One Mindanao - November 17, 2011

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0908-8843404E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.com Facebook: PIA Region-IX

Northern Mindanao

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

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

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

Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN)

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

Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga)

Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Bldg.,J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285 / 360-1239Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phBlogspot: www.piacaraga.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESIN MINDANAO

OUR COVER

featuresthe

Blogfest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0

Executive Editor ……......... EFREN F. ELBANBUENA Cluster Head, Southern, Western and Central Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Region XI

Managing Editor ……......... ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region

Associate Editors ……....... NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

Regional Desk Editors …... Jocelyn P. Alvarez, PIA Region IX Elaine O. Ratunil, PIA Region X Rudolph Ian G. Alama, PIA Region XI Danny E. Doguiles, PIA Region XII Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora CL Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Copy Editor ……………….. Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……………... Gerie Mae G. Coco, PIA Caraga Region Richard D. Atillo, PIA Caraga Region

Editorial Advisers ……….... ATTY. JOSE A. FABIA Director-General Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMA PresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

An Electronic News Magazineof the Phliippine Information Agency

Mindanao Clusters

EDITORIAL BOARD

In ThisIssue...

Thursday, Vol. 1 No. 95

Cover StoryCover StoryBloggers to convene in Gensan

15 80 war-weary NPA rebels, militia fighters surrender in Bukidnon

WESTERN MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

CENTRAL MINDANAO

CARAGA REGION

GSIS moves to facilitate fast implementation of GSIS-LandBank partnership

BPO part of all-inclusive growth strategy

Campaign against illegal drugs in Cotabato City gaining grounds

Governor commends environment officials for seizure of copper ore in Tampakan

Gov. Matugas to request for increased military visibility in Surigao del Norte

Philippine Trade Unions Walk the “Green” Talk

WESCOM joins celebration of PPUR’s triumph

12,147 potential 4Ps beneficiaries to register on Nov. 21-24 in Pagadian

Ian G. Miculob, PIA-Caraga

Fryan Abkilan, PIA-Caraga

JPA/6CRGAFP/RVC, PIA Region IX

JPA/GCC, PIA Region IX

Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy, PIA Region X

Apipa Bagumbaran, PIA Region X

RG Alama, PIA Region XI

Perlita B. Changco, PIA Region XII

Dani Doguiles , PIA Region XII

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page 18

page 21

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page 30

by Pops Gumana-Fruylan

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Aquino set to bring up dispute over West Philippine Sea in 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali ...............................

09BT Talong safe for human consumption .............................. 12

4 Thursday, November 17, 2011ONE MINDANAO

Bloggers to convene in Gensan

Cover Story

by Pops Gumana-Fruylan

Hundreds of bloggers and social media enthusiasts all over Mindanao are expected to flock the city on November 26 (Saturday) for the “BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0,” known as the largest

gathering of online writers in Southern Philippines.

5Thursday, November 17, 2011 ONE MINDANAO

Bloggers to convene in Gensan City Media Affairs Officer, Avel Manansala, who is spearheading this event, said this is the second time it will be conducted in the Tuna Capital after its unexpected success last year. “It was originally a small gathering of blogger friends in Gensan, but eventually turned out into the largest eyeball of online writers in South Central Mindanao which netted over 120 participants from as far as the cities of Davao, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Zamboanga,” he disclosed. Manansala is the concurrent head of SOCCSKSARGEN blog-gers or “sox bloggers,” an infor-mal grouping of 75 online writ-ers from all over South Central Mindanao who share a common vision of promoting SOCCSK-

SARGEN to the world. “We want to change the neg-ative perception of people about Mindanao; we want the people to view Mindanao in a different perspective like festivals, foods, business, and tourism,” he said. SOCCSKSARGEN stands for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0 aims to update participants on the current trends on the Phil-ippine internet with the theme: “Emergence of Blogs and Social Media.” “The audiences will be equipped with knowledge on how blogs or social media can be utilized for social change, busi-ness, and in forming opinions about a certain issue or event,” he explained. Meanwhile, Manansala re-vealed that the participants should expect “nothing less” as organizers have invited the “in-ternet stalwarts and online me-dia specialists” in the country to share their knowledge on spe-cific topics revolving around the central theme. The speakers include: Jack


M a -drid, the Country Manager

of Multiply Philippines; Usec. Manolo Quezon III of the Presi-dential Communications Devel-opment and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO); Mindanao-based American Internet entre-preneur, Bob Martin; Top Tech Blogger Abe Olandres of Yugat-ech.com; Advocate Blogger Flow Galindez of the World Food Pro-gramme; and News Anchor/Pro-ducer Raffy Tima of GMA News and Public Affairs. Another most anticipated speaker is TV Commercial Direc-tor, actress and video blogger, Mae Paner or popularly known as “Juana Change,” according to blogger Alexis Chua. “Mae is behind the series

of videos that aims to be a critic of the Philippine hap-penings in a fun, but smart way. She portrays different characters to show Filipinos about the relevant issues in Philippine politics and government,” Chua posted at Blogfestsox.com, the of-ficial website of the event. Moreover, Mayor Dar-lene Antonino-Custodio will also talk on “Harness-ing the Power of Blogs:

The GenSan LGU Experience,” where she is expected to tack-le the SHEEP Computer Literacy Program of the city government. “We envision Blogfest Soc-csksargen to serve not only as a yearly grand eyeball for bloggers and online writers/publishers in Mindanao, but as a convention where their skills and knowledge on what they do are further en-hanced,” Manansala disclosed. BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0 is sponsored by DOLE Phil-ippines, Smart Communications Inc, Saggitarius Mines Inc. and AirPhil Express in collaboration with Circle of Arts Production, Gensantos.com, and GandaEver-Somuch.com.



Aquino off to Bali, Indonesia for 19th ASEAN Summit

President Benigno S. Aquino III left the Philippines Thursday morning to join other Heads of State for the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bali, Indonesia from November 17 to 19.


The President’s chartered jet left the tarmac of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at the Villamor Airbase in Parañaque City at around 8 a.m. In hs pre-departure speech, the President cited the importance of the regional bloc, estab-lished in 1967, aimed at the “creation of a cohe-sive, peaceful, stable and resilient region”. “Lilinangin pa po natin sa pulong na ito ang mayaman nang ugnayan ng mga ban-sa sa rehiyon; at sa-ma-samang tutugunan

ang mga problemang kinakaharap natin sa kasalukuyan,” the Pres-ident said. Among the issues that will be discussed during the Summit, the President said, in-clude “migrant workers, trafficking in persons, maritime defense, and peace and security.” He added that the Summit would also pro-vide a venue to further strengthen ties between dialogue partners “Chi-na, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, and Ameri-ca.” “Susulitin natin ang

mga oportunidad na ito upang plantsahin ang anumang gusot sa ating mga bansa, at upang patatagin pa ang ating samah-an,” the President said. “Sa pakikipag-pulong natin sa ka-nila, paiigtingin po na-tin ang pagtutulungan natin sa larangan ng maritime security, di-saster management, pagsugpo ng mga krimen at terorismo, pangangalaga sa ka-likasan at pakikipag-kalakal,” he added.(RCK)

Aquino set to bring up dispute over West Philippine Sea in 19th ASEAN Summit in BaliPresident Benigno S. Aquino III will be discussing the issue of

dispute in the West Philippine Sea and the steps on further strengthening the long-standing economic and defense relations between the Philippines and the United States

during his meeting with United States President Barrack Obama, here.

In a press briefing at the Courtyard Mari-ott Bali Nusa Dua Hotel, here on Wednesday, Presidential Communi-cations Development and Strategic Planning

Office Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said that the United States has been exerting ef-forts to re-engage itself with the countries in the Asia Pacific region,

including the Philippines, which they consider as im-p o r -tant


partners in economic and political develop-ment. “I think what’s very clear is that the United States wants to re-engage itself in the Asia Pacific region, especially now that they’re winding down their commit-ments to oth-er parts of the world.

The Asia Pacific

r e -

gion has become much more important to them economically and po-litically. And what we’re seeing are manifesta-tions of that increased importance that Asia Pa-cific, including the Phil-ippines, is taking and I am sure the discussions between the two lead-ers will hew to that gen-eral theme,” Carandang said. “As you know there are economic and secu-rity ties that we have longstanding with the Americans which cer-

tainly will be discussed,” he added. When asked if the Philippines will seek se-curity assistance from the United States re-garding the dispute in the West Philippine Sea, Carandang said that the government has been considering the action. “I think we’ve been doing what we can al-ready with the West Philippines Sea issue and the American pres-ence here, and the fact that they agree with our position is something that we find helpful,” Carandang noted. He added that the government welcomes any assistance from the US, specifically in in-creasing the maritime defense capabilities of the country to cope with its neighboring nations in the region. “Strengthened de-fense ties with the US, I think, in general will help build our defense capabilities. We have to play catch up with our ASEAN neighbors. You can see the naval capa-bilities of many of our


ASEAN neighbors have exceeded ours and we really need to do some catching up as far as capability is concerned to the extent that the Americans can help us there and that’s always welcome,” Carandang said. He said that the involvement of the US in the discussions con-cerning the claims dis-pute in the West Philip-pine Sea would help in the formulation of pos-sible solutions to the issue. “In as much as we think that it’s a sta-

bilizing force to have many different players involved in the South China Sea issue or the West Philippine Sea is-sue. The more players there are, the more voices there are, I think will lend to more sta-bility in the region with regard to dealing with this issue,” Carandang said. The bilateral talk between President Aquino and President Obama is scheduled on Friday as part of the 19th Asean Summit and Related Summits. Also attending

the event are the heads of state of Asean’s dialogue partners that in-clude Chinese Pre-mier Wen Jiabao, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard,Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and United Nations Sec-retary Gen-eral Ban-K i -moon, a m o n g others . (JCL)


In today’s Talk-ing Points radio pro-gram, Director Can-dida Adalla of DA Biotech PIU said that

at present farmers are dependent on the use of pesticides for growing eggplants to ensure quality yields,

and to protect their crops from shoot bor-er worms. Thus, she said, eggplants sold in the

BT Talong safe for human consumptionby Precie Catherine C. Cuarto

QUEZON CITY -- An official from the Biotech Program Implementation Unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA Biotech PIU) assured the public that the genetically-modified eggplant also called “Bt Talong” is non-toxic, allaying fears that this may be unsuitable for human consumption.


market today may have pesticide residue as farmers dip egg-plant on pesticides. This pushed the DA Biotech PIU to conduct a laborato-ry experiment on the eggplant, with an end view of producing safe, weather-resilient, and pest-resistant food product.“To start with, we are one of the countries in the Southeast Asia that have very sys-tematic process. The Department of Agri-culture began with a legal basis on how to carry out technology development, adap-tion, as well as com-mercialization,” said Adalla. She also said that an interagency com-mittee on bio-safety composed of the DA, Department of Sci-ence and Technology, Department of Health, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources do assess and certify the process of genetic en-

gineering. Further, she clari-fied that the BT egg-plant has a BT toxin which is a “normal” component of the Phil-ippine soil. Bacillus thuringi-ensis (BT) is a soil bac-terium injected into the genes of plants to protect them from shoot borer worms. “We are already associated with it (BT toxin). We simply got a gene from it and transferred it (to the eggplant) to make the eggplant resistant to pests,” said Adalla, who is also an ento-mologist. She said the ge-net i ca l l y-mod i f i ed (GM) eggplant has the “very same appear-ance, taste, and chem-ical composition as the normal eggplant.” “The only differ-ence is the protein called Cry1Ab. This protein had been stud-ied over long periods of time that it’s not toxic to humans because it becomes deactivated

in acidic environment,” said Adalla. In the cooking process, chemical re-actions take place to denature the BT pro-tein in the eggplant before it is even eat-en. “If it (BT protein) enters the stomach even in its original state (raw), it would still be deactivated be-cause our stomach is very acidic,” she add-ed. Meanwhile, Adalla said the BT eggplant is already under “open-pollinated” field test-ing conducted by the University of the Phil-ippines Los Baños-In-stitute of Plant Breed-ing to produce public seeds that many small farmers can take ad-vantage of. The very first publicly developed GM product, as Adalla said, may be available in the market in the next two years after completion of field trial and other DA requirements.


5,000 attend the Cooperative Peace Forum 11.11.11 in Cag. de Oroby Elaine O. Ratunil

Some 5,000 leaders of cooperatives from all over the country converged at the Atrium, Lim Ket Kai Center, here, to collectively advance what they believe is every Filipino’s right to live in peace founded on social justice,

equity and sustainable development, last Nov. 11.

Thus, the cooperatives have declared affirmatively that they are up to the task of being not only as instruments of social justice and sustainable development but as vehicles for peace. Acting Executive Director

Orlando Ravanera of the Cooperative Development Authority, region 10 (CDA-10) said “Where there is social injustice, there will always be conflict, where there is hunger, peace will remain an illusion. The cooperatives are now standing as one to rectify


5,000 attend the Cooperative Peace Forum 11.11.11 in Cag. de Oro

social inequities through cooperativism founded on the collective spirit of the people.” He also said “Specifically, the Muslims, Lumads (Indigenous Peoples), small farmers, fisher folk – should be given the preferential use rights in developing their respective resources and that their cooperatives be accorded with the utmost priority in the use and management of such

resources, giving them the license, franchise and whatever privilege to handle key economic activities like planting industrial crops, sustainable mining, fishing, etc.” “This is based on the universal principle that the use of the God-given resources should accrue to the benefit of the bulk of the people and not just for a few,” Ravanera added.

80 war-weary NPA rebels, militia fighters surrender in Bukidnonby Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MARAMAG, Bukidnon – Growing weary and fed up of life on the run in the hinterlands, 80 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) decided to surrender to the government headed by Gov. Alex Calingasan, here.

The surrender took place inside the headquarters of the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB), 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division (403Bde), Philippine Army, in Poblacion, Maramag.

The rebel returnees composed of 70 males and 10 females were led by Bukidnon’s top rebel leader Benjamin Salusad alias “Kumander Nonong,” former Commanding Officer of the Provincial


Command (POC), Guerilla Front 6 (GF6) of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. In an interview, Salusad, 42, said he and his company were already fed up and exhausted from the senseless fight against the government. “After 18 years of leading a nomadic life, finally, we decided to voluntarily surrender because we realized that we will be stuck in a foxhole at war for life. We will be raising unschooled children,” Salusad woefully said. He bared his frustrations over the CPP-NPA’s deceptions and exploitations of issues related to social, cultural/tribal discrimination.“The CPP-NPA leaders’ claim of hope and good life, once you join the organization, is totally opposite,” the rebel leader badly said. “It really is a wasted opportunity for me and my wife to have joined the NPA when we could do better here with the government’s assistance,” he added. Col. Romeo L. Gapuz, 403Bde Commander, based in the province, said the group who surrendered a total of 25 high-powered firearms,

were composed of 31 regular combatants and 49 militias. “With this number of rebels, who just surrendered, about 25 percent of the GF6’s total strength and firepower was reduced and this will significantly weaken the enemies’ capability to conduct high impact offensives against the government troops,” Gapuz said. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, Commander, Eastern Mindanao Command, said the event was a triumph not only for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but for the whole Filipino nation, as well.


GSIS moves to facilitate fast implementation of GSIS-LandBank partnershipby Apipa BagumbaranCAGAYAN DE ORO, Misamis Oriental - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), in region 10, will provide prescribed template to government agencies to facilitate the implementation of the GSIS-Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) partnership. This was announced during the GSIS Consultative Meeting with Government Agencies held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of GSIS Regional Office Building in Carmen, this city, Nov. 15. Ma. Luz Ilano-Briones, GSIS Regional Manager, explained that the fastest way to entice active members to request the transfer of their UMID account from Union Bank to LandBank is through the assistance of their agency heads. “Thus, instead of requiring members to accomplish or submit their individual request form, we will be providing prescribed template to government agencies where the names and other information about the members in those agencies are inputted,” she said. The GSIS will provide the agency with a soft copy of the template, in rewriteable Compact Disk (CD), containing the names and other required information which can be extracted from the billing file. Likewise, the agency head or his representative will validate the accuracy of entries in the template, and in cases of errors and discrepancies, should coordinate with GSIS for the correction or updating of the template, she added. The validated template will then be submitted to GSIS to be supported by a memorandum, signed

by the Agency Head, and containing a statement requesting the transfer of the agency employees’ Unified Membership Identification (UMID) bank accounts from Union Bank to LandBank, the number of employees covered by the request, and the name of LandBank Branch where the employees’ UMID bank accounts shall be maintained. The GSIS has partnered with LandBank to allow its more than 1.4 million members to take advantage of the bank’s wide network coverage. With a LandBank UMID card, members can withdraw their loan proceeds and other benefits in any Expressnet, Bancnet or Megalink Automated Teller Machines (ATM), nationwide. It also serve as a debit card in more than 20,000 accredited merchants, nationwide, and as a discount card for GSIS corporate partners such as Pfizer and Systems Technology Institute (STI). The card is free with no maintaining balance required for members transferring to Landbank. Meanwhile, Briones reminded the agency heads and their representatives that the validated templates must be submitted to the GSIS Regional Office before November 30, 2011.


DTI ‘s Tindahang Pinoy a milestone for Davao Region’s tourism industry

The Department of Trade and Industry has considered Tin-

dahang Pinoy a milestone for the region’s tourism industry, being the first in the country to show-case world-class products which are Davao-made. DTI regional director Marizon Loreto said the establishment of the Tindahang Pinoy in Davao Region has become one of the significant achievements of the tourism sector this year. The Tindahang Pinoy branded as Davao Ecocrafts is a pasalubong center featuring the region’s authen-tic products with world-class, sus-tainable and green qualities ranging from processed foods, gift items and stationeries, fashion accessories, fur-nishings and home decors and furni-ture. Loreto reported that since the center’s launching in August this year, 12 exhibitors from the initial four are now displaying and selling their products at the center located

at the Aldevinco Shopping Center just across the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City. She disclosed that another three have recently signified to dis-play their crafts at the Davao Eco-crafts store which is being managed by the Davao Ecocrafts, Inc. She said Davao Ecocrafts head-ed by its president Mary Ann M. Montemayor, is very selective in ac-cepting high valued products which should be of world-class taste, sus-tainable and green or environment-friendly. According to Loreto, the store has already earned P162,000 from August to September. She said that the high-end products at the pasa-lubong center have “very reasonable prices” fit for their qualities for local and foreign tourists to afford. She said the establishment of the Product Procurement Ordering System project in hotels and resorts in the region has helped promote the Tindahang Pinoy which has been vis-ited by prominent people like social

by Carina Cayon


ite-philanthropist and columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdez. Davao Region’s tourism and trade stakeholders from the govern-ment and private sectors have put in place through a Memorandum of Agreement the ordering system in September this year aiming to as-sist tourists in purchasing pasalubong goods. The ordering system is also considered as a marketing tool that promotes One Town, One Product (OTOP) program and provides sup-port to small and medium enterprises boost their sales. In this project, hotels and re-sorts provide lists of Davao Region products for their guests to choose from. The hotels and resorts facili-tate the orders and delivery for the guests. According to Loreto, Tindahang Pinoy was a brainchild of DTI which identified Davao as one of the three pilot areas.

The next pasalubong center would be launched in Cebu slated in December this year, while the third center will be put in Clark next year yet, she said. Loreto also mentioned the plan of the City Tourism Office to put up another pasalubong center that will accommodate all Davao products. She said DTI will help in realizing this undertaking of the city. Among the displayed products at the Davao Ecocrafts are bags from the Crystal Seas; furniture designed by M. Tanoy; special papers and lampshades from the Tadeco Liveli-hood; shawls from the Tribes of the East; and signature tinalak barong by Alfonso Guinoo. The others are processed food, fashion accessories, furniture, fur-nishings and gift items from Gift Tags and Housewares; souvenir items from Great Gifts and Souvenirs and paint-ings by Bong Espinosa. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

did you know that...If the term largest is to be measured ac-cording to weight then the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) would be the larg-est eagle in the world with an average weight of 4.7 to 8 kilograms (Harpy Eagle 6 to 9 kgs)But if largest is measured in size then the Harpy Eagle is the world largest eagle measuring at an average of 89–105 cm long. (Philippine Eagle 86-102 cm long)


BPO part of all-inclusive growth strategy

DAVAO CITY- The country’ Busi-ness Process Outsourcing sector is eyed as a key part in President Aquino’s Philippine Development Plan strategy (PDP 2011-2016) which would involve all-inclusive growth. Secretary Cayetano Pad-eranga said that in previous economic growths some sectors of the society were left out. The plan echoes the coun-try’s goal of an inclusive growth anchored on President Aquino’s “Social Contract with the Filipino People.” Its overarching theme calls for “Good Governance and Anti-Corruption” with the fi-nal vision to “Achieve Inclusive Growth, Create Employment

Opportunities and Reduce Pov-erty.” During the PDP’s caravan pit-stop in Davao City, Paderan-ga bared that the country’s BPO sector could become the strat-egy in attaining the ideal growth It is fast-growing and is well-distributed, said Paderanga of the BPO sector. “it is wrong to think of BPOs as just call cen-ters.” Paderanga adds. He added the industries as having many layers like backroom opera-tions and graphics for which the country is among the top three in the world. Instead of being just con-centrated in Metro Manila, BPOs can now be found in sec-ondary Philippine cities like Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, even in big towns like Ro-sales in Pangasinan, BPOs are now thriving. As long as there are good schools are found in the area, you can find BPOs. Paderanga said. However certain levels of the population are also left out in the industry, particularly those in the rural areas hence it is imperative that these sec-tors will be empowered like getting them more access to good education. (PIA/RG Alama)


Sarangani rescuers training

ALABEL, Sarangani – Search and rescue

volunteers from all over Sarangani continue their

training at the Capitol building. The training

for this 9th batch of rescue volunteers

was facilitated by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Office. Eighteen trainees represented the seven

municipalities of the province. (Russel

Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)


Campaign against illegal drugs in Cotabato City gaining groundsby Perlita B. Changco

COTABATO CITY - Cotabato City Mayor Japal “Jojo”Guiani, Jr. lauds the relentless campaign of law enforcement authoritiesagainst the pro-liferation of illegal drugs in the city being initiated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind-anao (PDEA-ARMM).

Guiani defends the joint Philippine Ma-rines and PDEA agents buy-bust operations last Monday, Nov 14 at Barangay Poblacion 2, this city amid questions of legality of the raid that yielded 8 grams of shabu and the arrest of four (4) suspected drug pushers.

“It was a legitimate operations. Unfortunate-

ly a civilian was killed in the operation, which is being investigated. PDEA agents and Ma-rines were only doing their job,” Guiani said

The mayor said, he acknowledges the ag-gressive efforts of PDEA-ARMM in performing its mandate and vowed support to the intensi-fied campaign to ad-dress the problem and

elimate threats of il-legal drugs.

Accord-ing to PDEA-ARMM region-al director Edwin Layese the buy-bust operations was conduct-

ed after weeks of sur-veillance on the rampant illegal drug activities in the area.

The raiding team, Layese said, was fired upon as they enter the target site prompting exchange of fires be-tween the enforcers and suspected drug pushers resulting in the killing of one civilian during the buy-bust operations.

As this developed, Mayor Guiani said, he is calling the village of-ficials to monitor and identify drug-related areas of concern in their respective barangays while investigation on the Poblacion 2 inci-dent is underway. (PIA Cotabato City)


Campaign against illegal drugs in Cotabato City gaining grounds

Governor commends environment officials for seizure of copper ore in Tampakanby Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY -- South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. laud-ed environment personnel of the province for seizing illegally ex-tracted raw copper ore in Tampakan town on Tuesday.

“I commend the management of the Pro-vincial Environment and Management Office led by Engr. Siegfred Flavi-ano, as well as MENRO (Eileen Estrada)of Tam-pakan for successfully apprehending the il-legally extracted ore.”

Pingoy said. Personnel of Munici-

pal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Tampakan under order by Estrada confiscated some 200 bags of raw copper ore stored in Barangay Lib-erty, Tampakan.

Estrada said, MENRO personnel found the ore after following a tip from a village chairman who reported the loca-tion of the stocked ore.

She did not disclose who extracted the con-fiscated raw ore.

Barangay Liberty is lo


cated within the proj-ect development site of the mining firm, Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI).

On Tuesday, the con-fiscated ore were trans-ported to the Provincial Environment and Man-agement Office in Kor-onadal City.

Although he praised the accomplishment of local environment offi-cials, Gov. Pingoy point-ed out that the incident only proves that illegal mining in the area has continued despite ef-forts of the provincial government and other authorities to curb il-legal mineral extraction in the copper and gold-rich mountains of Tam-pakan.

Last month, a com-posite team composed of members of PEMO, Philippine National Po-lice, local government unit and Philippine Army raided and dismantled banlas (sluice mining) operations in Barangay Pulabato and nearby vil-lages.

Gov. Pingoy said he directed officials of these villages to secure the areas and stop ille-gal mining operations in the area.

Pingoy has recently conferred with Depart-ment of the Interior and Local Government – 12 Regional Director Bua-gas Sulaik regarding the possibility of penaliz-ing village officials who would fail to enforce the law.

He said, Director Su-laik told him that the pro-vincial government has the right to file complaints against barangay officials who refuse to implement orders regarding the banlas operations.

All mineral extractions within the mountains of Tampakan are illegal. To date, no company or individual has been granted permits to mine in the area, according to Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Even SMI, which has rights over the mineral resources of the town, is only allowed to conduct exploration activities.

SMI plans to start actual production activ-ity in the project site in 2016 but has not been given permit to oper-ate by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of En-vironment and Natural Resources Bureau.

It is also blocked by the South Cotabato’s environment code which specifically bans open-pit method of mining, which SMI plans to implement in its min-eral extraction activity.


Nat’l Greening Program Summit set in Butuan

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by Jennifer P. Gaitano

A one-day National Greening Program (NGP) Summit will be held on November 23, 2011 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort in this city.


The event is be-ing organized by the Department of Envi-ronment and Natural Resources (DENR) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine Informa-tion Agency (PIA). According to DENR-Caraga Re-gional Executive Di-

rector Leonardo Sib-baluca, the said NGP summit aims to iden-tify advocates and build partnerships leading to a region-wide commitment and participation of various stakehold-ers in tree planting and long-term plan-tation stewards. “Along with

poverty reduction, resource conserva-tion and protection, productivity en-hancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation, the NGP is significantly given priority pur-suant to Execu-tive Order No. 26 of President Benigno S. Aquino III,” said Sibbaluca. Sibbaluca also called on the local officials and employ-ees of government to participate in all the activities related to this program to strengthen the pres-ervation and proper use of the country’s environmental and natural resources. For inquiries and clarification of this activity, the DENR can be reached at telephone numbers: (085) 342-7856; 341-3250; and cell-phone number 0910-340-5832. Look for Ms. Jholyvil Cocon.


Gov. Matugas to request for increased military visibility in Surigao del Norteby Ian G. Miculob

BUTUAN CITY -- Governor Matugas of Surigao del Norte reiterated the need for increased visibility of military personnel in some parts in Surigao del Norte, including Bad-as and Claver, following the attack and burning incident perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) at Taganito Mining Corporation in Claver, Surigao del Norte early this October.

` Talking with the media together with Cong. Philip A. Pichay, Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel and Di-rector Carmencita S. Cochingco of the Na-tional Economic and Development Author-ity (NEDA) during the

“Meet the Press” or-ganized by the Cara-ga Regional Tri-Media Practitioners Associa-tion, Inc. (CATRIPA), Governor Matugas said that she will dis-cuss with the CPP-CPA issues related to min-ing and the programs

they want that are not yet implemented. Governor Matu-gas is the present chairperson of the Re-gional Development Council (RDC), the highest policy-making body in the region. She was in Tandag City to preside over the October 18, 2011 69th RDC Full Council Meeting which pre-ceded the media blitz at Villa Maria Luisa Hotel. “Please help us convince them that what we are doing is for the people,” Su-rigao del Sur Johnny T. Pimentel said, asking the media’s help to ap-


peal to the CPP-NPA. Surigao del Sur also hosts several mining companies which are concentrated in the CANCARMADCARLAN area near Surigao del Norte. Governor Pimen-tel added that the people of Surigao del Sur can not remain fishers and farmers forever as there is al-ready another oppor-tunity for them. The mining industry alone has offered thousands

of jobs to the locals in the area. Cong re s sman Pichay, on the other hand, highlighted his support to an amend-ment in a law specifi-cally on mining firms being registered un-der the Board of In-vestments since pres-ently the government, including the local government units, is only getting less taxes from mining. When asked if the media can sit in

the RDC as member so information can reach the masses and for the media to play its role in peace and order, Director Coch-ingco explained that membership in the RDC is governed by an Executive Order. “The request, however, can be discussed in the De-velopment Committee of the RDC which can recommend non-vot-ing status for the me-dia,” she added. (NEDA-Caraga)

Philippine Trade Unions Walk the “Green” Talk by Fryan Abkilan

SURIGAO CITY -- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and Workers Development Foundation Inc. (WDFI) with support from the Japanese unions, together with 25 young trade union leaders from 17 local affiliated unions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, joined the country’ countdown to Rio+20 with a National Workshop on Green Jobs and Decent Work, held here recently.

“Our engagement in green programs start-ed with great optimism,” said Bro. Ernesto Her-rera, TUCP General Sec-

retary, recalling that in 2007 TUCP affiliates and members decided to carry out non-traditional (trade unions’) ambitious

sustainable development actions and activities. “We started with ambitious goals with a serious commitment for


action. Looking back from where and how our en-gagements began, how much we’ve learned, and what we have accom-plished to date, that green journey needs more ac-tion from trade unions,” pointed out Bro. Herrera. Together with rep-resentatives from the Climate Change Com-mission (CCC), regional offices (Region 10) of the Department of Labour and the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), the largest Japanese national cen-ter, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO), and the Japan International La-bour Foundation (JILAF), the program looked at government’s current programs and initiatives on green jobs and ap-preciated actual, on-the-ground experiences, ac-

tivities and green and greening programs of unions. “We are happy to see the extent of en-gagement, the variety of activities and of how far Philippine unions have gone in green jobs and decent work,” said Bro. Yoshiharu Sonezaki, As-

sistant Director, Social Policy Division, Depart-ment of Economics and Social Policy, JTUC-REN-GO.

Unions as major ac-tors of sustainability The participants put forward an urgent call for up-scaling current green-ing efforts, particularly providing more inclusive and sustainable avenues for unions’ participation in discussions, imple-mentation, monitoring and evaluation of green jobs programs, projects and activities. “Unions refuse to remain bystanders and will fully engage in this time of great environ-mental challenge. We will continue to participate, collaborate, contribute and make people, busi-nesses and communities

accountable for their (en-vironmental) actions,” noted the participants. Recognizing the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in ad-dressing local climate change concerns, the participants called upon the Climate Change Com-mission (CCC) to engage workers and their unions in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan. As initial commit-ments to the campaign, the participants commit-ted to partner with the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) and its regional boards (RTWPBs) in holding more enterprise-level green jobs advocacy ac-tivities, documenting unions’ green and green-ing practices and inclu-sions of green provisions in collective bargaining agreements. Participants were from major target sectors such as services, tele-communication, trans-portation, manufactur-ing, mining, agriculture, academe, electronics, public sector and local media.


Coco coir consultative meeting help promote coconut industry

by Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Today’s consultative meeting is an opportunity for us to find out the different problems and help promote coconut industry in the region.


Thus, declared Philip-pine Coconut Industry (PCA9) regional man-ager Bal F. Faustino on Wednesday during the coco coir consultative meeting held at Bay Plaza Hotel here.

Speaking before the

stakeholders, Faustino said the activity that the regional offices of PCA and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have conducted is an avenue where said agencies with the stakeholders will sit down and work out for the implementation of program that would help promote the co-conut industry in the region. “This is just a start of our activ-ity which would need a collaboration and support from all con-cerned agencies and its stakeholders,” Faustino said. DTI regional di-rector Nazrulla h Manzur said Presi-dent Benigno Simeon Aquino III has pushed for the development of coconut industry in

the country when the coconut water drink, now the leading brand in America was pa-tronized and endorsed by entertainment personalities like Ma-donna, Demi Moore, and others during his 5-day official visit to US. Manzur said the secretaries of Depart-ment of Agriculture Proceso Alcala and DTI Gregory Domingo received their official marching orders from the president to de-velop and promote the coconut industry saying that it is the mainstay of the Philip-pine economy. “This is a kick-off activity where PCA, DTI, DOST and other agencies will look into the coconut industry seriously as potential industry for region 9,” Manzur said. Manzur said the consultation was very timely adding that the agencies and stakeholders will sit together and come up with a work plan for the industry. The DTI chief said their agency

will now focus on the development of the coco coir and coco pit saying that it was the specific directive that he received from the secretary. Manzur said the DTI who normally takes care of the mar-keting will immediate-ly look into this for us to market our coconut products especially the coco coir and coco pit. After a work plan will be crafted a mem-orandum of agree-ment (MOA) will be forged between the DTI, PCA, DOST, FIDA and stakeholders to show support of the government’s program on the development of the coconut industry, Manzur concluded.

agriculturesource.com


WESCOM joins celebration of PPUR’s triumph

The 6th Civil Re-lations Group of the AFP reported that the announcement was welcomed with fire-works followed by the thanksgiving Mass and unity march, led by local officials of Puerto Princesa, from the City Cathedral to the City Coliseum. PPUR, along with Halong Bay of Viet-nam, the Amazon Rainforest of Bolivia, Iguazu Falls of Argen-tina, Komodo of Indo-nesia, Jeju Island of South Korea and Ta-ble Mountain of South Africa bested 24 other natural wonders from around the world. The result was

based mainly on on-line votes and could still change, according to Weber, when the text votes are count-ed. The confirmation of official winners will be done early next year. Tele-communications com-panies are still vali-dating the votes cast which officially closed on No-vember 11. “We con-gratulate each participant on achieving pro-visional new seven won-ders of nature status and look forward to completing the con-firmation process to

celebrate each one in their own official in-auguration early on 2012,” Weber said. The search began in 2007 with more than 400 entries from all over the globe which were cut down to 28 finalists from where the provisional seven winners were

selected. “The victory of PPUR is another his-tory in the making,”

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Soldiers from the different military branches in Puerto Princesa City joined its residents on November 12 in celebrating the news of the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the list of provisional win-ners of the global search for the new seven wonders of nature.

wn.com


Vice-Mayor Lucilo M. Bayron, who led the residents of Puerto Princesa City in the unity march to the City Coliseum, said. A special task force was created to rigorously pro-mote PPUR and gar-ner votes while the search was on-going. A week before the voting officially closed, the city gov-ernment set up a vot-ing center at the Peo-ple’s Amphitheater in Mendoza Park in a last-minute effort to boost the underground river’s chances of winning in

the search. In coordination with the telecommu-nications companies, a promo dubbed “Pera sa Kuweba” was also launched where par-ticipants could win as much as P25 million pesos by voting for the PPUR through SMS. PPUR claims to be the longest navigable underground river in the world and features unique rock forma-tions. A team of Italian scientists announced earlier this year the discovery of a crys-tal forest in one of the

caves in the highest parts of the limestone massif of the PPUR, along with the discov-ery within the rock caves of the bones of an extinct sea cow spe-cies believed to have existed 20 million years ago. The city govern-ment believes the in-clusion of the PPUR in the new seven won-ders of nature will greatly boost the tour-ism industry of Puerto Princesa and further improve its economy. (JPA/6CRGAFP/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)

12,147 potential 4Ps beneficiaries to register on Nov. 21-24 in Pagadian

PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD9) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), and city government will register and validate 12,147 Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) potential beneficiaries for Pagadian City during the community assembly on November 21-24.


Zamboanga del Sur provincial link Evangeline Poquita said the registration and validation activ-ity will accommodate 14 barangays a day where a 20-man team composed of DSWD staff, municipal links, teachers and govern-ment employees will facilitate the conduct of the activity. Poquita said the 4-day activity will then cater the beneficiaries from the 54 barangays in the city.

In the registration and validation, Poquita said the inclusion error can be easily detected and help determine the number of house-hold to qualify as ben-

eficiaries. After the benefi-ciaries will be regis-tered and validated by the team, they will be registered also at the

Land Bank of the Phil-ippines (LBP) Poquita added.

The provincial link said those who are quali-fied to register are

those whose names were posted in the designated posting areas such as; baran-gay office, barangay halls, health centers or schools. The 4Ps partici-pants are requested to bring the follow-ing documents: birth certificate of parents, marriage contract, school records or cer-tificate, health records or certificate, valid ID cards (postal, SSS, Philhealth IDs or driv-ers license), baptismal certificate, or any valid documents, Poquita conluded. The activity will be simultaneously conducted in the prov-ince of Zamboanga Sibugay. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)

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One Mindanao - November 17, 2011