one mindanao - june 28, 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

Sibugay celebrates“Sibugsay sa Sibugay Festival” “Atong Sibugay, Atong Kaugmaon” (Our Sibugay, Our Tomorrow)

Claro A. LanipaWestern Mindanao

Today’s issue...

Thursday, June 28, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 289

page 4

Aquino hails governance experts as contributors to nation building, backbone of bureaucracy 9

Jocelyn P. Alvarez, Western Mindanao23 7000 join Arbor Day celebration

25Northern Mindanao

DILG allots P5.5-M aid for reloc sites and evac centers

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Rotary Walk for Peace slated on July 126No repeat of last year’s glitches in 2nd Tree-Growing Festival – Mayor31DA allots P7.5M to optimize rubber production in Lake Sebu34

Lorry V. Gabule, Northern Mindanao

Central Mindanao

Susil D. Ragas, Caraga Region18 32 passengers rescued as motorboat capsizes

off Surigao City

19Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

Agusan del Norte prov’l gov’t supports poverty alleviation projects

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4 Thursday, June 28, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover StorySibugay celebrates “Sibugsay sa Sibugay Festival”

The celebration kicked off June 25 with a grand parade and the festivities will go on until July 1. This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Atong Sibugay, Atong Kaugmaon” (Our Sibugay, Our Tomorrow) depicting united Sibugaynons working towards a common goal to a better and improved Sibugay province.The Provincial government of Sibugay came up with various activities for the celebration, to

include clean and green drive through mangrove planting and cleaning along riverbanks, shorelines, esteros, side-streets, lawns of

by Claro A. Lanipa

Zamboanga Sibugay Province is in a festive

mood as it celebrates its first ever “Sibugsay sa Sibugay,” a weeklong celebration showcasing various activities towards environmental protection and preservation, economic improvement and tourism promotion.

“Atong Sibugay, Atong Kaugmaon” (Our Sibugay, Our Tomorrow)

Thursday, June 28, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

houses, schools and offices. Other activities also include backyard vegetable gardening contest; fluvial parade and annual paddle racing to raise environmental community consciousness; street dancing competition; cultural presentations and exhibits intended for cultural preservation. Essay writing contest focusing on the current theme will also be conducted at all levels: elementary, high school, college students including professionals. There will also be awarding of institutions and individuals for best ecological promotion and practices; awarding of cleanest municipality in Sibugay and cleanest barangay in Ipil. Each provincial department will be assigned a space around the capitol perimeters to be beautified with flowers and the department with the most beautiful floral garden and practices on waste segregation will be awarded annually. The festivities will be highlighted with a pageant- the search for “Diwata ng Sibugay,” a beauty contest which represents Diwata who embodies ecology. “Sibugsay sa Sibugay Festival” is the highlight affair in celebration of the 11th Birthday

of Sibugay since its creation as a new province in 2001 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8973 signed by former President Joseph Estrada.

Historical Background

In the early 1960’s, there was an attempt to divide Zamboanga del Sur into two provinces. Several bills were filed in Congress since the term of the late Representative Vicenzo Sagun until that of Congresswoman Belma Cabilao to this effect. Unfortunately, all their bills remain enacted and were relegated to the recesses of the achievers. In 1993, another initiative called the Zamboanga Occidental Movement was initiated that ushered to the renewed political consciousness among the people of the 3rd District of Zamboanga del Sur.

Sibugay celebrates “Sibugsay sa Sibugay Festival”


T h e movement was that

strong that a People’s Initiative was conducted simultaneously with the May 1997 barangay elections. In this political exercise majority of the voters signed in favor for the creation of a new province. It was in the term of

Congressman Jeorge Hofer of the municipality of Titay. True to his campaign promise, he sponsored House Bill No. 1311, the bill sailed on rough waters as expected. But as the saying goes, “when the going gets rough, only the tough gets going.” He managed to push the bill up in the ladders of Congress, give it a new identity by naming the proposed province as Zamboanga Sibugay. Then, he lobbied for its approval in the Senate and had the creation of the new province. Republic Act No. 8973 signed by then President Joseph Estrada on February 24, 2001 embodies the legal creation of province.

Meaning of Sibugsay:

Sibugsay is a tribal term of the early inhabitants in the province known as the Subanen. It is a fusion of two verbs – Sibug which means to move forward and Bugsay to p a d d l e .


Combined, it means “to move forward by

paddling together.”

Significance:

Sibugsay indicates a forward motion through coordinated action and activity. The word is easily identifiable to Sibugay as they are almost homophones. The province used to be a territory of Subanens who dwelt along riverbanks and shorelines. Sibugay is a coastal province with 13 of its 16 municipalities are situated in the coastal areas. It is estimated that 70 percent of the Philippine population relies on fish for food and protein source. This indicates that Sibugay, being a coastal province, is called to be ecology conscious and help maintain the sanitary of its waters as a service to the poor and the future generations.

Sibugay means that Sibugaynons are in the same boat. So, everyone is called to actively take part in paddling this boat to reach the common destiny which is “Our Sibugay, Our Tomorrow,” the theme of the festival. The paddle is a pro-ecology symbol since it is the tradition way of steering and moving the boat through human effort alone – hence, free from bunker fuel pollution.


ACROSS THE NATION

In his speech keynoting the International Conference on Public Administration and Governance, a gathering of governance experts, at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City, the President enjoined all Filipinos to join him in this campaign.

“Clearly, our reforms have won us momentum. And it is up to us, to all

of us—whether in the private or public sector—to maintain this momentum,” the President said.

“There remain serious challenges ahead. The problem of poverty is one that must be solved. There are still corrupt officials who will be prosecuted and jailed. The changes we envision are massive, and these changes cannot be enacted by a single office.

President Aquino vows to go after corrupt officials in government

President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed on Wednesday to continue his advocacy to rid government of corruption and eradicate poverty by pursuing the removal and prosecution of

other corrupt officials in government and implementing further reforms in order to sustain the momentum gained from his advocacy.


ACROSS THE NATIONWe have to

do it together,” he added.He pointed out that by

endeavoring to achieve this feat as a whole would ensure that this “dream” would be

completed faster.“Through our shared

efforts, we are bginning to realize the dreams we share with the Filipino people. We have, in fact, been steadily and noticeably upgrading the Filipino dream. With your help -- imagine the impossibilities we can make possible, and achieve,” the President said. (rck)

Aquino hails governance experts as contributors to nation building, backbone of bureaucracy

President Benigno S. Aquino III hailed the members of the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) as “contributors

to nation-building” and the “backbone of our bureaucracy” for joining government efforts in implementing reforms to eradicate corruption.

In his speech keynoting the commemoration of the UP-NCPAG’s 60th anniversary held simultaneous with the International Conference on Public Administration and Governance at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong

City on Wednesday, President Aquino lauded UP-NCPAG’s advocacy to nurture graduates to become world-class and competent civil servants and leaders, guided by competence, integrity, professionalism, compassion and high


e t h i c a l standards.“After all, through the

years, the National College of Public Administration and Governance has done more than its share of producing

graduates who contribute to nation-building, and who

help nurture institutions in government and in civil society. This is the institution we turn to, if we want to find some of the greatest, unheralded heroes of our bureaucracy,” the President said.

“This is why I made it a point to be here today: many of you, in one way or another, represent the backbone of our bureaucracy—people of excellence who work tirelessly with dedication and professionalism, so that we can truly change this country for the better. As your President, I know that if our administration succeeds in instituting widespread reform in this country, it will have been because of people like you; and I want to thank you for your service,” he added.

The NCPAG counts today the likes of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Rizal Governor Jun Ynares, Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay, former Supreme Court Spokesperson Ismael Khan, Representative Dante Liban, former congressman Leandro Verceles and former Cavite Vice Mayor Alvin Mojica as among its many distinguished

alumni who have served or are serving in government.

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.

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. (RCK)


BIMP-EAGA transport officials explore more subregional air routes

More intra-BIMP-EAGA flights are expected to commence as transport ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,

Malaysia, and Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area strengthen efforts to expand air connectivity in the sub-region.

In the recently concluded 9th BIMP-EAGA Transport, Infrastructure, and ICT Development Cluster meeting in Brunei Darussalam, transport officials finalized the amended MOU on Expansion of Air Linkages and focused on how to further improve air, sea, and land connectivity in the sub-region.

“Connectivity has always been a big challenge for the transport sector,

and we are happy and fully supportive of these new progresses in our air linkages,” said DOTC Acting Director Florencia Creus, Philippines’ Head of Delegation to the cluster meeting. Representatives from the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines were also present during the said cluster meeting.

Among the key steps discussed are


designating additional entry points outside the EAGA borders, coming up with incentives for airline operators who wish to operate EAGA routes, and strengthening the recently proposed Davao-Manado-Kota Kinabalu route, which will be pioneered by MaSwings.

The triangular route is one of the major outputs of the 1st Equator Asia Air Access Forum and Airline CEO Summit hosted by the Philippines last April in Davao City. All these are part of efforts highlighted in the MOU on Expansion of Air Linkages within the BIMP-EAGA.

The prioritized EAGA routes as agreed in the air linkages working group meeting were Kuching-Balikpapan, Kota Kinabalu-Balikpapan, Pontianak-Miri and Davao-Manado-Kota Kinabalu routes. MaSwings has also expressed interest in launching a Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu route within the year.

“While other BIMP-EAGA countries are connected through land transport, the Philippines is working on the establishment of air and sea linkages to be fully accessible to our EAGA neighbors,” said Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson and Philippine Signing Minister for BIMP-EAGA.

Antonino added that since routes from Mindanao and Palawan to other EAGA points are now gradually being

revived, the transport and tourism clusters will be coordinating more closely to come up with enticing tour packages for the passengers and competitive incentives for the airlines.

“The best way to sustain these flights is to generate more traffic through tourism packages and campaigns, as well as provide a more friendly business environment for our operators,” Antonino said.

Governments of the four countries signed the Air Linkages MOU in 2007 with the end goal of promoting and enhancing trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange in the sub-region.

BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation formally created in 1994 covering the entire Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

The ASEAN sub-grouping is primarily intended to spur development in the lagging sub-economies of the member countries by boosting intra-EAGA trade, tourism and investments.

MinDA serves as the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE) under Republic Act 9996, otherwise known as the Mindanao Development Authority Act of 2010.


Members of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit

(CAFGU) benefited from the recently concluded 5-day training on Emergency Scene Management: First Responder Course conducted by the Office of the Civil Defense-BASULTA from June 1-7, 2012.

Military benefits from OCD’s “First Responder Course” By Rene V. Carbayas


In a press release, Lieutenant

Colonel Erwin A. Alea (GSC) Philippine Army, Group Commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, AFP said the objective of the training is to equip personnel with skills on pre-hospital care concept and disaster awareness which will be useful especially in times of disasters and calamities. The course was held at the headquarters of 4th CRG where the training staff from OCD-Basulta demonstrated the proper way to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bandaging techniques, mouth to mouth resuscitation, spinal and bone fracture

immobilization to the participants. “Beingafirstrespondermeansthat one is more skilled than someonewhoistrainedinbasicfirstaid, however, this does not mean that they can act as substitutes for advanced medical care rendered by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), emergency physicians, nurses or paramedics.” Alea clarified. This kind of training is in line with the paradigm shift of the AFPs current thrust, the Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” which aims to equip soldiers not only expertise in


combat trainings but as well as in performing other deeds that are useful at times of disasters, be it man-made or natural calamities. Alea further encouraged citizens to attend training such as this as disasters are always uncertain and unpredictable. “We are encouraging everyone to grab this kind of opportunity if training such as this is offered because this is useful especially during emergencies and this is timely since no one knows when accidents will occur,” he said. In his message, Philippine Information Agency-ZAMBASULTA Infocenter Manager Felipo Dave Malcampo pointed out that “in times of disaster and calamities, the likas na matulungin na pinoy would readily come forward and volunteer to help.” “However, while we always welcome volunteers, trained volunteers are always preferable

because they know how to properly assist the injured… and how to improvise in a given situation…. to mobilize (transport) the victims with the various techniques they are trained to do,” he said. An advocate of the “sari-sari” principle, Malcampo encouraged the trainees of the First Responder Course to learn more and gain more skills along their chosen profession. “A multi-skilled personnel is always an asset not only to the institution you work with, but also to the community you serve, and your respective families,” he added. Malcampo recalled that since his college days, he was a Red Cross Youth volunteer, and a certifiedSpecialized Volunteer Service (SVS) instructorinfirstaid,andhavehadconductednumerousfirstaidtrainingcourse with various sectoral groups, including military personnel. (RVC/PIA9-ZBST)


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The Department of Agrarian Reform Agusan del Sur (DAR-AdS) provincial office exceeded by two percent its 2011 land tenure

improvement (LTI) target, having acquired a total of 4,311.7723 hectares of land against the 4,211 target and distributed a total of 4,311 hectares of agricultural lands to 2,431 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

DAR celebrates 24th year anniversary disclosing 2011 accomplishment, positioning to exceed 2012 targetby David M. Suyao


In a press conference held at the DAR- AdS office on June 26, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Paysal Tumog Al hajj said that although the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) is tough with the new law that took effect in the middle of 2011 plus the lack of manpower and resurging bottleneck that they faced in the implementation of CARP last year, they knew that they have brought changes and development to the lives of their agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and communities while lending their hands even to the most deprived barangays. To prove this, JCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (JARBENCO) Chairman Melvin Mondido said that in 1999, when his group acquired the 296 hectares of land from Jose C. Aquino (JCA) rubber plantation in Bayugan City, not all were planted with rubber. After subdividing the land that they acquired, they planted it with oil palm, and at present, while working with JCA, their income is more than the basic salary of one employed. Hilario Amas, Chairman of Boan Irrigators Association (BIA) in Rosario town, also said that although they were organized by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), half of their 172 members are agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). Amas said DAR has strengthened their organization, and because of this help from DAR, BIA became a national irrigators’ awardee in 2010 receiving a cash prize of P1 million, while Amas

himself was given a leader awardee last year, receiving P200,000. “With regards to Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD), we have achieved 145 percent performance in the resolution of agrarian reform cases, including assistance made to our ARBs and agrarian disputes resolution. As an aid to our ARBs, the program, through its program beneficiaries development (PBD) component provided necessary support services to accelerate rural development and agricultural productivity even in most remote areas,” PARO Tumog said. According to PARO Tumog, for the first semester this year, DAR-AdS has already acquired a total of 199.6180 has. and distributed 196.2289 has. to their ARBs. Tumog said they are confident that they can deliver or even exceed with their target, like the past years of implementing the program. They are also continuously pouring their support services, like the P36 million worth of farm to market road and P4 million worth of potable water system in the agrarian reform communities in Esperanza town with the help of the provincial and municipal local government units. PARO Tumog also proudly presented the newly renovated DAR provincial office in San Francisco whose funds were taken from their provincial operations savings. “With the present situation and testimonies of our ARBs, we believe and feel that our program, indeed, made the lives of our ARBs better,” PARO Tumog said.


32 passengers rescued as motorboat capsizes off Surigao City

by Susil D. Ragasn

Official report from Quick Action Response Team (QART) Surigao City revealed that around 12:30 p.m., the boat was traversing along the vicinity of Raza Point from Brgy. Bitaugan, Bayagnan Island going to Surigao City when the boat was battered by huge waves and strong winds due to bad weather and caused it to capsize. It was learned that 15 passengers

rescued by QART are from Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; 13 from Brgy. Bitaugan, Surigao City; three from Nueva Extension, Surigao City; two from Brgy. Kinabutan, Surigao City; two from Kaskag, Brgy. Washington, Surigao City; and one from P-3 Brgy. Canlanipa, Surigao City. The ill-fated boat was transported to Surigao City Boulevard by members of the Surigao City QART team.

SURIGAO DEL NORTE-- A motorized banca M/B Carl Mica May carrying 32 passengers including the boat captain and one boat crew capsized on Monday, June 25, 2012 at the vicinity of Raza Point seawater of Hinatuan Passage in Surigao City.


Agusan del Norte prov’l gov’t supports poverty alleviation projects

Cognizant to the challenge of alleviating poverty, Governor Erlpe John Amante reported that the province has provided P2.5 million as counterpart for the implementation of the “Makamasang Tugon” project. Amante also said a total of 17,513 qualified recipients benefited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty alleviation program of the national government where to date, some P56 million was released to the beneficiaries of the province. The provincial chief also said

on its sixth year of implementation, the Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran Program (SEA-K) has provided 39 livelihood projects all over the province with a total capital of P5.6 million. “I am proud to report that overall recovery or repayment rate is already 93 percent,” Amante said. The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service (KALAHI-CIDSS) has also started four projects in the municipality of Carmen,

BUTUAN CITY) -- The provincial government of Agusan del Norte has shown its support to the poverty alleviation projects as the local officials believe that the core of the problem besetting the area is poverty.

by Robert E. Roperos


amounting to P4.5 million, and six in Jabonga with a total project cost of P10.1 million. “These are among the interventions we have been implementing and I hope all of these will be sustained when I move to another calling,” Amante stressed. Further, Amante said the Botika ng Barangay program has been one of the most significant investments they made. He added the program merited

recognition from the Center for Health Development as among the best health programs in the Caraga Region for four consecutive years starting 2008. The official said that as of 2011, the provincial government was able to establish 118 outlets and generated a net profit of P858,784.82. The aforementioned poverty alleviation efforts of the provincial government were reported by Amante in time with the 45th anniversary of the province held here recently.


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T hree mining firms provided free health services to 650 residents of this town during a medical mission last June 23, in coordination with the local government.

Mining firms conduct medical mission for IPs By Claro A. Lanipa


The Bayog 9 Meals Corporation, Alpha First Asia Mining Corporation and Alpha Prime Pacific MiningCorporation brought the mission to indigenous communities composed of the Subanen Tribe of Barangays Liba, Conacon, Bobuan, Datagan, Bantal, Canoayan and Matin-ao, as social commitment of the mining companies operating in the area. The mission also offered consultations, dental services, free medicines and haircut. TheBarangayAffairsOfficeofthe local government unit (LGU) also offered processing of municipal IDs. The medical staff was composed of Dr. Bernie Adomon, Dr. Patrick Toledo-MunicipalHealthOfficerofthe Municipality of Dumalinao, Dr. Robert Barcela – Zamboanga del Sur Dental Society, Dr. Willa Barcela – Ozamis City Health Center, Dr. Elvie Alvaira, Dr. Cora Punzalan

– President, ZdS Dental Society together with the staff of the Rural Health Unit of LGU-Bayog. A total of 540 residents who took advantage of the free consultation and medicines while 85 availed of the dental services. “Dako kaayo among pasalamat nga ang mga lumulopyo sa among barangay naka avail sa mga serbisyo nga dugay na nga gisaad niining mga mining companies.” (We express our thanks and appreciation that the residents of our barangay were able to avail the services which was promised by the mining companies since then),” said Matin-ao barangay chair Virginia Entag. Romeo Fernando, chief operationsofficerofBayog9assuredthe people, “This is not the end, but this is just the beginning of our social commitment in the area.” (JPA/BAG/CAL-PIA9)


7000 join Arbor Day celebrationZAMBOANGA CITY - An estimated crowd of over 7000 representing multisectoral-groups participated in the Philippine Arbor Day celebration held on June 25 at the Climaco Freedom Park in Abong-abong where they planted trees as their share of responsibility in the protection and preservation of the environment.

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez

The participants composed of students, policemen, military men, and representatives from national government agencies, local government offices, government-owned and controlled corporations, barangays and various other sectors actively planted trees in their assigned areas at the C l i m a c o Park in Abong-abong. According to City Information Officer -Sheila Covarrubias, thisparticular Arbor Day celebration in Zamboanga is well-attended where a great number of participants, (over 7000 individuals) gathered together as one for the common purpose of protecting and preserving the environment. The activity dubbed as “Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga” was organized by the City Government through the City Environment and

NaturalResourcesOffice(OCENR). Pursuant to Ordinance 281, June 25wasthedayofficiallydesignatedas the start of the planting season in the city which also provides for active public participation in tree planting activities in observance of the Philippine Arbor Day. The celebration of June 25 of every year as Philippine Arbor Day is based on Proclamation No. 396 as amended which enjoins “active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity”. The occasion is geared at promoting a healthier ecosystem through the rehabilitation and re-greening of the environment. (JPA/PIA9-ZBST)


Get a urinalysis to prevent kidney diseases - NKTI by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

The National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), through its Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP), is urging the public to have a regular urine examination to prevent kidney

diseases.

This call was sounded by Dr. Susan L. Jorge, assistant program manager of the REDCOP, during the lay forum on renal health and disease prevention held, June 20, here. She said one discovers that one’s kidney is damaged when almost 90 percent of the organ is already diseased. Urinalysis is the simplest diagnostic procedure that can help your doctor decide whether there is a problem regarding the kidney, she emphasized; it is the best step in

preventing renal diseases. During the forum, Jorge also underscoredthesignificantfunctionsof the kidneys and the importance of taking care of them, stating that anyone at any age can have kidney


by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

DILG allots P5.5-M aid for reloc sites and evac centersCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - A total financial aid of P5.5 million has been allotted by the national government through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the city of Cagayan de Oro water supply projects for the relocation sites in Bolonsiri, Camaman-an; Indahag; and Calaanan and the improvement of the city’s evacuation centers.

This was announced by City Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Y. Emano after the signing of two Memoranda of Agreement with Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo during the “Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation,” on June 21. According to Mayor Emano, the initial P3 million is for the “Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat

diseases. According to her, the kidney is one of the most vital parts of body because it does not only excrete waste products, it also maintains bone health, controls blood pressure, maintains an acid-base balance, and produces hormones that are needed by the body. Participated in by more than 500 participants from various sectors,

the lay forum was a collaborative undertaking of the NKTI-REDCOP, Department of Health, and the Philippine Information Agency to raise awareness about renal health and diseases. It was one of the activities slated this month in observance of this year’s National Kidney Month with a theme, “Ikaw at AKo, Panalo sa Malusog na Bato.” (APB-PIA 10)


(SALINTUBIG) Program” while the P2.5 million is for the development of the various evacuation centers in the city for tropical storm Sendong survivors. “Dako na kining tabang sa panginahanglanon sa tubig sa atong mga kaigsoonang kabus nga nakabalhin na karon sa ilang bag-

ong pinuy-anan, apil kadtong ana-a pa intawon sa mga evacuation centers” (This is a big help to address the needs on water of the residents who are transferred already to their new homes, likewise those who are still inside evacuation centers), the Mayor further stated. (CIO)

Rotary Walk for Peace slated on July 1by Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte - The Rotarians enjoin all Christians, Muslims, and Lumads to walk as one people and show to the entire nation that the areas of Iligan and Marawi are geared toward peace and its promulgation.

“This is a better way to start off a new Rotary Year (RY), with the theme, ‘Peace through Service,’ joining together the two cities for a walk for peace,” expressed District Governor George Hamoy, Rotary International, District 3870, RY 2012-2013. “We anchored our zone theme for this walk as ‘The Tri-People of Lanao Working as One Under Peace,’ showcasing unity in pursuing peace,” he said. The walk will be at 5:00 a.m., starting at the Rizal Park city public plaza, then to the city’s thoroughfare, and back to the Rizal Park to culminate with an exercise program “Banatan sa Bukog.” Induction of Rotary district officerswillfollow. Registration centers for the walk

will be at Security Bank of Iligan, Dunkin Donuts-Quezon Avenue, and to all Rotary Club offices. (RotaryClub of Iligan-Ma. Cristina)


The Department of Agriculture in partnership with small banana

growers and exporters, mostly based in Davao region, will put up common packing facilities that comply with required export stan-dards. Agriculture Secretary Proceso

J. Alcala said the DA in tandem with the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA) will initially put up two banana packing facility at barangays Kinnamon and Casig-an, both in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, worth P3.1 million (M) each. The DA chief visited the prospective sites on June 20, 2012, accompanied by MBFEA officers, ledby its president Romeo Garcia, chairman, and

DAofficials. Secretary Alcala said the amount will come from the President Aquino’s Social Fund which allotted P50M to construct new packing facilities and upgrade existing ones to enable small banana farmers comply with international sanitary and

DA to put up banana packing facilities in Davao


phytosanitary standards (SPS). He said the DA through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is currently inspecting small banana packing facilities in Davao region, and subsequently accredit those that meet required standards. Secretary Alcala urged the members of the MBFEA to form themselves into clusters so they could be served by common or central accredited packing facility. He made the call during a consultation with small and multinational banana growers and exporters, along with Davaolocalgovernmentofficials,ledby Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr., in Tagum City. During the forum, the DA chief urged the ‘big players’ — or members of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), headed by its executive director Stephen Antig — to share their technologies and good agricultural practices with the small growers and exporters, so they could be more productive and meet the stringent export standards.

He said the DA will also provide them technical and marketing assistance, and training through the BPI, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). However, he cautioned some of them not to resort again to ‘pole-vaulting’ or reneging on marketing contracts with multinational companies and dealing with other buyers and importers whenever export prices of banana spike or shoot up, and in the process hastily skipping or relaxing on the required SPS or export standards. Meanwhile, he said the DA, represented by AMAS Director Leandro Gazmin, and officers of the MBFEAand PBGEA, along with trade industry officials are embarking on a trademission to explore and clinch more export markets for Philippine bananas. They group left June 23, 2012 for the Middle East, Brussels, Netherlands and Italy. (DA Information Service)

facts and figures

P128-million Funding allocation for the Intelligence Operations Center of the Davao City Public Safety Command Center. The IT program contracted to IBM, syn-chronizes all data and information from public safety agencies and law enforcement to analyze patterns and be proactive in anti-crime efforts.


DOT 12 keen on pursuing tour guiding training in the regionBy Aida C.Agad

KORONADAL CITY-- After the first Naturalist Tour Guiding Training held in the region for this year, a tourism official disclosed that another one is in the offing in an attempt to energize tourism development in the SOCCSKSARGEN area.


Senior tourism officerArmin Hautea of the Department of Tourism (DOT) here said that preparations are now underway for the regional tour guiding training, which they hope to be conducted soon.

The training would take around 21 days, that is why DOT 12 under officer-in-charge JoseCabulanan is making sure that all details for the training are resolved, said Hautea.

Tour guiding trainings conducted by the tourism agency are required for applicants who wish to be accredited tour guides by the DOT.

So far, Region 12 has two active DOT-accredited tour guides,

including the regional eco-tour guide based in Lake Sebu, South

Cotabato.After attendance to

trainings, applicants’ credentials will still to go through rigid evaluation to qualify as accredited tour guides.

For the past two years, the agency has conducted three tour guiding trainings specializing on tour-guiding techniques for specificplaceshereintheregion and for nature-based tour guiding. (ACAgadPIA12)


No repeat of last year’s glitches in 2nd Tree-Growing Festival – MayorBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY-- Koronadal Mayor Peter B. Miguel assured the city gov-ernment has prepared a comprehensive plan to avoid recurrence of mistakes in the Tree-Growing Festival’s inaugural run in 2011.

Although deemed very successful with a staggering record of 131,028 trees planted in 522 hectares in a single day, the 1st Tree-Growing Festival, was also dogged by allegations of missing planting materials, messytraffic,unpreparedplanting sites and road accidents as well as reports of insufficientmedical personnel to respond to emergencies and of planters left at the planting sites by the vehicles that brought them to the area.

There were even reports --laterconfirmeduntrue-- of participants who died from road mishap on their way to one of the planting locations.

“We have learned so much from our experience during the first tree-

growing festival,” Mayor Miguel said. “We are more prepared this time.”

Among the measures implemented for Friday’s festival include specific requirementsand reminders for participants, road network improvements, c o m p r e h e n s i v e emergency response and communication network.

This year, elementary pupilsandfirstyearandsecond year high school students are never allowed to register and join the activity.

“Third year and fourth year high school students are only allowed to participate if they bring with them consent forms signed by parents or guardians,” the local chief executive said, “to avoid endangering children.”

Participants are also advised to bring food, drinking water and protective gears against heat and rain. Those who have ailments should also seek counsel from their doctors.

“The activity is not a walk in the park,” the mayor pointed out, “so everybody should be physicallyfit.”

To ensure safe travel, roads leading to the planting sites have been widened, graded and gravelled.

More than P3 million was added to the initial P2.079 million allocation partly to fund equipment rental and road repair works by the city engineeringoffice.

Partner agencies and concerned individuals already lent the city


LGU more than 200 vehicles. Each vehicle will be accompanied by a “conductor” whose only duty is to monitor the passengers and make sure that no one in his group is left at the area after the activity.

D o m i n a d o r Samilin, environment management specialist II of the city ENRO, said vehicles can now reach the locations at the highest elevation of Quezon Mountain Range such as Sitio New Leyte and Sitio Barbara, which shortens

the planters’ walk to their specific planting sites to30 minutes.

However, planters assigned to Sitio Randal in Cacub still needs to tackle two to three-hour walk to the site because the area’s geography limits entry of vehicles.

Samilin added that all planting materials have been hauled to the planting sites and placed besides the holes where they should be planted.

“What planters need to do is only to carefully remove the polyethylene

bags and plant the seedlings,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Malinao of the city LGU’s Local Assessment Operations Office said,security and safety of the participants are also assured.

“A rescue team composedofatleastfivepersons will be deployed to all the 19 sub-clusters (sub-villages) to provide firstaidandbringvictimsand patients to the nearest medical team,” she said.

A medical team


composed of barangay health workers and nurses will also be dispatched to each of the location.

“Those who need further medical attention will be brought to nearest health stations manned by physicians and nurses,” she added.

These health stations are situated in the barangay health centers of San Jose, Mabini, Topland, and Cacub.

Ambulances and emergency vehicles will also be on standby at each sub-cluster ready to transport patients to either the health stations or directly to hospitals if necessary.

Local governments of nearby municipalities have lent their ambulances in support to the activity.

Fire Marshall Nilo Manlabao, head of the rescue committee said, they will deploy at least 150 rescue personnel who come from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Red Cross, provincial rescue team, and the city rescue team.

“We have also organized a special

search and rescue team from South Cotabato who will take care of special operations,” Manlabao said.

Monitoring and immediate relay of information from the sites to the command center at the city hall in Barangay Carpenter Hill is also guaranteed.

Communication bases have been set up in Barangay Topland and San Jose to receive reports from roving communication personnel assigned to each of the planting locations.

Mayor Miguel also told reporters that only the personnel of the city information center assigned to the command center at the city hall can releaseofficialstatementsto avoid dissemination of unconfirmedandbaselessinformation.

On Friday, June 29, at least 10,000 residents of the city, employees of the city government and national line agencies, members civic groups and non-government organizations as well as business establishments

and organizations will plant at least 250,000 coconut, cacao, coffee, assorted fruit trees and hardwood seedlings.

The choice of planting materials, Mayor Miguel explained, is meant to reduce the possibility of the planted trees becoming subject of slash and burn farming and charcoal-making. These also intended to provide poor farmers whose lands have been idle for years with opportunity to grow high value crops.

The city LGU initially planned to cover 1,000 hectares but as of Monday, the confirmed plantingsites have already reached 1,275.75 hectares in Barangays Esperanza, Cacub, Topland, San Jose, and Mabini all in Quezon Mountain Range at the eastern side of the city.

Once the 2nd Tree-Growing Festival is completed, at least 435 farmers will have coconut-based farms established for them by the city government of Koronadal and its residents. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


DA allots P7.5M to optimize rubber production in Lake SebuBy Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- Soccsksargen Region’s Department of Agriculture (DA-12) has allotted P7.5 million for the development of rubber produc-tion in Lake Sebu town.

The undertaking in line with its efforts to boost production of rubber as one of the priority high value crops, according to a

report from DA 12’s Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division.

The amount, the report says was allotted

to the Rubber Enterprise Development Project in the provinces’ primary eco-tourism destination and coursed through the


AgriPinoy High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP).

This initiative is in collaboration with the New National A g r i b u s i n e s s Corporation (NABCOR) and the Likas Kayang Kaunlaran Foundation Philippines, I n c o r p o r a t e d (LKKFPI).

“This project was established to develop the rubber nursery in the locality that would build up the enterprise where agribusiness should be the utmost frontline in advancing economic growth,” NABCOR President Honesto Baniqued said.

The project, he

pointed out, will also address farmers’ needs like the availability of rubber seedlings.

Martin P. Atinen, Jr., LKKFPI executive director, added, that the development of this rubber project seeks to improve the quality of life of the communities through generation of job opportunities.

Besides enhancing the skills of the members of these communities, the project is also a means of reforestation thereby cushioning the effects of climate change.

Nelly Ylanan, head of DA-RAFID, explained that the project includes one hectare of rubber nursery,

one hectare budwood garden where the planting materials for the establishment of 40 hectares of rubber plantation will be sourced from. Direct beneficiaries

of the project were the farmers with farm lands in the said municipality.

The rubber plantations cover five barangays inLake Sebu namely; Takonel, Tasiman, Ned, Lamlahak and Lake Lahit.

DA-HVCDP through NABCOR shouldered the 80% of the total project’s cost or P6 million while the LKKFPI provided the remaining 20% or P1.5 million as well as the production areas as project investment counterpart.

Region 12 ranked 2nd in rubber production in the country with a total production of 157,701.56 metric tons (MT) in 2011 posting a 5.16% increase compared to 2010’s 149,964.88 MT.

The project was formally launched on June 14. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/ PDERana & LMSalvo – DA-12)

one mindanao - june 28, 2012

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