Northern Mindanao unite for World Environment DayJasper Marie oblina-rucatNORTHERN MINDANAO FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 194
Government again bothered by movement of Chinese ships in West Philippine Sea
NATIONAL
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WESTERN REGION
CENTRAL MINDANAO
CARAGA REGION
City launches citizen’s charter
MisOcc Water District embarks on P1M expansion project
10 Zambo barangays on dengue watchlist
DA 12 hands over P10.6 M aid to farmers groups
P28-M hotel for Turtle Islands soon to rise
DTI-South Cotabato holds roving academy in Polomolok
DENR Caraga calls for greater consciousnessof Philippine eagle
AgSur prepares for 22nd Naliyagan Festival, 116th Independence Day Celebration
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Information to Empower Filipinos
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NORTHERN MINDANAO
David M. Suyao
Dominic I. Sanchez
Danilo E. Doguiles
City Information Office
City Information Center
Claro A. Lanipa
Aida C. Agad
Venus L. Garcia
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 194
Northern Mindanao unite for World Environment Day
C lose to 1,000 participants from the region’s natio nal government agencies (NGAs), civil society, the youth, educational and private institutions join in planting 5,000 mangrove propagules in barangay Taytay, El Salvador City Misamis Oriental to celebrate World
Environment Day.
Spearheaded by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR) with its partner the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the activity on June 5 started with a motorcade from Cagayan de Oro City to El Salvador City early in the morning, then proceeded to the mangrove site. DENR Regional Director Ruth Tawantawan through DENR Regional Technical Director for Land Management Services Paquito D. Melicor Jr is so thankful upon
seeing the massive
p a r t i c i p a n t s because they felt
that they are not
by Jasper Marie oblina-rucat
COVER STORY
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alone when it comes to protection of the environment. According to Director Tawantawan, the World Environment Day is the most important day of the year because it is a worldwide awareness of shared responsibility of taking care of mother earth and all of us being agents of positive change. Climate change primary challenge Global warming is causing ocean levels to rise at an increasing rate. When global temperature rises, water expands and occupies more space. Ice melts which also contributes to rise of sea level. Further, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) studies reveal that global sea levels rose from 10 to 25cm over the last 100 years. As temperature heats up, extreme weather events, such as heat waves, floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes become more frequent and severe. Director Tawantawan said that our country has lost many lives because of super typhoon Yolanda in
2013. T h e
d i s a s t e r served as wake up call, not just for
government to take
action but the countrymen as
well. She said that after ‘Yolanda,’ Environment Secretary Ramon JP Paje declared restoration of mangroves and beach forest of 380km coastline in Eastern Visayas. According to the Secretary, mangroves protect coastal communities from future typhoons and storm surges and other extreme weather events that may occur because it serves as buffer shielding the coastal areas. Aside from these, mangroves also provide nursery
ground for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters. Meanwhile, originally, Philippines has 500,000 mangrove hectares of mangroves forest, but due to coastal development, land conversion and reclamation, only 100,000 hectares mangrove forests or less are visible in the country today. One of this is Taytay, El Salvador mangrove area. Further, Tawantawan said that the best way to protect coastal communities from storm surge is planting mangroves under the National Greening Program or NGP. National Greening Program National Greening Program or NGP is the country’s largest reforestation program which aims to reforest 1.5M hectares of denuded and degraded forest lands all over the country in a span of six years from 2011 to 2016. Objectives of NGP are to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability, biodiversity conservation, enhanced climate change mitigation and adaptation. This endeavor will come to a reality with each individual help to make the program successful.
She said that DENR, region 10, in cooperation with the People’s Organization, Indigenous People, Academe, local government units (LGU), other government agencies and stakeholders reforested 46,395 hectares from 2011 to 2013. Not only mangrove areas but also riverbanks, urban protected and community management based urban areas. Species include timber, indigenous species, rubber, coffee, bamboo, fruit trees, cacao, fuel, rattan and other species. She said that this is a call for solidarity in mitigating climate change. Our individual positive action, contribution to the environment will exponentially grow and produce positive outcome that will help our mother earth adapt to climate change. Sustainability of Mangrove in Taytay Forrester Merc Barbarona, Protected Area Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS) Planning Officer of DENR said that the threat of mangrove plantation is garbage.
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She said that with the presence of informal settlers, the mangrove is at threat. However they are finding ways together with the LGU to fix this concern. Taytay has organized a group to maintain and make sure the plantation is sustained.
They a r e
c a l l e d the Taytay
C o a s t a l and Marine
E n v i r o n m e n t Protectors Association (TCMEPA). Started in 2001 with a Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA)
with DENR, the LGU and Philippine Coastguard
Auxillary, the mangrove plantation has since then developed 16 hectares out of the 30 hectares that was surveyed to be
subject for mangrove rehabilitation.
E c o - t o u r i s m
Development Not only is this mangrove rehabi l i ta t ion a way to help mother earth in
climate change mitigation but
also in the future it can become income
generating through eco-tourism, revealed Forrester
Barbarona. She said that with eco-tourism, the local government unit can make income and become self-reliant to finance project and activities. Meanwhile, Juvy Labis, barangay Chairman of Taytay, El Salvador City expressed her gratitude to everyone who participated to this great endeavor.
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Across the NationPresident Aquino meets with European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation
The meeting occurred right before the opening plenary of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, which the Philippines is hosting with the
EU, Japan, and Switzerland as co-hosts.President Aquino and the EU
Commissioner shook hands and engaged in a brief yet fruitful discussion about disaster preparation, sharing
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid
and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva during a courtesy call at the South Ballroom of Diamond Hotel in Manila on Thursday.
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their experiences when they each visited the province of Leyte in the aftermath of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
President Aquino mentioned some of the progress made by the national government in rebuilding the calamity-stricken communities, especially in areas that need particular improvements.
Commissioner Georgieva, for her part, suggested possible ways on how the EU and other developed nations could further work together with the Philippines to help address the increasing challenges of climate change to prevent the destruction caused by super typhoons from happening again.
She also recounted her experiences in Haiti following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 and shared with the President some anecdotes regarding her recent trip to Tacloban City, taking note of the improvements made six months after the tragedy.
Georgieva said that despite the events that happened in the country, President Aquino is “very lucky” because the Philippines is rich with “talented people,” particularly its children who are “smart.”
President Aquino thanked the
EU Commissioner for her positive thoughts about the Philippines and its people, and for her organization’s continuing assistance to the national government in its rehabilitation efforts.
He was joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. and Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff during the meeting.
The 60-year old Georgieva, a Bulgarian national, has been serving the EU as its Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Response since February 2010 after her stint as Vice President and Corporate Secretary for the World Bank Group.
With the theme “Post-Haiyan (Yolanda)--A Way Forward”, this year’s ASEM Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management aims to build a stronger Asia-Europe partnership to meet the challenges of future mega disasters, such as Typhoon Yolanda, which barreled through Southern Luzon and Visayas in November 2013.PND
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“We are again bothered that there seems to be developments in other areas within the disputed seas,” the President said during an interview with reporters after his speech at the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the Diamond Hotel.
“Among them, parang may movement ng ships in Gavin Reef and Cuateron (Calderon ) Reef,” he said, citing the latest report he has received.
“Yung pictures that I saw were just ships that can be used for reclamation. Pictures pa lang, unlike Mabini na talagang from nothing nagkaroon na ng geographical feature,” he said.
In mid-May, the Department of Defense confirmed that China was doing extensive reclamation work at the Mabini Reef, which is part of the Kalayaan
Island Group in Philippine territory.Last March 30, the Philippines
filed a memorial at the International Tribunal of the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS) against China.
The International Arbitral Tribunal on June 4 gave China until December 15 of this year to comment on the case filed by the Philippines.
President Aquino said he is hopeful that the ITLOS will once and for all put an end to the dispute in the West Philippine Sea and resolve the matter peacefully.
“So, at the very least, ang makukuha natin diyan if they rule in our favor na tama ‘yung ating mga claims, then magkakaliwanagan: Ano ba talaga ang karapatan ng bawat isang estado at ano ang mga tungkulin ng bawat isa,” President Aquino explained. PND
Government again bothered by movement of Chinese ships in West Philippine Sea
President Benigno S. Aqunio III said Thursday his government is again bothered by the movement of Chinese ships in other
areas of the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
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Over 53,000 chairs produced from ‘hot’ logs
More public schools benefit from new armchairs manufactured from confiscated logs as production sites of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) continue to produce them.
As of May this year, a total of 53,876 armchairs have been produced of which 52,956 have been distributed to various schools in Metro Manila and the CARAGA region in Mindanao.
On Friday, June 6, a total of 200 new units were given for use of
students of New Era Elementary School in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, led the turn over of furniture together with Department of Education (DEpEd) Secretary Armin Luistro and Quezon City officials
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led by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Representative Kit Belmonte.
“Through its skilled workers, TESDA will always be willing to use its expertise by churning out new school armchairs,” he said.
“We hope that this initiative will help in giving students in public schools the learning environment they deserve,” Villanueva added.
Called the PNoy Bayanihan Project, it put to good use the logs confiscated in the provinces by turning them into armchairs.
The project, which was launched in 2012, had as partners TESDA, DepEd, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The DENR processed the logs into materials ready for manufacture, while TESDA e s t a b l i s h e d production sites in Metro Manila and CARAGA. Through its training-cum-production strategy, the agency trains the youth in carpentry and cabinet making to produce the chairs.
PAGCOR provided the funds to purchase equipment to be used in the project, and DepEd takes charge of distributing the armchairs to school beneficiaries.
In Metro Manila, various schools in Taguig City received a total of 2,500 armchairs so far; Pasig City had 2,000; Paranaque City and Pasay City got 1,200 units each; and, Quezon City got 500 units.
In the CARAGA region, Agusan del Sur got 13,212 units; Agusan del Norte received 13,315 units; Surigao del Sur got 10,564 units; and Surigao del Norte got 8,465 units.
Leading food chain Jollibee Foods Corporation also pitched in P1 million as seed fund for the target production of 1,785 units of chairs. (PNA)
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DepEd-Mis. Occ. gets allocation of 100 classrooms worth P84.93 M by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental - Some 100 classrooms estimated to cost P84.93 million have been allocated by the Department of Education for the Division of Misamis Occidental (DepEd-Mis. Occ.) to address its classroom shortage.
Data from DepEd’s Office ofPhysical Planning Services, PhysicalFacilities and Schools Engineering
Division(OPPS-PFSED)showthatthisnumberofclassroomsalreadyincludethose constructed under Batch 1 to
14JUNE2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |
City launches citizen’s charterby City Information Office CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The city government of Cagayan de Oro finally crafted its Citizen’s Charter in compliance to Republic Act No. 9485 or Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), a law which is aimed at curbing graft and corruption in government.
Batch5ofthe2013BasicEducationFacilitiesFund(BEFF)andthoseundertheSpheretypein2011-2012. Particularly, the 2013 BEFFallocations covered the constructionof classrooms in areas experiencingacute classroom shortage, Dr.Jonathan S. Dela Pe?a, SchoolsDivisionSuperintendent,said. As recalled, President BenignoS. Aquino III, during his visit tothe province, April of last year, saidsome P14.11 billion in BEFF forFiscalYear2013havebeenallocatedfor the construction, replacementand completion of kindergarten,elementaryandhighschoolbuildingsinareasexperiencingacuteclassroomshortage,nationwide. Hesaidthisrefertoareaswherethe number of students divided bythe existing number of classroomsresult in a student-classroom ratioof 50:1 or 50 ormore students perone classroom and those whereclassrooms are temporary in natureor are makeshift structure or thosewithoutclassrooms,atall. Meanwhile, the OPPS-PFSED
data show that classrooms rangingfrom P634,000 to P718,000, each,were distributed in the followingtowns:Tudela,12classrooms,SapangDalaga,11,AloranandDonVictoriano,eight, each, Jimenez, seven, Clarin,six,Concepcion,five,Bonifacio,four,Sinacaban,three,PanaonandPlaridel,two,each,andBaliangaoandLopezJaena,one,each. Ontheotherhand,10classroomsworthP6.89millionhavebeenallocatedfortheDivisionunderBatch5ofthe2013BEFFinvolvingtheconstructionof7x9m., classroomswith2-seatertoiletsattachedtotheside includingasepticvault,whichhavebeenheldpendingduetothenon-issuanceoftheStatement of Allotment andReleaseOrder(SARO). Likewise, additional eightclassroomsworthP5.52millionhavealso been allocated to the divisionusing realigned funds and foreignexchange (forex) gains,while about12 Sphere-type classrooms worthP16.55millionwerealsoallocatedtothedivisionin2011-2012,theOPPS-PFSEDdatashow.
15JUNE2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |
CitymayorOscarMorenorecentlyhanded over copies of the Citizen’sCharter handbook to Department ofInteriorandLocalGovernment(DILG)regionaldirectorReneBurdeos,CivilService Commission (CSC) regionaldirectorAdamsTorresandCityDILGdirector JaneDocallos during simpleceremoniesatCityHall. Meanwhile, City Hall officialsand employees took service pledgeandsignedacommitmentasashowof support to the implementation of
the charter that features ‘simplifiedprocedures’ in the delivery offrontline services offered by variousdepartmentsandofficesof the localgovernment. PublicAssistanceand FeedbackDesks are now strategically placedwithinCityHallpremises,particularlyatthe lobbiesoftheChiefExecutiveHouse, JV Serina Building and NewandAdministrativeBuilding,inordertoassistthetransactingpublic.
MisOcc Water District embarks on P1M expansion projectby City Information CenterOZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - The Misamis Occidental Water District (MOWD) has embarked on an expansion project worth P1 million in barangay Cogon, one of the city’s 51 barangays.
Thefirstofitskind,theprojectinvolvestheputtingupofanaluminumwater reservoir in the uplands ofthe city, complete with its mainlinepiping and submersible pump, Engr.Ferdinand Revelo, MOWD Manager,said. Revelo said Cogon is actuallylocatedneartheKokokWaterPumpingStation in barangay Bagakay, oneof MOWD’s sources, but is in adisadvantagepositionduetoitshighelevation. However, due to the persistentrequest of mayor Reynaldo O.Parojinog, Sr., MOWD has given in
andinstalledtheprojecttoservetheneedsofthecommunity. Meanwhile, punong barangayLeonarda Macayran of Cogon saidthe water system’s expansion hasaddressed the 64 year-old problemof potable water for householdconsumptioninthearea. WithmayorParojinogandReveloduring the turn-over of the projectwere vice-mayor Nova Princess E.Parojinog-Echavez, MOWD Board ofDirectorsAleinQuiñonezandRetiredCol. Jeorge Neri, and Atty. HenryOaminal,CongressmanoftheSecondDistrictofMisamisOccidental.
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Duty-bearers, partners celebrate Environment DayBUTUAN CITY- Employees who serve as duty-bearers of government agencies with partner stakeholders in the private sector planted some 500 talisay trees (scientific name: Terminalia catappa) on Thursday along Caloc-an beach in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte, in celebration of this year’s Environment Day with the slogan “Raise your voice, not the sea level.”
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
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The Caraga region’s 2014celebration of the EnvironmentMonthheadedbytheDepartmentof Environment and NaturalResources (DENR) with regionaldirectorNonitoTamayokicked-offwithacaravanfromthiscitygoingto Caloc-an. A “hataw” exercisethenfollowedandashortprogramrecognizingtheimportanceofthecelebration. The said venue iswhere the
PhilippineCentennialTreeisalsolocated.OIC-CENROfficerVinceEstopito
of Tubay, Agusan del Norteexpressed his warm welcomeand acknowledgment to all theparticipatingagenciesandpartnerstakeholders and announcedthat the municipal governmentsupports tree planting activitiesand other environment-relatedactivities.
Also, Tamayothanked thep a r t i c i p a t i n gagencies forjoiningtheactivityespecially forputting efforts
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pertaining to environmentalprotection.Healsosaidthatnextyear, a conference on climatechangeissetinParis.Tamayo bared that the World
EnvironmentDayistheopportunityfor everyone to realize not onlythe responsibility to care fortheearthbutalsotobecomeagentsofchange.“Let’sconsidereverydayas
Arbor Day. Let’s plant moretrees. This is good for oureconomy, our health and ourenvironment. Let’s preserveour natural resources andsurroundings,” expressedTamayo.
Tamayo further announcedthatthecountryisobservingthePhilippineEagleWeekfromJune4-10,2014.Meanwhile, the Philippine
InformationAgency(PIA)Caragaconducted a full coverage ordocumentation of the activityand expressed commitment toprovide communication supportto DENR’s activities for theenvironment.“On behalf of our regional
directorAbnerCaga,we’dliketothanktheDENRforhavingusasyourpartnerinthisactivitytoday.ThePIAiscommittedtoprovidecommunicationsupporttoalltheprograms of DENR-Caraga, aswedocareforourenvironment,”said PIA-Caraga deputy regionaldirectorFryanAbkilan.Saidactivityendedthroughthe
community singing with “InangKalikasan,” the official DENRHymn.
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While the two soft openingactivitiesoftheNaliyaganFestivalwill take place days before thegrand opening called “Hugyawto Agusan” on June 7, and the“Bubuta Tu Manok Tu Naliyagan(a4cockderby)”onJune10,thegrand opening on June 12, 2014
will be started at 4:30 a.m. byan Ecumenical Dawn Prayer rightat the covered Naliyagan CulturalCenter(NCC)groundtobefollowedbythesimultaneousholymassat6:00 a.m. in all parish churchesprovincewide.While the simultaneousmasses
AgSur prepares for 22nd Naliyagan Festival, 116th Independence Day Celebration By David M. Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur- Ground preparation for the week-long and grand opening of the 22nd Naliyagan Festival is now 75 percent, where the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebration will take place that will add color and meaning to the dual celebration.
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areconducted,nativeritualcalled“Panawagtawag” will also takeplacerightatthemainstageoftheNCC,givingthelumads(indigenouspeoples)thehonortoperformtheirculture’s practice in calling thegood spirits to bless the festivalbecausethisistheseasonthatwillshowcasetheAgusanon’srichandcolorfulculture.Rightaftertheconcelebratedmass
at8:00a.m.,thegiantnationalflag,the provincial flag, the naliyaganflag and the 314 barangay flagswill be raised bearing the symbolofindependenceandaftertheflagraising ceremonies, the wreathlayingattheRizalmonumentalsolocatedattheNCCgroundbyGov.AdolphEdwardPlaza,Cong.MariaValentinaPlaza(FirstDistrict)andCong.EvelynMellanaPlaza(SecondDistrict) with the 401st InfantryBrigade headed by Col. GregoryCayetanoassisting.Afterthewreathlayingceremony,
the grand opening of the 22ndNaliyaganFestivalwillbedeclaredtogether with the ceremonialopening of the Naliyagan Trade,servicesandentertainmentcenter.This will highlight the NaliyaganAgri-IndustrialFair,theNaliyaganFood and Entertainment booths,theNaliyaganBazar,theNaliyaganTradeShowandExhibits,provincialgovernment’s local governanceBest Practices showcase andConstituency offices Districts 1and2.TheSerbisyosaNaliyaganPara
saKatawhanwillalsostartrangingfrom jobs fair, Kasambahay
registration, National EconomicResearchandBusinessAssistanceCenter(NERBAC)servicesandtheblood-lettingbythePhilippineRedCross. All these services can beavailedrightattheNCCgrounds.In the evening of day one, the
Naliyagantribalsongsanddanceswillbeshowcasedwiththetheme:“KulturangAgusanon: Padayon saModernongPanahon. This is openfor all to see. Live bands at theNCCmainstageandtheRizalstagewill be non-stop performing, withcomedy variety intermission. Asfinaleforthefirstday,theNaliyaganfireworks display competition willcolortheskiesintheevening.Gov.Plazawiththeofficialsand
the provincial government invitethepublic towitness and see theNaliyaganFestivalinordertoenjoyand witness the rich and colorfulcultureoftheAgusanons.
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DENR Caraga calls for greater consciousness of Philippine eagle
BUTUAN CITY-- In time with the celebration of World Environment Day on Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga also paid observance to the 16th Philippine Eagle Week from June 4-10, 2014 and it sought public for greater concern and awareness about the importance of the Philippines’ national bird - the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle or fondly called “Haring Ibon.”
by Venus L. Garcia
This year’s observance is anchoredonthetheme“YourAction,YourFuture:EmpoweringtheYouthforEnvironmentConservation.”DENRCaragaregionaldirectorNonito
Tamayo incited people to be well-
informedandhaveinterestinnurturingtheuniqueheritagedistinctivelyfoundinthiscountry.“Withthepreservationoftheforests’
floraandfauna,wecanbeassuredofa stable propagation of the critically
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endangered Philippine eagle,” saidTamayo.Inlocallevel,DENRCaragaisworking
oninstillinginthemindsofeverycitizenhow to value thewildlife, particularlyhere inMindanaowhere theseeaglescanmostly be found and in parts ofVisayas,CordilleraandmountainrangesinLuzon.“We want to sustain the balance
ofnature.Theclimatechange that is
affecting the world nowadays can beprevented if we do our share, careand protect the gift of nature that isentrusted to human beings,” Tamayoadded.ThePhilippineEagleFoundationalso
has lined-up activities which includeschooltour,Philippineeaglestuffedtoyfundraiser, research and conservationexhibit and lecture series andmoveslikeaneagledancecompetition.
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
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PAGADIAN CITY - In support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9’s “Adopt-an-Estero Program,” the barangay officials, college students, stakeholders and residents of Balangasan, Gatas, and Napolan actively participated in cleaning the rivers and creeks during Thursday’s observance of World Environment Day.
Stakeholders support DENR’s “Adopt-an-Estero” program By Gideon C. Corgue
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As DENR’s flagship program,theprogramwas launched in2010bySecretaryRamonJ.Pajeinvolvingthe estero community, privateentities,academe,localgovernmentunits(LGUs)andotherstakeholders.The program sought to providean integrated undertaking to curbfloodingduetocloggedesteros. Balangasan Punong BarangayMaphilindoObaobsaidthebarangayofficials have been activelysupporting the government effortsin conserving and protecting theenvironmentparticularlytherivers,which are considered “the criticalnaturalresourceworldwide.” “Wehavedeepcommitmentsto
cleaningourriverstopreventthemfrom getting polluted. We need topreserve this valuable resource bypreservingit,”Obaobexplained. Obaob recalled that decadesago,peoplewhowerelivingbesidethe creek washed their clothes inthe rivers and their children wereused also to taking a bath in therivers. “But now we seldom seethembecausepilesofgarbagewerethrownintotherivers,hesaid.” “By regularly doing cleanupactivities, we can ensure that ourchildren’schildrenwillgetfulluseoftherivers in thisbarangay,”Obaobconcluded.
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Corresponding to the number ofdenguecasesinJanuarythisyear,thesebarangaysincludeTalon-Talonwith68cases, Tugbungan-66, Rio Hondo-62,Tetuan-62,Tumaga-55,Sta.Catalina-49,Baliwasan-42,Putik-40,SanRoque-36,andAyala-35. “Wehavezerodengueadmissionsfor April and May, this year,” sharedCityHealthOfficerDr.RodelinAgbulos,addingthatintensifiedmeasuressuchas fumigations and weekly cleanupdriveshavepaidoff. TheCHOiscloselymonitoringthesituationintheevacuationcenterssuchas in the Joaquin Enriquez MemorialSports Complex (Grandstand) andat the shoreline and in the transitorysites, where thousands of internally-displacedfamiliesarestillsheltering. “TheCHOwith the InternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrosswillcreate
a mobile team to conduct house-to-housevisits intheevacuationcentersandtransitorysites,”Dr.Agbulossaid. Inaddition,5,100mosquitonetswere donated by the Shell MalariaFoundation, Office of Civil Defense(OCD),andtheDepartmentofHealth(DOH). Meanwhile,Dr.AgbuloscautionedthepubliconthepossiblespreadoftheAedes Aegypti mosquito, the carrierof thedengue.Hesaid that residentsshouldalsodotheirpartinpreventingthe spread by maintaining goodsanitationintheirhomes. Dengue prevention measuresinclude shutting of open watercontainers, cleaning garbage cansand other containers that may haveaccumulatedrainwater,useofscreenondoorsandwindows,andtheuseofeco-friendlyinsecticides.
10 Zambo barangays on dengue watchlistBy Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Ten barangays in Zamboanga are on the dengue watch list and the City Health Office (CHO) has cautioned the residents to be doubly cautious and do the necessary measures to prevent the disease from infecting family members.
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10 Zambo barangays on dengue watchlist P28-M hotel for Turtle Islands soon to riseBy Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – To boost ecotourism and accommodate tourists for the Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) in Tawi Tawi, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approved last Monday a resolution for the construction of a Php 28 million hotel to be erected at Taganak Island. Regional Director Arleigh J.Adorable of the Department ofEnvironmentandNaturalResources(DENR)-IX based in this city toldthe Philippine Information Agency(PIA) that the PAMB of which heserves as chair, had approved theresolutionafter thepresentationofthe perspective and lay-out plansbya representativeof theTourismInfrastructure and Enterprise ZoneAuthority (TIEZA) during the 1stPAMB regular meeting held atChandlerSuites,thiscity. Thehostel,whichisbeingfundedbyTIEZA,consistsofonehotelmainbuilding, restaurant, power houseandeightcottagesand isdesignedto bemodest and functional so astoaccommodateguestsandprovidethe basic comforts that they needduringtheirvisit. Adorablesaidthatoncetheotherbasicrequirementsarefullycompliedwith,thereisnoimpedimentfortheproject topush throughwithin thisyear. Aside from the hostel, otherproposed infrastructures shall alsobe constructed to include a lawenforcementcenterandasmallportfor the utilization of tourist boats,Adorableadded.
ThisprojectgotfullbackingandsupportfromotherPAMBmemberscomposedoflocalgovernmentunits,non-government organizations,academe, religious sector andgovernment agencies, as this willboost not only the ecotourismpotential of the area but also helpintheconservationeffortsofmarineturtles. TurtleIslandsispartoftheSuluArchipelago which is composed ofapproximately400islandsofvaryingshapesandsizes.ItislocatedatthesouthwesterntipofthePhilippines,about 1,000 km southwest ofManila. The municipality of TurtleIslands is right at the edge of theinternationaltreatylimitsseparatingthe Philippines and Malaysia. Thegroups of islands, namely, Boan,Lihiman,Langaan,GreatBakkungan,Taganak and Baguan, are situatedsouth of Palawan, northwest ofTawi-Tawimainland and north-eastofSabah,Malaysia, Theislandshaveanaggregateland area of 308 hectares. Thesmallest island, the Langaanmeasures about 7 hectares only,whilethelargest,theTagankIsland,isabout116hectares.(DENR-IX)
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KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 has named the regional winners of the 2014 Gawad Saka Search.
Regional Gawad Saka awardees namedBy: Danilo E. Doguiles
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In a ceremony at the SouthCotabatoGymnasiumandCulturalCenter on Friday, DA 12, ledby Regional Executive DirectorAmalia Jayag-Datukan handedthe awards to 16 farmers,fisher folk, researchers andfarmer-groups inNorth Cotabatoand South Cotabato who haveshown exemplary contributions toagriculturaldevelopment.Awardees from NorthCotabato
were:Don Bosco Multi-purposeCooperative in M’langmunicipalityfororganicfarminggroupcategoryElla Pobre of Alamada for highvaluecropscategoryJerry Taray of Carmen foragricultural entrepreneurcategoryGirlieAdugofMatalamsugarcanefarmercategoryJason Roy Ancheta of MatalamforyoungfarmercategoryDr.AristonCalvoofKabacanforagricultural scientist category,andDr.HarrisSinolindingofArakanfor
agriculturalresearchercategoryMeanwhile,awardeesfromSouth
Cotabatoincluded:Jessie Tarroza of Surallah forintegrated rice-based farmercategoryArturo Damasco of Surallah fororganicricefarmercategoryJessieHapitana ofSurallah forcoconutfarmercategoryBinhianngTimogKutabatoMulti-purposeAgriculturalCooperative(BINTIKU MPAC) for smallfarmers’organizationcategory.MarcianoRodriguezofBangaforfisherfolk(fishculture)categoryAlfonsoAlbertoofBangaforcornfarmercategoryKababaihang May Likas naKakayahan at Talino RuralImprovement Club (KaBaLiKatRIC) of Norala for the RuralImprovement Club category,andTeddyBajadeandFamilyforfarmfamilycategory.AccordingtoGawadSakaRegional
Coordinator Cecilia Parcon, eachoftheindividualwinnersreceivedP30,000 cash price and trophy
36JUNE2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato-- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in SOCCSKSARGEN Region has recently turned over some P10.6 million worth of equipment and assistance to a multi-purpose cooperative, and two irrigators’ associations.
DA 12 hands over P10.6 M aid to farmers groups By: Danilo E. Doguiles
DA12alsodispersedpumpandengine sets to the region’s fourprovinces.OrganiccoloredriceproducerDon
Bosco Multi-purpose Cooperativebased in M’lang, North Cotabatoreceived P2.9 million worth ofassistanceforitsexportprogram.These included rice color sorter
worth P2.28-M; rice seed cleaner,P53,000; double chamber vacuumpacking machine, P 160,000; andricetransplanter,P294,444aswellas support for their seed tradingcenterworthP125,000.RomanoLaurilla,generalmanager
of DonBoscoMPC said thehelp
from DA could surely boost thecooperative’scapabilitytosustainandimprovethequalityoforganiccoloredricethattheyareexporting.“WearegratefultoDAforthese
facilities,whichIbelieveprovestheirdedication and support so thatour export of high quality rice willcontinue,”Laurillasaid.Alsoattheevent,SouthCotabato
received39setsofpumpandenginewhile Sultan Kudarat received 33sets;North Cotabato, 10 sets; andSarangani, 8 sets. Each set costsP80,000.Besidestheaforementioned,DA
also turned over power tillers to
whilethegroupwinnersreceivedP50,000andtrophy.Agricultural technicians who
helped the winners in thepreparation of documents alsoreceivedP15,000.At the awarding ceremony,
DirectorDatukansaidtheregionalawardees have been endorsedtoGawadSakaNationalTechnicalCommittee.Datukanalsoexpressedhopes
thatmorenationalwinnerswouldcome out of the 16 regionalnominees.
Last year, three regionalnomineesweredeclarednationalwinners, including Dr. CayetanoPomaresoftheUniversityofSouthMindanao in Kabacan, NorthCotabatoforagriculturalscientistcategory;Dr.MelchorSerquiñaofKidapawanCityforcoconutfarmercategory; and Leonardo PrimneJr.ofBanga,SouthCotabatoforfisherfolk(fishculture)category.Evaluationofthenationalfinalists
is expected to commence thismonth. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 withLMSalvo-DA12)
37JUNE2014 | www.pia.gov.ph PAGE |
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Department of Trade and Indus-try (DTI) South Cotabato Office conducted the latest leg of the SME Roving Academy in Polomolok town, last week.
DTI-South Cotabato holds roving academy in PolomolokBy: Aida C. Agad
DTI provincial director FloraP. Gabunales said, after thefirst leg of the SMERA (smalland medium and entrepreneurrovingacademy)inTupitowngotwarm response from potentialentrepreneursinthearea,sameresponse was also accorded inPolomoloktown.These,Gabunalessaid,pushed
herofficetosustaintheSMERAindifferentareasinSouthCotabatoasavenueforcontinuousbreedinggroundofstartingenterprises.The SMERA is featuring the
deliveryofbusinessdevelopmentservices(BDS)toselectedmicro,small and medium enterprises,
shesaid.Gabunales also thanked
PolomolokMayorHoneyMattiforhostingtherovingacademyatthetown’sgymnasium,attendedby116potentialSMEsfromvarioussectors.After attending the academy
theSMEsareexpectedtobecomecompetitiveinaccessingdomesticandexportmarkets.Also part of the activity,
Gabunales said is an on-sitebusiness name registrationprocessing and a one-on-oneproduct labeling consultationwith a label designer. (ACAgadPIA12)
ColundibusIrrigators’ Associationand Central Malamote Irrigators’AssociationinBarangayMalamote,Matalam,NorthCotabato.EachunitcostsP112,235andwas
acquiredunderschemewhereDApaid 85 percent of the cost whiletheIAshoulderedtheremaining15
percent.Datukanalsoannouncedthatthe
said farm machines have beenavailable at their research outreachstation in Tupi, South Cotabato.(DEDoguiles-PIA12withreportfromLMSalvo-DA12)