One Mindanao - July 3, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDExecutive Editor …….. EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editors Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

Senior Layout Artists Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region Editorial Advisers :

ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephoneno.(062)215-1480/925-0038Cellphoneno.0908-8843404E-mail:[email protected]@yahoo.comBlogspot:www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook:PIAWesMinInfoBliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’Building,AntonioLunaStreetCagayandeOroCity9000TelefaxNo.(08822)72-66-83Telephoneno.(088)856-8178/729-594Cellphoneno.0928-52043050917-3084969E-mail:[email protected][email protected]:www.pia-10.blogspot.com

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)2/FKantoMotorsBldg.,QuimpoBlvd.,NewMatinaDavaoCity8000Telephoneno.(082)297-0991/301-8580Telefaxno.(082)297-0992/304-2044Cellphoneno.0917-7053606/0918-9202950E-mail:[email protected]

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.KoronadalCity,SouthCotabato9506Telephoneno.(083)520-0249Telefaxno.(083)228-9736/228-9739/520-0100Cellphoneno.0921-6873373/0928-5204307E-mail:[email protected],[email protected]

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)ViceMayors’LeagueofthePhilippinesBldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephoneno.(085)341-5285/360-1239Telefaxno.(085)341-2370Cellphoneno.0917-7188834Email:[email protected],[email protected],phBlogspot:www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook:PIACaragaUpdates,PIAAgusandelNorte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

Cover Story

Philpost Releases New Stamp Featuring CdeO’s White Water Rafting Adventure

Northern Mindanao

Today’s issue... Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 292

page 4

Aquino launches two medical programs in Malacañang 8

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao20 19 PWDs in Sultan Kudarat receive wheelchair from Mahintana Foundation

25 Leah T. Quintana, Caraga RegionDSWD Caraga reorganizes quick response team

Mines Bureau-13, Chamber of Mines-Caraga end Environment Month in Surigao Norte27First Indigenous Peoples Peace Forum held in Bayog30MGB-13, Caraga Region

Southern Mindanao16 NEDA Nat’l visits CCT recipients

of Brgy. 23-C in Davao City

19Pops Gumana Fruylan , Central Mindanao

Gensan ground breaks P135-M business service building

Claro A. Lanipa, Western Mindanao

Pagadian Chamber gears up for Business Week 201232Alma L. Tingcang, Western Mindanao

7 12 14 17

28 34 23

NorMin RDRRMC bares events for disaster consciousness month 26Elaine O. Ratunil, Northern Mindanao

Pag-IBIG Fund urges members to register online 37Apipa P. Bagumbaran, Northern Mindanao

4 Tuesday, July 3, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryPhilpost Releases New Stamp Featuring CdeO’s White Water Rafting Adventure

There were already ancient Cagayanons living around the vicinity of Cagayan de Oro 50,000 years ago. Indication of prolonged human habitation was proven through the collected tools, implements, potteries and shards from the area. The city is known as the

gateway of northern Mindanao and home to some of the most scenic and exhilarating whitewater rafting. It originally started as a “hobby,” for local adventurers.

Cagayan de Oro is the provincial capital city of the province of

Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It lies along the northern coastline of the island of Mindanao in the country’s southern portion. Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro in Cebuano and Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro in Filipino was once recognized as Kalambangan or Malambangan on account of the hundreds of lambago trees of the hisbicus family, which can be used to line banks of its rivers. The name Cagayan was derived from an early Austronesian word caravan, meaning “river.”

Tuesday, July 3, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

The development of this activity as a leisure sport began when the Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society (NORMS) set their sights on exploring Cagayan de Oro River. There was no other way to this than to brave the currents on banana trunks, inflated tire tubes, and rubber rafts, and this was how they whooped it up during the mid-1980s to 1990s.By 1995, they had mapped the channels, surveyed the river by sections and paddled the treacherous whitewater to perfection. They organized the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting Adventure (CDOWRA), now known as the Rafting Adventure Philippines (RAP) and offered commercial runs to local community. The basic course and the advance course offer the adventurers a huge adrenaline rush and a spectacular close-up encounter with the river’s lush and vibrant wildlife and amazing geological features. By word of mouth, the adventure package gained a following not only among locals but also among adventuresome

domestic and international tourists. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her then Tourism Secretary shot the rapids in Cagayan de Oro, it got an immense promotional boost, putting the city firmly on the forefront of the emerging adventure tourism industry.In 2008, the City Council of Cagayan de Oro passed Resolution Number 8947-2008, declaring whitewater rafting as the primary “One Town, One Product (OTOP)” of Cagayan de Oro


i n recognition of the

contribution this industry has made in promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs for Cagayanons. More than an icon for tourism industry, Cagayanons have found in whitewater rafting an inspiration to sustain the rivers rich ecosystem, to keep its whitewater teeming with life and roaring with power. There are also few things the city is famous for like the Macahambus Gorge and Adventure Park that gives thrill-seekers a chance to test the limits

of their nerves, its tension free environment and the Cagayanons who are famous for being one of the nicest folks in the Philippines. A city that is heart warmingly cozy as the people. Cagayan de Oro is a favorite destination among tourists and businessmen because of its numerous beautiful facets, stable peace and order, urban amenities, good banking system and strategic location. It has developed into one of the most dynamic in economics in the entire country and still growing and developing at a fast rate.


ACROSS THE NATION

In simple rites at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace, President Aquino gave the award to Ambassador Prates in recognition of his valuable contributions to further strengthening the bilateral

partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The Brazilian envoy has played an important role in cultivating and

Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Brazilian envoy

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Silver Distinction) on outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to the Philippines, His

Excellency Alcides Gastao Rostand Prates during his farewell call, Friday.


supporting mutually-beneficial and

meaningful engagement between the two governments

through reciprocal high-level visits, the official visit of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary to Brazil, the convention of policy dialogues under established mechanisms, the First Bilateral Consultations Meeting in Manila, the First Joint Committee Meeting between the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines and the Agriculture Ministry of Brazil, and the Philippines’ participation in the Open Government Partnership and Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency and the recent holding of the Rio+20 Conference.

Ambassador Prates was also an advocate of active economic development and technical cooperation between the two countries in support of the Philippine development priorities in the areas of agriculture, agrarian reform, bio-fuels and forest management through the facilitation of the conduct of the Department of Agriculture’s technical mission on the Benchmarking on Brazil Food Legislation, the Coffee Study Tour in Sao Paolo and the Brazilian

government’s continuing grant of educational and technical courses and seminars through the Brazilian Technical Cooperation Program on Agriculture, Food Security and Social Policy Courses.

The citation also recognized the Brazilian Ambassador’s promotion of enhanced bilateral trade and cooperation through the signing of several agreements covering the various sectors of the Philippine economy during his tour of duty in the country.

These agreements include the Memoranda of Understanding on Cooperation in Agriculture, Bio-energy Cooperation, Agrarian Reform Cooperation and the Joint Declaration on Cooperation Against the International Drug Problem and Connected Crimes, among others.

Also present during the event were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Chief Presidential Protocol Ambassador Jose Miguel Perez-Rubio.

The Brazilian envoy was accompanied by Second Secretary and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Brazil in the Philippines Fabiana Arazini Garcia Kanadoglu. (JCL)


Aquino launches two medical programs in Malacañang

Advancements in Philippine healthcare took center-stage after President Benigno S. Aquino III formally launched two medical programs aimed at improving and expanding

healthcare coverage to include diarrhea vaccines for children and cancer treatment for all Filipinos in Malacañang on Monday.

The President, who was joined by Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Philippine Health Insurance

Corporation president and CEO Eduardo Banzon, led the back-to-back inauguration of the DoH’s Rota


Virus Vaccine campaign and

Philhealth’s “Z” Benefits package program.

In his speech, the President said the event highlighted his Administration’s commitment to give equal importance to alleviating poverty by focusing not on only the health of the country, economy and government but also the overall health of all Filipinos as well.

“…to win this war on poverty, we must also turn our attention to public health we want our people to be empowered individuals capable of standing on their own two feet—s t r o n g , healthy, and skilled men and women

who can take advantage

of the opportunities life affords them,” the President said.

The President added that these two medical programs “are expected to contribute to our goal of safeguarding the health and well-being” of all Filipinos.

He said that 700,000 infants from families listed in the National Household Targeting System of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be vaccinated


from the rota virus, the most common cause of

diarrhea in infants and children.

The “Z” Benefits Package, meanwhile, expands the coverage of Philhealth illnesses list to include “catastrophic illnesses” or illnesses that are literally catastrophic not only to one’s health but also to one’s financial situation and emotional and psychological well-being.

“For the first time in its history, Philhealth now provides benefits that can cover the treatment of diseases that cost roughly P100,000 to P200,000,” the President said.’

“This represents a change in the way Philhealth does business. Instead of focusing on one claim or on one treatment alone, the focus is on the patient himself: from the surgery to post-operation care and even to therapy. The Z Benefit Package provides full coverage for our countrymen suffering from dire illnesses, opening new doors to Filipinos in the margins of society,” he added.

Under the benefit package, the

catastrophic illnesses that are initially covered are early stage breast cancer, standard risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and low to intermediate risk prostate cancer.

The President stressed that Philhealth will further expand the coverage of this program in the coming months.

“This occasion represents the very goals of our universal healthcare: to ease the burden of our countrymen already struggling to put food on their tables by lending them a helping hand for their other needs; and to support Juan and Juana dela Cruz from beginning to end, in the most common of illnesses and in the most catastrophic,” the President said.

“Just as fighting corruption and poverty are the means to ensure a healthier, fairer and more prosperous society, so too will programs like these help improve our public health system, resulting in a society where the vulnerable are made strong, and the weak are empowered to contribute to the well-being and the happiness of the whole,” he added.(RCK)


US eyes more military exercisesin Mindanao

The United States is hoping to hold more maritime military training exercises in Mindanao as the first ever joint naval training

between American and Filipino troops in the island began Monday.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. expressed hopes for a repeat of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2012, noting that the exercise is a “living proof that US and Philippine alliance is relevant and strong.”

“For the first time in memory, CARAT takes place in Mindanao, and I hope that this is the first of many,” he said during the opening ceremony of CARAT 2012 here.

This is the 18thCARAT, an annual bilateral naval exercise series between the United States and Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste. and Thailand.

Thomas said that at least 800 US Navy and Coast Guard personnel are taking part in the nine-day joint exercises in Manila and Mindanao, around 400 of them in Mindanao.

The US Navy (USN) deployed two

by Bong Sarmiento


vessels for the exercises, the missile-guiding frigate USS Vandergrift and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard, while the US Coast Guard sent USCG Waesche.

USS Vandergrift and USCG Waesche arrived here Sunday afternoon for onshore training exercises that include live firing. USNS Safeguard, on the other hand, would be doing the rescue and salvage exercise at the Manila bay.

The naval exercises in Mindanao would be on the seas off Maitum and Maasim in Sarangani and in Balut Island, Sarangani town in Davao del Sur and would not be visible from the shores, Capt. Robert Empedrad, CARAT 2012 exercise director, said on Sunday.

Lt. Gen Jorge B. Segovia, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command, formally announced the opening of CARAT 2012 at around 11:05 a.m. Monday.

He said the AFP is looking forward to a stronger military partnership and friendship with the US military, noting the holding of CARAT 2012 “will benefit both navies as well as the communities.”

“With its goals to strengthen the bond between the Philippine Navy and the US Navy in addressing maritime defense, port security and resource protection, this exercise will not just benefit the participants but also the communities in the Mindanao sea,” Segovia said in his speech.

In a brief interview with reporters, Segovia said Mindanao was chosen as venue of the CARAT 2012 because

of the presence of the Coast Watch Stations, (CWS) a modern intelligence gathering or monitoring system project supported by the US government.

“It’s an opportunity to test the efficiency of the Coast Watch Stations that lines this part of Mindanao,” he said.

Thomas, for his part, said Segovia “is one hundred percent accurate.”

The Coast Watch Stations are spread in the towns of Kiamba, Maitum and Glan in Sarangani; Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat; Balut Island in Davao del Sur; and Cape San Agustin in Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental.

The Coast Watch Station is part of the Coast Watch South, a defense project that is also supported by the Australian government.

Thomas said the joint naval exercises “will lead to greater cooperation” between the two countries.

“Military skills are perishable. We need to continue training and hone our skills and broaden our horizons. CARAT allows us to build on previous missions and observe lessons and increase our shared responsibility to strengthen our relationship,” he said.

This is the fifth time that CARAT is held in the country. Last year, it was held in Palawan, in 2010 it was in Subic Bay, in 2009 in Cebu City and in Palawan in 2008.

Participants to CARAT 2012 will also do community service such as medical and dental civic action and free concerts in this city and Glan in Sarangani.


Film enthusiasts and cineastes can now watch rare cinematic

masterpieces as the Davao City cinematheque was formally opened to the public. The 120- seat cinematheque is envisioned as an accessible, affordable if not free venue for the public to watch classic and contemporary Filipino films and also masterpieces from world

cinema, movies which are not commercially shown on regular movie theaters. “The opening of this new cinematheque will augur well for the emerging role of Davao City as one of the leading centers of culture and the cinematic arts not only in the Philippines, but throughout the Southeast Asian region as well,” according to Chairman Briccio Santos

of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The cinematheque was built under a usufruct agreement signed by the City Government of Davao and the FDCP. A city-owned building located along Palma Gil Street adjacent to the People’s Park was earmarked for the facility which will be operated

Davao City opens first Cinemathequeby Rudolph Alama


by the FDCP for a period of 50 years. According to Santos, the facility is also built as a private-public partnership or PPP as the projector was donated by SM Cinema. The cinematheque is the second of its kind built in the country with the first built and opened in Baguio last year. Aside from venue for film viewing, the facility can also host film-related workshops Santos said. He added that local filmmakers can also screen their films in the cinematheque. On the works is the appointment of an FDCP coordinator for Davao which will be in charge of the cinematheque. The facility also comes with

a bronze statue of National Artist for Film Lino Brocka. According to Santos, cinematheques built across the country will have statues of great Filipino filmmakers. The event was graced by the presence of Chairman Santos, Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City, French Ambassador to the Philippines Gilles Garachon and Danny Brocka, brother of the late Lino Brocka. A retrospective of selected films from Lino Brocka will be the initial screenings in the cinematheque it would be followed by films from the Czech Republic, France, Italy and Spain (PIA 11/RG Alama)

Did you know... That the first cinematheque was built in France in the year 1936 when Henri Langlois and Georges Franju founded a film club (“Cercle du cinéma”) to show old films from which originated the Cinémathèque Française

The first Philippine Cinematheque was built in Baguio in 2011. Davao cinemtheque is the first of its kind to be built in Mindanao.


NEDA Nat’l visits CCT recipients of Brgy. 23-C in Davao CityDAVAO CITY – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Central Office headed by NEDA Director Erlinda Capones, together with some 30 of her Social Development Staff, visited Tuesday the Pantawid Pamilya recipients of Brgy. 23-C, Isla Verde, Davao City. The visit consisted of a dialogue with Local Chief Executives, Barangay Health Workers, and Principal and Teachers at Zonta Elementary School. The NEDA delegates also had an interaction with the parent grantees and children beneficiaries of the program. Jerry Layague, school principal at Zonta Elementary School bragged that, “The program is very good because there are many parents who are able to send their children to school.” He added that since the program started in their barangay there has been an impressive increase in enrolment, from 500 children enrolees in 2008 to 720

in 2012. In February 2012, Director Capones visited with the DSWD program recipients in Talaingod and Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte during the Multi-Sectoral Governance Coalition (MSGC) Team visit with Rina Jimenez-David of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Pantawid Pamilya is a program that invests in human capital that is contributory to poverty-reduction. The program provides cash grants of at most P 1,400.00 for a family that has three children, ages 0 to 14, enrolled in the program. The family will be able to claim their grants if they comply to set health and education conditions strictly required by the program. As of June 2012, Pantawid Pamilya has a total of 168,278 registered household beneficiaries in 6 cities and 41 municipalities in all 4 provinces of Davao Region. (DSWD/Sheryll Jane B. Sanico)


DILG awards P48M to 36 LGUs in Region 12 for good governanceBy CT Apelacio

GENERAL SANTOS CITY-- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) awarded P48 million to 36 local government units (LGU) for good governance.


Secretary Jesse Robredo said the Performance Challenge Fund is a grant given to LGUs in recognition of their commendable performance in running and managing their respective governance affairs. The said LGUs are also recipients of the department’s Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH). The seal was designed to measure the level of performance of LGUs in good governance.

Robredo was here to hand out the cash award. “Panahon na upang yung sumusunod bigyan ng gantimpala at ang di sumunod paparusahan natin. (It is time that those who practice good governance are rewarded, and those who do not are punished.)”

The seal is a requirement in accessing the PCF which the local governments can use to finance development projects that will help attain the country’s commitment to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), tourism development, disaster risk reduction and management, solid waste and other local

development initiatives.Robredo said that

since governance management is not the same among LGUs, the seal will determine the “power and financial allocation” to be granted to a local government.

“Hindi lahat ng mahusay na pamamahala ay matino at ang malungkot di lahat ng matino ay mahusay dapat pareho maayos at matino na pamamahala,” he told some 800 participants composed of local government chief executives and other officials during the DILG’s “Magtapatan Tayo: Handa na ba Kayo?”caravan on Saturday (June 30) at the Family Country Hotel here.

(Governance may be efficient only, but not upright. Sadly, it can be upright but not efficient. In good governance, both elements should be present.)

Of the 36 high-performing LGUs, 32 were municipalities that received P1 million each; three cities -- Kidapawan, Koronadal and Cotabato -- with P3 million each; and the only province, Sarangani

with P7 million.Sarangani Governor

Migs Dominguez received the check and thanked the DILG for the incentive to LGUs.

Meanwhile, Sec. Robredo also awarded the municipalities of Alabel, Glan, and Maitum, Sarangani P1 million each as their PCF for having also earned the seal.

The other recipients were the municipalities of Alamada, Aleosan, Antipas, Arakan, Carmen, Kabacan, Libungan, Magpet, Makilala, Matalam, Midsayap, M’lang, Pigcawayan, Pikit, President Roxas, and Tulunan in North Cotabato; Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Sto. Nino, Surallah, Tampakan, Tantangan, Tboli and Tupi in South Cotabato, and the towns of Bagumbayan, Isulan, Kalamansig, and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.

To qualify for the PCF, an LGU should first pass the assessment and evaluation on good housekeeping that zeroes in the areas of good planning, sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability, and


valuing of performance monitoring.

Dominguez said the province’s laudable performance on internal housekeeping for good governance, transparency, and accountability enabled it to bag the seal of good

housekeeping award.The cash incentive, he

said will be used to fund programs and projects that will help scale up indicators for MDGs and other vital development infrastructure projects under PCF guidelines.

The seal of good

housekeeping was launched in March, 2011 and has since expanded to cover “all 4th to 5th class cities and 4th to 6th class municipalities” nationwide. (CT A p e l a c i o / P I A - 1 2 General Santos City)

Gensan ground breaks P135-M business service buildingBy Pops Gumana Fruylan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The local government led the groundbreaking ceremony of the P105-million “Business Service Hub Building” on Saturday.

City Media Affairs Officer, Avelmar Man-ansala said this four-storey structure will house local and na-tional government of-fices involved in busi-ness processes and will serve as a “one-stop-shop center” for busi-ness transactions in General Santos City.

“This is part of a com-prehensive program designed to enhance the business and in-vestment environment of the city,” he added.

The building design with environment-friendly features or the “green building” was also unveiled during the weekend event, he

said.“It will have energy-

saving features and will be recycling its own water among oth-er things,” Manansala said.

City administrator Jose Constantino-Gon-zales earlier said that the construction of the business service hub building inside the city hall compound would be very beneficial to boost the city’s eco-nomic growth.

Gonzales attrib-uted the remarkable increase in the total collection of business


taxes and fees for the first quarter of the year to the efficient tax collection efforts of all concerned govern-ment agencies through the establishment of a “one-stop-shop” pro-cessing of business

transactions.With the new build-

ing, he said, taxpay-ers will be encouraged to settle their obliga-tions before the dead-line as it will accom-modate transactions of business registration

throughout the year.Department of

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad also attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Both officials expressed support to the development efforts of the local government.

Robredo commended the strong partnership of South Cotabato first district Representative Pedro Acharon Jr. and Mayor Darlene Anton ino-Custod io in steering the city forward. (DED/PGFruylan-PIA12 Gensan)

19 PWDs in Sultan Kudarat receive wheelchair from Mahintana FoundationBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY – Nineteen persons with disability (PWDs), including nine children, in Sultan Kudarat province were recently given wheelchairs by Mahintana Foundation Inc. (MFI) in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12.


Information from DOLE 12 said 12 wheelchairs were awarded to beneficiaries in Kalamansig town on June 20. Christabel Grace Uy of MFI confirmed today, seven more wheelchairs were handed to PWDs in Lambayong town, also in Sultan Kudarat.

“Two hundred wheelchairs have been booked for delivery to beneficiaries in Sultan Kudarat,” Uy said, adding that the remaining 181 will be handed over to

beneficiaries once the schedule for a province-wide turn over ceremony is finalized with DOLE 12.

Sonsona explained MFI, a foundation under the auspices of Dolefil Inc., through its Gabay Para sa May Kapansanan Program tapped DOLE 12 via its Tulong Alay sa Taong may Kapanasanan (TULAY) program for the wheelchair distribution in the entire Soccsksargen Region.

Public employment

service offices and social welfare offices at the municipal level help DOLE in the identification of the beneficiaries.

MFI also turned over wheelchairs to 116 PWDs in Tupi, South Cotabato June 24 and 51 more in T’boli town on June 26.

Uy disclosed that they have set aside 1,800 wheelchairs for dispersal to PWDs this year. Of these 800 are allocated for South Cotabato.

She however,


announced that they have temporarily suspended the turn over of wheelchairs beginning June 27 pending the release of tax exemption permit from the Department of Finance for 900 units already available in the their facility in Calumpang, General Santos City.

Affected recipient municipalities include the South Cotabato LGUs of Surallah and Banga (June 27), Lake Sebu (June 29), Koronadal City, (July 3), Sto. Niño and Norala (July 5), and Tantangan (July 10).

Also put on hold are those for distribution in General Santos City (July 12), Sarangani Province (July 17), and Kidapawan City in North Cotabato (July 24).

“Distribution of wheelchairs will resume as soon as we get the needed permit,” she added.

The wheelchair distribution rites have also become an opportunity for DOLE 12 to implement its programs geared

toward providing livelihood to indigent residents.

Following the June 20 event in Kalamansig, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 12 held a two-day training on ISTIV bayanihan to capacitate the would-be beneficiaries of Dole Integrated Livelihood Program.

The training was held at the Notre Dame school in nearby Lebak town.

ISTIV Bayanihan training, Sonsona explained, is a values-driven human resource strategy for quality and productivity improvement that is rooted on the following five ideal attributes of a productive individual: industrious, systematic, t i m e - c o n s c i o u s , innovative and strong value for work.

“The program aims to provide technical support for the growth of the microenterprises to become productive and competitive in the market arena,” she said.

DOLE 12 Regional Director Chona

M. Mantilla also discussed with Mayor Dionisio Besana of Lebak and Rolando Garcia of Kalamansig, the department’s e m e r g e n c y employment program (EEP).

EEP and livelihood programs are emergency interventions of the department aimed at helping displaced workers cope and recover from emergencies and other natural calamities.

RTWPB 12 Secretary Jessie Dela Cruz reported that the ISTIV Bayanihan resulted in 88 business plan proposals from the individual beneficiaries for funding under the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit Program.

At the event in Lambayong this morning, DOLE distributed fishing equipment to 14 fisherfolk. Twelve more fishing equipment and still undetermined number of sewing machines are also scheduled for awarding to poor residents of the municipality soon, Sonsona said. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


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Member agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Caraga Region spearheaded

today the conduct of the kickoff activity of the National Disaster Consciousness Month here.

Disaster council of Caraga spearheads Disaster Consciousness Month todayby Robert E. Roperos

Some 200 employees from the regional line agencies and local government units assembled at the city hall here for the fun run and

then headed to the Philippine Ports Authority ground where the opening program was conducted. In her message, Office of Civil


Defense-Caraga Regional Director and RDRRMC Caraga Chairperson Dr. Blanche Gobenciong expressed her heartfelt appreciation to all who have exerted efforts in joining today’s activity. This year’s theme, “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan” focuses on the impact of disaster risks, their relationship to economic development priorities and strategies, and better coping mechanisms. With this, Dr. Gobenciong pointed out that all c o n c e r n e d

are urged to take appropriate action to promote social welfare, human security, and environmental protection in relation to national and human-induced disasters. The official further said the month-long activity provides an opportunity to expand the awareness and deepen the understanding of people on disasters and how to best prevent and prepare for them.

Because of the active response of the council’s member agencies, Gobenciong said they


are looking forward to more participative and enthusiastic members of the council in all activities lined up for the month-long observance. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 137, the month of July is

designated as National Disaster Consciousness Month. Because of this, RDRRMC Caraga initiated significant activities highlighting the importance of disaster risk reduction and management in accordance with Republic Act No. 10121.


DSWD Caraga reorganizes quick response teamby Leah T. Quintana

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga region has reorganized its quick response team (QRT) and has recently conducted capability building to its members at a hotel here. Conducted in two batches, DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat said the reorganization of the QRT of the field office is basically done to refresh the members of their respective roles and functions for future undertaking relative to disaster management. Jabagat said the training has provided QRT members opportunity to enhance their understanding of disaster

risk reduction and management, appreciation of disaster response and their contribution to said committee, management of evacuation camps and community kitchen, knowing the process of disaster relief operations and reporting, identifying the psychosocial process, and understanding the roles and functions of the other committees of the QRT.


The celebration started with a motorcade along the major thoroughfares of the city followed by a tree planting activity and the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing between the MGB-13 and its partner mining companies. Lawyer Rise Faith Recabo of MGB-13 said the MOA signing sought to strengthen and reinforce the existing harmonious relationships

with the various key players more importantly with the mining companies toward environmental campaign and advocacy. To encourage students of the mining communities to creatively express their impression on the importance of mining, events like essay writing, extemporaneous speech, and poster making contest were also conducted.

Mines Bureau-13, Chamber of Mines-Caraga end Environment Month in Surigao Norteby MGB-13

SURIGAO CITY -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-13) and Chamber of Mines – Caraga Region chapter led the culmination activity of the 2012 Environment Month celebration at the Provincial Forest Park in Brgy. Ipil this city on Saturday, June 30


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Dubbed as 2012 Enhanced SME Caravan, the activity aims to show the progress it has embarked since

its inception in 2005 here in region 9. Department of Trade and

2012 Enhanced SME Regional Caravan kicks off in Pagadian Cityby Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

This year’s iteration of the Regional Small and Medium Enterprise caravan kicked off in Pagadian City yesterday, just in time for the SME Week as declared by President Benigno

Aquino III last year, to be observed every first week of July.


Industry Assistant Regional Director Dr. Sitti Amina Jain said the national government has now recognized the great

role of SME Caravan in helping improve the status of SMEs in the country. “We have been doing this since 2005 and have since become a regular activity and the banner program of the SME Regional Core Group thru ACCESS or the Agency Convergence for Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Support Services. And it was recognized by the national government and is now being conducted in other regions, thus it’s called Enhance Caravan”, Dr. Jain said. She added, “This is seen to help spur regional economic growth in all regions in the country, and

specifically, all provinces here in our

region, and ultimately contribute to the national societal goal of improving the income of the SMEs and reducing poverty”. To help attain this goal, DTI flew in experts of the different aspects of operating businesses to arm SMEs with knowledge on laws and policies governing

business operation. DTI also brought in experts on product development to improve marketability of local products here. Ms. Rosa Fernandez, Assistant Head of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Field Operation, informed the participants on the importance of intellectual property rights. “Intellectual Property Rights adds value to your products, and improve our lives. If there are no innovations, no patent, and design, there will be less improvement in the way we live”, Ms. Fernandez said. Fernandez said part of their job is to help protect creations or


First Indigenous Peoples Peace Forum held in Bayog by Claro A. Lanipa

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur – To address and resolve the issue on Ancestral Domain within the Subanen indigenous cultural communities, the First Infantry “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army, in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region IX and the local government unit of Bayog held a Peace Forum on June 28, 2012 at the municipal gymnasium. Mayor Leonardo Babasa Jr. in his message said this is the first time a peace forum for the

Indigenous people was ever held in this municipality. All of us want to have progress and development in

products varying from trademark, copyright, invention, among others, that are intangible”. By registering with them, the name, trademark, and other related rights will be protected, making sure that the creator avoids the copying of others of his product or trademark, among others. Engr. Regebelle Fuentes, Intellectual Property Field Specialist of IPOPHL Satellite Office based in Cagayan De Oro City, also discussed specific topics on trademarks and copyrights and actual procedures on applying for trademarks and copyrights. In the afternoon, participants were informed of new product design trends by Ms. Analiza Perez of the Product Design and Development Center of the Philippines. Ms. Perez stressed the importance of being updated on new

product labeling designs to make their products more attractive to consumers. “Having a good product design improves the marketability of your product and making it more competitive in a very tight-competition market”, Perez said. After these sessions, all government offices were broken up according to the four components of the SME Core which specifically address the needs of the SMEs. These components are Access to financing component, Access to Market Component, Productivity and Efficiency Component, and the Business Investment Enabling Environment Component. The week-long activity will also be going to Dipolog City and Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Province. Another caravan will also be conducted in Isabela City, Basilan on July 17. (MVC/PIA9-ZBST)


our town, barangay and in our tribe. But it cannot be achieved if there is no unity and peace. “The first thing we have to do is to have peace and order among our tribe, in our barangay and municipality, because everyone wants progress and development,” Babasa said. “Today is a historic day for our municipality, for the IPs and non-IPs, let us start to have order and

peace within ourselves to attain our goal,” he added. Meanwhile, BGen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, Commanding General of the First Infantry “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army said “ang konting diperensiya ay nakitaan na ng magandang solusyon. Ngunit ang solusyon na iyan ay hindi magiging materyal kung wala ang suporta ng ating apat na kagalang-galang na Timuay (tribal leaders).”


“Isa itong senyales ng kanilang kagitingan bilang mga lider ng kanilang mga tribo, isang katapangan na harapin ang suliranin at hanapan ito ng solusyon para sa kanilang pamilya, mga anak, mga nasasakupan at mga kapatid natin. Kayo ang siyang makikinabang sa solusyon na ito,” Gen. Cruz said. The forum was attended by more than 500 IPs and non-IPs led by four (4) Timuays: Casiano Edal, Ramon Lumigue, Lucencio Manda and Joel Lumpinas, who presented their Ancestral Domain (AD) claims through a prepared map of the municipality of Bayog. As a gesture of support and commitment, all the stakeholders affixed their signatures on the map led by NCIP Regional Director Salong

Sunggod, NCIP Commissioner for Northern and Western Mindanao Cosme Lambayan, Mayor Babasa, BGen Cruz and was attested by the four (4) Timuays. Other national government agencies/stakeholders present were the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Philippine National Police (PNP), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (ALT/CAL-PIA9/Zambo Sur)

Pagadian Chamber gears up for Business Week 2012PAGADIAN CITY -To showcase the investment opportunities of the city and to share ideas and trends of the business market today, the Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PZCCIFI) will spearhead activities in celebration of Business Week on July 6-12, 2012. PZCCIFI President Mercedes Lourdes S. Quisumbing said this year’s theme, “Leveling for Advance Modern Business Opportunities in

Pagadian” focuses on discovering new opportunities in business development advancement through a unified goal of making Pagadian a

by Alma L. Tingcang


highly urbanized city by interacting the aspects of government, industry leaders, academe and the workforce to work together for a common goal. “The Pagadian Business Week celebration will center on agri-aqua culture, hotel and restaurant industry, business financing, human resource development, business networking, trade exhibit and services development,” says Ms. Quisumbing. Successful business personalities will be coming over to share their best economic development practices. Setting things in their proper perspective, a press conference will be held on July 5 at Hotel Guillermo with invited media partners to cover the momentous event. A Trade Exhibit will be held at the Ground Floor of the City Commercial Center (C3) on July 6-14. Other activities include: Pest Forum on July 6 at 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, New Roxan Hotel; July 7 - Community Service project: Parking

Line Painting along F. S. Pajares and Rizal Avenue; Di Ko’g Plastic Forum and Eco Bag Design Competition Launching at Kamayan sa Pagadian 2015 ASEAN Integration Forum with Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Deputy Director General Ryan Evangelista as Resource Speaker to be held at the Convention Hall, 4th Floor of C3. The celebration will also include a Job Fair on July 9 and Young Entrepreneurship Seminar (Personality Development) with a registration fee of P50.00. The 3rd PAKALS Culinary Competition and Restaurant Food Festival will be on July 10 and the Barangay Livelihood Entrepreneurship Seminar on July 11.“Potential investors could have their take of what our city has to offer and further boost economic activities bringing it to a higher level through the unified efforts and support of all stakeholders,” Quisumbing quipped. (ALT/PIA9-Zambo Sur)


US Ambassador graces launch of USAID project in Cagayan de Oroby Jorie C. Valcorza

USAID Mission Director for the Philippines Gloria D. Steele and City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano forged a memorandum of understanding, witnessed by the Department of Trade

and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Padadero. In his remarks, Ambassador

United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas graced the launch of US Agency for International Development (USAID) Cities Development Initiative (CDI) on June 29, Friday in Cagayan de

Oro City.


Thomas stressed on the US government’s commitment to the Philippines. “This occasion shows not only our commitment to you, but also the potential, that we believe that you have the transparency and honesty to undertake the program,” he said. He also said that the Philippines is among four countries in the world which the US government, through the partnership for growth (PGF), brings 15 federal agencies to provide assistance that will advance the country’s economic development. “We have recognized your tremendous efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct your city from terrible devastation by tropical Sendong, last year. We know that CDI will prosper here,

continuing the construction and development, as well as, in increasing the dynamism of the city,” he added. He likewise commended the leadership of Emano and the people for maintaining the city’s long term economic growth. Cagayan de Oro City is among the three CDI pilot areas in the country. The other two cities participating in the

initiative are Batangas City and Iloilo City. This initiative according to USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele is piloting on something that none of any USAID offices around the world has done, that is, for cities to act as engines of economic growth. It is built on the premise that economic growth and job creation are closely linked to urban development.


NorMin RDRRMC bares events for disaster consciousness monthby Elaine O. Ratunil

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (RDRRMC) in Northern Mindanao is set to celebrate National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) this July with the theme “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan.”

This is in line with Executive Order No. 137 series of 1999, declaring the month of July every year as NDCM, said Ana Cañeda, R e g i o n a l D i r e c t o r , Office of Civil Defense (OCD-10) and chair, RDRRMC-10. She said the celebration aims to increase the awareness of Filipinos towards disaster preparedness, mitigation and risk reduction. In order to make the celebration a meaningful one, Cañeda said government offices, national line government agencies and instrumentalities, civil society organizations, people’s organizations, and the general public are enjoined to take part by hanging streamers in their vicinity, and actively participate in the activities lined-up for the whole month: Holy Mass offering and

Continuing Financial Assistance for the victims of tropical storm Sendong; Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) – Conference for External Resources mobilization; Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Advocacy and Information Drive; Building Safety Inspection; Conference on DRR and Warning Dissemination for Media Practitioners; Stakeholders Conference (Launching of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan); Tree Planting and Growing; Lessons Learned Workshop (in the aftermath of TS Sendong); Rescue Olympics; and RDRRMC Recognition and Awarding Ceremony.


Pag-IBIG Fund urges members to register online by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as Pag-IBIG Fund, is calling all its members to comply with the Fund’s Online Membership Registration.

According to a press release by the Pag-IBIG Fund Cagayan de Oro branch, all Pag-IBIG Fund members must register online at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph. The member will then be assigned a Registration Tracking Number (RTN) as a reference for his/her successful online membership registration. After which, members must submit their duly accomplished Members Data Form (MDF) to their respective Human Resource or Personnel Officer who will in turn submit the MDFs together with a corresponding transmittal indicating the members complete name and the corresponding RTN to the Marketing and Enforcement Division of Pag-IBIG Fund on or before July 31, 2012. “This will serve as the basis for the printing of the Member’s Identification (MID),” said Branch Manager Juliano S. Banghal. Currently, the Fund is printing transactions cards of all its members bearing their complete name, date of birth, permanent Pag-IBIG Fund MID number and security code, as well. “Members, who already received their transaction cards in the previous years, are still required to register online at our official website, for the incorporation of their personal

data, which is needed for the implementation of the new Integrated Information Systems Project (IISP),” Banghal added. He, thus, urged heads of offices to impose the compliance of the online membership registration to all their employees. He also called on companies/employers to likewise register online. For further details, concerned agencies or individuals may coordinate Kathy Mae Bautista or any staff from the Marketing and Enforcement Division of the Pag-IBIG Fund Cagayan de Oro Branch at telephone numbers (08822) 726348, 722800, (088) 8561861 to 62 local 211, 218, 219.

One Mindanao - July 3, 2012

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