one mindanao - december 17, 2011

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WeMin Info Blitz

Northern Mindanao

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

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

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN)

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

Cover Story

Miguel Antonio:

Singapore’s singing

sensation, Davao’s pride

Executive 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 ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

Rudolph AlamaSouthern Mindanao

Today’s issue...

10

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 Vol. 1 No. 125

Aquino wants review of govt crisis response after devastating Mindanao typhoon

Jeanevive D. Abangan, Southern Mindanao

Oplan Paalala: Safety first during the holidays

Moner Dayaan, Central Mindanao

Davao Norte town mayor seeks stronger cell signal

DEDoguiles, Central Mindanao

3-Year Crab Industry Development Plan launched

South Cotabato nangunguna sa operasyon laban sa droga

Ritchel M. Molero, Caraga RegionOWWA establishes help desk

20T Phil health recipients delisted as beneficiaries starting 2012 Jocelyn P. Alvarez, Western Mindanao

Custom collections up in 4th quarter, says Gen. Lim Franklin P. Gumapon, Westerm Mindanao

‘Sendong’ kills 4, leaves 33 missing in Bukidnonuby Leonora R. Balistoy, Northern Mindanao

‘Sendong’ leaves 79 dead in Iligan Lorry V. Gabule, Northern Mindanao

Across the Nation:

Regional News:

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Robert E. Roperos, Caraga RegionBFP-Butuan conducts ocular inspection to establishments 21

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4 Saturday, December 17, 2011ONE MINDANAO

Miguel Antonio: Singapore’s singing sensation, Davao’s pride

Cover Story

I haven’t seen my former neighbor Kathy for a long while. From bits and pieces of info I have read in Facebook, she was based in Singapore and is married to Samuel, a Singaporean who is the CEO of a shelter company based

in the island nation.

by Rudolph Alama

5 Saturday, December 17, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

Miguel Antonio: Singapore’s singing sensation, Davao’s pride

Little did I know that we would meet again, you see, Kathy is the mother of current Singaporean singing wonder kid, Miguel Anto-nio Vedanaigam. Kathy, Miguel, Sam and the rest of the family are coming in to revisit Davao City. Miguel Vedanaigam who goes now with his screen name Miguel Antonio burst into the Singapor-ean limelight when he joined and convincingly won a singing con-test in his school just last year. The Qifa Got Talent. (Miguel is at 3rd Primary at Qifa Primary School) “We really didn’t know that he got this huge talent until he joined the school competition.” Miguel’s rendition of Les Mis-erables’ “I Dreamed a Dream”

blew the compe-tition into smith-ereens where he was adjudged as the winner. Then after the school contest some-one invited him to sing before a Singaporean gov-ernment minister. His performances were then post-ed on YouTube, these videos were

tweeted by radio disc jockeys and before long media men came knocking into the Vedanaigam’s home. Singapore’s New Paper broadsheet once referred to him


as the Singaporean Justin Bieber. A tag, which Miguel’s father Sam-uel is not comfortable about. “They both are different.” Justin is a great performer but Miguel is a very good singer. Sam said to us during interview at Marco Polo Davao, where the family is staying for a week. Miguel has been featured in the animated Upin and Ipin Beat-box Commercial, performed for the Japan Relief Foundation, Sin-

gapore Pools charity Event “Fash-ion with a Heart”, at the SOTA for Kids Performing Hope Founda-tion, MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) event, then the David Foster and friends concert where among the thousands who auditioned he was handpicked to sing a spot in the show sharing the stage with Philip Bailey, Michael Bolton and Ashanti. By July of next year he will be representing Singapore to the


World Championships of the Per-forming Arts (WCOPA) in Holly-wood. Miguel will also be joining Talentadong Pinoy, TV5’s Talent show after impressing judges like Tuesday Vargas, Mr. Fu and Richard Gomez in the Singapore auditions. Currently Miguel is under-going vocal training with Austra-lian singer Corinne Gibbons, he is also enrolled in a SLS (Speech Level Singing) training a high-

ly-technical vocal course which hones and protects your delicate vocal chords. Michael Jackson was one of those famous singers who trained under SLS trainers. Aside from vocal trainings, he is also learning to play the piano. Sam says that they are not the parents who would push their child into going into show busi-ness, he says what is important for him and Kathy is that Miguel would choose where he would


going into. He said other Singaporean kids have what they term “tiger parents” referring to domineer-ing and demanding adults with excessively high expectations on their children. Samuel said that he will be meeting with his friends in the Singaporean recording industry as to give the best options for Miguel, who has decided to pur-sue a professional singing ca-reer. And just last week Miguel and his parents jetted to Manila for a meeting with ABS-CBN’s Star Records executives for a possible

recording proposal. Despite the many offers, Miguel’s parents would not just budge and bite the very first tempting offer that comes in. Sam says they are very careful whom they are signing with. As for the moment the former Ateneo de Davao Grade school pupil is enjoying the moment, the friendly kuya to his three oth-er siblings (Isabela, Mikeala and Gabriela) is still the same shy boy who idolizes Michael Jack-son, Michael Bolton and Andrea Bocelli, loves to play basketball and wants also to become a plas-tic surgeon someday.


Palace upbeat about Standard & Poor’s upgrading of country’s financial system

Malacañang said on Saturday that the Standard & Poor’s move in upgrading its outlook for the Philippines to positive from stable reflects the strength of

the country’s financial system amidst the present global economic uncertainties. During an inter-view aired over gov-ernment-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokes-

person Abigail Valte attributed the Stan-dard & Poor’s out-look upgrade to the reforms being imple-mented by the Aqui-

no administration. Valte said the government is opti-mistic that this out-look improvement will

10 Saturday, December 17, 2011


Pesident Benigno Aquino III wants a review of the government’s disaster response manual to prevent unnecessary loss of lives in the aftermath of the devastation of Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao.

translate into a much-deserved credit rating upgrade in the near future. “Ngayon po kasi two notches below investment grade pa tayo. Kung magtuloy-tuloy po ‘yung mga iba pang mga reporma

and ang strengthen-ing of the financial system, mas mapa-padali po ‘yung ac-tual credit rating up-grade,” Valte said. According to Fi-nance Secretary Ce-sar V. Purisima, the outlook improve-

ment is the fifth positive credit rating ac-tion made by vari-ous agencies for the Philippines since President Benigno S. Aquino III took office. (JS)



The president was briefed by several government agencies in Camp Aguinaldo on Saturday regarding their response to the devastation brought about by Typhoon Sendong, which left more than a hundred people dead and hun-dreds still missing. The chief ex-ecutive also wants a more accurate and ef-fective typhoon track-ing system so that communities along typhoon path could have enough time to prepare before such disturbance hits. Areas vulnerable to flash floods must be identified for the government to issue immediate warnings during heavy down-pours and typhoons, the President said.

At the same time, the President instructed concerned government agencies to do necessary prep-arations and brace for the entry of Typhoon Sendong in Palawan, the next place ex-pected to be hit by the typhoon based on recent forecasts. During the brief-ing with the President, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that the death toll could be 130 as of Satur-day noon. This figure may continue to rise, it said. At least 260 peo-ple are missing, all of them from Iligan City, according to the NDRRMC. In its report to

the President, the Department of Social Welfare and Develop-ment (DSWD) said it is sheltering hundreds of people in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and other areas. It has so far distributed food packs Saturday morning which could last for three days. It is planning to distrib-ute more food packs. With regards to the current search and rescue efforts, police and military of-ficials told the Presi-dent about the need for more rubber boats for their missions. They said rescue ef-forts as well as sal-vaging dead bodies will continue once the weather improves. (AS)



The Bureau of Fire Protection will conduct activities to urge the public to make safety

a priority during the holiday season.

by Alice Sicat

Under its “Oplan Paala-la,” BFP employees will go around barangays from De-cember 15 to 20 to remind residents of safety precau-tions to avoid fires and inju-ries amidst the celebrations. Supt. Joselito Cortez of the BFP’s Directorate for Op-erations said the agency has prepared safety guidelines that it will disseminate during the information campaign. For instance, Cortez said, the public should use only government-approved Christmas lights and other electrical decorations. “Do not use electrical outlets and extension cords more than its capacity, as this might cause

of fire,” he added. He also urged the pub-lic to turn-off Christmas lights and any electrical decorations before going to sleep or leav-ing the house. Starting December 26, the BFP will focus its info drive on handling firecrackers. He discouraged the public from buying firecrackers, as the money spent can be used to buy food instead, espe-cially in these difficult times. Instead, the BFP urges the public to use other means to make noise like paper trum-pets or “torotot” and banging on metals objects like frying pans. The BFP is also push-

ing for designating areas where the public can watch fireworks display to avoid fire and injuries. Tomorrow, December 16, BFP representatives will be at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila where a fireworks display will be held at 6 p.m. A similar event will take place on December 27, in Brgy. 28 Caloocan City. Cortez was a a guest at the radio program Talking Points, aired over DZRB Ra-dyo ng Bayan, People’s Tele-vision Network (PTV4), and sponsored by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the Philippine In-formation Agency.



Public urged to refrain from lighting firecrackers

The Department of Health has called on the public to

refrain from lighting firecrackers to minimize injuries. The campaign called IWAS PU-TOK is an annual advocacy by the DOH which discourages the use of firecrackers in efforts to prevent firecracker-related injuries. Dr. Paolo Pantojan of the DOH Region XI speaking before mem-bers of the media at Pearl Farm’s Hermes Club held last December 16 said that the current theme of this year’s IWAS PAPUTOK is APIR (Give me Five). It stands for Aksiyon Paputok Injury Reduction.

The campaign enumerated five reminders for an injury free yuletide and new year celebrations, Pantojan said. Among these include; fireworks is a hazard, all firecrackers should not be used by children, keep away from people lighting firecrackers, never pick unexploded lighted fire-works, seek medical treatment if injured by firecrackers. Pantojan said that victims must immediately apply first aid to their wounds. stop the bleeding and clean their wounds with soap and water then have tetanus toxoid shots to avoid being infected with tetanus. The DOH has lauded the City Government of Davao for banning the use of firecrackers and pyro-technics which has significantly re-duced the number of injuries in the region. Per data estimates from the Southern Philippines Medical Cen-ter, the city has no registered inju-ries for the past three years now. (RG Alama)


Davao Norte town mayor seeks stronger cell signal

SAN ISIDRO, DAVAO DEL NORTE- A barangay kagawad knocks at the house of the barangay cap-tain of Datu Balong in San Isidro, Davao del Norte, asking for assis-tance to get an ambulance to take his wife to the hospital. The barangay captain then takes a two-kilometer single motor ride to an area where he can get a cellphone signal so he can call the town mayor and request that the ambulance be sent immediately. “Ingon ana ka limit-ed ang signal sa cellphone. (That is how limited the cellphone signal.),” San Isidro Municipal Mayor Rosebell Abelita-Nana said in an interview. She revealed that six or seven of the 13 barangays in her town still have limited access to cellphone sig-nal though two telecommunication companies have already set up their cellsites about 200 kilometers from the town poblacion. Nana has wanted tele-communication companies to power

up their cellsites to provide much stronger cellphone signal and easy access to the internet which right now still remains “frustrating to ac-ccess.” “We have cellsites but the internet connecton is still limit-ed, slow; browsing is limited,” she told PIA in an interview during the conduct of information drive regard-ing the Philippine Development Plan and SMS Reporting. In case of municipal gov-ernment transactions needing inter-net posting, her staff has to travel about 50 kilometers to Tagum City just to do so. In areas where cellphone signal is very limited, barangay folks either would take a 30-motor ride to a signal-live spot or climb a tree just to text or call, Nana said. Responding to call for as-sistance or emergencies happening in far-flung barangays of her town would have been much timely if cell-phone signal were much stronger. “My phone is open; they can call me anytime,” Nana said in explaining her availability to her constituents. However, she has found herself sometimes unreachable and unable to respond to request for as-sistance due to limited cellphone sig-nal especially in dead spot areas. “Open access ko sa ilaha, ug sila sa akoa pero limited kay may


areas nga dili ma-reac.(I am open access to them but it is limited be-cause there areas which cannot be reached ,” she said. “Wala mi limit sa assistance pero sila malimitahan kung unsaon mi nila pag pahibalo.(We have no limit in terms of assis-tance but they are being limited as to how they can inform us.),” Nana added. Meanwhile,she also ex-pressed being wary about the pos-sibility that school children in her town would be experiencing a kind “culture shock” as most of them have not been exposed to internet browsing to research answers to their assignments. “Gusto man na nga in-tervention sa mga teachers (Teach-ers would have wanted such inter-vention) but we are (being) limited because we only have limited access (to the internet),” she said. Citing these situations, Nana called on telecommunication

companies to roll out a much bet-ter telecommunication technology so her constituents would be able to enjoy full internet access and strong cellphone signal. Nana has known that access to the internet has become a univer-sal challenge and that government transactions have now been made more transparent through internet posting of information. “Dili lang unta mi m- neglect (We won’t be neglected) that we are also a part of the challenge. Ang need sa syudad ug dinhi pareho lang baya (What those in the cities need, we also need the same). I hope they would consider that,” she said. Nana assured telecommuni-cation companies of a good return of their investments in her town as she expected her constituents to buy more telecommunication gad-gets and load up even more once the signal would get much stronger. (jeanevive d. abangan)

facts and figures

90% The total percentage of Philippine National Police personnel in the Davao region who will be deployed for patrol duties according to regional director Chief Superintendent Jaime Morente.

5,300 Total number of PNP personnel in Davao Region.


BFAR, DTI train coop members on seaweed processingby Jane Christine Balayo & Omar Sabal

KORONADAL CITY -- Some 15 members of a cooperative in Sarangani recently underwent training on processing and value addition of sea-weeds into income-generating products.


BFAR, DTI train coop members on seaweed processing

The two-day training, specifically intended for members of the Saran-gani Seaweed Producers Cooperative, was imple-mented by the Post Har-vest Section (PHS) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Re-gion 12 in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry - Sa-rangani Province (DTI-SP) at the Municipal Hall of Alabel town, Sarangani Province.

Training was focused on the production prod-ucts such as pickles, noo-dles, and chips out of seaweeds.

Jocelyn Romasanta, PHSs chief of the PHS,

BFAR 12 technical staff and DTI counterparts to ensure that technologies were clearly and properly conveyed to the target recipients for them to de-velop and sustain means of livelihood other than fishing.

She said that the par-ticipants, majority of whom were women, were taught to maximize use of seaweeds which are com-monly grown in the area.

“This, in effect, is an opportunity to empower women who complement efforts with their fisher-man-husbands,” Romas-anta said.

To ensure that ben-eficiaries sustain their

operation, BFAR 12 also awarded them with one unit noodle-making equipment.

The participants per-sonally thanked BFAR 12 & DTI- SP for the support they had given to their group and for the knowl-edge they had gained in the lecture and training.

According to them, it was indeed a great help for them to have an ad-ditional job and income.

Seaweeds is one of the municipal’s main product line and this is the reason why the government took the initiative to develop more products out of this commodity. (BFAR 12/DEDoguiles)


3-Year Crab Industry Development Plan launchedby Moner Dayaan

COTABATO CITY – A 3-year crab development plan for Cotabato City was for-mally launched Thursday as component event of the 1st Cotabato City crab festival in celebration of Shariff Kabunsuan Festival.

Aniceto V. Razalan, secretary to the city mayor who discussed the Cotabato’s crab development plan in yesterday during the Crab Forum 2011 said, a memorandum of agreement can be en-tered into by Cotabato City in nearby coastal town of Parang, Magu-indanao for the estab-lishment of alternate crab hatchery and con-sultation with the said local government unit (LGU) for crab invest-ment .

One strategy to de-velop and increase crab production, Razalan said, is for the city government to source out financial assistance for crab producers by coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and possible extension of capital as-

sistance from the De-partment of Trade and Industry (DTI).

To address poor crab hatchery facilities, there is a need to iden-tify location for crab hatchery operation and purchase of necessary equipment.

Due to the deple-tion of mangroves in a coastal barangay of the city which is a good habitat of crabs, the

plan recommended the rehabilitation of the mangroves in said area and planting of man-grove trees.

Establishment of a model crab farm is also envisioned so that it can serve as model to other crab producers and to provide them incentive so they can sustain their crab pro-duction. The plan is to establish at least one


farm in each baran-gay.

Providing infra-structure support like roads and bridges, re-duction of cost produc-tion and easy market access should be un-dertaken.

It is also recom-mended that to ad-dress the inadequate information on the business opportuni-

ties in the crab indus-try the plan include invitation of new in-vestors, conduct busi-ness matching and crab exhibits.

The city govern-ment will formulate ordinance on tax in-centives for crab pro-ducers and introduce new technology on crab production by seeking the assistance

of SEAFDEC through BFAR.

Razalan said that the present volume of production is very minimal just enough to meet the local mar-ket demand. The plan aims to achieve an increase of crab pro-duction from 200% to 300% after the 3-year plan for crab produc-tion is implemented.

South Cotabato nangunguna sa operasyon laban sa drogaKORONADAL CITY -- Ipinagmamalaki ng mga otoridad na nangunguna ang lalawigan ng South Cotabato sa buong Soccsksargen Region sa op-erasyon laban sa ipinagbabawal na droga.

Sa meeting ng Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) kahapon, inihayag ni Police Superintendent Jemuel Siason, opera-tions chief ng South Cotabato Police Provin-cial Office, na nakat-akdang tumanggap ng parangal ang South Cotabato PNP mula sa Police Regional Office-12 bilang pagkilala sa pagiging pinakaaktibo nito at pagkakaroon ng pinakamaraming nadakip kung iligal na droga ang pag-uusa-pan.

Base sa datos, nakapagsagawa ang PNP katuwang ang Phil-ippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency (PDEA) at National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ng 41 drug-related raid mula Enero hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Sa mga naturang raid, aabot sa 58 katao ang nadakip at nakasuhan.

Dagdag ni Siason, nananatili ang kanilang mahigpit na pagma-manman sa drug-re-lated activities sa la-lawigan partikular sa Barangay Ambalgan

sa bayan ng Sto. Niño dahil nananatili pa rin aniyang aktibo ang drug trade sa lugar. Bagama’t naging ak-tibo ang kanilang op-erasyon laban sa iligay na droga hindi aniya maikakaila na nanatili ang mga illegal drug activities dito.

Pinalalakas din ng PNP South Cota-bato ang kampanya laban sa iligal na dro-ga sa mga kumuni-dad sa pamamagi-tan ng programang “Pamilya Ayaw sa Droga.”(DEDoguiles)


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Gov’t agencies give focus on Kalusugan Pangkalahatan by Jennifer P. Gaitano

Representatives from the national government agencies, local government units, and partner stakeholders tackled the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (Universal Health Care) Program

of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration, during its meeting held recently in one of the local convention centers here.


The activity was spearheaded by the De-partment of Health (DOH) Caraga in support to the Regional Development Plan and Millennium De-velopment Goals No. 4 and 5 (Reduce Child Mor-tality, Improved Maternal Health, and Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases). DOH bared that as of November 2011, there are 62 Rural Health Units (RHUs) already in place, where PhilHealth accred-its its Out-Patient Benefit (OPB) and provides Ma-

ternal Care Package. The implementation of the said program shall be directed towards en-suring the achievement of the health system goals of better health outcomes, sustained health financ-ing and responsive health system by ensuring that all Filipinos, especially the disadvantaged group in the spirit of solidarity and have equitable access to affordable health care. DOH revealed that in 2010, there were 64 ma-ternal mortality cases in Caraga. They are aiming to achieve zero mortality rate in the coming years through the collaborative efforts of the government and private stakeholders. Kalusugan Pangka-lahatan is the health re-form agenda of the DOH. Its main aim is to provide

financial risk protection for all Filipinos, especially the poor, by ensuring uni-versal PhilHealth coverage and improving the benefits of Philippine Health Insur-ance (PhilHealth, Inc.). The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initia-tives are designed to help PhilHealth encourage more and more people to become part of PhilHealth and to assist PhilHealth in improving its services for its members. All of these will be at no cost to the corporation. Government agen-cies will convene again on February 2012 to discuss further plans and activi-ties that will continue to protect the public’s health, and will also conduct train-ing/orientation on basic family planning to LGUs.

BUTUAN CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here is regularly conducting ocular inspections to establishments and sees to it that the buildings have complied the regulations set by the bureau.

BFP-Butuan conducts ocular inspection to establishmentsby Robert E. Roperos


In an interview with a local radio sta-tion here recently, BFP-Butuan Chief Inspec-tor Aldrich Gomez said the ocular inspection is part of their man-date to ensure that all establishments here

are safe. Insp. Gomez is thankful to the city government for their relentless efforts in supporting the man-date of the BFP. Gomez said those who have violated the

mandate required of them will be penalized accordingly. “This is imposed so that own-ers of establishments will give value to the importance of comply-ing the requirements to ensure safety,” he added. This effort of BFP-Butuan supports the good governance of Mayor Amante which is also the flagship program of the Aqui-no Administration as embodied in the Phil-ippine Development Plan.

OWWA establishes help deskby Ritchel M. MoleroBUTUAN CITY – The establishment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Help Desks is set after officials from the province of Surigao del Sur and representatives of the ten municipalities finally signed recently the Memorandum of Agreement with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the La Entrada, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.


The agreement is committed partnership of OWWA with the local government units to pro-vide programs and ser-vices that shall appropri-ately and timely respond to the needs of OFWs and their families. The MOA signing was led by OWWA-Cara-ga Regional Director Dr. Marieta A. Lumawag and the Provincial Public Em-ployment Service Office (PESO) Manager Marcos Quico. OWWA-Caraga ’s Programs and Services Chief Annette F. Lovete, Family Welfare Officers Ronnie B. Azura and Lorie

Ann Hilongos and PESO Managers from the ten municipalities witnessed the said event. The municipalities’ representatives who also signed the MOA were the following: Vice-Mayor Carlosito C. Avila of the Municipality of Cagwait; Mayor Genito B. Guardo of the Municipality of Cantilan; Mayor Pedro M. Trinidad, Jr. of Cor-tes; Mayor Candelario J. Viola, Jr. of Hinatuan; Mayor Roy Hegino S. Sarmen of Lianga; Mayor Jose A. Arpilleda of Ma-drid; Vice-Mayor Jovita S. Umapas of Marihatag; Mayor Honolulu C. Go of

San Agustin; Mayor Al-feo G. Perez, Jr. of San Miguel; and Vice-Mayor Nelita T. Cotiangco of Tagbina. Meanwhile, OW-WA-Caraga conducted a two-day Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) to 55 OFWs and their families in the same venue. Participants were mostly members of OFW Family Circles from the municipalities of Madrid, Cortes, Can-tilan and Tandag. The EDT is one of the requirements for the OFW P2 Billion Re-integration Loan Pro-gram of the OWWA in partnership with Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines. Among the topics discussed focused on How to Start Your Own Business, Financial Lit-eracy, How to Make a Business Proposal and Values Re-Orientation. (OWWA-Caraga)


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PRC to launch Sky Lanterns Festival in Dipolog by Alfonso T. Ruda

M otivated by its desire to raise sufficient funds for emergency purposes and fully serve the needy in times of calamity, the

Philippine Red Cross, Zamboanga del Norte Chapter will launch a fund-raising campaign this Christmas, dubbed as the Sky Lanterns Festival 2011.

PHOTO BY: Ruel D. Tabada


It will be held at the Sunset Boulevard, Dipolog City starting 6 o’clock in the evening on December 17, 2011. Mr. Joshua Bicoy, PRC-Zamboanga del Norte Chapter adminis-trator said, the festival aims to gather various members of the commu-nity and organizations to celebrate the spirit of Christmas through peace and unity. According to Bi-coy, PRC which primar-ily depends on financial support from dona-tions, contributions and membership fees for all programs and projects during emergency situ-ations and calamities hopes to generate ad-ditional funds from the said festival. Anchored on its phi-losophy, “Always First. Always ready, always There,” the local PRC chapter has organized a 24-hour Emergency Re-sponse Unit which would help and respond to any given emergency situa-tion 24/7. The Sky Lanterns Festival, chaired by Zamboanga del Norte dipologcity.gov.ph

PNP Provin-cial Director Sr. Supt. Ulpiano Lopez; Co-chair-man Engr. Leon-cio Solamillo of the DPWH First Engineering Dis-trict; and Board of Directors Chair-person Engr. Socorro Hamac have appealed to the public and oth-er organizations to sponsor the activity at PhP150.00 per lantern. For more informa-tion regarding the up-coming activity, Bicoy urges the interested par-ties to visit the PRC office located at the Provincial Tourism Complex and see Mr. Nicoh Gen Regencia, the Chapter Service Representative. (JPA/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)


20T Phil health recipients delisted as beneficiaries starting 2012

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Some 20,000 recipients of the city government‘s PhilHealth insurance program were delisted as its beneficiaries starting 2012.

by Jocelyn P. Alvarez

thephilsouthangle.com

City Information

Officer (IO) Sheila Co-varrubias said “the new policy makes only those included in the list yield-ed from the National

Housing Targeting Sys-tem (NHTS) survey as eligible for the Philhealth sponsorship program.” Covarrubias said the city government has

made several requests for the reconsideration of the said 20,000 del-isted, but the national government is bent on implementing the new


policy. “Mayor Lobre-gat has earlier sought reconsideration from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Secretary Jesse Robredo and the Department of Health (DOH) through Sec-retary Enrique Ona and Philhealth chief executive officer Dr. Rey Aquino on the new sponsorship policy. However, the govern-ment is bent on im-plementing the policy starting January 2012 nationwide,” Covarru-bias explained. The delisting was in view of the new pol-icy on PhilHealth spon-sorship involving local government units na-tionwide. “The 20,000 ben-eficiaries expected to be affected by the new policy are part of the to-tal 25,792 beneficiaries of the health insurance program in the city,” the active lady IO said. “Only over 5,000 in the list of present beneficiaries are includ-ed in the NHTS survey

conducted by the Depart-ment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” she confirmed. “To be affected are senior citizens, ba-rangay officials, per-sons with disabilities, members of Rural Im-provement Club, mem-bers of the media and other sectors that are included in the city’s PHILHEALTH program,” Covarrubias explained. Covarrubias shared, “under the present pro-gram, each beneficiary is entitled to a one-year PhilHealth insurance for P1,200, of which the local government unit shoul-

ders the P600 while the nation-al government shoulders the remaining P600.” Covarrubias said the NHTS survey was done in 2009 purposely to identify the poorest of the poor and the DOH, DILG and Philhealth are set to use the NHTS list in the national sponsorship program starting 2012. The new policy is also to pave the way for the expansion of the 4 P’s program of the national government. (JPA/SCovarrubias/CIO)


Custom collections up in 4th quarter, says Gen. LimDIPOLOG CITY - The collection of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) this last quarter has improved, according to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Gen. Danilo Lim.

by Franklin P. Gumapon

Lim, during his re-cent media interview here said the bureau’s collection starting last October 2011 has im-proved compared to that of September of same year. “We were behind P30 billion in our collection last Septem-ber,” Lim disclosed. However, Lim said the BOC has been able to minimize its collec-tion deficit in the fourth quarter of this year. Lim further dis-closed that reforms have been undertaken in the customs to weed out cor-ruption and to improve the image of the agency. For years the BOC earned the moniker as the most corrupt agency

of the government. With this, the BOC is now in-troducing systemic/struc-tural reforms to stem the prevalence of corruption in the agency. One tangible reform the agency is pursuing these days is the reduc-tion of smuggling cases

by intensifying it cam-paign against smugglers, said Lim. Lim has dropped by in this city the other day on his way to Oroquieta City for a speaking en-gagement. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)

http://mypinoy.tv


Iligan City under state of calamity

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte -- City Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan declared the entire city under State of Calamity, through a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod.


The local govern-ment unit, throught the local city executive, may disburse funds for relief operations and disaster preparedness to purchase equipment like rubber boats.

Earlier, the city may-or had an aerial view of the submerged areas and the houses swept by Ty-phoon Sendong. He had also ex-pressed relief on Presi-dent Benigno Aquino

III’s commitment in pro-viding assistance to the flash floods victims and in sending Interior and Lo-cal Government secretary Jessie Robredo to visit the flood stricken city. He also thanked the municipalities of Bacolod and Maigo of Lanao del Norte and from Ozamis City, who sent fire trucks with potable water at evacuation centers and the priests and nuns in the city who opened their churches and provided a refuge for some evacuees The Department of Social Welfare and Devel-opment – Region 10 will also be hauling 10,000 food packs for Iligan City typhoon victims.

photo credit: enquirer.com

‘Sendong’ kills 4, leaves 33 missing in Bukidnonby Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon –- At least four persons were killed and 33 were missing, after a flood, brought by tropical storm “Sendong’ hit Tumalaong village in Barangay Lingating, Baungon, Bukidnon before dawn Saturday.


Photo credit ledger-enquirer.com

Initial report said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage-ment Council (PDRRMC) immediately responded through the emergency rescue teams of the Phil-ippine Red Cross, 403rd Brigade of the Philippine Army and Philippine Na-tional Police, Arsenio Al-agenio, Executive Officer of the PDRRMC said. Residents reported earlier that as many as 40 to 50 people were missing, but Alagenio said the low-er figure of 33 was more accurate as it was based on a report from the ba-rangay officials. “There were twenty

two (22) houses in Libona town in Bukidnon totally damaged by the strong winds and floodwaters,” Alagenio said. The Tumalaong Bridge which connects Baungon and Libona towns, all in Bukidnon, also collapsed due to the strong current of floodwa-ters. The Kabula Bridge in Baungon town was also damaged. Said bridge connects Baungon, Bukid-non and Cagayan de Oro City. This rendered Baun-gon town isolated from the rest of the neighbor-ing towns of Bukidnon and

Cagayan de Oro City. The rains brought by Sendong started at 5:00 a.m. Friday and lasted un-til 3:00 a.m. Saturday. The provincial gov-ernment has started dis-tributing relief goods to the flood victims along with other private agen-cies, while the Libona mu-nicipal government had also set up a relief center. The Municipal Di-saster Risk Reduction and Management Council are on alert to monitor hazard prone areas, especially those living in low lying and mountainous areas, as light rains continuously poured over the area.


‘Sendong’ leaves 79 dead in Iliganby Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte-- At least 79 people were reported dead and 260 person missing as flash floods spawned by Tropical Storm Sendong hit 17 barangays in Iligan City, the City Disaster Council said.

Arnel Bendijo, head of City Disaster Risk Reduc-tion and Management Of-fice of Iligan, this figure is as of 4:30 pm today. At around 12 mid-night residents were awak-ened by continuous heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and the rush of flood waters caused by the swollen Mandulog and Iligan Rivers. He said around 2,000 families are affected and they come from Barangays Mandulog, Digkilaan, Bon-bonon, Upper and Lower

Hiplanon, San Roque, Sta. Filomena, Santiago, Bagong Silang, San Miguel, Abuno, Tipanoy, Tubod, Mahayhay, Ubaldo Laya, Tambacan, Pugaan and Palao. The Bayug island, which is under Barangay Hinaplanon, is being moni-tored as it is secluded with sea water and several fam-ilies missing are believed to have come from this is-land. As of press time, con-tinuous search and rescue operation is being under-taken by Task Force Maka-

lintad. Teams from the Ac-credited Civilian Disaster Volunteers, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross, and the city’s 811 rescue team were also mobilized. Rescued residents were taken to ten evacu-ation centers identified by the City Social and Wel-fare Development (CSWD) and the barangay officials. They are now being given by CSWD packed foods that include rice, canned goods, coffee and noodles.

‘Sendong’ leaves 79 dead in Iligan

one mindanao - december 17, 2011

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