One Mindanao - July 21, 2015

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

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

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IX

ALMA 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 EDITORS

FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga Region

VENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

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 BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

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]

Northern Mindanao

Graces’ 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 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

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]

LAYOUT ARTISTS

EMMANUEL D. TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

DAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

EDITORIAL BOARD

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESOne Mindanao

DAR distributes land titles to Siargao farmers

SurSur set to mark 2015 MSME Week Celebration

Sarangani supports call to end HIV/AIDS

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Search forHuwarangPamilya 2015 showcases strong family ties, values

New e-Passport system unveiled

North Cotabato villages get infra projects from gov’t

Dance society echoes confab on Philippine Folk Dances in Tangub

Search is on for outstanding volunteers 2015

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By: Daryll M. Tumbaga

By: Greg Tataro, Jr.

By: Franklin P. Gumapon

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN

NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGEN

SOUTHERN

NATIONAL

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17 Farm machineries turned over to coop-beneficiaries in Davao Sur town

By: BCPaoyon

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By: Rhea Grace A. La Plana

Contents

By: Anthony S. Allada

PhilHealth’s TseKaP underscored in Malungon’s anniversary celebrationBy: DEDoguiles

By: Rutchie C. AguhobDOST to recognize outstanding inventions, researchesBy: Teresita Baluyos

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20 Hydro power firm brightens 3000 smiles of school kids in Davao SurBy: Hedcor

4 July 21, 2015One Mindanao

By: Rhea Grace A. La Plana


Cover Story

5July 21, 2015 One Mindanao


The Search for HuwarangPamilya 2015 launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in ZamboangaSibugay was launched

in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay with the theme, “Kaya koangPagbabago.”

Provincial Search

Opentoall4Psbeneficiariesof the programwho have beenenrolled for at least two yearsand have complied with allthe requirements, the searchgathered all municipal winnerstocompeteattheprovinciallevelonJuly9inIpiltown.

Ms. Flor A. Atuy, DSWDOfficer-Zamboanga Sibugaysaidthewinneroftheprovincialsearchwillrepresenttheprovinceduring the regional search,subsequently,theregionalwinnerrepresentRegion9inthenationallevel.

The search was held atRoderics’ Resort where 16familiesparticipatedtoprovethat they are deservingmodel families, while theyshowcased and impressedthe audience with theirtalents.

Thesefamiliesarewinnersoftheirrespectivemunicipalitiesinthemunicipallevelsearchfor HuwarangPamilya2015. Their inner driveand enthusiasm in activelyparticipating in communityactivities are some of thefactors considered indetermining the deservingwinners among the 4Ps


beneficiaries.

Filipino Values

It is importantthatfamiliesmanifest strong family ties,demonstrate positive Filipinovaluesandhaveapositiveimpactin the community where theyreside. Essentially, the childrenshouldlikewisebeperformingwellacademicallywithinvolvementincommunityactivities.

Thesefamilieswereendorsedby their respective barangaycaptains, municipal links andLGUs. Among the criteria forjudgingisthatthefamilyshouldhave a good standing in thecommunity and that incomemustnotbederivedfromillegalandunacceptablemeans. Basically, the family mustpractice and promote healthylivingandmanifestenvironmentalconcern,inspireothermembersinthecommunityanddemonstratelove, unity and togethernessamidstdifficultsituation.

Judges’ decision

Six judges from differentagenciesdecidedonwhowillwinthe coveted HuwarangPamilya

2015asthe familiesshowcasedtheir talents and answeredquestionsfromthejurors.

The family of Mr. and Mrs.Ronel A. Mission of Tungawantown bagged the ProvincialHuwarangPamilya 2015award,bestingotherparticipantsfrom the province.Mr. Missionis a barangay official whileMrs.Mission is a church leader.Both are active leaders in theircommunity, who live a decentlife to support their threechildren.They received a Plaqueof Recognition, cash prize andgroceries.Inthesameway,therunners-up also received cashand groceries while the non-winners received groceries asconsolationprize.

In a PIA interview,Mr. andMrs. Gerry O. Jainar from Ipilsaid they truly appreciate thePantawidPamilyang PilipinoProgram of the governmentbecausetheybenefitedfromthecashgrantandwereabletosendtheirkidstoschool.

The PantawidPamilyangPilipinoProgram(4Ps) is indeedaveryeffectivetooltohelptheselow-income earners maximizetheir full potentials. The DSWD


continues its effort to provideactivitiesandfamilydevelopmentsessionstothesebeneficiariestohone their talents and abilities.Thenitcanbesaidthatpovertyis

indeednotahindrancetosucceedinlifeandnotastumblingblocktoreachtheirdreams.


President Aquino lauds success story of APO Production Unit in Batangas

“The Asian ProductivityOrganization (APO) ProductionUnit was first authorized in1974 to undertake printingjobs for government agencies.Unfortunately,formorethan30years, itwasunableto fulfill its

mandate and suffered from thehighest forms of inefficiency,”PresidentAquinosaidduringtheunveilingoftheinauguralmarkerof APO’S high security printingplanthere.

MALVAR, Batangas - President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday hailed the APO Production Unit, Inc. from being a government agency that “suffered from the highest forms of inefficiency” to one that is now “contributing to the national coffers”.


He noted that the situationthenwas so bad that the APO,a government-owned and-controlled corporation (GOCC),could not even solicit printingjobs from its fellow agencies ingovernment.

“Given the APO’s conditionin2010;thedecisioncouldhavebeen made to cut our lossesand start anew. Instead, weall chose the path of reform,”he said, adding that measureswereundertakentoensure thatprintingcontinued,amongthemstreamlining and computerizingoperations, enhancing the skillsof theworkforce, and acquiringnewprintingequipment.

“Today, we can see thattheseeffortsare literallypayingoff:fromoperatingatalossjustafewyearsago,tofinallyfulfillingyour mandate and contributingtothenationalcoffers,”hesaid,notingthat in2014,theagencyturned over P2.7million to thegovernment.

TheAPO,whichacquiredthethree-hectare security printingfacility at the LIMA TechnologyCenterinBatangasinJuly2014,currentlyproducesexcisestampsfortheBureauofInternalRevenue(BIR)and the InternalRevenueStampInformationSystem.

It has also partnered withtheDepartmentofForeignAffairs(DFA)toimprovetheproductionofePassports.

TheservicelevelagreementforgedbetweentheDFAandtheAPO will help ensure that thecurrent system runs smoothly,both through maintenance andtechnical support provided byAPO, and through the printingfacility,thePresidentsaid.

“I am certainly lookingforward to seeing this plant’soperations in full swing, sothattherestofthecountrycanbenefit from APO’s services.Thatis,afterall,whatreformisabout, whether undertaken in

10 July 21 2015One Mindanao

thenationalgovernmentorinaninstitutionlikethisone,”hesaid.

Meanwhile, PresidentialCommunications OperationsOffice (PCOO) SecretaryHerminio Coloma, Jr. said theAPOwasestablishedinTokyobyeight governments of the AsiaPacific,includingthePhilippines,back in 1961 “to contributeto the sustainable economicdevelopment of Asia and thePacific through enhancingproductivity”.

Coloma said the APO firstbecame part of the NationalEconomicDevelopmentAuthority(NEDA)beforeitwastransferredto the Office of the PressSecretary,thentothePhilippineInformationAgency,andbacktotheOfficeofthePressSecretary,nowknownasthePCOO.

“Isa sa mga mahalagangtagubilinniPangulongAquinosasimulangamingpanunungkulan

ay: ‘focus on doing the rightthings right’. Para hindi sayangang kilos, kailangang suriin atalamin ang tunay at tamangproblema o sitwasyon. Correctanalysisleadstocorrectsolutionsandactions.KayangapoGinoongPangulo,nagpasyakaminaangpokusngAPOaysahighsecurityprinting jobs, dahil dito po salarangang ito maaaring magingepektibo ang APO sa pagganapng tungkulin sa pamahalaan atsamgamamamayan,”hesaidinhisspeechduringtheprogram.

ThankingtheDFA,BIR,SocialSecurity System, Departmentof Trade and Industry, and theDepartment of Budget andManagement,allclienteleofAPO,Colomasaid, “Dahil sakanilangtiwala at suporta, nalagpasannaminangmaramingbalakidatnatugunan ang mga hamon ngpagbabago.”(PCOO/PND (ag)


New e-Passport system unveiled

MALVAR, BATANGAS—President Benigno Aquino III on Monday led the demonstration of the new e-Passport system in the country at the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Production Unit Printing Plant in Malvar, Batangas.


The ceremonies featuredthe real-time processing ofapplications for passportssubmitted online from threeremotesites:theDepartmentofForeignAffairs-ManilaofficeandthePhilippineconsulatesinHongKongandDoha.

Under this new system,regular processing of passportsfortheheadofficeandNationalCapital Region (NCR) officeswill be shortened from 15 to10working days,while expressprocessingwillbeshortenedfrom7to5workingdays.

The Department of ForeignAffairs andAPOareengaged innegotiations to improve furtheronthecurrentsystemandprovideprinting and personalizationservices for the next decade,accordingtoPresidentAquino.

“The benefits of housingthe entire e-Passport systemhereareclear:theintegrationofprocesses in an expansive and

secure facility,” said PresidentAquino at the Lima TechnologyCenter,Batangas.

Anumberofproblemswereencountered with the previoussystem like having obsoletesoftware and hardware andthe inability to meet increasingdemand.

Before,bookletprintingandpersonalizationofpassportsweredonebytwodifferententitiesthatAquinosaidledtoinefficiency.

Theeventalsofeaturedthepersonalizationandreleaseofthefirste-Passportforthepresident.Aquinoalsounderwentbiometricsdatacapture.


North Cotabato villages get infra projects from gov’t

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Residents of 11 villages in North Cotabato are now benefiting from infrastructure projects funded by the provincial government with the help from Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) partylist and office of Rep. Jose “Ping-Ping” Tejada, officials said Tuesday.


With the projects alreadycompletedandreadytouse,NorthCotabatoGov.EmmylouMendozahanded over the infrastructureduringsimpleceremonies.

These projects include 330metersofroadconcretingprojectworth PHP3 million in BarangayFort Pikit; 2-classroom buildingworthPHP1.3millioninMalapangElementary School, BarangayMalapang, Aleosan; buildingworth PHP1.3 million in DualingHigh School Annex in BarangayCawilihan,Aleosan;multi-purposebuilding worth PHP600,000 inBarangayPentil,Aleosan,allfundedbytheprovincialgovernment.

Also turnedoverwere threecoveredcourtsworthPHP2millioneachinBarangayLawili,DonMiguelElem.SchoolinBarangayTumbrasand Capayuran ElementarySchool in Barangay Capayuran,Pigcawayan, all funded by theTUCPparty-list.

Also turned over 460-meterroad concreting project worthPHP4 million in Barangay Osias,Kabacan;PHP2.5millioncoveredcourt in Barangay Malamote,Kabacan, all funded throughthe initiative of Rep. Tejada;PHP1.5 million covered court inBarangay Lika, M’lang funded

by the Provincial Government ofCotabato and another coveredcourtforBarangayBialong,M’langworth PHP2 million funded thrutheinitiativeofTUCPparty-list.

Mendoza said the totalproject cost of PHP22,200,000.It was realized due to effectivecoordination and partnershipamong provincial officials andotherconcernedsectors,Mendozasaid.

Shesaidtheseprojectswerein response to the predicamentsof the village officials and theirconstituents.

Lopez Buda Sr. BarangayChairman of Fort Pikit, said thebeforethe330-meterroadstretchwas concreted, the villagers haddifficulty transporting goodsduringrainydays.

“I am so thankful to thegovernmentwasreallyworkingforthebenefitof its people throughthe provincial government,” hesaid.

Other local officialsappreciated the efforts of theprovincialgovernmentandvowedto help maintain the facilities.(PNA) FFC/NYP/EOF


DSWD warns against pawning of Pantawid cash cards

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is warning beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) against pawning of cash cards issued to them to receive grants for their children’s education and health needs.

by Charmaine P. Tadlas


This warning was issuedafter the DSWD has receivedgrievance reports of an allegedpawning among its programbeneficiaries in some parts ofNorthernMindanao. “Wedonotallowpawningofcashcardsbecauseitdivertsthemoneytootherexpensesratherthantoitssolepurpose:fortheirchildren’shealthandeducation,”Atty. Araceli Solamillo, DSWDRegionalDirector,says. Pantawid Pamilya is thenational government’s initiativeof cutting the intergenerationalcycle of poverty by investing ineducation and health of poorfamilies, especially of theirchildrenaged0to18yearsold. Each family-beneficiaryreceiveamaximumofP1,400permonth to enable them to sendtheir children to school, and tohealthcentersonaregularbasistomonitortheirchildren’shealth. According to DSWD,beneficiaries who are foundpawning the cash cards will bewarned and if the beneficiarycontinuestodothemalpractice,eveniftheyarealreadywarned,maybede-listed fromPantawidPamilya. However, the DSWD isconcernedthatthereisareasonbehindsuchmalpractice.“Thisis

a sign that there is still a needto develop more programs tohelpthemmanagetheirfinanceseffectively,andto improvetheircapacity toaccessopportunitiestomovethemtoabetterstatusof well-being,” Atty. Solamilloexplains. “That is why all of ourbeneficiaries are givenlivelihood, skills trainings, andjob opportunities through ourSustainableLivelihoodProgram,”Atty.Solamilloemphasizes.“Wehave also partnered with othernational government agencies,local government units, civilsociety groups, faith-basedorganizations, and privateinstitutionsto joinus inhelpingourpoorfamilies.” Today, there are 283,150Pantawid Pamilya beneficiariesin Northern Mindanao. Thesefamilies are identified throughListahanan, a system thatgenerated data of pooresthouseholds in the country in2009. Dancesocietyechoesconfabon Philippine Folk Dances inTangubEchoSeminar-WorkshoponPhilippineFolkDances,attheTangubCityNationalHighSchool,here,onJuly17-19,2015.


Held in coordination withthe local government unit,Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe andthe Department of Education,DivisionofTangubCity(DepEd-Tangub), the seminar aimed toequipandupdateteachers,dancetrainers and choreographers onthe fundamentals of PhilippineFolkDances. “It was also aimed toupgrade their knowledge, skillsand understanding in teachingfolk dances to supplement theK to 12 Program and provideteacherswithresourcematerials,suchas,workshopkits,compactdisks,amongothers,VictoriaV.Gazo, Ph. D., Schools DivisionSuperintendent,said. Participants of this seminarworkshop were Grade 5 toGrade 8 Music, Arts, PhysicalEducation and Health (MAPEH)teachers, choreographers anddance enthusiasts from public

and private elementary andsecondaryschoolsofthedivision,Gazosaid. Meanwhile,amongthetopicstaken-up during the workshopwerethefundamentalsofstreetdancingand“Pinoy”aerobics,aswell,asareviewofthefolkdance“RigodondeHonor.” Also reviewed were thefollowing folk dances with theirorigin: “Pihataiiato Cu TafutuCao,”fromCagayan,“Ba-Ingles”and “Man-Manok” from IlocosSur, “Putritos” from Quezon,“Pastorcillo” from Cebu, “Pad-um”and“Salidsid,”fromAntique,“Jota Paloana” from Leyte, and“Saad”fromCapiz.

Dance society echoes confab on Philippine Folk Dances in Tangub

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL -- The Philippine Folk Dance Society, Tangub City Chapter, has conducted the 11th Echo Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Folk Dances, at the Tangub City National High School, here, on July 17-19, 2015.

by Rutchie C. Aguhob


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology in Region 10 is inviting inventors and researchers to join this year’s Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE).

DOST to recognize outstanding inventions, researches

Prizes are at stake andwinnerswillrepresenttheregionintheNationalInventionContestandExhibits. For region10,RICEwill beheldon21-23AugustattheEventCenter,2ndLevel,LimketkaiMall,CagayandeOroCity. Withthetheme,“Philippines:A Science Nation Innovatingand Inventing for GlobalCompetitiveness,” RICE 2015aims to showcase the latestinventions and researchers inthePhilippines.Itisalsopartofthe major event in the region,theSCIENCENATIONTOUR,ofwhichanumberofactivitiesarelinedup. DOST Region 10 DirectorAlfonso Alamban said thatthose with research projects,inventions,prototypes,industrialdesignsandsoftwareapplicationsrelated to science, technology,engineering, medicine, healthand the environment are urged

tojointhecontest. Alamban added that thecontestants will vie for thefollowing categories, namely:Outstanding Invention (TuklasAward),OutstandingUtilityModel,IndustrialDesign,andCreativeResearch (Likha Award) , andOutstanding Student CreativeResearch for College and HighSchool(SibolAward). For the OutstandingInvention,firstprizewinnerwilltake home P50,000; secondprizewinner,P30,000;andthirdprize winner, P20,000. For theOutstanding Utility Model andOutstanding Industrial Design,firstprizewinnerswillgetP25,000each; second prize winners,P10,000 each, and third prizewinners, P5,000 each. For theOutstanding Creative Research(Professional), OutstandingStudent Creative Research forHigh School and College, firstprizewinnerswillgetP20,000

by Teresita Baluyos


each; second prize winner,P10,000 each; and third prizewinners,P5,000each. DOST has already sent outthe invitation letters toschools,inventorsandresearchersintheregion.Forthosewhohavenotreceived the invitation and areinterestedtojoincansendtheirentriesandrequirementstoMs.Mergebelle Dengal ([email protected], 09109745581 on orbefore August 8, 2015. Entryforms can also be downloadedat http://www.facebook.com/dost10.rice2015, http://region10.dost.gov.ph,www.tapi.dost.gov.ph. The conduct of RICE ispursuant to Republic Act No.7459 known as the “Inventors

andInventionsIncentivesActofthe Philippines.” It is designedto encourage Filipino inventors,researchers, and students tousetheir inventivecapabilitybycompetingforcashrewardsandrecognitions both locally andinternationally. In Region 10, RICE is apartnershipwiththeTechnologyApplication and PromotionInstitute/DOST, the NorthernMindanao Consortium forIndustryandEnergyResearchandDevelopment (NorminCIERD),PARASAT,andtheOroChamberofCommerce.FormoreinformationyoumaycontactTessSuperioridadBaluyosthroughheremailadressattsuperioridad.dost@yahoocomorcall09177908899.


rSTA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur– The Hed-cor Sibulan, Inc. and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. helped some 3000 school children prepare to face their future with brighter smiles as they were reminded of good oral health care through a comprehensive in-formation education campaign drive. Thismonth,Hed-cor implemented itsdentalhealthprogramin its eight adoptedpublic schools in themunicipality of Sta.Cruz. The school re-cipients were TudayaElementary School,Pogpog ElementarySchool, Tibolo Ele-mentarySchool,IdongElementary School,Sibulan ElementarySchool, Don AmancioElementary School,Darong Elementary

SchoolandAlmendrasElementarySchool. Theprogramisinpartnership with theDentalChaptersoftheMunicipality of Sta.Cruz, Provincial LocalGovernmentofDavaodel Sur, and the Na-tional Commission onIndigenousPeoples. DentalexpertsDr.Rosalita M. Juadiongand Dr. Ruby Ann R.Limpot assisted bydentalaidsLeaNepo-mucenoandMaryRoseGavilan lectured anddemonstrated propertooth brushing, floss-ingandmouthrinsing. They also madethe children aware ofthe existence of oralcancerandhowprop-erdentalcarehelpsinreducingtheriskfromthisdreadeddisease. Hedcorvicepresi-dentforMindanaoop-erations Rolando Pac-quiao said, “We are

Hydro power firm brightens 3000 smiles of school kids in Davao Sur


helping our beneficiary-public-teacherspromotegoodoralhy-giene among students, analyzeand evaluate dental needs, andmaintain dental records of stu-dentsforfuturereference”. Pacquiao also said, “To in-crease our host communities’levelofawarenessontheimpor-tanceofgoodoralhealth,wearegivingmuch needed support to the localgovernmentandthedentalsoci-etyinorderforthemtocontinuewiththeiradvocacyongoodden-talhealth.” “I feel delighted that theparentswereabletoattendthiscampaign because dental carestarts at home. Parents shouldbe the first to teach their chil-drenhowtoproperlybrushtheirteeth,” Dr. Juadiong expressed

herdelightduringherlecture. At the end of the demon-stration,eachstudentwasgivena hygiene kit containing a facetowel, soap, and two pairs oftoothpasteandtoothbrushes. Theywillbeusingonedentalcarekitinschoolwhiletheotherwillbefortheirhomeuse. Hedcor, a subsidiary ofAboitizPowerengagedinrun-of-riverhydrodevelopmentandop-erations. Itiscurrentlyexpandingitsoperations inBukidnonwiththe68.8-MWManolo Fortich Hydro.Todate,Hedcoroperates22hy-dropowerplantswithatotalca-pacityof185MW.(Hedcor)

did you know...

thatthenPresidentElpidioQuirinosignedExecutiveOrder151inAugust1,1948de-claringKapalongasadistinctmunicipality.


Farm machineries turned over to coop-beneficiaries in Davao Sur townMAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur – The local government unit here has recently turned over vari-ous farm machineries to three multi-purpose cooperatives and a women’s organization in the municipality. MunicipalAdministratorSof-ronioDinglasaandMunicipalAg-riculturist Helen Carampana ledthedistributionoffiveMobileAll-In Shredder Machines, six Ver-mi Tea Brewers and a CassavaGrainertothebeneficiaries. The beneficiaries were theSt. Michael Multi-Purpose Co-operative, Magsaysay OrganicFarmersMulti-PurposeCoopera-tive, Magsaysay Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative and RuralImprovement Club, whose rep-resentatives received the ma-chinesonMonday. One shredder machine willalsobeturnedovertotheMunici-palEco-Parkformassiveproduc-tionoforganicfertilizersthroughvermi-composting. Carampatana said the ma-chines manufactured by DavaoTechno Craft based on Nabun-turan,CompostelaValleyarrived

lastweekandademowasthenheldonhowtooperatethem. She said the local govern-ment acquired the machinesthroughtheBottoms-UpBudget-ing(BUB)ofthenationalgovern-ment’sDepartmentofAgriculture(DA). She added the shreddermachinewillbeused topulver-ize biodegradablematerials likerice stalks and hulls to becomeorganicfertilizers. Thebrewerwillbeferment-ing60litersofwateraddedwithonekiloofvermicastfor72hourstobesprayedtoricefarmsandother agricultural areas also asfertilizer. Carampatana said that thedistributionof farmmachineriesisonlypartofthevariousdistrib-utedfarmequipmenthereinthismunicipalitysinceitalsorecent-lyacquiredtwofarmtractors,anumberofthreshers,andanOr-ganic Trading Post, among oth-ers. (MIO-Magsaysay/AnthonyS.Allada)


City Hall sa Barangay goes to New Passi

TACUTONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, July 21 -- The City Hall sa Barangay project of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong cara-vanned to Barangay New Passi on July 16, 2015.

CityhallpersonneltendedthedifferentmobileversionsofLGUofficessuchastheCityRegistrar,CityTreasurer,CENRO,andCityAssessoramongothers.TheMayor’sOfficewasnoexceptionasitwaspersonallytendedbyMayorLinaMontillaherself.Theprojectalsoprovidedfreedentaland

medicalservicestotheresidentsofNewPassicourtesyoftheCityHealthOffice.PhysiciansinattendancewereViceMayor

Dr.JosephGeorgeLechonsito,Dr.GiovanniDeles,Dr.EmmilynNepucpanandDr.MiriamRocco.Freebasicmedicinesweregivenasper

prescriptionofthecityphysicians,suchasantibacterialsyrups,anti-inflammatorycap-sules,paracetamol,andvitaminsandminer-alssupplements,amongothers.RuthGaji,motherof18-year-oldMark

JasonwhowasbornwithDownSyndrome,wasallsmilesevenasshewaitedinlinewithhersonfortheirturnatthedoctor’stable.AccordingtoRuth,shewasrelievedthat

shedidn’thavetotravelallthewaytothecitytohavehersoncheckedonhisrecurring


coughandcolds.Withhisson’scondition,she

saiditwasdefinitelymorecon-venientandcomfortabletohavethecityhallcometothemin-stead.Ruthwasonlyoneamong800residents,mostlymothersandchildren,whocametoavailtheservicesoftheproject.InadditiontotheLGUservic-

es,theprojectalsoofferedfreehaircutsmuchtothedelightoftheyoungboysandmenofthebarangay.Theylineduptireless-lythroughoutthemorningjusttoexperiencegroominginthehandsofcity-providedbarbers.

Anotherservicethatwasahitamongtheresidentswastheelectricwhettingstation(baid).Farmingandcarpentryimple-mentsreceivedgoodfilingandsharpeningforfree.Startedin2011,theCityHall

saBarangayisaninitiativeofthecitygovernmentwiththepurposeofbringingalltheser-vicesoftheLGUatthedoorstepofTacurongnonsinthecountry-side.(LGU-TacurongCityInfor-mation/DEDoguiles-PIA12)


Sarangani supports call to end HIV/AIDS

ALABEL, Sarangani, July 21 – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here has performed voluntary HIV testing and counseling to pave the way for treatment of patients.

ThiswouldalsogeneratebaselinedataofHIVinSaran-ganiProvinceandhelppreventitsspread,anofficialofthehealthofficesaid.PHOheadDr.ArvinAlejan-

drosaidHIVtestingwasoneofthemajoractivitiesduringthesimultaneousnationwideHi-5CaravanheldattheCapitolgymonJune23.Thehealthcaravanfocusedon

thepromotionofhealthinfor-mationandservicesonmaternalandchildhealth,men’shealth,adolescenthealth,healthfortheelderly,andnutrition.Alejandrosaidanofficialre-

portfromGeneralSantosCityhealthofficeshowedthat16peoplelivingwithHIV(PLHIV)werefromSarangani.Alejandrotreatedthereport

as“veryalarming.Evenonecaseisveryalarming.”Dr.AliTumamaoftheDepart-

mentofHealth(DOH)12saidthesecasesweretracedfrom1984uptothepresent.Dr.

TumamaistheDOHregionalprogrammanagerforsexuallytransmittedinfectionsandHIV/AIDS.Meanwhile,Dr.MelyLastimo-

so,coordinatorofsocialhygieneclinicofGeneralSantosCityIn-tegratedHealthServicesOffice,earlierreportedherofficehasdiagnosed206casessince2007coveringSOCSARGENareaanditsnearbycities.Fiftyofthemhavealreadydied,shesaid.Tumamadisclosedthatfrom

thecasesDr.Lastimosoreport-ed,around170werefromGen-eralSantosCity.HesaidRegion12has3%of

thetotal23,000PLHIVinthePhilippines.Ascasesincrease,hesaid“chancestobeinfectedwiththediseaseinthecountryareestimatedat23personsperday.”Dr.Tumamasaidasatellite

treatmenthubinGeneralSan-tosCityisunderwayandtheantiretroviral(ARV)drugwouldbeavailablestartingJulyinthe


socialhygieneclinicinthecity.Thegovernmentisspending

bulkofitsfundsfromsintaxesforthepurchaseofARV,atreat-mentthatslowsdownprogres-sionofthediseaseandmayleadtoanear-normallifeex-pectancy.RoughlyP70,000isestimated

fortheannualtreatmentperPL-HIVperyearwhichthegovern-mentcovers.EvenifARVreducesrisksof

deathandcomplications,Dr.LastimosostressedaPLHIVshouldmakeitapointtofollow

atreatmentadherenceprogram.Thismeans“strictlynodelaysintakingmedicine.The100vi-ruscountmightmultiplyintoathousandvirusesifnottakenre-ligiously.”“ARVisasingledosedaily

treatmentforlife.”Dr.Lastimososaidthiswouldreactbyboost-ingtheimmunesystemlevelofPLHIVupto1,800whilenormalimmunesystemcountrangesonlyfrom600to1,200.Contrarytotheextentof

10yearsthatPHLIVcouldlivewhichthebookssay,Dr.Lasti


PhilHealth’s TseKaP underscored in Malungon’s anniversary celebration KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, July 21 -- PhilHealth’s Ta-mang Serbisyong Kalusugang Pampamilya (TSeKaP) was high-lighted in the 46th Foundation Anniversary of Malungon town in Sarangani.

mososaid“thelongestAIDScanstayinthebodythesedaysissixyears.”HIV/AIDSorhumanimmu-

nodeficiencyvirusinfectionandacquiredimmunedeficiencysyndromeisavirusthatweak-ensthebody’sabilitytofightinfectionsanddiseases.Itcanprimarilybetransmit-

tedthrusexualcontact,bloodandbloodproductslikebloodtransfusion,needlesharingamonginjectingdrugusersandthrumothertochildtransmis-sionduringpregnancy,deliveryandbreastfeeding.Dr.Lastimososaidblood

transfusionandsharingofnee-dles,however,arethefastestmeanstotransmitthediseasewith90%engagingintothesewouldlikelybecomecarriersofthedisease.Whilesexualcon-tactisstilltheleadingcommoncause,itisaccountedforonly

0.5%to1%.Dr.Alejandrosaidthereare

planstocreateaprovincialHIV/AIDScouncilforSarangani.Aproposalonthis,hesaid,wassubmittedtotheSangguniangPanlalawiganin2014.LastMay,healthprovidersin

GlanMedicareCommunityHos-pitalconductedacrusadetosupporttheglobalcalltoendthespreadofHIV/AIDS.Dr.EdenRoseMalanao,Medi-

calOfficerVofthehospital,saidraisingsocialawarenessonthediseasewaspursuedtobringdownthe“stigmaanddiscrimi-nation”forpeoplelivingwithHIV.Sincethemedicationisal-

readyobtainable,“allittakesisforpeoplefromallwalksoflifetoundergoteststoavailofthemedicine,”Malanaosaid.(BCPaoyon-SaranganiInforma-tionOffice/DEDoguiles-PIA12)


Theevent,accordingtoapressreleasefromPhilHealth12,wascarriedoutunderthemunicipalgovernment’sflag-shipGrandLINGAPProject.LINGAP,whichstandsfor

LocalIngenuityinAlleviatingPoverty,isapriorityprojectofMayorReynaldoConstantinotopropelabetterlifeforthecon-stituentsofMalungon,includingamongotherseasyaccesstoPhilHealthbenefits.About1,000NHTS-PRindi-

gentmembers,includingpreg-nantwomenandseniorcitizens,attendedtheeventonJuly15attheMunicipalGymnasiumofsaidLGUfortheprofiling.TheyalsoavailedofTSeKaP

serviceslikefreeconsultation,diagnosticandlaboratoryser-vicesprovidedbytheMunicipalandProvincialHealthTeams.PhilHealthRegionalOfficeXII-

LocalHealthInsuranceOfficeGeneralSantospersonnelcon-ductedanorientationtoensurethatmembersaremadefullyawareoftheirPhilHealthbene-fits,theNoBalanceBillingpolicyaswellasexplaintothemwhomayavailofthesebenefitsasidefromthememberandhowandwheretoavailofthese.RegionalVice-PresidentDr.

MiriamGracePamonagempha-

sizedtherightsandprivilegesofmembersandtheirresponsi-bilities.Shealsodiscussedthenewandimprovedbenefitpack-agesincludinghemodialysisandupdatesonmaternitycareandnormalspontaneousdeliverypackages.Inhisspeech,MayorConstan-

tinosharedthatheprioritizedtheaccreditationoftheirRuralHealthUnitsandBirthingHometopreventifnotsignificantlyre-ducemalnutritionandmaternalmortalityrateinthemunicipal-ity.Asamanifestationofsupport

toPhilHealth,MayorConstantinoandRVPPamonagsignedaCol-lectionandRemittanceAgree-ment.Thesigningoftheagreement

willprovidebetterpaymentven-ueforresidentsofMalungon,eliminatetheneedaswellastheexpenseoftravellingtotheGeneralSantosCitytopayforPhilHealthpremium.(DEDogu-iles-PIA12withASNicolasandGALSequito-PhilHealth12)


Local media visit typhoon-damaged trees in two Agusan towns

BUTUAN CITY -- Local news reporters and commentators of this city have conducted an on-site tour in two towns of Agusan del Sur sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO) under Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo on July 8, 2015 to make them aware of the situation of the extraction and disposition of Typhoon Pablo – damaged trees and timber following the expiration of the six-month privilege granted to certain groups of lumads on June 30, 2015.

By: Eric Gallego


Thereporters,mostofthemmembers of the CommentatorsClub of Caraga Region headedby radio veteran commentatorRodolfo Esconia and newscorrespondentsofdifferentprintmedia station have seen thesituation.Thishowever,debunkedclaims by some sectors thatsomeDENRofficialsareengagedin irregularities particularly inthe transport of the logs andlumberfromthesitetotheWoodProcessingPlants. “Wehavepersonallyseenanactualsituationofthedispositionofthesetyphoon-damagedtreesandlumberbuttherewasnotraceof irregularities in it,” Esconiasaid. “TheoperationinEsperanzaby the lumads and the local

government led by Mayor DeoManpatilan in as far as theretrievalofthoselogsisconcernedappeared tobe smoothwithnoirregularities noted so far,” hesaid. Former Mayor LeonidaManpatilan told reporters thelumads were able to bring theforest products to an specifiedwoodprocessingplantandhaveearned about P3 million whichwasdepositedonatrustfundinabank. “We thank the DENRofficials particularly SecretaryRamon JPPaje for theprivilegeontherequestofthelumadstodisposethosetyphoon-damagedlogs scattered in at least 10barangays,” Manpatilan saidduringaninterview.


But the request of theManobo tribal community in LaPaz, Agusan del Sur however,had been affected by series ofissues and problems that failedtobringdownabout4,000cubicmeters of logs from the site toa depository area over the sixmonthperiodgiventhembytheDENR.“Wehavebeenbotheredbyseveralproblemsincludinglackoffundstofinancetheoperationaggravated by low water levelof the river,” Ruel Otaza, theauthorized fixer of documentsgranted to him via a “specialpowerofattorney”arrangementtoldthevisitingnewsmen.

“We failed to bring thoseforest products out of the areawhen the deadline of specialpermit expired,”Otaza said. Hesaid that he only managed tobring down about 1,000 cubicmeterstothedepositoryareabutthe amount to be derived fromitwouldbejustenoughtocovertheexpenses. ThelocalmediahavefoundoutthattheleadersoftheManobocommunityinthattownarestilllookingforwardtoreceivesomeamounts from the proceeds ofthe logs sold by Otaza to thewoodmillplant.


DAR distributes land titles to Siargao farmers

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed recently the certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to the farmers in Siargao Island. DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes led the distributionofCLOAsto80agrarianreformbeneficiariesheldatBrgy.Garcia,Sta.MonicainSiargaoIsland. DAR distributed a total of114.2249 hectares coveringsevenmunicipalities of SiargaoIslandbrokendownas follows:Burgos with 2.7988 has. forfour ARBs; Dapa with 49.8557has. for 33 ARBS; Del Carmen

with8.9162has.forfourARBs;General Lunawith 9.0630 has.for six ARBs; San Isidro with10.5172has.fornineARBs;SanBenito with 26.0857 has. for16ARBs;andSta.Monicawith6.9883has.foreightARBs. De Los Reyes hopedthat whatever the presentadministrationhasdone,throughthe DAR, will be carried on bythenextadministration.

By: Daryll M. Tumbaga


HealsoemphasizedthattheDepartmentwillcontinuetofindwaystobetterservethepublic. CLOAs are proofs ofownership given to agrarianreform beneficiaries under theComprehensiveAgrarianReform

Program extension with reform(CARPer)orR.A.9700acquisitionmodes such as compulsoryacquisition, voluntary offer tosell, voluntary land transfer ordirectpaymentscheme.

SurSur set to mark 2015 MSME Week CelebrationBy: Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – The province of Surigao del Sur through the Provincial Micro Small Enterprise and Development Council (PMSMEDC) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other government agencies as well as the private sector is set to celebrate the 2015 Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Week on July 20-24.

Assecretariat,theDTIherehas reminded all concerned ofseveralimportantundertakings,towit: Hangingof tarpaulin inyour respectiveoffices from20July 2015 until 31 July 2015;Participationtothemotorcadebyyourpersonnelwithyourvehiclebearing the tarpaulin of thecelebration;Personalattendanceto the program for the signingoftheMOA;CoordinatewithDTIfor the conduct of activities attheNegosyoCenter;andSubmitto DTI Post Activity reports on

activities conducted for thecelebration. Earlier, DTI provincialdirector Romel Oribe, in hislettertocouncilmembersdatedJuly15,pointedout theofficialopeningof“thecelebrationwithamotorcadeon20July2015at8:00AM.” A short program to followwasalsostressed,“whosemainfeature is the formalsigningoftheMemorandumofAgreementfortheNegosyoCenter.” Attached to the letter


was “the schedule ofactivities” with thetheme “StrengtheningMSMEs Participationto Global and RegionalTrade.”However, it was madeclearthatsinceJuly14,theDTIhasalreadyledtheso-calledSMERovingAcademy in Bislig CitywiththeparticipationofexistingMSMEsinBisligCityinparticular.Likewise, otheractivities spearheadedby the Office of theProvincial Agriculturist(OPAg),LGU/BFAR,andanother by DTI were

heldaheadofthescheduledweeklongcelebration.Meanwhile, among thegovernment agencies/private sector that will beactivelyinvolvedtoleadlined-upactivitiesforthedurationof the celebration includethe DTI/PMSMEDC, TandagChamberofCommerceandIndustry, Inc. (TCCII)/DOLE, PFARO, TESDA, BFAR, OPAg, DOST, and DILG-PGO.




ZAMBOANGA CITY – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday urged all Zamboanguenos, regardless of ethnicity, tribe, religion or beliefs to remain united “like brothers” to never again suffer the same fate that devastated the city in the siege of 2013.

Sec. Roxas urges Zambo to remain united “as brothers”

By Dominic I. Sanchez


“Our diversity isour strength,” saidRoxas, emphasizingthat the city isa melting pot ofdifferentpeoples.“Wesee this everyday inZamboanga City, welive by that, and weshouldbaseourfutureonthat,”headded. “Whatever trialswill come our way,if we stay united asbrothers and sisters,we will successfullydefyanyobstacle,”Roxassaid. Roxas, together withDepartment of Social Welfareand Development (DSWD)Secretary Dinky Soliman wereinthecityyesterday(July20)toassessthesituationofinternally-displacedpersons(IDPs)intheKasanyanganTransitorySite. After their visit toKasanyangan, the secretariesthen proceeded to the CityDisaster Risk Reduction andManagementOfficetoformallyturn over 700 recoveryshelters with water, sanitationand hygiene facilities for thetransitory sites in Mampang,Kasanyangan and in thePhilippine Tuberculosis SocietyIncorporated (PTSI). ThisprojectwasundertakenbytheDSWD in partnership with theInternational Organization forMigration(IOM). “We are here to celebratethe fact that IDPs will finallyhavetheirpermanenthouses,”

saidRoxas. “Theyarenot justplans, not just drawings, butthey are reality, just like therealitythattheIDPshavebeenslowlybuildingbacktheir livesandfutureforthebetter.” The Zamboanga RoadmaptoRecoveryandReconstructionorZ3Rhasbeenmakingprogressas more permanent housingunits have been constantlyturnedovertothebeneficiaries.Earlythismonth,atotalof175housesinSta.Catalinaand62in the Islamic Village in Sta.BarbarawereturnedovertotheIDPs. Earlier yesterdaymorning,the Grandstand evacuationcenter, the largest in the citywas officially closed after fiftyremaining IDP families finallymovedtothetransitorysitesinMampang. Also with the secretarieswereIOMChiefofMissionMarcoBoasso, Mayor Beng Climaco,CongresswomanLiliaNunoandotherlocalofficials.


Search is on for outstanding volunteers 2015PAGADIAN CITY – Members of the Regional Search Committee (RSC) met here yesterday to discuss this year’s Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV), which is open to individuals and groups providing volunteer assistance in the country.

By Franklin P. Gumapon

Regional Director TeresitaSocorroC.RamosoftheNationalEconomic and DevelopmentAuthority(NEDA)-9sentforthecommitteememberstoapprisethem of the timetable set bythe SOV National SelectionCommitteeinthesubmissionofnominations. AlthoughpressreleasesonSOV2015werealreadyissuedasearlyasAprilthisyear,NEDA-9hassofarreceivedonlytwonominations.Dulyaccomplishednomination forms will still beaccepted by NEDA-9 regionalofficeattheZamboangadelSurProvincialCenter,Dao,PagadianCity. “TheSOVaimstohighlighttheexemplaryperformanceanddedicationofserviceofFilipinovolunteers in helping peopleandcommunitiesandrecognizethe role of volunteerism indevelopment and nation-building,”anSOVleafletsaid. Criteria for evaluationof nominees for individualcategory include the qualities

of the volunteer, performanceand outputs. For a group/organization category, thecriteria are qualities of theorganization, performance andoutputs. Director Ramosunderscored the contributionof volunteerism to the societysaying,“volunteersaredoingalotofworks[for thegoodandwelfareofthecommunity],andyet,arenotrecognized.Theyaretoo humble to announce theircontributionsasvolunteers.” Ramos is desirous to seevolunteers from the regionwinning the search in thenationallevel. Themeetingwasattendedby personnel from theDepartment of Interior andLocal Government (DILG)-9, Philippine InformationAgency (PIA)-9, Civil ServiceCommission (CSC)-9 and Ms.MerlouQuisumbing,presidentofthePagadianCityZDSChamberofCommerceandIndustry.

One Mindanao - July 21, 2015

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