one mindanao - june 22, 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

GIDEON C. CORGUE, 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

Gensan forms local housing board

Farming coop gets P4.1 M aid from DAR, city government

Sta. Cruz municipality adopts GAD Focal Point System

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DTI’s SSF — Fitting entrepreneurial skills into women’s lives

Government continues to monitor Mount Bulusan’s new explosion

Norway witness to first Mindanao arms turnover

GSIS offers emergency loan to members and pensioners in Tungawan town

DILG 13 releases P42.4 M for 32 BUB projects in Caraga

DOST holds meat processing training in Siargao town

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By: IJLagare

By: OPAPP

By: Gideon C. CorgueBy: Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

By: GJdarconada

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGENSOUTHERN

NATIONAL

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PAGASA simplifies meaning, impact of storm signals

DOT supports Festival of Springs in BukidnonBy: Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

By: Julius R. Paner

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By: Laurence D. Pradia

Contents

4 June 22, 2015One Mindanao

Cover StoryDTI’s SSF — Fitting entrepreneurial skills into women’s lives By: Laurence D. Pradia

“The best life is a productive life,” said “Nene,” a beneficiary of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Shared Service Facility (DTI-SSF) project in a farming neighborhood of Zone 2, Lake Apo, Guinoyuran village in Valencia City, Bukidnon.is for safe drinking water.

5June 22, 2015 One Mindanao

DTI’s SSF — Fitting entrepreneurial skills into women’s lives By: Laurence D. Pradia

“The best life is a productive life,” said “Nene,” a beneficiary of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Shared Service Facility (DTI-SSF) project in a farming neighborhood of Zone 2, Lake Apo, Guinoyuran village in Valencia City, Bukidnon.is for safe drinking water.


“Nene,” a mother of five, is one of the more than 50 profiled members of the Lake Apo Women’s Association (LAWA) in the sub-village who loves to just help her husband in the farm or stay at home, prepare meals and tend to kids. “Sometimes, I just chat with my group of friends after my husband had gone to farm. I do not really work despite the struggles to make both ends meet,” she shared. Hand in hand in building better lives While life remains difficult, Nene said, it was much harder before the year 2013, when DOLE Philippines Incorporated opened a door for the association to start a small business. When DOLE was challenged by


government laws in disposing their used plastic straps, they asked LAWA to create different products out of it. “Hand in hand, it was then when we started making Kaang (plant pots), Banig (mats) and bayong (plastic bags). Their problem gave us a business opportunity,” said Ceferina Delos Santos, the LAWA president. To formalize the association, they decided to register in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has opened more doors for them to do well. The City government of Valencia, under its livelihood program, also enhanced the LAWA members’ skills to manufacture wearables through training that enabled them to produce additional products. A livelihood project of Congressman Teofisto Guingona III gave them a start-up capital to begin a tailoring business. Largely, the group invested into acquiring few sewing machines from the proceeds of the project and added other

sewing machines through the assistance of KASILAK Foundation. Promoting inclusive growth Strengthening the support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) towards inclusive growth, the Department of Trade and Industry – Bukidnon Provincial Office granted the group an Edger Machine through the DTI’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project. Heavy duty sewing machine and cloth cutter will be added by DTI to the association’s equipment not just to enhance but to accelerate the group’s production capacity to level and catch-up the orders they get from their clients. To date, LAWA has expanded their production volume for coveralls, aprons, hair caps and masks supplying thousands of sets to different clients like DOLE Philippines and SUMIFRU.

They also eyed on accepting orders for new product line like school uniforms for students and teachers upon the establishment of the new SSF Project in the second semester of 2015.


DTI Provincial Director Ermedio J. Abang said LAWA, as a women’s group, has great contribution to the country’s development. Likewise, he cited the significance of the DTI’s support in advancing SSF project objectives to promote inclusive growth. In great admiration, LAWA President Ceferina Delos Santos conveyed how the project helped change their lives for the best and accepted the fact that in a very small way, they contributed

to the country’s economic development. Likewise, the assistance of different agencies created jobs for other women in the village. It served as catalysts of change from their traditional rural life into more urbane activity empowering women to be more active in the labor force diminishing the concept of women’s exclusion from the employment growth.


Women as full and equal partners of men in development and nation-building Joint efforts of different agencies, both in the government and private sector, pushed the involvement of women in nation building strengthened by RA 7192 or the “Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and Nation Building and for Other Purposes.” Uniting and supporting

women organizations in rural areas proved significant results in sustaining the continued participation of women in nation building—offering jobs and delivering revenues. LAWA started in 2013, uniting women who have been living a simple yet monotonous life.

It is one of the solid representations of the pooled public-private effort to drive women into the country’s promotion of inclusive growth.


Palace invites public to watch second part of documentary on the West Philippine Sea

MANILA - The Palace on Sunday invites the public to watch the second part of the documentary regarding the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said it will be shown by 4:00 p.m. on June 22 (Monday) on the Facebook page of President

Benigno Aquino and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Episode 02 will also be aired on People’s Television Network


(PTV-4) at 5:30 p.m. There will be replays on June 23 and 26, at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

“Ang focus sa ikalawang yugto ay ang kasaysayan ng usapin sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at ng Tsina. Isa sa mga tampok na resource person ay si Justice Antonio Carpio ng Korte Suprema,” said Coloma in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

During this year’s Independence Day celebration, the first of the three-part documentary was shown, entitled “Kalayaan: Karapatan sa Karagatan,” and featured the livelihood of fishermen from

Masinloc, Zambales that were affected by the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard and Navy.

The first documentary also discussed the environmental impact of China’s reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.

“Bahagi ang dokumentaryong ito sa programa ng DFA na itaas ang antas ng kaalaman at kamalayan ng mga mamamayan hinggil sa mga usapin sa West Philippine Sea. Ang ikatlo at huling yugto hinggil sa aspetong legal ay ipapalabas sa darating na Hulyo,” said Coloma.(PCOO/ PND (ag)


Government continues to monitor Mount Bulusan’s new explosion

MANILA - Government continues to monitor the new explosion of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., on Sunday.


“Patuloy ang pagsubaybay ng pamahalaan sa mga kaganapan sa Mount Bulusan sa Sorsogon upang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mahigit sa 34,000 apektadong residente mula sa 22 barangay at limang munisipalidad sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon,” said Coloma in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) estimated that the explosion has affected some

34,000 residents from 22 barangays and five municipalities of Barcelona, Bulusan, Irosin, Casiguran, and Juban.

Based on the report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Department of Social Welfare and Development ((DSWD) has distributed over 200 food packs to residents of Irosin and Juban, who were directly affected by the latest explosion.

Coloma noted that the government has approximately P171 million worth of food packs and funds from the DSWD field office on standby. The Phivolcs had put Mount Bulusan on Alert 1 or abnormal state after steam-driven explosion sent an ash plume 1.5 kilometers into the air at 2:55 p.m. last Friday.

The public has since been banned from entering the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone around the volcano. (PCOO/PND (ag)


Norway witness to first Mindanao arms turnover

16 June 2015 is the start of the decommissioning process, which will put the combatants and their weapons beyond use as part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. In a ceremony held in Sultan Kudarat, the MILF registered and turned over 75 high-powered weapons to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), and 145 combatants were decommissioned to formally

mark their return to normalcy.

The Philippine government led by the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the MILF Central Committee led by Chair Al Haj Murad as well


as the international and local peace stakeholders attended the event. Norwegian Ambassador Erik Førner and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder also witnessed the arms turnover.

“We have been a committed partner to this process for several years—as part of the International Monitoring Team and now the IDB—and witnessing firsthand the beginning of the decommissioning is making a lasting impression. It means that the peace efforts are starting to bear fruit,” says Ambassador Førner.

The Norwegian government is part of the decommissioning

process. Retired Brigadier General Jan Erik Wilhelmsen is the head of the IDB headquarters and seats as the vice-chair for the establishment of the IDB. Norway also deployed experts in the IDB headquarters and in the verification and monitoring assistance teams (VMAT) that will securely facilitate the decommissioning process.

There will be a gradual decommissioning of combatants and their weapons. The secure arms storage facility will be supervised by the IDB while the decommissioned forces will be provided with immediate cash assistance and PhilHealth cards. (OPAPP)

BFAR-XI’s closed season policy continues to protect Davao Gulf

DAVAO CITY – The Bu-reau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the region has started the second year imple-mentation of the closed season policy of the Davao Gulf in a bid to conserve small pelagic fishes. Just like last year, the Davao Gulf will be closed for fishing op-erations that use ringnet and bagnet fishing gears regardless of tonnage, starting June to August which is the spawning period of small pelagic

fishes. The closed season policy of the gulf is cov-ered under Joint Admin-istrative Order No. 02 signed in 2014 by the Department of Agricul-ture and Department of Interior and Local Gov-ernment. BFAR-XI together with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), PNP Mari-time Unit and Philippine Navy is implementing the Order. BFAR-XI has sent off Thursday six patrol boats to be deployed across the Davao Gulf


to tighten watch over the gulf which has a total area of 3,087 kilometers starting from Talagotong Point in Don Marcelino town, Davao Occidental to Cape San Agustin, Governor Genero-so, Davao Oriental. Fatma Idris, BFAR-XI regional director, said the patrol vessels will intensify monitoring of individuals or group of fisherfolks violating the Order, especially in hotspot areas like Governor Generoso, Lupon and San Isidro in Davao Oriental, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Sta. Maria in Davao Occidental and Samal Island in Davao del Norte. According to JAO No. 2, the three highest officers of the boat vio-lating the Orders shall be punished by imprisonment of six months and one day to six years and/or a fine of P6,000, and forfeiture of catch and cancellation of fishing permit or li-cense. Idris emphasized that the closed season is providing time for pelagic fishes to produce eggs and grow until the fish reaches to its ex-act length called length at first matu-rity. Jose Villanueva, chief of the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division, bared that fish eggs have been observed since third week of May this year. Villanueva reported that 26 per-cent increase in fish catch has been noted in the Davao Gulf area after the 1 ½ months of closure season in 2014. “Though the figure is not signif-icant, but there was still growth,” he

stated. When asked by the media con-cerning fisherfolks who complained and to asked lessen the three-month period of the closure season, Idris said that so far there’s no complaint and request that reached her office. She said if there would be re-quest for adjustment of the duration, her office would be willing to sponsor a consultation or meeting with the fisherfolks. According to the website of the Davao Gulf Management Council, Davao Gulf is a feeding and breeding ground for small pelagic and season-al migration site, breeding and nurs-ery ground for large pelagic. Small pelagic fishes are fishes that live near the surface or in the water column of coastal, ocean, usu-ally caught by both commercial and municipal fishing gears like bagnet, ringnet, and other modified fishing gears of similar operations. Small pelagic fishes include variety of mackerel species or locally called karabalyas, the roundscad species with a local name galong-gong or moro-moro and the variety of big eye scad species locally known as matambaka. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)


Sta. Cruz municipality adopts GAD Focal Point System

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur– Mayor Joel Ray L. Lopez signed on Mon-day (June 15) Executive Order No. 09 creating and organizing the lo-cal government unit’s Gender and Development Focal Point System. Lopez issued the Order aiming to prescribe policies and procedures in mainstreaming gender perspective in local planning, programming and budgeting local legislation, project development, implementation moni-toring and evaluation. This is pursuant to Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women to align efforts of the local govern-ment and the national government of Gender and Development and the commitments to international decla-rations. On June 17-19, the Local Gov-ernment Unit has convened its local leaders and heads of offices for a three-day GAD Planning and Budget-ing for 2016. GAD program has a 5% budget allocation to the LGU’s overall annual appropriation. The Order is also pursuant to Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01 of the Philippine Commis-sion on Women, Department of Inte-rior and Local Government, Depart-ment of Budget and Management and National Economic Development Authority to all LGUs. (CDIO-XI/Ju-

lius R. Paner)

Decommissioning manifests MILF’s transformation -- MuradBy: Perlita B. Changco

COTABATO CITY, June 22 – “For some peo-ple, the event today is about statistics, 145 MILF and 75 firearms but this is not. It is something deeply personal to us,” Moro Is-lamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Com-mittee Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said during the ceremonial turnover of weapons and decommissioning of the MILF combat-ants on Tuesday.

Ebrahim said, “As I look at the basis of each of our 145 brothers here, I see 145 stories of struggle, pain, hopelessness and even of death. I also see 145 stories of hope that indeed peace is near,” he added.

The event was the first phase of the de-commissioning process under the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agree-ment on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed last March 2014.

He emphasized, this decision is “to show MILF’s firm commitment to comply with the principal agreements signed with the Philip-pine government knowing that the President understands and feels what they have been going through. How it is to be under the op-pressive regime.”

Chairman Murad expressed gratitude to President Aquino for his unwavering com


mitment to their partnership to build a democratic, peace-ful and safe society for the Bangsamoro.

He stressed, this is the begin-ning of the transformation of the MILF from an armed revolution-ary organization to a political or-ganization ready to govern and serve the Bangsamoro people.

“Today is not yet the comple-tion and culmination of our hopes and dreams. It is a sig-nificant event because we pro-claim our commitment to peace not by words but by action, we’re ready and distinctive part-ner in building a new corner of

peace, security and develop-ment not just for the Bangsam-oro but for all,” Murad said.

The 75 weapons were turned over to the Independent Decom-missioning Body (IDB) headed by the Turkish Ambassador to NATO Haydar Berk with repre-sentatives of Norway, Brunei and the GPH and MILFpanels as members.

The decommissioned weapons were stored at Camp Abubakar in Sitio Bombaran, Barangay Tugaig in Barira, Maguindanao wherein 30 members of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) are assigned to ensure


Gensan forms local housing board

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 22 – The city government has re-cently formed its local housing board that will focus on the formu-lation and implementation of the comprehensive and integrated housing and land development program of the city.

security of the storage area un-der the supervision of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Team

(JVMT). (IEroy/PBChangco/PIA Cotabato City)dpuf

Following the executive order issued by City Mayor Ronnel Ri-vera during the first months of his term, the Sangguniang Pan-lungsod (SP) has approved the ordinance that specifies the cre-ation of the General Santos City Housing Board (GSCHB).

Mary Ann Bacar, City Housing and Land Management Office (CHLMO) head, said the housing board serves different functions, especially in the effective imple-mentation of socialized hous-ing and relocation for the urban poor.

“In accordance to the guide-lines provided by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), every local govern-ment unit must create their own housing boards to complement the national government’s ef-

fort in managing housing proj-ects that will greatly benefit the poor,” Bacar said.

To do this, the local housing board will formulate policies to effectively implement the 20% socialized housing counterparts of proposed subdivision projects by any given developer.

This policy is mandated un-der Republic Act (RA) 7279, also known as the Urban Develop-ment and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992.

The LHB and its utilization of the socialized housing counter-parts are both vital to Gensan, given that the city has been continuously attracting different housing developers to put their projects here.

“To cut it short, without the LHB, the 20% socialized hous


ing counterpart won’t be im-plemented here in the city. It will be taken by the HLURB and will implement it on other fea-sible areas,” said Bacar.

Robinsons Homes’ 20% so-cialized housing compliance was not given to General Santos City because during its entry the city had no LHB, she noted.

For nine years of pushing, it was until now that the local gov-ernment unit of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) has formed its LHB after Mayor Rivera ordered its creation.

Rivera explained that the city had missed many opportunities to grab these privileges from

the UDHA.“Kung meron tayong LHB

noon, Gensan could have now developed many socialized housing for the poor. Syempre, marami talaga ang nakinabang sana (If we had LHB in the past, Gensan could have now devel-oped many socialized housing for the poor. Of course, many could have benefited from it),” Mayor Rivera pointed out.

“Now, we are hoping for the best, that this time, Gensan will really benefit from these proj-ects,” Rivera said.

Camella Homes, Robinson Homes, and Norfolk Homes, are just some of the new housing


Farming coop gets P4.1 M aid from DAR, city governmentGENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 22 -- An farmer organization here recently received farming equipment worth P4.1 million from the Department of Agrarian Reform and the city government of General Santos City.

developers that have entered General Santos City in the past five years.

It is expected that this num-

ber will still grow due to the healthy business climate the city is enjoying. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

The Tinagacan Agrarian Re-form Beneficiaries Cooperative (TARBC) got a flatbed dryer and one tractor with disc plow, dish harrow and trailer worth P1 million and P3.1 mil-lion, respectively, through the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Sup-port Services (ARCCESS) pro-gram.

Fidel Morales, DAR assistant regional director for operations, and other top DAR officials handed the equipment to TARBC president Zaldy Oñas on June 11 in Barangay Tinagacan.

“Maraming salamat talaga sa DAR at binigay nila sa amin ang project na to. Matagal na talaga namin tong hinihiling dahil kai-langan namin, at sa wakas, na-

hahawakan na naming,” Oñas said

(We are really thankful to DAR that they gave this project to us. We have been wishing this equipment because we need it, and last, we can get a hold of it).

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and City Agriculturists Office (CAO) head Merlinda Donasco also graced the occasion.

The local government unit of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) is the major partner of DAR in this project.

“We would like to express our gratitude to DAR for giving this project to Gensan. I know this project won’t be limited to Gen-san because this can be also uti-lized in Sarangani and Cota


bato,” Mayor Rivera said.“I also would like to commend

the TARBC for their good perfor-mance that they have qualified in this program. Actually, we can call this divine intervention, because the DAR’s ARCCESS only gives farming equipment to one cooperative every cluster,” the mayor explained.

In Sarangani and Gensan cluster, only TARBC and a farm-ing cooperative in Kawas, Ala-bel have met the requirements given by DAR.

Morales said the ARCCESS project is a strategic scheme DAR made to provide farming equipment to cooperatives that have potential to proliferate their yields.

“Since there is no PDAF any-more, we have come up with this ARCCESS so that we can still comply with the mandate of RA 9700 (An Act Strengthening the Agrarian Reform Program),” Morales explained.

“We have limited budget that is why we only subsidize farm-ing cooperatives that have great potential to proliferate their yields. When that will happen, it is our challenge for them to help other farming cooperatives in their production, so that they can grow too,” Morales added.

ARCCESS in an intervention program that to help ARBs retain the lands awarded to them by increasing production and engagement in agri-based and related enterprises.

Components of the program include provision of common service facilities (CSFs) for pro-duction and processing, agri-technology and agri-extension services, business development services, credit facilitation, and land tenure improvement.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rivera an-nounced during the turnover ceremony that the Depart-ment of Agriculture has allotted P18,384,000 for the Food Se-curity Program in the city. For these projects to be imple-mented, LGU-GSC has set aside P3,244,235 as counterpart.

This will be used to reha-bilitate the Purok 11 – Purok 8 farm-to-market-road (FMR) in Barangay Tinagacan.

DAR also allocated P11.8 million for the concreting of the Purok 8 – Purok 20 FMR in the same barangay also. For this, LGU-GSC gave a counter-part of P5.9 million.

The construction of these FMRs is targeted to start in Au-gust. (IJLagare-Gensan CPIO/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)


AgNor guv bares 2014 accomplishmentsBy: Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY– Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba bared significant accomplishments of her administration during her second State of the Province Address (SOPA) held last June 17 at the Provincial Covered Court, this city.


Governor Matba reported that in 2014, a total of 358 hectares were distributed to 252 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the prov-ince and a total of 6,419 Agrar-ian Reform Beneficiaries were trained in various livelihood and income generating activities.

It was also learned that to ensure food sustainability, the province had established a buf-fer stocks for rice by importing 13,968 bags in 2014.

The province additionally bagged the Gawad Saka Award in 2014 for its outstanding per-formance that manifests suc-cessful outcome of the programs and services of the government in sustaining food security and nation building.

Last year, Agusan del Norte spearheaded and supervised the implementation of 36 different infra projects worth P238 million. A project worth P43 million was constructed along the Agusan-Bukidnon road beginning at Ca-layagon, Buenavista and stretch-ing 2.86 kms towards Guinabsan section of the Buenavista-Buna-guit Road.

She also relayed that the prov-ince continued to energize the farthest communities and have connected an additional 381 households in 22 barangays.

Moreover, the lady governor

said that a total of 7,500 cop-ies of AgNor Bulletin, the official newsletter of the province, were distributed weekly to empower the constituency.

“The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) also contributed largely to our information drive. Likewise, the PAGASA ably pro-vided the province with up to date information of weather ob-servations,” added Matba.

In terms of local legislation, a total of 29 ordinances were en-acted and 321 resolutions cover-ing areas on governance, admin-istration, social development, economic development and en-vironmental management were passed.

Matba’s leadership had also targeted strategic action areas in ensuring that the thrusts of protecting and rehabilitating the environment are pursued. These include: Mangrove reforesta-tion in Carmen, Cabadbaran & Buenavista; Provincewide river-bank stabilization; Province-wide reforestation; and construction of climate change resilient infra facilities.

The SOPA was attended by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, regional offices’ ex-ecutives, local mayors, PNP of-ficials, government employees and constituents.


DILG 13 releases P42.4 M for 32 BUB projects in Caraga By: Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government – Caraga Region (DILG 13) has released a total of P42,419,865 for the 19 Disaster Risk Reduction-Related projects, 12 Potable Water System projects and one other

infrastructure project across 25 municipalities in Caraga Region lodged under the agency for the Bottom-Up Budgeting program. One of the mechanisms

to pursue the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty from 26.5 percent in 2009 to 16.6 percent by 2015 is the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) program. Starting 2012, BUB has been a strategy of converging programs of the national

government agencies, including the DILG, aimed at addressing the needs of the communities and the delivery of services by the local government units.

These 25 were among the first batch of municipalities to receive their checks. The rest of the 48 cities and municipalities in the


region are slated to receive their BUB DILG Fund within this or the next quarter of this year.

Of those already released, a total of P10,520,400 worth of checks were received by six municipalities of Agusan del Norte for the implementation of eight projects (three DRR-related totaling P4.2M, four potable water systems totaling P5.5M and one other infra project—Public Market—amounting to P820,400). The municipalities that received checks were Carmen (P1.2M), Jabonga (P820,400), Kitcharao (P4M), Nasipit (P1.2M), RTR (P1.8M) and Santiago (P1.5M—3 projects).

A total of P13,420,000 worth of checks were received by four municipalities of Agusan del Sur for the implementation of four projects (one DRR-related amounting P2.88M and three potable water systems totaling P10.54M). These were Loreto (P2.8M), San Francisco (P2.88M), San Luis (P4M), and Trento (P3.74M).

A total of P10,479,465 worth of checks were received by eight municipalities of Surigao del Norte for the implementation of 11 projects (seven DRR-related totaling P7.3M and four potable water systems totaling P3.1M). These were Bacuag (P1.08M),

Burgos (P1.6M), Mainit (P700K), Malimono (P1.2M—two projects), Pilar (P2M), San Isidro (P500K), Socorro (P1.4M—two projects), and Sta. Monica (P2M—two projects).

A total of P 8,000,000 worth of checks were received by seven municipalities of Surigao de Sur for the implementation of nine projects (eight DRR-related totaling P7.5M and one potable water system amounting to P500K). The municipalities were Barobo (P1.52M), Bayabas (P1.3M), Cantilan (P500K), Cortes (P600K), Hinatuan (P2.08M) Marihatag (P1.0M—two projects) and San Agustin (P1.0M—two projects).

Mode of fund releases were single tranches for projects costing P1M or less, and the rest were first of two tranches (80 percent) for projects amounting to more than P1M.

Thus far, the BUB DILG Fund for the three years of implementation amounts to a substantial P551,590,315.47. In 2013, the fund amounted to P67,241,999.72 that increased to P120,375,596.15 in 2014 to P363,972,719.660 this year. These are all for projects identified at the community level through the Bottom-Up Budgeting process.


DOST holds meat processing training in Siargao town By: GJdarconada

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga through its Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Surigao del Norte (SDN) and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), conducted the second set of training on Advance Meat Processing held

recently in Burgos, Siargao Island, SDN. A total of 34 members from the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Burgos together with six personnel from the Municipal Agriculture Office were in attendance during the said training. The activity was aimed to provide the stakeholders scientifically based meat processing techniques, it was learned. “Nagpasalamat gajud ako na wala gihikaw sa DOST (staff) na magpadala ug trainors diri sa

lungsod sa Burgos [I am very much thankful that DOST did not repudiate to send trainers here in Burgos],” Rosalinda G. Selisana, RIC Burgos President, said on her opening remarks. “This activity will help you (RIC members) improve your skills and will give you more ideas on processing variety of meat products,” said PSTC – Surigao del Norte officer-in-charge Godoberto L. Amora. The two-day training covered the preparation of


tocino, tapa, longanisa, chicken ham, and siomai. Participants were also taught by the resource persons from FNRI on food safety and proper product price computations; considering all the underlying costs of production and conservative rate of margin to use. RIC Burgos, thru the local government unit, received a Grant-In Aid (GIA) Fund of P292,116.00 from DOST- Caraga as part of the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) intervention in Burgos, Surigao del Norte for their economic/livelihood development. The said amount was used for the procurement of meat processing equipment

such as meat grinder, meat slicer, meat mixer, sausage stuffer, vacuum sealer and chest freezer. The members had already participated a three-day technology training on meat processing and orientation seminar on Food Safety and GMP conducted last November 26-28, 2014, and of training on proper machine operation and maintenance of meat processing equipment on April 6-7 this year. “Nagapangandoy ako na aduna pay additional training na (amo) panganduyon (I am hoping that there are still other additional trainings that we could hope for),” Selisana said.

Annual job, livelihood fair held in PagadianBy Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, PIA) – The city government of Pagadian has expressed its gratitude to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the successful conduct of the annual job and livelihood fair here recently.


In his message, Mayor Romeo Pulmones said he thanked the DOLE and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for doing the activity to help the job seekers find employment opportunities. The job and livelihood fair was one of the highlights of the activities lined up for city’s 46th founding anniversary. Hundreds of job seekers flocked Thursday (June 18) to the City Commercial Center to try their luck for jobs offered

by international and local recruitment agencies. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the DOLE and POEA for being our partners in providing job and employment opportunities for our people – the unemployed professionals and skilled workers,” Pulmones added. Today, the city government has invited employers and licensed recruitment agencies to join the job and livelihood fair to help address unemployment problem in our city.


Public Employment Service Office manager Virginia Almirol said more than a dozen of employers and recruiters participated in the event. Pulmones also challenged the job seekers to show their competencies and skills after being hired on the spot. “I therefore challenged the job seekers who are qualified to the hundreds of thousands of jobs placement locally or overseas to show their skills and competencies,” Pulmones said adding that Filipinos are known around the world for being industrious, globally competitive and law-abiding citizens. DOLE-9 Regional Director Sisinio Cano said “the activity is a way of the agency’s support to the constituents of Pagadian City and its neighboring areas wherein the job seekers will be given the opportunities to seek a job be it local or overseas

with the assurance that they shall only give legitimate job orders.” “We assure the job seekers that they would not be victimized by illegal recruiters because the jobs fair is done in an appropriate process where we partnered with the city government, POEA, TESDA, and employers and license recruitment agencies,” Sisinio explained. During the event, Sisinio turned-over the job seekers kiosk to the city government thru the chief executive where the job seekers can search for jobs with the use of an internet.


GSIS offers emergency loan to members and pensioners in Tungawan townBy Gideon C. Corgue


This was learned from Engr. Leoncito S. Manuel, GSIS Pagadian branch manager, citing the basis for the granting of emergency loans was Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 17-284-15 dated May 12, 2015 declaring Tungawan municipality under a state of calamity due to damages in agriculture brought about by the long dry spell and from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Resolution No. 04-2015 dated May 11, 2015. “Active members and old-age pensioners without existing emergency loan (EML) are entitled to P20,000 gross loan amount while those with existing EML are entitled to

P40,000 gross loan amount,” Manuel stated. Accordingly, some 592 active GSIS members and 15 pensioners are expected to avail of the program. Applicants can go directly to any GW@PS kiosks located at DepEd Provincial Office, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Provincial Capitol Complex; Imelda and Olutanga town. However, for those members and pensioners who have no eCard or UMID card, they can visit the nearest GSIS office in the area.

PAGADIAN CITY, (PIA) --- The Government Service Insurance System offers Emergency Loan to GSIS active members and pensioners working or residing in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay setting the period of availment from June 17, 2015 to July 16, 2015.

Bukidnon town hosts Info Caravan 2015

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In coordination with Regional Association Government of Communicators (RAGCOM) region 10, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) region 10, an Information Caravan 2015 was conducted in the municipality of Don Carlos, province of Bukidnon on 16 June 2015.

by Kim Namocatcat

PIA Regional Director Thelma B. Oliver emphasized the importance of the activity. She said that there are a lot of good news and government services that the communities ought to know. These are some highlights underscored in the information caravan.


Research Specialist of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Dexter Demafeliz announced the replacement of banknotes or demonetization schedule. He said that the all old series with old logo of BSP will only be effective in 2015. From January to December 2016, old banknotes must be exchanged to any Central Bank of the Philippines branch. Only the new design series with new logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are only allowed in the year of 2017. Meanwhile, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) representative Erwin Casicas discussed about GSIS scholarship grant that will be given to 200 beneficiaries. Scholars who will enrol in a four or five year course will have P20,000 for tuition fee every semester and P2,000 stipend per month. The scholarship will be given to dependents of government employees having lowest salaries. There was also update of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) represented by Rose Marie Bajao. She said that their latest activity is on the empowerment of the communities in helping PDEA anti-illegal drugs program.

She encouraged that the Local Government Units (LGU) must activate their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council. She added that the information must not only be delivered to the municipalities but most importantly to the barangays. Also, volunteers from 8IB, 403rd Brigade, 4ID, Philippine Army participated in the caravan through “Libreng Gupit” or free hair cut to boys in the area. A total of 15 boys got new hair cut during the caravan and even said they wanted to be in the Military someday. On the other hand, PHILHealth Information Officer and President of RAGCOM Merlyn Ybanez said that pregnant women can access PHLHealth benefits regardless of the number of children and that everyone can avail PHLHealth benefits even if non-member. Further, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reminded everyone to have their biometrics done at the COMELEC offices before the deadline on 31 October 2015 to be able to vote in time for elections next year. She said those without biometrics will not be allowed to vote. The caravan was also participated by different national agencies in Northern Mindanao


PAGASA simplifies meaning, impact of storm signalsINITAO, Misamis Oriental -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has simplified the meaning of the signals it issues to the public in times of bad weather.

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

“The Public Storm Warning System (PSWS) of PAGASA now covers five (5) signals, after it officially adopted the category of super typhoons, which has a maximum sustained wind of more than 220 kilometers per hour (kph), Renito Paciente, Assistant Weather Specialist of PAGASA, said.

Thus, during the PAGASA-Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Seminar Workshop for Mindanao Mediamen held here, from June 18-20, 2015, Paciente said PAGASA has taken into consideration the lead time or time when to expect the storm, as well, as the wind speed and impact of the following:

and its provincial counterparts including, Civil Service Commission (CSC), Philippine Air Force – Tactical Operations Group (PAF-TOG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Housing Authority (NHA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Commission on Population (POPCOM), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Agrarian Reform

(DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Housing Land Regulatory Board (HLURB), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and also attended by barangay


DOT supports Festival of Springs in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) region 10 invites everyone to the 59th Foundation Day of Maramag, Bukidnon with festivities dubbed “Kalahawan Te Sebseb” or Festivals of Springs from 22 June 2015 to 1 July 2015.

Storm Signal No. 1 – winds of 30-60 kph is expected in 36 hrs., from the first issuance of the weather bulletin, bringing in a wave height of 1.25-4.0 meters (m.) in open sea, which may result in very light or light to medium damage to some houses of very light materials. Storm Signal No. 2 – winds of 61-120 kph is expected in 24 hrs., from the first issuance of the weather bulletin, bringing in a wave height of 4.1-14.0 m. in open sea and possible storm surge in the coastal areas, which may result in light to moderate damage to high risk structures. Storm Signal No. 3 – winds of 121-170 kph is expected in 18 hrs., from the first issuance of the weather bulletin, bringing in a wave height of 14.0 m. in open sea and possible storm surge in

the coastal areas, which may result in heavy damage to high-risk structures. Storm Signal No. 4 – winds of 171-220 kph is expected in 12 hrs., from the first issuance of the weather bulletin, bringing in a wave height of more than 14 m. in open sea and possible storm surge, from 2-3 meters, in the coastal areas, which may result in very heavy damage to high-risk structures. Storm Signal No. 5 – winds of more than 220 kph is expected in 12 hrs., from the first issuance of the weather bulletin, bringing in a wave height of more than 14 m. and possible storm surge of more than 3.0 meters, in coastal areas, which may result in widespread damage to high-risk structures.

by Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat


According to DOT Regional Director Catalino E. Chan III, the tourism industry of Maramag Bukidnon is developed through the collection of their spring resorts which give consistency to the tourist arrivals in the municipality. Activities of the festivities include Pamuhat/Tribal Mass on 22 June 2015 at Maramag River; Trade Fair from 22 June-28 2015 at the Freedom Park; A Night of

Song and Praise on 25 June 2015 at the municipal gymnasium; Diwata Ta Maramag on 27 June 2015 at the municipal gym; and street dancing 2015 or “Sayaw-Sayaw dun ta dalan” on 30 June 2015 at the Integrated Bus Terminal. For further details of the activities, please visit or call DOT at (088) 856-4048 or call the Bukidnon Tourism Office through (088) 813-3114.

one mindanao - june 22, 2015

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