one mindanao - june 30, 2015

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western and Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IX

ALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORS

FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga Region

VENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northern Mindanao

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

J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

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

LAYOUT ARTISTS

EMMANUEL D. TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

DAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

EDITORIAL BOARD

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESOne Mindanao

Decommissioned MILF combatant are now PhilHealth members

S. Cotabato appeals for NDRRMC aid in rehab of damaged infrastructures

PAGIBIG offers loyalty card

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AgSur solon turns-over equipment to PIA Caraga for disaster education, operation

President Aquino attends groundbreaking ceremony of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

Tribal leaders urge IPs to leave armed struggle

IEC campaign on downstream oil industry held in Dipolog

DENR 13 leads planting of 7,000 Mangroves propagules in Butuan CityOWWA gives livelihood skills training to Bayugan OFWs, family members

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By: Danilo E. Doguiles

By: PNA

By: Alfonso T. Ruda

By: Eric Gallego

By: Jean Mary Ronquillo

Cover Story

CARAGA

WESTERN NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGEN

SOUTHERN

NATIONAL

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DTI MisOcc clarifies “No Return, No Exchange” policy of stores

P12 Daily Wage Increase in Region 10 effective July 3, 2015

By: ALMira

By: Mildred E. Dablio

By: Michael Uy

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By: Fryan E. Abkilan & Jennifer P. Gaitano

Contents

4 June 30, 2015One Mindanao

Cover Story


Agusan del Sur First District Rep. Ma. Valentina G. Plaza turned-over on Monday a brand new computer equipment to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.

5June 30, 2015 One Mindanao


By: Fryan E. Abkilan & Jennifer P. GaitanoAgusan del Sur First District Rep. Ma. Valentina G. Plaza turned-over on Monday a brand new computer equipment to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.

The said equipment was intended to enhance the agency’s capability on disaster education and response.

“I’m very happy with the services of PIA Caraga in its timely dissemination of relevant information to the public. I believe that with your services thru your Advanced Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network, the government can immediately address every issues and concerns of our constituents,” stressed Rep. Plaza.

The formal turn-over ceremony was witnessed by the regional employees, Fr. Carlito Clase of the Diocese of Butuan and media.

“The best way to reach out to the community is to educate the community people themselves to be resilient in times of disasters and calamities and I know PIA can help us on this. May this equipment play a vital role in its pursuit of empowering the people of Caraga,” Rep. Plaza said.


PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga thanked Rep. Plaza for her support and lauded the lady solon for being responsive and for her strong commitment to help the Caraganons to be disaster-resilient.

“We, in PIA, are the firstto inform the public on the latest situation on the ground especially during disasters and emergencies. With this brand new equipment, I believe we can do more, do better and reach further,” Caga said.


The lady solon also bared in an interview over PIA Caraga’s 107.8 Power FM/AFEBS Network that she has several plans and programs for her constituents in Agusan del Sur in the months to come.

The said official alsoexpressed her interest to adopt the AFEBS network in her province.


Amnesty offered to illegal foreign workers in Bahrain

MANILA - The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) of Bahrain has announced that a general amnesty for illegal foreign workers in Bahrain will commence on July 01, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Amnesty period will run for six months, from July 01 until December 31, and will cover foreign workers who are overstaying or are considered runaway cases. I l l e g a l / undo cumen t ed

foreign workers in Bahrain who face police/criminal cases or travel ban cases are not eligible under the Amnesty Program.

Under the Amnesty Program, illegal/undocumented foreign workers in Bahrain may avail of


the following options:

(1) Leave Bahrain without paying any immigration penalties/fines and with thepossibility of return at any time regardless of legal status (no blacklisting); or

(2) Legalize their employment status in Bahrain with a new employer without the consent of the previous employer, and subject to certain conditions.

The Philippine Embassy in Manama is coordinating with the LMRA on the implementation details of the Amnesty Program and has began disseminating initial information to the Filipino community in Bahrain, and will update them accordingly.

In the meantime, qualifiedFilipinos wishing to avail of the amnesty program are advised to be ready with copies of their passports and Central Population Registry (CPR) cards, which

are necessary for purposes of immigration status check.

There are no fees involved in availing of the Amnesty Program. Filipinos in the kingdom are warned against unscrupulous persons posing as agents or middlemen and charging fees for this purpose.

Filipinos qualified andwishing to avail of the amnesty program may come to the Philippines Embassy or call the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) at (+973) 3995-3235 or POLO at (+973) 1774-0951, for information or assistance.

They may also visit the LMRA website at www.lmra.bh or call the LMRA at (973) 1750-6055, for more information. (DFA)


President Aquino attends groundbreaking ceremony of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu - President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony of a new passenger terminal at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) here.


Joining President Aquino in the groundbreaking ceremony of the airport’s Terminal 2 and the lowering of the time capsule were Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, Megawide Construction Corporation Chairman Michael Cosiquien, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) President Manuel Louie Ferrer, GMR Group of Companies Chairman Grandhi Mallikajurna Rao, and GMCAC Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison.

The construction of the MCIA’s second terminal, which will start immediately, will further boost Cebu’s already dynamic economic landscape with an expected increase in the airport’s passenger handling capacity from 4.5 million to 12.5 million annually.

The GMCAC is a Filipino company formed from the consortium of GMR Group of India and Megawide Construction Corporation of the Philippines under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Department of Transportation and Communications. The company won the P32 billion, 25-year concession deal to expand and manage the MCIA after offering a premium of P14.4 billion.

“Tunay pong sagisag ang araw na ito sa tagumpay na dulot ng pagkakapit-kamay; patunay din ito sa napipitas na nating bunga sa ilalim ng ating Public-Private Partnerships. Isipin po ninyo: Sa nakaraang tatlong administrasyon, anim na solicited PPP projects lamang ang nai-award sa pribadong sektor; ngayon po, mula Disyembre ng 2011 hanggang Hunyo ng 2015, umabot na sa 10 solicited PPP projects ang nai-award na natin, na nagkakahalagang P189 bilyon. Bukod pa rito, may 12


proyekto pa tayong nasa bidding na; at 30 naman ang nakapila pa. Mahigit 50 PPP projects po ito na nagkakahalagang tinatayang P1.11 trillion, sa ilalim ng ating administrasyon,” President Aquino said in his speech.

The P17.5-billion Terminal 2, located beside the existing terminal, will span approximately 50,000 square meters with modular expansion capacity. It will be designed in the shape of a bangka, the native canoe, to pay tribute to Cebu’s heritage.

The architectural features of Terminal 2 blends modern building materials and Cebuano culture and heritage.

According to GMCAC, the new terminal, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018, will have a two-level forecourt segregating Arrival and Departure passengers.

Terminal 2 will likewise have 48 check-in counters, which are expandable to 72. It will also have provisions for seven passenger boarding bridges, which can be expanded to 12 bridges serving wide and narrow body aircraft.

The new terminal also features 12 escalators and 15 elevators to facilitate the easy movements of passengers, especially the elderly and those with disabilities. It will have a car park that can accommodate 550 cars and is expandable to 750 as necessary, as well as an array of food, beverage and retail stores for local and foreign passengers.

The GMCAC said the construction of Terminal 2 will create 2,000 to 3,000 jobs for


Cebuanos over three years. An additional 500 new jobs are expected during the terminal’s firstyearofoperation.

“Sa pagpapaunlad nga po ng inyong airport, talagang namumuhunan tayo para sa kinabukasan. Paparamihin natin angflightsatpasaherongkayangi-accommodate ng paliparan. Gagawin nating mas maginhawa ang karanasan ng mga biyahero dito. Bunsod nito, mapaparami natin ang turistang bibisita sa inyo. At pag-uwi naman ng mga turista sa kani-kanilang mga lugar, ikukuwento nila—hindi ang karanasan nilang naging pahirapan—kundi ang maayos at masigla nilang biyahe sa inyong lalawigan. Resulta: Dadami ang mahihikayat na tumungo rito, na muli namang magdudulot ng mga oportunidad, at siyang magpapatuloy sa siklo ng pag-asenso,” President Aquino said.

The President also toured the newly renovated Terminal 1 after the groundbreaking

ceremony.

The MCIA, the second largest airport in the country in terms of domestictraffic, isenvisionedtobetheworld’sfirstresortairportin the world.

The GMCAC said a hotel and mall are also being considered after the modernization of the airport has been completed.

The GMR Group also operates airports in New Delhi and Hyderabad in India, Istanbul in Turkey, and the Maldives. (PCOO/PND (jm)


Tribal leaders urge IPs to leave armed struggle

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City - Tribal leaders in Misamis Oriental called on members of the Indigenous People (IP) to return to the tribal community and abandon the armed struggle.


Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the army’s Fourth Infantry Division, said on Tuesday that the tribal leaders made the call during the formal launching of the “Peace Caravan” in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental last week.

Martinez said that Datu Bruno Lindahay, the tribal chieftain of the village of Kibanban, called on members of the Higaonon tribes who joined the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to return to the tribal community in order to live a peaceful life.

The hinterland village of Kibanban, a farming village in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, is home to the Higa-onon tribe, one of the indigenous people’s communities in the province.

Martinez said that Lindahay was a former rebel under

Guerilla Front 4B of the Northern Mindanao Regional Committee based in Balingasag and Lagonglong, all eastern towns in Misamis Oriental.

The tribal leaders and the Higa-onons gathered at the foot of Mt. Balatucan range Saturday last week to show support to the government’s peace caravan led by the Philippine Army and the local government units in Misamis Oriental.

During the meeting, Lindahay urged the fellow Higa-onons who have joined the NPA movement to abandon the armed struggle and come back to “rebuild” the tribal community in order to attain lasting peace.

Martinez said that the peace caravan is a prelude to a series of programs and projects for implementation in rebel infested tribal communities in Misamis Oriental.

Some of these programs include the construction of farm-to-market roads, electrification,medical and dental assistance, and other basic services of the local government, Martinez said. (PNA)

Koronadal City plants 250K trees in 5th tree growing festBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 30 -- A quarter of million trees and orna-mental plants were planted in the 5th Tree Growing Festival of the City of Koro-nadal Monday, June 29.

At least 14,000 individuals from multi-sectoral groups have registered for the tree planting activities in at least 500 hectares of idle lands, farms of coopera-tors, and riparian zones in Roxas and Quezon mountain ranges, according to the City Environment and Natural Re-sourcesOffice.

On June 16, Malacañang has issued Proclamation No. 1050 declaring June 29 a special nonworking day for the “people of City of Koronadal to be given full op-portunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.”

Activities kicked off around 4.00 a.m. with a ritual in front of the old city hall along Gensan Drive.

Allotted for planting are 10,000 bam-boo, 20,000 cacao, 5,000 durian, 5,000 rambutan, 5,000 lanzones, 5,000 calamansi, 5,000 banana, 10,00 narra, 20,000 lau-an, and 5,000 coconut seedlings.

Earlier, Mayor Peter Miguel, has called


on the volunteer planters to properly plant the seed-lings properly and carefully.

Mayor Miguel also an-nounced that he would create a group who will conduct reg-ular inspection of planted trees to ensure zero mortality.

Koronadal City’s annual tree growing festival is the city government response to the national government’s National Greening Program, Mayor Miguel said during the launchingofthefirstmassivetree planting activity in 2011.

Apart from this, the activity is also intended to improve the forest cover of the two moun-tain ranges that border the city and provide livelihood to co-operating farmers.

In 2011, over 23,000 volunteers planted 131,000 trees in over 500 hectares in Roxas mountain range while in 2012 more than 17,000 volunteers planted over 300,000 trees in over 1,000 hectares in Quezon mountain range.

Since 2013, the three grow-ing activity have been tar-geting both mountain ranges with more 260,000 trees in the third tree growing fest and over 210,000 trees last year.

In 2014, city government decided to include roadside beautificationandbackyardtree planting as part of the tree growing festival. (DEDogu-iles-PIA 12)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 30 -- The 145 decom-missioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are now enjoying health insurance, according to Phil-Health 12.

Decommissioned MILF combatant are now PhilHealth membersBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

PhilHealth 12 said in a press release that the insurance of the decommissioned MILF members is part of the peace process’ Normalization Compo-nent Program and in line with PhilHealth’s vision of making “Bawat Pilipino Miyembro, Bawat Miyembro Protektado, Kalusu-gan Natin Segurado.”

PhilHealth announced that during the turnover of weap-ons and decommissioning of combatants on June 16, they also distributed PhilHealth Cards and Member Data Re-cords (MDRs) to 145 decom-missioned combatants.

Their coverage is effective until December 31, 2015, re-newable on the following year.

As members, the MILF mem-bers, along with their quali-fieddependents,mayavailofin-patient, out-patient and other

specialbenefitpackagesfromaccredited government hospitals with no out-of-pocket-expenses under PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing Policy.

They are also eligible for free diagnostic, preventive and labo-ratory services and drugs and medicines for selected illness covered under the Tamang Ser-bisyong Kalusugang Pampami-lya or TSeKaP in health centers nearest them.

PhilHealth Region XII-Local HealthInsuranceOfficeCota-bato Head Sharihana Sali ori-ented the decommissioned MILF combatants about the National Health Insurance Program.

She also answered their que-ries including eligibility of their grandchildren to be considered as dependents, the number of children that may be covered, portability of the coverage in


S. Cotabato appeals for NDRRMC aid in rehab of damaged infrastructuresBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

casetheywillbeconfinedinother places and other con-cerns.

Once the decommissioning is completed, around 12,000 MILF members could become members of PhilHealth, the re-port said.

The decommissioning in SultanKudaratwasthefirstbatch under the Normalization Component Program.

It was witnessed by Presi-

dent Benigno Aquino who ap-pealed for a collaborative sup-port to the peace process and the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Philhealth President and Chief ExecutiveOfficerAtty.AlexanderPadilla led the distribution of PhilHealth cards and MDRs to the decommissioned combat-ants. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from GALSequito-Phil-Health 12)

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 30 -- The provincial government here will request the National Disaster Risk Reduc-tion and Management Council (NDRRMC) to finance the rehabili-tation of infrastructures damaged by recent floods .

South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes called for an emergency meeting of the Provincial DRRM Council (PDRRMC) on Thursday to as-sess the aftermath of the heavyrainsandfloodsthatravaged several parts of the province on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the said meeting, the

PDRRMC passed a resolution requestingtheNDRRMCtofi-nance through the Quick Re-sponse Fund of the Depart-ment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the con-struction and rehabilitation of bridgesandfloodcontrolin-frastructures.

“The provincial government is not prepared to fund many


of these projects particularly the bridges in Barrio 6 and Namnama (in Koronadal City) andfloodcontrolsinBangaand Norala,” Gov. Fuentes em-phasized.

Namnama Bridge, a 60-me-ter bridged connecting Koro-nadal City and Lutayan mu-nicipality in Sultan Kudarat, collapsed Wednesday after-noon following heavy rains and floodingofTaplanRiver.

According to preliminary es-timates by the Provincial Engi-neeringOffice(PEO),atleastP45 million is needed to rebuild the said bridge.Meanwhile,floodwater

scoured and collapsed the ap-proach road pavement to the bridge in Barrio 6 (Leopoldo Sanico Bridge, according to the city government), affecting trafficbetweenTampakantownand Koronadal City.

Installation of a retaining wall and bank protection works would require at least P20 mil-lion, per PEO assessment.

Based on their initial evalua-tion, the PEO also recommend-ed to the provincial government the construction of at least threefloodcontrolinfrastruc-tures costing about P15 mil-lion to P31 million each in

the municipality of Norala as well as a number of road re-pairs, widening of river chan-nels and other infrastructure projects.

Gov. Fuentes has direct-ed the PEO and the PDRRMC secretariat to work closely with the DPWH in identify-ing which projects will be en-dorsedforNDRRMCfinanc-ing.

Assessment of the afteref-fects of the heavy rains is still going on.

“We will request the NDRRMC to fund projects costing P10 million or more,” Gov. Fuen-tes said. “If the NDRRMC will approve our request, well and good, but if they won’t, then we will have to gradually do these on our own.”

Besides the resolution ap-pealing for NDRRMC support, the PDRRMC also passed reso-lutions recommending decla-ration of a province-wide state of calamity, increasing the amount of emergency shelter assistance and expanding the membership of the PDRRMC to include mayors of local govern-ment units. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)


DILG-13 releases P245-M for Bottom-Up BudgetingBy: Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga released on Monday a total of P245-Million worth of checks to three cities and 50 municipalities for the implementation of 181 projects across Caraga Region during the showcase conducted at Robinsons Place here dubbed “Pagpadayag: Showcasing the Gains of BUB.” Of the 181 projects, 101 are intended for Potable Water Systems, 70 for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), six projects for Local Access,


and four other infrastructure projects. The total amount of checks released for Potable Water System projects across the region amount to about P121 Million. These are for four projects in Butuan City amounting to P3 Million; 24 projects in Agusan del Norte amounting to P25 Million (for Carmen, Jabonga, Las Nieves, Magallanes, Nasipit, RTR and Tubay); 12 projects in Agusan del Sur amounting to P22.3 Million (for Bayugan City, Esperanza, Prosperidad, Sta. Josefa, Sibagat, and Veruela); 21 projects in Surigao del Norte totaling P31.7 Million (for Bacuag, Gigacuit, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Socorro, and Surigao City); 37 projects in Surigao del Sur totaling P34.2 Million (for Barobo, Bayabas, Cagwait, Cantilan, Cortes, Hinatuan, Lingig, Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Tagbina, and Tago); and three projects for Dinagat Islands totaling P 4.5 Million (for Cagdianao and Libjo). The 70 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects amounted to about P106 Million. Theseprojectsaremostlyflood-control or drainage/river canals, seawalls, evacuation centers and rescue equipment. Of this, Butuan

City has one project amounting to P600,000; Agusan del Norte with four projects amounting to P5.5 Million (for Carmen and Las Nieves); Agusan del Sur with seven projects amounting to P13.1 Million (for La Paz, Loreto, Rosario, San Francisco and Veruela); Surigao del Norte with 36 projects totaling P65.1 Million (for Alegria, Bacuag, Burgos, Del Carmen, Dapa, Gigaquit, Malimono, San Francisco, San Isidro, Socorro, Sta. Monica, Surigao City, and Tubod); Surigao del Norte with 16 projects totaling P12.2 Million (for Bayabasm Carmen, Carrascal, Lanuza, Marihatag, San Agustin, Tagbina, and Tago); and Dinagat Islands with six projects amounting P9.1 Million (for Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat and Tubajon). Whereas the checks released for the six Local Access projects (i.e. FMRs and bridges) totaled P11.8 Million. Agusan del Sur has two projects worth P5 Million in all (for San Francisco and Sibagat); Surigao del Norte with three projects totaling P2.4 Million (for Bacuag and Gigaquit); and Dinagat Islands with one worth P4.4 Million (for Dinagat). And lastly, checks for several other projects (i.e. terminal, market, etc.) totaled P6.7


BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga headed by regional director Nonito M. Tamayo celebrated Arbor Day on June 25 in a festive atmosphere by planting about 7,000 mangrove propagules at a tiny islet in Masao, this city where in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan held the first mass together with the natives headed by Tajah Colambu, the king of Butuan.

DENR 13 leads planting of 7,000 Mangroves propagules in Butuan City By: Eric Gallego

Although the 48-hectare sand islet near the Agusan River Delta had been developed by the DENR employees 17 years ago, in 1998, into a mangrove plantation, the area now serves as a breeding habitat of marine

mammalandfishandsourceoffood of the people living along the shorelines of Barangays Lumbukan and Masao and Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte. On Thursday, (June 25 ) about 500 people from different

Million. Agusan del Sur has one project worth P2.1 Million (for Sibagat); Surigao del Norte has one project worth P1 Million (for San Francisco); and Surigao del Sur has two projects totaling P3.6 Million (for Carmen and Carrascal). This is the second batch of checks released, the first ofwhich totaled P42.4 Million and were handed out to 25 LGUs last June 3, 2015 during the Program Orientation on DILG-Administered CY 2015 Bottom-Up Budgeting Projects and its

Implementation Guidelines on June 3, 2015 at Pietro’s Square, this city. These were for 32 projects (i.e. 19 Disaster Risk Reduction-Related projects, 12 Potable Water System projects and one other infrastructure project). These are the projects that fall under the DILG’s purview and menu of projects that the LGUs proposed in their Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAP) crafted through the third cycle implementation under the Bottom-Up Budgeting approach.


national government agencies, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, students from the Caraga State University (CSU), the Agusan National High School (ANHS), and AMA Computer Learning Center, among others have joined the DENR in the planting activity which highlight the Arbor Day. Before the planting, however, Tamayo reiterated of the need for the people to be wise in their way of life and consumption without prejudice to the environment and nature. The theme of the

Environment Month Celebration this year is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.” He said the earth’s booming population may reach 9.6 billion by 2050 and if the current consumption of the present 7 billion people would remain the same, the people in the world would need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption. Tamayo said that “we can survive and enjoy the benefitsof the natural resources if these seven billion people in the whole world would make


OWWA gives livelihood skills training to Bayugan OFWs, family membersBy: Jean Mary Ronquillo

BUTUAN CITY – In its endeavor to capacitate its member Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with essential skills for livelihood augmentation, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office Caraga in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) recently afforded the members of Bayugan City United OFWs and Family Association (BCUOFA) a two-day skills training on Virgin Coconut Oil and Coco Products Processing held in Bayugan City.

one change toward a more responsible consumption of resources. It must start from us for that vision to be a reality.” “We can discourage ourselves to use plastic bags or just use alternative and practical ways to help in the protection and conservation of our natural resources,” he added. The Arbor Day celebration was institutionalized by Presidential Proclamation 396 on June 2, 2003, enjoining the “active participation of government agencies, the

private sectors, schools, civil society groups, and the people, in the tree-planting activity”. The Arbor Day Act of 2012 or Republic Act 10176 made tree planting an annual event for LGUs. Under the law, Filipinos age 12 and above should plant one tree every year in the backyards or in any vacant spaces where they can be grown and nurtured. According to Tamayo, the planting of trees should be done as often because trees help mitigate the effects of climate change.


Coconut Production and Regulation Officer III ErnalynColon and Coconut Development Officer Ronald S. Musico ofPCA Caraga, facilitated the training to some 25 participants. Among the finishedproducts presented during the culmination activity include: Virgin Coconut Oil, Bucarillo, Bukayo, Macaroons, Buko pie and vinegar sauce, which is still on the process phase. BCUOFA president Henry Villamor expressed his gratitude to OWWA for providing them their first organizationaldevelopment training. “Thank you OWWA for all your efforts, we are very proud that you really came here for us,” Villamor said in local dialect. Villamor also conveyed his gratefulness to the resource speakers for sharing their learning to them. “The training helps us undertand that there are many simple means to make use of the coconut in order to increase our daily household income,” he added. In his message, regional director Samuel Madrid of OWWA Caraga congratulated all the participants for satisfactorily completing the two-day training. He also appreciated the support

extended by the city government of Bayugan City through its PublicServiceEmploymentOfficeheaded by Vice Mayor Charles Anggayong, as well as the efforts of the resource speakers for the realization of the said activity. Madrid disclosed that in the province of Agusan del Sur,itwasfirsttimeforOWWAtogether with PCA to conduct the said techno transfer in Bayugan City. Further, Madrid bared that this endeavor of the government primarily aims to alleviate poverty. “Sana ito ay hindi katapusan ng inyong mga enhancement trainings or skills trainings, kundi sana ito ay maging panimula ng inyong continuing educational process,” Madrid said.

DIPOLOG CITY – A joint meeting among the members of the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) and Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (RJJWC) was held here Friday to discuss certain updates involving the two councils.

Dipolog hosts joint RCWC, RJJWC meeting

By Franklin P. Gumapon

Ms. April Obtinario of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)

presented before the members some recommendations on how to improve the process in the


conduct of assessment of child-friendly local governance. Obtinario said there must be cross posting or random regional validation to be conducted to the local government unit (LGU) nominated for the child-friendly award. “What was done before was just like a self-evaluation in which the LGU was the one rating itself,” Obtinario pointed out. It was also suggested that a review of the indicators and tools for the Child-friendly Local Governance Award (CFLGA) be made including an exit conference with the LGUs. Obtinario also disclosed that the national children’s month celebration has been moved from October to November each year by virtue of Republic Act 10661 with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), CWC and National Youth Commission (NYC) as lead agencies. Meanwhile, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Ma. Socorro Rojas ofZamboanga City briefed the participants on the diversion proceeding of children in conflictwithlaws(CICL).

Based on the statistics released by DSWD-9, the region has 407 CICL, charged with theft, physical injury, drugs, acts of lasciviousness and others. To ensure that no CICL is being detained in regular jails, a resolution was passed creating a Joint Monitoring Team that will visit municipal/city/provincial jails in the region. It is composed of DSWD, Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), Philippine National Police (PNP), vDepartment of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and SILSILLAH, a non-government organization. DSWD-9 Regional Director Zenaida Arevalo presided over the said meeting.


DOE-MFO chief Engr. NiloGerochesaid 50 percent of the power supply in Mindanao comes from the hydropower plants whose power generation was affected by the dry-spell. According to Geroche, the present poor power condition could not be totally blamed on the local electric cooperative, as it only distributes power coming from the National Power Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). One the other hand, Engr. Virgilio B. Arzadonstressed the need to conserve energy as he gave some energy-saving tips to the participants how to maximize the performance efficiency of the electricalgadgets used. He cited among others the use of right kind of gadgets neededinaspecificarealikethecorrect wattage of a bulb that can provide appropriate lighting and the right air-conditioning unitto be installed in a room,

usingthefloorareaasthebasis. Arzadon likewise reminded all concerned government agencies that the DOE is monitoring its energy consumption and recommends appropriate measures to save energy. Geroche also appealed to the participants to be cautious andvigilantinbuyingliquefiedpetroleum gas (LPG) and check any possible leakage or damage on the tank. He also urged the public to report to appropriate authorities any establishment illegally selling LPG products and prodded the local government units (LGUs) to take action against illegal selling of gasoline in their respective areas for safety and to protect the interest of legitimate gasoline dealers. Among the participants to the forum were gasoline dealers, heads of offices andrepresentatives from the different LGUs of Zamboanga del Norte, and the media.

IEC campaign on downstream oil industry held in DipologDIPOLOG CITY -The Department of Energy-Mindanao Field Office (DOE-MFO) in coordination with the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte has conducted information, education and communication (IEC) campaign on downstream oil industry and energy conservation here over the weekend.

By Alfonso T. Ruda

Repainting of pedestrian lanes, police visibility near schools sought

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In preparation for the opening of classes, chair of the City Council committee on education enjoins the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) and other concerned agencies to repaint all pedestrian lanes crossing school campuses in the city.

by City Information Office

“This will provide safety to our children,” said Councilor Adrian L. Barba, chair of the City Council committee on education, The councilor also appeals to the Cagayan deOroPoliceOffice(COCPO)forpolicevisibilityin all schools even as he urges barangays to augment the security of the schools in their


respective localities. School administrators are also encouraged to have close coordination with barangay officials. Councilor Barba requests chairpersons of the barangay committee on education to reach out to the schools and

offer services to help improve the quality of education in the barangays. Meanwhile, Barba is thanking allparents,barangayofficials,nongovernment organizations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and all those who supported the Brigada Balik Eskwela program.

DTI MisOcc clarifies “No Return, No Exchange” policy of storesOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental -- Consumers are entitled to either an exchange or refund as long as there is defect in the quality of goods or imperfection in the service.

This was clarified byProvincial Director Delia M. Ayano of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a recent interview, here, to correct the misconception of consumers that they do not have the right to return defective goods because of the “No Return, No Exchange” notice in the receipts or anywhere in the store. Ayano said the “No Return, No Exchange” or any equivalent tag line is not allowed to be posted in stores nor written in the official receipt of any businesstransaction.

This is pursuant to the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of Republic Act No. 7394 or “The Consumer Act of the Philippines,”specificallyTitleIII,Chapter 1, Rule 2, Section 7 of DTI Administrative Order No. 2, series of 1993. Meanwhile, Maritess B. Alcampado, Supervising Head of the Consumer Welfare Division (CWD) of DTI MisOcc, said such provision is not an excuse for consumers to return the goods because of a change of mind or defect due to mishandling on the part of the buyer. (ALMira/DTIl)


by Mildred E. Dablio

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Department of Labor and Employment –10 (DOLE-10) Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante, Chairperson of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) recently announced a new pay raise for minimum wage earners in the region, through Wage Order No. RX-18.

This is the 18th wage increase in Region 10 under R.A. 6727, or The Wage Rationalization Act, became a law on 9 June 1989. The RTWPB has approved a resolution granting the P12 increase in the daily basic minimum wage effective July 3, 2015. Director Agravante reported, “The new minimum wage in Region 10 has been raised to P318 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and PhP 306 for workers in the agricultural sector under the Category I, covering the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, and Jasaan. The RTWPB has published it on June 18, 2015, after which it will take effect 15 days after its publication.” Likewise, under Category II, the new minimum wage rate is

now P313 for the non-agriculture sector and P301 for the workers in the agricultural sector. This new rate covers the cities of Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador, and Ozamiz and the municipalities of Maramag, Quezon, and Manolo Fortich. Category Wage III has a new minimum wage rate of P308 for workers in the non-agricultural sector and P296 for the agricultural sector. This covers the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub and the municipalities of Lugait, Opol and Mambajao. Included in this category are all the establishments employing ten workers or less. For other areas not covered under the categories mentioned, the establishments fall under Category IV with a new minimum wage rate of P303 for workers in the non-agricultural sector and

P12 Daily Wage Increase in Region 10 effective July 3, 2015


P291 for the agricultural sector. In issuing a new minimum wage in Region 10, Director Agravante said the RTWPB—composed of representatives of labor, management, and the government, specificallythe Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic Development Authority, and the DOLE—took into thorough consideration several factors, including the erosion in the minimum wage, inflation rate,possible impact of the minimum wage adjustment on prices of goods and services, as well as on employment; movements in the consumer price index, the current economic condition in the region, employers’ ability to pay, and the results of its continuing studies, sectoral consultations, and public hearings. Agravante further stressed that, “The decision of the RTWPB-10 to adjust the minimum wage was consistent with the government’s policy of granting regular, moderate, and predictable minimum wage adjustments, taking into consideration the needs of workers and their families, as well as the need to maintain stability in the business environment within the framework of the two-

tiered wage system reform which our DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has initiated in 2012 and which we accelerate to implement.” He said the P12 increase in the minimum wage will directly benefit some 30,800 minimumwage earners in Region X or basing from the 2014 Labor Force Survey, 70% of every new entrant (some 44,000 every year) is a wage earner, who also would continue to be exempted from paying income tax on their wage and on their hazard pay, holiday pay, night shift differential, and overtime pay. “The minimum wage earners will also enjoy a higher 13th month pay and increased social security coverage,” Agravante said. Agravante instructed the DOLE-X’s labor laws compliance officers and theLabor Communications Officerto disseminate information on the new wage order, raise public awareness and understanding, and educate workers and employers to encourage voluntary compliance. He also directed the RTWPB-X to schedule wage clinics in the provinces. It can be recalled that prior to the new minimum wage order,


the RTWPB-X had received a petition for an P89 per day across-the-board wage increase on July 18, 2014 filed by theAssociated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP). The RTWPB-X has conducted some public consultations and public hearings to ensure hearing broad views and perspectives and to elicit participation of the social partners and key stakeholders. The RTWPB is not mandated to set across-the-board wage increases. Our mandate is to set minimum wages. On the other hand, the above-mentioned wage rate increase is the 1st tier mandatory adjustment. Director Agravante further emphasized that, “The Board issued an advisory as well on the 2nd tier or the Advisory on the Implementation

of Productivity-Based Incentive Scheme for the Bus Transport Industry.” This Tier Two shall then serve as the guidelines for the private establishments on the range of productivity bonuses and incentives that an enterprise or industry may provide based on the agreement between workers and management. “The purpose of this productivity-based wages is to sustain the rising levels of wages and at the same time enhance competitiveness,” Agravante enthused. He further notes that the RTWPB is mandated to provide the necessary studies and technical assistance to the private establishments who want to avail this scheme, pursuant to Republic Act No. 6791 or the Productivity Incentives Act of 1990.

DILG Secretary leads turn-over of Patrol Jeeps in Comval

Compostela Valley– Secretary of the Inte-rior and Local Govern-ment (SILG) Mar Roxas leads the ceremonial turn-over of 11 patrol jeeps at the provincial capitol in the afternoon of June 27. The patrol jeeps, given to the 11 munici-palities in the province, is among the 1,490 patrol jeeps distributed to the LGUs nationwide as part

of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Capability Enhancement Program. A holistic approach which is geared towards lowering crime incidents and em-powering the police force and LGUs. “Magagamit na-tin ito sa pagpapatrolya ng ating mga kapulisan at mas highit pa dun magagamit itong emer-gency vehicle at kung sakaling may kalamidad o sakuna bilang pagsun


PAGIBIG offers loyalty card

TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE - Officials of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or PAGIBIG Fund urged members to apply for loyalty card to avail privileges and

discounts from part-ner-merchants. PAGIBIG Fund Tagum Branch Head Emelinda Glemao stressed yes-terday in the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo at the Provincial Informa-tionOffice,Mankilam,

Tagum City that the loyalty card is anaddedbenefittothemembersintheir day-to-day activities. Engr Eric Matutino, head of PA-GIBIG Tagum Sales and Marketing

do sa mga evacuees at paghatid ng mga relief goods,” Sec. Roxas said. The Mahindra-type jeeps, costing an estimated amount of P900,000 to P960,000, is said to be of high quality and designed for heavy-duty driving. “Ang purpose po nito talaga ay para sa malalayo, lib-lib at bulubundukin na mga lugar...ng sa ganun kahit full load ay maka-kaakyat pa rin at makakarating pa rin sa paroroonan,” Roxas added. Gov. Arturo Uy expressed his gratitude with the assistance it gets from the national government through the DILG saying it will great-ly help the police force and ulti-matelybenefittingtheComvalenyos.

The keys to the patrol jeeps are turned over by Sec. Roxas and Gov. Uy to the Mayors, Municipal Chief of Police, and Municipal Local Govern-mentOperationsOfficer(MLGOO)witnessed by key agencies from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Sec. Luwalhati Antonino, DILG Reg. Dir. Ananias Villacorta, PNP Reg. Dir. P/Supt Wendy Rosario, Surigao Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel, Iloilo Cong. Jerry Treñas, Major Gen. Eduardo Año of the 10th ID, Philip-pine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP),SPMembersandotheroffi-cials. (Fe F. Maestre/IDS COMVAL)


Division, stressed that the loyalty card was the result of the survey conductedbytheirmainofficeonhow they can actually provide ben-efitstothemembersintheirevery-day life aside from their usual ser-vices like multi-purpose and housing loans. Matutino said that card can be used by the members in any partner merchant of PAGIBIG Fund nation-wide. According to the PAGIBIG web-site, the agency currently has around 60 partner-merchants, which include Rivera Medical Clinic Inc in Panabo, Penong’s Restaurant, NCCC Depart-ment Store, Hardwaremaxx, Emcor, Davao Doctor’s College, Holy Child College, and Bread Factory. Matutino said that the member can avail 2%-60% discount depend-ing on the partner-merchant’s of-fered services. He said that they are now ap-proaching other local companies to increase more the coverage of the loyalty card. To register, Matutino said that a member can proceed to any PAGIBIG branchestofill-uptheregistrationform, have their picture taken, and pay P100. “Acompanyorofficemayalsorequest us to visit their establish-ment for an offsite registration,” he said. PAGIBIG Information Of-ficerMahencioLindayanJr.saidthat a member will only register

once at any PAGIBIG branches. (PIA11,Michael Uy)

one mindanao - june 30, 2015

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