one mindanao - june 27, 2012

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESEDITORIAL BOARDWestern 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 WesMin Info Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ 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]: 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

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 ……… 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

11

Cover Story

Kidney: A Gift to New Lease of Life Noemi B. Edaga

Western Mindanao

Today’s issue...

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 288

page 4

Malacañang says $1-billion loan to IMF to help Europe’s economy, OFWs 9

Fryan E. Abkilan, Caraga Region22 3 trucks torched in Surigao Norte town

23Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

REDCOP, DOH tell public how to prevent kidney diseases

Apipa P. Bagumbaran, Northern Mindanao

Red Cross urges public to donate blood 26NorMin’s Q1 coconut production up 8% from last year30Mis. Occ. agri techs undergo training on new veggie production techniques32

Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, Western Mindanao

Rutchie C. Aguhob, Northern Mindanao

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao15 Bank aids South Cotabato with online tax

collection system

17Jeezereel Billano, Central Mindanao

City locals respond to call for a greener country

8 11

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25

29

33

4 Wednesday, June 27, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StoryKidney: A Gift to New Lease of Life

Rufo Paitan, who is fondly called Pong by family and friends, works in a piggery farm as manager. At age 31, he was at the prime of his health. Robust

and athletic. Everything was well with his work; save that schistosomiasis is phenomenon in his job site. To shield him from getting the disease, he buys himself potable water when he goes downtown. For two years, he survived from schistosomiasis but landed in a hospital diagnosed with infection and stone in his left kidney.

Heal Thyself for 9 Years

With medication and therapy administered on Pong, sand-like

by Noemi B. Edaga

Financial constrain, self medication, lack of

medical awareness compounded an anthill problem into a stone: a kidney stone.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

matters were passed out trough his urine. After some time, the infection and stone bothered him no more. He felt fine and forgot about it. In year 2000, arthritis inflicted him. He consulted his arthritic friends for medicine and opted to self- medication. Unsurprisingly, it alleviated his pain and healed him. Believing in the effectiveness of his friend’s prescription, Pong continued to self medicate during painful arthritic bouts; until he was 3 days down with fever.

Creatinine High in 2009

Blood chemistry and a visit to a nephrologist indicated that his creatinine was high at 875. Pong bought the prescription, felt good and defied what he called “the shocking truth of his going into dialysis sessions.”

Barely seven months after the doctor’s advice for dialysis, the defiant Pong was again admitted in a hospital, this time with creatinine recorded very high at of 1200.

Family’s Prodding

Concerned for his well-being, family members had successfully

prodded him to submit for a dialysis, where he met a fellow kidney patient who referred him to Dr. Michael Abutazil, a nephrologist and team leader of the Western Mindanao Medical Center (WMMC) Renal Transplant Unit (RTU). Dialysis has become a very costly tri-weekly thing for Pong. He said, his dialysis expenses range from P10,000 to P12,000.00 a week, covering maintenance and transportation expenses to and fro Calatunan, Sindangan,


his residence in Zamboanga del Norte and to Zamboanga City. “The procedure, travel, maintenance cost and the fear of harboring all sorts of infection as my immune system was low every after dialysis, made me entertain the thought of submitting myself to kidney transplantation,” Pong articulated in the dialect.

The WMMC and the Renal Transplant Unit (RTU) Little did Pong know that he would be part of WMMC-RTUs history as the kidney transplantation patient who underwent the first ever renal transplantation done at WMMC of Zamboanga City with a sounding success. Dr. Abutazil, WMMC-RTU Head, highlighted the national government’s effort to make renal transplantation accessible every

citizen, saying, “the Department of Health, NKTI and partner agencies have bonded together to make renal patient treatment more accessible in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the neighboring regions.” Zamboanga City Mayor Celso L. Lobregat and Dr. Abutazil were one in saying that the success of the first ever renal transplantation in WMMC is a milestone in medical tourism and will help promote Zamboanga City as venue for renal transplantation in the future.

The WMMC Renal Transplant Team’s Good Job

On October 1, 2011, at age 45, Pong prayerfully tendered himself to God and to the expertise of the WMMC’s Renal Transplant Unit composed of Doctors Abutazil,


John Ahalajal (transplant surgeon), Jayson Sangkula (transplant surgeon), Paterno Cabrera III (surgeon for the donor), Henry Ratag (surgeon for the patient), Tatad Kalbit (urologist) and Albert Tan and Neil Gallenegro (anaesthesiologists), who all did a very good job.

Road to Recovery Wisdom

After the tough ordeal, Pong advices friends, family and love ones to practice a healthy lifestyle and abide by the doctor’s prescription. To date, Pong still sees Dr. Abutazil for the monthly check-up. All the time since he was diagnosed with a kidney disease until now on post-operation; he and his family is still on a steep financial climb to sustain his fight against infection and organ rejection. He is ever grateful to his friends and family; wife, Lolot; siblings Dodong Tirso (Dodong), Quirino (Jr.) and Ropisa (Omping) who financially support him through; more so to his cousin, Virgilio Solito, who gifted him with his kidney for a lease of new life. “Get rid of vices as it would

harm our body, abide by the doctor’s prescription because repentance always comes last,” Pong added in closing.

RTU and PhilHealth Work at Best

Zamboanga’s RTU continues to serve its purpose. After Pong, two more had successful kidney transplantation in March and June. Another is scheduled on July 2012. On the other hand, Dr. Abutazil said during the recent launch of the PIA Media Forum in Zamboanga City that the Health Department and concurrent Philhealth Chair Dr. Enrique T. Ona announced they will subsidize 70% of the kidney transplantation costs, making it extremely affordable for patients to undergo renal transplant. “We’re very glad that effective June, we will be receiving P628,000 subsidy coming from Philhealth for each transplanted kidney thus the patient only needs to shell out P160,000 as the package at WMCC costs P850,000,” Dr. Abutazil said.


ACROSS THE NATION

The International Conference on Public Administration and Governance will be held in commemoration of the 60th Founding Anniversary of the University of the Philippinesz–National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG).

This year’s conference theme: “Tradition and Transformation,” highlights the significance of reviewing legacies of the past, challenges of the present and agenda of the future for the study and practice of

public administration and governance.Established in 1952 as the Institute of

Public Administration, the UP-NCPAG has been active in developing the discipline of public administration in the Philippines, strengthening it as a profession, and in serving as a social critic and support to government and non-governmental organizations for policy advice and technical assistance.

UP-NCPAG Dean Edna Co explained that the conference will serve as a venue to

Aquino to keynote conference of public administration and governance practitioners

President Benigno S. Aquino III will keynote the conference of public administration and governance practitioners at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday (June 27).


“reexamine the study and practice of public administration and governance as it builds upon tradition, confronts

challenges, and envisions its continuing contributions in public service.”

The conference’s three sub-themes: “Public Administration

and Governance Education: Pedagogy, Tradition and Emerging Challenges,” “Excellence, Professionalization, Innovation and Transformation” and “Public Service Today and in the Future” will tackle theory, practice and trends in public administration and governance education and research, operations of bureaucratic institutions, public policy and the environment, people participation, public service reforms, public service in the context of human rights, democratization, localization of policies, and

international cooperation for development.Other government officials expected

to participate in the conference include Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, Commission on Human Rights chairperson Loretta Rosales, Civil Service Commission chairperson Francisco T. Duque, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Presidential Adviser on Environmental Concerns Nereus Acosta, Governor Joey Salceda of Albay, UP President Alfredo Pascual, and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos, Jr.

Public administration and governance scholars and practitioners from Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Botswana, Zambia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, India and the Philippines will share their knowledge and expertise. (RCK)

Malacañang says $1-billion loan to IMF to help Europe’s economy, OFWs

Malacañang defended on Tuesday the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ decision to loan $1-billion to the International Monetary Fund which would use the loan to help countries,

specifically those located in Europe, affected by the global economic downtrend.


In a briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it was

“in our interest” to help as a sizeable number of overseas

Filipino workers who work and live in Europe.

He added that the OFWs would be adversely affected should the economy of the country they work and live in continues to slowdown.

“It’s in our interest to protect—to help those economies because we have a substantial number of Filipinos there,” Lacierda said.

And tingnan na lang ay kung

bumabagsak… Kung ang simpleng pagbagsak lang po ng dollar sa peso ay marami ng nangangamba. Ano pa kaya kung biglang nawala ang mga OFWs natin sa Europe at pinauwi silang lahat dahil wala ng trabahong maibibigay sa Spain, sa Italy,” he added.

He assured Filipinos that the loan was not a waste of money as it is meant to help a fellow country in need.

“Hindi po natin inaaksaya. We are not wasting the money. It’s a loan. IMF would pay us back the loan. Non-monetarily, it’s going to help us because it’s going to help the economy of Europe,” Lacierda said.(RCK)


Joint CCCH, MILF agree to set up monitoringposts in 5 Mindanao provinces

The Joint Coordinating Committees on the

Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to set up monitoring posts in five provinces to strengthen the ceasefire which is holding since January, 2012.

In a joint statement issued following the 42nd regular meeting on Tuesday of both ceasefire committees at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City, Brig. General Gilberto Jose Roa, chair of the government CCCH and Said Sheik, Al Haj, chair of the MILF-CCCH acknowledged the need to set up joint ceasefire monitoring posts in Datu Saudi, Maguindanao; Pikit, North Cotabato; Munai, Lanao del Norte; Butig, Lanao del Sur; and Maasim, Sarangani.

Both leaders also agreed in principle on putting up monitoring posts in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay, and the reorganization of local monitoring teams in the provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Both sides also agreed to discuss in a separate session issues pertaining to the

MILF-Task Force Ittihad (Unity) and the guidelines of elevating unresolved issues to the level of the government and MILF peace negotiating panels.

They also concurred to strengthen coordination and cooperation during the conduct the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly at Camp Darapanan on July 6-10, 2012 and the general registration by the Commission on Elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on July 9-18, 2012.

“For this purpose, both sides agreed to undertake continuing coordination meetings and measure in furtherance of the peace process,” the joint communique stated.

The joint ceasefire committees set to meet again tentatively in September 2012, in Cagayan de Oro City.


Koronadal’s tree-growing fest to establish coco-based farmsBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- Who would not con-sider it manna from heaven when a local government unit and its residents establish a coconut-based farm for farmers whose fields have been idle for years?

This is what exactly happens, according to Koronadal City Mayor Peter B. Miguel, to 435 farmer-owners whose farm lots will be covered in the 2nd Tree-Growing Festival on Friday, June 29.

Information from the city local government


units (LGUs) indicated that at least 1,275.75 hectares of “mostly idle lands” in 19 sub-villages of Barangays San Jose, Cacub, Topland, Mabini, and Esperanza along Quezon Mountain Range have been confirmed for the one-day tree-planting event.

“Unlike any other similar activity, our tree-growing festival will plant coconut,

cacao, coffee, assorted fruit trees, and hardwood seedlings,” Mayor Miguel said.

“This is also our strategy to ensure that what we plant now won’t be lost to kaingin (slash-and-burn farming method). We also make sure that what are planted are trees that cannot be made into charcoal,” he said.

The local chief executive added

that this is line with their objective to promote economic development among the beneficiaries while ensuring restoration of the city’s forest cover and protection of the environment.

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Augustus Bretaña explained that 100 to 150 coconut trees will be planted in each hectare at a distance


“We will be establishing diversified farms. Each row of coconut trees will be intercropped with cacao and coffee,” Bretaña.

Coconut planting materials were obtained from various sources including the Philippine Coconut Authority in Carmen, North Cotabato and several verified seedling growers at an average price of P27 each.

Hardwood varieties set for planting include mahogany, narra, molave, and others.

On Thursday, during the opening program of the 2nd Tree-Growing Festival, which carries the theme: “Growing Trees, Growing Hope, Growing Peace,” the 435 farmer-beneficiaries will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the city government where the farmers commit to develop their respective farms.

Mayor Miguel pointed out that monitoring of planted trees will done on regular intervals, at

least once a month so that we’ll achieve much better recovery rate.

Farmer beneficiaries are also guaranteed of continuing technology assistance to guide them in the management of the crops.

This year, Koronadal city aims to plant at least 250,000 trees, more than double of the target in the first run of the festival last June 29, 2011.

After-activity report of the 1st festival from the CENRO indicated that there were 121,028 assorted fruit and forest trees in 522 hectares along the Roxas Mountain Range, with the help of about 30,000 participants.

E n v i r o n m e n t Management Specialist II Dominador Samilin yesterday reported that at least 70 percent of last year’s plantings have survived.

Samilin also confirmed that the digging of planting holes for Friday’s activity was finished last week,

and that the hauling of the planting materials to the planting sites should be completed by Wednesday.

Nanette Sese, head of the registration committee, reported that as of yesterday, more than 8,900 participants have already registered for this year’s activity.

“We expect to exceed our target of 10,000 participants this year, especially after Malacañang declared June 29 as a special non-working holiday in Koronadal. We are still waiting for registration forms from four schools in the city; considering the number of their students, we are assured to beat the goal,” she said.

This year, no elementary pupils as well as freshmen and sophomore high school students will be allowed to join the festival to prevent endangering children. Third- and fourth-year high school students are only allowed to join provided they bring


with them parent’s consent.

Koronadal City’s Tree-Growing Festival is an annual activity of the city LGU in support to the National Greening Program of the Aquino administration, as well as the culminating

activity of the Environment Month celebration.

This year, the city government allotted more than P5 million for the festival.

Mayor Miguel said that besides the purchase of the planting materials, the

amount was also spent for the improvement of the road networks leading to the planting sites, fuel, rental of construction equipment, food of the volunteers, and other logistics. (DEDoguiles/PIA

Bank aids South Cotabato with online tax collection systemBy Dani DoguilesKORONADAL CITY -- Collection of the real tax property tax (RPT) in South Cotabato is expected to improve with the full operation of an online system that the Veterans Bank has recently developed for the local government.

Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. and Veterans Bank-Koronadal Branch Manager Tranquilino Morante Jr. on Thursday signed an amended memorandum of agreement for the province-wide installation of an online RPT collection system that the bank has developed and offered free of charge.

Veterans Bank’s Executive Vice President Jesus Vicente Garcia was also present at the MOA signing.

The computer-based system, Morante disclosed, has already been installed in the municipalities of Banga, Norala, Polomolok, Sto. Niño, Tupi, Tampakan, Tantangan, T’boli and Tampakan.

“Because of hardware-related problem, the RPT system has not yet been installed in the local government unit of Lake Sebu,” Morante said.

“The are also some minor requirements from the provincial government that we need to comply with but other than that, we are ready for the operation


of the computer-based collection system.”

He said the RPT system should be in full operation “very soon.”

The system links the ten municipalities in the province and allows taxpayers to check online the exact amount of real property tax due them and pay in any of the official collection centers in their municipality or at the provincial capitol.

“Taxpayers need not even go to Veterans Bank to pay their real property tax obligations,” he said.

Although the bank spent “millions of pesos” in hiring service providers for the development of the system compliant to specific requirements of the provincial government, “the services we provided are all for free,” he added.

He explained that the earlier memorandum of agreement, which should have been implemented in April was amended after they realized that the provincial government cannot effectively collect RPTs if the system is not linked with the LGUs.

“The expansion of the system’s coverage was made without required deposits from the municipal LGUs,” he said.

Gov. Pingoy said the

assistance from Veterans Bank is an advantage to the provincial government.

“The lifeline of the province of South Cotabato depends on updating of the RPT and its collection,” the governor said.

“This partnership is a big thing for the provincial government,” he added. “With this we will surely improve our tax collection, which should result in enhanced delivery of development services to the communities.”

Aside from the RPT project, the bank has extended other support to the provincial government’s efforts.

“In 2011, the provincial government earned extra P2 million from our deposits because the bank gave us much higher interest from our deposits,” Gov. Pingoy said, adding that this resulted in other banks adjusting their interest rates for the LGU’s deposits.

Morante confirmed that the interest rate they are giving the LGU is at “more than 3 percent” as compared to the 1.75 percent other banks have previously provided to the LGU.

Other services the Veterans Bank has provided

the provincial government, according to the bank official, include installation of an offsite ATM at the provincial capitol, provisions of armored cars to ensure safety of money delivered to service banks, ATM payroll for contractual employees, and salary loan of regular and co-terminus employees at interest rate of only 12 percent per annum.

“At present we are working on the transfer of ATM payroll servicing of the provincial LGU’s regular employees from another bank. We are now preparing their ATM cards which also serve as official IDs of the employees,” Morante said.

During the signing of the amended MOA, Morante also turned over to Gov. Pingoy a cheque for P200,000 as support to the 2012 T’nalak Festival celebration in July.

He also clarified several misconceptions regarding the Veterans Bank.

“Veterans Bank is not a government-owned bank, it is a privately-owned business,” he said, “nor are we an exclusive bank for war veterans. We also cater to individual depositors as well as local government units.” (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


City locals respond to call for a greener countryBy Jeezereel Billano

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat-- A thousand locals here got involved in an early morning planting activity to celebrate the Philippine Arbor Day on Monday.

Barangay units and employees of different sectors simultaneously planted trees in both rural and urban areas of the city.

For the said activity, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office distributed 5,700 seedlings to 19 barangays. These were planted in areas where they could effectively reduce risks of flood and landslides.

Meanwhile, officials, employees, and members of the Local Government Unit, PNP, Task Force Talakudong, DOTC, LTO, BJMP, SK Water District, NFA, REACT, Rotary Club of Tacurong, Girl Scouts, DepEd, BFP, SSS, DTI, Knights of Columbus, NSO, LTO, and DENR planted 1,995 seedlings of white lawaan to replenish the hills of DECELA in Brgy. New

Passi.DECELA or

Development Center for Ecology and Leadership Enhancement is a 5-hectare forest area with spring waters and cool, fresh air. Mayor Lina O. Montilla admitted that the area has high potential for local tourism and professional activities.

She, however, stressed that “careful planning should be done before doing further developments to conserve the area.”

The tree planting activity is in support of the

administration’s National Greening Program or NGP. The program covers all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide with an aim to plant 1.5 million trees from 2011 to 2016.

Through NGP, the government hopes to ‘pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.’ ( D E D o g u i l e s - P I A 12/ Jezereel Billano -LGU Tacurong Information)


Sultan Kudarat town officials laud DA Secretary AlcalaBy Perlita B. Changco

COTABATO CITY For being the first cabinet official ever to visit the munici-pality, local officials of Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao laud Depart-ment of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala during a famers forum here last June 19, 2012.

Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tocao Mastura said the people particularly the agricultural community in the area are gratified for the visit and engagement in a fruitful open dialogue with estimated 2,000 farmers and fisherfolks as well as local officials and other stakeholders by a cabinet secretary for the first time.

Secretary Alcala proceeded to Sultan Kudarat municipality for a forum with farmers

and fisherfolks as part of his two-day visit to Maguindanao last June 18-19, 2012 as part of government’s efforts to

enhance productivity in the agriculture sector under the AgriPinoy program to attain rice and food sufficiency in


the country.Alcala said, he

has been to 79 other provinces and Maguindanao was the last leg of his provincial sortie but definitely not the last one.

“May kasabihan tayo na ‘saving the best for the last’. Utos ni Pangulong Noynoy na puntahan ang mga magsasaka kahit sa kasulok-sulukan para personal na pakinggan ang kanilang mga hinaing at suliranin para matiyak natin na tama at akma ang ating solusyon at aksiyon,” Alcala said. (“Saving the best for the last so the saying goes. President Noynoy’s directive for me is to personally reach out to farmers even in the remotest areas to listen to their issues and concerns to ensure appropriate solution and action in addressing their problems.)

Alcala told town officials he has standing instructions to local agriculture officials to validate and process issues

and concerns raised in the forum and submit recommendations to the DA Central Office in two weeks time.

According to Nasrullah Dilangalen of the Regional Agri-Fishery Information Division RAFID) DAF-ARMM, Secretary Alcala distributed farm machinery/equipment, animals, and fnputs to random winners of a raffle draw for farmer/participants that include 270 bags of rice seeds, 620 bags of corn seeds, fifty (50) units sprayer, seven units hand tractor, 11 carabaos with plow/furrow, 55 heads of hybrid goat, and 14 heads of billy-billy (sheep).

Given away for the fishery sector include 20 gill nets. 20 units non-motorized banca, 2 motorized banca and another 2 units of 16-HP Mitsubishi engine.

Dilangalen said, Secretary Alcala has released an initial budget of P24 million through DAFARMM for beneficiaries of Maguindanao under

the AgriPinoy program of the agriculture department of which P7.9 million is allocated for farm machinery and equipment, inputs including 95 HP farm tractor for the provincial government; P7.4 million from the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) for water reservoir, small impounding water, shallow tube wells for irrigation, engine pumps, among others; P5 million which is part of NIA’s 2012 budget for the rehabilitation and repair of existing irrigation systems and projects that could irrigate additional 5, 327 hectares when completed. While P4 million for the fishery sector..

Secretary Alcala has likewise committed ten (10) slots scholarship grants to high school graduating students from the town of Sultan Kudarat willing and interested to take agri-fishery course in college, Dilangalen said. (PBChangco-PIA Cotabato City)


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A total of 28 local government units in the Caraga Region received Tuesday the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) from Interior

and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo during the conduct of the region-wide Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness held in Butuan City.

Caraga LGUs receive Performance Challenge Fund, Salintubig projectsby Robert E. Roperos


In the provincial level, the Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte qualified for

the Seal of Good Housekeeping and received the PCF amounting to P7 million each.

Also, five local government units (LGU) from the city level, Cabadbaran, Tandag, Surigao, Bislig,

and Bayugan, qualified and received P3 million each. Meanwhile, 21 municipalities also received funds

amounting to P1 million each. These are Buenavista, Las Nieves, and Nasipit in Agusan del Norte; Bunawan, Esperanza,

La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, San Luis, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento, and Veruela in Agusan del Sur;

Cantilan, Hinatuan, San Miguel, Tagbina, and Tago in Surigao del Sur; and Claver in Surigao del Norte. The fourth to sixth class municipalities in Surigao del Sur received same fund from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last December 2011. The city of Butuan, on the other hand, also got same incentive fund late last year. According to DILG-Caraga information officer Florian Faith Bayawa, the PCF is an incentive fund to LGUs in the form of counterpart funding to high impact capital investment projects in the Annual Investment Program (AIP) and funded out of the 20 percent Local Development Fund consistent with national goals and priorities. Bayawa further said the fund prioritizes low-income LGUs and those with high poverty incidence. The municipalities of Talacogon, Trento and Veruela in Agusan del Sur have also received the Salintubig project from Robredo while the barangays of Bugsukan and Buntalid in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur; Barangay Remedios in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur; and barangay Sta. Cruz and Mabini in Tubajon, Surigao del Norte, also received the project. The Salintubig is one of the flagship program of the Aquino administration in line with the commitment of the national government to achieve the targets set in the Philippine Development Plan as well as the Millennium Development Goals to provide people access to water supply and sanitation in areas of the country where water is not accessible.


3 trucks torched in Surigao Norte townby Fryan E. Abkilan

Capt. Esteban Mangabat of the 30th Infantry Batallion said the trucks were heading toward Davao City when flagged down by around eight armed men. He said the perpetrators then fired shots in the air and withdrew towards the east. Reports reveal that the burned trailer trucks loaded with copra were owned by Evaristo Tiu of Copraland-Surigao City. Mangabat said government troopers nearby responded to the

crime scene and conducted a blocking and ambush positions along the area where the enemy had withdrawn. Mangabat said firefighters of Bureau of Fire Protection of Alegria also responded to the scene while the police of the Alegria Station are now establishing the identities and motive of the suspects. As of this time, responding troopers are still conducting hot pursuit and sweeping operation in the areas of Placer and Kitcharao.

SURIGAO CITY-- Unidentified armed men flagged down and subsequently torched three trailer trucks along the highway in Barangay Pongtud, Alegria, Surigao del Norte at around 11:10 p.m. of Monday.

Photo Credit: Milken Beniga, LGOO-Dapa/DILG-Surigao del Norte


REDCOP, DOH tell public how to prevent kidney diseases

Ms. Delma Legaspi of DOH-CHD Caraga who is also the region’s REDCOP coordinator said drinking six to eight glass of water may help in flushing out bacteria “thus, cleaning our kidney.” Dr. Romina Rusillon, a nephrologist of Caraga region who is also a partner of the REDCOP in its advocacy campaign, agreed with what Legaspi said, saying that there is no other fluid that may be considered best to take but the water. When asked how effective coco

water to be used as cleansing fluid for the kidney, Rusillon said there is yet a scientific study to prove this claim. However, he said drinking enough glasses of water daily can really help in cleansing the internal organs of our body, especially the kidney. In a related development, Legaspi said everybody should adopt healthy lifestyle. “By healthy lifestyle, it means that we should not abuse our body by taking anything that may satisfy our cravings,” she said. The officials added said since

BUTUAN CITY -- Officials of the Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) and Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga informed the public on how to prevent kidney diseases.

by Robert E. Roperos


there are various causes of kidney diseases, the most important step is early recognition of the causes. To do this, regular check-ups with the doctor and at least a yearly urine examination should be done. The official added that people with diabetes are more prone to kidney disease. They added since the leading causes of end-stage renal disease are complications of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, control and prevention of high blood sugar for diabetes and high

blood pressure for hypertensives are very important to prevent or delay the development of kidney problems that usually lead to end-stage kidney failure. The officials were invited by the Philippine I n f o r m a t i o n Agency (PIA)-

Caraga during the recent taping of an episode in “Caraga in Focus” which features the National Kidney Month Celebration.


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Pagadian City, newest business hub of ZamPen By Alma L. Tingcang

“It is an undeniable fact that investors have started to flock in our city.”


This was the essence of the speech delivered by Engr. Joseph Isaias “Vince” M. Quipot VI, Pagadian City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager during the Job Fair timed with the city’s 43rd Charter Day celebration on June 21 at the City Commercial Center (C3). City Mayor Samuel S. Co said the activity aimed to help Pagadianons and provide a venue where employers and applicants, as well as concerned government agencies will come together and facilitate job matching for possible employment. Noticeably, investors have laid their claims on various business enterprise in the city creating a wellspring of job opportunities for everyone. A few years back, business financiers were focused in Metro Manila and other big cities but

slowly, they have unearthed a great business arena in our city and investments have started to pour in. “This job fair is free. There are no fees to be collected. All services are free. We will process the job matching here and on the spot applicants can be hired at the end of the day. Mayor Co gave a standing order that everything will be free because he understands that some who are here have even borrowed money for their fare,” Quipot explained. Three overseas employment agencies accredited by the PESO and the Department of Labor and Employment participated namely: Verde International Manpower Agency, Nonstop Overseas Employment Agency and Pacific Mediterranean Agency with a total job vacancy of 1,405. Eighteen (18) local employers also needed 397


Red Cross urges public to donate bloodZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is urging the public to donate blood to save lives.

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

applicants for various positions. The PESO conducts regular job solicitation among employers to determine the needed jobs in the labor market and coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment for legitimate job opportunities here and abroad. Quipot advised applicants who receive notice from overseas employers telling them to come to Manila, to verify the legitimacy of the company and notify the PESO office to protect them from illegal recruiters. Lending support to the job fair were the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Tripartite Industrial Peace Council and the Pagadian Association of Recruitment Agencies. (ALT-PIA9)

“Consider saving lives of other people. We only live once,” PNRC-Zamboanga City Chapter administrator Victor Liozo said. Liozo called on the public to participate in blood-letting activities in July for the observance of the Blood Donors’ Month celebration. “We have lined up a series of

blood-letting activities next month. This will be conducted in different schools in the city and other partner institutions,” Liozo said. Liozo said they are just waiting for the confirmation of schools and other partner institutions for the blood-letting activity dates. “We are just waiting for their


confirmation. As of now, we have the City Schools Division Office to conduct blood-letting on July 7 and St. Joseph Knights of Columbus on July 8,” he said. Liozo also emphasized the need to donate blood as the number of dengue cases in the city continue to increase. “We have enough blood supply in our bank, as we encourage blood donation all year round. But we appeal to the public to donate more blood since dengue cases in the city continue to rise,” he stressed. Liozo pointed out that the immediate need of blood donation for dengue victims is due to the fact that platelets do not last long. “We cannot really stock many platelets as it is only good for five days. Outside five days, it can no longer be used, hence we need donations, if possible, on a daily basis,” Liozo explained. This year’s theme is “Every Blood Donor is a Hero,” a fitting description for those whose blood means life to others. “We’ll never know. Perhaps one of those saved lives might be one of your family members, so it’s much better to donate blood,” he said. Also part of the Blood Donors’ Month Celebration is the awarding of the “Galloners,” donors who have donated at least a gallon of blood to

Red Cross. “This will be on July 31. We will be acknowledging

our donor-heroes who have donated at least nine times or equivalent to 4,500 cc of blood. We also have our gold, silver, and bronze awardees. The Gold award is given to a person who donated at least 50 times or 25,000 cc of blood. Then the silver award is given to a person who has donated 36 times or 18,000 cc of blood, and the bronze is for those who have donated at least 25 times or 12,500 cc of blood,” Liozo expounded. Liozo added that they only have one Gold awardee, who is one of their staff, in Zamboanga. Liozo said the public can go to their office anytime of the day for those who want to donate and those who are need of blood. “Our blood bank is open 24 hours a day. We are ready to serve the public anytime of the day,” Liozo said. (JPA/MVC-PIA9, ZBST)


DILG provides P7-M for Sendong resettlement site

A P7-million water supply facility in Sendong will be installed in a resettlement site for Sendong survivors at Bayanihan Village in Iligan City.

This after a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary

Jesse Robredo and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz for the implementation of 2012 Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (Salintubig).

by Melvin T. Anggot & Virgilio C. Garcia


NorMin’s Q1 coconut production up 8% from last year by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The number of matured coconut harvested in Northern Mindanao for the first quarter of 2012 reached 421 million, higher by eight percent, compared to the 390 million nuts produced in the same period last year.

All provinces in the region showed improved production, with Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental posting significant growths at 47 and 19 percent, respectively, Engr. Cecilio Y. Clarete, Chief Economic Development Specialist of the National Economic Development Authority

(NEDA) Regional Office 10, reported in a media forum held recently at the NEDA-10 Conference Room, here. He said Misamis Oriental, which ranked second largest in terms of production share, registered the biggest increase in actual volume produced during the quarter,

The MOA signing ceremony highlighted the department’s information caravan dubbed “Tapatan” held at the Grand Caprice Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City last June 21. The Salintubig Program is designed to provide water supply systems for the 455 waterless municipalities barangays, health centers, and resettlement sites; and enhance the capacity of the local government units/water service providers in the planning, implementation, and operation of water supply facilities. It was established in 2010 thru a MOA signed between DILG and the Department of Health and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

For 2011, the program covers 115 waterless municipalities, 62 waterless barangays, 55 waterless health centers, and 24 waterless resettlement sites, using the P 1.5 billion worth of funds released to Department of Budget and Management. For 2012, the Program will be transferred to DILG and will cover 150 municipalities, 43 barangays, 46 health centers, and 12 resettlement sites. The remaining 290 of the 455 waterless municipalities, and a number of waterless barangays, health centers, and resettlements sites will be covered from 2013 TO 2016. (CIO)


the previous year’s level by 21 million nuts. Consequently, copra production in all provinces also registered increases causing the total production in the region to rise by almost nine percent, from 92,900 to 100,970 metric tons. Clarete said the same trend was also observed in the production of green nut which posted an increase of 20 percent, from 480,867 to 577,478 metric tons. Although, Lanao del Norte recorded lower output, the increases in the rest of the provinces pulled up the total green nut production, he added. Meanwhile, a downward trend in palay production was noted during the first quarter of the year in Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and the two Misamis provinces pulling down the region’s performance by one percent and causing regional average palay yield to decrease by 0.25 percent. The decrease in production according to Clarete was due to some changes in the harvesting and planting period. In some areas, the harvest time was moved towards the second quarter due to delayed in planting, while some areas moved the planting period from the fourth quarter in 2011 to first quarter this year, he explained, adding that tropical storm Sendong also destroyed about 100 hectares of palay crops which should be

harvested in January. He said the two Misamis provinces recorded negative outputs as a result of the shifting of some upland areas to cash crop, while some areas were not planted due to damaged irrigation canals. Clarete further said the decreases in the average palay yield were caused by lesser usage of certified seeds, while drop in yield in irrigated areas was experienced due to heavy rains during reproductive stage. Similarly, corn production in the region went down by more than one percent during the first quarter to only 329,332 metric tons. Declines were more pronounced in Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon for white corn as a result of lesser usage of modern OPV seeds as well as damaged corn areas caused by tropical storm Sendong. However, yellow corn production in these provinces recorded double digit increases.


Mis. Occ. agri techs undergo training on new veggie production techniquesby Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental - Agricultural technicians in Misamis Occidental underwent a three-day Vegetables and Rootcrops Production Training last June 19-21 where they learned on new developments that would support the High Valued Crops Development Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), region 10, Jose Satorre, Provincial Agriculturist, said.

Conducted by the Agricultural Training I n s t i t u t e - Re g i o n a l Training Center (ATI-RTC) region x, the training was done at the Oroquieta Agro-Industrial School in Barangay Villaflor, this city. It was attended by agricultural technicians from different local government units (LGUs) of the province; here they learned on how to improve their techniques in agricultural production with the use of natural farming methods. Topics discussed during the training included analyzing the soil for their mineral or vitamin contents to determine which fertilizer is appropriate for the plants before planting them; analysis on the nutrient and protein contents of the pesticides and organic fertilizers to be used, to know the correct proportion that the plants

need; also taken up was the subject on climate change, its adaptation, and its effects in the volume of production of the agriculture products. With this, the personnel of ATI-RTC 10 are hopeful the training can be a very big help to the farmers to improve their agricultural production and uplift their lives, Satorre added.(PIO)


The City Environment and Natu-ral Resources Office will deploy

four teams to fan out across the city to catch violators of the Plas-tics Ban which will be fully imple-mented tomorrow June 28, 2012.

In 2009 the City passed an ordinance which bans the use of non-biodegradable plastics and polystyrene containers which are utilized as food and beverage take out containers.

CENRO teams to fan out city as plastic ban starts


ithe mplementing rules and regulations of the ban was set out in 2010 with a 2-year grace period which ends June 27, 2012. In a press interview at Club 888 media forum in Marco Polo Davao held last June 27, CENRO chief Atty. Joseph Felizarta said that teams will be deployed to malls, manufacturers of plastics, vendors, and city’s markets. These teams will issue citation tickets to those found violating the plastic ban. First time violators will be meted out a penalty of P300. The citation tickets will contain the name of the violator, the violations and the specific location.

“ We are ready, in fact dugay na mi ready (We have long been ready )” Felizarta said. His office estimates that about 31,000 to 34,000 business establishments expected to comply with the ordinance among these are more than ten plastic manufacturers in the city. He said that Davao City is the first local government to have a City Ordinance which bans the use of non-biodegradable plastics as food and beverage containers. Felizarta said that though some local governments have issued bans on plastics they are still just executive orders.(PIA/RG Alama)

regional gallery

(From left)Benjamin Pague M.D. and Johanna Blason of Philhealth XI discusses the new Philhealth Benefit Z intended for catastrophic illnesses particularly leukemia, breat and prostate cancer and End Stage Renal Disease transplants.

one mindanao - june 27, 2012

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