One Mindanao - January 5, 2016

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

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

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

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

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

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

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

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

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

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

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

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

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

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NORTHERN

Camiguin eyes on high value crops to increase vegetable production

25

NPA rebels break holiday truce, terrorize Bukidnon village anew

16

30

AgNor communicators join 1st Provincial Assembly cum Seminar Workshop on Para-Media/Citizens Journalism

90% of agency budgets released

OPAPP hits ground running in pushing for BBL passage --Deles

12

Cover Story

SOUTHERN

INFOCUS NATIONAL

5 DavNor towns gain DTI BUB projects for 2016

1610

Contents

29

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

OUR COVER

NFA chief’s visit to Caraga underway35

CARAGA

40

WESTERN

21 ISAWAD begins water rationing due to impact of El NiñoBy: Rene V. Carbayas By Michael Uy

Dry spell affects 7,000 ha of farms in South Cotabato

33

SOCCSKSARGEN

31

19

By Greg Tataro, Jr

23 Christmas, New Year revelries in Zambo. Sur generally peaceful, says ZSPPO chiefBy Gideon C. Corgue By: Lorenzo B. Siobal Jr.

By: Jorie C. Valcorza

34

By Danilo E. DoguilesDinagat Islands to give financial aid to Nona victims in N. Samar

36By Susil D. Ragas

4 January 5, 2016One Mindanao

AgNor communicators join 1st Provincial Assembly cum Seminar Workshop on Para-Media/Citizens Journalism By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Around a thousand legpersons coming from the different puroks in Agusan del Norte province participated in the recently concluded First Provincial Assembly of Barefoot Journalists/Purok Legpersons

cum Seminar Workshop on Para-Media/Citizens Journalism held at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city.

5January 5, 2016 One Mindanao

AgNor communicators join 1st Provincial Assembly cum Seminar Workshop on Para-Media/Citizens Journalism

Around a thousand legpersons coming from the different puroks in Agusan del Norte province participated in the recently concluded First Provincial Assembly of Barefoot Journalists/Purok Legpersons

cum Seminar Workshop on Para-Media/Citizens Journalism held at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city.


In an interview, Agusan del Norte Vice Governor Ramon Bungabong bared that the said activity is aimed to enhance capabilities of professionals from different sectors in the province. “Leg persons from the different puroks are also here since they will be the immediate persons from their respective puroks who will be giving relevant information that will be published in the province’ publication - the ‘AgNor Bulletin,’” he said.

Bungabong stressed that the provincial government of Agusan del Norte is continuously providing what the purok officials/legpersons need for them to

be effective and efficient as they do their functions.

“It is important that we continue to capacitate them and give them various workshop-seminars,” he underlined.

“Everyone of you has a contribution to the progress of our

province. I hope all the initiatives including the

conduct of this seminar-workshop for the barefoot

journalists/purok legpersons will continue in the coming

years,” added Bungabong.

Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba emphasized that it is not easy to be a leader in a big community. “Being a leader in a big community is no easy task. But with your cooperation, involvement/participation in our programs and activities, it becomes lighter and easier. The provincial government is doing everything and the best that we can to give you the services you need,” she said.

Also, as one of the honored guest speakers, PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga


highlighted t h a t t h e legpersons from the different municipalities/barangays are considered as information officers. “Information is power. Knowledge is power and that is very clear to us. This is the first time in history that a province like Agusan del Norte has gathered a significant number of information officers into this kind of gathering,” he remarked.

Caga further expressed

that he deeply appreciates the undertaking of the

local government of Agusan del Norte

in conducting the activity because “it is fundamental to organize and train a person who would be responsible in gathering and disseminating in format ion, and take it as

a personal and civil obligation

to do sincere intervention in

providing updates/information effectively.”

“You are fortunate that the local government of Agusan del Norte has seen the importance of empowering its constituents especially in utilizing wisely your enhanced capability in the field of information and communication through this seminar-workshop. As you take the role of being a communicator, you will be able to deliver significant contribution in your community. You will be the voice and catalyst for change and development,” articulated Caga.


Meanwhile, Aurelio Tabanao, purok president in Purok-3 Brgy. Talo-ao, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte disclosed that he willingly attended said event because he wanted to help the ordinary citizens to be informed and be able to give their contributions for the development of their respective puroks/ community, and the whole province in general. “I am a purok president and I feel the need to be equipped especially in the delivery of accurate and relevant information to our constituents. We will all learn new things from this assembly today. Thank you to the provincial government for gathering us and giving us the training/s we need to be effective in our duties and responsibilities,” he said.

Marilou Talamo, one of the participants from Brgy. Manapa, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte also expressed her optimism that the activity will give new learnings to them as purok officials in the different barangays of the province. “We will learn new trends in social media and how we can utilize it in the grassroots level as we want to promote an informed and empowered citizens. This is a very interesting activity for us,” she elaborated.

The activity is anchored on the theme “Empowering and Uniting the Agusanons through Information and Effective Communication.” (VLG/JPG/PIA-Caraga)


One Mindanao10 January 5, 2016

QUEZON CITY-- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has officially received the ISO 9001:2008 Certificate on the Development, Production and Dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials (Television, Radio, AVP, Print, Puppetry & Website) last 16 December 2015 from TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc.

PIA now ISO 9001:2008 certified

According to Tristan Loveres, Managing Director of

the TÜV Rheinland Philippines, ISO 9001:2008 is a framework

filephoto


to ensure consistency in the delivery of service and more importantly, guarantees continual improvement.

The ISO 9001:2008 Certification is aligned with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s call on government agencies in ensuring good governance and sustaining the “tuwid na daan” reform efforts.

Having an ISO 9001:2008 certification is an affirmation that the Quality Management System being implemented in the PIA comprising of inter-related processes, are of international standards. However, Loveres pointed out that having the certification is not the end of the journey; the greater challenge is how to maintain the set quality system which is the most challenging part. Included in the PIA QMS ISO 9001:2008 certificate of

registration is the PIA Central office, the PIA National Capital Region Office and the PIA Region 4-B Office (Mimaropa).

For the second phase, the audit will broaden its scope to the “Provision of Support Services to Presidential and Development Communications,” and will include all 14 PIA regional offices, which will undergo the same ISO 9001:2008 assessment and certification process.

Also present during the hand-over ceremony at the PIA Central Office were PIA Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena, PIA staff directors and employees, and members of Development Communication Network. (AVS-PIA)

One Mindanao12 January 5, 2016

MANILA-- At least 90 percent of the 2016 appropriations of all departments and agencies of the National Government was released Monday, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

90% of agency budgets released

“This huge improvement in the release of allotments is made possible with the new

policy of treating the General Appropriations Act (GAA) as the release document,” said Budget


Secretary Florencio B. Abad. “Once approved and in effect, all disaggregated items in the budget of all agencies are deemed effectively released.”

Abad said this policy will further accelerate the already much improved pace of government spending and ensure that most projects will be implemented before the beginning of the election ban on March 25. Abad added that the comprehensive release of the budget under the GAA-as-Release Document (GAARD) regime will not only promote faster implementation of programs and projects, it will also sustain the growth momentum from the fourth quarter of 2015 as procurement of infrastructure projects are fast-tracked.

“While government underspending is a recurrent problem due to institutional weaknesses in agencies for the

most part, the GAARD regime gives these agencies a head-start in their procurement activities and gives them much-needed momentum in terms of higher rates of obligation. This results in faster delivery of public goods and services, which will be to the benefit of our people,” Abad said.

The budget chief said that infrastructure projects are expected to be accelerated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) targeting an obligation rate of 50 percent within the first quarter of the year.

“We can expect 50 percent of infrastructure projects under the DPWH to be issued notices of award by the first quarter of 2016. This amounts to almost P187.86 billion, and is higher than their actual obligation rate of 39 percent, or P111.14 billion, within the same period last year,” Abad said. The government is poised to complete key infrastructure

One Mindanao14 January 5, 2016One Mindanao14 December 28, 2015

projects this year, including 98 percent of 364,693 lineal meters of bridges and 85 percent of 32,526.50 kilometers of roads.

The government has significantly increased total infrastructure spending in the last five years, from P175.4 billion in 2011 (or 1.8 percent of

the GDP) to P766.5 billion this year to achieve the international benchmark of 5 percent of the GDP. Abad said this increase in spending is complemented by encouraging public-private partnerships, improving governance to curb corruption, climate-proofing facilities, and improving procurement.


Abad also said he is optimistic that the growth momentum will continue from the fourth quarter of 2015, which he predicts will be a better one than the three previous quarters.

“December 2015 spending will continue the momentum that the previous five months demonstrated. In addition, the spending boost for last-minute Christmas sales will further ramp up growth in the last month of the year,” he said.

Abad noted the drivers in the first semester of 2016 will be the following: issuances of notices of award and notices to proceed for projects that benefited from pre-procurement activities in the second semester of 2015; the great sense of urgency to implement projects before the March 25 election ban; additional consumption push due to the January 1 effectivity of the Salary Standardization Law of 2015; spending in the run up to, during, and after the May

local and national elections; and further spending boost from the preparation for the opening of classes in June.

The latter will be highlighted by the first-year implementation of the K-to-12 program (with thousands more teachers and non-teaching personnel being hired), and the educational contracting program Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) being expanded to more than a million students. (DBM)

16 One Mindanao January 5, 2016

OPAPP hits ground running in pushing for BBL passage --Deles

MANILA -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will continue pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) despite uncertainties and challenges as political lines are drawn with the looming 2016 national elections.


“We should hit the ground running. This last six months are going to move … fast [during which] we will face challenges,” OPAPP Secretary Teresita Q. Deles said. “This January, we are looking forward, working hard and praying harder, that we will see the passage of [the] BBL when Congress resumes (sessions).”

Deles said passage of the BBL would ease discussions during the upcoming ministerial meeting this month in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the Tripartite Review Process (TRP) on the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“The House leadership is hopeful that they will be able to muster a quorum and finish the process. This is a message that we should not give up hope and we need to keep pushing for the completion of the most important milestone on the peace table.”

As stipulated in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the government and

the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), two separate components will run through its implementation simultaneously; the political process that will lead to the establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through the enactment of an enabling law which is the BBL, and the normalization process which seeks to restore communities affected by decades-long armed conflict to peaceful and civilian lives.

Once all provisions in the CAB have been implemented, both sides will sign an exit agreement.

In a statement, GPH peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the government and MILF will remain steadfast in upholding the ceasefire in pursuit of lasting peace in the southern Philippines since both parties are committed to isolating groups that continue to foment violence in Mindanao.

“The best thing about the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic


Liberation Front (MILF) is that the two parties have not gone back to war,” she said. “We are gradually transforming the lives of the people on the ground, nurturing their hopes and dreams for a better future. And we are so close to putting firmly in place the needed institutional reforms to realize meaningful autonomy and democracy in the Bangsamoro.”

The government chief peace negotiator said both

peace panels will continue to collaborate in strengthening the joint mechanisms, and building mutual trust and confidence among and between their respective organizations.

"In rising to the tasks before us, we have fortified our confidence in the process. We shall continue to carry on in order to get to our destination sooner than later,” Ferrer said. (PNA)


Dipolog marks Rizal’s 119th death anniversary By Mary May A. Abellon


The celebration started with a 21-gun salute by the city police officers, followed by a flag-raising ceremony. “Rizal’s life and death became the catalyst in raising awareness that awakens our forefathers to fight for freedom. And with that freedom, we are joined today,” Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy said during her opening remarks. Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 Assistant Regional Director Franklin P.

Gumapon, who served as guest speaker, was introduced by Councilor James Cyril O. Ruiz saying that the speaker was the right person to speak for the said occasion because he devotes his life for freedom of speech and expression like Dr. Jose Rizal. Rizal had fought hard for freedom through his writings which cost him his life. In his message, Gumapon said: “Had we truly cherished Rizal’s heroic deeds, we could

DIPOLOG CITY – The city government here has joined the entire nation in commemorating the 119th death anniversary and martyrdom of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, on Dec. 30, 2015 at Plaza Magsaysay, this city.


ISAWAD begins water rationing due to impact of El Niño By: Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Isabela City Water District (ISAWAD) started water supply rationing effective December 20, 2015 due to the impact of El Niño, its management announced.

have already eleiminated graft and corruption in our society” adding that “Filipinos have short memories,” as they easily forget the wrongdoings and abuses of some political leaders. He emphasized that fighting corruption requires everyone’s involvement and participation, as he urged the public to draw inspiration from Dr. Rizal by choosing the right leaders in the upcoming national and local elections. “The right leaders are the one who have realistic and specific economic programs and whose lifestyles are beyond reproach. May I invite everyone to always support good governance as this upholds the highest

standards of integrity among leaders,” he concluded. The activity ended with a wreath-laying before Rizal’s monument by participating local and national government offices, business groups, people’s organizations (POs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the academe.


The management told PIA that it is adopting the water supply rationing system in order to distribute the available water supply and also limit extraction from the water sources in order to cope with demands during the anticipated long drought period. The water district explained that the rationing is implemented in response to the recent El Niño Advisory No. 10 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as of December 6, 2015 projecting that the province of Basilan will likely be affected by dry spell from December 2015 to January 2016, and drought from February to March 2016. From 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, water will be rationed to the following areas in Isabela City: Aguada, Begang (Sto. Niño and Guadalupe areas), Binuangan, Busay (San Roque area), Cabunbata (Block 14 area), Isabela proper, Lanote (upper and lower areas), La Piedad, Menzi, Port Area, Sta. Cruz, Seaside, Sumagdang (San Rafael cemetery, Gawad Kalinga, and Sunshine village areas), Sunrise (proper, city hall area to PNP checkpoint Lazaro

Drive, and Macopa Alley areas), and Tabiawan. Rationing will also be done from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. in the following barangays: Baluno, Bengang (proper to Km.6 areas), Binuangan (Purok 2 area), Busay, Calvario (Palma Grava area), Doña Ramona, Eastside, Kaumpurnah Zones 1-2-3, Lanote (Fatima area), Marketsite, Panunsulan, Riverside, San Rafael, Sta. Cruz (Mango Drive tapping along Veterans Avenue), Sumagdang (proper to Sumagdang Barangay Hall, Mahogany Drive, Geras Road, and processing areas), Sunrise (Mallari Santos Road area), Tabuk, and Timpul. Meanwhile, Cabunbata barangay (except Block 14) will have an open schedule and Sunrise barangay (La Paz Village) will be on pumping schedule. ISAWAD further noted that the rationing schedule was programmed based on the status of the current water supply production. It said that there might be instances when the rationing period may be limited to fewer hours depending on water supply availability. The management strongly


In an interview with ZSPPO provincial director Police Senior Superintendent (PSSupt.) Michael Menoza Nicolas, he said the assessment was based on the number of firecracker and stray bullet incidents recorded since Dec. 16. “The PNP tallied only one stray bullet-related incident from Dec. 16, 2015 to January 1,

2016. We are grateful that only one person injured due to stray bullet,” Nicolas reported. On the first day of the New Year, Enecito Cano, 45, a resident of barangay Bulatoc was accidentally hit by a stray bullet on his left foot middle finger and was brought immediately to Pagadian Doctor’s Hospital for treatment.

Christmas, New Year revelries in Zambo. Sur generally peaceful, says ZSPPO chief By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) on Monday said Christmas and New Year revelries were generally peaceful even if it had recorded one stray bullet-related injury.

advised its concessionaires to store water in large containers whenever available, especially late at night or at dawn when water supply partly increases due to lesser usage. “We are also appealing for your support to report leakages

as well as to help in conserving and/or reusing water,” the management said. ISAWAD also distributed flyers advising the public on how to conserve water and lessen the impact of El Niño in communities.


Nicolas said the recovered slug was submitted to the Provincial Crime Laboratory for forensic examination and analysis to identify the owner of gun. “The investigators of the city police and the provincial command are jointly working to determine and check the slug’s trajectory and to identify the owner of the gun,” Nicolas pointed out. Meanwhile, Nicolas bared that a simultaneous removal of the tapes from firearm muzzles at Camp Abelon was done Monday morning after the flag raising ceremonies. Nicolas noticed that the tapes on the muzzles of firearms were not destroyed, an indication that the policemen strictly adhered to the directive from the PNP higher headquarters not to illegally discharge firearms during holiday season. The PNP officials sealed the muzzles of service firearms last Dec. 14 to prevent any PNP personnel to fire their guns during the nationwide revelry to welcome the New Year. “I extolled my men for strictly adhering to the order from the higher headquarters. No one

from among the personnel fired their guns during Christmas and New Year’s revelries,” Nicolas said adding “the policemen were not granted leave for the December holidays and the entire police force was in full alert status.” The PNP chief attributed the successful celebration of Christmas and New Year celebrations to the local chief executives and residents for their active support. He also thanked the chiefs of police in the 26 municipalities of the province for their active support in making the Christmas and New Year celebrations peaceful. Nicolas, however, urged the public to report to the police if they have witnessed an incident of indiscriminate firing during the New Year’s Eve revelry.


DAR-10 celebrates Christmas with elder

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform Ladies’ Association (DARLA) celebrated Christmas with the elderlies from Sitio Macanhan in Carmen, on December 22, during their 2015 Social Amelioration “Adopt an Indigent Senior Citizen” program at the DAR-10 Regional Office.

By: Ressan Nash N. Alonto

The event is part of DARLA’s social outreach in addressing concerns on the health and

welfare issues of the elderly. DARLA


Three areas in Mambajao, Mahinog and Sagay municipalities are now under the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR), a collaborative project of the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional field office 10. CPAR showcased different technologies on high value crops to be able to produce vegetables

on commercial scale and minimize importation from the mainland. The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) now observed surplus in vegetables like sweet pepper, tomato, including water melon, during harvest season. PAO said majority of the produce are were marketed to the mainland.

Camiguin eyes on high value crops to increase vegetable productionMAMBAJAO, Camiguin – Upland farmers in Camiguin province now use the high value vegetable crop technology to ensure good production yield.

conceived this social program to impart the practice of being persons for others, particularly to the elderly of Macanhan where the agency’s regional office is located. In her opening message, DARLA president Ester Salas talked about the event as a way of giving back to the senior citizens in the community. Regional Director Faisar Mambuay, meanwhile, emphasized the spirit of Christmas as a way of sharing one’s blessings made more meaningful by giving to the elderly. “Nalipay ko nga nianhi mo

ug hinaot nga magkita pa kitasa sunod nga Pasko,” (I am pleased to see you here and I hope to meet you again) Mambuay told the 25 elderly in the audience. The event was filled with many activities, including games and culminated with the exchanging of gifts donated by some DAR employees. In her closing message, DARLA vice-president Amy Baiño expressed her thanks for the presence of the elderly guests in the event and said that she was happy that they had a good time.

By: Jorie C. Valcorza


NPA rebels break holiday truce, terrorize Bukidnon village anew

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Philippine Army blamed the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) of breaking their own Christmas truce after an alleged attack in White Kulaman village, Kitaotao, Bukidnon. In a spot report from the army’s 2nd Special Forces Company, undetermined number of NPA rebels indiscriminately fired their rifle grenades at houses in central White Kulaman at about 7:00 p.m, December 23, 2015. Immediately, the government troops fired back and thwarted the terror attack. Upon sensing the tough presence of army troops, the NPAs fled. No one was hurt in the incident, reports said. Col. Jesse A. Alvarez, Commander of the 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade condemned the attack especially that it happened within the timetable set by NPAs in their ‘self-declared’ ceasefire as they celebrate their 47th founding anniversary this Yuletide. “Though we are observing the Suspension of Military

Operations (SOMO), our troops who are securing far-flung communities are still on heightened alert in anticipation of NPA attacks and atrocities. We call on the CPP-NPA to be sincere in their ceasefire pronouncement and spare the lives of innocent civilians especially this Yuletide season,” he said. It can be recalled that barangay officials and residents of Barangay White Kulaman denounced the CPP-NPA of their threats and atrocities. Barangay officials requested the Army’s presence to protect them from NPA rebels’ harassments and atrocities.

Last December 15, the Communist Party of the Philippines declared a ceasefire from 12:01 a.m of December 23 to 11:59 p.m of January 3, 2016, which says, the truce is

By: Lorenzo B. Siobal Jr.


“in solidarity with the Filipino people’s traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays.” Likewise, on 18 December, Malacanang matched the 12-day ceasefire of CPP-NPA after President Aquino III approved the Defense Department’s recommendation for a suspension

of military operations from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Secretary Herminio Sonny Coloma Jr. said the ceasefire will start 12:01 a.m. of December 23, and will end at 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 3, 2016.


Labor officials laud agri firm for 11 CBA signingsDAVAO CITY- Labor officials in the Davao Region has hailed the 11 collective bargaining agree-ments (CBA) signed in 2015 be-tween Lapanday Foods Corpora-tion and its four unions. “For proving again that through mutual trust and co-operation under the spirit of dialogue, industrial peace is achieved, while workers’ rights are protected and their dialogue are improved, Lapanday man-agement and the unions in con-cluding their CBAs are good ex-amples for other companies and unions to emulate in the region.” Department of Labor and Em-ployment-XI (DOLE-XI) regional director Joffrey Suyao said. The historic signing was held December 17 last year. The unions were led by their re-spective presidents. These four unions include Delta Farm Work-ers Union (Associated Labor Union- Trade Union Congress of

the Philippines); Farmingtown Agro-Developers Workers Union (ALU-TUCP); Evergreen Farms Inc. Workers Union (ALU-TUCP) and Samahang Manggagawang Lapanday Guihing (ALU-TUCP). The National Concila t i o n and Mediation Board region XI OIC Maria Theresa Francisco said the CBA signing has pleased the NCMB as the parties have ensured that they alone arrive at agreements that are mutually beneficial. ALU-TUCP Southern Min-danao Vice President Rogelio Bullina echoed the federation’s gladness that its affiliated unions have matured and showed their strong commitment to the prin-ciple of shared responsibility with Lapanday’s management in order to ensure and maintain industrial peace. (PIA/RG Ala-ma)


5 DavNor towns gain DTI BUB projects for 2016TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Jan-uary 5 (PIA) - Five towns in Davao del Norte availed projects amount-ing to P 4.9-million from the De-partment of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the 2016 Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) program. DTI Davao del Norte Provin-cial Director Romeo Castañaga re-vealed that they will turn-over BUB project this year to Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal (IGA-COS), Carmen, New Corella and San Isidro.According to DTI records, the proj-ects are One Town One Product (OTOP) Store Express for Carmen and IGACOS, Yaman Pinoy pro-gram for various civil society orga-nizations in Panabo City, Seaweed Industry Cluster Development in IGACOS, Bamboo Industry Cluster Development in New Corella and two Shared Service Facilities (SSF) in San Isidro.The identified SSF are Tableya pro-cessing for Rural Improvement Clubs and small coconut farmers; and Meat Processing. Castañaga disclosed that the turn-over will happen during the first quarter except for IGACOS and Carmen. “The two local government units will still have to liquidate their

previous BUB projects before we will turn-over their new one,” he declared. In 2015, the DTI gave P 500,000 to Carmen for Fish Pro-cessing, specifically for the upgrad-ing of the Lamayo facility, and P 750,000 to IGACOS for Yaman Pi-noy projects.Castañaga stressed that Yaman Pi-noy is a capacity building in entre-preneurship for the vulnerable sec-tors in the society like the women and elderly. Aside from Carmen and IGA-COS, Tagum City and Talaingod also got a share of the P 5.5-mil-lion BUB projects in the province. The projects were Industry Cluster Development for Cacao, Coffee and Rubber in Talaingod; and Tribal Dis-play Center, Capacity Building for Night Market Operators and Vari-ous Product Development Inter-ventions in Tagum City. He added that the BUB proj-ects were identified by Local Pover-ty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT), which is being actively participated by the civil society organizations. (PIA11, Michael Uy)


City LGU grants tax amnesty, approves new tax revenue codeBy: Danilo E.Doguiles

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Jan 5 — Delinquent real prop-erty owners here are given until June 30, 2016 to settle their tax obligations from 2011 to 2015 with the City Government and avail of amnesty for arrears in the previous years.


This after the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved City Ordi-nance Number 15-1064 or the Tax Amnesty Ordinance a cou-ple of weeks ago.

All delinquent taxpayers who own land, buildings and im-provements and machineries are to pay their accrued obli-gations plus interests from the years 2011 to 2015 to the City Government.

“They should pay their obliga-tions and interests in full on or before June 30, 2016,” Araceli Pana, assistant city treasurer said.

However, all delinquent real property payments including interests accrued from 2010 and preceding years will be written off according to the Tax Amnes-ty Ordinance.

With this, delinquent real property owners are advised to visit the City Treasurer’s Office to be oriented on how to settle their obligations with the City Government.

On Sunday, personnel of the City Treasurer’s Office visited villages here to conduct an in-formation campaign on the tax amnesty.

Beginning this month, the City Government is also en-forcing its New Revenue

Code.Before 2015 closed, the SP

approved City Ordinance num-ber 15-1067 or the 2014 Re-vised Revenue Code.

The new revenue code covers an increase in all assessment and collection of taxes, fees and charges and other impositions effective this year.

With the revised code in placed, the City Government expects to raise its revenue col-lection to fund and improve the delivery of basic services and priority programs beginning this 2016.

The 1999 Revenue Code that was used as basis for its opera-tions has limited the Local Gov-ernment’s capacity to serve it constituents, as what the mem-bers of the SP explained in the public consultations it initiated prior to the approval of the ordi-nance.

The City Government aims to generate revenue collection by not depending much on the In-ternal Revenue Allotment share it gets from the National Gov-ernment with the help of the new Revenue Code. (DEDogu-iles-PIA 12 with report from Kidapawan City Information Of-fice)


By:Danilo E. Doguiles

Dry spell affects 7,000 ha of farms in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Jan. 5 — Some 7,000 hect-ares of agricultural areas in South Cotabato are at risk of losing production due to dry spell, according to the Office of the Provin-cial Agriculturist here.

Provincial Agriculturist Justi-na Navarrete said affected are rice and corn fields planted in November and December, mostly in the municipalities of Polomolok and Tantangan as well as in limited areas in oth-er parts of the province.

“Only those that are depen-dent on rain are affected by the dry spell,” she clarified.

Yield in these rainfed areas could drastically be affected if it would not rain in the coming days. she pointed out further.

Production areas in the Upper Valley area including Banga, Surallah, Sto. Nino and Norala have enough water supply from the irrigation systems, she added.

As a mitigation measure, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato has coordi-nated with the Bureau of Soil and Water Management for the

conduct of cloud seeding in the province within this month to induce rain and save the crops.

Funds for the cloud seeding operations are already avail-able, Navarrete confirmed. (DE-Doguiles-PIA 12)


Firecracker-related injuries reach 68 in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY– The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga has re-cently recorded a total of 68 firework-related injuries regionwide, as of Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.

By Fryan Abkilan

DOH Caraga information officer Romelyn Torraba said among the 68, 34 cases were children below 10 years old while

27 others had ages ranging from 11-20 years old. Two cases were recorded ranging from 21-30 years and five were adults, 31

photocredit to www.canadianinquirer.net


NFA chief’s visit to Caraga underway

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur– National Food Authority (NFA) ad-ministrator Renan Dalisay is currently in Caraga region for an offi-cial visit on January 4-6, 2016.

By Greg Tataro, Jr

May Sara Atomar, OIC NFA provincial manager, through Alvin Balatero, provincial operating officer, said their agency’s chief was likewise set to drop by their office not only for a warehouse

and market inspection but also for a meeting with all NFA provincial employees here on January 5, 2016. In fact, Dalisay would stay overnight in the province upon

filephoto of mb.com

years and older. Torralba said the number of cases was higher compared to the same period last year. She added that the victims

were mostly injured with piccolo, however they only sustained minor injuries and are already out of danger.


his arrival on Monday night based on his itinerary, he added. Balatero confirmed however the NFA head would be catching up with the 8:00 a.m. Monday Flag Ceremony Program at NFA Caraga Regional Office after his arrival on a commercial flight about an hour and a half earlier. After which, warehouse and market inspection would immediately follow, the NFA operating officer remarked. Dalisay would cap his visit in Butuan City with a dialogue with

the employees of both the NFA Regional Office and Agusan del Norte Provincial Office. It was learned that Dalisay and party would be heading for Surigao del Norte after his schedule in Butuan City to conduct the same inspection and dialogue. The NFA chief would proceed to Agusan del Sur after doing all his set activities here, according to Balatero.

Dinagat Islands to give financial aid to Nona victims in N. Samar By Susil D. Ragas

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands - The provincial govern-ment of Dinagat Islands is donating P200,000 to the province of Northern Sa-mar which was hardest hit by Typhoon Nona (interna-tional name: Melor).


The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) sponsored the resolution, which was then passed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) members during the recently held meeting at the Provincial Guest Center, San Jose town. PDRRMC officer Rosario Roxas said the council members also tackled and discussed agenda related to update on fiscal management, presentation of PDRRMC accomplishment Report for CY 2015, 2016 PDRRMC

annual target accomplishment, concept presentation of TAMING DINAGATNON and Dinagat Island’s SHIELD program, DRRM-CCA related accomplishment, and Maritime Safety Protocols Organization of Local Maritime Safety Management Board. The meeting was attended by the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, representatives from the national line agencies, municipality of Dinagat, and the different Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of the province.




41January 5, 2016 One Mindanao 41

One Mindanao - January 5, 2016

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