One Mindanao - July 10, 2014

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental treasures the existence of its historical structures, ancestral homesRutchie Cabahug-AguhobNORTHERN Mindanao

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 217

Palace hopes to complete all Public Private Partnership projects by 2016

NATIONAL

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CARAGA REGION

SOUTHERN MINDANAO

WESTERN MINDANAO

CENTRAL MINDANAO

NORTHERN MINDANAO

World Population Day: Crusade for youth up

PSA gears up for July 2014 LFS, annual poverty indicators surveys

New Panabo PNP Chief creates City Advisory Group

DAR: land acquisition, distribution to continue beyond CARPER term

ZNPC kicks off annual journalism seminar for high school studes

Regional congress highlights role of women in agri-fishery

PIA, DENR launch “LaKAsLIKASAN sa Himpapawid”radio program

BOC-10 overshoots collection target

RDC-X receives landmark outputs from Project Climate Twin Phoenix

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Information to Empower Filipinos

6Apipa P. Bagumbaran

Peleta B. Abejo & Candido B. Balaba

Noel B. Najarro

Julius R. Paner

Emmanuel D. Taghoy

Franklin P. Gumapon

Shahana Joy E. Duerme

Oliver Ross V. Rivera 9

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NSO

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental treasures the existence of its historical structures, ancestral homes

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental treasures the existence of its historical structures, ancestral homes

Talk about ancient buildings and you’ll find a lot here, in Jimenez, Misamis

Occidental, as the town boasts of the existence of old structures and ancestral homes, which until now, have been preserved for everyone who wants to take a look at the past. One such structure is the San Juan Bautista (St. John, the Baptist) Church, which has been a refuge of the people throughout their lives, particularly, in times of joy, such as weddings, baptisms and thanksgiving masses for graces received, and in times of grief when offering requiem services for the departed. During World War II, the Church also served as cover for the local folks from the bombardment of the Japanese Forces before they took over the

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

COVER STORY

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town. For a while, the Church has been dilapidated but is now back to its original grandeur. “Thanks to the local government unit (LGU), through mayor Rosario K. Balais, which made the effort to help put back the Church to its original grandeur,” Rev. Fr. Rosendo T. Curaresma, Jimenez Parish Priest said. The Church was built in 1862, about two years after the Parish was established by the Spaniards in 1859, who supervised its construction, without using cement in the structure of the walls, but “only used caustic potash or potassium hydroxide, commonly known as ‘apog’ and eggwhites.” “Seeing that the yellow part of the eggs will go to waste, the local women looked for ways to save them and used them instead as ingredient in cooking ‘torta,’ a delicacy, which up to now, can be found in the tables of every Jimenez household, during fiesta celebrations, Balais said.

Meanwhile, another stand-out among the ancient buildings in Jimenez is the three-storey Bacarro’s Printing Press in barangay Sta. Cruz, which has been in operation since 1938, that printed emergency money during the Japanese Occupation. Also drawing the domestic and local tourists in Jimenez is the “Kamil

Tree,” which bears different kinds of fruits and considered sacred by the local residents. Last June 17, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) has launched in Jimenez, the Taoid Heritage Program with this year’s theme, “Pamanang Pinoy: Taoid 2014,” that aims to give the people a glimpse of the legacies of the past and how it remains to shape the present and the future.

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Across the Nation

President Aquino highlights contribution of tourism industry to national economyThe tourism sector has made significant contributions to the

national economy, giving the government a boost to continue its reform measures to make the gains more sustainable, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.

In his message during the grand launch of the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, the President said that the progress the country has made in the tourism sector, together with the integral reforms in every other sector, has made a massive impact on the economy.

“Last year, despite the natural and man-made disasters that struck our

nation, we were still one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, registering a GDP growth of 7.2 percent,” he said.

“We have steadily won the confidence of the international community.”

Also last year, he said, the most renowned credit rating agencies in the world upgraded the country’s credit ratings in a short span of time.

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Across the Nation

President Aquino highlights contribution of tourism industry to national economy

The launch of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila serves as proof of the newfound confidence that companies have in the country’s prospects, he noted.

He further said that the tourism industry’s potential is huge.

Over the past four years, the number of tourists—both domestically and internationally—has increased dramatically.

For instance, he said, in 2011, the country recorded 37.5 million domestic travelers, which surpassed the government’s original target, not for 2011, but for 2016.

“I can emphasize: we surpassed our original target for 2016 five years ahead of time,” he said, adding that because of this development, the government has set the new target of 56.1 million domestic tourists for 2016.

The number of international tourists has steadily increased as well, he said, going from an average of about 3 million a year to 4.68 million last 2013.

“And we remain committed to pursuing our 2016 goal of 10 million international tourists,” the President added.

Among the factors that boosted

the Philippine tourism sector were the liberalization of the aviation industry as well as the successful launch of the global tourism campaign of the government, President Aquino said.

The P2.3-billion 313-room five-star hotel, which began construction in October 2010, was developed by president and chief executive officer of XinTian Ti Development Corporation, Samuel Po, in partnership with Marco Polo Hotels.

Marco Polo Hotels is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed company with core business interests in property and investments in communications and container-terminal operations.PND

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Palace hopes to complete all Public Private Partnership projects by 2016

Malacañang said it hopes to finish all 15 projects under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) before President Benigno

S. Aquino III steps down from office in 2016.In a press briefing at the Palace on

Wednesday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said some Cabinet secretaries have expressed confidence that the 15 projects under the program will be completed before the President’s term ends.

“But again, we recognize that some of the projects will last beyond 2016,” Lacierda said, adding that this is acceptable.

Whether those projects are completed on time or beyond the present administration, the end point is that they must provide the necessary infrastructure in the country, he said.

In December last year, PPP Executive Director Cosette Canilao said the Aquino administration will end its term with at least seven completed PPP projects.

The PPP program, launched by the

Aquino administration in 2010, aims to provide viable infrastructure needed to support the government’s goal of achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

During its launch, the administration announced 10 projects, among them the extension of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), new airports and terminals in the Visayas and Bicol, a road linking the North and South Luzon Expressways, and a water supply project in Manila.

Since 2010, the government has awarded five projects -- the School Infrastructure Phase 1, PPP for School Infrastructure Phase 2, Modernization of Philippine Orthopedic Center, Daang Hari-SLEX Link Road, and the NAIA Expressway. PND

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MinDA reviews Mindanao River Basin flood control projects Members of the Mindanao River Basin Technical Working

Group (MRB-TWG) met in Cotabato City Tuesday to review ongoing projects that would provide long-term solutions to the flooding within the area.


The meeting also intended to fast track technical preparations needed to jumpstart the construction and implementation of both structural and non-structural flood control interventions

Convened by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the meeting gathered the core members of the MRB-TWG composed of representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of Regions X, XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), along with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Regional Planning Development Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Structural interventions are composed of infrastructure and other flood-control projects, while non-structural interventions include reforestation, mangrove rehabilitation, and sustainable watershed management.

“Both of these structural and non-structural interventions are aimed to address the issue of flooding beyond a piece-meal method and are part of the strategic programs prioritized in the MRB Master Plan which adopts the ridge-to-reef approach,” said MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino.

The ridge-to-reef is a development approach that requires the protection, utilization, and rehabilitation of the environment from the mountains to the seas. Mindanao’s roadmap for peace and development or Mindanao 2020 calls for the full implementation of this strategy.

Initiated by MinDA, the MRB Master Plan is a result of several years of study that delved into the root causes of the constant flooding in the river basin, and at the same time outlined recommendations on interventions to address the problem in an integrated and holistic approach that cuts across regional and provincial borders.

Completed in 2013, the MRB Master Plan was subsequently endorsed by the Regional Development Councils of Regions X and XII, as well as the Regional Economic Development and Planning Board of the ARMM by the first quarter of this year. The same plan was also adopted by the Cabinet Cluster on the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation during its meeting in Quezon City last month.

To date, there are seven structural projects that are on going and designed to relieve the flooding problem in the area. These include the P39.89 million River Bank Protection Project along the Cotabato-GenSan Road in Tamontaka, Cotabato City which is expected to be completed in June


2014; the P174.19 million Simuay Flood Control Project in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014; the P46 million Allah River Flood Control Project in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat which is expected to be completed in July 2014; a P50 million and P74.5 million Libungan Flood Control Projects Phase III both in Libungan, Cotabato which are expected to be completed in August and October of 2014, respectively; a P72.5 million Carmen River Bank Protection with Revetment Flood Control Project in Lumayong, Carmen, Cotabato to be completed in November 2014; and a P15.2 million University of Southern

Mindanao Flood Control Project Phase I in Kabacan, Cotabato which is already substantially completed.

Aside from these existing structural projects, MinDA has been proactively advocating for the fast tracking of the implementation of six priority flood control projects in the MRB with a budget of P6.9 billion from DPWH. The six identified priority projects are: Channel modification of the Ambal-Simuay River; Dredging of the Rio Grande de Mindanao; Dredging and dike construction along the Tunggol River including the expansion of the Tunggol bridge; Construction of revetment dikes along the Ala River;

C o n s t r u c t i o n of revetments along the Buluan River; and the C o n s t r u c t i o n of revetments along the Tamontaka River.

The DPWH central office has already prioritized these projects and the detailed engineering is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Along with the River Basin Control


Office (RBCO) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), MinDA has been mandated by Executive Order No. 50 to not only complete the MRB Master Plan and to facilitate development interventions, but also to create the MRB Management council to serve as lead organization that will oversee the protection and management of waters and natural resources within the MRB.

In line with efforts to climate change-proof the MRB Master Plan, the MRB-TWG recently completed its second module of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (DRRM-CCAM) training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to include DRRM and CCAM initiatives in the master plan.

“This is part of our integrated effort to also prepare our partner agencies including the LGU alliances within the MRB to implement their respective preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures,” said Antonino.

As part of non-structural efforts to address flooding in Mindanao, MinDA, the DENR and the DILG are collaborating in massive reforestation efforts in areas in and around critical rivers, mountain ranges, watershed and identified flooded areas in Mindanao.

Under the Mindanao

Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP), an initial 200 barangays throughout the island-region will be actively engaged in reforestation efforts in support of the National Greening Program.

The BSFP, a sub-project of MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program will help mobilize stakeholders, resources and partnerships in reforestation efforts not only as a mitigating measure against further flooding, but is also envisioned to restore the forest cover of the island-region. From the initial 200 barangays, the BSFP is planned to expand to an eventual total of 1,700 barangays all over Mindanao.

Also present during the meeting are Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia, and Ching Ayupan, representative of the office of Cardinal Orlando Quevedo.


Marine fish-caging in NorMin shows signs of recoveryby Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MISAMIS ORIENTAL - Fish produced through marine fish-caging in Northern Mindanao has shown signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2014, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the region.

http://www.mindanews.com/photos/lake-sebu-in-south-cotabato-2/


“It is worth noting that fishcaginghasfinallyrecoveredinthefirstquarteroftheyear,”saidEngr.Cecilio Y. Clarete, chief economicdevelopmentspecialistofNEDA-10inamediaforumlastweek. Hesaidfishproducedthroughmarine fish-caging significantlyincreasedbyalmost68percentto613.48metrictons(MT)comparedtothe310.58MTproduced inthesamequarterlastyear. Clarete said the favorableharvest was noted in MisamisOriental province and in LopezJaena,PlaridelandSapangDalagainMisamisOccidental. Overall, the fishery industryin Northern Mindanao showedpositiveoutputduringthequarterwithatotalproductionof35,821.98MT,slightlyhigherbyonepercentcomparedtolastyear’sfirstquarterlevel. BothcommercialandmunicipalfishingpostedincreasesduringthequarterduetoabundantsupplyofsardinesinFebruaryandMarchandmoredispersaloftilapiafingerlingsintheriversanddams.

C o m m e r c i a lfishing output wentupby fourpercent to9,256.49 MT in the first quarter.Output from municipal fishinglikewiserosebyonepercentduringthequarterreaching9,707.86MT. Thepositivegrowthinoutputsfrom commercial and municipalfishinghasoffsettheslightdecreaseinaquacultureproduction. Aquacultureproduction,whichcontributed47percentofthetotalfishery production decreased by0.26percent,fromlastyear’sfirstquarter levelof16,901.67MT to16,857.63MT,thisyear. The negative growth inaquacultureproductionwaspartlydue to the two percent declinein seaweeds production, whichaccounts for bulk of aquaculturetotalproduction. Clarete said the downwardperformanceofseaweedsproductionwas due to the negative yield ofalvareziicausedbycontinuousrainbroughtaboutbylowpressureareaandtyphoonAgatoninJanuarythisyear.

BOC-10 overshoots collection target by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in region 10 has surpassed its collection target for the first quarter of 2014.


This was announced by theNationalEconomicandDevelopmentAuthority (NEDA) in the regionduring its media forum on theregionaleconomicsituationerheldlastweek,here. Engr. Cecilio Y. Clarete, chiefeconomicdevelopmentspecialistofNEDA-10,saidthecustomsbureauintheregioncollectedP1.97billionduring the quarter, surpassingits target of P1.88 billion by fivepercent. Thecustomscollectionforthequarterwasalso21percenthigherthan the P1.62 billion collectionregisteredinthesamequarterlastyear. Clarete said the positiveperformanceofBOC-10wasduetoitsanti-smugglingdrive,continuedstreamlining of operations andupgradingofcustomssystemsand

transactions. The MindanaoContainer Terminalsubport(MCT-SP)stillemergedasthe top revenue contributor withP1.75billionor88.83percentsharefollowed by the Cagayan de Orobaseportwith8.27percentshareorP163.02million. Among the ports in theregion,onlyIliganCityportpostedreduction in customs collectionsduring the period from P56.24milliontoP45.31million. The drop in the collectionsof Iligan City port was reportedlyduetothereductionofimportdutyrateformillingfood(wheatmillingin PILMICO Foods) Corp.) andreductionoffrequencyofPetrona’simportationfromthricetoonlyonceamonth.

RDC-X receives landmark outputs from Project Climate Twin Phoenixby Peleta B. Abejo & Candido B. Balaba

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Acting Regional Development Council-X (RDC-X) Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region X Director, Engr. Leon M. Dacanay, Jr. received landmark outputs from Project Climate Twin Phoenix during a handover ceremony in Pasig City on July 3.

TheoutputsconsistedofHLURB-approvedsupplementalguidelines inmainstreamingClimate andDisaster

RisksintheComprehensiveLandUsePlans (CLUP), thefirst-ever climate-adjusted flood hazard maps for the


CagayandeOroandIponanriversinMisamisOrientalandfortheMandulogand Iligan rivers in Lanao del Nortewith projected rainfall patterns in2020and2050. ItalsoincludedtheClimateandDisasterExposureDatabase(ClimEx.db)–acomputerizedsystemcontaininggeo-referenced information onpopulation, buildings, infrastructure,and economic activities exposed inflooding to help communities andlocal governments in development/landuseplanningwhileincorporatingmeasures to adapt to the effects ofclimate change in their respectivelocalities. ClimEx.db ensures thatcommunitiesgettherightinformationat the right time to take the rightaction. ItcanberecalledthattheRDC-Xand the local governments of IliganandCagayandeOroCities signeda

MemorandumofUnderstandingwiththe Climate Change Commission(CCC) to undertake the Project“Enabling the Cities of Cagayan deOroandIligan toCopewithClimateChangeorClimateTwinPhoenix”onDecember11,2012. With UNDP and AusAID fundsupport,theprojectaimedtofinetunetheassessmentofthevulnerabilitiesofthetwoTropicalStormSendonghard-hitcitiesaswellasthemunicipalitiesaround the Cagayan de Oro andMandulog river basins along hydro-meteorologic-inducedhazardsduetoclimatechange. Other recipients of the projectoutputswereDirectorAnaC.Cañedaof OCD-X, OIC-Director CharitoA. Raagas of HLURB-X, Iligan CityCouncilor Frederick W. Siao andIliganCityPlanningandDevelopmentCoordinator,ArchitectGilRBalondo.


PIA Caraga participates in this year’s NSEDBy Jennufer P. GaitanoBUTUAN CITY- The personnel of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga headed by regional director Abner M. Caga participated in this year’s conduct of the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Wednesday at their regional office.


“AsweadvocateforClimateChangeadaptationandmitigation,wealsoaimedtobedisaster-resilientgov-ernment workers. We value thiskind of activity especially that di-saster in any form can be inevi-table. That’s why we go hand-in-hand with the Regional DisasterRisk Reduction and ManagementCouncil on our ongoing campaignforadisaster-resilientcommunitieshereinourregion,”stressedCaga. Cagareiteratedthattheannu-alobservanceispursuanttoExec-utiveOrderNo.137datedAugust10,1999whichprovidesanoppor-tunity to promote public aware-nessonDRRMtoallstakeholders. For this year, the RDRRMC

Caraga has identified Hinatuan,Surigao del Sur as the host mu-nicipality where the ceremonialsitesforthesaiddrillwillbedoneinallschoolsinthePoblacionarea. Caga further relayed thatthe drill will also gauge the effi-ciency of the warning dissemina-tionand the responseof thepro-vincial/city and municipal DRRMcouncilsandthelocalgovernmentunits, aswell as the level of pre-paredness of schools, hospitals,and surrounding communities ifanactual earthquake takesplace. This year’s NSED is an-chored on the theme, “Kah-andaan at Kaligtasan ng Pama-yanan, Pundasyon ng Kaunlaran.”


World Population Day: Crusade for youth upBy May Ann O. EscobalButuan City- The Commission on Population (PopCom) here joins the world as it commemorates World Population Day on July 11th with this year’s theme, “Investing in Young People”.Initsin-depthanalysisofrelevant

data, PopCom sees the impact ofgrowingyouthpopulationontheirowngrowth and development. PopComCaraga regional director AlexanderA. Makinano pointed-out that theincreasing numbers of out-of-schoolandunemployedyouthgravelyaffectthe socio-economic developmentof the country. However, Makinanostressed the importance of givingsupport to the youth by providingthemqualityanddecenteducationforthiswill creategreateropportunitiesinthefuture.Moreover, Makinano emphasized

that investing in adolescents andyoung people by promoting healthy

habits and ensuring education andemploymentopportunities,accesstohealth services, and social securitycoverage for all workers is the bestinvestment to improve the lives offuturegenerationsand toacceleratethefightagainstpoverty,inequityandgenderdiscrimination.According to the United Nations

Population Fund (UNFPA), there are1.8billionpeopleaged10-24 in theworld, making one quarter of theworld’spopulation.Thosecomprisingadolescents(aged10-19)andyouth(aged15-24).Inaddition, a study revealed that

in the Philippines, majority of thecountry’spopulation(33%of92.3M)


consistsoftheyouth–thosewhoare30yearsoldandbelow;about2.04million youths aging 15 to 30 yearsold are unemployed. Further, in its2011 report, the National StatisticsOffice said that about 6.24 millionof the estimated 39million Filipinosaged 6 to 24 did not attend schooland that figure ismuchhigher thanthat 4.8million children reported to

havestayedoutofschoolsinthe2002Annual Poverty Indicators Survey(APIS).In line with the theme, PopCom

CaragashallconductaYouthFaironthe11thofJulyandvariousactivitieswill bedone in cooperationwith thedifferent schools and offices of thecity.


PSA gears up for July 2014 LFS, annual poverty indicators surveys

BUTUAN CITY - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga will conduct the July 2014 Labor Force Survey together with the 2014 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey from July 8 to July 31, 2014. The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by the PSA to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.

By NSO

The LFS aims to provide aquantitative framework for thepreparationsofplansandformulationofpoliciesaffectingthelabormarket.The 2014 Annual Poverty

Indicators Survey (APIS) will alsobeundertakenasaridertotheLFS,this is a nationwide sample surveydesigned to provide information onthedifferentnon-incomeandincome-based indicators related to poverty.The2014APISisthe10thinaseriesof Annual Poverty Indicators SurveyconductednationwidebytheNationalStatistics Office (NSO) since 1998,NSOisofoneoftheagenciesmergedwith three other agencies (BAS,NSCB,BLES)andnowknownasthePhilippine Statistics Authority (PSA).The survey will gather data on thesocio-economicprofileoffamiliesandotherinformationthatarerelatedtotheirlivingconditions.The July 2014 LFS covers

about 50,000 sample householdsnationwide.Thissamplesizewillallowthegenerationofreliableestimatesofindicators of employment and someother important indicators from LFS

attheregional level.Meanwhile,the2014APISwill includeabout13,000samplehousingunitnationwide.TheAPISsamplesizeisdeemedsufficienttoprovidereliableestimatesofnon-incomeindicatorsatthenationalandregionallevelsandnationalestimateof poverty incidence, with the firstsemester of 2014 as the referenceperiod.In Caraga Region, the Statistical

Researchers or Interviewers will bevisitingaround2,209LFShouseholdsand528LFS/APISsamplehouseholds.The sample is deemed sufficient toprovide reliable estimates of non-incomeindicatorsforthisregion.NSO Field Staff and selected

trained Statistical Researchers willdo a comprehensive door-to-doorinterview to the sample householdsduring enumeration period. NSOwouldliketoassuretherespondentsthat all information furnished to theSRsarestrictlyconfidentialandshallnotbeusedasevidenceincourtforpurposes of taxation, regulation orinvestigationasprovidedforinSection4ofCommonwealthActNo.591.


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in SOCCSKSARGEN Region has recently partnered with the Department of Tour-ism for the develop-ment of ecotourism sites in identified ar-eas in the region.

DENR, DOT unite for ecotourism site development in 6 LGUsBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

The collaboration,whichaimstoconserveand sustain naturalresources in protectedareas while providinglivelihood andincome to concernedcommunities, hasrecently identified sixlocalgovernmentunitsin North Cotabato,South Cotabato, andSarangani for theNationalTourism


DevelopmentProgram(NTDP).A statement from the Regional

PublicAffairsOfficeofDENR12saidthatproductdevelopmentisongoingfor proposed ecotourism sites inKidapawanCity,MagpetandAlamadainNorthCotabato;GlanandMaitumin Sarangani Province; and Tupi inSouthCotabato.Biddingisalsounderwayforthe

constructionofinformationandvisitorcentersinMagpet,Glan,andMaitum.HadjaDidawPiang-Brahim,regional

technicaldirector forProtectedAreasandWildlifeServicesaidDENR’sroleintheprotectionofnaturalresourcesandconservation of biodiversity throughecotourismishighlightedintheNTDP.“TheNTDPwouldpavethewayfor

the institutionalization of ecotourismplanning and management processin protected area management andpromote advocacy on the conceptand principles of ecotourism,” Piang-Brahimexplained.Protected areas considered for

ecotourismcanbeterrestrial,coastal,marine and wetland areas, includingcaves,sheadded.Attainmentofsuchshallbedependent

onvariousfactorsincludingcommunityparticipation,ensuringprotectionandmanagement of natural resources,respect of culture and indigenousknowledgeandpractices,observanceofenvironmentaleducationandethics,andprovisionofeconomicbenefitsforthe enrichment of host communitiesandsatisfactionofvisitors.She said, integral to ecotourism

development is the provision ofbusinessopportunitiesaspartof the

nation’s socio-economicdevelopment efforts toimprove the life of localcommunities.NTDP also highlights the role of

women in nation building entitlingthemequal opportunities and accesstoresourcesanddevelopmentresultsandoutcomes.Moreover, the program seeks the

promotionoflearningexperienceandconservation awareness; responsibleaction on the part of tourists andindustry;anddelivery toappropriatenumberofparticipantsandbusinessesthat observe and follow ecotourismand conservation concepts, ensuringappropriate development and visitorcontrol.Sheexplainedfurtherthatentire

process begins with identification ofpossiblesitesandassessingtheextentof development that can be donein protected areas. Formulation ofecotourismmanagement plan comesafter the vision, goals, objectives,programs and possible ecotourismenterprisesareidentified.TheProtectedAreaSuperintendent

(PASU)thenpreparestheecotourismmanagement plan along with otherconcerned agencies and a businessplanisformulatedinpartnershipwiththe local government unit or privatesector.Management andbusiness plans

arethensubmittedforreviewbythe Regional Ecotourism Committee(REC), currently headed by DOT12 regional director Nelly NitaDillera, before it is finally approvedby the multi-sectoral Protected


Area Management Board (PAMB).(DEDoguiles-PIA12withreportfrom

MPDomingo/ MCLocsin-DENR12)

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in SOCCSKSARGEN Region recently gathered over 350 rural women in the first-ever agency-led regional gender congress.

Regional congress highlights role of women in agri-fisheryBy: Danilo E. Doguiles

Amalia Jayag-Datukan, regionalexecutive director of DA12, saidthe two-day congress here on July4-5 underscored the importantcontributions of women on thedevelopmentof theagriculture andfisherysectornotonlyintheregionbutalsointheentirecountry.Participants are members of

cooperatives, farmer and fisherfolkassociations, rural improvementclubs and others from acrossSOCCSKSARGENRegion.Director Datukan said they have

beenplanningtoconductsuchanactivityincognizanceofthefactthatwomenareamajorforceaspartnersofmeninagricultureproductionandinmanagingtheirfamilyaffairs.Inhermessage,BernadetteRomulo-

Puyat, agriculture undersecretaryfor special concerns and genderand development, noted that thePhilippines is among the countriesinAsiathatleadintheprovisionofopportunitiestothewomensector,

especiallypertainingtohealth,socialservices,education,andpolitics.Said congress focused on the

genderissuesofwomeninagricultureandfisheryaswellasgenderequalityandempowerment.Italsohighlightedimpactofclimate

change on fishery and agricultureaswellastheindigenouswaysthatwomenapplytomitigatetheeffectsofclimatechange.Participantswerealsoorientedon

the different programs aswell assupport they could avail regardingorganicfarming,agriculture,fisheriesandcooperatives.A video presentation also

highlightedthestoriesofoutstandingruralwomenofRegion12.In the conduct of the regional

gender congress,DA 12 hadhelpfromtheregionalofficesoftheBureauof Fisheries and Aquatic Resourcesand the Cooperative DevelopmentAuthority. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 withreportfromLMSalvo-DA12)


KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Philippine Information Agency and Department of Environment and Natural Resources in SOCCSKSARGEN Region are set to launch a radio program on cli-mate change dubbed as “LaKAsLIKASAN sa Himpapawid” soon.

PIA, DENR launch “LaKAsLIKASAN sa Himpapawid” radio programBy: Oliver Ross V. Rivera

“LaKAsLIKASAN saHimpapawid”willhaveitsmaidenbroadcastonJuly12,Saturdayoverpartnerradiostationsinkeycitiesoftheregion.The program is

scheduledtoairevery2ndand 4th Saturday of themonthon91.7HappyFMKoronadal, DXMS RadyoBida Cotabato, DXNDRadyo Bida Kidapawanand DXCP-CMN RadyoTotooinGeneralSantos.Onthemaidenepisode,

DENR-12Dir.DatuTungkoSaikol and PIA-12 Dir.OliviaSudariawilldiscusstherationaleoftheradioprogramandtheclimatechange initiatives of the Philippinegovernment.PIA-12 Dir. Sudaria said the

programintendstotacklecausesandcoursesofactionsonclimatechangein layman’s termso thatpeoplecanunderstanditeasily.DENR-12 Dir. Saikol said that the

radioprogramisagoodvenuetomake

peopleunderstandandhavevaluableinformationonclimatechange.“Climatechangeisaneverybody’s

concern. People must realize andaccept climate change as the “newnormal”,Saikolsaid. “LaKAsLIKASAN sa himpapawid”

willrunuptoDecemberthisyear,aspartoftheClimateChangeAdvocacyCampaign of the PIA and DENR.(ORVRivera-PIA12)


Talikud Island, better version of Boracay – Del Rosario

DAVAO DEL NORTE - Governor Ro-dolfo del Rosario groomed Talikud island in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) to be the better version of Boracay. Whenaskedaboutthelatestreport on Talikud island as the

nextBoracay,Gov.Del Rosario saidthat the island isnot thenext, buta better versionofBoracay. Gov. DelRosario said inan interview thattheTalikud islandcouldsurpassthecountry’s tourismicon, Boracay, inthe internationaltourism marketas soon as itwill

bedeveloped. Del Rosario stressed theisland’s pristine, long and openbeachline,proximitytotheairportandinterconnectivitythroughits

by M ichael Uy


newly opened circumferentialroad as major factors to makethe island as an internationaldestinationsoon. “Twoweeks ago, I went toBoracayforthefirsttime,anditwasnoteasyforme-thetravelgoing to theplaceand the touraroundtheislandwithverysmallroads,”DelRosariosaid. Hesaid thatTalikudcanbereachedeasilyviaSta.AnaWharfin Davao City or the KaputianWharfinIGACOS. “Here in Samal, there areproper ports to land the boats,unlike in Boracay, where I wasliftedbymentobeable toridetheboatandagaincarriedafterinlandingintheisland,”headded. Gov. Del Rosario disclosedthatthroughtheLocalGovernanceSupport Program for LocalEconomic Development (LGSP-LED),theCanadianGovernmentspend out P5.8-million forthe technical support for thedevelopmentofTalikudIsland. “For this year, a feasibilitystudywill be done and all lawspertaining to Samal Island andTalikud will be reviewed,” hesaid. The governor added withtheASEANintegrationon2015,he as the head of the Inter-

Agency DevelopmentTaskForceforTalikudwill also assess thepotentialmarketforthetourismindustry. “With the Muslim as thelargest population in the SouthEastAsia,Ithinkwewillincludeintheplandestinationsforthem,”headded. He said that the ASEANintegration posed a greateropportunityinthetourismindustryofthecountryandTalikudshouldbepreparedtocaterit. Inaddition,hejokinglysaidthathewillacceptthemayorshipofTalikudonceitwillbecreatedasamunicipality. Gov. del Rosario alsorevealedthathehasbeenvisitedbythefourbarangaycaptainsofthe island for the possibility ofcreatingthemunicipality. “But I told them that, thatis a congressional activity,” DelRosariosaid. He further recalled thatthe barangay captains then feltneglected, when developmenthardlyreachtheirarea. “With thisproject, they feltthat the government is givingthemimportance,”hesaid.(PIA11,MichaelUy)


New Panabo PNP Chief creates City Advisory GroupPANABO CITY, Davao del Norte – New Police Chief Superintendent Roderico A. Roy Jr. created on July 4, 2014 the Panabo City Advisory Group (PCAG), for Police Transfor-mation and Development. Thechiefofpolicepresentedthe Performance GovernanceSystem,orPGS,tothePCAGtoorient the group on programs,projects,andactivitiesincludingthenationalbudgetgiventothepolice. Citinglimitednationalbudgetand facilities, Roy lauded thesupportofthelocalgovernmentofPanaboheadedbyCityMayorHon.JoseL.Silvosa,Sr. Since Panabo City hasenvisioneditselftobethe“Agri-IndustrialGatewaytotheWorld,”the Panabo Police Office isconsideredascrucialpartof itsimprovement. “Wewill implore the aid ofthe Almighty. By 2030, PanaboCity Police Station shall bemanned by highly competent,efficient, committed, well-

equipped personnel, and itshall be supported by activecommunity members towardstheattainmentofaprogressive,peaceful,andsafeAgri-industrialCity”,Roysaid. The Panabo Police Officeusedtoobserveasecurityratioof1policeper1,000communityresidentsbutduetoleannumberof police officers assigned inthe city, each police is obligedtosecure1,901orataratioof1:1,901. Roycitedthisasaconcern,creating a problematic scenarioneedingassistancefrommembersofthePCAG. CarlnellTan,abusinessmanandheadofREACT,waselectedpresidentoftheAdvisoryGroupwhileViceMayorJamesG.Gamaowasvotedasthevicepresident. ThemembersofPCAGcomefromvarioussectorsandthattheyare set tomeet once amonth.(PanaboCityInformationOffice/jmda)


Isabela LGU, CNC lead Nutrition Month celebration By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The city government here and the City Nutrition Council (CNC) have lined up activities for the observance of the annual Nutrition Month celebration this month.


CNCmembers convened lastJune30andtackledtheproposedprogramsofactivitiesforthisyear’sNutritionMonth,whichhas for itstheme, “Kalamidad Paghandaan,GutomatMalnutrisyonAgapan.” The CNC endorsed theactivities, to include BuntisAssembly on July 23, barangaylevelinformationdisseminationonFamilyDisaster Preparedness andProperNutritionfromJuly10to29,barangayassemblyonpinoyhealthagenda Millennium DevelopmentGoals4and5andFamilyDisasterPreparedness on July 2, amongothers. TherewillalsobeadistributionofmosquitonetsandfamilydisasterpreparednessadvocacyinLumbangBarangayonJuly12. The CNC also requestedthe local radio station DXNO-FMRadyo Komunidad to regularlyplugnutritionrelatedadvocaciesinthewholemonthofJuly.Likewise,DXNO was also requested todocumentwithPIAtheGulayansaPaaralanprogramimplementation. Everyyearthedifferentschoolsunder the city schools divisionarealsoactiveparticipants in theobservance of Nutrition Monthwith various activities promotingconsciousnessamongchildrenandyouthonnutritionandhealth. Nurse Mary Joy R. Luzonof the Department of Education(DepEd)-Isabela City Divisionrevealedthatinitialdatagatheredfrom the different schools have

shownthatmorethan800childrenwererecordedasseverelywasted(malnourishedchildren). Luzon, however revealedthat they were surprised at thedramatic increase in the numberofmalnourished children in someof the elementary schools, whichhadverylowincidenceofseverelywastedchildreninthepastyears. Doubtful of the survey, thedivision has ordered the schoolnurses to a re-evaluation and re-weighingofthechildren.Theresultshave generated lower incidenceand Luzon suspected that thedefectiveweighingscalewaspartlycontributorytothedisparityinthedata. Luzon said thefinal datawillstill be collated before theDepEdcouldcomeupwiththerealscore. Meanwhile, the CNChas deferred to August theimplementationofthesupplementalfeeding program for pre-schoolchildrenuptoGradeVIinrespectoftheobservanceoffastingperiodofRamadanamongMuslims. The CNC has agreed to giveprioritytoschoolswithhighincidenceofmalnourishedchildren,andCityDepEdidentifiedTampalanSchool,Badjao Floating School, CarbonandLatuanElementaryschoolsasbeingconsistentwith incidenceofmalnourishedchildren. Theculminationactivityisseton July 30with agriculture boothdisplay,jinglecontest,andsearchforMr.andMs.Veggie2014.


DAR: land acquisition, distribution to continue beyond CARPER termBy Emmanuel D. Taghoy

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – “Land acquisition and distribution to landless Sibugaynons will continue even with the expiration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER),” said Atty. Judith P. Mantos, provincial agrarian reform program officer II of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here in a press briefing Monday. Atty. Mantos disclosed thather officehad targetedover2,000hectaresoflandtobedistributedthisyear, of which about 231 hectareswere already granted to somelandlessfarmersinSibugay. “Wewillcontinuewithourtaskand we are hopeful, despite thisgreatchallenge,thatwewouldstillbeabletoprovidegoodservicetoourclients in terms of land acquisitionand distribution,” stressed Atty.Mantos during the 5th anniversaryoftheCARPERand26thanniversaryoftheCARPrecently. She also emphasized thatonly the funds for the land reform

programthatwouldbestopped,but“thelandacquisitionanddistributionwillgoonespeciallyforlandholdingswithpendingproceedingsevenafterJune2014.” Aside from the land reformprogram, Mantos said, DAR wouldhave other projects and programsliketheAgrarianReformCommunityConnectivityandEconomicSupportServices(ARCCESS),thePAyapaatMAsaganangPamayaNAninAgrarianReform Areas Program (PAMANA-ARA), and the Agrarian ReformCommunities Project II (ARCP-II)ofDARandtheAsianDevelopmentBank(ADB)andothers.


DIPOLOG CITY – Driven by zeal to help the high school students hone their writing skills, the Zamboanga del Norte Press Club (ZNPC) has begun its annual campus journalism workshops anew with the first leg held here last weekend. Nearly 200 students from 11publicandprivateschoolsinthecityturnedupforthetwo-dayworkshop,whichwasheldattheauditoriumofAndresBonifacioCollegethiscity. In his message during theopening program, CongressmanIsaganiS.Amatongoftheprovince’sthird district, urged the buddingcampus journalists to “always tellthetruth.”Healsoadvisedthemto“startthepressrightandcontinueitright.” Amatong,whowasoneof thefoundingleadersoftheclubin1965,recalledhowhestoodforthetruthduring thedarkestyearsofMartialLaw,fightingthedictator. The student-participants weregiven lectures on newswriting,feature writing, editorial writing,sports writing, editorial cartoon,

photojournalism,copyreading, lawsonlibel,mediaethicsandothers. The next leg of the campusjournalismseminarwillbeinSiocon,Zamboanga del Norte on July 12-13. The succeeding workshopswill conducted in Labason town onJuly 19-20, Liloy town on July 26-27, Sindangan town on Aug. 2-3,ManukantownonAug.9-10,SergioOsmeňatownonAug.16-17,Rizaltown on Aug. 23-24 and DapitanCityonAug.30-31. Thisannualactivityoftheclubis given to high school students inthe province and the two cities ofDipologandDapitanforfree. Because of this undertaking,the province’s student-delegatesto the regional and national pressconferenceshave for several yearsemergedaswinners.

ZNPC kicks off annual journalism seminar for high school studesBy Franklin P. Gumapon

ZNPC kicks off annual journalism seminar for high school studes

One Mindanao - July 10, 2014

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