One Mindanao - May 9, 2014

Sta. Cruz “Pista sa Kinaiyahan” amplifies advocacy to save and protect Mt. Apo Carina L. CayonSOUTHERN MINDANAO

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 175

No taxes, landing fees for U.S. military under EDCA, says defense official

NATIONAL

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CENTRAL MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAOSOUTHERN MINDANAO

Davao City Police Office sees a spike in theft due to brownouts

AgSur vice gov to discuss leadership with PRC stakeholders

Koronadal City eyes 1M trees for 4th Tree Growing Festival

DAR conducts nationwide gov’t procurement reform act confab

Medical, dental mission reaches Lebak, Senator Ninoy Aquino towns

6th RAFI Triennial Awards nomination caravan goes to XU

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Information to Empower Filipinos

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CARAGA REGION

Agnor solon welcomes Agriculture department ‘clean up’ 19 LAWig

Florence A. Ramos

Shahana Joy E. Duerme

Stephen J. PedrozaBrian Jay Ceballos

Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

Danilo E. Doguiles

Sta. Cruz “Pista sa Kinaiyahan” amplifies advocacy to save and protect Mt. Apo

THE CELEBRATION of the Pista sa Kinaiyahan (Festival for Nature) this year was another milestone for the

people of Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur province, in their effort to save, protect and rehabilitate mother nature, especially the Mount Apo Natural Park.

Passionately headed by the local government unit in active partnership with the private sector and civil society groups, the annual festival has been instrumental in advocating environmental protection and in drawing strong support from the local communities to care for the environment. The festival has also attracted local and foreign tourists nationwide, contributing to the promotion and improvement of the town’s tourism

industry. T h i s

year, the Pista sa Kinaiyahan celebrated last

by Carina L. Cayon

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week of April, was highlighted by the Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge, Mangrove Planting and Duaw kay Apo Clean Up Drive. The Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge 2014, held on April 26-27, is a 24-hour extreme adventure competition (open category) that began from the heart of Sta. Cruz to the summit of Mount Apo employing the disciplines of Mountain Biking, Trekking, Water Tubing and Road Running. A new category (all-male and all-female relay) was incorporated which made the race more exciting and challenging. Twenty five (25) teams competed for the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge (15 teams for open elite category and ten (10) teams for the relay category. In the open elite category, the Team Boatman/Escape Route composing of April John Maniyog, Mark Anthony

Rance and Dennis Ararao emerged

as champion a f t e r

achieving t h e shor tes t race time of 13 hours, 23

m i n u t e s and 23

seconds.

The 1st Runner Up was Team Apo Ville comprising of Ireezbone Barrientos, Hilario Ladra and Jayrald Daraydo with 13:35:21 time, while the 2nd Runner Up was team Mountain Hardwear/White Peak with members Dexter Nonato, Marcial Catanggi and Bryan Gabañete who obtained 13:40:11 time. The open elite champion received a cash prize of P150,000 from the race sponsor Aboitiz Power, while the 1st runner up got P100,000 from San Miguel Brewery, Inc. and the 2nd runner up was given P75,000 by Franklin Baker Company. For the all-male relay, Team Tri Buddies (Joerge Andrade, Azlan Pagay and Novo Rey Roble) was declared champion after gaining the shortest time of 12 hours, 29 minutes and 42 seconds. The champion for the all-female relay was the Team Buddies Tagum (Judelyn Miranda, Monalisa Ambasa and Ruffa Sorongon) with 18:59:23 time. The champions for this relay were awarded with a cash prize of P15,000 each from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Sta. Cruz LGU. Edshyl Brañanola, Jose Sevilla and Juanito Mahinay of the Team NAKAYAMA grabbed the first place enduring the 12:44:00 time for the all-male relay, while the 2nd runner up

was Te a m PNP Crame composed of Victor Ayohan, Jr., Melvin N. Awit and Melquiades Esquierdo with 14:18:08 time. The 1st runner up took home P10,000 cash and the 2nd runner up got P7,000. Aside from the cash prize, all major winners also received trophies and all finishers beyond the top five got finisher’s medals. The boulder challenge was also aimed at developing responsible mountaineering and outdoor ethics.

Meanwhile, the mangrove growing on April 25 in Barangay Zone

2 was participated by all cause-oriented groups and volunteers in the municipality, who were able to plant and maintain a total of 3,000 mangrove propagules. The Duaw kay Apo Clean Up

Drive, an organized climb to Mount Apo via Sibulan Trail held on April 25-27 was joined in by mountaineers who were able to upload a total of ten (10)

sacks of garbage from Mt. Apo peak and campsites in Tinikaran 1 and 2. Other activities were the conduct of refresher course on Basic Life Safety and Rescue Procedures

and orientation-seminar on Mechanics and Rules of Mt. Apo

Boulder Face Challenge 2014 and Basic Mountaineering. The Pista sa Kinaiyahan has brought together tribal communities, women groups, private business locators, mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts in the overall conservation efforts of the environment particularly the Mt. Apo Natural Park. The annual Festival for Nature is already a tradition in Sta. Cruz for 12 years now, and has been institutionalized through Municipal Ordinance No. 12, S. 2012 that declares the festivity as an official annual tourism event of the municipality.

7 MAY| PAGE

Across the NationNo taxes, landing fees for U.S. military under EDCA, says defense official

“This is a defense cooperation agreement,” Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

“This is not a transaction that would generate income. That was not the purpose of the EDCA. We think that

through the defense cooperation that will be implemented here, the benefits that will be enjoyed by both the AFP and the US military would be mutual,” he said.

Tax issues are also consistent with the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines

Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the US military will not pay the Philippine government any

tax since it is a government-to-government agreement and not a contract for commercial purposes, a defense official noted on Thursday.

8 MAY 2014 | PAGE

Use of radio frequency by U.S. military under EDCA does not need Congressional approval: Official

Under the newly signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), American forces using the country’s

airwaves do not need a franchise from the Philippine Congress, a foreign affairs official said Thursday.

and the US, said Batino, who chaired the Philippine panel in the EDCA negotiation.

The VFA provision states that the US military will be exempted from paying landing charges or port charges.

It is in recognition of the rule that a sovereign power does not have jurisdiction over another sovereign, he explained.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya, member of the Philippine panel representing the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the reason why there is no provision on compensation in the EDCA is that it was envisioned to be a mutually beneficial agreement.

Malaya said there is a distinction between a defense agreement, which by nature is a government-to-government agreement, and a contract of lease.

This is not a contract of lease where rent is required, he said, noting that in fact, Japan and South Korea, which host large US military bases in their respective

territories, provide subsidies for the maintenance and operation of the US bases.

He cited that in 2011, Japan provided $3.7 billion in subsidy to the US military for the maintenance and operation of US forces there.

South Korea this year allotted $749.6 million for the maintenance of the US bases in its territory, the ambassador said, adding that it is the same with Germany and other places where there are US facilities.

On the issue of taxes on utilities, Malaya said these are counterpart funds on the part of the Philippines, and this is an accepted practice in the country, particularly with respect to the receipt of foreign donations and foreign assistance.

“This is what you call as a matter of assumption of the taxes that are supposed to be collected from a foreign government entity,” he added. PND

9 MAY| PAGE

Some quarters have asserted that a franchise from Congress is necessary for the US military to be allowed to use frequencies or spectrum in the Philippines.

Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya however said that based on the country’s laws, franchise from Congress would be required if the operation of a radio frequency is intended for commercial purposes.

Malaya is a member of the Philippine panel for the negotiation of the EDCA, which was signed by the Philippines and the US late last month.

The presence of US forces in the Philippines under the EDCA is not for commercial purposes, he told reporters during a media briefing in Malacanang.

“We did a lot of consultations during the course of the negotiations with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and they told us that they allot a bundle of frequencies to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is envisioned that under this

agreement, the NTC will not grant a new bundle of frequencies to the US military,” Malaya said.

The AFP will just allow the US military to use existing frequencies or spectrum for the latter’s temporary use, he explained.

US troops coming to the Philippines will be bringing telecommunications equipment only for internal use and not for commercial purposes, according to Malaya.

“That is the same arrangement that we give, for instance, to other visiting military personnel who come to us, including those who have assisted us during Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan,” he said. PND

10MAY2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |

Be a ‘force for good’ in Mindanao, Antonino tells Ateneo grads

With Mindanao development as a platform, graduates of higher education programs from a leading university here

were told to use their learning to broaden individual perspectives and remain deeply committed to being a force for good.

Speaking to more than 200 graduates of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Graduate School and College of Law at the school’s commencement rites

recently, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), encouraged the Mindanao’s future leaders to remain


bullish about island’s potentials. “Having been educated in this highly

reputable university, you carry with you the valuable learnings, new ideas, and Ignatian ideals that will come in handy when you are tasked to solve problems in the real world,” Antonino said while underscoring the need for new breed of experts who will play active roles in realizing inclusive growth in Mindanao.

Thirty-three of the graduates are from the College of Law, while 204 completed the graduate school programs in Business and Governance, Arts, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Sciences.

“The academic feat you have achieved today comes at an interesting, if not exciting times in Mindanao. As we lay down the foundations of lasting peace, we also take advantage of the increasing interest for Mindanao’s progress and transformation,” added Antonino.

In 2010, MinDA led the formulation of the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan, a document that lays down all the specific programs, projects, and strategies necessary to achieve the envisioned development for Mindanao.

“No less than the Aquino government subscribes to the thesis that the pursuit of dynamic growth and sustainable peace in Mindanao is a major endeavor

that can be best defined and pursued by Mindanawons themselves,” she said.

One of the long-term strategies identified in Mindanao 2020 is the power development strategy and policy, which pushes for the diversification of energy sources with emphasis on renewable energy. ADDU is among the Mindanao universities that are contributing significantly to this power agenda.

“I am glad to note that your university takes the renewable energy agenda more seriously, and actually implementing it by installing solar power technology right on top of this building,” Antonino commended.

She further challenged the rest of the graduates to be involved in creating the renewable power rush in order to maintain the desired 50-50 mix of power sources in the next 20 years.

“Sufficient power supply is crucial for Mindanao to move forward,” she added.

Reliable power supply is also underscored in the Mindanao Development Corridors program, along with accessible financing, improved infrastructure and connectivity, and good governance.

The development corridors program aims to strengthen Mindanao’s local supply chain and effectively link production centers to export gateways.


DASURECO implements no power outage in Davao del Sur

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – The Davao del Sur Electric Coopera-tive (DASURECO) has announced Wednesday that it has not imple-mented rotational power interrup-tion amidst the power crisis situa-tion in Mindanao. In its Power Forum with the media on May 7, DASURECO has assured that it has sufficient power supply as of the moment to provide for its over a hundred thousand customers from the provinces of Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental. DASURECO’s Institutional Services Department head Ferdinand Canastra said the present power supply is a little more than enough to meet the demand of 40 megawatts for the two provinces. The said provinces are among those areas that were able to mitigate the impact of power supply

deficiency attributed to low water levels during summer time and the forced outage of the STEAG Coal-Fired Power Plant which caused long rotational brownouts across Mindanao. With good forecasting early last year based on data and outage experiences during summer time since 2010, Canastra said the electric cooperative’s management and board of directors were able to address the previous energy deficiency pegged at 12-13MW. One of the short term solutions was entering into a power supply agreement (PSA) with Alsons Energy Development Corporation in December last year for the rental of diesel-fueled modular generator sets with a capacity of 15MW until 2016. “We just make sure that the

by Carina Cayon


generator is operated only during peak hours or when necessary, and not in full capacity,” Canastra stated as one of their maintenance efforts. In March this year, DASURECO has effected its contract with Hedcor, Inc. that provides a capacity of 7MW from its hydro power plant based in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Canastra said their other sources of power supply are the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM Corp) and the Therma Marine Inc., contracted at 12MW capacity each. He said PSALM has reduced its allocation to 6-8MW since the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has issued the advisory of critical power situation in Mindanao early this year. “Despite the decrease from PSALM, our new load capacity (from the generator and Hedcor) still suffice to address the deficiency,” he added.However, the DASURECO official explained the other underlying effect of utilizing the 15MW generator set and contracting with the private power company, which points to the rate impact. “Convenience has its cost,” Canastra stated as he added that their customers must be prepared for an increase in their bill starting

next month, though he added that the hike is minimal. He disclosed a rate impact pegged at P1.17 per kilowatt hour. “This is why we are intensifying our information dissemination to explain to our members about this development,” Canastra said, adding that they have tapped the local radio stations in Digos City and towns of Bansalan and Malita as venue for the information drive. DASURECO also utilized district fora and conventions not only to enlighten the consumers about the power situation, but also to encourage them to conserve energy in the workplace and at homes. Though the electric cooperative is not implementing rotational brownout at present, Canastra said they could not give assurance as to when this would last. “We could not be sure and avoid any defects from the power plants of our providers,” he said. DASURECO is serving 337 barangays from 14 municipalities and Digos City of Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, with around 106,000 members and 126,000 household connections. This includes Sarangani town, an island municipality and the last frontier of Davao Occidental. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)


Davao City Police Office sees a spike in theft due to brownouts

DAVAO CITY- The local police has projected a twenty percent in-crease in the crime against prop-erty in the city due to the long-ro-tating power outages. Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao, director of the Davao City Police Office said the rotating brownouts make many areas in the city vulnerable to theft and robbery especially at night. He urged the residents to be very vigilant once the brownout occurs and pitch black darkness follows. Danao assured that police visibility is more enhanced in crime-prone areas of the city especially at night. “Crime against property nowadays is rampant anywhere not

only in the city due to the reason that many are economically hard up. Many people were affected by typhoons Pablo and Yolanda and the latest fire that hit Isla Verde. Many of the victims do not have jobs. I am not blaming them but this could be one of the factors,” he said. Danao said that he himself is roaming around to monitor the peace and condition of the city especially

during brownouts. He attributed the latest crime incidents that happened in the city to total darkness. “There is an increase in crime against property especially after the longer brownouts are imposed especially at night. Lawless elements exploit the darkness to commit offense,” Danao said. He said an increase in crime incidents was observed last quarter of 2013, and then a slowing down in the first quarter of 2014. Danao said a spike was again noticed once the series of brownouts was compelled in the city. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)


regional gallery

Communication Officers of the Davao del Norte, members of the As-sociation of Information Officers in Davao del Norte (A-ION) in a photo-op. (photo by Jeanevive Abangan)


Eastern Petroleum to invest P4.190-B biomass plant in Agusan Norte By Venus L. GarciaBUTUAN CITY - Eastern Petroleum Corporation, a Philippine-based company that provides world-class and environment-friendly energy through its subsidiary Caraga Renewable Energy Power Corporation (CARE Corp.), will soon build a 23.5MW module of a planned 47MW wood-based Biomass Generated Power Plant amounting a total investment at P4.190 billion in a 20-hectare area in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.


As revealed during the Biomass Power Generation and Short Rotation Tree Plantations Forum on Wednesday, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the project stands at around P2.931 billion which includes the electro-mechanical, civil and site works, 69kV TX line and capacity injection SS. Other project cost is at around P1.258 billion which covers capitalized interests and financial fees, professional fees, construction all risk insurance, equipment taxes/duties, start-up costs, land, proponents costs and contingency equity.

Caraga region, being known to be the wood and timber corridor of the Philippines, has been transformed into commercial tree farms and providing sustainable source of wood and timber materials though a successful tree farming program started in the area about twenty years ago. As such, the abundance of these kind of resources suggests a viable source of renewable energy.

“The tree farms are currently owned by a combination of local landowners and indigenous peoples who took participation in forest management programs of the g o v e r n m e n t , in efforts to

institutionalize the replenishment of forest covers of the region,” said Fernando Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of Eastern Petroleum Group.

Martinez explained that about

10,000 hectares shall be initially converted into an Integrated Tree Plantation (ITP) as long-term fuel resource base. He added that the 23.5MW plant will require about 200,000 to 250,000 green tons per year of biomass feedstock. The captive fuel resource base covered by the initial ITP program is at least 10,000 hectares capable to sustain at least 2 x 23.5MW power generation units.

In addition, available wood waste product around Caraga such as saw dust and trimmings have substantial availability across the area.

According to Martinez, the officially termed BioPower is one of the safest energy producing technologies and is cleaner and more manageable.


The project shall use a well-established and matured technologies for a broiler and steam turbine and associated auxiliaries from the United States (US). It specifically intends to use the Wellons Boiler Technology from Vancouver, Washington.

Dave Butler, representing Wellons Energy Solutions in Portland, Oregon, USA expressed his support to the said project which shall utilize wood chips as primary fuel, to be sourced from the vast forest residues and commercial tree farms of the provinces composing Caraga region.

Recent developments showed that as of April 2014, the company has finished the site assessment and technical feasibility studies for the project. It has also finished the site survey; topographic map, water resource and fuel resource study; and bankable feasibility study which is ready for presentation to financial institutions. Caraga Power has also acquired through its sister company the 15-hectare project

site which is part of the 100-hectare industrial and commercial estate in the town of Buenavista along the national road.

Martinez assured that the project shall be compliant to the renewable energy laws on registration, qualification, permitting and regulatory requirements and to the Philippine Grid Code as well. He also said that the approved tariff rate for electricity from biomass fired power generation facility is P6.63 per kWh.

“By proliferating BioPower projects, we hope to multiply commercial and industrial hubs to create more opportunities for people but with reduced cost of energy. That is part of the core mission that we are looking into,” remarked Martinez.

It was mentioned that the projected commercial operation period of the plant is 25 years. Start of EPC is by 2014 and commercial operation by 2017. The estimated manpower for the plant is at 81 employees.


AgSur vice gov to discuss leadership with PRC stakeholders BUTUAN CITY-- Some 36 stakeholders of the Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Sur Chapter (PRC-AdS) will benefit the training on leadership to be discussed by Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. in time with the celebration of the World Red Cross Red Crescent Day on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

The stakeholders/participants who will participate in the discussion are composed of Chapter Base Volunteers, Red Cross Action Team members, Barangay Captains from project areas of Bunawan and Esperanza and the Red Cross 143 Presidents and Coordinators with Maternal Neonatal and Child Health coordinators and partners for resilient projects and the PRC Agusan del Sur Chapter Board Members.

According to PRC-AdS Chapter Administrator Darwina Ligan, the May 8 celebration will be celebrated by 188 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies worldwide, including the Philippine Red Cross, being the birth date of Henry Dunant, father of the

Red Cross who was born on May 8, 1828.

The PRC-AdS will also take the opportunity to give awards and recognition to members and volunteers who have one way or another, shared their spirit of volunteerism with the PRC-AdS in times of disasters and calamities, including those who have spent restless days and nights at the hard hit by typhoon “Yolanda” in Samar and Leyte.

Games and amusements will also take place in the afternoon after the formal discussion and awarding to keep the bonding of the Red Cross volunteers burning for another challenge that may come.

By Brian Jay Ceballos

Agnor solon welcomes Agriculture department ‘clean up’ QUEZON CITY-- Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence ”Law” Fortun has welcomed the move of President Benigno S. Aquino III in ‘cleaning-up’ the Department of Agriculture (DA) “which has been wracked by charges of corruption and cronyism under Secretary Proceso Alcala.”

By LAWig


Reacting to the appointment of former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization with specific instructions to do some serious “house cleaning” of the agency, Fortun said that this move of the President will be a big boost to the administration’s thrust of seriously combating corruption in the government.

With the appointment of Pangilinan, he will take over the supervision of the National Food Authority (NFA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

(FPA). The said agencies have been hounded by various corruption scandals over the past years.

Fortun said that he is hopeful that this will address the problem of corruption and poor performance of these agencies, especially NIA which he assailed in a privilege speech before members of the House of Representatives. The solon lambasted the said agency for the unfinished projects in his district but was reported to be completed. It is expected that upon resumption of the session of the House, a full-blown investigation will be conducted by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

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


GenSan gets soils lab from DAGENERAL SANTOS CITY - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera accepts the turnover of the completed General Santos City Soils Laboratory project by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Wednes-day, May 7, at Sun City Suites during the 4th SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Plan Board Meeting. The soils laboratory located near the Lagao Public Market is an P8.5 million project proposed by Mayor Rivera and the City Agriculturist’s Office to the Department of Agriculture. This laboratory will be used in analyzing the quality and nutrient contents of the soil substrates in the city, which in turn would be significant in making GenSan as an agro-industrial hub of the region. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 9 -- Prolonged power outages in the service area of South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (Socoteco 1) have caused some delays in the continuing voter registration, an offi-cial of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here confirmed.

By: Danilo E. Doguiles

Brownouts hamper voter registration in S. Cotabato

Atty. Jay Gerada, provincial election supervisor, said in a radio interview that not all Comelec offices under his jurisdiction own generator sets that may be used during power outages.

Such situation, he said, has led municipal and city election officers to make adjustments with their schedules to accommodate more registrants before the scheduled power curtailment.

They also advised residents to take note of the schedule of brownout in the area where their Comelec office is situated and to come for transactions in times outside of power interruption schedule.

Every morning, Socoteco 1 which serves most areas of South Cotabato posts power advisory on its Faceboook Account, Socoteco 1 Koronadal. This power advisory identifies the areas that would experience rotational brownout at certain times of the day.

The same advisory is also sent via

text messages to consumers who have enrolled in the cooperative’s SMS system.

“At present, the effect of rotational brownout to the voter registration is minimal, considering that we still have about 385 days to conduct voter registration,” Gerada observed.

“Despite the brownouts, if every day there are people who would come to Comelec offices for registration we will achieve the target voter registrants,” he added.

He, however, appealed for understanding among registrants who may have to wait longer to complete their registration, considering that a Comelec office usually has only one data capturing machine, which is also dependent on electric power for its operations.

Started on Tuesday, the present voter registration will continue until October 31, 2015.

It covers registration of new


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The local government unit of the City of Koronadal has remained resolute in its efforts to revive the city’s forest cover and provide livelihood to farmers whose farms have been idle through the its local greening initiative.

voters, reactivation of registration for those who were deactivated for failing to vote in the last two regular elections, transfer of registration from one place to another, and correction of entries of voter records.

Comelec offices are open from 8:00 am until 5:00 p.m., from Sunday to Thursday.

According to Republic Act 10367, otherwise known as the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013, voters who fail to submit for validation prior to the May 2016 elections shall be deactivated from the voters’ list and shall not be allowed to vote

On Wednesday, the entire coverage area of Socoteco 1 experienced total blackout from 12:33 p.m. until 2:38 p.m. when the 69kV sub- transmission line tripped with a pole of Line 2 in Barangay Bukay Pait in nearby Tantangan town.

Besides this, the cooperative also implemented two sets of two-hour power curtailment in its coverage area.

Socoteco 1 General Manager Santiago Tudio reasoned that the current power interruption is due to the massive deficiency of power supply in the Mindanao grid due to the repair of 210-megawatt STEAG coal-fired power plants and the reduced capability of the Agus and Pulangi 4 hydropower plants.

As of 6:00 a.m. today, power deficiency in the Mindanao grid was at 354 MW, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Since Monday, Socoteco 1 has placed the 12 MW modular generator set it rented from the Mapalad Power Corporation on 24/7 operation. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

Koronadal City eyes 1M trees for 4th Tree Growing FestivalBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

For the fourth year of implementation of the Tree Growing Festival, the city government led

by Mayor Peter aims to plant at least 1 million trees with the help of city government and regional


government employees, students, civic groups, business establishments and other stakeholders.

However, unlike in the first three festivals, this year’s tree-growing activity will not be a single day event set on June 29 but will be carried out in several phases that would last until the end of the year.

“Our challenge is to achieve 99% survival rate and in order to meet our target, we will be planting by phase,” Mayor Miguel said.

“Part of the 1 million trees will be planted on June 29 and some in October during the charter anniversary,” he explained. “We won’t stop planting until December of this year.”

Also this year, the city LGU will also bring into focus greening of highways, streets, and roadsides within the urban center.

“We will create a forest or a garden within the city,” he said in several occasions, emphasizing his visions for a green makeover of the administrative seat of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

This, he elaborated, would entail planting of an array of shrubs and ornamental plants that would help beautify the entire city, provide shades during hot seasons, and boosts its advocacy as an environment-friendly city.

However, planting of trees for reforestation remains the primary objective of the tree-growing festival, he assured.

Tree planting activities will continue in upland barangays located in Roxas and Quezon mountain ranges surrounding the city.

Direct beneficiaries are indigent upland farmers holding Certificate of Stewardship Contracts (CSC) under the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) and the Community-Based Forestry Management (CBFM) programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) devolved to the City Government of Koronadal in 1991.

Those tilling timberlands and alienable and disposable (A&D) lands, as well as private landowners are also among the key beneficiaries.

For this purpose, the city LGU through the City Environment and Natural Office has beefed up efforts to establish nurseries where planting materials are reared. The same facility has recently been the source of over 5,000 coconut seedlings donated to victims of typhoon Yolanda in Sta. Fe, Leyte, the city government adopted municipality, as well as neighboring town of Carigara.

Meanwhile, city environment officer Augustus Bretaña confirmed that they have already started scouting for possible planting sites and estimating the number seedlings needed in each site.

Bretaña, in a radio interview yesterday that they have even planned out strategies for the likely effects of El Niño phenomenon that may affect the country beginning June this year.

“We may prioritize planting of areas where the effects of El Niño won’t be too severe as well as places where we are assured that landowners could take care,” he said.

Koronadal City’s Tree Growing


ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat—As part of its mandate to deliverbasic services to its residents, the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat through its medi-cal team has recently conducted an outreach program to the villages of Lebak and Senator Ninoy Aquino.

Festival: A Green Economy was launched in 2011 as a major priority of Mayor Miguel under the Masaganang Kalikasan Program. It is scheduled every June 29, which in the past three years was declared a special non-working holiday.

At the launching in 2011, the city

government and its partners planted 131,028 forest and fruit trees in over 522 hectares. The following year, some 318,373 trees were planted.

Last year, the city government targeted 500,000 trees. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

Medical, dental mission reaches Lebak, Senator Ninoy Aquino townsBy: Shahana Joy E. Duerme

The team was headed by provincial health officer Dr. Rex Archangel Lamprea; service providers included troops of the Marine Brigade Landing Team 8.

Lamprea reported that the medical and dental outreach in Lebak municipality covered residents of Barangays Barurao 1, Taguisa, Poloy-poloy, Kalomongog, and Barangay Poblacion 1.

“We held dental and medical check-up, blood typing and pregnancy testing as well as minor operations and circumcision. Apart from these, we distributed medicines and for social services, we also conducted feeding program and free haircut,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) led an information and education campaign and handed out vegetable seeds.

Barangay chairman Isaoro Mendoza of Barangay Barurao 1 in behalf

of other village leaders extended appreciation for the assistance given by the provincial government.

Lamprea further said that the outreach in Senator Ninoy Aquino (SNA) town was a response to the rumored virus outbreak after several residents of Barangay Tinalon died supposedly after eating dead horse’s meat. Similar services delivered in Lebak were conducted in SNA.

“The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian also collaborated with us and gave free medicines and vitamins to the residents’ horses,” Lamprea said.

In his message, Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, emphasized that the provincial government will continue to deliver basic services especially on health to promote the welfare of the people. (SJDuerme-PIA12/DDVLeono-SK/PPDO)


Impacts of El Niño to be felt from October to April 2015by Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (DOST-PAGASA) says impact of El Niño will be felt in October up to April of next year.


DAR conducts nationwide gov’t procurement reform act confabby Florence A. Ramos

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted a seminar cum workshop on the Government Procurement Reform Act for its provincial bids and awards committees (BAC) nationwide, April 21-25.

DAR 10 played host for Visayas and Mindanao participants while the same is also conducted simultaneously in Luzon. The seminar workshop was held to enable the participants gain a deeper understanding and knowledge on RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

It is important for us to have thorough knowledge on this because ignorance of the law excuses no one. When we commit a mistake, we can’t just say ‘I’m sorry; I have no knowledge about it, said assistant regional director of DAR Region 4B Prescilla Ong who was one of the resource persons.

Anianita Fortich of DOST-PAGASA Mindanao during the Bukidnon Disaster Risk Reduction Management Summit said that farmers can still continue with their activities right now. She said that although El Niño will affect our country, it is not immediate. She said that despite the heat, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan and high pressure will still cause rainfalls to Mindanao especially from November to March of next year. It starts over in Siberia where February will be the coldest. She said this is the effect of meeting of cold and warm air which is usually called the Tail End of the Cold

Front. Meanwhile, when winds converge, clouds form called Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This could effect to Low Pressure Area or a Tropical Cyclone. In the western portion of the country, rainy season will take effect from July to September caused by Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. She adds that due to climate change, change of pressure and change of wind pattern, typhoons like that of ‘Yolanda’ which only happens once in 15 years could now happen once in three years.


6th RAFI Triennial Awards nomination caravan goes to XUby Stephen J. Pedroza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Do you know anyone from your community who is worthy to be called a hero?

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), in collaboration with Xavier Science Foundation (XSF), has brought the search for the next RAFI Triennial Awardees to Cagayan de Oro City and the rest of Northern Mindanao. A forum held at AV8 of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan on May 2 drew together representatives from various non-government organizations (NGOs), government offices, business sector, civic and people’s organizations for the call for nominations of deserving Filipinos who work to uplift the lives of the poor and the marginalized. RAFI extended the nomination

until May 31 this year to gather a varied set of candidates in this part of the country. “The spirit of this award is to recognize the people who are making change in their communities behind the limelight,” said Roel R. Ravanera, executive director of XSF, the partner institution of RAFI serving as a focal organization in Mindanao. RAFI, a Cebu-based organization, confers the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual to a commendable person (at least 30 years old) who has poured in selfless efforts and dedication to be a catalyst of change in the lives of the less-privileged in the Visayas and

DAR legal consultant Atty. Art Tantuan meanwhile stressed that consideration to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) should be given importance. He likewise urged BAC members to check the web for non-policy opinions emailed by different procuring entities to the government procurement policy board (GPPB).

These, according to Tantuan, are very instructive and address specific issues in the course of procurement. As part of the workshop session, the participants were tasked to refine their Calendar Year 2014 annual procurement plan (APP) as well as to prepare actual documents for bidding procedures.


Mindanao. “This country has a lot of heroes who are making a difference in the grassroots communities and that is something to be proud of,” said Dr. Jocelyn B. Gerra, executive director of RAFI- Culture and Heritage. “You can nominate those who really work underground, who are inspiring others and who are our role models.” Meanwhile, the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for the Outstanding Institution honors an organization which has been in existence for at least three years, has an unstained track record and demonstrated integrity, leadership and compassion in its service to the society. “The nominees don’t necessary have to have an educational degree. We accept stories from all walks of life, stories of passion and love in developing the lives of fellow Filipinos,” Dr. Gerra shared, relating the story of the 5th Ramon Aboitiz Awardee for Exemplary Individual, Rene “Tatay Ete” Vendiola who didn’t finish high school but was able to push his environmental advocacies and to build his own forest in Negros Oriental. Before coming up with a shortlist of nominees, the search committee of RAFI composed of representatives from the academe, media, business chambers and NGOs will conduct an intensive screening process through paper and people trails to validate the candidates’ credentials. “The screening process usually takes eight months to more than a year because we check their accomplishments intensively. There

will be interviews from time to time and we will go to their communities,” Gerra said. Nominations can still be made even after the deadline. However these will only be included in the next awarding season (in the 7th). Self-nomination is not allowed. There will be five finalists and a grand winner for each category. Aside from the trophy and the cash prize (nearly half a million pesos), the winners will be given the opportunity to travel across the Visayas and Mindanao to impart their achievements and challenges in their respective fields. The award-giving body was established on December 6, 1996 during the 30thanniversary of RAFI as a tribute to the philanthropic feats of its founders Don Ramon Aboitiz and his son Don Eduardo Aboitiz. You can download the nomination form here:http://www.rafi.org.ph/event/nomination-form/ For Mindanao nominations, submit accomplished forms to Xavier Science Foundation, Inc., Manresa Complex, Fr Masterson Avenue, Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City or send them electronically to [email protected].

One Mindanao - May 9, 2014

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Transcript of One Mindanao - May 9, 2014