One Mindanao - July 25, 2014

Living with climate change thru information and gaining friends with it Cathy Apelacio CENTRAL MINDANAO

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 228

Government sees more foreign investors coming as it tackles concerns in power sector

NATIONAL

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NORTHERN MINDANAO

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

WESTERN MINDANAO

CARAGA REGION

CENTRAL MINDANAO

Mambajao gains approval for 15M GPBP projects

MisOr town promotes community resiliency

Duterte defends the president’s right to be heard

BASCOMNET forms Climate Change-Resilience advocacy group

3 rubber coops in Sibugay receive P4-M SSF equipment

AgNor guv to cops, PDEA:Intensify ‘war’ vs drugs

DOLE Caraga aids 299 workers with P2.3M in monetary claims

DOLE 12 seeks stronger link with barangays

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Information to Empower Filipinos

7Jorie C. Valcorza

Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

Rene V. Carbayas

Emmanuel D. Taghoy

Nora L. Molde

DOLE-13 10

12

Jerome Soldevilla

Danilo E. Doguiles

Living with climate change thru information and gaining friends with it

Living with climate change thru information and gaining friends with it

I learned that whether we like it or not, climate change is here to stay and so we must live with it.

But the question is how do we live with it? Well, we may choose to be nonchalant about it or get involved in making the situation a far better off from being a complete debacle at all, although it is in itself if remains ignored. The thing is, the world still has the chance to make what remains better, to salvage it from further getting worse and living with information-enriched mind and most of all learning to be adaptive to the so-called “new normal” of the present day. According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources XII regional director Datu Tungko Saikol, people must adapt to the new normal because that is the trend

now. T h u s , the national government is moving heaven and earth to reach out to its constituents trying to get the message to them, that is, to help government and do their share in protecting and preserving the remaining environment, our habitation which is the earth before it is too late. In fact, just this year, the

by Cathy Apelacio

COVER STORY

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government through the Philippine Information Agency inked a memorandum of agreement with the DENR for the implementation of a series of climate change adaptation advocacy campaign nationwide. The campaign is intended to all sectors of society especially the grassroots, which may be in limbo to this day about what climate change is all about. For Soccksargen, this campaign targets however the schools where PIA organizes the Campus Development Communicators Network (CDevComNet) to be its counterparts or multipliers to do simple government advocacies with no cost such as climate change adaptation in school campuses and probably as farther as they can possibly go.Embarking on Climate Change Forum at the local setting Supportive and ever ready, PIA XII has in a while penetrated the communities in the region for a series of climate change adaptation forum with DENR XII, EMB XII, MGB XII and DepEd XII as partners. PIA-12 regional director Olivia Sudaria explained that these efforts are all in line with the agency’s commitment to make an “enlightened citizenry” being empowered through the provisions of right information to enable them to make an informed decision-making. The bottom line of this effort is

really to save more lives – through information -- when disaster strikes. So that, this week July 21 and 22 for SarGen (Sarangani-General Santos City) we were headed to Edenton Mission College in Maitum, Sarangani for the organization of CDevComNet back-to-back with the Climate Change Adaptation Forum. It is worthwhile to note that when we reached the venue where we will be holding the forum, everything has already been readied which signified the receptiveness and eagerness of both the teachers and the students to know and learn about climate change. DENR XII Regional Public Affairs Office chief Mila Locsin presented the response of government to climate change while EMB 12 Environmental Education and Information Section chief Bai Soraya Meditar showed participants how to go about climate proofing for development. Well, it is not a surprise though that some of the students had something to say about climate change. They even know the difference and what

causes earthquake and storm surge. This has then become a nice memory when we travelled back home. The next day the group headed to Bula National Schools of Fisheries in General Santos City where we had the same thing to do and impart. There was that same look of excitement and eagerness from both the teacher s and students that warmed us immediately even if we arrived at the school with the rotational brownout still on. Overall, the experience was worth it all. We didn’t only empower them through the information that we provided them but we also gained acquaintances and friends. That was indeed hitting two birds with one stone! The series of forum does not however stop with the two schools. We still have a long list of schedules in SarGen to massively implement for the people especially the youth to be educated on how to be adaptive and prepared enough to be of use to their local governments, parents and even communities where they are residing when disaster comes. By then they are already equipped with the knowledge of helping their communities mitigate the impact of climate change, which carries the nationwide tagline: “Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago.”

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Across the Nation

President Aquino remains committed to carrying out reforms, says officialThe Palace on Thursday assured that despite the controversy

surrounding the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), President Benigno S. Aquino III is determined to uplift the lives of the people during the remaining years of his administration.

Responding to questions if the President’s successive speeches on the DAP would bolster the motion for reconsideration that has been

submitted to the Supreme Court, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Chief Executive’s intention

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is to explain to his “Bosses” the developments regarding the issue.

“Pero sa kabila nang iyan, nais ko lamang ilahad dito na buong-buo ang determinasyon ng Pangulo na patuloy na isulong at ipatupad ang mga programa sa reporma na naumpisahan na,” Coloma said.

“At dahil kulang na sa dalawang taon ang nalalabi, ibayong pagsisikap ang maaari nating asahan sa pagsulong ng mga reporma at pagbabago, dahil napakarami pang dapat na gawin at umiikli ang panahong nalalabi,” he added.

The President has defended the DAP during a televised address on July 14, during a dialogue with the business community the following day, and during the commemoration of

Apolinario Mabini’s birth anniversary in Tanauan City, Batangas on Wednesday.

Asked if the ongoing Senate inquiry on the DAP would strengthen the Palace’s position on the issue, Coloma said the Cabinet secretaries who attended the investigation provided the legislators sufficient information with utmost transparency.

“Siguro ay wala namang kaduda-duda na hayag na hayag, bukas na bukas at very transparent ang pamahalaan sa pagpapaliwanag at sa pagtugon sa lahat ng maaaring maitanong tungkol sa Disbursement Acceleration Program,” Coloma said.

The Executive branch last week filed a motion for reconsideration, asking the High Court to reassess its decision. PND

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said they expect investments to increase as the government addresses

concerns in the energy sector.The Department of Energy is being

proactive in announcing the possible power shortfall next year, he said.

He said that before Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla mentioned


The Palace said it hopes that foreign investments in the country would continue to grow despite projections of a power shortage

next year.

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about the projected shortage, the energy chief had outlined the ongoing electrification projects in various stages of completion in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Ang pagkakaroon ng sabay-sabay na pagtatayo ng mga plantang elektrisidad ay nagpapakita nang patuloy na kumpiyansa ng mga mamumuhunan sa kasiglahan ng ating ekonomiya,” Coloma said.

The public must understand the context of Petilla’s message, he said, noting that the country’s current rapid economic growth has surpassed other economies in Asia.

The overall picture is that the number of power plants continue to increase to address the needs of a growing economy, and that, for sure, will be considered by foreign investors, he said.

Coloma further said that the government’s experience during the holding of the recent World Economic Forum shows the foreign delegates’ positive perception of the Philippines.

The country hopes to showcase its strengths at the global stage when it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting next year, he said. PND

10JULY 2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |

Senate remains committed to pass Bangsamoro billThe Senate leadership remains committed to support the

creation of the Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao as promised by President Benigno S. Aquino III in his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address or SONA in 2013.

”The schedule for us is that we must have the (Bangsarmoro)

government in place when the (Aquino) administration


comes out in 2016,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

Drilon said 2016 is the timetable though Malacanang has yet to submit the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

”There should be new structure for Bangsamoro towards the end of the term of President Noynoy Aquino,” Drilon said.

In his SONA in 2013, President Aquino asked Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014 to give the government ample time to prepare for the election of a new Bangsamoro government in 2016.

Drilon vowed to give highest priority on the BBL “once we receive the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.”

”Whenever it is submitted, we will work hard so that we can meet the target ratification by the second half of next year,” Drilon said.

The Senate leader stressed the need to pass the BBL that would hopefully bring the long overdue progress in Mindanao.

”We cannot afford to fail as far as the Bangsamoro Basic

Law is concerned. We must have something in place so that the BBL will provide stability and improvement in the economic life of the region,” Drilon said.

Drilon also urged both the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to come up with an agreement.

”We are all Filipinos. We need to unite for the sake of everybody and of our future,” Drilon said.

The Transition Commission has prepared the draft of the BBL to be submitted to Malacanang for review before it will be given to Congress for legislative approval.

Last March, the government peace panel and the MILF finally signed a comprehensive peace agreement after a series of peace negotiations here and abroad.

Both parties are hoping the agreement would lead to end the decades-long armed struggle in Mindanao as they agreed on wealth-sharing and power-sharing in areas to be covered by the Bangsamoro political entity. (PNA)


Blaan chieftain is new city councilor Blaan chieftain Mario U. Empal (center) takes his oath of office Tuesday, July 22, before City Mayor Ronnel Rivera as the 13th city councilor being the Indigenous People’s (IP) representa-tive to the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP). After so many years, it is only now that the IP representation in the SP has finally been realized. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato– Nine barangays in nearby Tupi town are set to benefit from various projects as the Department of Agrarian recently approved the release of P2.7 M various rural projects.

Tupi to implement P2.7-M worth of peace projects from DARBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

The barangays were adopted by DAR under its area component of the national government’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) program that aims to provide these barangays with community-based projects to bring genuine peace and development.

DAR Regional Director Nasser Musali said “the program intends to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities in situations of conflict.”

Under the PAMANA grant, “each beneficiary (barangay) will receive P300,000 to fund the implementation of their proposed community projects,” Musali said.

The projects that may be funded by the program include connectivity systems, basic services for economic development, agricultural services and industry investments, economic investments in indigenous people’s areas,

disaster-preparedness and climate change adaptation interventions.

The municipal government of Tupi and DAR signed a memorandum of agreement in April last year for the implementation of the PAMANA program.

Tupi Mayor Reynaldo Tamayo said the grant forms part of the area’s initial allocation under the agrarian reform area component of the PAMANA program.

The mayor said five barangays — Crossing Rubber, Kalkam, Lunen, Palian and Tubeng — have proposed for the renovation and construction of multi-purpose buildings.

Meawhile, Barangays Acmonan, Bunao and Simbo pushed for the rehabilitation of their potable water systems while Barangay Cebuano proposed for the replacement of the submersible water pump in one of its communities.

Once the funds are released, Tamayo said they would


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Regional Director Ofelia Domingo of the Department of Labor and Employment in SOCCSKSARGEN Region has urged the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) managers to reach out to barangays in their areas for dissemination of the agency’s programs and projects.

immediately proceed with the bidding of the contracts for the identified projects.

“The implementation phase for these projects will likely begin within the third quarter of the year,” Tamayo said.

PAMANA is the government’s

program and framework for peace and development in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

DOLE 12 seeks stronger link with barangaysBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

“Please continue to link with barangay chairmen since they are the most effective entry point for our programs,” Director Domingo told PESO Managers during the recent PESO mid-year performance assessment.

“They should know what we can offer and there should be a network system to ensure that job vacancies are filled. We should encourage everyone to have a culture of sharing,” she added.

Domingo facilitated the 2014 PESO MYPA that consolidated accomplishments, reports, issues and concerns and recommendations from different areas in SOCCKSARGEN Region, particularly pertaining to the implementation of the

employment programs of DOLE.SOCCSKSARGEN Region

straddles the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato, including a total of 40 municipalities.

DOLE 12 is now expected to come up with an improved Skills Registration System (SRS) to share job vacancies all over the region.

“We need PESO managers to help in facilitating skills registration to make sure applicants are registered, profiled and captured in the SRS,” said Domingo. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from DOLE 12)


Kaliga festival fuses culture for unity, progressby Edmar Pabia

GINGOOG CITY - “Banat Gingoog, ato ni!” (Soar Gingoog, this is ours!)


Gingoog city mayor Marie de Lara Guingona reverberated as she delivered her message during the culmination of the city’s weeklong 54th Charter Day celebration and 35th Kaliga Festival which she stressed the slogan speaks of the solidifying force for cultures for unity, peace and progress

for this

Higaonon-founded city in the eastern part of northern Mindanao. On her second year in celebrating with Higaonon datus (chieftains) and the residents, the lady mayor, wearing red and black, elevated the historical contribution

of its sole tribe in commencing a simple barrio of Daan Lungsod which is eventually m e t a m o r p h o s i n g into a booming city popularly known as “Hingoog” which literally means ‘good luck.’ She said that without those tribal


Mambajao gains approval for 15M GPBP projectsby Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin - Hefty projects under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) with capitalization of P15-million gains approval from the oversight agencies.

chieftains with their members, our city and its festival could not have been celebrated by this present generation. The Higaonon is one of the least known ethnolinguistic groups that inhabit North-Central Mindanao. They occupy the mountainous regions of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon plateau, the mountain borders of the provinces of Agusan and Lanao in the east and west, respectively. ‘Kaliga’ meaning celebration of life through dances fuses cultures, breaks boundaries and unifies our characters in building a better Gingoog for holistic development,’ she further said. The city’s chief urged all ‘dagatnons’ (coastal settlers) to appreciate, respect and value the community of “higaonons’ as partners for city-building that promotes harmony in persons, balance in ecology and transparency in local governance. She acknowledged the unwavering cooperation of the

commissioner, director, employees, scholars, volunteers and the entire Nasud Higaonon of the National Commission on the Indigenous People (NCIP). Her administration allocates budget for indigenous peoples (IP) scholars for their sustainable education as her concrete manifestation of support for the betterment of this city’s ancestral tribe. She thanked and congratulated all national agencies, local offices, people’s organizations, corporate sponsors, schools, barangay councils, and all residents who have shared their time, efforts and blessings for the success of the week-stretched celebration starting on July 14 t0 23 which was capsulized with socio-cultural events, sporting tourneys and highlighted by Kaliga Festival’s street dancing, tableau presentation, float parade, ‘binakwang’ showcase, tribal drum beatthen culminated by an evening party at Pahayahay sa Pantalan sparkled with fireworks display.


MisOr town promotes community resiliencyby Jerome Soldevilla

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental - Community leaders and stakeholders in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental have bound themselves to aggressively pursue no nonsense Disaster Risk Reduction Management Program in the light of heightened vulnerabilities to both man-made and natural hazards and calamities.

In a recently launched Villanueva Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Program at the Phividec Industrial Estate Auditorium in Misamis

These include programs and projects for the enhancement of health facilities, sustainable livelihood, farm to market road, repair and rehabilitation of school buildings, social pension for indigent senior citizens, and rice production. Mambajao mayor Maria Luisa Romualdo said they are fast tracking efforts to supply the needed documents for the release of funds and jump-start the implementation of these programs and projects jointly identified by the local government unit (LGU) and civil society organizations in Mambajao. Town’s rural health unit and five priority barangay health stations to include barangay Kuguita, Pandan, Vulcan, Tupsan and Yumbing will benefit from the enhancement program, while all barangays will be covered by the livelihood program. The approved FMR project will be granted to Sitio Tambaan, Anito and public elementary schools of

barangays Anito, Volcan, Tupsan, Yumbing, Pandan and Mambajao Central School were among the identified schools to avail of the repair and rehabilitation works. Some 200 indigent senior citizens are also up for social pension program, while organized farmers for the 60-hectare rice field will also receive assistance from GPBP. GPBP is formerly called Bottom up Budgeting (BuB), it ensures the inclusion of the funding requirement for the development needs identified at the local level in the budget proposals of the National Government Agencies. Romualdo said, the Phase III Socialized Housing Project will come next in their priority. This will serve as the shelter program for government employees who wished to own a home of their own at a lesser cost.


MisOr town promotes community resiliency

Oriental, Villanueva vice mayor Edwin Dagasuhan underscored the importance of leadership in mitigating the adverse impact of the ‘new realities’ of frequent natural calamities. More than 200 community leaders from all the 11 barangays in Villanueva gathered to formulate plans and specific programs designed to better prepare residents in the area in times of calamities. The program is jointly undertaken by the Local Disaster Risk Management Council (LDRRMC), energy-firm STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI), the Office of Civil Defense Region 10 and the Phividec Industrial Authority. The activity kicked-off with a ceremonial launch and signing of a Joint Declaration of Support by various community stakeholders in Villanueva. A series of training and seminar workshop will be held on July 26 and August 2, 2014 where community leaders will craft specific risk reduction plans and programs, which will then form part of the municipal-wide Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) plans and programs. “The goal is to institute a

mechanism for a more proactive, effective and systematic approach in disaster risk reduction (DRR) most especially in highly vulnerable villages in Villanueva” says Steag Comrel Manager Ghaye Alegrio. Steag has set aside some P200,000 financial grant to support capability building projects through its EGOLD (Enhancing Governance in Local Development) Program. This is part of our continuing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment where we partner with our host local government in addressing a wide-array of community concerns, said Alegrio. Meanwhile, OCD 10 regional director Ana Cañeda encouraged local leaders to optimize the opportunity to equip and continually prepare their communities for any eventualities. UN Reports indicate that the Philippines is considered the most disaster-prone country in Asia. “We are inspired by the collaboration of the private and public sectors in Villanueva and we hope to see this as good models for other communities to emulate,” Director Caneda said.


RPOC welcomes appointment of Butuan dad as RPOC chairBy Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY - The members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Caraga expressed their warm congratulations to Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. of this city, as the RPOC chair as per appointment by President Benigno S. Aquino III, during the RPOC meeting held on Wednesday at Dottie’s Place Hotel here.


RPOC welcomes appointment of Butuan dad as RPOC chair

“Congratulations to our city Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr for being appointed by Presi-dent Aquino as the chair of this council. We also welcome and congratulate our vice chairper-son PCSUPT Dominador Esla-va Aquino Jr., regional director of the Philippine National Po-lice (PNP) Caraga… Let’s work hand in hand as we continue to aim for a peaceful and progres-sive region,” stressed RPOC head secretariat and regional direc-tor Lilibeth Famacion of the De-partment of the Interior and Lo-cal Government (DILG) Caraga. Famacion also relayed to the council the message of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, extending his congratulations to the appoint-ed RPOC chair and vice chair. “I’m so happy that President Aquino has ap-pointed me as the Regional Peace and Order Council chair. This comes with great respon-sibility. Thank you for trust-ing me... Let’s make this fo-rum today an avenue for us to discuss togeth-

er how we can ad-dress issues and con-cerns that affect the peace and order situation of our region,” highlighted Amante, as his response to the overwhelm-ing appreciation of the council. Amante also emphasized that the RPOC will closely coor-dinate with the City and Provin-cial Peace and Order Councils to harmonize its plans and pro-grams for the region as a whole. “Recently, we convened with the members of the Chamber of Commerce – Filipino and Chinese, for them to be involved in our plans and undertakings for the peace and development of our city and region,” recalled Amante. Amante also served as the concurrent chairper-son of the Butuan CPOC.


AgNor guv to cops, PDEA: Intensify ‘war’ vs drugsBy Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY - Provincial Peace and Order Council chair and Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba on Monday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by PSSupt Rommel Francisco D Marbil and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed by regional director Erwin Ogario to work hand in hand in solving the drug problem of the province.

Matba believes that her “Rebolusyon Kontra Druga” program will help solve the illegal drug activities in the province.

Matba said the program primarily aims to tap the recently reactivated Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) in the barangays, city, municipality and provincial levels.

With the order of the governor, director Ogario is asking the

cooperation of the community, “Illegal drug problems cannot only be solved by PDEA and PNP, we need the cooperation and participation of different stakeholders in the community.”

Regional Director Atty. Marylin Pintor of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) suggested that the ADACs should not only be reorganized, it should also be operationalized, revitalized


AgNor guv to cops, PDEA: Intensify ‘war’ vs drugs

and functional in order to attain the target of the provincial government of having a Drug-Free Barangays and Drug-Free Workplaces.

Also, PSSupt Marbil reported to the members of the council that the PNP Agusan del Norte recorded a significant increase of arrest on illegal activities. “A total of 50 arrest on illegal drugs, 23 on illegal gambling and 19 arrest on illegal logging were recorded by our office for the period of January to June this year,” Marbil said.

PSSupt Marbil also said that the PNP personnel continually do an organization of the youth anti-drug watch. The advocacy on DARE or Drug Abuse Reduction and Education is still on going down to the barangay level, Marbil added.

“We will never ever slow down until they will get tired doing business (illegal drugs) in our province,” said

governor Matba. We will not stop until they will leave us, she added.

Governor Matba urge local chief executives to continue the fight against illegal drug activities in the province.

Meanwhile, Municipal Police Stations were also given recognition during the council’s meeting to include the Cabadbaran City Police Station, Remedios T. Romualdez Municipal Police Station (MPS), and Buenavista MPS for showing bravery, cooperation and diligence in accomplishing positive operations in the massive campaign and enforcement against illegal drugs. The operations were jointly conducted by the PNO, PDEA and the province’ Philippine Public Safety College.

Each station also received a cash amount of five thousand pesos.


DOLE Caraga aids 299 workers with P2.3M in monetary claims

BUTUAN CITY - Two hundred Ninety Nine (299) Caraganons benefited through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Single Entry Approach Program amounting to P2,363,634.62 from January to June 2014.

By DOLE-13

This conciliation arsenal of the department provides a speedy, impartial, inexpensive and accessible settlement procedure for all issues/complaints arising from employer-employee relations to prevent them from accelerating to full blown disputes.

There were 132 requests for assistance (RFAs) handled by DOLE’s 10 dynamic Single Entry Approach (SENA) Desk Officers in the region resulting to an 83 percent settlement rate which surpasses the national target of 75 percent.

“Our SENA achievers as of June 2014, Technical Services and Support Division and Agusan del

Norte Field Office, has the shortest duration to settle RFAs within three days. The Technical Services and Support Division has attained the highest settlement rate of 93 percent,” bared DOLE-Caraga regional director Atty. Johnson Cañete.

Agusan del Norte Field Office and Surigao del Norte Field Office has the highest number of RFAs handled which comprises a total of 37 cases. Surigao del Sur Field Office, on the other hand, has the largest number of workers benefited from a single conference comprising of 116 workers.

Dominga MallongaDOST-Caraga Regional Director

for more details visit us DOST National Website: http://www.dost.gov.phDOST Caraga Website: http://caraga.dost.gov.ph


Army’s CMOs undergo traianing on news writing, broadcasting, social media utilization By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Civil Military Operations (CMO) officers from the 1st and 6th infantry battalions of the Philippine Army (PA) have attended the Public Affairs Seminar-Workshop held on July 16-18 at Farmer’s Haven in Dao this city.


BASCOMNET forms Climate Change-Resilience advocacy groupBy Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Basilan Communicators Network Inc. (BASCOMNET) created the Climate Change-Resilience communication group that will plan and initiate advocacy campaign activities that hope to broaden people’s consciousness on the need for concerted efforts to protect Mother Earth.

The training sought to develop the skills of CMO officers in handling public affairs programs in their respective areas of responsibility. In his message, Colonel Thomas Sedano Jr., executive officer of the Ofice of the Assistant Chief of Staff for CMO-Manila, said the higher command sees the need for the CMOs to be trained in public affairs, as they play a very important role in the community. Sedano added the CMOs were taught how to write press releases , utilize social media, conduct media interview/press conferences with invited lecturers from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 and the private media. “This kind of training has been conducted for the first time in the different brigades and battalions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. For Luzon-based units, the training was held in June at Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila, followed by the EastMincom in Davao City and WesternMindanao in Pagadian City, this July. While for the Visayas-based units, it will be

held on last week of this month,” he added. Lt. Leo Baloja, CMO of 55th Infantry Battalion, said he learned from the training the techniques in newswriting and proper procedures in conducting media interview. “With the knowledge that I’ve learned during the seminar, I will impart it to my fellow CMOs in the lower units for them also to effectively perform their duties,” stressed Baloja. “I hope that this activity will be held annually to ehance our skills in public affairs,” Baloja suggested. Lt. Mayven Prima, CMO of 53rd Infantry battalion, thanked the higher headquarters for implementing the program saying, “we have learned the proper techniques in writing news.” “The training helped us develop our our skills in performing our tasks and duties. We need to keep our stakeholders informed of the programs and activities of Philippine Army through our good press releases,” Prima concluded.


Some 50 communicators and information officers from government and non-government organizations (NGOs) have turned up for the general assembly and Climate Change Advocacy orientation last July 9. The meeting also tackled various issues and concerns affecting the people of Basilan. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), which serves as the BASCOMNET secretariat, discussed the agency’s upcoming advocacy campaign on climate change in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In support of the urgency of the campaign, the members have decided to create a Climate Change Advocacy Communication Committee with the local DENR as lead agency. Other members identified were the Department of Education (DepEd), Child Fund Philippines, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Philippine National Police (PNP), 104th Brigade Philippine Army, Provincial Information Office (PIO), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The PIA encouraged the members to go aggressive on the campaign and that the COMNET must take its active role to promote not only the public’s understanding of climate change but more importantly its adverse impact on the people and their communities. In the same gathering, OIC-Action Officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Anwary Akalon gave the members updates on the status of disaster preparedness plans of the province. Akalon reported that the PDRRMC, together with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is going to the grassroots to intensify efforts toward communities’ preparedness for any disaster. As part of the preparation for completing the Isabela City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the PIA presented to the members the plans

of the Communication and Warning Sector, which contained the communication flow of key government agencies when disaster strikes, communication roles and function of respective government and non-government organizations, and the needs and future undertakings of the sector. Meanwhile, Cpt Dennis D. Nolasco, Operations Officer of the 104th Brigade PA gave an update on security concerns. He reported the accomplishments of the AFP in going after terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, its campaign versus illegal drugs with the arrest of drug pushers, conduct of joint mission planning with the police, clan “Rido” settlements, engagement in Brigada Eskwela and Brigada Masjid, conduct of massive tree-planting in support of the government’s National Greening Program and protection of watersheds, among others. The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) personnel from the province and Isabela City, on the other hand, also updated the members of the extent of the scale insect infestation to the coconut industry in the area. Onesima Hayawan of PCA-ARMM and Rudy Corsame of PCA-Isabela reported that the government has been conducting preventive measures (chemical and biological approaches) to control the spread of cocolisap. Both have asked the support of the members to help disseminate vital information, like identifying correctly the disease, as there are other diseases that attack coconuts with similar symptoms manifested by cocolisap-infected trees. In response, COMNET members resolved to help PCA in the information dissemination as well as in the production of IEC materials for distribution. DepEd-Isabela was also requested to help in the translation of IEC materials in the local dialect.


Recipients of the 22 sets of SSF equipment were the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay Rubber Farmers Association (PZSRFA) in Ipil town, Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO) in Kabasalan town, and Tambanan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TARBEMCO) in Naga town. DTI-9 Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain and Engr. Noel R. Bazan, concurrent provincial director of DTI-Sibugay, personally handed the equipment to the cooperatives. PZSRFA received six coagulating tanks, six concrete ageing tanks, and three digital weighing scales with a total cost of more than P2.2 million. GARBEMCO also received one centrifuged rubber processing facility (or centrifuged rubber latex machine), two Abaca spindle stripping machines, and three Abaca rope making machines with a total cost of more than P1.3 million.TARBEMCO had received one centrifuged rubber latex machine amounting to P816 thousand. It can be recalled that DTI

has earmarked P46 million for SSF projects in region 9 for the year 2014, with an increase of roughly 70 percent over the P27.12 million allocation in 2013. In her message, Director Jain told the recipients that with DTI’s fervent effort to implement the SSF program, it is hoping to help more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sibugay, particularly those in the rubber industry, in acquiring the needed equipment, tools or machinery to improve the quality of their production. Moreover, she urged the recipients “to use well the equipment so as to create an impact in the market, thus, raising not just the quality of their produced rubber but their income as well.” The SSF Project has been made possible with the help of the private sector through Public-Private Partnership initiative in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

3 rubber coops in Sibugay receive P4-M SSF equipmentBy Emmanuel D. TaghoyKABASALAN, Zamboanga Sibugay – During its recent launch of the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) here, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 has granted P4.29 million worth of equipment to three rubber cooperatives in the province.


Tagum City draws tourism map

DAVAO DEL NORTE - The City Gov-ernment of Tagum and the Tagum City Tourism Council (TCTC) as-sembled yesterday the tourism stakeholders of the city to set the direction of the industry for the next five years. Around 60 representatives from hotels, restaurants, malls, travel agencies, transportation groups, cultural sector, business sector and government offices mapped out the tourism industry of Tagum. In the workshop, the participants

identified strong government support, equal business opportunity, culture and gender sensitive, effective marketing strategies, premiere sports and meetings, i n v e s t m e n t s , conventions and events (MICE) destination, peace and order, established tourism

network, improved infrastructure and utility services, sustainable agribusiness, culture and ecotourism (ACE) industry, globally competitive workforce and accredited tourism establishment as components of the shared vision for the tourism industry, which will be later drafted into a statement. Marlene Rellon-Alastra, chairperson of the TCTC, said that the result of the activity will be the basis for the drafting of the Tourism Code of Tagum.

by Michael Uy


Duterte defends the president’s right to be heard

Alastra said that one of her dreams is to place Tagum City as a major player in the tourism map of the country. “For now the industry as a whole is not fully equipped to be on this map, we are still preparing the key players through this event and the activities, which we will be conducting in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) like capability building for tour guiding, customer service

and other tourism related trainings,” she added. She targeted a 50%-70% increase in the influx of tourists when the plan will be implemented. According to the data of the City Tourism Office, 32,346 tourists stayed in the accommodation facilities of the city for the period of January to June. Among those tourist, 1,292 were foreigners. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)

DAVAO CITY - Mayor Rodrigo Du-terte defended President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s right to be heard when the latter expressed his take on the Supreme Court ruling citing unconstitutional por-tions of the Disbursement Alloca-tion Program (DAP). He clarified that his defense on the President does not concern about either the DAP or the Priority Development Assistance Fund since he has nothing to do with it. “Everybody has the right to be heard,” Duterte said. He pointed out that the president being the chief executive had to answer the Supreme Court even for his personal consumption. Duterte said that whether the president’s expression was directed to the Supreme Court or anybody, he was entitled to say about anything. “The right to be heard, that is

what I am defending the president,” he pointed out. Duterte said he supports the President’s response to the Supreme Court because it is his right to be heard. He said the right to be heard is enshrined in the constitution. Duterte quoted Voltaire’s “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.” He stressed that dissent is the essence of democracy. “The right to dissent must be present in a democracy, otherwise it is a non-democratic state,” Duterte said. He stressed that as a lawyer, he abides with the Supreme Court. Duterte said he also defends the right of every citizen, including the president to be heard. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

One Mindanao - July 25, 2014

Documents

Transcript of One Mindanao - July 25, 2014