one mindanao - may 28, 2015

EDITORIAL ADVISERS

SEC. SONNY B. COLOMAPresidential Communications Operations Office

JOSE MARI M. OQUIÑENA Director General Philippine Information Agency

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EFREN F. ELBANBUENACluster Head, Southern, Western and Central MindanaoRegional Director, PIA Region XI

MANAGING EDITOR ABNER M. CAGACluster Head, Northern & Northeastern MindanaoRegional Director - PIA Caraga Region

REGIONAL DESK EDITORS FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON, PIA Region IX

ALMA L. TINGCANG, PIA Region IX ELAINE O. RATUNIL, PIA Region X RUDOLPH IAN G. ALAMA, PIA Region XI DANNY E. DOGUILES, PIA Region XII FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region

COPY EDITORS

FRYAN E. ABKILAN, PIA Caraga Region NORA C. LANUZA MOLDE, PIA Caraga Region

VENUS L. GARCIA, PIA Caraga Region

SENIOR GRAPHICS LAYOUT ARTIST

GERIE MAE G. COCO, PIA Caraga Region

Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula)

P. Urro Street, San Francisco DistrictPagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016Telephone no. (062) 215-1480 / 925-0038Cellphone no. 0919-9994516E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]: www.piazampen.blogspot.comFacebook: PIA WesMin Info BlizTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIAIX

SOCCSKSARGEN Region

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

Northern Mindanao

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

J. Rosales Avenue, Butuan CityTelephone no. (085) 341-5285Telefax no. (085) 341-2370Cellphone no. 0917-7188834Email: [email protected] , [email protected],phWebsite: www.piacaraga.comFacebook: PIA Caraga Updates, PIA Agusan del Norte, Pia Agusan del Sur, Pia Surigao del Norte, Pia Surigao del Sur, Pia Dinagat Islands Power FM - CaragaTwitter: https://twitter.com/PIACaraga

Southern Mindanao (Davao Region)

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

LAYOUT ARTISTS

EMMANUEL TAGHOY, PIA Region IX RETCHIE TOLINERO, PIA Region X

ZENER DUMAGUING, PIA Region X

DAISY JANE APIT, PIA Caraga Region

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

NOEMI B. EDAGARegional Director, PIA Region IX

THELMA B. OLIVERRegional Director, PIA Region X

OLIVIA T. SUDARIARegional Director, PIA Region XII

EDITORIAL BOARD

PIA REGIONAL OFFICESOne Mindanao

DOST chief encourages Caraganons to embrace S&T culture

15

25

28

20 34

37

13th year of the Davao Anti-Smoking Ordinance

NRCO strengthens regional reintegration network

Boy Scouts of the Phil. raises local council funds

12

By: Michael Uy

Cover Story

CARAGA WESTERN

NORTHERN

INFOCUS

SOCCSKSARGEN

SOUTHERN

NATIONAL

158

22

OUR COVER

ContentsBy: Rudolph Alama

42

Kidapawan hands out pension to poor senior citizens

DTI MisOcc reports declining prices of products

By: Venus L. Garcia

P6 billion infra projects proposed for Mindanao under PRDP in 2015

Multi-stakeholders forum on ARCP-II AED held in Dipolog

38

40

Confab on community policing baseline set on May 28By: Lorry V. Gabule

19

LGUs to create RPRH Law implementation teams

By: Jay Rosas

36

33

By: Alfonso T. RudaBy: Danilo Doguiles

4 MAY 28, 2015One Mindanao

Cover Story

The City of Davao has been known for enacting ordinances which people actually follow. The ordinance on the ban of firecrackers, the liquor ban (curfew), the speed limit (30 kilometers per hour) are among the major ordinances which are strictly implemented in the city and which has gained local and global acclaim.

13th year of the Davao Anti-Smoking Ordinance

By: Rudolph Alama

5MAY 28, 2015 One Mindanao

In August 14 2002 City Ordinance 0367 or the Comprehensive Anti- Smoking Law was signed into law by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the ordinance prohibits smoking in public places, places of congregation and all enclosed areas (areas which totally or partially roofed or open on both sides but roofed).

The law was actually a product of a review of existing anti-smoking ordinances in the city enacted in 1964, 1987 and 1996 and which was not really followed. The city ordinance took effect in November 2002.

Prior to the ordinance, Dabawenyos were exposed to the perils of inhaling cigarette smoke in public places, among those affected included children, employees and commuters who

are exposed to second-hand smoke.

The ordinance was strictly implemented in the City. and netted in many violators who have belittled the city’s capability to enforce such a seemingly unenforceable ordinance owing to the number of smokers in the city.

So rigid was the smoking ordinance that even President Benigno Aquino III, had to smoke in a specially d e s i g n a t e d smoking area. The Southeast Asian Tobacco Control Alliance

(SEATCA) has made Davao City as one of the model cities in its smoke-free initiative . The city has been a recipient of the Orchid Award given by the Department of Health as a 100% smoke free city.

In 2013, another amendment ( new ordinance) to the strict anti-smoking law gave a clearer picture to the law.

Dr. Domilyn Villareiz chief


of the city’s anti-smoking task force said, the new ordinance – which covers not only cigarettes but all tobacco products – is not “stricter” than the previous one, but a “clearer” version.

“In the new ordinance, we are just clarifying those prohibited places. In the old ordinance, it was not indicated where smokers could not smoke. Basically, both are the same but the new one is clearer than the old,” she said.

In the new ordinance the only places where people can smoke in the city are inside residential homes, in private vehicles and designated and approved smoking areas.

TheOrdinancefinesviolatorsP1,000 for first offense, P2,500for second offense and P5,000for every subsequent offenses. According to new data from the anti-smoking task force from June 2013 to December 2014 the city has collected P2.4 million from anti-smoking violations. In 2014 alone there were 4,000 citations issued. In January to April this year there has already 2,000 citations.

Villareiz said one of the future projects is the computerization of the apprehended smoking


violators database so that policemen can determine that a particular violator has already numerous violations, a case is to be filed against a violator afterhis third offense.

“It has been 13 years but there is still lots of violators, maybe it’s the increasing number of smokers and those who work during night-time where they thought there is no more police who will catch them.” Villareiz said.

The anti-smoking ordinance has made many people quit smoking but they are also replaced by new smokers which Villareiz calls replacement smokers and which calls for a continuous information campaign. Villareiz said that people smoke either because of peer pressure, curiosity or because of work-related stress.

These coming May 29, a simple ceremony at the

Bankerohan Public Market will be held to commemorate the enactment of the law which has become a model anti-smoking initiative.

Villareiz said among the activities is to remove smoking advertisements in stores particularly large tarpaulins and logos posted in the stores.

Republic Act 911 allows only small posters and leafletsas tobacco advertisement provided they are posted inside the premises of the stores which are selling the tobacco products. Violators of the provisions which are storeowners are meted P5,000fine.


MANILA– Government spending has improved within the first quarter this year resulting in disbursements that totaled P504 billion which is P21.5 billion higher than releases made from January to March last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Wednesday.

Gov’t 1Q spending shows accelerating trend

DBM said disbursements in March—which struck a high of P188.5billion—showedayear-on-yearincreaseof11.2percent.This was a considerable improvement from the growth in February disbursementsof9.6percentandJanuary’s5.4-percentdecrease.


“Our spending levels from January to March show a very clear trend towards faster government spending. On first glance, spending inthe first quarter may seemunremarkable, but the fact that it accelerated sharply by March gives us good reason to be optimistic. The second quarter of the year should continue this trend, especially since we’re still working with agencies on improving their spending,” Budget and Management

Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

According to the DBM, the upsurge in disbursements by the end of the first quarterwas driven by quicker spending in Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures (MOOE) and Capital Outlay (CO) in a number of major agencies, most notably under the departments of Education (DepEd), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the OfficeofthePresident(OP).

“When our agencies spendmoreefficientlyon theiroperations and capital outlay, we can expect faster project implementation. Faster spending also means that the public will benefit, because governmentservices are getting to them at a better pace,” Abad said.

Abad added that the


continuing implementation of key spending reforms—particularly those covered by Administrative Order (A.O.) 46—will help agencies make better use of their fund releases.

“The numbers tell us that we’re on the right track. Our major concern is to clear as many spending bottlenecks as possible, especially when it comes to agency procurement. We saw that projects often got stuck in the procurement stage, so we’re resolving that with the cooperation of major agencies,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

“There’s still room for departments and agencies to improve. More than ever, it’s critical for funds to move faster if we want to support service delivery and greater economic growth,” he added.

Q1 2015 Spending by Expense Class Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) outstripped 2014 performance with an increase of 19.2 percent or P86.1 billion in disbursements. Projects such as the KALAHI-CIDSS: National Community Driven Development Program and the DSWD social protection programs—including the Sustainable Livelihood Program and the Social Pension for Indigent Filipino Senior Citizens—required a step-up in funding for 2015, whichcontributed to this performance. Additionally, MOOE spending benefited from releases to theBottom-up Budgeting (BuB) Program and to the OP to cover preparations for hosting the 2015 Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) meeting.

Personnel Services (PS) recorded no change from


2014 levels, partly due to the decline in number of retirees whose claims for retirement gratuity and terminal leave necessitated funding. Similarly, the payment of deficiencies invariousincentives,benefits,andGovernment Service Insurance System (GSIS) premiums in the First Quarter of 2014 offset the increase in number of positionsthatwerefilledinlate2014 and whose compensation

requirementshadtobefulfilled. Infrastructure and Other Capital Outlay (CO) spending declinedby11percent,orP8.5billion. Substantial releases were made in the First Quarter of 2014 for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program and for the projects of the DA-National Irrigation Authority(NIA),while2015sawsmaller releases for these two programs. (DBM)


NRCO strengthens regional reintegration network

MANILA -- The National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO) is reactivating and strengthening its regional integration networks to enhance coordination with stakeholders and overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to highlight the centers programs and services and encourage OFWs to avail of these.


NRCO Program Coordination and Monitoring Division Chief Melvin Caseda said that NRCO’s presence is need on the whole cycle of migration.

“’Pag pinag-usapan kasi ang NRCO, ang tinuturo natin diyan,financialawareness, thevalue of savings, the value of investments, ito’y hindi dapat ituro kung kailan nakabalik na sila (OFWs) dito. Dapat tinuturo ito habang sila’y kumikita. Yun. para sa akin ang challenge. Kasi dapat maramdaman nila ang presensya ng reintegration center habang sila’y nag-aabroad pa lang,” says Mr. Caseda.

Caseda also said that it has become a norm that OFWs turn to NRCO only when they no

longer have a source of income and so needed to make loans for their own businesses. That is also the time that they needed to make loans, and according to Caseda,ithasbeendifficultforthe OFWs to run and maintain their businesses that started in loans.

Caseda further added that information dissemination is one of the challenges NRCO works to resolve. NRCO aims to reach out to many overseas workers to inform them of their services they offer but becauseoftheiroffice’slimitedmanpower, they formulated the regional reintegration network and coordinate with the national government agencies’ facilities for the OFWs.


“Isa pa ‘yung mga undocumented OFWs, or umalis nang illegal. Karamihan natatakot, akala nila paparusahan sila. Pero hindi nila alam talagang inaabot namin sila. First of all, gusto namin silang umalis nang legal,” Caseda added.

Most of the undocumented OFWs are domestic helpers abroad and prone to maltreatment by their employers.

The NRCO implements projects to monitor and facilitate productive return of Filipino workers once they completed employment abroad. These include P10,000-livelihood financial assistance programfor distressed OFW returnees in

the creation of their own micro/backyard business; Balik-Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay! project intended to bring about improved socio-economic well-being of returning women OFWs; Mag-impok, Magnegosyo! Movement (OFW-M3) which empower OFWs toward a culture of savings for investment or entrepreneurship.

To know more about the programs and services of NRCO for overseas workers and returnees, visit http://www.nrco.dole.gov.ph/ (MACV/PRBC/PND/NCRO)


P6 billion infra projects proposed for Mindanao under PRDP in 2015

Davao City – Local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao have proposed a total of P6-billion worth of infrastructure projects this year under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). Theproposed75subprojectsbringthetotalinfrastructureportfolio for Mindanao to 161 subprojects worth P8.7 billion asofApril2015, includingproposedandongoingprojects in2014.


The Mindanao portfolio consists mainly of 141 farm-to-market roads covering 741 kilometers with a cost of P8.1 billion. The Mindanao portfolio is also higher compared to other clusters. Visayas has a total of P6.3 billion worth of projects, while Luzon A and Luzon B clusters have proposed projects worth P3.4 billion and P3.9 billion, respectively.

Other projects proposed include the construction of single-lane bridges, irrigation facilities, potable water supply (PWS) systems and other small infrastructure such as postharvest facilities. LGUs are required to provide 10 percent equity for infrastructure projects.

To date, Region 12 has the most number of projects with a cost of P2.1 billion, followed by Region 10 with P1.9 billion, Region 9 with P1.54 billion,Region 11 with P1.5 billion,Region 13 with P1.1 billion and ARMM with P361 million worth of infrastructure projects. PRDP Mindanao cluster project director Lealyn Ramos said that proposals for infrastructure projects are submitted by local government units (LGUs) and are evaluated by PRDP through site validation and technical review of proposed works. “As in the case of PRDP’s predecessor, the Mindanao Rural Development Program, infrastructure projects that do not adhere to quality standards and specifications are required to adopt corrective measures including remove-and-replace orders,” she said. Ramos added that LGUs must also submit of geotagged photos that will ensure the existence of the proposed project. “It also serves a useful transparency tool to monitor


the progress of project implementation,” she said. Under PRDP, one of the criteria for selecting infrastructure projects is its economic impact to enterprise development and agriculture production in the area, particularly priority commodities identified in the provincial commodity investment plans (PCIP). The current PRDP infrastructure portfolio includes the recently approved P298-million worth of FMRs in Davao del Norte and the P183-million worth of FMRs in Lanao del Norte.

The FMRs in Region XI is expected to contribute to the development province’s cacao industry, which has been identified as a regional priority commodity under PRDP. The Lanao del Norte FMRs is expected to service more than 3,000 hectares of rice, corn and coconut production areas. PRDP is a P27-billion World Bank-funded project implemented by the Department of Agriculture, with counterpart funding from the national government and local government units. (Jay Rosas, DA-PRDP Mindanao)

Coop gets P3.1 M farm machine from DAR By: Danilo E. Doguiles

TUPI, South Cotabato, May 28 -- Farm preparation has become easier and faster for the members of the Cebuano Small Co-conut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CSCFMPC) in Barangay Cebuano, Tupi, this province.

This after the cooperative of agrarian reformbeneficiarieswasgrantedabrandnew, heavy duty Massey Ferguson 4-wheel drive tractor with implements worth P3.1 million.

Felix Frias, provincial agrarian reform programofficerII,saidthe90-horsepowertractor was given to the ARBs under the agency’s Agrarian Reform Community Con-nectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) Project.

During the turnover ceremony, Aurelio Solon, cooperative manager, said “All spec-ificationsweremetandwegladlyacceptitasitwillgreatlyhelpusfarmourfields.”

Solon noted that the government aid could definitely hasten farmpreparationactivities of the coop members as well as other farmers in the area, particularly in plowing, disking and harrowing of planting areas.

Apart from this, the farm machine will


alsosignificantlyimprovetheirquality of farming, lessen ex-penses and improve productivity, he added.

Meanwhile, Engr. Nestor I. Vil-lanueva, chief agrarian reform program Officer for ProgramBeneficiaries Development Divi-sion urged the beneficiaries touse the equipment properly and efficientlytoincreaseproductionand thereby increasing the in-come of their organization.ARCCESS, according to the agency’s website, is a “stra-tegic intervention to retain the

awarded lands of agrarian reform beneficiaries(ARBs)through in-creased production and engage-ment in agri-based and related enterprises.” Theprojectconsistsoffivemajor components which include provision on common service fa-cilities (CSFs) for production and processing, agri-technology and agri-extension services, business development services, credit fa-cilitation, and land tenure im-provement. Frias added that ARCCESS also aims to strengthen ARB


Kidapawan hands out pension to poor senior citizens By: Danilo E. Doguiles

organizations by building them as hubs of support services in the community which are expected to contribute to increasing ARB household incomes and improve

resiliency of ARB households. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from KDSespeñe- DAR South Co-tabato)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, May 28–Some 660 indigent senior citizens here received last week their social pension courtesy of the city government.


City Mayor Joseph Evangelista led the distribution of the said assistance at the City Gymnasi-um in a ceremony attended the beneficiaries whowere identi-fiedbytheCitySocialWelfareand Development Office fromthe city’s 40 barangays.

“ This will surely help our in-digent senior citizens buy their food, medicines and other needs,” Mayor Evangelista said.

Most of the senior citizens re-ceivedP1,500equivalentto

three-month social pension for the1stquarterof2015.

Of the 660 senior citizens, 92 received P6,000 each as their pension last year.

During the distribution of pen-sions, Mayor Evangelista urged family members to give Asanaddedbenefit, theCity

Government also provided free meals and lunch for all the elders during the distribution of the said social pension. (LKOasa-LGU Kidapawan/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)


DOST’s STARBOOKS reaches Caraga

BUTUAN CITY - The latest innovation in learning tools developed and introduced by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its information arm, the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), has now reached the shores of the Caraga Region.


S T A R B O O K S , short for Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station if often referred to as the “library in a box” because it is actually a stand-alone kiosk that can be placed in one corner of the school and students can easily access a wealth of information about science and technology particularly research works of our Filipino scientist and engineers. STARBOOKS is DOST’s response to a call to make science and technology available to more students in the regions as it aims to make academic stars out of our students in the provinces. This unique e-learning tool combines traditional and digital modes of education that allows research activities to be done with just a click of the mouse. “We at DOST want to encourage our students to take up courses in science and technology because we believe

that to achieve inclusive growth we need to strengthen and beef up the pool of scientists, engineers, programmers that we have today,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo. “That is why we developed STARBOOKS to make S&T information more accessible to students in the regions,” he added. STARBOOKS was launched at Robinson’s Place Butuan on Wednesday, May 27 in conjunction with DOST’s nationwide campaign called Science Nation Tour from May 27 to 29 in the city. It is an initiative of the department


aimed at bringing down to the provinces notable inventions and innovations of DOST in education, agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology, healthcare, e-governance and disaster preparedness and mitigation. During the event, a memorandum of understanding was executed by the DOST led by Secretary Montejo and other DOSTofficialsnamely,AssistantSecretary Raymund E. Liboro and DOST Caraga regional director Dominga D. Mallonga. Other events to be featured in the Science Nation Tour in

Caraga include the inauguration of the complementary food project of the Gigaquit Women’s Center in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; ground breaking ceremony and fieldtestingoftheIntegratedAu-Cu Mineral Processing Pilot Plant in Barangay Del Pilar in Agusan del Norte; the Science and Technology Forum presenting LiDAR Flood Modeling, e-Health TABLET, Early Warning Devices, Caraga Food Safety Team, and launch of Eastern Mindanao Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technologies Research Alliance for Development (EMIEERALD). (S&T Media Service)


DOST chief encourages Caraganons to embrace S&T culture

BUTUAN CITY– With the goal of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) to hit the road for nation’s progress, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo encouraged the people of Caraga region to set inclination towards science and technology (S&T) and take a leap in introducing novel transformation and discoveries during his visit here on Wednesday for a 3-day roadshow dubbed as “Science Nation: Agham Ramdam.”

By: Venus L. Garcia


`“The greatest challenge of science and technology is to come up with innovative initiatives to increase productivity of the country. That is why our tour is focused on three key words: engage, inspire and convert. Doing these things, we would be able to come up with effective strategies to increase productivity,” articulated Sec. Montejo in a press conference facilitated by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga. He cited that in terms of technological development, Caraga region is really doing well to be at par with other international innovations. “With its rich biodiversity, unlimited resources can be utilized for a more useful product of research and discovery. It is then our

responsibility to protect and harness our natural resources,” Sec. Montejo said. When queried about how far the department has gone into disaster preparedness, he revealed that they are developing a strategy to simplify the daily weather bulletin. “We are very optimistic that by 2016, all the municipalities will have its scholars to learn how to localize the weather forecasts,” Sec. Montejo said. Meanwhile, Asst. Secretary for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Raymund Liboro presented the Reference for Emergency and Disaster (RED) book published and exclusively distributed by DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII). As a product of ‘Iba na ang Panahon:


Science for Safer Communities’ campaign, the book serves as a comprehensive reference for Disaster Preparedness and Guide for Disaster Mitigation.

“The book also contains the media’s role in disaster information, warning and communication protocols, among others. It serves as a helpful guide for our media practitioners on what questions to ask and what information to disseminate at times when weather disturbances arise in specificarea,”Asec.Liborosaid.

In addition, Sec. Montejo said that DOST is continuously doing innovations for inclusive growth. “We believe that science and technology department has created an impact considering that based on records S&T have helped improved the poverty index of the poorest of the poor in three years,” the secretary emphasized.

This was strongly supported by the statement of Caraga Regional Development Council chair and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas, who also sat as member of the press conference panelist, recounting with pride and high regards the many contributions of her fellow public servants for having effectively delivered their thrusts and have improved the eco-tourism projects, infrastructure, as well as the mining industry which addressed the employment

concern of the region. “So in general, by making eco-tourism as a major industry of the region. It calls for more people to come in Caraga and as a result it has helped boost its income. It is our way also of addressing unemployment by providing more jobs, making people busy doing business while self-employment is also very visible. The region is indeed fast developing,” expressed Gov. Matugas. Aside from the press conference, the participants also witnessed the presentation of Early Warning Devices and Site Installations; Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing with Governors and City Mayors; Presentation and launching of Eastern Mindanao Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Alliance for Development (EMIEERALD); and Presentation and Commitment Signing of Caraga Food Safety Team. Following the whole day events was the recognition of the science ambassadors and Philippine Science High School-Caraga Region Campus scholars during an evening fellowship with dances and serenade. The Science Nation Tour aims to create meaningful outcomes by catering to people everything that science and technology can offer. Sec. Montejo is set for project visits in the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte that will run from May 27-29,2015.


LGUs to create RPRH Law implementation teams

BUTUAN CITY, -- Provincial and City Implementation Team (PIT/CIT) shall soon be created after the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) was organized – to sustain the full implementation of the provisions under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, otherwise known as

Republic Act 10354 at the local level. Once PIT/CIT organized, these local government units (LGUs) shall have to conduct capacity building activities, advocacy, information dissemination, health service delivery, field operations,monitoring and evaluation at their locality in order to realize the impact of the law to the constituents. During the Regional Population Executive Board and Regional Implementation Team conference held recently atPopComCaraga’snewoffice,this city – PopCom executive director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III emphasized the tasks

and functions of the RIT in the implementation of the said law. PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander A. Makinano added that the PIT/CIT secretariat shall also be lodged at the Provincial/City Population Offices and localchief executives or designated officers should be the one tolead the operation and supervise the implementation team. LGUs of Surigao del Sur, Tandag City and Province of Dinagat Islands will have its PIT/CIT Orientation on June 10, 11, and 17, respectively. (PopCom Caraga)


Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Science Nation: “Agham na Randam” Roadshow in Caraga

Day 1May 27, 2015

Activities/ Places Visited *Science and Technology Forum-Samping Avenues, Butuan *Press Conference *STARBOOKS Launching*Visit CSU-Phil LIDAR and Responsible Mining Laboratory *Recognition of Science Ambassadors and Scholars’Night

DIPOLOG CITY – A group of marginal fishermen from Sirawai town will soon have a fishing boat complete with accessories after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Norte has passed a resolution authorizing Governor Roberto Y. Uy to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-9 through Regional Director Sisinio Cano for the implementation of the agency’s “Kabuhayan Program.”

Sirawai fishermen to benefit from DOLE’s “Kabuhayan Program”

By Franklin P. Gumapon


DIPOLOG CITY - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office has conducted here on Tuesday the Provincial Multi-stakeholders forum on ARCP-II Agri-Enterprise Development (AED) at C & L Sea View Hotel.

Multi-stakeholders forum on ARCP-II AED held in DipologBy Alfonso T. Ruda

Governor Uy earlier sought the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s authority to sign a MOA with DOLE-9 as a requirement for the granting of a “Kabuhayan” project toagroupofpoorfishermeninSirawai municipality, some 300 kilometers south of this city.

As DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), the “Kabuhayan” project seeks to help existing livelihood transform into viable and sustainable business or community enterprise by maximizing the community resources and skills. Sirawai is a coastal

townwherefishingandfarmingare the main occupations of the locals. Its major religion is Islam and a large number of its residents belong to the Kalibugan tribe. It is a fourth class municipality.


Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer MohammadDassan J. Adju said the forum aimed to evaluate the implementation of the programs identified underARCP-II projects. Representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the city government of Dipolog also attended the said activity. As one of the components of ARCP-II Projects, the AED intends to provide strategic support services to generate sustained increased income in agricultural production, productivity and household income; provide them access to rural credit, market –driven initiative and value-added and pilot ARC connectivity strategies. ARCP-II AED Consultant Luz Ani said the main objective of the project is to increase

the income of the program beneficiaries and alleviatethe economic condition of the marginalized sectors of our society. AED is funded through a soft loan acquired by the Philippine government from Asian Development Bank. Ani pointed out that in the last few months of its operation, AED will focus on community-driven support services such roads, bridges, irrigation, multi-purpose to maximize production. AED covers 152 AgrarianReform Communities in 11 ARC Clusters, 19 provinces in 6 regions throughout the country including Zamboanga del Norte.

DTI partners with Google, urges SMEs to go onlineCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry – Misamis Oriental (DTI-MOR) with the goal of taking the next level of technopreneurship with the local Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) here partnered with Google Philippines on 26 May 2015 to conduct Google My Business Orientation and Sign-up Day.

by Gennerah Enterina and Karl Glendy Joy Espares


According to DTI Provincial Director Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore, the DTI Negosyo Center with its mission to promote ease of doing business and facilitate access to services for MSMEs has partnered with Google Philippines on advancing Philippine MSMEs through online presence and online customer engagements. A total of 85 local MSMEsattended the Google My Business Orientation and Sign-up Day ranging from the processed food sector, Information Technology, Hotels and Restaurants, retail and servicing sector. Muhammad Sam Shoushi of Google Singapore said this is one way of achieving widened coverage of a certain business location nationwide. It also facilitates and allows MSMEs to directly connect with customers online and put business information on search, maps and on Google plus for easy searching of the business’ location. The advantage of having your business put under Google is its ‘searchability’ wherein your

business will be easily located based on actual address. DTI also held a free demonstration on how to connect with Google My Business and assisted the businessmen and entrepreneurs who attended the event. Shoushi said that you don’t need to maintain unlike other social media platform and it has insight wherein you will be able to know who searched for your product or store. Further, the business orientation also offered ADWORDS, a paid advertisement on Google wherein you will advertise through bidding of keywords that matches your business. It is a pay-per-click method where the business owner will only pay Google every time somebody clicks their advertisement on Google. The advertisement appears on search, on maps, +3M websites and on YouTube. The event allowed MSMEs to sign up to Google My business for free.

DTI MisOcc reports declining prices of productsOROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental -- The Department of Trade and Industry in Misamis Occidental (DTI MisOcc) has reported that the prices of some products have declined.


“This is shown in the reports of the monitoring group, which indicated that from March to the current month, the prices of some products were sighted to be declining by up to 5.06 percent,”Delia M. Ayano, DTI MisOcc Provincial Director, said. Ayano said some of these products are Master Sardines that went down by 0.30 percent, Jersey Condensed Milk, 3.50 percent,BirtchTreeEvaporatedMilk,150g.1.72 percent, Nescafe Classic Coffee, 25g., 5.06 percent and50g., 3.82 percent, Perla LaundrySoap, 420g., 0.64 percent, Pride Detergent Bar, 400g, 0.82 percent and Bareta Laundry Soap, 360g., 0.32 percent. However, few items were priced

higher than the given suggested retail price (SRP), such as, Young’s Town Sardines 155g, ChampionDetergent, 400g and Pinoy Tasty Bread, 450g - by P0.50 margin,Ayano added. Meanwhile, Ayano reiterated its reminder to firm owner/point persons of commercial establishments, here, against engaging in illegal actions that violate Republic Act No. 10623 or the Price Act. Examples of these illegal acts arepricemanipulation,profiteeringand not following the suggested retail price (SRP) of products, which could make violators face penalties of imprisonment and administrative fines,Ayanosaid.(DTI)

Confab on community policing baseline set on May 28ILIGAN CITY -- Local government officials, non-government-organizations, civil society group, the youth, and tri-media are invited to the community policing baseline activity and focus group discussion (FGD) May 28 in Iligan city to kick off a year-long process of a project.

by Lorry V. Gabule


This is spearheaded by the Security Reform Initiative (SRI) Inc., an independent think-tank that pushes for key policy and institutional reforms in the security sector in the Philippines. It has entered into a partnership with the British Council to implement the Golden Thread Community Policing Project. Kathline Anne S. Tolosa, SRI Overall Project Coordinator, said the project is envisioned as a parallel effort in the normalization component of the peace process covering the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, and Sulu. We aim to help shape and develop a secure and stable post-conflictscenariofortheseareas,said Tolosa. The project also brings the strength and access of the Bantay Bayanihan, the nationwide civil society initiative performing oversight on the Armed

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) implementation of its Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), in the communities in the pilot areas. To achieve

this aim, the project, which is implemented with Bantay Kalilintad (BK), the local Bantay Bayanihan in Iligan and Lanao del Norte areas, will conduct a baselining activity, awareness campaign, consultation activity, and community feedback session, as well as identification anddevelopment of local community policing champions and conduct of follow-up dialogues in pilot communities. Meanwhile, Cristina Lomoljo, Bantay Kalilintad’s focal person, said this activity is a vital step towards the process of developing a community policing strategy that can be mainstreamed and employed in promoting public order and safety. Its success will undoubtedly rely on the firm backing andsustained assistance from different participants involved, said Lomoljo.

NGCP reiterates campaign on line safety

DAVAO CITY – The Na-tional Grid Corpora-tion of the Philippines (NGCP) has reiterated its call for the care and protection of its power transmission lines to ensure public safety, especially in the local communities. NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza once again appealed to the public to help the power grid operator maintain a

reliable, safe and secure transmission system, not only for public safety but also to provide quality power system operations. “We have to main-tain quality power supply starting from the trans-mission sites,” Alabanza emphasized during a re-cent Power 103 Orien-tation on Power System Operations for the media in Mindanao.


She enumerated transmission line safety tips involving NGCP’s transmission structures in its host communities to avoid accidents and outages. She said parents should strictly monitor their children and prohibit themfromflyingkitesneartransmis-sion lines or climb transmission struc-tures to prevent incidents of electro-cution.The safety tips cautioned residents nottobuildgrassfiresnearorundertransmissionstructuresbecausefiresmay cause power interruptions in the area. Plants are also not allowed to grow close to the structures, or the carrying of long sticks or any object that might reach or come in contact with the power transmission lines. Installing of antennas, parking

of vehicles and building of houses or any structure near or under transmis-sion lines are also strictly prohibited. NGCP urged residents to report any incident of tangled branches, and in case of accidents, to bring the vic-tim to the nearest medical facility and report the incident to the local police orbarangayofficials. Alabanza said NGCP always en-sures that its line safety campaign would reach the public and increase awareness through the mass media and continuous coordination with ba-rangayandotherlocalofficials. “Please help us make the public understand on the danger of high volt-age of transmission lines,” she asked the media during the Power 103 held at Marco Polo Hotel, this city. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

did you know...

That the town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte got its name from the word mountain people, one of the three tribes of the Ata Manobo group. The other two are the Langilan or warrior people and the kaylawan or nomadic people


Boy Scouts of the Phil. raises local council fundsTAGUM CITY - The Boy Scouts of

the Philippines (BSP) agreed dur-

ing its 59th Annual Council Meet-

ing on May 20-22 at Big8 Corpo-

rate Hotel, Tagum City to double

the local council share from the

members’ annual fee. BSP Secretary General Wendel Avisado disclosed that out of the P 50 annual fee from eachmember,the local council can retain P-20, a 100% increase from the current P-10. “For the first time in the history of the organization, we are increas-ing the share of the local council, which they can retain immediately before remitting it to the national office,” Avisado said. He bared that the P-50 fee isbroken down to P-20 for the lo-calcouncil,P-5membership fee inthe world organization of the scout movement,P-5formember’sfinan-cial assistance, and P-20 for the na-tional office. “Previously, it was just P-10

pesos. Then we added the P-4 na-tional assistance for council opera-tion, which will be abolished start-ing January next year; and another P-6,” he said. Avisado said that with this ad-ditional source, the local council will have more funds for their programs and trainings. The59thAnnualCouncilMeet-ing was attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was also the BSP President, together with more than 700 BSP members in the coun-try. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)

one mindanao - may 28, 2015

Documents