one mindanao - june 8, 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

Cover Story

“There’s life after kidney transplant!” – Vanessa Javier, kidney recipient

Carina L. CayonSouthern Mindanao

Today’s issue...

Friday, June 8, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 275

page 4

Alfonso T. Ruda, Western Mindanao

Aquino arrives in Washington D.C. meeting with Obama, Clinton, American Senators and businessmen tops list of engagements in U.S. official working visit1122 agencies participate in a ZaNorte’s jobs fair 17

Northern Mindanao20 Youth volunteers undergo calamity

response confab

22Ronnie Francis M. Cariaga, Northern Mindanao

Six police officers awarded for successful operations

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Gov. Pingoy pinagbabawal ang pagpapatrabaho ng mga menor sa minahan 27Mga nagpoproseso ng pagkain sa S. Cotabato sumasailalim sa pagsasanay 28

33 David M. Suyao, Caraga Region

Agusan del Sur intensifies anti-smoking campaign, launched “SPONGE” campaign

Red Cross chair to visit Caraga Region 34

Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

6 13

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23

26

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4 Friday, June 8, 2012ONE MINDANAO

Cover Story“There’s life after kidney transplant!” – Vanessa Javier, kidney recipient

This is how Vanessa Javier, 39, wants to inspire

those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that requires kidney transplant for them to have longer and healthier life. Life indeed for Vanessa, a kidney recipient of 12 years, is full of energy and normal as any healthy individual could have. In good physical shape with a lovely face, she shows no trace that she has gone through a kidney transplant in June 2000 barely four months after having been diagnosed with CKD when she was 27 years old. In fact, without much fears and difficulties, she gave birth to her first and only child three years after the operation. Vanessa and her husband Bong named their little angel Vanya Sydney who is

now 8 years old. With Vanya and Bong, Vanessa manages to do regular work outs at the gym every week, and she happily attends to her family’s needs and household chores having no helper at hand. She said she could eat anything healthy but in moderation, and observes no strict diet. However, she is required to drink 2.5 liters of water every day. “I feel I’m being punished because of my laziness to drink water before,” she quipped in Cebuano. Asymptomatic Vanessa was diagnosed in February 2000 with chronic glomerulonephritis usually affecting both kidneys, and

by Carina L. Cayon

“There’s life after kidney transplant!”

Friday, June 8, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5

characterized b y inflammation of the membrane tissue in the kidney that serves as a filter, separating wastes and extra fluid from the blood. She said it was irreversible kidney damage or the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) defined to be the complete, or almost complete failure of the kidneys to function. The diagnosis came unexpected, and more of a shock to her and her family having no history of the disease. But it was more painful to her husband who cried first upon learning of the condition of his wife. The couple just came from a five-day honeymoon in Hongkong when Vanessa was admitted to the hospital due to severe headache and vomiting.

Vanessa said it was her first hospitalization and the first to be diagnosed with CKD. From an internet research, symptoms of kidney damage can either come on suddenly or gradually, over weeks or months, and often no symptoms at all. Vanessa’s case was sudden, and was only known through the laboratory test results during her hospitalization. Kidney transplant Vanessa said her doctors advised for the immediate replacement of the damaged kidneys with a healthy one, which meant a kidney transplant. They could have opted for dialysis, but they chose the best option for a longer and healthier life for Vanessa.

There are two types of kidney transplants such as those that come from living donors, may be someone in your immediate or extended family or your spouse or close friend and in some cases a stranger who wished to donate a kidney to anyone in need of a transplant; and those that come from unrelated donors who


have died (non-living donors). Fortunately, Vanessa has six siblings who could be qualified as a donor. After choosing carefully, her younger sister who just gave birth four months before the operation, finally came out as the qualified donor, though with hesitation at first for some fears of the operation. The couple decided to have the operation at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) where they have high confidence and trust to its services, technology and transplant team composed of surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinators, psychologists, and neurologists. Vanessa said the operation went well, and she was very at ease at the hospital because of the homey atmosphere and with people around who were of the same condition. Her donor sister as well became comfortable seeing many kidney donors at NKTI, feeling heroic as she would save her sister’s life, Vanessa shared. Financial considerations It was very fortunate for the couple to have both ends met relative to the required costs of the whole process of the kidney transplant including the preparations and post operation. Being residents of Davao City, and their donor and her family living in Cebu, they had to shell out for expenses such as plane fare, board and lodging in Manila, and other necessary expenses for their one-month stay in Manila. Bong said their expenses would

h a v e reached to almost P500,000

without the benefit of PhilHealth, their health card, some donations from good friends and relatives, and help from a private medical company where Bong works. The couple endured paying loans for three years. But, incurring expenses did not end right after the operation. Vanessa has to take medications every month which would cost them around P12,000.Davao adult nephrology consultant Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang said that a kidney transplant operation would require a patient with kidney donor who is a relative to incur about P600,000 to P800,000, while a patient without a kidney donor relative would need up to P1.2 million.

Kidney expert advocacies

Vanessa is an epitome of the reliability of a kidney transplant. And kidney experts would vouch for this, and are actually advocating to CKD patients that the best option to prolong their life is to have kidney transplant.


Bad-ang has called on patients with kidney failure to religiously undergo treatment, especially kidney transplant assuring them that the process would prolong life. “We would like to assure the public that patients will not die if they undergo dialysis or transplant, but instead they (treatments) would prolong life,” she said. Dr. Ismael Garcia Crisostomo, a transplant surgeon at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, also guaranteed for the safe and assurance of kidney transplant. Crisostomo who gained specialization training at NKTI said that compared to dialysis, kidney transplant has at least ten-year survival. Success rate of the operations in the country is also high as 80%, he said. In time for the National Kidney Month this June, Bad-ang said the renal disease awareness and prevention campaign this year focuses on urging patients to submit themselves to treatment, following report that chronic renal disease is now among the top ten causes

of

mortality in the country.

She also reported that the number of new dialysis patients is increasing every year by ten percent based on the data from the Philippine Renal Disease Registry 2010, which she said is “alarming.” Moreover, Bad-ang lamented that Davao Region placed 4th in the whole country as having the most number of new patients in hemodialysis in 2010. She said 5.9% of the 9,716 new dialysis patients registered in 2010 came from the region, however explaining that this may be due to the reason that Davao Region becomes the center of diagnosis and treatment for patients coming from other parts in Mindanao. Presently, there are 243 dialysis patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) alone, added Bad-ang who is a member of the Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN)-Davao Chapter. “We have to act now,” Bad-ang emphasized noting that there are treatment options offered for the patients, such as dialysis and kidney transplant.


Meanwhile, Bad-ang raised the importance of a yearly urine examination as a step for an early recognition and prevention of the underlying causes of the kidney disease. The Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP)-NKTI said the leading cause of the ESKD, are secondary to diabetes

mellitus and hypertension. REDCOP-NKTI added that maintenance of normal blood sugar levels and blood pressure is very important prevent or delay the development of kidney problems that usually lead to ESKD.


ACROSS THE NATION

The Senate approved on Wednesday on third and final reading one of the bills, the Senate Bill 3127 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, which will allow authorities to look into and freeze bank accounts

of suspected terrorist groups without a court order.

SB 3127 amends Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 which states that the Anti-Money Laundering Council is authorized to freeze

any account only upon confirmation of probable cause to do so. The amendment also covers terrorist financing.

The Philippine Senate needs to pass the bill in order for the Philippines not to be blacklisted by by the Financial Action Task

Palace expects Philippines to pass Financial Action Task Force scrutiny

Malacañang hopes that the passage of the two bills related to money laundering by the Senate would be a substantial compliance to the Financial Action Task

Force (FATF) for the country to avoid being blacklisted by the international body.


Force (FATF).

The FATF, a Paris-based inter-governmenta l

body which p r o m o t e s

policies against money laundering and terrorist financing, will be assessing the country’s fight against money laundering from June 18 to 22.

“We hope that this would be considered by the FATF as substantial compliance. There’s a deadline set by the FATF, June 18... and the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council Vicente Aquino will be going to Paris to explain our position,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday.

Aquino will also be discussing the phase of the passage of the two bills and explain its dependency on the recent

impeachment trial of the Supreme Court chief justice.

“And in spite of the length of time that the trial took place, we were able to pass two out of the three bills. And hopefully that will be appreciated by the FATF as substantial compliance. We hope to pass the third bill sometime around…until October. So we leave it to the AMLC to explain it to FATF,” Lacierda added.

The bill allows the

government to run after those involved in international terrorist-financing activities, according to its proponent. It also empowers the Philippine government, “subject to the principle of reciprocity, consider the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism as a legal basis for requesting or granting extradition in respect of the offenses set forth under the Act.” (AS)


Aquino arrives in Washington D.C. meeting with Obama, Clinton, American Senators and businessmen tops list of engagements in U.S. official working visit

President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived on Wednesday

evening (June 6, Washington D. C time) on board a Philippine Airlines flight PR001 at the Andrews Air Force Base for a three-day official working visit upon the invitation of United States President Barack Obama.

The Chief Executive, accompanied by a lean delegation team composed of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas II, and Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential C o m m u n i c a t i o n n Development and Strategic Planning Office, arrived

at 8:30 pm (8:30 a.m, Manila time) following his successful official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

On hand to welcome the President upon his arrival were Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, chief of Protocol of the United States Department and Philippine Embassy officials led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Brigadier General

Cesar Yano.Recognizing the

presence of the members of the Filipino community, who were also at the airport to welcome him, President Aquino accosted and shook hands with them.

After the airport ceremony, the President was immediately whisked in a motorcade to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where he is billeted.

President Aquino’s meetings with President Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton,


including his meetings with the top leaders of the US Senate well as his attendance at the launching of

the US-Philippine Society, and his meeting

with business leaders and investors tops the list of his official engagements during the duration of his visit.

On Thursday (June 7), the President will start his official activities by meeting with the Sithe Global/Denham Capital/GN Power at the Sackler Room of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. In the same hotel, he will also meet with the officials of the Underwriter Laboratories/Research and Development.

After his interview with the representatives of the Wall Street Journal headed by its Washington Bureau chief Gerald Seib, the President will visit the Quantico Marine Corps Base.

Later in the afternoon, the President will proceed to the Capitol Hill to meet with the top leaders of the US Senate at a

reception hosted in his honor by Senate President ProTempore Daniel inouye.

Then he will likewise grace the launching of the US-Philippine Society at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where he is the guest of honor and speaker. The US-Philippine Society is a private sector initiative designed to encourage economic ties, promote trade and investment, support common strategic and political goals, and strengthen cultural, technological, educational, and people-to-people linkages.

On Friday (June 8), President Aquino will receive the officials of the Citi Group and USAID on Mobile Financial Inclusion Proposal also at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

This will be followed by an interview with the President by the representatives of the Washington Post headed by its Editorial Page Editor, Fred Hiatt at the Washington Post Building in Washington D.C.

After his attendance at the luncheon to be hosted by US Secretary of

State Hilary Clinton at the US Department of State, President Aquino will meet with US President Obama at the Oval Office in the White House where they are expected to discuss various issues of mutual interests that would further enhance the country’s strategic partnership with the United States.

From Washington D.C., on his way back to Manila, the President will drop by Los Angeles in California, where he will meet and interact with the Filipino community and personally check on their condition during a gathering at the Hilton Hotel.

Some 322,110 Filipinos are residing in Los Angeles and they comprise 3.1 percent of the city’s population.

While in Los Angeles, the President is also expected to receive Filipino-Mexican-American American Idol (AI) runner up and singing sensation Jessica Sanchez who will call on him before he meets with the Filipino community. (RSDA)


CRS to launch resource, marketing project for Mindanao farmers

The implementation of the “Farmer Alli-ances for Resource Strengthening and Mar-keting,” or FARM project of CRS, will have its formal start on the said date at the Apo View Hotel this city.

With funding from the United States De-partment of Agriculture (USDA), FARM will assist its target farmer-beneficiaries in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, North Cota-bato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Saran-gani, Davao del Sur, and Bukidnon.

Ryan Russell, CRS head of office, said the project intends to increase agricultural production in rice, cacao, coffee, and veg-etables; enable access to small rural infra-structures; and enhance linkages to greater market opportunities.

“CRS will implement the project with local non-government organizations (NGO) part-ners, academic institutions, micro-finance institutions, and government line agencies,” Russell said.

At the launching, there will be a memo-randum of agreement signing involving CRS and eight sub-recipient agencies from the non-government organizations and aca-deme that will serve as direct implementing partners for the FARM project.

The expected guests at the event are Rene Guarin, CRS program manager for operations; Joseph Curry, CRS country rep-resentative; Philip Shull, USDA agricultural counselor; and Pedro Terry Tuason III, CRS senior program manager.

Senator Francis Pangilinan and officials from partner NGOs are also part of the pro-gram.

According to its primer, CRS is the inter-national humanitarian agency of the Catho-lic community in the United States that pro-vides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, re-gardless of race and nationality or creed.

CRS has been in the Philippines since 1945.

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will be launching

on Friday, June 8, a three-year resource strengthening and marketing project to benefit 32,000 farmers in seven provinces in Mindanao.


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Lt. Col. Pompeyo Jason Almagro, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff

for Civil Military Operations, G7 chief said the training is part

Phl Army conducts stakeholders engagement trainingBy Gideon C. Corgue

T he Philippine Army conducted a two (2) day training on stakeholders engagement as part of its Internal Peace and Security Program (IPSP) “Bayanihan” campaign on May 28-

30 at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. The training was conducted by Mobile Training Team (MTT) from PA’s national headquarters.


of the mission essentials training program of the Philippine Army in the implementation of the IPSP-“Bayanihan” nationwide. The training was attended by some 160 participants composed of brigade, battalion and company commanders, division public affairs and civil military operations staff. On the training, Almagro said field commanders from battalion to companies are taught the basic principles of stakeholders engagement. “We are teaching them on how to plan and engage with

stakeholders effectively, and give them appropriate knowledge on the competency skills set,” he explained. President Aquino’s security agenda focuses on the people and calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to peace and security and on protecting our rights and civil liberties. Almagro said there is really a need of an increased involvement of stakeholders, the national and local government agencies , non-government entities, and the entire citizenry in addressing peace and security concerns.


The AFP, Almagro said holds the view that peace cannot be achieved thru military operations, it can only be attained through understanding and engaging the stakeholders. “ Winning peace needs everyone”, he added. 10th IB commanding officer Taharudin Ampatuan of Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte said the training indeed helped enhance their skills on the tools that will be used in getting support from the government and non-government entities, help classify the kind of stakeholders, and provides venue for other commanders in exchanging views on the best practices of stakeholders engagement. “This is a very good training in our battalion,” Ampatuan said. “It’s a tool. It’s not a directed activity but its a process,” he added. Amapatuan said it is his firm belief that with the leadership of BGen. Rainier Ricardo Cruz III, the intent of the IPSP-“Bayanihan”

will be achieved in the 1st division saying that they are now focused on massive peace and development. “Every corner of the province in Zamboanga Peninsula is with the soldiers, the peace and development community organizers . This has never been done before,” he added. Meanwhile, Almagro said the 1st Infantry (Tabak) division was the second venue of their mobile training, where first venue was held at the 4th (Inf) division in Northern Mindanao. “We will be going around in the 10 infantry divisions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindao to continue with our mission ,” he added. The lecturers composed of the following: Major Danilo Estaniero, a graduate of masters in International Development Policy in Duke University, USA and the main writer of stakeholders engagement handbook, and Major Miguel Ramon, commandant of the CMO’s school. (GCC-PIA9 Zambosur)


DIPOLOG CITY - More or less 600 job applicants trooped to the Capitol Complex to participate in a jobs fair conducted by the Provincial Government from June 7 to 8, 2012, in line with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Zamboanga del Norte and 2012 Zanorte Hudyaka Festival. It was spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Department of Labor and Employment. The two-day jobs fair was participated in by 11 overseas employment agencies based in Manila, Zamboanga City and Pagadian City and 11 local agencies in Dipolog City.

The overseas employment agencies include Anchor International Manpower Services Inc., Ultimateskills Phils. Inc., Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corp., Naimi Manpower Services Corp., OZEM Intl. Placement Services Inc., Aureaus Manpower and Consultancy Corp., MMML Recruitment Services, Inc., Al-Khaleej Intl. Services Inc., Adana Manpower Services, Inc., Mother’s Way Overseas Manpower

22 agencies participate in a ZaNorte’s jobs fair By Alfonso T. Ruda


Specialists Corp. While the local agencies are Vicente Lao Construction, Banco Dipolog, Inc., Ameso Servcare, Inc., Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala, Hotel Camila, First Valley Bank, D’Hotel and Suites, Tam Natividad Group of Companies, Tres Alas Corp(Gobe Telecom), Alano and Sons Credit Corp., and Encarl Shell and Shell Service Station. According to Ms. Ma. Novie “Tabing” Patangan, Project Coordinator of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the jobs fair is an annual undertaking of the Provincial Government to highlight the celebration of the 60th Founding Anniversary of Zamboanga del Norte and the annual Zanorte Hudyaka Festival. Patangan said Governor Rolando Yebes sees to it that a jobs fair has to be conducted to help unemployed Zanorteans find a job. The jobs fair is held in coordination with local office of the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure that all participating employment agencies are duly-licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and avoid being victimized by illegal recruiters. Patangan advised the job-seekers to bring their resume as she urged them to participate in the last day of the jobs fair that would only last only until 5 o’clock this afternoon, June 8, 2012. (ALT/ATR/PIA9)


Agri-business coop gets P300,000 grant from DOLE-10by Mildred E. Dablio

The Nagkahiusang Miembro sa Mag-uumang Kapunongan Umagosnon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NAMMUKAU MPC) of Umagos, Lagonglong in the province of Misamis

Oriental received a livelihood grant amounting to P300,000 from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Regional Office 10 last May 21.

With the grant, NAMMUKAU MPC aims to produce quality lacatan banana, highly marketable in Cagayan de Oro City and neighboring municipalities of

Misamis Oriental. The grant was intended to augment the income of its 150 members and expand its agri-


enterprise business project. It will be used by the cooperative to purchase a transportation facility and construct its warehouse. According to Johnson G. Cañete , DOLE-10 Regional Director, the release of banana production livelihood grant was under the DOLE Self Reliant Organization for Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (SRO for CARP), a special project committed by the DoLE in the implementation of the CARP. The SRO-CARP Project aims to promote continuing employment and improve productivity and income of rural enterprises among agrarian

reform beneficiary-cooperatives in selected CARP covered plantation and commercial farms. The cooperative, which is also a beneficiary of the Agrarian Reform Program of the government, has been highly recommended for a full-blown agri-business development by the national and regional governments for it has shown a good track record in successful implementation of goat raising and swine dispersal projects. Previously, DOLE-10 has released a banana trading fund to NAMMUKAU MPC worth P140,000, as well as, P200,00 for banana rehabilitation and production. (DoLE-10)

Youth volunteers undergo calamity response confab


City Administrator Atty. Leon Du M. Gan, Jr, who represented Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Y. Emano during the workshop, declared that the youth attendees can learn a lot of things and acquire skills they can use to properly respond to any calamity or emergency. Some topics discussed by the members of the Oro Alert City Rescue Group were basic rescue operations, communication and reporting protocol, and the spirit of volunteerism. Invited guests who were present during the workshop were Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Kagawad Sunshine Obsioma, City Director Emil Rana of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and Oro Alert Incident Commander Engineer Armen Cuenca. (CIO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Realizing that the youth is a dependable force that can efficiently deliver assistance during any calamity in their respective barangays, a Volunteer Youth for Emergency seminar workshop initiated by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was held last May 31 at the City Tourism Hall.


Six police officers awarded for successful operationsby PSupt. Ronnie Francis M. Cariaga

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Police Regional Office (PRO-10) Regional Director PCSupt. Jufel C. Adriatico, assisted by PDir. Rey L. Lañada of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development, awarded six police officers for their valuable contribution to the overall efficiency of PRO-10, during the regular Monday Flag Raising ceremony on June 4.

PNP Efficiency Medals (Medalya ng Kasanayan) were given to Police Officer (PO3) Rey Ciudadano and PO1 Louis Alfred Torcino for the arrest last May 23 of the number 1-most wanted person in Gingoog City for the crime of rape. PNP Merit Medals (Medalya ng Kagalingan) were also given to PSInsp. Ereneo S. Ramirez, PInsp. Maricris Y. Mulat, SPO3 Tawide S. Galleon and PO2 Bernardo T. Lagoy Jr for the neutralization of a robbery suspect on May 16 at barangay Sta. Cruz, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. The suspect was killed in the shootout by responding police officers. He was with another unidentified suspect who was able to escape. Recovered from the scene was one caliber .45 pistol and the stolen items. PCSupt. Adriatico has earlier directed all police provincial and city directors to organize teams consisting of Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives (MASCO) as effective tools in fighting robbery suspects who use motorcycles as their get-away vehicles. (PRO)


About 24,000 jobs will be of-fered during the Kalayaan Jobs

Fair this coming June 12 Indepen-dence Day in Davao City. The jobs fair will be simultaneously held in two large malls in the city each sponsored by two large TV networks. The jobs fair in Abreeza Mall in Lanang will be sponsored by GMA Network and the other event in NCCC Mall

Matina is held in partnership with ABSCBN. According to Alan Baban, OIC Chief of the Technical Support and Services Division Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office XI said that there are 79 companies joining the event with 52 local companies and 27 overseas agencies. Guesting at Marco Polo Davao’s Club 888 Media Forum last June 6, Baban said that most of the work will come from the service sector particularly demand coming from the call center industry.

While a significant percentage of the jobs will come from the industrial sector. He said that overseas jobs are mostly blue-collar work in Middle Eastern countries. Jobseekers are advised to preregister for the jobs fair either thru the internet by accessing the site PhilJobs.Net or by going to the pre-

24-T vacancies in Kalayaan jobs fairby Rudolph Alama


registration booths being set up in the malls. This is to minimize the long queues during the jobs fair itself. Baban said that the Region XI job market is more on mining and agriculture sector and accountancy in the services sector. He said there is a job mismatch in the labor market as many have enrolled in courses which are not needed by the industry; a fact being remedied by the DOLE efforts thru career guidance network among students. “Know yourself” Baban advises

jobseekers before going to the jobs fair. During the event while shopping around for vacancies they had to know if they had the right educational backgrounds and experience for the job they want to apply. They also had to look at their emotional quotient as companies particularly in the service sector are looking at a person’s emotional quotient particularly in interpersonal and peoples skills. Also important is the person’s capability to be multi-skilled or capable of multi-tasking. Baban said. (PIA/

regional gallery

A volunteer team from Phoenix Petroleum cleans and paints tables in Vicente Hizon Elementary School as part of Brigada Eskwela.


Young mangroves clean-upMAASIM, Sarangani – Commission on Audit XII Regional Director Reynaldo Gamutan joins a mangrove clean-up and line rehabilitation of protected seascape of Sarangani Bay Thursday, June 7, in commemoration of COA 113th Anniversary and in line with the Department of Envi-ronment and Natural Resources’ National Greening Program. (Abner Arzaga/MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL)


City Health inspects public schools in GensanBy Pops Gumana-Fruylan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The City Health Office (CHO) here conducted a thorough sanitation inspection of public elementary and secondary schools in the city to ensure a safe and healthy environment for school children es-pecially with the recent opening of classes.

The CHO particularly checked the school’s comfort rooms to see if they are well maintained and generally clean; as well as canals and scupper drains where stagnant water build up to avoid being used as breeding places of mosquitoes.

“We want to make sure that school campuses are clean and safe for our school children especially free of dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” said City Health Officer, Dr. Edgardo Sandig.

The health official also inspected school canteens to determine their compliance with the sanitation requirements, and checked other malpractices that could pose health risks to the school’s population.

He pointed out that canteens should be situated away from

restrooms and waste disposal areas to avoid contamination of food given to students and teachers.

Sandig clarified that food handlers and servers are required to secure health certificates and sanitation permits before they are allowed to operate.

“We need to do this kind of inspection to avoid cases of food poisoning

caused by unhygienic food preparations,” he explained.

Sandig also emphasized that canteen concessionaires are not allowed to sell foods with little or no nutritional value like “junk foods” that caused negative health effects.

In General Santos City, there are at least 95 public school campuses composed of


69 elementary and 26 barangay high schools.

The CHO is targeting to conduct sanitation inspections to all public schools in the city, but it has given priority to elementary schools since children are more

vulnerable to risk.Meanwhile, parents

expressed positive reactions to the move of the CHO to ensure their children’s health and safety in school.

“This is a welcome development. We

hope that sanitation inspections like this will be done regularly to check if there are malpractices that jeopardize the health of our very own children, “one parent commented. ( P G F r u y l a n / P I A -Gensan)

Gov. Pingoy pinagbabawal ang pagpapatrabaho ng mga menor sa minahanLUNGSOD NG KORONADAL-- Muling pinaalalahanan ni South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. ang mga may-ari ng mga mining tunnel sa bayan ng T’boli na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pagpapapasok at pagpapatrahabo ng mga bata sa minahan ng ginto doon.

Sinabi ni Acting Provincial Environment Management Office Engr. Siegfred Flaviano na bagamat nakapaloob na

ang usapin sa kanilang kasunduan sa mga operator, nagpalabas pa rin kamakailan ang gobernador ng memorandum na nag-uutos na hindi dapat payagan ang mga bata na magtrabaho sa loob ng mga minahan.

Ito ay alinsunod na rin sa adbokasiya ng pamahalaang panlalawigan kasama ang Department of Labor and Employment at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan hinggil sa child-labor free barangays at para na rin maiwasan ang disgrasya

sa kabataan dulot ng pagtatatrabaho sa delikadong lugar.

Sa halip dapat umanong tutukan ang pagsiguro na magpapatuloy sa kanilang pag-aaral ang mga bata.

Inihayag naman ni Engr. Flaviano na kasunod nito, hihigpitan na rin nila ang pagpapatupad ng naturang kautusan. Maaari aniyang kanselahin ang mining permit ng sinumang lalabag sa naturang kautusan

Kalakip din sa naturang memorandum


ang pagpapatigil sa operasyon ng mga tunnel kung may malakas na pag-ulan. Bawal ding pumasok sa minahan ang mga hindi minero, kabilang na rito ang kanilang mga anak at asawa.

Matatandaang noong

Mayo 14, nagpasa na rin ng resolusyon ang konseho ng Barangay Kematu sa T’boli na nagbabawal sa pagpapatrabaho ng mga menor sa minahan ng kanilang lugar. Kasunod ito sa pagkakadiskobre ng DOLE na may 64 na

child laborer sa mga minahan sa doon.

Sa ngayon balik na sa pag-aaral ang naturang mga bata at tinutulungan na rin ng DOLE ang kanilang mga magulang para magkapagsimula ng pagkakakitaan. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

Mga nagpoproseso ng pagkain sa S. Cotabato sumasailalim sa pagsasanayLUNGSOD NG KORONADAL, -- Mahigit 25 mga food processors ng lalawigan ng South Cotabato ang sumasailalim sa isang seminar para sa Good Manu-facturing Practice (GMP), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Compliance Requirements, at Barcoding na ginaganap sa tanggapan ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) dito sa Rehiyon Dose.

Ayon kay DTI-South Cotabato provincial director Flora Gabunales, dadalo ang mga maliliit na negosyante ng mga produktong gaya ng processed fruit, meat processing, coco sap sugar, turmeric powder and tea, peanut, at coco syrup.

Mahalaga para sa mga food processors ng lalawigan, ayon kay Gabunales ang mga kaalamang kanilang makukuha sa nasabing

pagsasanay, upang lalo pa umano nilang mapabuti ang kalidad ng kanilang mga produkto.

Ang karamihan sa mga mga produkto ng mga local food processors sa South Cotabato ay maaari rin umanong matulungan ng DTI upang ito ay maging pasado sa mga criteria na maging OTOP (One-Town-One Product) ang isang bayan, paliwanag ni Gabunales.

Dahil sa sapat na mga raw materials sa lalawigan, marami umanong mga produkto ang maaaring magdala ng pangalan ng South Cotabato sa pandaigdigang merkado, kung kayat kanila umanong tinutulungan ang mga maliliit na negosyante na tuparin ang mga technical requirements para sa produkto, paliwanang ni director Gabunales. (ACAgad-PIA12)


Mass tree growing marks World Environment Day in Lanao del Surby Apipa Bagumbaran A province-wide

tree growing activity was

held in Lanao del Sur on June 5 in time for the World Environment Day celebration.

Atty. Cosain Abbas, provincial head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said

the activity aims to plant 10,000 trees across the province as part of their contribution to fight global warming and in preserving the environment. He said the DENR in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, through its provincial office, has collaborated with multi-sectoral groups to include the provincial government, Department of Interior and Local Government, 103rd Infantry Brigade

of the Philippine Army, Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LSPPO),


Mindanao State University, Lanao del Sur Peoples’ Council, civil society, and members of the media to join in the tree growing activity. He further said the tree planting was held in various locations such as in river banks along Tulali Creek and Agus River in Caniogan, this city; along national highways, provincial and municipal roads except those with power lines; inside the MSU campus and other school campuses, and in contract reforestation sites of National Power Corporation (NPC) in the western portion of the province, among others. According to Abbas, the LSPPO has planted around 4,000 tree seedlings in its Municipal Police Stations while the 103rd Infantry Brigade, together with the provincial government were able to plant some 1,000 tree seedlings within Kampo Ranao located in Marawi City. Also, personnel of the DENR provincial Office led by Abbas was able to plant some 1,000 tree seedlings while representatives from the NPC planted some 3,000 tree seedlings. The World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through

which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. It is commemorated every June 5 of the year and aims to give a human face to environmental issues. This year, the celebration is centered on the theme “Green Economy: Does it include you?” (With report from Bobby Ilupa, Radyo ng Bayan Marawi )


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DENR-Caraga intensifies implementation of Nat’l Greening Programby Jennifer P. Gaitano

Pursuant to President Benigno S. Aquino III’s issuance of the Executive Order No. 26 ordering and declaring the

implementation of a National Greening Program (NGP) as a government priority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga is intensifying implementation of said program in Caraga region.


Regional Technical Director Virgilio Dela Cruz of the DENR’s Ecosystem Research Development Services reiterated that the NGP seeks the attainment of sustainable human development, and economic and ecological security. As a strategy, it aspires the planting of some 1.5 billion trees in around 1.5 million hectares of public lands for six years, starting 2011 to 2016. “For this year, 2012, we are targeting a 1.3 million indigenous species to plant in Caraga region. Aside from that, we are also producing

fruit trees… Seedling production is already 45 percent from its target,” said Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz further bared that 25 years from now, Caraga region is predicted to be supplying the wood requirement of the Philippines and would even do importation of wood products. “Every Filipino people is urged to plant

10 trees every year. For those who plan to conduct tree planting activity may approach our office and we will be very glad to assist them,” Dela Cruz said. With this program, all government agencies and institutions, including local government units, will provide full support to the program, not only in terms of tree planting, but also in the production of quality seedlings, mobilization of all government employees, including students to plant at least 10 seedlings each, annually. The private sector is encouraged to participate in the program as well.


During a press conference held at the DOPMH today, Dr. Joel Esparagoza, Provincial Health Officer said, it is high time that people, smokers or non smokers, should know the ill effects of smoking to human life so that the information will spread as wide as it can be, and media is one that has the biggest role in this endeavour. Being a doctor for internal medicine and an authority in explaining the ill effects of smoking, Dr. Lorelaine Rivera-Pastor showed the members of the media a power point presentation on how the lungs absorb the smoke

of tobacco that contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds in the form of hot gases and millions of tiny particles also known as aerosols. Tar, Dr. Pastor said, is the common name for all those particles that stand for total aerosol residue. “As you see, the lungs is like a sponge that if smokers continue to supply it with tar, it will look like a very dirty honey comb dripping with very dirty honey when someone squeezes it. What is worst is it brings so many cancer diseases in the body and as we all know, here in Agusan

Agusan del Sur intensifies anti-smoking campaign, launched “SPONGE” campaignby David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR -- The province of Agusan del Sur, thru the D. O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) intensified its anti-smoking campaign even as it launched the “Sponge” campaign today in order to give full support to the anti-smoking ordinances passed by the province and some municipalities while the rest of the municipalities are on process of passing the same ordinance.


Red Cross chair to visit Caraga Regionby Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY –- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman Richard Gordon is set to visit Caraga Region on June 9 and 10 to turnover response equipment and first aid kits to its provincial offices in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

del Sur, smoking related diseases is the number two causes of death,” Dr. Pastor said. In his testimony Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Dr. Nestor Corvera relayed to the media how he suffered when he was attacked by a stroke due to heart failure. “I want you to know that before, I can personally consume two packs of cigarette per day, and even when I am laying in bed, I smoke before I go to sleep. But I think when the abuses that I inflected to my body returned to me, I was helpless. If not for the help of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, the mayors of Agusan del Sur and some friends, I am already dead by now. That time, I need P1.5 million for a

heart by-pass operation, and I do not have that much money. So I asked help from Gov.Plaza, his mother, former Gov. Valentina Plaza and the mayors, and they never turned me down. But the heart by-pass did not happen. Thru my prayers which the doctors and the nurses of the Philippine Heart Center told me to do, which I did, miracle happened. I was cured, but maintaining some P20,000 worth of maintenance medicines,” SP member Corvera said. With the partnership that the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital forged with the media, Dr. Joel Esperagoza is hopeful that the campaign on anti-smoking will prosper in Agusan del Sur.


In a phone conversation with Jingjing Romero, PR consultant of the PRC chair, he said the activity is part of PRC’s commitment to better serve the people in the region, especially in the aforementioned provinces. Romero also said Gordon will grace the joint turnover of the RC 143 DMT Response Equipment and RC 143 Community Health Volunteer Team First Aid Kits to be held at the Municipal Gym in Claver, Surigao del Norte. He added recipients of the project are coming from the six barangays from the two municipalities: Mainit and Claver. Wrapping the activities of the day is a press conference on the evening here in the city where PRC top officials will have the chance to interact with the local tri-media. On the following day, June 10, the official said Chairman Gordon will grace the joint turnover of the Red Cross 143 DMT Response Equipment and Red Cross 143 First Aid Kits at Agusan del Sur Provincial Training Center, where some six barangays from the municipalities of Esperanza and Bunawan served as recipients of the project. Romero further said part of Chairman Gordon’s

visit is the ceremonial turnover of the newly-constructed PRC Agusan del Sur chapter building at the Government Center, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. The official added the building costs P7 million which was funded by the provincial government through the leadership of Gov. Adolph Edward G. Plaza. Gordon will be accompanied by PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang. In an earlier report, it was learned that the provincial government of Agusan del Sur is setting aside a budget of some P2.5 million for the re-agents on the blood program, have spent for the acquisition of one unit blood refrigerator cost P450,000, have paid for the half the price of an ambulance with a total cost of P1.8 million and manpower support.

one mindanao - june 8, 2012

Documents

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pia agusan

pia caraga region nora

pia caraga region richard

pia caraga region officer

pia caraga updates

pia region ximanaging

pia region x rudolph