One Mindanao - December 21, 2015

PIA Regional Offices

One Mindanao

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 Bliz

Northern MindanaoGraces’ 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

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]

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]

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

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IXALMA 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 EDITORSFRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga RegionVENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

LAYOUT ARTISTSVILLARENO VILLACRUZ, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region XZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region XDAISY JANE M. APIT, PIA Region XIII

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information AgencyEXECUTIVE EDITOR

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

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

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

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PIA Caraga broadens knowledge of IP-youths on basic news writing, reporting

Aquino to sign budget for 2016

BBL plenary debates set for amendments next year

10

Cover Story

SOUTHERN

INFOCUS NATIONAL

Zero casualty as Onyok passes R-XI

138

Contents

33

By: Jennifer Gaitano

OUR COVER

Alegria MPS intensifies anti-drug abuse campaign

23By: Susil Ragas

CARAGA

40 21

24 DSWD-Caraga’s partners, stakeholders join Byaheng Pagbabago

WESTERN

31

29Kabasalan LGU hosts Drug awareness symposiumBy: Alma Tingcang

By: RG Alama

Boy scouts train on emergency response20

SOCCSKSARGEN

17

4 December 9, 2015One Mindanao

PIA Caraga broadens knowledge of IP-youths on basic news writing, reportingBy Jennifer Gaitano

As one of the highlights of the Regional Indigenous Peoples (IP) Leadership and Communicators Summit held

recently at Tiberias Retreat House here, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga shared the Basic News Writing and Reporting skills to some 46 participating Indigenous Peoples (IP)-youth leaders from the different Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) in the provinces of Caraga region.

In his talk PIA-Caraga regional director Abner Caga emphasized to the participants that the most effective way to communicate is through the heart. “Now that you are trained on how to become effective communicators in your community, you are more privileged to impart your ability

in disseminating information to push forward development. You will be the first IP youth communicators in the country,” he said. Caga pointed out to the IP youth leaders and communicators that when they do things especially in attending said summit, they

5December 21, 2015 One Mindanao

6 December 21, 2015One Mindanao

must be sincere and put their hearts on it. According to him, one of the most effective ways of helping the nation become developed especially the IP communities which need more attention in terms of economic growth is to become better leaders and communicators. “Always remember that the best way to communicate is to communicate from the heart,” he added. Caga recalled the history of the agency. He bared that communication and information are really powerful tools that are used to promote and initiate social services and development. The good director further shared to the IP youth participants the code of conduct of communicators which is to provide timely, accurate and relevant information. “As future IP information officers, it will

become their task and responsibility to disseminate proper information which will enable the people to enhance their capabilities and identify opportunities for community growth and development,” he stressed. It was also learned that the PIA-Caraga platforms are the following: PIA regional website, national webnews, textblast, One Mindanao Electronic News Magazine, PIA Caraga Updates Facebook account, Advanced Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network and the PIA Mindanao Mobile Application. “These are good products of utilizing our technology for the betterment of our communities,” Caga revealed. Also, PIA-Caraga Administrative Officer and Surigao del Norte Information Center (InfoCen) Manager Venus Garcia encouraged the IP Youth as leaders and communicators to participate and have active roles in shaping the future of their communities.

“May this new knowledge


you gained from this

summit help you in one way to another. We believe in your capabilities and continue to grow productively in your respective IP community,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gerlie Tiambong, one of the participating youths from CADT-048 in Alegria, Surigao del Norte expressed willingness and commitment to apply her learnings and be an active youth to her community. “Through our learnings in basic news writing, I believe I can be a good communicator in my community. The conduct of this 4-day Regional IP Youth Leadership and Communicators Summit is very helpful for us

especially that we wanted to become effective and efficient youth leaders & communicators in our respective IP communities. I will apply the knowledge that I gained from this summit and will share it to my peers when I get home,” Tiambong elaborated.

One Mindanao8 December 14, 2015

MANILA-- The Philippines and Germany exchanged the original Instruments of Ratification of the renegotiated Philippines – Germany Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation today, paving the way for the potential entry of more German investments in the country.

PH, Germany exchange instruments of ratification on the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Cleofe Natividad represented the

Philippines in the ceremony, with German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski heading the German side.


The two countries renegotiated the Agreement with a view to strengthening bilateral trade and investments, deepening economic relations and cooperation in the field of taxation, and in order to better enforce domestic laws, reduce tax evasion and promote technology transfer.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima signed the renegotiated

Ag r e emen t on behalf of the Philippine Government on 09 Sep t embe r 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

T h e entry into force of the renegotiated Ag r e emen t t e rm ina t e s the previous Agreement on

the Avoidance of Double Taxation concluded by the Philippines and Germany in 1983.

Germany is an important and strategic partner of the Philippines and remains to be the country’s top trading partner in Europe. It ranks as the 9th major trading partner of the Philippines worldwide. Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to USD$5.346 billion in 2014. (DFA)

file photo of www.mb.com.ph


MANILA-- With P3.002-trillion 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA) scheduled to be signed by President Aquino tomorrow, as the final one created under the Aquino Administration, Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the budgets crafted for the last six years introduced high-impact budget reforms in pursuit of inclusive growth.

Aquino to sign budget for 2016

filephoto: www.rappler.com

“This budget represents the government’s commitment to invest in people,” Abad said. “This is a budget that is twice more than the national budget when this administration took

over in 2010. It also provides the highest allocations on social and economic services compared to the budgets under previous administrations.”


The 2016 budget caps six straight years of high-impact budget reforms that plugged leakages in the budget, aligned spending with results, streamlined budget release procedures, sped up disbursements, and capacitated agencies to fast track the implementation of programs.

According to Abad, the current administration made budget information easily accessible to the public, and enabled communities to identify projects that they need.

Among these reforms is the implementation of Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) program, of which 1,590 cities and municipalities (92 percent of all in the country) are participants in a demand-driven budget-planning process with a budget of P20.9 billion for this year.

For 2016, the amount of P24.7 billion will support the implementation of more than 14,000 projects across the

country.

“Through BuB, we have institutionalized people’s participation in the budget process to gain a better understanding of their needs and requirements, and ensure that these are met,” Abad said.

Last month, the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) recognized the BuB program as one of five Best Practices in Fiscal Transparency from around the world.

The other budget reform programs cited were the GAA-as-Release Document (GAARD), the adoption of the Performance Informed Budgeting (PIB), and the creation of Full-Time Delivery Units (FDUs).

Abad said the GAARD regime facilitated the swift and efficient implementation of the administration’s expenditure program because it allowed agencies to enter into contracts


and kick-start the procurement process on the very first working day of the fiscal year. This is because the disaggregated budget items in the GAA are already considered released to their respective agencies.

In addition, under the PIB scheme, performance information was integrated in the budget in order to inform Congress and the public about the Major Final Outputs (MFOs) or outputs the agency is committing to deliver in exchange for its budget. A set of performance indicators are presented in the GAA for each MFO. Later on, an outcome-based PIB was adopted for a more informed resource allocation and management and better outcome accountability framework for the grant of the performance-based incentive.

“The adoption of the PIB scheme made the budget more understandable to the layman because it simplified budget

presentation. It also made it easier to gauge the performance of an agency. Compared to the traditional line-item based budgeting, it links funding to results. This strengthens the linkages between planning, budgeting and outcomes and enhancing transparency and accountability in the allocation of limited resources,” said Abad.

Agencies were also directed to facilitate the prompt implementation of their programs through the creation of FDUs. “This enabled agencies to meet their targets and timelines and address the causes of underspending, such as problems in procurement,” Abad said.

The budget chief expressed hopes that the next administration will build on these reforms to pursue greater efficiency in public spending and further enhance transparency accountability in the expenditure process. (DBM)



BBL plenary debates set for amendments next year

QUEZON CITY -- The House of Representatives has recently closed the period of interpellation on the proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR) and set its period of amendments on their resumption on January next year .

filephoto: www.rappler.com

Lanao del Sur 2nd District Representative Pangalian

Balindong moved to close the period of interpellation for the

14 One Mindanao December 21, 2015

BLBAR last Wednesday after the interpellation of Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza. “House Bill no. 5811 or the BLBAR has been sufficiently discussed in the committee hearing from June up to this time,” Balindong said.

“Given that no member has registered to speak against the bill, I move, in the spirit of Christmas, that we end the period of sponsorship and debate [on

this proposed legislation],” he affirmed.

Sulu 1st District Representative Tupay Loong seconded the motion and said that “the issues being raised are already repeatedly and substantially discussed and delved into by most of the interpellators [who] are also members of the ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).”


“The issues have likewise been already discussed, debated and voted upon during the ad hoc committee’s hearings which resulted [to] the announcement of the substitute bill, House Bill 5811. The motion to close the plenary debates on the bill is hereby seconded,” Loong said. The BBL is the legal iteration of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which aims for institutional reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Bangsamoro law paves way for lasting peace in Mindanao

Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and Cagayan De Oro 2nd Dist. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez stressed that the proposed Bangsamoro law aims to end the armed conflicts in Mindanao by equipping the new autonomous region mechanisms for development and an inclusive form of government to address the main cause of the Moro insurgency. “For the first time in the

Bangsamoro, we have the exclusive powers and we are granting more powers to the autonomous region. The Bangsamoro would have fiscal autonomy for them to manage their own resources. It is beyond much larger to how much political autonomy are given,” Rodriguez told Paranaque Lone Dist. Rep. Gus Tambunting in his interpellation last Tuesday.

“If we have enacted a law for inclusive growth in the Bangsamoro, this would pave way for the road of lasting peace in Mindanao. The underdevelopment of the Bangsamoro is not caused by the war but the root causes of it,” he said. “The root cause of it is the lack of the government’s focus on the area. The poverty and neglect of the government is the root cause of the war in the Bangsamoro.” Rodriguez added that the BLBAR proposes a system to which the Bangsamoro people can chart their own destiny and that the passage of the proposed legislation will answer the Bangsamoro aspirations for meaningful autonomy and self-determination.


Bangsamoro autonomous region is constitutional

The Cagayan de Oro solon affirmed that the creation of an autonomous region and providing them with meaningful and genuine autonomy is a duty that Congress has to fulfill as mandated by the Constitution.

“There are always two regions of the country where our fundamental law recognizes that needing our help instead of giving to the national contribution. They have been left out in the development in our country,” Rodriguez said. “That is why we have given the system of having more under the asymmetric relationship between the Bangsamoro and the national government.”

“The substance of the BLBAR is the powers of the government and the fiscal autonomy. For the first time in the Bangsamoro, we are granting more powers to the autonomous region. The BLBAR provides more political autonomy and financial autonomy for the people of Bangsamoro.”

He added that the committee

made sure that the BLBAR is within the frames of the Philippine Constitution and that the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region functions within the sovereignty the jurisdiction of the Philippine government.

“We respect the other party in the peace talks because they are representing the Muslims in Mindanao. That is why we have the nomenclature Bangsamoro. We have changed the BBL to BLBAR and there is a clear difference,” he said. “This is not to create a notion that we are creating a nation within a nation. It is a region in the country and not a county within a country.”

“We believe that this would give inclusive growth in the Bangsamoro. We believe that this would bring peace in the Bangsamoro. The Bangsamoro people would support the bill to see that it is for the greater good of the n a t i o n , ” Rod r i guez s a i d . (PPMB)


From NPA to entrepreneur

KIAMBA, Sarangani, Dec 21 - Lazaro Balabala, a 40-year old Tboli, never dreamed of becoming an insurgent.


He used to work as a farmer. His family owned a parcel of land which they used to live and toil for farming until it was un-justly seized from them by an-other family.

With a promise to recover their land, a member of an armed group persuaded him to join the Communist Party of the Philippines– People’s Army.

Balabala soon underwent a series of trainings on tactics, techniques and procedures of combat as he became a mem-ber of Squad Dos, Platoon 2 of Front 73.

But, cliché as it is, life was

never easy in the mountains. There were chronic shortages of food. They never had decent sleep because of actual and pos-sible encounters with the gov-ernment troops.

Then and there, he started to miss his family until he learned of his father’s death due to sick-ness which prompted him to leave the group. He asked for permission to go back home and mourn for his loss but his com-rades did not concede to his re-quest.

It was on May 3, 2013 when he managed to escape and re-turn to his family. Nearly five


months into a choking siege and insurgency, he was officially sur-rendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and attained emancipation.

Balabala received financial assistance after he had under-gone proper documentation and procedure to qualify him for the Comprehensive Local Integra-tion Program for Former Rebels (CLIP-FR).

CLIP-FR is a subcomponent of Sulong Kapayapaan of Su-long Sarangani, the provincial government’s poverty reduction program espoused by Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Balabala is one of 86 former rebels in the province who re-ceived cash assistance amount-ing to Php65,000 each from the Department of Interior and Lo-cal Government (DILG) since 2011.

On the other hand, the local government gives a minimum of P5,000 to P10,000 to those who fail to qualify for CLIP, subject to guidelines.

Through Joint Memorandum Circular no. 2014-01, CLIP’s implementation was institution-alized under the flagship of the

DILG.Balabala underwent livelihood

skills training and psychosocial intervention thru the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

The local government assisted the Philippine National Police in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in pro-viding security to the former rebels and their family.

While being employed as a part-time foreman in a rice mill, Balabala now enjoys his own business opportunities. He is engaged in abaca production where he harvests about 50 ki-lograms every four months and earns P60 per kilogram.

He is also into cultivating a pawned piece of land with 60 coconut trees earning P2,200 every quarter of the year.

CLIP-FR allowed him to start life anew like other regular members of the NPA who have expressed the desire to aban-don armed struggle and become productive members of the soci-ety.

Balabala now enjoys his newly renovated house thru the assis-tance given which included pur-chase of kitchen wares with his present wife and five children.

Balabala is one of the many


Boy scouts train on emergency response By: Danilo E. Doguiles

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Dec. 21 — Members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines here trained recently on emergency medical response.

that the provincial govern-ment is trying to help. His story serves as an attestation that there is hope amidst hardships.

(CMIDCruz-Sarangani Infor-mation Office/DEDoguiles-PIA12)

The three-day 1st School Based Emergency Medical Re-sponse Dispatch Training was spearheaded by the Philip-pine Red Cross, Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unit ( KIDCERU), Call 911 and BSP-Kidapawan City.

As part of the public safety program of the city government and Mayor Joseph Evangelista, the training aimed to capacitate the boy scouts in responding to disasters and emergencies in their respective schools such as conducting basic search and rescue. They were also trained on survival skills.

The skills upgrading sessions also included first aid and car-diopulmonary resuscitation.

Organizers noted that besides

ensuring emergency response within and around school campuses, the knowledge and skills the students gained may also be applied in their homes and communities.

The conduct of the emer-gency medical response train-ing was made possible with the partnership of the city govern-ment and the Department of Education City Schools Division. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from the Kidapawan City Information Office)


Caraga IP youth participants receive certificates, official PIO IDs

BUTUAN CITY – Some 46 Indigenous Peoples (IP) youth delegates from the different provinces of Caraga region graduated in the four-day Regional IP Youth Leadership and Communicators Sum-mit held on Monday at the 4ID Advance Command Post in Camp Bancasi, this city.

By: Jennifer Gaitano


`Representing Butuan City mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr., acting City Administrator Engr. Antenedo Milloren emphasized to the graduates the importance of the trainings and knowledge they have gained in promoting peace and development in the society.

“Conflict occurs not only in the form of armed but also exist in other forms within our society and we know that our IP brothers and sisters are the most affected. With this IP Youth Leadership and Communicators Summit, the city government hoped that you – our IP youths can apply the learnings you gained to your respective community,” cited MIlloren. Also, as guest of honor and speaker during the closing ceremony of the said summit, regional director Abner Caga of the Philippine Information Agency congratulated all the participating IP-youths from the different Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) in the region. He emphasized that hard work really pays off. “Communicating through the heart is the most important element as an information officer. Because when you speak from the heart, honesty and sincerity will naturally come out from your

mouth,” he expressed. Caga also pointed out that when a person do good things to his fellowmen, the prize in return is very rewarding. “Good things happen to good people. That’s why I’m reminding all of you (IP youths) to stay humble and continue to embrace the challenges in life. Just continue to survive, cope and surpass life’s trials. I know with this group of youths, we will see our future leaders. May you excel in your respective community,” he said. Caga further bared that the IP-youths are now officially recognized by the government as IP information officers of their respective CADT areas region-wide. Meanwhile, the 46 IP-youth delegates also received the tokens for their active participation in the said summit from LtCol Rey Pasco, commanding officer of the civil military operations (CMO) batallion, Dir. Caga and Engr. Milloren. The media partners also joined with the IP-youth delegates, PIA and AFP officials during the boodle fight during lunchtime, right after the closing ceremony.


Alegria MPS intensifies anti-drug abuse campaign

The activity aims to educate the pupils and the parents on the ill-effects of illegal drugs to mind and body of a person.In his lecture, Alegria MPS officer-in-charge P/Insp. Cesar E. Gealogo said that the use of illegal drugs is one of the perennial problems of the society.

He said that if no one will fight to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs, the community will soon become the victim, “but Alegria is still fortunate that there are teachers, pupils and parents who advocated for a drug free community.”

ALEGRIA, Surigao del Norte - The Municipal Police Station (MPS) of Alegria in Surigao del Norte intensifies its campaign against il-legal drugs by conducting a drug symposium to the parents and grades 4 and 5 pupils of Ombong Elementary School on Dec. 16, 2015 at the schools covered court.

By:Susil Ragas


DSWD-Caraga’s partners, stakeholders join Byaheng Pagbabago

BUTUAN CITY - Partners from the media groups and National Gov-ernment Agencies (NGAs) in Caraga join the Byaheng Pagbabago on December 8-10, 2015 at the municipality of Pilar, Siargao Is-lands, Surigao del Norte. Spearheaded by the Social Marketing Unit (SMU) team of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga, the Stakeholders’ Learning Visit and Project Exposure Trip dubbed as Byaheng Pagababago was actively participated by the various partners and stakeholders of the agency. Partners who attended are the representatives from GMA News-Surigao, Democratico Post, Super Banat, Hope Radio,

Philippine News Agency, Butuan Star, Philhealth, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The learning tour aims to showcase the positive changes experienced by the partner communities, families, and individuals of the different social protection programs and services of DSWD. Furthermore, the visit also


seeks to draw awareness and appreciation from the partners and stakeholders about their significant contribution of internal and external convergence. “Since the social protection programs of the Department have been on board for quite some time now, significant number of individuals, families, and communities have experienced development and positive change. The Field Office, through the SMU, wanted to showcase these feats to the external partners and stakeholders who significantly contributed to the effective and efficient program/project implementation” bared Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli. Through the activity, the participants of the Byaheng Pagbabago saw in person the sub-projects implemented by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program in barangays Punta and Caridad. They also heard stories coming from the partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and observed the conduct of the Family Development Session (FDS) in Brgy.Caridad. The partners also witnessed

the actual feeding of day care children who are beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program. Also in Brgy.Caridad, Byaheng Pagbabago participants dropped by at the General Merchandise of the participants of Sustainable Livelihood Program. After the tour, an exit conference was conducted of which the participants shared their learnings during the activity.One media partner commented that he observed the good implementation of projects by DSWD because development is observable in the communities they visited. “We are thankful for the invitation because through this activity we witnessed the positive changes which happened to the communities through the interventions of DSWD,” said one news writer. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


PAGADIAN CITY – To show a meaningful commitment to supporting peace, schoolchildren from the different schools of Zamboanga del Sur have converged recently at Bishop’s House, Balangasan District to learn visual arts that promote peace.

By Gideon C. CorgueSchoolchildren inspired to embrace peace


The one-day interfaith visual arts workshop was one of the lined-up activities for the Mindanao week of peace on Nov. 26- Dec. 10 with the theme: “Mindanaoan’s aspirations for peace”. Bishop Emmanuel T. Cabajar, a peace advocate and, at the same time, a skillful artist in his message said he initiated the activity to encourage the young people not only to learn visual arts but to learn how to embrace peace. “Ang inyong pag-anhi dinhi dili lamang pagkat-on sa visual arts kung dili aron makakat-on usab kamo kung unsaon paghalog sa kalinaw (Your coming here is not only to learn visual arts but to learn how to embrace peace),” Cabajar told the young participants composed of Christians, Muslims and Subanen. Cabajar said peace and unity have been long dreamed of by the people of Mindanao. With the activity, Cabajar said the young participants would know each other and become friends regardless of their religious affiliations.

Meanwhile, Mariano Vidal, a famous visual artist from Cebu was very happy to share his skills in arts to the participants. Vidal encouraged the participants to be artists saying that there are many benefits and advantages from being artists. “Buot nako nga mamahimo kamo nga visual artists aron nga kung pagdako ninyo makatabang kamo pagpalambo sa kalinaw nga gidamgo sa Mindanaoans,” Vidal concluded. (I want you to become visual artists so that when you grow, you can help promote peace that has long been of dreamed by Mindanaons.) Vidal cited the instances where he unexpectedly met popular persons such as former US president Jorge Bush, Philippine presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, celebrities, etc. Vidal was invited by the bishop to share his talent to the participants and to encourage them to become like him when they grow up.


Kabasalan LGU hosts Drug awareness symposium KABASALAN, Zamboanga Sibugay - About 1,200 students from Kabasalan National High School together with their parents attended the Preventive Education and Community Involvement Drug Awareness Symposium hosted by the local government unit, in partnership with the Philippine National Police which was held at the municipal gymnasium.

By Alma L. Tingcang


The activity was conducted in response to the rising incidents of drug use and peddling in the municipality. Mayor George C. Cainglet said, “This is partof our campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs. We want our children to be safe and we need the parents to work with us.” KNHS principal Dr. Maria Coleen Emoricha welcomed the participants and thanked the guests and speakers to the 2-day event which aims to heighten awareness on the drug menace among the most vulnerable sector of society, the youth. The drug symposium was

conducted in five other schools namely: Palinta National High School, Simbol National High School, Buayan National High School, Kabasalan Institute of Technology and Kabasalan Science and Technology High School. The LGU has allocated the amount of P500,000 for the symposia. Out of this budget, P300,000 has been alloted for random blood testing conducted in various schools. Kabasalan PNP Deputy Chief Dexter Adrias explained the dangers of using drugs and how it could ruin the future of the youth.


DOH 11 braces for the holidaysDAVAO CITY-The Department of Health 11 has placed all govern-ment hospitals and health centers under code: white in preparation for the holiday-related injuries.Speaking at the Kapehan sa SM City, Dr. Abdullah Dumama, Jr., director of the DOH 11 said med-ical personnel is on stand-by in the operation center. He said hospitals, medical and health centers are ready to respond to all holiday-related in-juries and illnesses. Dumama said Davao City may be spared from the impact of the firecrackers because of the strict implementation of the firecracker ban here. However, he said much con-cern is needed on areas outside Davao City like Davao del Norte and its nearby provinces. “We encourage the people to do other means of welcoming the holidays by creating noise like banging the pots aside from using firecrackers,” Dumama said. He said in case of accident, victims must wash firecracker- related-wounds with soap and

clean water, draining away frag-ments and traces that might cause infection, before bringing the patient to the nearest health center. Dumama also reminded res-idents to be wary of giving ap-propriate gifts to children like the ones suitable to child’s capabili-ties, mental and social, develop-ment, and durability of the toy and safety of the child. He stressed parents must not be concerned with the value of the toys but also the quality of the item. Dumama warned parents against balls with diameter of 1.75 inches or less, and toys with sharp points and edges. “These toys can be swal-lowed and lodged in the throat,” he pointed out. Dumama also reiterated his call to be watchful on toys that might have high lead content. He also cited the need for


people to observed balance and moderation in drinking and eat-ing during the holidays by mak-ing sure that vegetables and fuirts are on the table together with the traditional holiday food like ham, lechon and queso de bola. “Ensure cleanliness and freshness of the food prepared

and brought to parties,” Duma-ma said. Councilor Joselle Villafuerte, chair of the city council commit-tee on health also called on the residents to avoid salty and fatty food and to do regular exercise. “Be watchful of your nutri-tion,” she stressed. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Zero casualty as Onyok passes R-XIDAVAO CITY- The Office of the Civil Defense-XI reported zero ca-sualties as tropical depression Onyok made landfall in the region last December 18. Onyok which made landfall between the boundaries of the Davao Oriental towns of Cara-ga and Manay affected several nearby municipalities in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley. The OCD-XI acted as the Emer-gency Operations Center with OCD-XI regional director Liza Mazo as the responsible official. Mazo activated the Inci-dent Command System and the Regional Incident Management System of the region during De-cember 19. The team is com-posed of different members from various agencies put on standby alert to help support local gov-ernments needing assistance. Resources and assets were prep-ositioned and mobilized upon re-quest by affected provinces.

By December 20, Onyok which was downgraded as LPA (Low Pressure Area) dissipated lowering the threat in the re-gion. Planning Section Chief Eric Colmenares of the Department of Science and Technology-XI presided the close-out meeting along with Colonel Rocky Binag, Tactical Operations Group XI-Philippine Air Force and Dir. Liza Mazo. At 3 p.m. of December 20, the Regional Incident Command Team has officially demobilized. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) was able to achieve zero casualty through resiliency, effort and dedication in estab-lishing and manning the Incident Command System. (PIA/RG Alama)

One Mindanao - December 21, 2015

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Transcript of One Mindanao - December 21, 2015