneous Tree Planting activity in the provinces of Caraga targeting 3,333 seedlings

or 666 persons, at least five seedlings per person. On the same date, cooperatives in Surigao del Norte will have their Thanksgiving Mass while cooperatives in San Jose, Dinagat Islands will kick-

off with a Parade and short program and followed with a coastal clean-up. The Thanksgiving Mass by cooperatives in Butuan is set on October 3 at the St. Joseph Cathedral, to be followed

25


with the Motorcade going to the City Hall, where the program proper will be held with Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. Right after the program, officials of the council will face the media through a Press Conference to give updates, issues and concerns on the cooperatives in Caraga. On October 12, the Provincial Cooperative Summit is set to be conducted by the cooperatives in San Jose,

Dinagat Islands while they will also be conducting the Trade Exhibits in the whole month of October. Also, members of the RCDC in Butuan will also be conducting the educational contest such as Poster-making and Quiz Bee on October 28 with elementary and high school students as participants. This will also serve as culmination activity for cooperatives in Butuan. M e a n w h i l e ,

cooperatives in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur will culminate on October 28 with a short program; cooperatives in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur on October 29; and cooperatives in Trento, Agusan del Sur on October 30. With this, RCDC is encouraging coop members in the provinces of Caraga to witness and participate in the said activities for the month-long celebration. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Reg’l Cooperative... from page 24

Crocodile trappers, mihimo na og bag-ong trap alang sa lain pang buwayaBUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) - Ukupado karon ang mga crocodile trappers gikan sa Palawan Wildlife Conservation sa paghimo og bag-ong trap alang sa lain pang higanteng buaya samtang nagpa-hulay pa sila sa pagdakop sa ka-uban ni Lolong sa pagputol sa ulo sa usa ka 2-anyos nga kabaw ning mi-aging buwan. Sigon sa mga trappers, seguraduhon nilang mas lig-on pa sa trap nga gigamit nila kang Lolong ang ilang mahimo aron dili kini maguba kung mas dako pa kang Lolong ang target nilang buwaya. Una nang gipadayag ni Bunawan, Agusan del

Sur Mayor Edwin Elorde nga kinahanglan pa nilang iplastar ang proseso alang sa paghatag og pagtugot sa mga trappers aron mahimong legal ang pagdakop sa buwaya. Samtang si Lolong wala pa mikaon sa manok nga gibutang sa

iyang holding pin og kini posibleng tungod gihapon sa trauma nga iyang gibati human nadakpan hinungdan nga pursigido ang lokal nga kagamhanan nga ipatuman sa hingpit ang ban sa public viewing kay Lolong. (BR/PIA-Caraga)


ARMM observes 111th Philippine Civil Service Month

The Bureau of Public Information said that offi-cials from various agen-cies under the ARMM including those from Maguindanao province braved the rain and joined in the kick-off ceremony. “Tuloy-tuloy ang pa-ghahatid ng tapat na ser-bisyo na tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan ng rehi-yon ng mga lingkod bayan ng Autonomous Regional

Government,” ARMM Ex-ecutive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo said. During the program, Regional Director Resur-reccion Pueyo of the Civil Service Commission-ARMM reminded gov-ernment workers that the benefits that state workers received should be com-plemented with respon-sibility and honest public service. Pueyo added that

several activities are lined up for the observation in the whole month, and this include the on-going search for outstanding of-ficials and employees in the ARMM. The theme of the celebration for this year is “Championing Public Service Excellence at Full Speed.” (DM-PIA9 Ba-SulTa)

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Sept 10 (PIA) – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) joined in the celebration of the 111th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary with a simple ceremony at the ARMM complex in Cotabato.

DOLE-9 to intensify drive against Child Labor

PAGADIAN CITY , September 10 (PIA) – Many children have been reported to be engaged to work, employed or recruited for employ-ment under extremely hazardous and exploitative conditions, in-cluding cases of prostitution, bonded child labor and other worst forms of child labor.

by Alma L. Timcang

27


DOLE-9 to intensify... from page 26

To help achieve the goal of “chi ld la-bor- f ree” Phi l ippines by 2015, the Depart-ment of Labor and Em-ployment is intensi-fy ing i ts dr ive against chi ld labor through the i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n of several programs and act iv i t ies, one of which is the react iva-t ion and strengthen-ing of exist ing Chi ld Labor structures. DOLE Regional Di-rector Ponciano Ligutom said members of the Pro-vincial/City Child Labor Program Committee will gather for a 2-day re-ori-entation on the Philippine Program Against Child La-bor Strategic Framework 2007-2015 and Child La-bor Knowledge Sharing System at Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel in Ipil, Zam-boanga Sibugay on Sep-

tember 13-14, 2011. RD Ligutom said the activity aims to renew and intensify awareness and understanding of line implementers on the is-sue of child labor, thereby improving delivery of ser-vices to child laborers and their families. Further, it is also seen to help increase the number of convictions us-ing child labor laws and statutes through improved knowledge, skills and at-titude of enforcers and partners. Culminating the ac-tivity will be the renewal and the signing of pro-gram commitment by all line agency partners and stakeholders. This includes the Department of Social Wel-fare and Development, Provincial Health Office, Department of Education,

Department of the Interior and Local Government, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Justice, Philippine Information Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, National Statistics Office, peoples’ organizations and non-government organiza-tions. Child labor is defined as the illegal employment of children, where they are not directly under the sole responsibility of their parents or legal guard-ians or the latter employ other workers, apart from their children, who are not members of their families, or the work of children en-dangers their life, safety, health and morals or im-pairs their normal devel-opment including school-ing. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)

Dipolog solid waste board to ban use of plastics, cellophane by market vendors by Franklin T. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) - The City Solid Management Board (CSWMB) headed by Mayor Evelyn T. Uy is now planning to ban the use of plastics and cellophane by market vendors in packaging their wares. 28


29

Dipolog solid waste... from page 27

CSWMB came up with such a plan after the City General Services Of-fice (CGSO) reported that used plastics and cello-phanes were clogging the drainage canals, creeks and other waterways re-sulting in flooding during heavy rains in the city. The board has also been informed that some residents here are not heeding the call of the city government for waste segregation as observed by CGSO’s garbage col-

lectors. It can be recalled that the city government started implementing its solid waste segregation program in poblacion barangays two months ago. This program aims to instill in the people the importance of prac-ticing “reduce, reuse and recycle” of garbage to preserve and protect the environment. Presently, the city government maintains a “controlled dumpsite”

at barangay Sangkol this city and the recy-clable materials are now stockpiled at the Mate-rials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be processed into plastic blocks. The board has also urged all machine shop owners not to throw their used oils and lubricants into the drainage canals or creeks so as not to pollute the rivers and streams. (ALT/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

GSIS beefs up GW@PS kiosk deploymentby Franklin T. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) - - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is now deploying GSIS Wireless Automated Process-ing System (GW@APS) kiosks all over the country more particularly at the provincial capitols, city halls, select municipal halls and other big agencies which do not have such a facility yet. GSIS-Dipolog branch head Willa Guantero-Man-gubat informed the Philip-pine Information Agency (PIA) here that the provin-cial government of Misamis Occidental and the city gov-ernment of Oroquieta City had each received a GW@APS kiosk last Aug. 25. The cities of Ozamis and Tan-

gub also got their GW@PS kiosks the following day. The GSIS also gave a desk top to the Department of Education’s (DepED) provincial schools division of Misamis Occidentalm in Oroquieta City. A GW@PS kiosk was also installed this morning in Sindangan, Zamboanga

del Norte to serve the GSIS members and pensioners in that municipality and its neighboring towns. On Sept. 12, GSIS will turn-over three more kiosks to the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte and to the city governments of Dipolog and Dapitan. GW@PS is hailed as


the first in the world to com-bine the most modern tech-nologies to come up with a unique and secure system that can process transac-tions off-site in a completely paperless environment, us-

ing modern technologies. GSIS has added 500 units to its existing 263 kiosks nationwide to better serve its stake-holders. GSIS-Dipolog cov-

ers the members and pensioners in the munici-palities and cities of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)

GSIS beefs up... from page 28

US envoys’ presence in Pagadian signifies America’s con-fidence belief of the region’s peace and developmentby Gideon C. CorguePAGADIAN CITY, September 10 (PIA) – Mayor Samuel S. Co on Thursday was very pleased and thankful for the presence of US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. as the keynote speaker of the opening ceremony in the 20th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) held at the newly constructed City Com-mercial Center here. Co in his message said he was very grateful for the Ambassador’s presence de-spite the opt-repeated news about the critical peace and order in Mindanao. It can be recalled that in last years’ MimBizCon in Cagayan de Oro City, Am-bassador Thomas was not able to attend the event but he sent the embassy’s team to represent him. Co said Ambassador Thomas’ presence boosts the confidence of the busi-nessmen in economic activ-ities in Mindanao, especially in augmenting the adminis-tration’s flagship program, Private-Public Partnership. Co said we are fortu-

nate that during his term, three (3) US Ambassadors came over to the city. Co said in 2005, US Ambassador Darryl N. John-son came to Pagadian for the ‘Dedication Ceremony’ of Lison Valley’s Foot Bridge which was built of the US Armed Force; In 2007, US Ambassador Kristie A. Ken-ny visited to distribute 500 reference books in science, mathematics and English to Zambaonga del Sur Na-tional High School; and this year, US Ambassador Thomas visits to grace the 20th MinBizcon. “Their visit to our city bring a fresh whiff of hope and prospects for develop-

ment. It certainly signifies America’s belief and com-mitment to the pursuit of peace and development in our region,” Co said. The chief executive said Mindanao has al-ways been left behind in terms of economic devel-opment and we are thank-ful that this is being ef-fectively addressed now under President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. “Government initia-tives in boosting Mindan-ao’s socio-economic and cultural cultivation are very visible and can be effectively felt,” Co con-cluded. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

One Mindanao Enews Magazine - September 10, 2011

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