One Mindanao - March 18, 2012

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

Managing Editor …….. ABNER M. CAGA Cluster Head, Northern and Northeastern Mindanao Regional Director, PIA Caraga Region Officer-in-charge,PIARegionX

Associate Editors …… NOEMI B. EDAGA Regional Director, PIA Region IX

OLIVIA T. SUDARIA Regional Director, PIA Region XII

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

Copy Editors Robert E. Roperos, PIA Caraga Region Nora C. Lanuza Molde, PIA Caraga Region

Layout Artists ……… Victoriano B. Villacruz, Jr., PIA Region IX Zener R. Dumaguing, PIA Region X

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

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ATTY. JOSE A. FABIADirector-General

Philippine Information Agency

SEC. HERMINIO “Sonny” B. COLOMAPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOffice

EDITORIAL BOARDWestern Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephoneno.(062)215-1480/925-0038Cellphoneno.0908-8843404E-mail:[email protected]@yahoo.comBlogspot:www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook:PIAWesMinInfoBliz

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Central Mindanao (SOCCSKSARGEN) Provincial Capitol Compound Bautista Bldg., Zulueta St.KoronadalCity,SouthCotabato9506Telephoneno.(083)520-0249Telefaxno.(083)228-9736/228-9739/520-0100Cellphoneno.0921-6873373/0928-5204307E-mail:[email protected],[email protected]

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Cover Story

City dad joins ‘bakawan’ planting

Vic LaratoWestern Mindanao

Today’s issue...Sunday, March 18, 2012 Vol. 1 No. 217

page 4

Women fun run benefits Digos City Red Cross Carina L. Cayon, Southern Mindanao

Koronadal LGU allots P0.65-M for SPES15 Dani Doguiles, Central Mindanao

RCPC patuloy na pinapatupad ang mga hakbang laban sa Brontispa

19Central Mindanao

Culture, art education for peace-building in Basilan20 Rene V. Carbayas, Western Mindanao

President Aquino assures PMA graduates of 2012 of government’s advocacy for reforms 9

CAAP implements new security policies at Dipolog airport Franklin P. Gumapon, Western Mindanao

BIR Revenue Region 16 exceeds targets for Jan-Feb 2012 by P32-M25Apipa P. Bagumbaran, Northern Mindanao

12

DENR exec asks vehicle owners to clean up their emissions30Eric F. Gallego, Caraga Region

Lugait observes 2012 Women’s Month celebration26 Elaine O. Ratunil, Northern Mindanao

16

DILG-Caraga to launch anti-poverty action plan29 Robert E. Roperos, Caraga Region

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11

13

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4 Sunday, March 18, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

Mayor Celso Lobregat joined the students and faculty of Taluksangay National High School

in the planting of “bakawan” propagules, an initiative that has won for the school’s Filipino teacher the top prize in the 2012 Innovative Teachers Leadership Award.

Cover Story


“This is a laudable activity for the protection of mangrove and the coastal environment.

This will teach the students the value of work at the

same time protecting the environment,”

Lobregat said, adding that his

administration will continue to support similar undertakings. Joining the bakawan planting were Councilors Abdurahman and Lilia Nuño together with Culianan Police personnel and barangay officials. To recall, Shateen Searaña, a Filipino teacher who has been assigned in Taluksangay for a year now, bested 9 other finalists from all over the country. As the top winner, she will be the Philippine

by Vic Larato

Sunday, March 18, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 5


representative in the Asia Pacific competition set to be held in Auckland, New Zealand from March 20-22. She together with the Nuños presented last week the award to Mayor Lobregat, who was elated over Searaña’s feat and commended her for her innovation on mangrove planting, a topic that is very crucial in the face of serious global challenges specifically climate change. As one of the incentives for Searaña, Mayor Lobregat committed to provide additional allocation for Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) slots this year to help accelerate mangrove planting in the coastal village of Taluksangay. The mayor also gave the teacher a cash incentive and re-affirmed the city government’s all out support to

mangrove planting. The project has multi-

pronged objectives but ultimately it

intends to develop communication

skills of students

u s i ng

v a r i o u s commun i ca t i ons media by engaging them to conduct community extension activities that address a relevant issue which is rampant disregard for the environment, specifically cutting down of mangrove trees. The project involved students and parents of various Muslim tribes- Samal, Yakan, Tausug and Badjao. Despite limited technology, students were able to document their project and did seminars on mangrove planting in the community which led to greater awareness on coastline rehabilitation through mangrove planting. The impact that the project made on the lives and values of community members earned the judges’ nod. In an

6 Sunday, March 18, 2012 ONE MINDANAO

interview, Searaña said the

project is an output of a seminar-training program on project-based learning (PBL) approaches held at the behest of the Coalition for Better Education (CBE), a Cebu-based organization. PBL approaches focus on collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to learning using the 21st century skills as bases for learning competencies. This training program is conducted annually by CBE in partnership with Globe Telecom and the Department of Education.

As part of the project, the students developed

a website:www.t a l u k sangaynhs .

multiply.com to col laborate

with other

students in the country and even abroad. The students also posted documentaries on you tube which can be accessed through http://www.youtube.com/watch?v-

j8yvpkS7UhQ for the National Greening Program;http://youtube.be/fDyYmlvQC7U orhttp://taluksangaynhs.mult iply.com/video/item/6/My PBL Movie.wmvfor the photo story of the project. For the Asia-Pacific competition, Searaña will involve the other communities and schools in the city.


ACROSS THE NATIONPresident Aquino tells PMA ‘Bagwis’ Class of 2012: “vacation’s over”

President Benigno S. Aquino III told the 187 graduates of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bagwis” (Bagong Kawal na may Iisang Lakas) Class of 2012 that it was time to hunker down to work and to face the challenges posed by the

sector they have studied and trained for for four years.

8 Sunday, March 18, 2012ONE MINDANAO

I n his speech

keyno t i ng the PMA’s 107th

Commencement Exercise here on

Sunday, the President told the new batch of Second Lieutenants and Ensigns of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that their four year vacation at the PMA was now “over.”

“Matapos ang masinsing mental at pisikal na

pagsubok na matagumpay ninyong nalampasan, huwag sana kayong magugulat kung sasabihin kong: Congratulations, tapos na ang apat na taon ninyong bakasyon dito sa Fort del Pilar,” the President said.

“Tapos na ang praktis; simula na ng pagharap sa mga tunay na suliranin ng inyong piniling larangan: ang pagtugon sa mga tunay na problema ng

ating lipunan. Panahon na ng totoong s u k a t a n ng inyong pagkakawal, p a g k a -Pilipino, at p a g k a t a o : A n g pagharap sa sangandaan,” he added.

T h e President said that aside from fulfilling their mandate of protecting the people, one of the cha l l enges they would most likely face would be from being tempted and

lured by unscrupulous people to be one of them.

“Sa labas ng Fort del Pilar, hindi na lamang mga armadong grupo sa kabundukan, o masasamang elemento sa lungsod ang kailangan ninyong labanan. Nandiyan ang tukso ng katiwalian,” the President said.

He reminded the new graduates to keep their honor beyond reproach as this is where the people base their trust on.

“Lagi ninyong tatandaan: bilang kalasag ng ating estado, kayo dapat ang unang takbuhan at tagapagtanggol ng taumbayan. Kapag pakiramdam nila ay hindi kayo matatakbuhan, at wala silang mapapala sa paghingi ng tulong sa inyo, tatakbo sila sa mga nagpapanggap na tagapagligtas,” the President said.

“Pero kung nagagawa ninyo ang inyong tungkulin, ang taumbayan mismo ang inyong magiging pinakatapat na kakampi. Huwag ninyong kalilimutang sa kahit na anong bakbakan, ang laging mananaig ay ang pinapanigan ng taumbayan,” he added.(RCK)


President Aquino assures PMA graduates of 2012 of

government’s advocacy for reforms

President Benigno S. Aquino III assured the military, specifically the new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy “Bagwis” (Bagong Kawal na may Iisang Lakas) Class of 2012, of his administration’s advocacy to

continually implement reforms that will uplift the quality of life of the men in uniform.

The President gave this assurance in his speech keynoting the 107th Commencement Exercises of the PMA here on Sunday. He said that by

implementing these reforms, that are mainly composed of weeding out corruption and its sources in government, will ensure that law enforcement agencies

will be able to do their jobs competently. “Batid natin ang hirap ng inyong trabaho, kaya naman bilang pagkilala sa inyong pakikipaglaban sa


masasamang e l e m e n t o ,

p a g r e s p o n d e sa panahon

ng kalamidad, at pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan sa ating bayan, kaliwa’t kanan po ang mga programa ng pamahalaan upang hindi na muling maging ‘Kawawang Cowboy’ ang ating mga sundalo’t kapulisan,” the President said. “ T i n u t u t u k a n natin ang inyong pangangailangan upang masiguro na maayos din ninyong magagampanan ang inyong obligasyon sa bayan,” he added. The President

pointed out that this weeding out of corruption in government has resulted in record budget savings and surpluses in a short span of time. He said the past administration took 15 years to accumulate P33-billion for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, but under this Administration, P28-billion has already been collected in only 18-months since he took office in July 2010. This, the President said, has allowed the government to run full steam with its housing program for law enforcement agencies: from 21,800 to 31,200 housing units.

He added that aside from personnel from the AFP and the Philippine National Police, the employees of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as well as the Bureau of Fire Protection may soon avail themselves of this housing program. The extra budget has also allowed the government to upgrade the equipment requirements of the AFP and the PNP. “Mula sa paglalayag ng ating kauna-unahang Hamilton class cutter— ang BRP Gregorio del Pilar, hanggang sa mga brand new na Combat Utility Helicopters na roronda sa ating papawirin, talagang tinitiyak natin na maipagkakaloob sa inyo ang inyong mga pangangailangan, upang higit pa kayong ganahan sa inyong trabaho, at mas marami pa kayo kayong matulungan na mga Pilipino,” the President said. (RCK)


Malalag LGU allots P300,00 for scholarship program by Carina Cayon

The municipal government of Malalag in this province

has allocated P300,000 budget to accommodate 70 high school scholars for the next school year. Bernadette Saladaga, municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager, said the budget has increased this year from the P100,000 allotment of last year to strengthen the scholarship program of the local government. Saladaga said the scholars will be provided P1,500 each for the whole year to cover tuition fee and uniform expense to help the parents defray the education

cost. The deserving incoming first year students from poor families who will qualify for the scholarship program will be accommodated at Malalag School of Fisheries, she told the Philippine Information Agency. The town has also been given ten scholarship slots this year by the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) for the latter’s technical and vocational course program.

Meanwhile, Saladaga said that the LGU has strengthened its PESO services up to the barangay level to directly facilitate employment information assistance to job seekers from the communities. She said that all 15 barangays of Malalag have been PESO centers since last year that function as referral and information facilities for employment opportunities within and outside the municipality. She said this would help address the unemployment and underemployment concerns of the town that marked at 7.1 percent and 17.5% respectively as of last year.


Strengthening its PESO program has benefited the town after the LGU availed of the P500,000 financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment under the latter’s Tulong Alay para sa may mga Kapansanan (Tulay). Saladaga said that the assistance has been provided to the differently-abled persons whom she said have become managers of a rice field in the municipality.

DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) has also been provided to the LGU which opened the loan assistance to its self-employed vendors who were allotted P5,000 each payable in six months with 1% interest. The LGU, meanwhile, allocated P500,000 as additional funding to the loan assistance program, Saladaga said. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

Women fun run benefits Digos City Red CrossDIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – A run for a cause spearheaded by women here benefited the Digos City-based Red Cross Davao del Sur Chapter. The total proceeds of P17,470 of the Women Fun Run 2012 was handed over to Red Cross as financial assistance on March 6. The fun run which gathered more than 50 men, women and children in the city on March 3 was part of the week-long celebration of the International Women’s Month. Roberto Zamora, information officer of Digos City government, said that the Gender and Development (GAD) team of the local government spearheaded the fun run and other activities. Zamora told the Philippine Information Agency that the celebration also involved female high school and college students who joined in the essay writing contest

which centered on this year’s theme on environmental concerns. Some schools conducted extemporaneous speech competition with all female participants who anchored their message on environment. Zamora said that women from the barangays, national government agencies and schools also actively engaged in activities such as in sports fest and socio-cultural contests. He said the culmination program on March 8 which was graced by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as keynote speaker, gathered more than 1,200 women and men from the city LGU, barangays and other government agencies. The Digos City LGU GAD team has planned to conduct a tree planting activity in June this year, Zamora disclosed explaining that planting trees this summer season is not advisable. (Carina L. Cayon)


It’s all systems go for the 2012 Cotabato Regional Athletic Association meetby Dani Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Everything is set and ready for the four-day Cotabato Regional Athletic Association (CRAA) Meet that begins today, officials assured.

Some 4,000 athletes as well as their coaches and chaperons from the four provincial and five city schools districts in

Soccsksargen region have already arrived and have been billeted in nine schools in Koronadal City and

neighboring villages.“We have completed

all orders from Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. regarding the needed repairs and upgrading of the South Cotabato Sports Complex,” Provincial Sports Coordinator Florentino Perez Jr. said.

Perez made the confirmation yesterday morning during the provincial government’s weekly radio program “Si Gov Dodo kag ang Katawhan.”

South Cotabato, which co-hosts this year’s meet with DepEd-12, has allotted about P1 million for the improvement


of the facilities of the sports complex.

I m p r o v e m e n t s include purchase of a complete set of fiber-glass basketball backboard worth P280,000 and filter system for the swimming pool as well as repair of the complex’s facilities including the toilets.

“Gov. Pingoy has also ordered the installation of 36 halide lampposts to light up the entire complex; he has also ordered installation of 10 mercury lampposts around the basketball courts,” he said, adding that some sports events can easily be held even at night time.

Concerns for emergency health services and security concerns have also been

addressed.Provincial Health

Officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido said they will be assigning personnel to augment DepEd’s medical team to help address health problems especially among members of the delegation.

“An ambulance will be stationed at the sports complex for immediate transport of patients to the provincial hospital,” he said.

At least two beds at the emergency section of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital have been allotted for emergency cases coming from the regional athletic meet.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director P/SSupt. Randolph Delfin said the

police provincial office in coordination with the Koronadal City police station will be deploying personnel to help secure the event venues and augment forces from the provincial security unit.

Delfin also assured that they have already intensified checkpoints in strategic locations. At least two police personnel are being assigned to each billeting quarter.

CRAA meet is a prelude to the Palarong Pambansa , which will be held in Pangasinan later this year.

In an earlier interview, Gov. Pingoy said he agreed to host this year’s regional athletic meet not only for the home-court advantage it will offer to the province’s athletes but also for the economic opportunity it can give the province, especially the city of Koronadal, and to show off the sports facilities of South Cotabato.

“This is in accordance with our plan to bid to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2014,” he said.

South Cotabato was host of the Palarong Pambansa in 1996 and 2007.


Koronadal LGU allots P0.65-M for SPESKORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The local government unit (LGU) of Koronadal City has allotted P652,000 for this year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), an official said.

Judith Marmoneja, acting chief of the city Public Employment Service Office (PESO), said the allocation is intended for the LGU’s plan to hire at least 180 students this summer.

She said, the pro-gram aims to hire poor but deserving students while they are in sum-mer vacation.

In this way, she said, students are provided with the opportunity to earn income for the matriculation and oth-er school fees for next

year. “This year we will

have two batches of SPES grantees. The first batch is expect-ed to start working on April 2,” she said. Each batch will be given jobs for 20 days.

Deadline for filing of application documents for SPES supposedly ended yesterday but early this week PESO-Koronadal announced that they moved the last day of submission of application yester-day, March 17.

Some of the interest-ed student applicants had classes on Friday, Marmoneja said, so they decided to move the deadline until this afternoon.

This is also to give them ample time to seek for needed docu-ments, such as NSO-certified birth certifi-cate, latest certification of grades that shows no failing grades, and BIR certificate of par-ents, she explained.

SPES is a program of the Department of La-bor and Employment mandated under Re-public Act 7323 other-wise known as “An Act To Help Poor But De-serving Students Pur-sue Their Education By Encouraging Their Em-ployment During Sum-mer and/or Christmas Vacations, Through Incentives Granted to Employers, Allow


ing Them to Pay Only Sixty Per Centum of Their Salaries or Wag-es and The Forty Per Centum Through Edu-cation Vouchers To Be Paid By the Govern-ment, Prohibiting and Penalizing The Filing of Fraudulent and Ficti-

tious Claims, and For Other Purposes.”

Its objective is to help poor students, 15 to 25 years old, pur-sue their education by providing income or augment their income through encouraging their employment dur-

ing summer and/or Christmas vacations.

Sixty percent of the salary of SPES grant-ees charged against the partner employer while the remaining 40 percent is paid by the national government. (DED-PIA 12)

RCPC patuloy na pinapatupad ang mga hakbang laban sa BrontispaKORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – Siniguro ni Regional Crop Protection Center officer-in-charge Ludivina Dumaya na patuloy nilang pinapatupad ang mga hakbang na nakatuon sa pagsawata ng pesteng Brontispa na umaatake sa pananim na niyog sa rehiyon.

Ani Dumaya, pinaka-una nilang isinasagawa ang malawakang pag-putol at pagsunog ng mga apektadong dahon ng niyog upang ma-patay ang mga pesteng namamahay doon.

Patuloy din ang kanil-ang produksyon at pa-mamahagi ng parasitoid na Tetratichus na natural na kalaban ng Brontispa dahil kumakain ito ng itlog ng Brontispa na pumipigil sa pagdami ng peste. Hindi na nakaka-paminsala ng punong niyog ng Tetrastichus, ayon sa opisyal.

Ani Dumaya, nitong

nakalipas na ilang ling-go, nakapamahagi sila ng 17,173 na test tube ng parasitoid na Tet-ratrichus. Ang bawat test tube ay may laman na 20 hanggang 40 pupa ng Tetrastichus na kakain ng daan-daang itlog ng Brontispa.

Magpapatuloy ang proteksyon ng niyu-gan laban sa Brontispa habang dumarami ang populasyon ng Tetrasti-chus doon.

Sa kasalukuyan , ayon kay Dumaya, may labin-limang laboratoryo na sa buong rehiyon ang nagpaparami ng Tetras-

tichus parasitoid, sampu dito ay nasa lalawigan ng North Cotabato,.

May laboratoryo din sa Koronadal, Tupi, Surallah, at Polomolok sa South Cotabato at sa opisina ng provincial agriculturist sa Saran-gani. Libreng binibigay ang mga Tetrastichus.

Nagpapatuloy din ang pagsasanay ng mga technician para sa pag-papatayo ng mas mara-mi pang tetrastichus laboratory sa iba’t ibang bayan sa Saran-gani at South Cotabato. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)


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by Michael Vincent D. CajulaoMarch is Fire Prevention Month.

Ironically, it is also during this month, including April, that fire incidents is at its peak.

Irony and reality of the Fire Prevention Month; BFP-ZC undergoes ORSITE inspection

However, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has a scientific explanation about this. Accordingly, March and April, here in the Philippines, are the summer months where temperature is hottest. This makes houses susceptible to fire hazard. It is also in these months that usage of electricity increase. Electric fans and air conditioners are really in demand during these months. All these explain the “irony” behind the Fire Prevention Month.


All these are of nature. So there’s little we can do about it. But how do we prevent fire from razing millions worth of properties and sometimes taking away lives? Perhaps one vital question that the public should ask is, “how prepared and equipped are our firefighters?” The Bureau of Fire Protection is once again in the forefront on this issue. It is no secret that it lacks the necessary equipments to efficiently serve the public. In a data revealed by a BFP official in a national television program, the standard ratio is one fire truck should cater to 28,000 persons. With the present population now at 90 million, BFP should have at least 3,214 fire trucks all over the country. Of course, BFP doesn’t have it. Still, the valiant men and women of BFP continue to make of

whatever there is at their disposal and religiously serve at their best. BFP-Zamboanga City has 14 fire stations. And though lacking in equipments, they never ran out of initiatives to help the public avoid fire incidents. Fire Marshall F/Supt. Dominador Zabala, Jr., in a press release, said “Our 14 fire stations are always ever-ready in cases of fire calls”. But he pointed also that fire prevention means a lot of coordination and a continuous education of the public. “We continuously conduct our intensive education and dissemination campaign on fire prevention not only during our fire prevention month. Let’s make fire


prevention and safety a daily habit to prevent the loss of lives and destruction of properties”, Zabala quipped. Just recently, a team from BFP-Manila came to the city to conduct inspection and assess the efficiency of the city fire district. Zabala said the visit of the Operation Readiness Site Inspection Team (ORSITE) stemmed from reports on the alleged performance drop and absence of a periodic and quarterly analysis and reports. “These are merely statistical tabulation consolidated from reports from the regional offices and do not incorporate in-depth situational analyses that explain the said drop in performance”, he clarified. He also pointed that it is only at the end of the fiscal year that underperformance are diagnosed, hence, too late to implement needed interventions. The team, according to Zabala, conducted comprehensive situational analyses resulting to

underperformance; the required actions and interventions within the bureau’s capacity; coordination with other agencies and the local government units; fire incident report and emergency medical and rescue incidents; and comparative and variance analysis with the previous year’s target. The team also conducted an inventory of all equipments and other administrative and operational aspects of the office. All these, accordingly, are needed to make sure that effective and efficient service is given to the public. Zabala also is reminding the public that fire prevention is not just the work of the bureau, but it all starts with the public. “We should be very careful with our appliances, and make sure that we periodically check our electrical connections in our homes”, Zabala said in his previous statement. (NBE/MVC/PIA9-ZBST)

CAAP implements new security policies at Dipolog airportDIPOLOG CITY - To ensure safety among passengers and airport personnel, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) here is now implementing certain policies to be observed by the riding public.

By Franklin P. Gumapon


Airport Manager Erlinda delos Reyes said she is limiting the number of people to be allowed to enter the arrival area of the airport to meet and fetch passengers. They also have to get prior permission from CAAP should they want to enter the arrival area. A visitor’s ID would also be issued by CAAP to everyone seeking to meet the arriving passengers inside the airport. Delos Reyes also disclosed that she already requested CAAP central office to provide the Dipolog

airport with x-ray machine, baggage conveyor, and closed-circuit television camera to monitor the movements of the people at the airport premises. delos Reyes also said that a new airline company, AirPhil Express, would start servicing the Cebu-Dipolog-Cebu route come March 22. It can be recalled that the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are the two airline companies servicing daily the Manila-Dipolog-Manila route. (ALT/FPG-PIA ZamboNorte)

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The image of Basilan worldwide has been ugly ever since the notorious Abu Sayyafs tainted this once-peaceful place. Dark stories of killings, kidnappings, war, and militarization, including religious and tribal and family conflicts continue to haunt the young generations today. And perhaps these would continue to haunt the next generations to come until something is done to save these generations from being consumed by the ideas of the ugly, the bizarre, the wicked, and hopelessness.

Culture, art education for peace-building in Basilan

By Rene V. Carbayas


The diminishing appreciation of what is beautiful, of the values of aesthetics, may forever be lost. Most elders of Basilan communities would agree that young people have become ignorant of their own culture. A diminishing appreciation of the arts and culture among the youth are also evident. Ironically, Basilan is blessed with talented and artistic people, with a diverse culture that displays a unique expression of the beauty of life and its people—as manifested in the world-renowned tapestry of the Yakans, the colorful woven mats of the Sama-Bajaos, and a variety of artistic expressions from the Chavacanos, Bisayans, Tagalogs, and the Tausugs, among others. In spite of the rich cultural and artistic talents, many local artists struggle to survive because of fewer opportunities for artistic expression and professional growth, specifically, the much-needed local support in patronizing local artists and their works. Thus, many artists would leave to venture for better opportunities outside Basilan. The volatile peace and order situation also shy away many artists and suppresses artistic expressions. Moreover, many cultural educators in schools are embracing more the concept of modernism in culture and the arts, forgetting the indigenous. Worst is that many who were asked to handle cultural work and arts education in schools do not have a good foundation

of the discipline. The arts maybe the less-favored career for many parents for their children, but the arts can never


be taken away from any civilization, even when religion forbids, the arts will always thrive. The cultural and artistic scene in Isabela City and the province of Basilan has been dull and neglected. Many, who call themselves artists, though perhaps left with no choice, continue to make a mockery and bastardization of what are culture and the arts. The Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI) and the Claret Colleege of Isabela (CCI) hosted the first Basilan Arts Conference 2012 for cultural education and peace-building last February 23-25. The conference, with the theme “Taguima heritage, arts and peace”, has gathered some eighty (80) selected cultural educators teaching the arts and various artists from the different municipalities and cities of the province to look into the state of the culture and arts in Basilan and how each could enrich creativity and the aesthetics values of young Basileños towards building peaceful communities. The project is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the city government of Isabela, the provincial government of Basilan, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional government, the Department of Education (DepEd) – Isabela City School Division, and the Philippine Information Agency in Basilan. Inputs and workshops highlighted the conference with lectures from cultural affairs


officers Prof. Sunnie Noel of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City and Maechille Buhisan-Quiñones of the Southern Christian College. Other lecturers include Earl Pasilan, Victoria Siason, and the internationally renowned visual artist Rameer Tawasil. At the conference many realizations and discoveries were felt in terms of the richness and diversity of culture and arts in Basilan. The teachers, most especially, were grateful for the opportunity to rediscover Basilan culture. The 1st Basilan Arts Conference was felt to be successful, but true measure of success may perhaps too early to say. Three to five years from now perhaps the culture and arts scene in Basilan will be vibrant. As long as educators possess the needed knowledge and skill to inculcate in the minds of the youth on arts appreciation, patronage,

its role in peace-building—the journey towards building peaceful communities is promising. By the end of the conference, the participants decided to organize themselves and established a network called Kwintangan BACuD (Basilan Arts and Culture for Development), an association of cultural educators and artists in Basilan for cooperation and collaboration in artistic endeavors and achievement. In time for the observance of the National Arts Month of February with the theme “Tradisyon at Inobasyon” (Tradition and Innovation), the conference ended with high hopes among cultural educators and artists that opportunities and initiatives will be provided to encourage communities establish alternative to conflict and war through engaging young people and the community in various artistic expressions. (NBE/PIA9 ZBST)


GSIS extends deadline for loan moratorium application by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

The Government Service

Insurance System (GSIS) extended the deadline for the application of the nine-month moratorium on loan repayments for its members affected by tropical storm Sendong.

Atty. Dionisio Ebdane, Jr., GSIS Senior Vice President (SVP) for Visayas and Mindanao Operations, announced this during “Talakayan sa PIA” held at the Philippine Information Agency, March 12. He said the deadline for the acceptance of loan moratorium application was extended from February 29 to March 31 this year. The nine-month moratorium, from April to December 2012, is the second phase of the moratorium program implemented by the GSIS to directly and immediately help member-

borrowers affected by TS Sendong. Qualified to avail are members residing and/or working in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, as well as pensioners residing in both cities. According to the GSIS Cagayan de Oro Field Office, 12,475 members were targeted to benefit from the second phase of the moratorium program; however, only 3,920 members have applied. SVP Ebdane said the extended deadline will give ample time to the remaining 8,555 eligible members to avail of program.


GSIS extends deadline for loan moratorium application

BIR Revenue Region 16 exceeds targets for Jan-Feb 2012 by P32-Mby Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The first two months of the year is a good start for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Revenue Region 16 (RR16) as it enjoyed a tax collection surplus of P32 million.

This was announced by BIR-RR16 Director Atty. Alberto Olasiman during the unveiling of the 2012 tax campaign logo and theme “I love Philippines, I pay taxes,” here. “Our partial collection report reveals that we have already collected P981 million for January and February, this year, while our goal for that two-month period is P949 million,” he said He said the positive performance showed that the region have already recovered after it fell short of its collection target last year by P58

million. According to Olasiman, RR16 was tasked to collect P6,184,000,000 last year, however, their actual collection was only P6,126,000,000. He said the region could have done better had it not been for tropical storm Sendong, which struck the

cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last December. Sendong inflicted so much damage and loss to properties and human lives and adversely affected the economic well-being of many business establishments in the two cities, he further said. Meantime, Olasiman urged all taxpayers in the region to declare their true income and pay the correct amount of taxes due to the government.


Lugait observes 2012 Women’s Month celebration by Elaine O. Ratunil

LUGAIT, Misamis Oriental - Lugait town in Misamis Oriental observed 2012 Women’s Month with this year’s theme, “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Eveybody’s Responsibility.”

Spearheaded by the Municipal Council on Women, among its activities include: Information Caravan on Violence against Women and Children (VAWC), and Gender and Development (GAD). This will be participated in by the students of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and 4th-year students of the Lugait National High School at the Multi-Purpose Training Center this March 19, 1:00 p.m. ‘Walk for a Cause, Kontra Kalat,’ and tree planting will also be conducted, March 31 in relation to the celebration.

This town actively conducted programs on women after Lugait is able to organize and develop program on women. Among of which is to federate women’s organization in the municipality, and providing free assistance on mammography and pap smear to indigent women.

Sunday, March 18, 2012 ONE MINDANAO 27www.piacaraga.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

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Butuan CPOC members give updates on peace, order situation for 1Qby Jennifer P. Gaitano

Member-agencies of the City Peace and Order Council here chaired by Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., convened Thursday and tackled

issues, concerns, and updates on the peace and order situation in the city.


On behalf of the city mayor, City Councilor Ryan Anthony Culima presided the said meeting. This monthly meeting is in line with the implementation of president Aquino’s Philippine Development Plan on Good Governance. PCINSP Reynante Sibayton of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) bared its operational accomplishments. On its campaign against illegal gambling (PD 1602), two positive operations were conducted from February 28 to March 14, 2012 that resulted to the apprehension of three persons and the confiscation of cash bet money for lotto/swertres,

and several gambling paraphernalia while two cases were filed at the City Prosecutors Office. On accounting of wanted persons, Sibayton revealed that a total of seven persons were arrested for the period, all covered with warrant of arrest. Sibayton further bared that on its campaign against illegal possession of firearms (RA 8294), one positive operation was conducted by BCPO, which resulted to the arrest of two suspects and confiscation of one unit cal. 22 magnum revolver (homemade), one unit cal 35.16 revolver (homemade), and one unit 38 cal revolver. Two

cases were filed in court against the suspects. “With the unyielding police operations in the pursuit against criminalities, the whole city of Butuan remains peaceful and manageable with the unstinted support from other concerned government agencies, n o n - g o v e r n m e n t organizations, religious sectors, and the community,” said Sibayton. Also, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga Deputy Director Cristy Silvan reported that from January 1 to March 13, their office has conducted 11 successful operations wherein nine persons were arrested and 11 cases were filed in court. Silvan also stressed that their target tasks for this year are as follows: prioritize high value operations; ensure air-tight cases against drug personality; intensify advocacy efforts in strategic areas; and strengthen relationship with all stakeholders to achieve peace and order


DILG-Caraga to launch anti-poverty action plan by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government - Caraga Region is set to launch the anti-poverty action plan, a project which is under the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

situation. Meanwhile, a representative, Aldebaran Mordeno of the City Social Welfare and Development Office bared that 15 years old and below ‘rugby boys’ in their custody are now participating on a basketball tournament in Barangay Poyohon.

“The PNP here is the one shouldering the uniforms and shoes while officials in barangay Poyohon are providing their food and CSWDO is in charge of the other necessary expenses. In this way, we encourage these rugby boys and other children to engage

into sports instead of getting themselves involve into any crimes,” Mordeno stressed. With this, the city government with other partner agencies asked the support and cooperation of the general public on its campaign to peace and order.

According to DILG-Caraga legal counsel Atty. Tony Vitor in an interview with a local radio station here, the project was already implemented for the past decade under the administration of former President Joseph Estrada. Vitor added said program was continuously implemented under the

present administration in an effort to counter poverty incidence in the country especially here in Caraga Region. The official said the project is a joint undertaking of different government agencies to sustain livelihood opportunities among the

people. As of 2011, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that Caraga Region is the poorest region in the country, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as the poorest in 2010.


DENR exec asks vehicle owners to clean up their emissionsby Eric F. Gallego

BUTUAN CITY-- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 Regional Exec. Dir. Leonardo R. Sibbaluca expressed concern over the thick black smoke emitted by some vehicles plying along the main thoroughfares of Caraga Region.

He asked the owners to clean up their emissions to avoid polluting the air. “Everybody wants to breathe clean air unlike in Metro Manila where the people are struggling on the midst of air pollution... We want fresh air,” Sibbaluca said. Sibbaluca was echoing the appeal of DENR Sec. Ramon Paje who joined the recent

operation of anti-smoke belching unit teams of the local government of Pasig City and the DENR’s Environment Management Bureau along C5 Road, a major highway in Metro Manila recently. The executive director said the intent of the government is to discipline erring vehicles and private emission testing centers. “It would be

practical for vehicle owners to cooperate with this endeavor by submitting their vehicles to an “honest-to-goodness emission test before renewing their registration,” Sibbaluca quoted Secretary Paje. The DENR with the assistance from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has already closed down 50 erring private emission testing centers in Metro Manila after


finding out that they accepted payment from “no show” registrants in exchange for a certification that their vehicles had passed the emission test. Paje also stressed that in addition to efforts in reducing the

level of total suspended particulates (TSP) in the air, the DENR also intends to lower the level of particulate matter (PM) with the size of ten microns or PM10, as well as those with the size of 2.5 microns or PM 2.5. “The DENR is

also keen on reducing smaller-sized pollutants because they pose higher risk on human health. PM10 can get into our lungs and cause respiratory illnesses, while PM2.5 can get into the bloodstream and lead to cardiovascular diseases, even stroke,” Paje said. Health department statistics showed air pollution-related illnesses such as acute lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis and heart diseases have consistently topped the list of morbidity and mortality causes in the country. The Philippine Environment Monitor, published by the World Bank, indicates that in 2006, the economic burden of air pollution was P52 million based on loss of income due to reduced workdays, and P910 million based on medical and hospitalization expenses.

One Mindanao - March 18, 2012

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