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2010-02-16T23:24:00.001-08:00

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LTO to strengthen road safety campaign next year

2009-12-28T21:52:00.001-08:00

THE full implementation of road safety policies will be implemented
next year without let up, Land Transportation Office (LTO)-9 Regional
Director Aminola Abaton said last week.

This means that there will be strict enforcement of laws governing the
use of helmets, early warning device and the mandatory use of seat
belts as well as impounding of colorum vehicles and fly-by-night
PUJs—those without franchise.

Abaton adds this campaign was not fully set straight by LTO for this
year because they had to prioritize first the education and training
of their personnel and other LTO-deputized members of the PNP and
local and provincial traffic enforcers' auxiliary units.

This paper also learned that the Presidential Anti Colorum and Kotong
Task Force (PACKTAF), headed by Usec. Roy Quiamco, have already
started their operations in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and
Pagadian City early this month.

The PACKTAF employs selected LTO, DOTC, HPG, AFP and PNP elements who
will go after illegal practices such as colorum operations and
mulcting.

Last May, PACKTAF's national campaign has led to the arrest of 63 PNP
personnel who have been involved with these violations and 79 other
individuals from the LTO, LTFRB and various LGUs for extortion and
other related crimes.

"When operations on road safety policies will be implemented in
Zambosur, the driving public, commuters and motorists will not anymore
worry because they have been informed and educated already," Abaton
assured.

He added that they will still set up LTO checkpoints at strategic
areas on the highways around Zambonaga Peninsula and a team of
road-safety personnel will be posted on an 8-hour period to ensure
that colorum vehicles, those without warning devices and registrations
are intercepted and impounded.

The LTO is now implementing quality management system to comply with
international standards of issuing drivers' licenses.

A latest statistic obtained by this paper showed that LTO-9's revenue
collection for 2008 totaled 204,560,063, surpassing their target of
184,840,000.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Pasko Nato '09 finishes off with Awards Night

2009-12-28T21:51:00.001-08:00

FOR another year, Margosatubig edged 26 other participating LGU booths
in the AHC LGU Christmas Bazaar Contest after it was chosen as the
winner in the ZamboSur Christmas Festival, better known as Pasko Nato
'09.

The 10-day Christmas affair concluded with the awarding of winners of
the different competitions and the Agro-tourism and Heritage Center in
Dao.

Following Margosatubig, in order, are Dumingag, Dimataling, which
likewise received the Topseller Award, then Dinas and Molave.

Like Dimataling, Margosatubig is a consistent winner in the past AHC
booth contests, with its previous winnings as Most Artistic booth and
as Best in Tourism Showcase in Megayon 2007 and 2008, respectively.

In other competitions, like the Dao Christmas Lights Contest, first
prize went to Purok Militar, followed by Purok Patag and Purok
Mahayahay.

In the AHC Light–A–Tree Competition, J. H. Cerilles State College
(JHCSC) Dimataling came first while JHCSC–Vincenzo Sagun is second and
JHCSC–Pagadian Campus came third.

The DepEd–2nd District, Division of Zambosur bagged the top spot in
the AHC Belen Contest, followed by PNP-Zambosur in second place and
Zamsureco–I.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Red Cross–Zamboanga del Sur Chapter
is first in the AHC Hanging Christmas Symbols Contest, followed by the
Three Blind Mice and the Paklian Architects.

Governor Aurora Cerilles showed her appreciation and praised the
Provincial Tourism Office headed by Anthony Frederick Padayhag for the
well-organized events.

"Thank you so much for your ingenuity and hard work in support to our
continuing development of the Agro–tourism and Heritage Complex,"
Cerilles said.

Padayhag, for his part, also thanked the assistance from the different
committees and participating agencies and sectors that made Pasko Nato
'09 successful.

Also timed with the awarding night is the grand final of the 3rd Wild
Z Dance Challenge Showdown, with the Mix Stylers sweeping off the
competition, Next Page in second and Headmix in third.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

Irish leader hosts big reception for Sinnott

2009-12-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

FATHER Michael "Mick" Sinnott celebrated his 80th birthday last Dec.
17 in his hometown in Ireland, a day after Irish President Mary
McAleese held a reception in his honor at the Irish leader's residence
in Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, Fr. Seán Coyle, editor of Misyon
magazine, said in his blog.

Sinnott left for Ireland last Dec. 3, weeks away in freedom from his
still unidentified armed kidnappers who snatched the cleric from his
home in Pagadian City and held him captive for a month.

Coyle wrote that McAleese has been close to the Columbans since
childhood when the Irish official "used to sell our magazine, Far
East."

During the reception, McAleese praised the "quiet and modest work" of
Irish religious missionaries and paid tribute to a member of the
Kiltegan Fathers who was robbed inside his home in Kenya and brutally
murdered last Dec. 11.

The Columban Fathers and the Kiltegan Fathers were both founded in
Ireland and are societies of secular priests - not religious.

McAleese said some of the stories of 2009 had brought triumph in the
face of adversity and Sinnott's was a glowing example of that, adding
the story of the priest's captivity "started out very badly; It did
not start out a good story."

"It was a very bad story, the kidnapping of a priest of almost 80 who
was not in the full of his health. It had the potential to be a real
tragedy, with at times it seemed, small chance of a happy ending," the
president said.

Yet, McAleese said, Sinnott had come home fresh and well and was with
his family in the Áras just days before the celebration of his 80th
birthday. "It really is a privilege for this house to welcome a man of
such courage, faith and grace under fire," she remarked.

The President explained it was ironic that Sinnott's kidnapping
provided a chance to learn about the work which Irish priests "do so
quietly and modestly" and that "wonderful work which brings huge
benefit to the people [they] help and [it] also brings rightly high
regard for the Columbans."

"But it also brings, importantly, very high regard for Ireland. You
are the hands of very important work and you are the heart of that
work," she added, recognizing likewise Ireland's Ambassador, Dick
O'Brien and everyone from the Irish, European and Philippine
governments "who had worked so hard to secure Fr Sinnott's release."

McAleese then wished Sinnott "the happiest of birthdays" while Coyle
wrote a message to his fellow priest: "I thank him for his example,
his integrity, his prayerfulness and his total dedication as a priest.
I see in him a man who is truly 'configured to Christ'."

"He is a light in these dark times for the Church in Ireland," the priest added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Irish leader hosts big reception for Sinnott

2009-12-27T03:13:00.001-08:00

Sinnott left for Ireland last Dec. 3, weeks after he was kidnapped by
still unidentified armed men in Pagadian City and released a month
following government negotiations.

Coyle wrote that McAleese has been close to the Columbans since
childhood when the Irish official "used to sell our magazine, Far
East."

During the reception, McAleese McAleese praised the "quiet and modest
work" of Irish religious missionaries and paid tribute to a member of
the Kiltegan Fathers who was robbed inside his home in Kenya and
brutally murdered last Dec. 11.

The Columban Fathers and the Kiltegan Fathers were both founded in
Ireland and are societies of secular priests - not religious.

"He is a light in these dark times for the Church in Ireland," the priest added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Health, peaceful polls top media wish for 2010

2009-12-25T20:55:00.001-08:00

THE year 2009 has brought drama and achievement in the lives of
journalists too. This is the year when media personalities—for their
part—cement their evolution and unity as they are becoming prominent,
making themselves part of the news they impart.

But accustomed to such good (or bad) moments or not, several of them
contend 2009 was such an awful year, with all the problems besetting
the industry as well as their personal lives.

Apparently, the ones who replied to this paper's text survey all
together agree, given their answers and their tone for this year's
wishes was probably to set a new mood for 2010 when they see a new
bailout.

And while it seems to go beyond their desperation and awareness of
their immense role as a committed partner in the community, their
retrospection of next year's general elections is first on their list
of wishes.

Appreciating what the automated election has brought in terms of
modernizing the country's electoral process, it is sad to know that
still several, if not, many of the provincial journalists has to find
time to learn the automated election system (AES).

"Peaceful polls," was RMN-DxDR Ramil Bangues' text message to this
paper when asked of his wish for 2010. Charnyl Albarracin of the
Pagadian Express seconded.

"Peaceful, orderly elections," was DxOC-AM reporter Reynaldo Rosal's
absolute reply.

"Peaceful, clean elections in May," Ping Deliverio, editor of the
Sibugay Express, makes another inclusive answer.

"Maturity among politicians to stop killing media people," Vic del
Pilar of Mindanao Balita Local and Frontline Mindanao Online
recommended the most suitable setting.

"Good health and no more media attack," said Neptalie Batolenio of
Malindang Herald, leading the pack of mediamen who wanted to grasp
favorable vigor and wellbeing.

"More blessings, good health and success," replied Jong Cadion of
Mindanao Balita Local and Frontline Mindanao Online.

"Maintain a happy family," also said Marive Jongco of DxBZ-Radyo
Bagting, waxing her maternal instincts.

"Financial stability and salary increase," this one from Lea Agonoy of
Ummah Fi Salam while Divina Suson of RMN-DxIC wished for a car and
another raise in her salary.

For Elmer Maghanoy of RMN-DxPR, he wants "continued blessings and
guidance in relaying the truth and God's protection in times of
trouble."

John Mark Cocos of DxWO-FM may sound funny when he wished for a
"sports car and to become the president of ABS-CBN," but he later set
it right with the words "Good relations with other mediamen."

Reflecting on what worked in 2009, what didn't, what media loved and
hated and what they could have done better, Wendell Talibong of CBCP
News and DxDD-AM told this paper: "Daghang patay ug katalagman.
Naghari ang mga tikasan sa gobyerno ug midaghan ang nag-antos sa
kalisod."

Agonoy butted in, "Maguindanao massacre, a president who is not
willing to retire, typhoons, volcano eruption, climate change, MILF
and global financial crisis.'

"Worst year, full of disasters and tribulations—a sign that Jesus is
coming," quips Mark Laride of DA-RAFID.

For Ryan Rosauro of Philippine Daily Inquirer, it is because of the
upcoming political exercise in May that the social atmosphere is ripe
for intrigues, mudslinging and double talk.

"The year 2008 is better than 2009 as the latter is marred by bloody
events and calamities. People wanted better life in 2008 after the
elections but their hopes dimmed when politicians reneged on their
promises," said Ellen Ajijul of MIT-RTVN.

"These trials and challenges will be an eye opener to the people and
will reflect in their decision come 2010," explains Cadion.

Albarracin, on the other hand, observed that there was little
upliftment of economic stability in the country from the recession and
only boxer Manny Pacquiao only got richer and more famous.

"The year was full of hardships and success. Nevertheless, its time
nga magpasalamat kita sa kahitas-an sa mga kaayuhan nga gihatag ug
sugaton nato ang bag-ong tuig nga puno sa paglaum," ended Maghanoy.

Well said, the next step now is to see media's goals and wishes come
in the upcoming year. Inevitably, the future is moving in that
direction.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Roy leads LP’s reform-oriented bets

2009-12-25T00:32:00.001-08:00

THE ranks of the Liberal Party (LP) in Zamboanga del Sur may be few
but it sure is composed of reform-oriented local officials and
candidates led by incumbent Vice Gov. Roseller "Roy" Ariosa.

Ariosa, former ally of Gov. Aurora Cerilles in Lakas-Kampi, is running
against the governor's husband, 2nd District Rep. Tony Cerilles, for
the governorship.

Ariosa ties up with another of Cerilles' former protégé, Lakewood
mayor Domingo "Doming" Ariosa.

"We are ready to face and present to the people our platform together
with my line-up," Ariosa told this paper over the weekend.

He adds LP's platform is to have a "change in the system through the
implementations of new programs and good services to the people
without any political color."

Running against the governor in her bid for the representation in the
second district is lawyer Romeo "Boyet" Vera Cruz, vice chairman of
the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Broadcaster Dinah Marasigan, Cesar "Diolo" Dacal, Mario Fermindoza,
Hope Florendo of Labangan and former NBI agent and lawyer Glen Peralta
compose LP's lineup for the first district provincial board.

Lawyer Tersindo "Dodong" Poloyapoy is running against the governor for
congressman in the second district along with colleagues Emiliano
Deliverio, Andres "Andy" Nacilla, Dr. Lucas Leonardo Jr. of Guipos,
former Tabina mayor Romulo Vic Lomo and former Bayog mayor Emercindo
Fullo as guest candidate for the second district.

"We did not put-up candidate for mayor in Pagadian City except for
lawyer Tata Quicoy and mediaman Anacleto "Boy" Deliverio because we
believe in the leadership of Mayor Sammy Co, his programs and
development for the city," Ariosa justified.

However, the vice governor said that in the municipal level for the
first district, the LP has filled up candidates from Mayor down to the
municipal councilor except in Ramon Magsaysay.

For the second district, they only filled five towns with complete
line-up: San Pablo, Dinas, Tigbao, Tabina and Lakewood while in
Dumalinao, the LP fielded one candidate for vice mayor along with
candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan. The rest of the municipalities
have guest candidates.

"I hope that the people will vote wisely and choose right the person
they believe can give real public service. With the election
automation, I believe that cheaters will have no chances to do their
schemes," Ariosa said.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Sammy Co’s ‘Fantastic 4’

2009-12-24T21:05:00.001-08:00

IN the potpourri of old timers, veteran lawyers and successful
entrepreneurs completing the local slate of Mayor Samuel Co, four new
faces did not escape the eye of the media.

Who are they? Will they hog the headlines and squeeze for voters'
preference in the next year's elections just like the old timers and
the veterans?

First is Alexander "Jun-Jun" Co Jr. The 23-year old is a hotelier and
Mayor Sammy Co's nephew. He is said to be a "substitute" for his
uncle, incumbent councilor Wilson Co, who opted not to run again owing
to health concerns.

A business administration and computer application graduate of La
Salle University in Cebu City, Jun admits he's a greenhorn in politics
and was hesitant at first.

"My uncle taught me the importance of coming out of my comfort zone
and start serving other people. It was an insight and from that time I
thought I am capable of becoming a humble servant," he added.

"In life we had to be determined. Achieving things does not depend on
age but on determination."

"Business wisdom is my forte that I can apply in the political arena
in the interest of public service and maximized potential and develop
to gain more business investors in the city," Co said.

Jun notes that he can make breakthroughs in the tourism, business and
youth sectors.

Next in Co's list is Aniceto Galon, a retired judge and former city
councilor who wants to make a comeback from his long respite.

He says he has reached the highest point of his career and wants "to
go back to his first love," which he mean as the city council.

As a young lawyer then, Galon has served for two terms in the
pre-martial law years before he shifted career and worked his way up
in the judicial courts.

"Akong gibati nga ang pagserbisyo sa lungsod walay kinutuban. Kung
nangandoy ko sa pagserbisyo sa publiko niadtong batan-on pa ko nga
kulang pa ko og kasinatian, labaw na siguro karon mapuslan ang akong
kasinatian nga edaran na ko," he said.

"Kung magustuhan sa katawhan akong tanyag kanila, ang akong gisaligan
sa akong pagpapili ug ang igarantinya ang akong tiunay nga
pagserbisyo," Galon added.

For lawyer Carlos "Caloy" Madarang III, taking his sights on public
service will be a specialty since as a lawyer, for example, he can
offer his services to the council and to the people.

"Being a rookie in the political arena I don't want to brag myself.
The task and work of a councilor will not be new to me. So far I'm
still hopeful and continue to pray for the blessing of the Almighty
and the people so that this bid will be successful," the former
provincial legal officer said.

Last but not the least is businessman and contractor Roque "Nonoy"
Yamba, who is also the president of the Baganian Broadcasting
Corporation and general manager of DxBZ-AM and DxCA-FM.

He said: "Kung unsa man gani ang tahas nga ihatag sa katawhan, akoang
himuon alang sa kalambuan sa siyudad," was his no-nonsense words.

On the sideline is incumbent board member Baldomero "Baleleng"
Fernandez—a private lawyer and formerly the provincial and city
prosecutor of Zamboanga del Sur.

Banking on his vast experience in law practice and as a seasoned
legislator, Fernandez said that he will focus on the needed
regulations and policies for a more progressive regional center.

"Nagtan-aw ko nga taga-dinhi man gyod ta ug basin aduna tay dako nga
mahimo ug ikatampo sa pagpanday sa balaod alang sa kalambuan sa
siyudad," he stressed.

Fernandez added that he wants to initiate laws that will benefit the
senior citizens, revenue collections and the poor.

For his part, Co said that their lineup went through the rigorous
selection process of their party and that he believes this chosen crop
will help propel the city to make more progress.

The mayor calls them a "teamwork of young, energetic and committed
people" that can lend a hand in propelling the city to sure
development.

"With this lineup, we will try our very best nga modaug gyod ang
tanan," the mayor added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION

--
Posted By MASTERMIND to People Link at 12/24/2009 09:01:00 PM

NUJP-Misoc condemns slay attempt on fellow broadcaster

2009-12-24T07:28:00.001-08:00

OZAMIZ CITY--The city chapter of the National Union of Journalists of
the Philippines (NUJP) condemned another slay attempt on one of its
colleague whose house was lobbed with a grenade last Sunday evening.

Reports from NUJP-Misamis Occidental identified the media man as
Danilo Pilar, a hard-hitting radio commentator and presenter of
"Analysis," a weekly current affairs program airing on a local
television.

Pilar was said to be active in denouncing shenanigans from political
celebrities and public offices in the province.

Ronda Balita, a nightly broadcast airing in Ozamiz City, showed this
paper its interview with Pilar a day after the incident where he
narrated that he was at the back of his house when two unidentified
persons lobbed a grenade in their front terrace around 7:00 in the
evening of Dec. 20.

The blast tore through his house located in Barangay Tabo-o damaging
the window jealousies.

The shrapnels likewise injured Pilar's father in law, identified as
Rodolfo Dulam, who was then immediately brought to Medina General
Hospital in Ozamiz.

Pilar said he could not recall anybody having a grudge against him
since he has been on break from his weekly television program for
almost a year although he admitted later that he has returned for two
weeks already.

He believes the attack is politically motivated and is related to his
work as a presenter in his weekly television program.

This paper learned that Pilar was doing research on a certain public
officials and that the said person may have been tipped off about
Pilar's inquiries.

In a statement emailed to this paper, NUJP-Misamis Occidental
president Ryan Rosauro condemned the attack and expressed the
chapter's view on the attack.

"Ang NUJP hilabihang naalarma ug naguol sa pagpangatake kang Danny
Pilar pinaagi sa usa ka granada nga gilabay sa iyang panimalay…Bisan
paman nga ang usa ka halalom nga imbestigasyon ang kamulo'ng
gipahigayon kalabot niini, among gipasalamatan ang PNP sa Misamis
Occidental, sa paspas nga pagresponde sa panghitabo. Hinaut nga
masustenir kining paningkamot sa pagsulbad sa kaso aron makaangkon og
hingpit nga hustisya si Danny Pilar," the statement reads.

"Dili madiskwento ang posibilidad nga ang pagpangatake adunay
kalambigitan sa pulitika ug ang trabaho ni Danny isip tigbalita.
Nahitabo kini human maplastar ang kandidatura sa mga pulitiko alang sa
nagkadaiyang posisyon. Gani, matud ni Danny, kung adunay nag-interes
sa iyang kinabuhi tungod sa lain pang rason, kaniadto ra siya hamyang
kaayo sa pagpangatake."

"Tungod niini, among gihangyo nga unta malinawon nga pamaagi ang
ipatuman sa mga pulitiko subay sa ilang personal nga interes nga
maagni ang katawhan sa pagdapig sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka kandidatura."

To recall, a few weeks ago, Ozamiz journalists expressed they were
incensed over the killing of their colleagues in Maguindanao and
called for the need to initiate a treaty among politicians as a
promise not to repeat the gruesome incident.

"Atong panawagan ngadto sa mga politiko: di magdayon ang panagbingkil.
Mahimo nga ang manag-away karon managsuud sa sunod ug vice versa.
Hunongon na nato kini nga cycle of violence nga maoy nagpatigbabaw
dinhi sa ato," they said then.

"After all, sa mga politiko, ang pagpapili para man mangalagad, dili
ang mohawod sa katilingban. Himuon nato nga matarong. Ang pagpatay s
mga kaaway sa politika pagpangalagad lamang sa atong kaugalingon ug sa
atong katuyuan."

The NUJP has been urging politicians in the province to assure the
public not to use violence in pursuit of their political interest,
especially with the 2010 general elections just around the corner.

"Among giawhag ang mga pulitiko nga mosaad atubangan sa katawhan nga
magdumili sa dugoon nga mga paagi aron mapalawig ang kinaugalingong
pulitikanhong interes," the journalists said.

"Ang pagpapili sa pulitikanhong posisyon usa sa mga hulagway sa
pagtunhay sa demokrasya. Kaubang hulagway niini ang kagawasan sa
pagpadayag," they concluded.

As of press time, the PNP has yet to submit to the journalist's group
their findings on the slay attempt on Pilar.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

ZPPO conducts 12th leg of ‘makeover caravan’

2009-12-24T06:53:00.001-08:00

THE Zamboanga Del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZPPO) recently
conducted the 12th Leg Transformation Caravan participated by staff
officers, respective police chiefs in the province and their
personnel, members of the Pagadian City Hikers Joggers Association
Inc., and the PNP Retirees Association of Zambosur.

Police Provincial Director S/Supt. Ramon Ochotorena presently heads the ZPPO.

The 12th Leg of the PNP Transformation Caravan is hosted by PNP Region
9 after which will pass on to PNP Region 10 with the "Transformation
Torch."

This torch symbolizes the changes undertaken by the present PNP
administration in an effort to transform the organization into a
capable, effective and credible law enforcer, Ochotorena said.

"The torch of the PNP symbolizes the continuity of the PNP
transformation Program which aims to resolve organizational
dysfunctions and improve the quality of police services; to strengthen
law enforcement capabilities; and to enhance the welfare and benefits
of our personnel and dependents," a ZPPO press statement emailed to
this paper said.

"Likewise, it also promotes the culture of reform in the PNP personnel
and stakeholders through advocacy programs and development updates of
the Integrated Transformation Program (ITP)," the press statement
continued.

The caravan started with the torch run at the Balintawak junction
going to the city proper and culminated inside Camp Abelon, followed
by an integrated transformation briefing at the ZPPO conference room.

There, Ochotorena turned over the transformation torch to all chiefs
of police, represented by P/Supt. Ranulfo Sinajon of PNP Molave.

The PNP Transformation Torch run covers 17 regions around the country
and 20 National Support Units and was conceptualized by Police Chief
Jesus Verzosa, who said that he will make effective leadership "a way
of living in the PNP."

The PNP aims that by 2015, it will no longer have reasons for not
making any part of this country a more peaceful, orderly, and safe
place to work, invest, and do business.

Cerilles leads Pasko Nato ’09 opening

2009-12-24T06:32:00.001-08:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles led the formal opening of the Pasko Nato 2009
last Dec. 16 at the Agri- Tourism and Heritage Complex (AHC) in Brgy.
Dao amid a big crowd of eager spectators who wanted to take a glimpse
of the blinking fairy lights of the Giant Christmas tree located
within the area.

The Pasko Nato '09 is the third ZamboSur Christmas Festival initiated
by the Provincial Government.

As usual, the lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree coincided with the
AHC Kids Caroling Contest and the first judging of the AHC LGU
Christmas Bazaar Contest that evening.

Cerilles, who is in her last term as the province's chief executive,
said she was happy with the fortitude shown by Zambosurians and
expressed her gratitude to the people for all the support she got.

"Your love, respect and cooperation have been my strength to pursue
big dreams and work even harder for the good of us all," Cerilles told
the crowd.

The governor added that despite the struggles she confronted during
her three terms, these were all conquered and she prevailed because
"we all worked together with one vision and one purpose."

She then congratulated all the Capitol employees, even calling them as
her "extended family who gave their best at the frontlines of
service."

The governor then reiterated her advocacy against illegal drugs and
mentioned her strong condemnation of the Nov. 23 massacre in Ampatuan,
Maguindanao, which killed 57 people including some 30 journalists.

"Let us therefore renew our commitment to work together in restoring
the dignity and peace in Mindanao, making it a land of fulfilled
dreams," she urged.

The opening and lighting activity at the AHC ended with a grand
fireworks display.

Meanwhile, Provincial Tourism Officer Anthony Padayhag said everybody
is welcome to visit the Provincial Government Center's nightly
activities of Pasko Nato '09.

Most of these activities are in collaboration with the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts under the Dance Season program of
the Provincial Tourism Office, he added.

REPORT BY PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

RM, Sominot, Midsalip ink pact on mojon project

2009-12-24T06:14:00.001-08:00

THREE municipalities from the first district of Zamboanga del Sur
recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in support of the advocacy of
protecting and conserving geodetic control points or mojons.

The latest press release by the Provincial Press Bureau identified the
towns of Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot and Midsalip that will be installed
with mojons by DENR and the National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA).

The said project is under the Adopt a Mojon Program of the PRS 92
which will provide a standard survey and mapping reference coordinate
system that will be used by agencies in all their developmental
programs.

The DENR has said that mojons will serve as reference points of
geodetic engineers in the conduct of all kinds of surveys in the
municipality.

These mojons, added the environment office, will form part of the
national network of geodetic control points used as reference in all
kinds of survey activities of all agencies.

Through these mojons, land titling will be easily facilitated
including the transfers of land titles; land or property boundary gaps
and overlaps; improve land administration and tenure system and
improve surveying and mapping capabilities.

The MOA signing between the DENA and the respective LGUs were done
between Mayors Pacifico Bulahan Jr. of Ramon Magsaysay, Teodoro Acosta
of Sominot, Leonida Angcap of Midsalip and DENR regional executive
director Maximo Dichoso.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, represented by Provincial Administrator
Pepito Degamo in the MOA signing activity, expressed her support and
said that she anticipates commendable outcomes in promoting a unified
reference system through the LGU's commitment.

It was learned also that with the reference points in place, geodetic
engineers will find it easy to locate the said mojons and thus the
cost of surveys will be made cheaper for land claimants.

NUJP-Misoc Statement on "Analysis" broadcaster Danny Pilar: Ang pagpapili ug ang kagawasan sa pagpadayag parehong hulagway sa pagtunhay sa demokrasya

2009-12-21T22:14:00.001-08:00

Disyembre 22, 2009

Ang NUJP hilabihang naalarma ug naguol sa pagpangatake kang Danny
Pilar pinaagi sa usa ka granada nga gilabay sa iyang panimalay didto
sa Taboo, Jimenez niadtong adlaw'ng Dominggo, Disyembre 20, 2009. Si
Danny kabahin sa komunidad sa mga tigbalita sa Misamis Occidental.

Bisan paman nga ang usa ka halalom nga imbestigasyon ang kamulo'ng
gipahigayon kalabot niini, among gipasalamatan ang Philippine National
Police (PNP), ilalom sa liderato ni Supt. Leonilo Cabug, provincial
director sa Misamis Occidental, sa paspas nga pagresponde sa
panghitabo. Hinaut nga masustenir kining paningkamot sa pagsulbad sa
kaso aron makaangkon og hingpit nga hustisya si Danny Pilar.

Dili madiskwento ang posibilidad nga ang pagpangatake adunay
kalambigitan sa pulitika ug ang trabaho ni Danny isip tigbalita.
Nahitabo kini human maplastar ang kandidatura sa mga pulitiko alang sa
nagkadaiyang posisyon. Gani, matud ni Danny, kung adunay nag-interes
sa iyang kinabuhi tungod sa lain pang rason, kaniadto ra siya hamyang
kaayo sa pagpangatake.

Tungod niini, among gihangyo nga unta malinawon nga pamaagi ang
ipatuman sa mga pulitiko subay sa ilang personal nga interes nga
maagni ang katawhan sa pagdapig sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka kandidatura.

Sa maong panghitabo, among giawhag ang mga pulitiko nga mosaad
atubangan sa katawhan nga magdumili sa dugoon nga mga paagi aron
mapalawig ang kinaugalingong pulitikanhong interes.

Ang pagpapili sa pulitikanhong posisyon usa sa mga hulagway sa
pagtunhay sa demokrasya. Kaubang hulagway niini ang kagawasan sa
pagpadayag.

RYAN D. ROSAURO
Chair,
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUJP)
Misamis Occidental Chapter

Market execs seize tampered weighing scales in Agora

2009-12-14T03:13:00.001-08:00

THE city market monitoring team headed by Enrique Alawi, market
superintendent, warned fraudulent vendors of sanctions should they
fail to stop using defective and unsealed weighing scales to sell
their consumable items.

Monday, Dec. 14, Alawi's team conducted their surprise random
inspection at the meat and rice sections inside the Agora and
confiscated a total of 16 tampered and unlicensed weighing scales.

Alawi informed this paper that the scales were called "tampered"
because of the falsified actual measuring read-out or purposeful
incorrect measurement as a result of a maneuver in the instrument by
the dishonest vendor.

The market official said this practice has caused several consumers to
lodge repeated complaints to their office, urging them to conduct
periodic inspections every now and then.

It was also learned that last Monday's surprise inspection was the
second conducted by Alawi and his group, just a week after they
confiscated 20 tampered weighing scales at the fresh fish section.

Alawi explains tampered scales can be easily detectable by their
office because of the use of a calibrated weight tester.

He said he was surprised that after conducting such method, he found
that most of the weighing scales tipped to about one gram to
one-fourth heavier than the normal.

Alawi laments that aside from scolding the vendors, they can only slap
erring vendors P50 for the calibration fee and another P200 as penalty
for violating RA 7394, known as the Consumers Act of the Philippines.

In a separate conversation with Joseph Sapong, assistant market
superintendent, he said that some crooked market vendors were making a
heyday with such malpractice after the Timbangan ng Bayan was
destroyed by fire last year.

Last September, acting on the complaints of consumers, the inspection
team of the City Treasurer's Office conducted their own surprise
inspection on weighing scales used by vendors inside the city market
and confiscated about 30.

Alawi said that because of repeated gripes from consumers victimized
by this rampant modus operandi of market vendors, he will ask the city
government to again install the Timbangan ng Bayan.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Statement on Ampatuan's ill gotten wealth, election fraud

2009-12-10T23:21:00.001-08:00

In recent days, military raids in Maguindanao have revealed much more
than high-caliber firearms; the raids have made public 16 homes in
Davao City and 14 mansions in Maguindanao, all belonging to the
Ampatuans.

While the Ampatuans wallow in splendor and grandeur, their
constituents suffer the hardship of squalor and poverty that is
prevalent in the third poorest province in the country.

The question is, where did all this wealth come from? Gov. Andal
Ampatuan's Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) for 2002 shows
only a net worth of P11 million. As public servants, Gov. Ampatuan and
the rest of his family must answer to the people for amassing a
suspicious amount of wealth while in power.

More importantly, the discovery of thousands of voter's identification
cards and other election materials in the home of Shariff Aguak Mayor
Anwar Ampatuan is a tell-tale sign of the source of their wealth, and
is further evidence of the long-standing rumors that the powerful
Ampatuan clan was involved in rigging the 2004 and 2007 elections.

It is no secret that the Ampatuans count themselves as the staunch
allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and that the province
where the Ampatuans have wielded their iron grip for more than a
decade is a known bulwark of the administration. The tragedy in
Maguindanao has now shed light into the ghost of electoral fraud that
has continued to haunt GMA's presidency.

We have had enough. We call on the Office of the Ombudsman and the
Department of Justice to conduct an immediate and impartial
investigation into the apparent ill-gotten wealth that is a stark
example of the corruption that has eroded our democracy, and the
fruits of this administration's efforts to deceive our people of its
legitimacy.

ATTY. EDWIN LACIERDA
Spokesperson (0917-6293416)
Presidential Campaign of Benigno S. Aquino III

Slowly digging one’s own grave

2009-12-10T17:09:00.001-08:00

THE ones responsible for the Maguindanao massacre should be arrested and castigated to the highest terms. Theirs deeds are too barbaric to contemplate, with no human sense and very hideous in the eyes of a civilized nation.

Imagine the new statistics of journalists killed in the Nov. 23 massacre is now at 37 with one more missing and unaccounted. All over the world, the Philippines stand embarrassed with this unfolding within our very eyes—the scattered bodies of innocent civilians, lawyers and journalists—some of whom were tortured, raped before being killed and a handful were buried alive.

We admit that many members of the fourth estate are affected by the deaths of our colleagues. We are not acting pretentious this time nor make exaggeration of this issue. Such deaths deserve our anger and indignation. It deserves our united call for justice.

Since we, as pillars of information, only work for the good of the public, we strive to give professional service for the community’s collective interest in knowing what is happening around the world, in our country and our respective neighborhoods. No more, no less, not even politics.

Like our counterparts in other parts of the planet, we express their collective outcry to demand justice for the 31 journalists and media workers killed in Maguindanao. To this administration, let us once and for all stop this culture of impunity in our country, which is contributing to the string of deaths of media practitioners.

We send this statement of protest to President Gloria Arroyo for her to see the persistent episodes of this social malady. It doesn’t need to have more than 100 journalists killed in their work desks or beats to rally support for our poor circumstances.

If the Philippines is one democratic country, why are there so many journalists being threatened and killed? We have been expressing this question and outrage for a long time already to no effect despite the fact that we who are left behind find it unpleasant that we too had to slowly dig our own graves. God forbid. God help us.

Pagadian, Ozamiz media light candles for fallen peers

2009-12-10T00:14:00.001-08:00

JOURNALISTS pledging memberships with the provincial chapters of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc. (ZPPI) recently held its candle-lighting tribute to the fallen journalists in Maguindanao.

NUJP chapter president Hirohito Cadion said the activity also called to mind the lives and advocacy of the five Pagadian journalists killed in the line of duty since the 1990’s.

Cadion identified the five as publisher Billy Yu (1998), Olympio Jalapit (1999), Edgar Damalerio (2001), Edgar Amoro (2005) and Rolly Cañete (2006).

The lighting of candles was done in front of the Jose Rizal Monument near Plaza Luz and joined by members of the Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace, students, churchgoers and some media members from Ozamiz City.

The activity form part of the week-long annual celebration of the Mindanao Week for Peace, which ran from Nov. 6 to Dec. 2.

Cadion, in a statement relayed to this paper, said the condemnation and the protest of Pagadian journalists will not end up with the burial of the 30 working journalists slain in Maguindanao but will continue until justice will be served.

It can be recalled that of the five media practitioners killed in the Pagadian City, only the case of Edgar Damalerio earned justice with the arrest and prosecution of the supposed suspect.

Meanwhile, Ozamiz journalists were also indignant over the killing of their colleagues in Maguindanao and called for the need to initiate a treaty among politicians as a promise not to repeat the gruesome incident.

Led by NUJP chapter president Ryan Rosauro of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Jovencio Godoy Jr. of the national directorate, the journalists gathered for a 30-minute prayer vigil outside the city metropolitan cathedral and voiced out their call.

“Let us try hard not to sacrifice innocent lives in the political process or action. With what was happening in Maguindanao, I think there should be distinction but we saw none,” Godoy said.

“Atoang iampo nga maundang ni kay kung magpadayon ni, nagtoo ko nga wala nay mag-media pa nga mubarog ug modala sa tingog sa katawhan kay lungguan man sa ulo og dili mauyunan ang ilang baruganan,” he added.

“Atong panawagan ngadto sa mga politiko: di magdayon ang panagbingkil. Mahimo nga ang manag-away karon managsuud sa sunod ug vice versa. Hunongon na nato kini nga cycle of violence nga maoy nagpatigbabaw dinhi sa ato,” Godoy continued.

“After all, sa mga politiko, ang pagpapili para man mangalagad, dili ang mohawod sa katilingban. Himuon nato nga matarong. Ang pagpatay s mga kaaway sa politika pagpangalagad lamang sa atong kaugalingon ug sa atong katuyan.

The journalists then called on the community to exercise the same vigilance. “Tabangan ninyo kami kay kung mawala na ang mga mensahero nga nagdala sa inyong mga tingog, mahimo na nga walay bili ang atong pagpuyo niining kalibutan,” they said.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

ZPPI changes guards

2009-12-09T23:57:00.000-08:00

AS a matter of urgency and necessity, the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc. (ZPPI) met last Saturday, delivered all the reports and elected its new set of officers.

Charnyl Albarracin of Pagadian Express was elected president, replacing Elmer Maghanoy of RMN-DxPR who served his full term. Albarracin’s executive vice president is ex-board member Maria Dinah Marasigan, also of DxPR.

The vice presidents who will sit in the respective media divisions are Leo Santillan (MIT-RTVN) for broadcast; Jong Cadion (Mindanao Balita Local-Frontline Mindanao Online) for print; and Michael Medina (Zamboanga Peninsula News) for online.

Provincial press officer Radem Gutang was re-elected secretary while Vanessa Cagas of Baganian Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) is the new treasurer and Zamsureco information officer Levi Cabatcha as auditor.

Tony Bayamban (Mindanao Biznews), freelance journalists Leah Agonoy and Lualhati Belen, and Vic del Pilar (Mindanao Balita Local-Frontline Mindanao Online) compose the members of the board, in addition to the three past presidents: Marive Jongco of BBC, Remai Alejado of DA-RAFID and Maghanoy.

In a huddle after the election, Maghanoy told this paper his wishes to the new officers as he exhorted other fellow members: “Unta suportahan nato sila aron mapakita nato nga nagkahiusa ta bisan pa man ug managlahi ang atong outfit nga gitrabahoan.”

For Albarracin, Maghanoy has these words: “Normal man sa usa ka organization nga adunay mga miyembro nga dili nato ma-satisfy, kinahangalan nga dawaton nato sa dakong pagpahiubos.”

“Usahay lisod lang kayo dawaton ang kamatuoran, pero bisan pa ug unsaon nimo, mangayo lang ta ug pasaylo nga wala nimo mahatag ang tahas isip usa ka leader,” he added.

More wishes for ZPPI, this time from Marasigan: “Malaumon ko nga mamahimong usa ka malambuong organisasyon ang ZPPI ug mapadayon ang nasugdan na sa grupo.”

Del Pilar butted in: “Charnyl is the timely guy to rule the club. With him, we hope a new image and new challenge will emerge.”

For Julius Breva of Mindanao Chronicle and Agonoy, both recognized the fresh and unsullied personality of Albarracin, who, they said, will bring innovation to ZPPI.

“This is a welcome development and Charnyl has integrity to lead. Mas makaayo kini alang sa media in Zambosur. May we practice this sense of volunteerism and always think of development for the group and not for personal interest,” they said.

Jong Cadion of NUJP-Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chapter also said that he is 100 percent supporting Albarracin’s leadership. “Aduna siya’y aggressiveness ug isip batan-on pa, he will be idealistic but nevertheless I will support him.”

In response, Albarracin said he will try his best to bring together the local media and run ZPPI for the good of all.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

MisOc gets a taste of 3-in-1

2009-12-09T23:54:00.001-08:00

THE battle lines in the top political echelon in Misamis Occidental have been drawn and it’s a toe-to-toe, three cornered fight among incumbents who are former allies and acquaintances.

Pitching in for the royal rumble for the congressional seat of the second district is incumbent Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Ozamiz mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and Tangub mayor Jennifer Wee-Tan.

Also courting the votes of some 321,843 Misamisnons for their gubernatorial bid are Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Vice Gov. Francisco Paylaga Jr. and Ozamiz Vice Mayor Carlos Patricio Bernad.

Except for Ramiro and Parojinog who retained their loyalty with the ruling party, the other politicians mentioned in this report are once strong movers of Lakas-Kampi coalition.

Both Ocampos and Bernad are now pledging memberships with the Liberal Party (LP) while Paylaga opted to be a Nacionalista (NP) and Tan is in the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC).

Cracks in the Lakas-Kampi in Misamis Occidental started to show when Paylaga jumped overboard last March after being recruited by Sen. Manny Villar, followed by Bernad who tied up with Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s group last November and Tan crossing towards Danding Cojuangco’s camp. Lately, Ocampos’ took his turn to bolt out from the ruling party and into LP, joining the surprised Bernad.

Even with this unexpected change, records from the provincial Comelec office shows Lakas-Kampi still reigning with 14 bets, followed by NP with 12, PMP with 8, LP with 4, 6 independents and a lone NPC candidate.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Famed anti-gambling bishop dies of liver cancer

2009-12-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

A bishop based in Ozamiz City who once spoke his piece vocally against illegal gambling has died of cancer, reports the Malindang Herald website.

News of Monsignor Emie Bienes’ death was announced, Dec. 7, by Ozamiz Clergy President Fr. Edgar Canama, who said the 63-year old prelate died in Cebu City last Dec. 4 due to complications of liver cancer.

Bienes is the vicar general of the Ozamiz archdiocese and formerly the parish priest of St. Michael Parish in the neighboring Tangub City.

January, this year, the bishop was suddenly rushed to the hospital after he complained of abdominal pains and blurred vision while in the middle of his homily.

A source from the Bishop’s Palace said then that Bienes once confided he has diabetes which also affected his liver.

“The Catholics of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz have lost a kind and dedicated priest, a good friend and trusted member of the board of consultors,” Canama followed up his brief announcement.

Born on Sept. 3, 1946, Bienes was ordained priest on April 21, 1976. In his early years as a seminarian, Bienes volunteered as one of the teaching staff of St. Mary’s Theologate Seminary in Gango, Ozamiz City.

The late bishop once hogged headlines for his stand against the so-called Small Town Lottery (STL), stating that “gambling breeds laziness and dependence on luck rather than hard work for livelihood.”

The archdiocese will offer a nine-day requiem mass for the vicar general in all parishes and has called on priests and religious to include in their intentions the eternal repose of his soul.

At present, the bishop’s remains lie in state at the St. Michael Archangel Parish in Tangub and will be brought to his hometown in Tudela on Dec. 14, where a concelebrated funeral mass will be held.

He will be interred on the same day at the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Cemetery.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Huge crowd witness Paskuhan ’09 opening

2009-12-09T00:48:00.000-08:00

CITY officials led by Mayor Samuel Co kicked-off the activities presenting the Paskuhan 2009 and formally opened the month-long festivities last Dec.8 with fanfare albeit in simplicity.

The program was held at the Taklobo Stage in Plaza Luz, attended by officials and employees of the city and provincial governments.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, Major General Romeo Lustestica of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division were there also.

Like in the past Paskuhan, the opening was coincided with the lighting ceremonies of the giant Christmas tree installed inside the plaza, the Christmas countdown and simultaneous lightning of all Christmas décor contest entries and a grand fireworks display.

Co earlier had a conference with the media in the afternoon before the program opening.

A nightly Christmas variety show until Dec. 31 will have local bands and performers from the academe and NGOs showing their singers, dancers in various musical performances.

The mayor mentioned many as he expressed his appreciation, which included Priscilla Fernandez of the City Tourism Office, the City Council and the Green House personnel headed by his wife and First Lady Ilang-ilang Co, who is in-charge of the Christmas decoration around city streets and Plaza Luz.

“Christmas and new year is also a time for us to evaluate the year-ending and make plans for the coming year. We should therefore be thankful that the year 2008 and 2009 has been generous to Pagadian City,” Co said in his speech.

The mayor likewise thanked President Gloria Arroyo and provincial officials for the continued and effective transfer of the regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian, including the multimillion airport and wharf projects in the city.

“We have also seen the improvement of our business climate here with the introduction of the City Council’s investment incentive where many entrepreneurs have invested in the city,” Co said.

He also noted the increasing tourist arrivals in Pagadian as a result of the peaceful atmosphere. “Let us always give our best ug magtinabangay ta tanan,” Co urged his constituents.

“We are also thankful to Almighty God that no major calamities occurred in our city so that funds that should have been spent for calamities can now be spent for more infrastructure projects in the city,” he concluded.

As for Cerilles, she said that by seeing the gathering of people of all walks of life in Plaza Luz, “We are breathing the air of the yuletide.”

“This gesture embodies of wishes, hopes and aspirations of a joyous season and a bountiful and a peaceful year 2010, commemorating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ who carries the tidings of peace and goodwill toward man,” she added.
“It is an act of faith that should encourage all of us to world for peace and harmony that empower us to achieve great things and win over the many challenges of life.”

“The decorations we put on the tree signifies the message of regeneration that in God’s grace and mercy, we shall attain genuine renewal in our lives, in our society and our country at large.”

“Ang tinuod nga kausaban sa katilingban nga atong gipangandoy matuman lamang kung kita naumol dira sa gugma sa Dios. When there is love we can conquer every problem, hardship and trials. We are in the winning side when we have the love of god in our hearts,” said the governor.

“This festive atmosphere is our way of demonstrating our love and thanksgiving to God. This is our way of believing that with god’s and providence we could get by with all the circumstances we are facing and once more bind ourselves together in building a peaceful and progressive city and the province,” Cerilles ended.

The Paskuhan ‘09 is also a kick-off activity of the Pasalamat Festival 2010, the city’s fiesta that gives honor to its Patron Saint, Sto. Niño.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION

Jenny favors friendship over political career

2009-12-08T23:13:00.000-08:00

TANGUB CITY—For Mayor Jennifer Wee-Tan, friendship goes beyond politics and that is why she preferred to follow her best friend’s advice to walk off from her party of more than ten years and key in her loyalty to the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC).

She told journalists in a press conference her move was not borne out of ill feelings but of personal preference coupled with a nonviolent attitude.

“It was cordial and decorous,” the mayor said, describing her actions.

The NPC’s deputy chair for Region 10 further explained that having had friendship with Loren Legarda for a long time has endeared her to the other NPC members, who are also her friends, and inclined her to run for congress under the said party.

“I cannot bear staying with Lakas while maintaining my friendship with Loren. I consider Loren as my best friend and I was invited by her to join the NPC and since I am all out in support for her, I might as well join her,” she declared.

However, Tan added that since NPC is neutral and flexible, she will accommodate some Lakas-Kampi bets in the province to be under her ticket but her mind will be focused on the victory of Legarda, who is the guest candidate for vice president of Manny Villar.

Jenny’s husband, Philip, by the way, is the Lakas-Kampi bet for mayor.

“There’s nothing wrong when we can offer an alternative leadership. I don’t see anything wrong with (crossing party lines) as long as your intention is for the welfare of the people,” said Tan.

Why did she run for congress? “I just want peace and order in Misamis Occidental. The province deserves a breather (from political brick brats and criminalities),” was her reply.

To other politicians, Tan has this advice: “Let us refrain from hurting our own people. When we say bad words against each other we are not hurting ourselves but also our families. Wala lang ta’y labayay og lapok para atong mga tawo dili maipit ug masakitan.”

“Let us maintain peace and goodwill even as the election fever is heating up,” she said.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Open letter to my friends and fellows who are not journalists:

2009-12-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

30 Journalists died in an ambush on November 23,2009 in Maguindanao, Central Mindanao, Philippines, along with 27 other people who joined the family of a local politician for the filing of candidacy for the upcoming 2010 elections. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) qualified the incident as the worst attack on journalists recorded so far in journalism history. The event has come to be known as the Ampatuan or Maguindanao Massacre.

The brutal and brazen attack once more raises the most crucial questions we as journalists have to face:

Is there any story worth dying for? And for what do we journalists risk our lives?

Being a good journalist has never been easy. In many countries the job is poorly paid, journalists are harassed or threatened. And in too many places reporters get killed, such as in the Philippines.

Journalists often work in areas known to be dangerous. We ask questions that put us into trouble, that leave us hated and disliked by those who attempt to hide their actions and intentions from public.

Many people look at us as if we were leeches who crave for the blood of others to feed their newspapers’ sales. We are seen as tool, easy to abuse for polishing an image, for gaining fame, for outing an opponent by spreading scandals.

Even our own business driven companies often treat us journalists as cheap producers of reality entertainment for bored and disinterested masses waiting to be fed with delusion and potato chips on their living room sofa.

And then once in a while we become essential as instrument to be used to gain political power in the campaign for an upcoming election.

What a dirty business. What a poor job.

So, why do we risk so much, risk our lives our families, our personal well being to do that?

Many believe journalists are natural adrenaline junkies, adventurous, restless folks who crave for experiences beyond the limit. And to a certain extend those people are right. But one can satisfy those needs by other less dangerous means, such as bungee jumping or sky diving. So there must be more to the journalism profession than adventurism.

The good ones among us deeply believe that journalism is a damn important profession.

In this interconnected interdependent world we live in, information is power and those who control information control the world.

In this world journalism is the only institution that has the single task to provide the public with independent, reliable information. Our task as journalists is to allow everybody access to vital information, because only if each member of society truly knows what is happening out there, people have a chance to make good choices for their own lives. We believe that journalism as an institution is essential to keep every member of society accountable for their actions and is thereby crucial defense for the people in our modern interest driven societies against abuse, lies and manipulation.

We have painfully experienced what happens if this important instrument of accountability fails; in Rwanda where the media became agitator for the genocide, in fascist Germany, where people were all too willing to believe a propaganda that paved the way for killing Millions and devastated not only Europe but affected large parts of the world. In war zones all over the world journalists got targeted and killed to shut out the worlds attention. Until today we have seen an increasingly sophisticated propaganda machinery driving some of the most suppressive or problematic situations in the world.

Without the courageous efforts of independent journalism we have no chance to distinguish between what is true and what is fake, what to believe and what to question.

This is why being a journalist is so challenging. Why we always have to do our best despite danger, difficulties and dislikes. Despite being harassed and threatened and having missed another birthday of our kids because of a road accident, a bombing, a political clash, a burning chemical factory. Despite becoming ourselves victims of a system that doesn’t like to have reporters around to tell the truth.

If we journalists fail, you live your lives blindfolded.

We are not journalists for our own fun, for travel and adventure.

We do this job for you people out there.

For the politicians who try to truly lead their cities, regions and countries. For business that aims to be successful without leaving burned earth behind. For public administration that truly aims to serve the peoples needs. And for each and every member of a society that tries to exist in abundance, peace and security.

By keeping all stakeholders of society accountable, journalists protect your rights.

And now we need you to protect us.

Do you choose to be a bored and disinterested mass that doesn’t care? Or do you choose to claim your right to be concerned about what is happening around you, willing to ask who defines the rules, willing to claim your right to speak out?

The killing of a journalist is not an internal problem of the media.

It is concern for each and every member of the public, of a society that chooses to have a say.

So now is the time to claim back your right to know and your right to be heard.

It is time to protect your journalists.

Or you will lose us.

One after the other.

To danger or temptation wrapped in bribes, political power or the promise of an easier way of life and earning.

Now it is time also for you to stand up and say: STOP KILLING JOURNALISTS!

BY ANTONIA KOOP
International Coordinator,
Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON)

12 slain journs laid to rest in Gensan

2009-12-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—December 6 is the day when 20-year old McDelbert Arriola was supposed to be married with his live-in partner. But that Sunday, he faced the altar lying in a coffin.

Arriola, a UNTV cameraman, was among the 31 journalists killed in the infamous Maguindanao massacre that claimed at least 57 people.

On Monday, foreign journalists and colleagues from around the country shed tears in an emotion-filled tribute at the graves of 12 media practitioners from this city, including Arriola, who died from the Nov. 23 Ampatuan massacre.

Bouquets of flowers and lighted candles were offered at each grave. The 12 journalists are buried near each other at the Forest Lake Memorial Gardens.

Eight of their comrades were earlier buried last Dec. 4, one on Dec. 5, and the remaining three on Dec. 6.

Candles and white roses were also offered for 19 other journalist victims from Koronadal, Tacurong, Cotabato and Davao cities.

Last Dec. 9, journalists throughout the world expressed their collective outcry to demand justice for the 31 journalists and media workers killed in the massacre.

Dubbed the “Global Day of Solidarity for Filipino Journalists,” the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) seeks to heighten the campaign against a culture of impunity in the country blamed for the string of deaths of media practitioners.

The IFJ has put to task the Arroyo administration for the persistence of this social environment.

As a solidarity action, media associations and news organizations in major world capitals are expected to troop to Philippine embassies and register their call on government through various forms of protest.

“Filipino journalists need to hear our voices expressing solidarity with the victims and anger at the Philippine government that allowed this to happen,” a statement from Aidan White, IFJ secretary-general said.

“(Some) 106 journalists have now met violent death since President Arroyo (assumed power) in 2001. Her government has created the circumstances for this massacre by allowing a culture of impunity to flourish,” White stressed.

According to the IFJ, the November 23 incident “is the biggest single atrocity against journalists on record.”

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) had earlier expressed fears government “will continue to take insufficient action to end a culture of impunity in relation to the killing of journalists.”

It noted that more than 100 journalists had been killed in the 23 years prior to the massacre in Ampatuan town on November 23.

The IFJ, which represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries, is leading a four-day International Solidarity Mission in the country that kicked off here December 6 to bring support to the victims’ families and probe the circumstances of the Nov. 23 massacre.

The Mission, organized as an emergency response to the recent killings, was scheduled to meet with authorities especially those responsible for bringing to the bar of justice those involved in the crime.

“It is six months before the May 10 elections and the mission hopes that this horrific start to the electoral process is countered by a determination from the President and her administration to ensure that justice and journalism will be allowed to flourish without impediment,” said Australian journalist Mike Dobbie who heads the Mission.

“Until those things are done, then the perpetrators of this mass murder will be considered to have achieved some of their aims. That is, to intimidate by multiple acts of violence the people of their community,” Dobbie added.

The Mission includes representatives from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Indonesia, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance of Australia, the Thai Journalists’ Association (TJA), Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), International News Safety Institute (INSI), International Media Support (IMS), the Institute for Studies on the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), and Union Network International (UNI).

REPORT BY RYAN ROSAURO, PECOJON

Fr. Mick to celebrate birthday in Ireland

2009-12-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

KIDNAPPED missionary Fr. Michael “Mick” Sinnott has flown to his native home in Ireland to celebrate his 80th birthday there, according to the Columban’s website.

Sinnott’s birthday will be on Dec. 17.

The elderly priest was abducted in Pagadian City last Oct. 11 and released a month after as a result of government negotiations with his abductors.

“I feel fine going back home and looking forward to the weather (in Ireland). It’s windy, wet and cold,” Sinnott told journalists in Manila who accompanied him to the airport.

The clergy’s superior, Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, regional director of the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC), accompanied Sinnott for his five-week vacation in Ireland.

Sinnot will return to Pagadian City on Jan. 15, O’Donoghue said.

“I wish my friends in Pagadian will have peace and no more kidnapping,” Sinnott left this message to his friends.

“I hope the Filipino people and the Catholic Church in the Philippines will be able to obtain peace in Mindanao without any bloodshed. We hope the elections will be successful and we’ll have an honest president,” he added, as his Christmas wish for the Filipino people.

The 79-year old priest was greeted by his family, fellow MSSC priests and Department of Foreign Affairs officials in Ireland when he arrived Thursday, Dec. 3.

He then met with local journalists there and told them: “I hope to go back to Pagadian to continue the work I have been doing for the last few years.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to go back? I’ve been working all my life in the Philippines, and I’ll continue to do so for as long as I can,” he added.

Sinnott said he never felt in any danger from his captives and they had told him they'd never kill a priest. His only fear was that he might be hurt if the military had tried to release him by force.

The Irish Examiner, a newspaper based in Ireland, described Sinnott as “looking remarkably better than he did on his release on November 11.”

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Ugly face of drugs make studes crusade

2009-12-08T18:41:00.001-08:00

SEEING the ill effects of habitual use and misuse of illegal drugs, students of the JH Cerilles State College pledged they will not let the menace enter their college grounds.

Some 300 students from the five campuses of JHCSC aired their pledge last Dec. 2 during the launching of the Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) program of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) at the Amusement and Events Center, here.

The BKD is a program which aims to utilize peer pressure in enabling college students to live a drug-free life.

The students said they understood the consequences of illegal drugs like health and social problems, injuries, violence, accidents and even deaths, including dependence or mental illness.

The students are from the JHCSC campuses of Margosatubig, Lapuyan, Sominot, Dumingag and Pagadian City. They said they were in high spirits while taking part in the discussions and open forums facilitated by DDB officials.

Assistant Sec. Rommel Garcia, DDB deputy executive director for administration, and party led the whole day affair at the AEC along with officials of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) of Justice Department-9 led by Reg’l Dir. Rosa Lacang-Lacang.

Other PPAs from Regions 10, 11, 12 and CARAGA, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed by Drug Enforcement Officer Romel Torres were likewise present.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, who likewise showed support and attended the affair, said the event “helped intensify the advocacy on dangerous drugs at the local level, particularly among the high school and college students.”

It was also a good venue in discussing face-to-face the concerns about illegal drugs with the youth, whom are said to be the hope of the Fatherland, as well as the “drug targets,” the governor added.

In line with the programs of the Provincial Anti-Dangerous Drug Advocacy Council (PADDAC) headed by board member Ernesto Mondarte, he disclosed that a random drug–testing is conducted among high school and college students, including, provincial employees and officials.

The governor retorted that the program will help in determining the degree of drug abuse in certain areas and serve as a basis for DDB and other agencies in conducting and implementing policies that will address the problems on dangerous drugs.

Furthermore, Cerilles urged the youth to shy away from illegal drugs and join forces with the government in its fight to make Zambosur a drug-free province by 2010.

REPORT FROM THE ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

Farmer tries gahong method to all his plants

2009-12-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

DUMINGAG, ZAMBOSUR--If the use of organic fertilizer and the hole method of planting works well with cassava, then so it must be with other plants and vegetation, a farmer shares what he learned with the gahong-gahong method.

Simple put, “if A is equal to B, which is also equal to C, then A has to be the same as C,” thus explains Robert “Toto” Biadog, who tried the Cerilles method in his farm located in Lower Timonan.

Actually, Biadog was just following Mayor Jun Pacalioga’s directive to his constituents to try digging a few holes in their backyard and copy the Cerilles method of planting the cassava root crop.

Pacalioga has said been repeating that cassava is a sure earner and with the use of the application of the new method, Biadog and his brother-in-law, Gerry Albite, benefited a lot in terms of livelihood since they tilled their farm.

In the past, farmers in the area used to harvest only about three kilos but ever since Pacalioga introduced the gahong-gahong, harvested cassavas now weight an average of 20 kilos or more.

Gahong-gahong is done by digging of a hole, then filling it with organic fertilizer, before planting anything on it.

Biadog tried to experiment. He wanted to make sure the Cerilles method is not only good for cassava planting but also in his other root crops, believing this contributes a lot in providing the needed nutrients to make the soil fertile.

So he planted half of their four-hectare with corn, rubber, cassava, monggo, coconut, taro and banana using the Cerilles method and the rest of the land using the ordinary technique.

He then filled the holes with rice straw plus a little topsoil. For his coconut trees, he put in two man loads of rice straw, but for the rest of his crops, he only put in one load then left it to decompose for a month before planting.

Seven months passed and Biadog could see his banana growing three times its normal height and already has three offshoots compared to the 5-feet banana in the land where gahong-gahong was not applied

All of his other crops like corn, rubber, cassava, coconut and taro grew well because of his method applied.

Biadog explains he intends to learn more on the procedure on how to process different kinds of organic fertilizers, like the one taught in trainings by the LGU organic farming committee (OFC).

The OFC, led by Jesus Semine, regularly conducts trainings on how to make organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides in different barangays as part of the LGU campaign to install an organic farming system in the entire municipality.

REPORT BY JULIUS BREVA

RP has 15 corn post-harvest centers

2009-12-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

ZAMBOANGA CITY—There are 15 corn post-harvest processing and trading centers (CPPTC) nationwide and two of these are found in Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte and Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur, announced Dennis Araullo, agriculture assistant secretary.

Scattered strategically, seven of these centers are located in Luzon; two in the Visayas; and six in Mindanao, he added.

Araullo was here during the 3rd quarter national Corn Program held at the Garden Orchid Hotel and participated in by banner coordinators, report officers and stakeholders.

He added that the 15 CPPTC are projects funded and counter parted by and among the DA, National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) and LGUs who wanted the address postharvest losses among farmers.

NABCOR operates and matches DA’s thrust in the development of innovative agribusiness enterprises in the countryside and in helping improve yield as well as boost the incomes of small farmers and fisher folks.

Araullo, who is also the national coordinator of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn, was quoted in another report by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the corn centers are located within the GMA Corn Program cluster areas or within GMA Corn Program new areas of at least 1,000 hectares, and are accessible to transportation, communications and market center.

Aside from the ones in Ramon Magsaysay and Sergio Osmeña, other corn facilities placed in Mindanao are in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, Alamada, North Cotabato, Tupi, South Cotabato, Talakag in Bukidnon, and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur.

The PIA further reported that NABCOR and its joint venture partners are now operating four corn centers in Kabacan and Banga in North Cotabato and Malungon, Saranggani.

Araullo said the DA and NABCOR will continue investing in these facilities in 2009, with 15 priority sites being targeted, including those in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, all of Mindanao.

Zamboanga del Sur has a total corn land of 88,209 hectares while Zamboanga del Norte has 49,975.

Araullo said that these facilities will allow for continuous supply of corn, produces premium quality grains at 14 per cent moisture content and reduces drying and processing costs by half.

Corn is the second staple food among Filipinos and is being utilized as a source of carbohydrates, vitamins, folic acid and insoluble fibers, among others is also an important ingredient in hogs and poultry feeds.

Hogs and poultry industry need corn as the main ingredient for feeds while some sectors used it as a source of ethanol, a blend for gasoline.

“The opportunities for the corn industry are boundless that is why we encourage corn farmers to produce more and get the highest benefit of this crop,” Araullo said.

The CPPTC alone needs 200 tons of corn on cobs at least every three to four days, having four drying bins of 50 tons capacity per bin.

It was learned that some 4.8 million hectares around the country remain idle and are seen as potential areas for expansion of the corn crop based on ideal agro-climatic conditions.

These are regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindoro Island, Western Visayas, Comval and Caraga, Central Mindanao and ARMM.

WITH REPORTS BY MELBA WEE, DA-9

Timely CA order saves Jon Jalosjos

2009-12-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

A Court Injunction issued by the 22nd Division of the Court of Appeals and delivered just in the nick of time saved the day for Tampilisan mayor Romeo “Jon-jon” Jalosjos, Jr.

In a meeting with members of the press last Nov. 28, Jalosjos described his timely receipt of the court injunction as “a divine intervention” which paved way for his filing of candidacy for the congressional seat of the second district of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The young Jalosjos will be squaring off in next year’s poll with Provincial Administrator George “Jet” Hofer II.

It was learned that the court injunction ordered for the re-instatement of the name of Jalosjos in the official voter’s list in Precinct 51-F in Barangay Veterans Village in Ipil.

September 11, 2009, the Regional Trial Court of Pagadian City has ordered for the exclusion of Jon-Jon’s name as a registered voter in the said barangay.

The decision stemmed from the petition of Veterans Village punong barangay Dan Erasmo Sr., who sought for the exclusion from the voters list Jon-Jon’s name, alleging, among others, that Jalosjos was not an actual resident there since he is presently the incumbent mayor of Tampilisan in Zamboanga del Norte.

The court decision of RTC Presiding Judge Aniceto Galon, being final and executory, was enforced by the Election Registration Board of Ipil in its resolution dated Sept. 30, 2009, ordering for the deletion of Jalosjos’ name in the official list of voters in the mentioned barangay.

Jalosjos then petitioned the Court of Appeals for a certiorari and prayed for an issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO).

The appellate court refused to issue right away the TRO pending comments from, among others, the Office of Solicitor General.

But the office of the Solicitor General moved for an extension of time to file the said comment on January 2010. But the CA held that Jalosjos has “satisfactorily shown the existence of an extraordinary situation which call for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction,” hence the issuance.

Lawyer Richard Rambuyong, counsel for Jalosjos, said the writ was issued last Nov. 26 by the 22nd Division of the Court of Appeals based in Cagayan de Oro City and was received by the mayor the next day and forwarded the same to Ipil’s Election Registration Board, which reinstated Jalosjos’ name in the voters list.

November 27, Jalosjos filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman of the second district of Zamboanga Sibugay.

REPORT BY PING DELIVERIO

Jalosjos wrestles control for Sibugay away from Hofer

2009-12-03T19:06:00.001-08:00

THE Jalosjos siblings are now following the footsteps of their daddy in politics, attempting this time to wrestle control of Zamboanga Sibugay away from the clutches of the long-reigning Hofer family.

Last Saturday, Nov. 28, Rommel Jalosjos, son of jailed Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos Sr., filed his certificate of candidacy for governor under the Lakas-Kampi CMD.

Rommel’s half brother, Romeo “Jon-jon” Jalosjos Jr., also filed his candidacy for congressman in the 2nd district of Sibugay while incumbent board member Boyet Yambao, son of Rep. Belma Cabilao, filed his for congressman in the first district.

Rommel’s slate are lawyer Rey Andre Olegario for another term as Vice-governor, Hadji Said Ajeron, Flor Coliba, Editha Colanghe, Eric Palma and Cris Jore for board members in the first istrict.

Ipil councilor Joel Ebol, Eric Cabarios, Boyet Abalde, Wilborne Danda and Sonny Dacula are the candidates for the provincial board in the second district.

Sunday, Nov. 29, the Hofers filed their respective candidacies, witnessed by hundreds of supporters and led by the three-termed Gov. George Hofer who wanted to be the mayor of Ipil. Punong Barangay Susing Tiu of Sanito is Hofer’s vice mayoralty bet.

At the provincial level, incumbent Rep. Ann Hofer filed for governor while Provincial Administrator George “Jet” Hofer II listed his name as representative for the second district.

Early on, board member Lycel Castor-Tan submitted her COC for congresswoman in the first district of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Board member and former Imelda mayor Juanito “Igsoon” Gonzales is Ann Hofer’s is vice-gubernatorial bet while lawyer Quirino Esguerra Jr., Vic Javier, Rodrigo Belosillo, Gani Balladares and Jessie Sali are the candidates for the provincial board in the second district.

This paper failed to get the names of provincial board candidates in the first district.

Both the Hofers and Jalosjos claim to be supported and running under the administration party. Media pundits see their stand-up fight in next year’s elections a “head-on collision.”

Meanwhile, Ann Hofer told media that the Hofers are the “official” bet of the ruling party, having had the blessings of party stalwarts DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno and presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

She further said that the Lakas-Kampi’s national headquarters has already “terminated the names of the Jalosjoses as official candidates of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.”

In the nearby Misamis Occidental, Nonong Jalosjos’ daughter, Svetlana, was reported to have filed for the mayoral seat of Baliangao.

REPORT BY PING DELEVERIO

Archie D. moves December concert

2009-12-03T17:39:00.001-08:00

FILIPINO-AMERICAN hit maker Archie D. announces that he is rescheduling his upcoming concert this Dec. 18 and 20 “due to extraordinary circumstances beyond control.”

In an email message sent to this paper, concert coordinator Helene Romarate explained Archie D.’s reason for doing so has something to do with his circumstances at present.

She, however, declined to give details saying it’s too personal.

“He is extremely saddened about having to postpone the December tour and looks forward to rescheduling his tour and returning to the Philippines in 2010,” Romarate said.

Both his “Built To Sound Good” Matinee Show at the SMC Gym and Gala Show at the “10” Disco has to be moved indefinitely till next year and the exact date is yet to be announced, Romarate added.

“Archie D. believes in pure fun but also puts divine intervention a huge signal for any of his successful endeavors. He is sending all his show giveaways to Pagadian in advance and plans to treat them another set of giveaways on 2010,” ,” Romarate said in behalf of the singer.

“I believe in the words ‘give and rapport’ and these little token of stuff should be in their hands already and not to be hoarded because by holding them I might lose my only outcry which is to perform for them,” Romarate quoted Archie’s message to his fans.

Born and raised in Pagadian City, Archie D. left the country in 1992 and settled in Queens, New York where he studied music production, synthesis and audio engineering.

A seasoned professional arranger, composer, producer, engineer, songwriter, singer and musician, Archie made waves in the 80’s with his contemporaries like Gretchen Barreto, Randy Santiago, Pops Fernandez and Regine Velasquez, among others.

For further information about the cancelled concert dates in Pagadian City, please contact: helene_romarate@yahoo.com or Mobile No. 09063131396.

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO

Lawyers, bizmen fill Sammy’s ‘Magic 10’

2009-12-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

A potpourri of old timers, veteran lawyers and young and successful entrepreneurs complete the local slate of Mayor Samuel Co when they presented themselves to the media after they simultaneously filed their certificates of candidacy at the City Comelec office, Tuesday.

Leading the pack is Vice Mayor Romeo “Tata” Pulmones, followed by incumbent councilors Jesus “Idol” Bajamunde Jr., Eric Bersales, Bienvenido Culve, Arnold “Glavys” Gavenia and Frank Jefferson “JP” Villegas.

The newcomers are incumbent board member and lawyer Baldomero “Baleleng” Fernandez, colleague Carlos “Caloy” Madarang III, Sunjay Galon, son of Judge Aniceto Galon, hotelier Alexander “Jun-Jun” Co Jr., the mayor’s nephew, and Roque “Nonoy” Yamba, president of the Baganian Broadcasting Corporation and general manager of DxBZ-AM and DxCA-FM.

Co, in a meeting with journalists, said that their lineup went through the rigorous selection process of their party and that he believes this chosen crop will help propel the city to make more progress.

Talking about his plans and programs for his third and last term, Co outlined his continuity of his agenda in education, tourism, economic enterprise, infrastructure, housing, fisheries and agriculture and keep up the reputation of Pagadian City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

“Kung unsa man ang nakita nga kalambuan karon sa siyudad, I will make sure nga mahuman ug makumpleto kini tanan before I step down in 2013,” Co said.

On the question of the new faces in his lineup, Co called it a “teamwork of young, energetic and committed people” that can lend a hand in propelling the city to sure development.

“With this lineup, we will try our very best nga modaug gyod ang tanan,” the mayor added.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION

City registered voters breach 100T mark

2009-12-03T17:29:00.001-08:00

PAGADIAN City has a total of 109,339 registered voters who are eligible to cast their ballots in next year’s automated elections, a Nov. 24 quarterly report forwarded by city election officer Dinah Cagampang-Sapong stated.

Sapong said the list of voters is now completely updated and comprises their fourth quarter report in the system of continuing registration.

She added that the list came a little bit late because of the cleansing of the voter’s list of those who did not participate in the last two elections which were removed.

She noted that the updated figures exceeded their target and said that there is an increase of the voting populace.

The total number of registered voters is actually the difference of the subtracted 1,220 voters from the 110,559 who were classified as those with multiple registrations along with others who transferred to another municipality or city.

So far, there were no names, which have been deactivated from the voters list, as contained in the report submitted by the Comelec.

First-time voters, meanwhile, totaled 5,592, even as the Comelec office has to contend with residents who went to their office at the last minute of the registration deadline last Oct. 31.

All in all, there are 143 clustered precincts out of the established 724 in 54 barangays all over the regional center.

Last Dec. 1, the final day of filing of certificates of candidacies, Sapong lauded the peaceful and orderly conduct of filing of candidacies in the light of excitement and apprehensions in the coming automated general elections next year.

She hopes this will continue until voting day.

The Comelec is targeting about three million new registrants after the Oct. 31 deadline on top of the 2.8 million people partially counted as having registered already while roughly 45.6 million of the country’s estimated 91 million population are qualified to vote on May 10, 2010.

In Comelec’s calendar of the 2010 National and Local Elections, Feb. 9, 2010 is the start of the campaign period for candidates for President, Vice-President, Senators and party-list groups participating in the party-list system of representation.

March 26 also is the start of the campaign period for candidates for the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials.

May 7 will be the last day for testing and sealing of Precinct Count Optical Scan and May 10 will be the day for the casting of votes.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Auring, Tony to switch places

2009-12-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

GOVERNOR Aurora “Auring” Cerilles said she is looking forward to returning to her seat at the House of Representatives in next year’s polls, having had served for one term in the 11th Congress.

Her vacated position will be taken by husband, Rep. Antonio “Tony” Cerilles, who is also set to finish his third term next year and wants to render executive service to the probnsiyanos.

The Cerilles couple have announced last Saturday their respective intentions to media in a gathering inside their residence few hours after they filed their certificates of candidacy at the Comelec office.

Auring is running under the Lakas-Kampi CMD coalition while Tony is from the Nationalists People’s Coalition of Danding Cojuangco, chairman of San Miguel Corp. and NPC's chairman emeritus.

With the couple are their slate in the provincial board: incumbents Ramon “Doki” Blancia Jr., Flaviano “Nonong” Fucoy Jr., Ernesto Mondarte, Rogelio Saniel and newcomer Pepito “Dodong” Degamo, outgoing provincial administrator, for the first district.

Incumbent Dinas mayor Wilfredo “Fred” Asoy, Miguelito “Nonoy” Ocapan, Edward “Dodong” Pintac, Vicente “Dodo” Cajeta and Eriberto “Ribe” Sumalinog will also run for the provincial board in the second district.

Tony Cerilles’ bet for vice governor is senior board member Juan “John” Regala, also a third termer and former civil-military officer of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division.

Auring once served as a representative of the second district from 1998 to 2001 under the leadership of then Speaker Manny Villar Jr. where she held the tourism committee as vice chairperson and as deputy speaker of the appropriations committee.

In her term, Cerilles filed 28 local measures and seven were acted into law, which included those that established the national high schools in Dimataling, Dinas, Vincenzo Sagun, and the law converting the JH Cerilles Polytechnic College in San Miguel into a state college and that which created a separate engineering district in the second district.

Meanwhile, Tony Cerilles said there will be a continuation of honest and conscientious service to Zambosurians in his term where he will continue to provide the needed access to support infrastructures to remote villages and maintain the established linkage with other government and non-government groups for smooth implementation of projects in the province.

As an environmentalist and former secretary of the DENR, the congressman added that he will strongly support the national government’s programs on agriculture and provide livelihood projects and employment opportunities for young professionals.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Prov’l engineer bares Auring’s infra projects

2009-11-26T19:33:00.001-08:00

PROVINCIAL Engineer Antonio Laurenciana says all the improved road networks and other important infrastructure projects in Zamboanga del Sur bear the signature of Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ productiveness.

The completion of all these projects consisting of roads around and within the province, including electricity, water, sewage and health facilities, is included in Cerilles’ 7-Point Executive Agenda.

Laurencia said that ever since Cerilles started her term in 2001, attention on the concreting, repairs and maintenance of the provincial road network has been given by the governor.

Cerilles, herself, once said that she also concentrated on improving and rehabilitation of farm-to-market road projects because these are essential components for agricultural development.

She added that since Zambosur dominantly produces agricultural products such as rice, corn, coconut and other high-value fruits, mobility and transport of these should be taken into consideration.

At present, Zambosur has 430 kilometers of provincial roads undergoing rehabilitation and maintenance, said Laurencia, while about 80 kilometers are already concrete.

As to the provincial road leading towards San Pablo, the provincial engineer said that the provincial government is focusing on this even with the problems of unpredictable weather conditions and the lack of supply of gravel and other materials for concreting in the area.

But he assured that a portable stone crushing plant is being installed in Guipos to help solve the problem, as well as provide for the on-going concreting of the roads in Lapuyan and Vincenzo Sagun.

He added that P20 million has been allocated for the improvement of the road in San Pablo, which was noticed by President Gloria Arroyo during her recent visit here.

He disclosed that two of the finest road network completed is the San Miguel–Dinas–Dimataling road and the road from Ramon Magsaysay to Sominot.

To recall, the president released P45 million out of the proposed P119 million for the road concreting of Bobongan in Ramon Magsaysay to Midsalip.

Laurenciana also bared the ongoing road concreting of Dumalinao-Rebokon highway that will traverse the San Pablo coastal road, funded with P100-million from the National Disaster and Coordinating Council.

Aside from provincial roads, some 42 road bridges under the President’s Bridge Program are now in place all over the province.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

Bernad surprised on Ocampos’ name in LP ticket

2009-11-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

PHILIPINE politics really has a way of making even classmates and bosom buddies become strange bedfellows and for Vice Mayor Carlos Patricio Bernad, it may take a while before he gets used to shaking hands with his friend and former ally, Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos.

Ocampos, who was formerly a staunch Arroyo supporter and the titular head of the provincial council of Lakas Kampi, recently bolted out of the administration party and joined Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s Liberal Party in his quest for the congressional post in next year’s polls.

Sworn in with Ocampos is mayoralty candidate and Ozamiz councilor Maria Constancia Lim.

“Ocampos may have gained the backing of Senator Aquino but not mine,” said Bernad, who is LP’s current provincial chair.

The vice mayor added that he was “surprised and disappointed” of Ocampos’ membership in LP, adding he was not consulted by it and was only informed last Wednesday that the governor has taken his oath as the province’s standard bearer for congressman in the second district.

Ocampos’ decision in defecting Lakas was said to be borne out of his displeasure on the selection process of the ruling party which rejected his demands that all “favored candidates” in his faction “must be included” in the 2010 elections under the ruling party.

Ocampos, in his earlier disclosure to the media, said that he pushed for Lim to be the mayoralty standard bearer for Lakas in accordance with party principles and guidelines but it was not granted. He also recommended several names as candidates for the two districts but again it was not approved.

It was also learned that the governor’s decision to bolt out of Lakas came four days after Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and his daughter, Nova Princess Echavez, received their respective certificates of nomination as Lakas’ official candidate for congressman and mayor.

“Nalipay na lang sad ko nga gipahibalo ko nila. Sa ato pa, wala na pangayoa ang akong recommendations ug diretso na lang gidawat didto,” Bernad told this paper, saying further that had he been given time to evaluate Ocampos’ request for affiliation with LP, he will give his negative views and a two thumbs down to the governor.

Saying likewise that it did not go into normal procedures, Bernad surmised that Ocampos was readily accepted because “he is the incumbent governor” and “the president of the governors’ league.”

To recall, Bernad has said that Ocampos “has a loyalty problem” with Lakas Kampi and he doesn’t want that the same will happen to the LP.

Although he said he will not question Ocampos’ entry to LP, Bernad asserts he has already committed his full support to both Parojinog and Echavez.

REPORT BY NEPTALIE BATOLENIO & MICHAEL MEDINA

Pagadian media decry Maguindanao killing

2009-11-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

AS the death toll in the Maguindanao massacre climbs to 57, more journalists are ventilating their indignation on the Tuesday carnage that killed 21 of their colleagues who were out to cover the filing of the certificate of candidacy of a political candidate for governor in the area.

“The NUJP-Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chapter strongly condemns the killing in the highest terms,” Hirohito Cadion said in his text message sent to this paper.

Cadion added that the gruesome death of the 21 media men likewise ended the struggle for true democracy in the country and worsened the violence against journalists.

Cadion and other media practitioners attended mass together last Nov. 25 at the San Jose Parish to pray for the souls of the victims while some media offices hanged streamers expressing their disapproval of the killing.

A candle lighting activity is also set on Monday, Nov. 30, for a prayer and vigil dedicated to their fallen comrades. Cadion said all media will be wearing black shirts or armbands to mourn the deaths and show solidarity with other chapters doing the same.

The brutal killing suffered by the journalists was a result of a political war led by powerful men and their clans and this should have been prevented by those in powers themselves, declared Ping Deleverio, editor of the Sibugay Express.

“Hindi sila dapat pinatay. Sometimes, may mga media naman na mag-take sides pero hindi dapat ginamitan ng dahas especially if the media is only there to cover an event,” he said.

“Dili pwede idamay ang mga media sa political enmities tungod kay ang media maoy mata sa katawhan ug tigpalapnag sa kamatuoran alang sa tanan,” seconded Ellen Ajijul of MIT-RTVN.

For Vic del Pilar of Frontline Mindanao Online, he said:“The media is supposed to be neutral at all times. They may be associated with politicians during elections or in normal times but that doesn’t mean they’re already one-sided. They are there to get reports and there’s no reason for them to be included in political enmities.”

In saying his piece that the Maguindanao massacre will have a long-lasting impact on journalists, Provincial Information Officer Allan June Molde said that the state should make sure to respect and protect media practitioners at all times.

“Such an inhuman act only shows that there was no respect for the media who are the pillars of information,” he added.

Some of the local journalists who requested that their names be withheld collectively said that they were shocked and outraged over the killings and demanded that justice should be served.

All in all, they agreed that government should ensure that there will be no retaliation against the Ampatuans by the Mangudadatus in order that more violence will be prevented and no more innocent civilians will lose their lives.

As this developed, the NUJP-Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (Zambasulta) Chapter also issued their statement, “expressing our most extreme outrage and horror over the massacre of probably as many as a dozen of our colleagues while in the course of their work in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.”

“Words fail to convey the enormous condemnation we heap upon this barbaric deed and its barbarous perpetrators, whose descent into moral monstrosity has no parallel in Mindanao’s troubled history,” the statement continued.

“Lest the world will erroneously perceive Mindanao’s as a dangerous society because of this tragic incident to our common communal discredit, we the Zamboanga mediamen are obliged to hasten to tell this truth: The primitive, savage practice of blood feud and vendetta behind the massacre of our colleagues – and the other civilians whose political activity they were covering on that fateful day- is solely the special characteristic of a few ethnic tribes now existing amid our civilized, democratic society in Mindanao.”

“We take this opportunity to appeal to these our tribal brothers and sisters to seriously re-examine their anachronistic and destructive sense or system of justice.”

“We ask the government to swiftly arrest and punish the perpetrators of this mass murder…Without such a categorical closure, we in Mindanao will continue to bleed and suffer from this systemic culture of violence and death. With hope we say, God forbid!” the statement concluded.

As for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) it called the Maguindanao massacre the single deadliest event for journalists in history. This is the same group which earlier labeled the Philippines as the second most dangerous country for journalists, second only to Iraq.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Maguindanao massacre leaves 57 dead; 21 are journalists

2009-11-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

A policeman looks at the mangled remains of three vehicles that were unearthed Wednesday, Nov.25, at the massacre site at Ampatuan, Maguindanao province in southern Philippines. Authorities have recovered six more bodies that day, bringing the death toll to 52 in one of the Philippines' worst election massacres. (AP PHOTO GRAB)

Lanao redistricting results to more gains

2009-11-25T21:43:00.001-08:00

GOVERNOR Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo said Lanao del Norte has a lot to gain with the ratification of Republic Act 9774 in terms of economic benefits, political stability and security.

Talking with journalists from Iligan and Ozamiz cities last Wednesday, Dimaporo said that the ratification of House Bill 4053, authored by his father, Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo of the second district, will actually provide their province an opportunity to grow, bond Muslim and Christian community ties as well as resolve political matters fast.

Approved last Nov. 17, RA 9774 is an act providing for the apportionment of legislative districts in Lanao del Norte. Under the ratified bill, the province’s 22 municipalities are reapportioned into two legislative districts.

The first district will cover Baroy, Tubod, Kolambugan, Maigo, Bacolod, Kauswagan, Linamon, Tagoloan, Baloi, Matunggao and Pantar.

The second district will now include Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo, Munai, Tangkal, Magsaysay, Salvador, Lala, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Kapatagan, Sapad and Nunungan.

RA 9774 allows the incumbent representatives of the first and second legislative districts of the province a status quo until new representatives will be elected in next year’s national elections.

“The Provincial Board carefully studied the reapportionment bill of Congressman Dimaporo and saw it has a very good application that is why we issued a resolution signifying our strong support,” Dimaporo said.

“The reapportionment was fair and there was equal division. You know, we in Lanao del Norte always wanted to maintain the policy of joint leadership by Muslims and Christians. We all saw the spirit of HB 4503 and so all the provincial officials and mayors supported it,” the governor added.

Dimaporo then said that as of the moment, they are still in the process of contemplating whether to increase or decrease the number of public servants of the newly reapportioned district.

He also dispelled reports which said that the redistricting favored the Dimaporo family, saying his mother even has difficulty in convincing a number of voters from the municipalities included in the first district to vote for her when she ran for congresswoman in the last elections.

But Dimaporo admitted their family has political clouts in more than half of the listed towns in the newly reapportioned district.

With these developments, residents of Lanao del Norte could elect their first congressman next year who is entitled to P70 million in pork barrel funds.

Meanwhile, Congressman Vicente Belmonte also authored another bill, HB 4054, in a bid to create the lone district of Iligan City, separate from the seven municipalities of Lanao del Norte.

The bill was approved last Oct. 20 and is now called RA 9724, an act separating the city of Iligan from the first legislative district of Lanao del Norte to constitute the lone legislative district of the city of Iligan.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Hard-working chieftain raises goats as a sideline

2009-11-25T20:48:00.001-08:00

ASIDE from raising chickens and pigs in one’s own backyard, a farmer can build a shed and get a couple of goats as an addition to his versatile livestock.

A homestead goat can be raised for meat, cheese and milk, which is becoming a favorite among people since goat milk has a more easily digestible fat and protein content than cow milk.

Other popular goat-based enterprises are goat milk-based personal care products such as soaps and lotions; processing of organic fertilizers from goat manure; production of flavored yogurt, pastilles and milk gelatin, feed materials.

Take for example Juanito Bala Jr., who is determined to raise goats as his sideline, aside from leading his village as punong barangay.

Bala’s determination is inspiring, said Dr. Darwin Lloyd Sulay, focal person of GMA-Livestock program of the Department of Agriculture regional field unit IX (DA-RFU9).

In the near future, the village chief will be able to produce a herd of dairy goats, according to Sulay, when Bala uses the loan from DA’s Community Goat Production Enterprise (CGPE) under the Small Ruminant Genetic Improvement Program (SR-GIP).

First among Bala’s breed is a Boer Anglo Nubian, crossbreed oriental buck and one of the five principal breeds of dairy goats propagated abroad.

This was given to Bala in April, last year, by DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) nucleus farm located in Bagalupa, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Based on his loan contract with DA, Bala will settle up the Nubian buck with two female offspring less than eight months old within two years.

At present, Bala owns 30 offspring and 15 does are pregnant. He claimed that soon he will have a viable enterprise with these because goat buyers from Misamis Oriental are interested in his breeds and are willing to procure these in volume.

But Bala’s goat raising livelihood is limited only to raising and selling goats for slaughter.
Indeed there is money in raising goats as a sideline and Bala, along with his wife, Aida, proved it by grossing big earnings with their goats and having sent their two children to school.

Meanwhile, the DA is continually expanding its goat production program to meet the increasing demand for goat meat locally and overseas.

DA’s goat production technologies such as the selection of breeds, housing, nutrient and health management practices are already available for duplication and adoption by interested farmers.

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, DA-9

DA hands over corn drier, shredder to Dinas farmers

2009-11-25T03:35:00.001-08:00

ENSURING that necessary infrastructure are in place in order that good quality harvested corn are traded by Dinas farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently provided them a corn-on-cob (COC) dryer and shredder machine.

These facilities form part of DA’s organic fertilizer production program community-based composting facility worth P950,000.

Regional Technical Director Constancio Alama, who represented RED Oscar Parawan, turned over the amenities to Mayor Wilfredo Asoy Sr. during the town’s 59th founding anniversary last Nov. 9.

The COC dryer is a DA funded project under its Diversified Farm Income and Market Development Project (DFIMDP) and counterparted by the local government.

The total project cost is P600,000. This dryer is capable of six metric tons or 6,000 kilos of COC. With this, farmers will have easier capability to process, store, and guarantee good quality corn for the local market.

At the same time, the DA through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management headed by Florentino Agustin, regional coordinator, likewise provided one 6.5 horse power shredder, two tea brewer, three vermi beds and 15 kilos of cultured worms worth P350,000.

Cultured earthworms are used in the so-called vermi technology utilized for composting and fish feeding.

In his message, Alama challenged the beneficiaries to maximize the full potential of the corn facility in order that their farming ventures will be sustained and attain significant success, a statement which Neda Corativo, DFIMDP finance officer, seconded.

Mayor Asoy responded that aside from corn, their town also produce cassava and coconut and in big numbers aside from abundant sea products.. He then assured DA that they will reciprocate the gifts received through continous productivity.

REPORT BY MARK LARIDE, DA-9

Ocampos bonds with Noynoy’s Liberal Party

2009-11-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

BARELY two days after he announced that he has defected from the ruling party, Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos is back in the limelight, this time, declaring he is now allied with Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal party.
“Yes, take oath mi this morning with Noynoy and Mar. Connie Lim was there too,” was the governor’s text message to this paper when asked of the developments.

Last Monday, Ocampos surprised his constituents with his pronouncement over the radio that he has bolted out of Lakas Kampi CMD over some disagreements.
Ocampos, who heads the 80-strong governors’ league, has been known to be one of the high-profile politicians “very close” to President Gloria Arroyo.

He explained his unexpected decision was borne out of his frustrations when the administration party rejected his demands that all “favored candidates” in his faction “must be included” in the 2010 elections under Lakas.

Ocampos’ faction in Lakas Kampi included Councilor Maria Constancia Lim who signified her intention to run for mayor in Ozamiz. Lim is set to square off with fellow councilwoman Nova Princess Echavez, the nominated candidate of Lakas and under the faction of 2nd District Rep. Herminia Ramiro and Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.

Ocampos, who is eyeing the congressional seat of the second district, has been pushing for Lim to be the mayoralty standard bearer for Lakas in accordance with party principles and guidelines but it was not granted. He also recommended several names as candidates for the two districts but again it was not approved.

The governor was a show stealer during Liberal party’s oath taking ceremony last Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City where he joined 100 other defectors and new members ushered by Aquino and vice president candidate Sen. Mar Roxas.

An ABS-CBN report said that several showbiz personalities, local officials and candidates of Manila, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, Aurora, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Albay, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley also took their membership with LP that day.

As this developed, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan commented that the 2010 presidential election “is no longer a battle for supremacy between the administration and the opposition but a battle between change or the old bankrupt ways.”

Both Ocampos and Lim are carrying genuine reforms as their platform and have enjoined the electorate to join their efforts for real change for Misamis Occidental.

REPORT BY NEPTALIE BATOLENIO & MICHAEL MEDINA

A Day of Infamy for Philippine Democracy

2009-11-24T00:17:00.000-08:00

The entire community of journalists in Misamis Occidental expresses our outrage over the gruesome fate suffered by our colleagues who were reportedly part of a group of some 50 people massacred in Maguindanao on Monday, November 23, 2009.

Some 20 of our colleagues were merely covering what should have been the filing of a certificate of candidacy of an aspirant for Maguindanao governor. It was just horrible that in the course of doing their work, they also become secondary targets, if not collateral damage, in the clash of people gunning for control of political power.

Such a highly abominable act of slaughtering scores of innocent people should be utterly condemned in the strongest sense. It is a conduct not befitting civilized society.

Suffrage is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right of everyone that provides the underpinnings of elections as a democratic exercise. Press freedom, which is equally sanctioned by the Constitution, guarantees unhampered chronicling of the travails of this political activity through the news media.

But last Monday’s Maguindanao carnage showed how brute force was employed to replace civilized and dynamic interaction in the political and social communication platforms in order to maintain hegemonic dominance over local fiefdoms. No doubt, this practice is further undermining the state of democracy which is still fragile throughout the country, and a seeming failure in Maguindanao.

By the sheer brutality of the incident, we will forever consider this date a day of infamy for Philippine democracy.

We demand justice and full responsibility by the perpetrators no matter who they are. We ask the government to do a no-nonsense probe into the incident and bring those responsible before the bar of justice.

(SGD) RYAN D. ROSAURO
Chair, NUJP-Ozamiz City Chapter

Leo Ocampos bolts out of Lakas

2009-11-23T22:01:00.001-08:00

MANY of his constituents were surprised last Monday after Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos revealed over the radio that he has bolted out of the ruling Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) party over some disagreements.

Ocampos, who heads the 80-strong governors’ league, has been known to be one of the high-profile politicians “very close” to President Gloria Arroyo.

When pressed on his unexpected decision, Ocampos said that he saw the opportunity of taking off from the administration party after his terms and conditions were rejected by Lakas, explaining later that he only demanded that all “favored candidates” in his faction “must be included” in the 2010 elections under the ruling party.

It can be learned that the Lakas-Kampi party in Misamis Occidental is torn between the faction of Ocampos, whose preferred mayoralty candidate is Councilor Maria Constancia Lim, and that of 2nd District Rep. Herminia Ramiro, where Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog’s daughter, Councilor Nova Princess Echavez, was nominated as the official candidate of Lakas for mayor.

Ocampos said that he pushed for Lim to be the mayoralty standard bearer for Lakas in accordance with party principles and guidelines but it was not granted. He also recommended several names as candidates for the two districts but again it was not approved.

The governor, who is eyeing the congressional seat of the second district, said he was persistent with his demands even putting a condition that he will not accept any Lakas nomination if even one member of his camp will be left behind.

“It’s a matter of principle nga dili angayang himoong kandidato ang mga tawo nga walay pagsalig ang katawhan. Tungod niini, akong gibati nga wala nila tan-awa kung kinsa ang angayan nga kuhaon, nga wala silay hanaw sa realidad ug sa tinuod nga sitwasyon, ug dapat lang nga mobulag ako ug ang akong mga kauban sa Lakas,” Ocampos said.

Another reason he parted ways with his party for almost ten years, Ocampos admitted, is the “dismal performance” of their presidential bet, resigned Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in presidential surveys.

True enough, Teodoro has been getting poor ratings in the latest Pulse Asia presidential survey with only two percent approval rating, which the former secretary dismissed as his lack of public exposure, not his links with President Gloria Arroyo.

A source from Malacañang, meanwhile, said the president doesn’t mind Ocampos’ defection, and that she doesn’t see it as an act of betrayal but that such “is expected in these situations because not all of the aspirants can be accommodated.”

The governor’s decision to bolt out of Lakas came four days after Parojinog received his certificate of nomination as Lakas’ official candidate for congressional post in the 2nd district.

As of the press time, media sources from Manila said Ocampos has sought affiliation with the Liberal Party, the party of Vice Mayor Carlos Patricio Bernad, a gubernatorial aspirant and a close friend of Parojinog.

REPORT BY NEPTALIE BATOLENIO & MICHAEL MEDINA

Statement on the death of 21 journalists in Maguindanao

2009-11-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

THE hostage-taking and killing of 21 media members in Maguindanao last Nov. 23 is a horrible illustration of a social order gone awry, an inhumane act and unequalled in recent history.

Those working journalists killed in the line of duty were only doing their job as correspondents, innocent of the political rivalry and were not even partakers of the culture of violence already happening in the territory.

We, who felt no safer even as we are away from the same danger, are also distressed and mourn the death of our colleagues who have become victims of this senseless violence and carnage.

We are also alarmed that media can now be a target of blatant assault of political enmities. The fact, that 21 of our colleagues are dead and others still missing highlights the state of political warlordism and their ugly grapple for power still being observed in some areas of the country.

We hope that government authorities will go after the persons responsible for the acts, charge and prosecute them for the crimes. May there be no more knee-jerk response but a permanent commitment by this regime to uphold our democratic ideals and protection of all working journalists.

The media, however passionate we are of our work in spreading news and information, is always neutral. We are public servants and even unfortunate volunteers who sometimes become victims of warring people of influence and power who espouse the culture of impunity, with no sense of responsibility and respect for human life.

MICHAEL MEDINA

Online editor

The Philippine Preview

Board of director, NUJP-Ozamiz City

Pioneer, Misamis Occidental News Bloggers atbp.(MONBA)

Zambosur readies for Pasko Nato ‘09

2009-11-19T20:54:00.001-08:00

CELEBRATING Christmas is a way of life for Filipinos every December and the tradition of the Nativity of Jesus is widely observed all over the country.

In Zamboanga del Sur, one of the popular festivity held every December is the “Pasko Nato” which will mark its third year and still to be held at the Agro-tourism and Heritage Complex (AHC), Provincial Government Center in Dao.

Provincial Tourism Officer Anthony Frederick Padayhag said that like in the past celebrations, this year’s Pasko Nato will provide a venue of probinsiyanos and visitors to enjoy during the yuletide season in the spirit of giving and harmony.

The AHC, being a renowned tourist destination, will again be fitted with Christmas themes and its booth displayed with various decorations; including the Christmas tree, lights and nativity scenes.

Also, there will be a Christmas Lights Competitions like the AHC Belen Contest, Hanging Christmas Symbols Contest and the Light–a–tree competition to be participated by the academe, including the 22 campuses of JH Cerilles State College, private organizations, regional and government offices.

For Barangay Dao, all its puroks will compete in the Christmas Lights Contest.

The usual booth décor contest will now be called as LGU Christmas Bazaar Contest, which will showcase various saleable products, lanterns, unique gifts and personal accessories from the 26 municipalities of Zambosur and women’s organizations.

Pasko Nato 2009 will run from December 16-25 and the AHC will be open daily from 5:00 in the afternoon until 10:00 in the evening with cultural and Christmas recitals and presentations by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts under the Dance Season program of the Provincial Tourism Office.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, who is in her last term as this province’s chief executive, hopes this year’s Pasko Nato 2009 will be as memorable as the rest.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

DIPO-WESMIN cites Auring’s leadership

2009-11-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

FOR their commendable contribution and support to peace and development work, the Directorate for Integral Police Operations (DIPO) in Western Mindanao has awarded Gov. Aurora Cerilles and 24 others.

The awarding activities were made during the DIPO’s first founding anniversary last Nov. 14 at Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City where PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Versoza presented the award along with DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno and Police Director Felizardo Serapio Jr.

Serapio, who heads DIPO, cited the governor’s leadership and direction during the abduction and subsequent release of Columban missionary Fr. Michael Sinnott.

Serapio was referring to Cerilles’ exemplary contribution displayed when after less than a day from Sinnott’s abduction; she immediately convened the Executive Committee of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, and created the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) to speed up rescue operations for the abducted priest.

Cerilles and the CMC have been keeping an eye on the matter personally, in close coordination with the PNP and Columban regional director Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue.

It was learned also that President Gloria Arroyo phoned Cerilles a few hours after Sinnott was released last Nov. 12 and congratulated the governor and CMC for a job well done.

Puno, in his message, said that the president has directed the PNP to create the DIPO-WESMIN to work hand in hand with local government units nationwide, the military and the people to mount stronger and broader pursuit operations against criminals, lawless and terrorists.

Other awardees include Governors Jum Akbar of Basilan, Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Miguel Rene Dominguez of Saranggani, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, George Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay, Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga Del Norte and Vice Governors Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul of Basilan, Steve Solon of Sarangani.

Meanwhile, Mayors Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga and Muslimen Sema of Cotabato were also given awards along with M/Gen. Ben Dolorfino of Wesmincom, Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer Eastmincom and Rear Admiral Alexander Pama of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, M/Gen. Romeo Lustestica of the 1st Tabak Army Division and PNP-9 Director C/Supt. Angelo Sunglao, among others.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

Crisis group donates reward money to Hangop Kabataan

2009-11-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

NEARLY half a million pesos will be given by both the provincial and city governments to the special children’s center founded by kidnapped Columban priest Michael Sinnott here.

The total amount is P400,000—half of which was supposedly the reward money for informants who could tell where Sinnott and his abductors were after the 79-year old priest was kidnapped last Oct. 11.

Sources from both the military and the MILF said that the Irish cleric was somewhere in the boundaries of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur the whole time.

Governor Aurora Cerilles said the provincial government counterparted another P200,000 after concurrence with the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) she created to supervisor rescue efforts for the priest.

Actually, it was upon the request of Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar during CMC’s meeting with the media that the unused reward money is given instead to the Hangop Kabataan Foundation.

It was learned that Hangop Kabataan has been relying mainly on financial donations from generous organizations and individuals from the locality and that Sinnott’s kidnapping has temporarily affected its daily plans and programs.

Last Tuesday, the City Council amended its resolution authorizing Mayor Samuel Co to utilize the P200,000 not as monetary reward anymore but as financial assistance to the Hangop Kabataan Foundation.

Given the Columban priest’s old age and delicate heart condition, he founded and served as coordinator of Hangop Kabataan as his advocacy for the welfare of children with disabilities, especially those with hearing and learning difficulties, to lead productive lives.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Youth, military desire better living for Filipinos—Lustestica

2009-11-18T23:20:00.000-08:00

THE youth of today are the voices and leaders of the future therefore they should be instructed to perform their roles and recognized for their successful experiences in the fields of youth policies and programs.

One big step in achieving that is by giving the youth proper forum where they show initiatives and build their reputation for knowledge sharing, said M/Gen. Romeo Lustestica, commanding general of the First Infantry ‘Tabak’ Division, as he declared that he values youth dominance.

“No matter how young they are, their views and opinions are always counted. The military shares their aspiration of a better life for our countrymen,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) held at Philippine Science High School in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte last Nov. 12-14.

The army general added that the youth in Mindanao, for example, always face the challenges of diverse environment in terms of belief, ethnicity and origin.

Thus, he stressed that behind such big numbers of the youth all over lies a lot of power and influence in determining the political direction in the country and synergizing these elements is a task waiting to be toiled by them, being the future leaders.

And since the YLS is a place where ideas and perceptions of the young are developed, analyzed, evaluated and disseminated, Lustestica challenged the graduates to advocate peace as well as participate in government programs which aim for peaceful solution to the problem in the island.

During the program, Lustestica also acknowledged the contribution of LGUs to peace and developmental efforts, citing their support as a big inspiration.

“But we cannot do this alone. We need the support of the community and the people especially the youth,” he added.

For her part, YSL guidance counselor Dorothy Drilon thanked Lustestica and company for conducting the activity and hopes there will be more youth forums in the future.

One of the participants, Arthur Gregory Virata, a senior student from Pagadian, described the activity as real fun as it enhanced the synergies among the young students for the greater benefit of all.

The YLS is a program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, represented in this part of the region by the Tabak division, more particularly by the 104th (Sultan) Brigade led by Col. Benny de Leon, the National Youth Commission and local government agencies.

In YLS, youth participants are taught on how to develop their leadership potential, protect them from being recruited by the communist insurgents, preempt their exposure to illegal drugs, inculcate the values of nationalism and love of country and teach them the spirit of voluntarism and social work, among others.

REPORT BY JUN CORGUE, PIA-9

City officials itching to open city airport

2009-11-18T21:52:00.001-08:00

ONE month after President Gloria Arroyo unveiled this city airport as a signal of its formal re-opening to the public, the landing strip is still inoperable and city officials, by now, are starting to get impatient.

This is the reason why councilors called on the attention of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) manager Jose Bodiongan and asked him to attend last Tuesday’s session to shed light on the airport opening’s delay.

It was learned that this city’s airport in Muricay has an area of 1,800 meters long and width of 45 meters plus another 75-meter on both edges towards its perimeter fences, a bit longer than that of the Benigno Aquino Airport in Gango, Ozamiz City.

The airfield here is one of the 15 airports in Mindanao classified as priority infrastructure projects that are calendared for completion before 2010.

During the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo)’s 12th Mindanao Super Region (MSR) inter-agency meeting here last July, Usec. Virgilio Leyretana Sr. told media that the airports of Zamboanga, Dipolog and Pagadian cities, presently undergoing repairs, have a combined funding of P1.28 billion.

Works of the project components of the mentioned airports include the continuation or completion of the asphalt overlay of runways, rehabilitation or construction of terminal and fire station buildings and the procurement of air navigational facilities, among others.

Of the total amount, the Dipolog airport gets the biggest chunk with P478.05 million, followed by Zamboanga City with P428.5 million and Pagadian with P379.46.

The status report paper of the MSR stated that total funding requirements for both Dipolog and Pagadian airports have already been released while that of Zamboanga City has a total of only P127 million or 29.64 percent released.

Bodiongan explains that construction of the city airport is done in four phases. At the moment, works are in the last phase, which includes the construction of a grave extension and the vertical rehabilitation on the terminal and pre-departure area, control tower and administration building.

As to the runway, Bodiongan said the clearing of small rocks and sediments including the removal of small debris and compacting are being rushed.

He added that this type of work is customary to make the surface less slippery though the process is a bit time-consuming but is a must especially that wide bodied aircrafts like Airbuses will land on the runway and that such work will prevent the planes from getting damaged travelling over the surface or from sucking the scattered fragments.

The airport manager told councilors that he has already talked with the mayor on the postponement of the airport’s opening and promised that all works will be finished on end of November so that operations will then start by next month.

As the commercial flights, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air are the two airline companies so far who have signified to service the Pagadian-Cebu-Manila routes while other airline companies are yet to announce theirs.

The airport’s completion will not only complement Zambosur’s much touted tourism destinations but will also serve the urgent need of air travelers for a convenient transport facility for their trip towards premier cities in the North, Gov. Aurora Cerilles once told this paper.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Pagadian City excited on Fr. Mick’s return

2009-11-18T20:44:00.001-08:00

AFTER all the tears and united prayer vigils for kidnapped Columban Father Michael “Mick” Sinnot, city residents are now preparing to wave their flags and roll the red carpet for the priest who is set to arrive here next week.

Accompanying Sinnott will be his superior in the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue.

Sinnott was freed by his captors last Nov. 12 in Zamboanga City. He flew to Manila for a series of medical tests and is presently resting at the St. Columban House in Singalong.

The Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace, the same group that held a sequence of prayer rallies during Sinnott’s captivity and the staff of Hangop Kabataan Foundation said they are very happy on news of the Irish priest’s homecoming.

Bishop Emmanuel “Manny” Cabajar said Sinnott will be here on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and will then proceed to the Hangop Center in Aquino St., a stone’s throw from the San Jose Parish, where his well-wishers will render a short program for him.

Cabajar added that he is set to give his welcome address, to be followed by an interpretative singing performance by the children of Hangop, then a reading of the Bible by Fr. Dodo Suarin and the Koran by Sultan Maguid Maruhom.

Maruhom is the chairperson of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society in Pagadian and executive director of Ummah Fi Salam, a Muslim faith-based organization working with the Catholic faith-based Socio-Pastoral Institute (SPI) implementing a Christian Aid funded interfaith program entitled “Building Darusalam or Peace Communities” in urban poor Moro communities in Zamboanga del Sur.

After the scripture readings, representatives from the tri-peoples group—Subanen, Muslim and Christian—will share their stories and encounters while Sinnott was in captivity for 31-days.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, who created and chaired the Crisis Management Committee tasked to look for Sinnott, will likewise deliver her message. Sinnott will then give his response and O’Donoghue, his closing remarks.

Cabajar commented that the incident befalling on Sinnott, his safe release and his homecoming played a part in giving a moral lesson to the faithful in their everyday experiences, in their effort for solidarity, the hope for lasting peace in Mindanao and as an inspiration to help and promote Sinnott’s selfless mission to Zamboanga del Sur.

Meanwhile, the MSSC in Ireland, through Fr Malachy Smyth, who is based in Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath, thanked the role played by the media in covering the abduction and subsequent release of Sinnott.

“Even though the ordeal happened on the other side of the world, people in Ireland were able to stay in touch with events through the competent way the press dealt with the kidnapping. This was a great relief to his family, to his Columban colleagues, to his friends and to a large segment of the Irish public who showed such sympathetic interest in the plight of this courageous missionary,” Smyth said in the Columban’s blog.

“We believe that this sustained coverage by the media helped in no small way in bringing the kidnapping to a peaceful resolution. As missionaries we knew from the previous kidnapping of the late Fr Desmond Hartford (1997) and the late Fr Rufus Halley (2001) that the kidnapping could have ended in great pain or even death. A happy ending, without violence or any loss of life, was our fervent wish and prayer,” he added.

“We are also grateful that the media brought to the attention of the Irish people the sterling service that Fr Michael and missionaries like him have given in economically poor communities in Asia, Africa and Latin America for decades,” Smyth wrote.

REPORT BY JONG CADION & MICHAEL MEDINA

Retired Red Cross exec donates books to City Library

2009-11-18T01:11:00.000-08:00

READING books is a habit that benefits our lives by improving our knowledge to a large extent, helping us relax and become more confident in communication.

That is why Mayor Samuel Co takes reading books not only as an opportunity to gain vast knowledge but also as aid to people, especially students, in expanding their horizons, boost their vocabulary and improve writing skills

What is more appreciative is when somebody has the heart to donate books for people to read, just like 100 hundred different volumes donated recently by Antonia Jerez-Susi, a philanthropist.

The 82-year old benefactor is a former administrator of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) in Pagadian City.

Co received the volumes of books donated by Susi last Nov. 13 and had these dispatched at the Pagadian City Library (PCL) located near the City Hall.

Citing the need to equip the city library with abundant books in order to encourage reading habits among people and children, Co urged book collectors who want to get rid of their compilation to just donate these to the library.

The mayor added that the city library has ample space reserved for more volumes of books, whether paperback or hardback, magazines and any reference material.

For her part, Susi said that she has been reading and collecting books for almost 30 years already and believes that her access on books enhanced her learning and knowledge.

She hopes that her good deed will inspire others to do the same, saying books expand one’s knowledge and awareness of the world of literature, enrich views of someone just by reading about their life and what they have achieved in it.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Asia Foundation's Books for Asia Program are just two of the internationally known organizations that distribute books and journals to public and private institutions across the country.

Locally, there are also other associations that willingly donate books to public libraries like the SM Foundation’s Donate-A-Book project and La Salle Philippines Alumni Association.

CHARNYL ALBARRACIN & MICHAEL MEDINA

The evils of human trafficking

2009-11-17T22:41:00.000-08:00

HERE’S disturbing news from the Associated Press the other day which reported of a 5-year-old girl whose body was found dead off a rural county in North Carolina. Police has accused her mother of selling the child for sex.

The girl’s father said he was regretful over giving the girl's mother a chance to raise their daughter who she had been offering for prostitution. It's unbelievable how a mother can do something that horrible to her little child. Such a dastardly act is particularly disturbing, akin to the crime called human trafficking.

As it is described, human trafficking is said to be the fastest-growing criminal industry worldwide with estimated annual revenue for trafficking in persons fetching up to $9 billion, says Wikipedia.

Victims of such abuse are mostly women and children who were typically recruited using coercion, deception, fraud, abuse of power or outright abduction. It may even come in a form of slavery, prostitution, forced labor and other forms of involuntary servitude.

We should be aware that human traffickers prowl on Filipinas too and as Susan Ople, executive director of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said, this has been going in Malaysia and Singapore.

Pinays are tempted to accept job offers in these countries because of a promise of quick deployment. Thus, Filipinas risk their lives for greener pastures by crossing the borders; even elude arrest only to end up as prostitutes there.

Our country has anti-trafficking units who can go after the suspects and their scouts here but even with the presence of the Anti-Trafficking law, we only see but a small percentage of convictions being handed down.

We therefore need to campaign more for the protection of our vulnerable women workers from exploiters here and aborad. We must act now. Our soft attitude against this form of crime will only embolden human traffickers to penetrate our borders and prey on the dreams of Filipino women for a better life.

Cerilles supports NRM-GEF

2009-11-17T18:45:00.001-08:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles is giving her full support for the implementation of the Natural Resources Management–Global Environment Facility (NRM-GEF) and lauded the inclusion of seven biodiversity sites of Zamboanga Peninsula.

The NRM-GEF helps programs and projects that protect the global environment through grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants.

In her message read by Provincial Administrator Pepito Degamo, Cerilles commended the efforts of the officials of the Department of Agriculture–Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) in coming up with such projects attuned to integrated ecosystem management and community-based natural resource management.

“This will significantly help boost our steadfast pursuits for the development and preservation of our natural resources and the environment,” was Cerilles’ message.

The DA, in its press release named the biodiversity sites in Zamboanga Peninsula as Margosatubig and Vincenzo Sagun in Zamboanga del Sur, Mabuhay, Talusan and Olutanga in Zamboanga Sibugay including Rizal and Sibutad in Zamboanga del Norte.

The others are Marihatag and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur, Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao and Lamitan, Basilan.

These sites will be placed under DA’s research, conservation and recovery activities which aim to protect and revitalize Mindanao's most important wetlands and wildlife resources.

In its website, the MRDP said these are special community-based resource management component called the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation (CMBC) which is funded by the GEF.

DA regional executive director Oscar Parawan said that a total funding of about P300 million will be used to finance various conservation and wildlife habitat projects in the mentioned sites.

The grant will be downloaded through DA’s MRDP-Natural Management Resources, Parawan concluded.

REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU

Sinnott: I'm freed 'coz they want to see Pacman

2009-11-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

KIDNAPPED Columban priest Michael “Mick” Sinnott may be an instant celebrity and news about his abduction is known the world over but someone more prominent casted a shadow over him.

GMA-7, in a news report published dated Nov. 14, said Sinnot’s kidnappers decided free him “as early as possible because they wanted to catch Manny Pacquiao's fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto,” which was scheduled last Sunday.

The boxing champ from Mindanao knocked down Cotto twice and turned his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds by TKO in the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Your freedom is our freedom. We don’t want to be here for a long time, too. And we want to watch Pacquiao's fight,” Sinnott quoted his kidnappers.

Sinnott said his abductors also found it strenuous to bring along somebody slow and finds it difficult to take care of an elderly priest, thus they decided to free him early.

He added that he was still recuperating from his open-heart surgery the day he was abducted.

“With my age and condition, they really don’t want to hold me longer. I am old, and I had a hard time walking,” the cleric said.

Sinnott’s statements contradicted earlier speculations which said that the priest’s liberty was timed for the Nov. 12 arrival of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, herself, said in a meeting with the press the day Sinnott found freedom that the priest’s release “was just timely with Sec. Clinton’s visit.”

Cerilles likewise said that what happened was a rescue operation between the military and in coordination with the MILF and no money was involved.

Sinnott, coordinator of Hangop Kabataan Foundation located in San Jose District, this city, was snatched by armed men last Oct. 11 and freed one month and one day later.

Sinnott said he wanted to remain in Pagadian if his superiors would allow. “I hope to stay in Mindanao. My plan is to continue as usual. I don’t know if that’s possible,” Sinnott told Manila reporters.

Meanwhile, Columban superior Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue wrote his impressions on Sinnott in his blog dated Nov. 15.

“Fr Mick Sinnott continues to amaze us. He is looking better every day and is in good form despite the fact that he has hardly rested since his release. He had no sleep on Wednesday night as he travelled to freedom (which included a long sea journey),” he said.

O’Donoghue added that he was impressed with Sinnott handling all the long hours of successive interviews and press conference on the day he arrived in Manila.

“Father Mick never once objected. Even when I tried to curtail some, he always insisted he was willing to talk to whoever was looking for him. One of the things that I am again aware of is the impact that Father Mick has on many of those who come to interview him. His authenticity is powerful,” the priest went on.

“For now, we continue to give thanks to God that, despite living in really basic conditions, Father Mick suffered no ill health, no infections, no aches or pains. That in itself is a miracle. Let us thank our Blessed Mother also for his safe return, but let us continue to ask her to secure the release of all those who are still in their captivity, wherever they may be,” O’Donoghue concluded.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Auring: Sinnott’s case will be the last

2009-11-17T18:43:00.002-08:00

NEVER again will the long sleepless nights of waiting for a loved one and the emotional trouble of knowing whether he or she will come home or not, happen to anybody in Pagadian.

This was how Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ aired her hope at one point during her meeting with the press the day Columban priest Michael Sinnott was freed by his abductors.

Cerilles created and chaired the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) a day after the elderly priest, who had a history of heart problem, was snatched from his home in Gatas District early evening of Oct. 11.

Tasked to oversee the whole affairs for Sinnott’s safe release, Cerilles said the work of the CMC in the past 31 days was also something like a dilemma among the members, themselves, trying to figure out Sinnott’s whereabouts and making sure he got his daily dosage of medicines.

“We hope that this is our last meeting as members of the CMC and I really hope we will not meet again for another problem,” the governor told other members during the conference with the press.

Cerilles likewise attributed Sinnott’s early release to the prayers of everybody and those who loved the Irish missionary, who has worked for about 40 years already in the country.

“It is because of our strong faith and prayer. Not only us but also the whole world, were united in prayers for the safe return of Fr. Mick Sinnott,” she said.

Cerilles likewise clarified to the media that no ransom was paid in exchange for Sinnott’s liberty. “The government’s stand is always a no ransom policy,” she said.

To recall, it was Cerilles who broke the news over DxCA-Bell FM, said the Irish priest was freed by his captors at 4:30 a.m., Nov. 12, at Sangali Village in Zamboanga City by members of the task force formed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and was then turned over to government peace negotiators.

Sinnot, who was brought to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters for medical tests, was described as “disoriented but quite healthy.” He was flown then to Manila to meet President Gloria Arroyo in Malacañang.

Sinnott has a history of heart problems and efforts to deliver his medicines were repeatedly pleaded by the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) during his captivity.

The priest’s release came barely three days after the Abu Sayyaf Group beheaded another kidnap victim, identified as Gabriel Canizares, principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu, who was abducted last Oct. 19 in Brgy. Tanum.

Sinnott’s freedom also came 12 days after a proof of life video was received by the CMC relaying the abductors’ demand for a P100 million ransom. It was not known whether this demand was met as the government maintains its no ransom policy.

In an interview with journalists, Sinnott said that his captors, who identified themselves as a “lost command,” treated him well and made him sleep in a cot.

Sinnott added that he and his captors stayed for ten days in a swampy area and walked for hours before MILF negotiators meet him and later turned him to the WESMINCOM in Zamboanga City.

The priest added that during the first days of his captivity, his abductors tied his hands with rope and blindfolded him. He said his captors treated him well and he was guarded only by six men headed by a certain Kikoy.

As of press time, nothing can be said about the kidnapping as both the military and the MILF refuse to speak where they found Sinnott or give details about his kidnappers.

In the past weeks, several names were bared by the military including the pronouncement made recently by DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno, initially linking the MILF to the kidnapping but these only elicited denials from the rebel group.

Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to all the religious, both Muslims and Christians, in uniting together once for a prayer rally for Sinnot.

Also, the P200,000 cash reward from the city government intended for would-be informants on Sinnott’s whereabouts will be given instead to Hangop Kabataan Foundation.

The CMC agreed to give the reward money to the center and Cerilles said the provincial government will add another P200,000.

Last Nov. 7, during the prayer rally conducted by the transport group in Pagadian, cash totaling P2,147 was handed over to Hangop Kabataan.

Communication and Transportation and Motorized Tricycle franchising and Regulatory Board (MTFRB) chair Arnold Gavenia said the money was raised by members of the Federated Organizations of Pagadian Tricycle Drivers and Operators.

Sinnott’s release was one big miracle, Emma Andales, Hangop Kabataan team leader, said..

“We hope that Fr. Sinnott will still prefer to stay with us in Pagadian because he established the Hangop as his mission,” also said bookeeper Neneng Baling.

REPORT BY JONG CADION & MICHAEL MEDINA

Police records zero-crime during Pacquiao-Cotto fight

2009-11-17T18:43:00.001-08:00

THE Pagadian City Police Station posted a record of zero-crime during the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout last Sunday, after people of all walks of life opted to stay in their homes and watch the fight on television.

The new WBO welterweight champion knocked down Cotto twice and turned the Puerto Rican’s face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds by TKO in the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The crime rate tilting to an amazing zip virtually helped Pagadian police in terms of peace and order, C/Insp. Michael Palermo said.

However, he added that policemen were still on patrol that day despite the zero crime rate and the big boxing match going on.

Last Monday, this paper saw that there was no entry of any crime incident or any report of untoward incident last Nov. 15, unlike the day before when one was killed and two other bystanders were wounded in a shooting incident that occurred in Sta. Lucia.

Police identified the victims as Faisal Talinguez Abubakar, Nathaniel Manisa Alayon and Jeffrey Saladaga Lopecio, all residents of the said barangay.

It was learned that the victims were watching a basketball game along Duterte Street in Purok Makiangayon when the shooting happened.

Abubakar, who was believed to be the main target of the two unidentified shooters, sustained multiple wounds in his body and was pronounced dead on arrival at Borbon Hospital.

Palermo claimed Abubakar was known as a drug runner in the area who was said to have earned a grudge from one of his customers.

Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia punong barangay Nasser Cauba said he will “shoot to kill” any suspects caught in the act of shooting people in his village.

An irate Cauba said he was only suggesting as he urged resident to be on alert always on suspicious people who might try to spoil their upcoming Barangay charter day celebration this Dec. 13.

In a related report, the PNP national headquarters also said the same zero-crime scenario was replicated in most places all over the country that Sunday.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION

Councilors declare trisikads illegal

2009-11-17T18:42:00.002-08:00

CITY Councilors has ruled with finality the fate of the 3-wheeled vehicle servicing short routes within this city’s coastal area by declaring it illegal and ordered its prohibition for good.

Directly affected are the 100 more or less members of the so-called San Pedro Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (SPTODA) who ply along the small roads of San Pedro and Santiago Districts.

The decision to stop SPTODA’s illegal operation was a result of deliberations following the submission of the joint committee reports from the committees on Public Utilities, transportation, communications and Franchising (CPUTCF) and the committee on Laws, Rules and Policy Formulation (CLRPF).

Councilor Arnold Gavenia chairs CPUTCF with colleagues Wilson Co and Eric Bersales as members while Arnulfo Garcia chairs CLRPF backed by Romeo Tan and Frank Jefferson Villegas as members.

The two committees, it was learned, has made joint representative public hearings last Oct. 30 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod conference room attended by Ret. Col. Azuri Hawani as Mayor Samuel Co’s representative, PNP City Traffic chief SPO4 Lasuro Bernante, punong barangays, school principals and residents of San Pedro, Santiago, Sta. Lucia, Kawit, media, SPTODA members and leaders of the various motorized tricycle operators and drivers associations in Pagadian.

After the hearing, the joint committees recommended that the matter be referred back to the City Council acting as a whole and called for further study and evaluation for appropriate disposition.

The said referral likewise endorsed the two barangay resolutions of San Pedro and Santiago supporting the operations of SPTODA including that of Sta. Lucia which prohibit the entry of trisikads in their area.

The two resolutions of San Pedro and Santiago oushed SPTODA’s legalization through an ordinance and allowing them to continue operating within the coastal area, from the City Fish Port to and from the Metro Shopping Center via Dablo Street.

Santa Lucia officials’ opposition, meanwhile, cited few reasons.

Being the busiest urban district where people from different places come and go in the pursuit of trade, business and employment and especially under the present situation where the maintenance of orderliness and in avoidance of traffic congestions, SPTODA’s presence is a big no-no, Punong Barangay Nasser Cauba said.

To recall, SPTODA members illegally operating along the coastal villages and under the noses of law enforcers have been given a two-month reprieve by the mayor to dismantle their cabs or get the nod of the city council for them to be legally recognized.

The mayor’s order was made last Aug. 3 when SPTODA flocked to the City Hall to air their side on their continued illegal operation.

SPTODA enlightened the mayor that they thrive to serve short distance commuters in the mentioned barangays for half the fare asked by motorized tricycles.

Tri-sikads collect only P5 from commuters while the current fare for motorized tricycle is P9.

The tri-sikad group has been the subject of complaints by the almost 3,000 tricycle drivers and operators plying in the city streets who claimed that the tri-sikad’s continued operation is a threat to their survival.

The Tricycle Drivers and Operators Confederation (PITDOCON) have asserted in the past that the tri-sikads do not have permits and don’t even pay taxes to the city and therefore is illegal.

This was exactly what Co told the tri-sikad group, bringing up the complaints of PITDOCON members and the mayor’s own plan to make a suitable decision on the issue.

Co then advised SPTODA to work out their legalization papers by lobbying with the city council for an ordinance that will sanction their operation before his reprieve expires.

He said that by October, in the absence of an ordinance, he will be forced to take into custody those who operate their tri-sikads in the city proper.

The mayor said that SPTODA’s vehemence has caused a headache to the city government because they drive without license, has no legal tariff, no age limit for drivers and most of all, no legal basis for their operation.

As to Gavenia, he justified the council’s decision by saying: “If I have to consider their economic rights, I have to see to it that they will follow with in the bounds of the law,” he said.

REPORT BY JONG CADION & MICHAEL MEDINA

WB, DA to start P300-M green project in Mindanao

2009-11-17T18:42:00.001-08:00

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to unleash a multi-million peso environmental project in Zamboanga Peninsula and the other regions of Mindanao funded by the World Bank-Global Environment Facility.

This information was revealed by DA regional executive director Oscar Parawan, who also said that the $6.351 million funded project, which is equivalent to P300 million, will be used to finance various conservation and wildlife habitat projects in 11 locations around Zamboanga Peninsula.

The funding will be downloaded through DA-Mindanao Rural Development Program on Natural Management Resources (MRDP-NRM), Parawan added.

As to the biodiversity sites, Parawan narrated that these include Margosatubig and Vincenzo Sagun in Zamboanga del Sur, Mabuhay, Talusan and Olutanga in Zamboanga Sibugay including Rizal and Sibutad in Zamboanga del Norte.

The others are Marihatag and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur, Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao and Lamitan, Basilan.

These mentioned sites will be placed under DA’s research, conservation and recovery activities which aim to protect and revitalize Mindanao's most important wetlands and wildlife resources.

The DA even calls these biodiversity sites as “natural resources center of Mindanao within the coral triangle of the country.”

Parawan underscored that Zampen alone holds seven towns or 67 percent of the total identified sites in Mindanao, which is within the center of coral triangle biodiversity that spans the whole archipelago.

Last Nov. 9, the launching of the of the five-year green project was made with World Bank project team leader Carolina Figueroa-Geron and party visiting Pagadian City.

Welcoming Geron are Parawan and other DA officials, Provincial Administrator Pepito Degamo, who represented Gov. Aurora Cerilles and six municipal mayors from around the region, municipal agriculturists and administrative and planning officers.

Geron noted the need for hard investments on Mindanao focusing on protection and conservation activities for the environment since the island has been labeled already as one of the world's biologically richest and most threatened ecosystems, next to Brazil and Indonesia.

She explained that Mindanao for long has been the habitat of significant species such as the dugong, manta ray, giant clams, sea grasses and mangroves, which need biodiversity conservation and the adoption of an integrated, holistic approach.

Cerilles, in her message read by Degamo, said she was elated that a third of the whole project is found in Zambosur, adding she hopes the project will help spur conservation efforts also from the benefitted populace.

November 10 and 11, an orientation and commitment setting among the stakeholders followed, with site visitations at Triton Island in Vincenzo Sagun and Margosatubig.

It is hoped that with this bioversity project, the surrounding communities that will see the benefits will intensify awareness among themselves, maintain sustainable fishing practices and help guard or eliminate illegal activities like dynamite fishing and other destructive activities.

REMAI ALEJADO, DA-9

DOLE unveils special income projects

2009-11-17T18:41:00.003-08:00

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently unveiled here two of its special projects called the Dole Kabuhayan (DK) Livelihood Starter Kit and Project Nego-Kart (Negosyo sa Kariton.

The DK livelihood Starter Kit Project targets the poor and long-term unemployed like the out-of-school youths, women, parents of child laborers, indigenous people), disabled, urban poor, elderly persons, landless farmers and fisherfolks and other workers.

Beneficiaries are provided a livelihood starter kits consisting of a package of services that will enable then to start a sustainable business undertaking and become self-employed.

The Nego-Kart, meanwhile, is a project for ambulant vendors in making their existing livelihood undertakings grow into profitable and sustainable businesses.

In a ceremony held at the City Gymnasium, Nov. 5, DOLE regional director Ponciano Ligutom presented a total amount of P200,000 for the mentioned special projects.

Ligutom announced that ten beneficiaries passed DOLE’s criteria and were given starter kits for their house-to-house service-oriented projects like refrigerator-aircon repair, plumbing, snacks preparation and cosmetology.

Livelihood tools, equipment, materials and inputs worth P5,000 was given by Ligutom to Joseph Ordonio, Lauro Dugenia Jr, Tomas Acosta Jr., Moises Doring, Noeme. Alino, Imelda Teledorio, Lydia Celera, Ruel Buban, Maria Belen Mansayon and Alicia Modejar.

DOLE also awarded ten other ambulant vendors who sells fruits, fishball, juice and hotcakes, with their new vending carts and a working capital worth P15,000 each.

Ligutom identified the beneficiaries as Jose Ronnie Ugdamina, Felix Abo-Abo, Elsie Maturan, Robert Pasanting, Riza Pepito, Simeona Patiga, Diosdada Lacharon, Alberto Molejon, Erlinda Lamar and Michael Bajao.

The regional director then reminded recipients of their big responsiobility to the gifts given saying they should not waste the resources government entrusted to them.

For his part, City Administrator Raffy Amor, who represented Mayor Samuel Co, thanked DOLE for bringing its programs and services to residents.

Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries complained that the worth of the items given were not proportionate to the supposedly revealed amount of P5,000 for each recipient.

Some of the beneficiaries told this paper that had DOLE given them cash instead of the items, they could have purchase the said materials at a much lower price.

One recipient of the DK livelihood Starter Kit Project said she could buy the hair cutting machine for only P1,500 in one of the department stores in the city, half the price claimed by DOLE.

Another Nego-Cart Project recipient from Santo Niño commented that what good is it for them to have the cart when the P3,000 start up capital promised to them by DOLE is still not available.

“Why don’t DOLE give us the P15,000 cash and we will assemble a cart worth P7,000, which includes already the bike. We will use the savings for capital,” another said.

REPORT BY JONG CADION

Father Mick freed at last

2009-11-17T18:41:00.001-08:00

ZAMBOSURIANS are looking forward to a happy reunion with kidnapped Columban priest Michael "Mick" Sinnot after he was freed, today, exactly a month after he was snatched from his home in Pagadian.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, who broke the news over DxCA-Bell FM, said the Irish priest was freed by his captors at 4:30 a.m., Nov. 12, at Sangali Village in Zamboanga City by members of the task force formed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and was then turned over to government peace negotiators.

Cerilles, who created and chaired the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) tasked to look for Sinnott, said she welcomed the priest’s release with a glad heart, adding everybody’s prayers for the clergy’s release was heard.

Sinnot, who was brought to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters for medical tests, was described as “disoriented but quite healthy.” He was flown to Manila to meet President Gloria Arroyo in Malacañang.

Sinnott has a history of heart problems and efforts to deliver his medicines were repeatedly pleaded by the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) during his captivity.

In an interview with journalists, Sinnott said that his captors, who identified themselves as a “lost command,” treated him well and made him sleep in a cot.

As of press time, nothing can be said about the kidnapping as both the military and the MILF refuse to speak where they found Sinnott or give details about his kidnappers.

“The MILF vehemently denied any part in the kidnapping, an act it consistently condemned,” MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said as he disclosed that members of the MILF task force had spoken with relatives of the kidnappers and “applied moral pressure.”

For his part, MSSC regional director Pat O’Donoghue wrote in his blog his reaction to Sinnott’s release.

“Thanks to all who have been praying for Father Michael and thanks to all who have been involved behind the scenes in trying to obtain his release. It is a moment of great joy and relief for all of us who know and love this great priest,” O’Donoghue wrote.

“In the face of all this we are assured that ‘God does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike’. God’s kingdom continues to permeate the world despite the evil that seems to overwhelm us.”

"Father Mick’s abduction and the thirty-one days since have revealed many in whom the kingdom is alive. With the Samaritan we give praise and thanks to God whose love will conquer all," O'Donoghue concluded.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

DOLE partners with Emcotech for Kabataan ITO

2009-11-17T18:40:00.001-08:00

OUT-of-school and other disadvantaged youths and informal sector workers like tricycle drivers and ambulant vendors may soon avail of free mentoring through DOLE’s Kabataan ITO (Youth-Information Technology Opportunities).

DOLE is for Department of Labor and Employment, preserntly headed by Ponciano Ligutom as regional director.

Last Nov. 5, 2009, Ligutom’s office partnered with the Eastern Mindanao College of Technology (EMCOTECH) for the implementation of the Kabataan ITO project.

Ligutom signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Avelino Lozada, EMCOTECH president, for the implementation of the said special project in support to the National Youth Service Program (NYSP).

The NYSP, complemented with Executive Order No. 788, is a program launched by the national government to underscore the importance of the youth in community action and promote their role in national service.

EO 788 tackles the need to involve the youth 18 to 24 years old in the national service program through the National Service Corps and Youth Conservation Corps.

Ligutom explained that through the Kabataan ITO project, learning and earning opportunities for IT-literate but unemployed youths will be tapped and mobilized to improve IT literacy among OSYs, other disadvantaged sectors, their dependents and workers through free mentoring sessions.

DOLE’s regional office has allocated P88,000 as stipend to the 20 youth volunteers who were selected to teach 160 learners in basic IT skills consisting of different lessons such as familiarizing the computer hardware, Word Processing Application Using MS Word and using the internet.

The learners, according to Ligutom, will soon be able to design, develop, support or manage computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.

The DOLE official also praised the school administration of EMCOTECH for being an active partner of the labor department by committing to provide a space for K-ITO Corner complete with computers and internet connection.

DOLE provincial director Virginia Bonbon, PESO-9 federation president Engr. Joseph Isaias Quipot VI and PESO Manager Naomi Limbaga were present during the MOA signing.

PRESS RELEASE

Pagadian police disrupts bomb plot

2009-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

POLICE authorities have tightened security measures and urged the public to be wary after the discovery of two improvised explosive device (IED) in a coastal village, here, just several meters away from a vocational school.

City Police Chief Inspector Michael Palermo said the IEDs were left at the garbage pile on both sides of the road in Purok Bakhaw-B in Brgy. Kawit at about 6:30 in the morning, Thursday, Nov. 10.

A passing resident who saw the milk can tried to tinker the package and concluded that it could be an IED after noticing a protruding cord in the can. He then warned the people within the vicinity and immediately reported to the explosive ordinance and disposal (EOD) team.

Policemen along with members of the AFP K9, SOCO and 905th PMG immediately proceeded to the area where the EOD, led by Senior EOD technician Emerson Lumpas later diffused the bombs.

Palermo explained that two cellular phones were used to connect to the IEDs, which are also connected to two blasting caps. He said that had the bombs went off, the extent of damage could reach as far as 150 meters.

The police chief added the two IEDs composed of two containers of 1800 grams of milk cans, three cellular phones, a 60-mm projectile RPG, another two kilograms of aluminum flash powder mix, a flashlight with caps and blasting cord, electrical cord with adaptor and assorted nails mixed with bolts.

Palermo said he cannot elaborate more on the nature of the IEDs for the meantime adding they are zeroing their investigation on the motive behind the bombing attempt.

The Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and Trades, located a few meters from the area where the IEDs were found, is said to conduct a parade that morning for their English Day celebration.

Palermo told this paper that two witnesses saw three suspicious looking persons sitting inside the shanty near the area two hours before the discovery of the IEDs.

The police official believes the IEDs may have been planted to sow terror among the populace and create an impression that Pagadian City is a dangerous place.

December, last year, authorities foiled a bombing attempt in a passenger bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City after an IED was discovered fashioned out of two 60-milimeter mortar shells.

The attempt was the third foiled within the Westmincom area of jurisdiction after the twin explosions that earlier rocked two commercial establishments in Iligan City that month killing two people and injuring 48 others.

September, this year, a conspiracy to perpetrate bombings in the Zamboanga Peninsula region and in three other provinces by terrorist groups having links with al-Qaeda was uncovered by authorities.

Information from a military source based in Zamboanga City then reported that an unidentified urban terrorist group is targeting to bomb key areas around the region, including Zamboanga and Pagadian cities.

Stepping up operations against the reported terror plots, city police then at once informed local establishments and security agencies to be wary on individuals with suspicious movements.

REPORT BY JONG CADION, CHARNYL ALBARRACIN & MICHAEL MEDINA

Tabak chief sees value of education

2009-11-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus’ battle cry for effective governance, which is “Edukasyon and Solusyon,” has an avid believer, in the person of MGen. Romeo Lustestica, commanding general of the First Infantry ‘Tabak’ Division.

For Lustestica, education that has formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual, will wipe out destitution because accumulated knowledge, skills and values will help one have a better chance of getting a better paying job.

“The more knowledgeable you become, the better and more chances you have to improve your living conditions,” he said during the signing of contract and distribution of checks to the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) scholars of the AFP’s CAA Educational Benefit System (CAAEBS).

Held at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an, Labangan, this province, some 19 CAA scholars received their checks from Lustestica, who was also assisted by Col. Alexander Dicang, assistant division commander and chairman of the CAAEBS Selection Board.

CAAEBS is part of the Armed Forces education benefit program which provides scholarships to deserving individuals. Overall, this program is part of a portfolio that comprises 185 different educational benefit programs that also serves dependents of military personnel and CAAs, non-combat casualties, active military personnel including soldiers with disabilities.

“For us soldiers and CAFGUS, education is the solution to insurgency,” Lustestica said, citing the false ideologies grasped by those in the Maoist belief and who are fighting a “protracted people's war” through its armed wing, the New People's Army.

“These people do not weigh the consequences and they failed to see the real viewpoint prompting them to join the group. But if only they were educated or trained in schools, perhaps their wise judgments will tell them its wrong,” the army official explained.

“Education, therefore, is very important,” Lustestica stressed as he appealed to the scholars to study hard and strive to become degree holders and professionals.

At the same time, Lustestica said he is confident the regular Tabak troops will likewise study and train more regardless of one’s advancement, complete all command training requirements, advance and take that extra edge because “soldiers who are educated have better worth in the organization.”

A total of P285,00 worth of checks were distributed to the scholars that day for CAAEBS, which was launched initially by the AFP’s higher headquarters at the Tabak Division.

REPORT BY JUN CORGUE PIA-9

678 students from Ozamiz got flu-like symptoms

2009-07-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

THE City Health Office (CHO) is presently monitoring 678 students from different schools in Ozamiz City after they simultaneously showed flu-like symptoms and excused themselves from their classes.

This came while health authorities are still in the process of endorsing recommendations on school mitigation strategies against the possible outbreak of A(H1N1) in Misamis Occidental.

In a report aired over DxSY, Thursday, Ozamiz City Health Officer Daniel Medina assured the public nobody was yet confirmed positive of A(H1N1) in the city as he disclosed the students only exhibited fever symptoms, some of which were associated with stomach aches.

Medina said the 678 students came from Pulot Elementary School (ES), Maningcol ES, Catadman ES, Molicay ES, Gango ES, Tabid Central School and Montol National High School.

Of the mentioned schools, Pulot listed the most figures with 134.

Medina likewise said that they have classified two students from Misamis University and another three from La Salle University as “case under observation” after they showed the same feverish signs.

Swab samples from the said students were already taken and sent to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Earlier this week, two students from Barra Elementary School (ES) in Tudela were found positive of the virus, based on the results from their swab samples.
The two confirmed cases in Barra ES were among the 125 taken in for swab sampling after 97 students from the said school all at once complained of fever.

The next day, another 28 students exhibited the same symptoms and were not in attendance. By Wednesday, the number rose to 182, this time, including 36 students from the nearby Tudela Central School and 21 more from Balon Elementary School.

Municipal health authorities surmised the flu-like symptoms felt by students in Balon were only associated with their lack of resistance since the barangay was classified as “moderately malnourished” and one of the “dirtiest” village in Tudela.

The tag came after a health team found that children living there have insufficient and unbalanced food diet and most households lack toilets, leaving people to use the backyard for human wastes.

While the spread of the flu-like symptoms were yet limited to the areas of schools, Medina said students who complain of fever or flu should be provided with appropriate guidance on supportive care and undergo self-isolation while continuously monitoring his or her health.

Medina added that the health department’s advice of observing good personal hygiene should also be followed in order to minimize chances of acquiring the A(H1N1).

He suggested the washing of one’s hands using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers immediately after coughing or sneezing, or after touching anything or anyone suspect.

Meanwhile, Gov. Loreto Ocampos said the A(H1N1) infection cases detected in the province is not as alarming and added that he has already ordered the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital down to the Municipal Health Offices to stock vitamins A, C, D and E to prevent more A(H1N1) outbreak in the communities

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Gloria’s SONA was all about work, says Tony

2009-07-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

CONGRESSMAN Antonio Cerilles praised President Gloria Arroyo’s last State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) saying the growth experienced by Mindanao today is the best example of the chief executive’s good work in achieving reforms for the country.

Cerilles, talking over DxCA-Radyo Bagting, Tuesday, said that Arroyo’s SONA was “a full and factual report” of her achievement in transforming Mindanao from being a “land of promises” into a land of progress.

“These developments we have cannot be felt by those in Manila,” the congressman said.

“Generally, Zamboanga del Sur benefitted from PGMA’s term and we are thankful for that,” he added.

Cerilles then made a litany of the SONA projects made by the Arroyo like the paved highways all around Zamboanga Peninsula, which includes the Dapitan-Dakak Road and the Zamboanga West Coast Road, which runs from Gutalac-Baliguian-Siocon-Sirawai.

Cerilles added the completion of rural road network projects all over the region which made travel convenient and transport of farm products to markets easier, like the Malabang, Dobliston-Kapatagan-Molave Road; Monte Alegre-Tukuran Road—linking the two provinces of Lanao to Zambosur.

Cerilles likewise mentioned the Pagadian Airport, which is calendared for completion by September, as reported during the recently concluded 12th Mindanao Super Region (MSR) meeting here.

Another is the making of Pagadian into a regional government seat of Zamboanga Peninsula being one of the most competitive cities of Mindanao.

At present, at least 40 out of the 85 regional offices in Zamboanga City have already transferred to Pagadian and more transfer activities is expected to be fully complied before 2009 ends.

Meanwhile, former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and presently Mindanao development in-charge Jesus Dureza said that Mindanao received substantial share of the infrastructure projects implemented during President Arroyo's administration.

Dureza added that Arroyo’s plan of clustering areas in the country into so-called “super regions” and that of Mindanao into an agribusiness area has resulted into the completion of major projects worth P88.19 billion.

“Towards that vision, we made key reforms. Our economic plan centers on putting people first. Higit sa lahat ang layunin ng ating mga patakaran ay tulungan ang masipag na karaniwang Pilipino,” Arroyo said in her recent SONA.

The president summed up that her administration “was able to make a strong economy in a strong fiscal position to withstand political shocks, built new modern infrastructure and completed unfinished ones, put the economy on the fair level, built a sound base for the next generation and safe from environmental degradation and man-made disasters.”

Cerilles then commented: “Ang importante dinha nay gihimo ug naa tay nakita, ilabi na kita dinhi sa Mindanao. Sayon kayo ang paglibak ug pagpangatake pero ang pangutana, unsay imong programa kung ikaw ang naa dinha?”

“Dili ta maminaw sa mga hiwi nga kritiko nga sige lang og panaway,” he concluded.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

DTI-ZDS warns public on impostors

2009-07-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

THE provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued its warning to the public and the business sector against unscrupulous individuals who pretend that they are from the DTI and gain monetary favor from the unsuspecting.

DTI Prov. Dir. Maria Socorro Atay said in an email to this paper that she received reports that there are people doing rounds in Pagadian and in the province, posing as DTI workers and demanding money from business owners.

Atay said these people are not authorized by DTI and urged the public to check with their office before committing any deals and or giving money to these people.

“For the information of the public, legitimate DTI employees who go on monitoring and enforcement activities are properly identified by wearing the prescribed uniform and official identification cards,” she said.

“These employees bring with them a copy of an office order directing them to undertake monitoring and enforcement activities for a certain date. DTI employees are not allowed and never demands from any business establishments without issuing official receipts,” she added.

Saying such a warning is a preventive measure and necessary to discourage said reprehensible practices, Atay then adviced businessmen to ascertain the true identity of persons posing to be DTI employees by contacting the DTI Provincial Office through telephone numbers 2143326 and 2142516 or call the local police.

PR

Teens advised to delay desire to marry

2009-07-28T03:23:00.000-07:00

PUTTING forth women’s adherence to safe reproductive options and contraceptive methods, the Provincial Population Office (PPO) is urging teenagers to re-evaluate their aspirations of marrying early to form their own family.

Such an advice is prudent, Provincial Population Officer Evelyn Panuncialman said, as doing so until a teenager reaches the age of 30, she will still mature, get better education and have economic independence before thinking about motherhood.

Panuncialman pointed out that a woman aged 45 can still conceive if she is still fertile and lives a healthy lifestyle.

And if she marries at that age, she has 15 more years to produce more children while spacing her births from 3-5 years apart. With this advice taken seriously, then a woman can have three or four children at most when she reaches 45.

Governor Aurora Cerilles says she is agreeable to the delayed marriage scheme because the delivery of health service will be more focused and will have greater significance.

Cerilles hosted the celebration of the World Population Day, July 11, where she signified her support to the Learning Package on Parent Education on Adolescent Health and Development (LPPED) launched by the Regional Population Office.

As of September 2008, birth figures from the National Statistics Office (NSO) disclosed Zamboanga del Sur’s total population of 1,935,250 as obtained from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

The NSO further stated that Zambosur’s annual growth rate is 1.97 percent, with more males than females.

Teenagers within the 14 years old bracket comprise 55.30 percent while those 18 years and above cover 51.80 percent.

Married people account to 445,421 while there are 422,584 singles.

In another statistic paper by the NSO released in 2003, it stated that Zamboanga Peninsula had a total population of 3.1 million representing 3.7 percent of the country’s population.

With these facts, Cerilles urged women to think sensibly and practice responsible family planning as such will improve their lives, that of men and children and benefits not only the couples but their families and the community as well.

Panuncialman cited that based on their pre-marriage counseling, about 19.7 percent of would-be couples are aged 18-19 and that a third of these were into premarital pregnancy.

Those aged 20-25 years old belong to the 23.8 percent while a tenth comprises the 26-31 years old bracket.

Aside from providing pre-marriage counseling, the PopCom office also holds Responsible Parenting Movement (RPM) classes in all 681 barangays of the province.

In 2008, PopCom’s regional office earmarked P2.1 million for such undertaking while the Provincial Government conterparted for the personal services of the municipal population officers.
For this year, about P4.1 million was allotted for more RPM classes in each village around the province, Panuncialman said.

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

H1N1 reaches MisOc

2009-07-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

DESPITE its massive public awareness campaign and basic preventive measures instituted, the Influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be more resilient as it breaks into Misamis Occidental this week.

Governor Loreto Ocampos, in an email sent to this paper, calmed constituents, saying the A(H1N1) infection cases detected in the province is not as alarming.

The governor added that health authorities are already on the dot of monitoring the whole of Misamis Occidental, especially in schools and local communities where the said virus might contaminate.

“Walay angay kabalak-an ang katawhan kay dili tantong peligro ang AH1N1 basta madalian ug kung mo-cooperate ang katawhan sa kampanya karon sa provincial government, Provincial Health Office ug sa Misamis Occidental Schools Division aron dili mokatag kining sakita sa atong probinsya,” Ocampos said in his email message.

The email sent by the governor to this paper likewise disclosed that two of the 125 high school students from Barra Elementary School in Tudela who showed flu-like symptoms were found positive of A(H1N1), after the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa confirmed the results of the swab tests sent.

Last week, health authorities became suspicious when 97 students from the said school were all at once absent during their Monday classes after complaining of fever.

The next day, another 28 students exhibited the same symptoms and were not in attendance. By Wednesday, the number rose to 182, this time, including 36 students from the nearby Tudela Central School and 21 more from Balon Elementary School.

Municipal health authorities surmised the flu-like symptoms felt by students in Balon were only associated with their lack of resistance since the barangay was classified as “moderately malnourished” and one of the “dirtiest” village in Tudela.

The tag came after a health team found that children living there have insufficient and unbalanced food diet and most households lack toilets, leaving people to use the backyard for human wastes.

Ocampos, sensing the highly contagious and serious condition that can affect Misamisnons, especially children, then called a meeting among all LGU executives, the provincial and rural health offices and the provincial schools division.

It was decided to suspend classes for a week starting July 27 on all private and public schools in Tudela, such as the Tudela National Comprehensive High School, Tudela Central School, and the elementary schools in Barra, Sibac, Cabol-anonan, Pan-ay Diot, Balon, Nailon, Basirang and Tigdok.

“Duna tay public information campaign. Manghatag kitag posters ug handbills sa mga balay, barangay ug information materials sa mga radio ug TV kung unsay buhaton aron makalikay ta ani ug unsay buhaton kung dunay sakop sa pamilya nga hilantan. Ikatag ni nato aron magiyahan ang mga tawo,” Ocampos assured.

Another step, he added, will be to give vitamins and supplements to the affected villages in Tudela to strengthen the immune system of residents.

The governor ordered the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital down to the Municipal Health Offices to stock vitamins A, C, D and E, seeing this as an urgent measure to prevent more A(H1N1) outbreak in the communities

“Among ipasabot sa katawhan nga dili angay mabalaka ug mohangyo mi nga mo-cooperate lang gyod sa atong kampanya,” he said.

“Unya kung naa man gani ma-apektohan, i-quarantine, dili pagawason sa balay aron dili matakdan ang uban. Unya dangop mo sa local government, sa atong mga hospital aron matambalan mo dayon,” Ocampos ended.

As of July 26, a total of 109 persons were positive of A(H1N1) out of the 196 persons who showed flu-like illness in the region, the DOH- Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao said.

Of this number, 81 are from Cagayan de Oro City and mostly are students from the 11 schools earlier reported to have been affected by the dreaded swine-flu virus.

One school there—the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School registered some 2,000 students who showed flu-like illness.

As this developed, health officials said they are monitoring Xavier University, Liceo de Cagayan University, Lourdes College, Corpus Christi, St. Mary’s Academy, International School, Balulang ES and Balulang NHS and Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School for possible infections.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Mahayag unveils hospital, water system

2009-07-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

MAHAYAG, ZAMBOSUR—Local government officials of this town led by Mayor Paulino Fanilag Sr. recently unveiled its two service projects in health and water resource development.

The newly renovated Mahayag Municipal Hospital (MMH) was one of the four infirmaries that were granted autonomy after the Provincial Government decided to trim down its administration on the said hospitals and turned this over to the respective LGUs.

Classified as primary, the 20-bed capacity MMH is equipped with service capabilities needed to support licensed physicians and medical workers.

During the inauguration ceremony last July 23, Rep. Antonio Cerilles, who stood in behalf of his wife, Gov. Aurora Cerilles, challenged town executives to attain self-sufficiency and be fully responsible in running the health institution.

Earlier, during the announcement of the Provincial Government to transfer it’s control of the health facilities to the local governments of Mahayag, Tambulig, Dinas and Lakewood, the mayors said such a responsibility may be demanding and not easy.

But the mayors of the affected municipalities said they will make sure they will help support their health institutions to continue its operations.

The mayors said that once they will operate their hospitals, this effort will be matched with the intensified enrolment of their constituents to PhilHealth for its all-inclusive health services.

Since the community hospitals in the mentioned municipalities already have its edifice and medical equipments in place, the LGU only needs to fill it up with qualified medical workers.

Fanilag said they will hire six doctors and will sustain MMH’s operations with at least 3,000 households enrolled in Philhealth.

The Mahayag Local Water System (MLWS), on the other hand, is a P28 million water infrastructure development project, which aims to provide piped potable drinking water supply to some 50,000 residents.

MLWS, according to Fanilag, will also provide water to the neighboring towns of Josefina, Dumingag and Don Victoriano in Misamis Occidental.

Mahayag, the center of the Salug Valley area, is known for its numerous natural water springs and pools.

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

Auring leads Hataw, walk-for-a-cause

2009-07-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles, recognizing the importance of health, led the early morning Nutri-Walk-For-A-Cause 2009 and Hataw or the aerobic dancing exercise at the AEC last July 21.

The activity is part of the celebration of Nutrition Month, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 491, also known as the Nutrition Act of the Philippines, which mandates its observance every July.

This year’s theme is "Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan," focusing on the importance of a healthy diet that would result to a healthy lifestyle.

The Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) has been tasked to conduct information dissemination and all other activities of the celebration.

More than 2,000 men, women and children participated in the Nutri-Walk-For-A-Cause from the wharf area towards the AEC in the Capitol Compound.

The 15-minute Hataw made Cerilles dance to her amusement, joined by board members Juan Regala, Baldomero Fernandez, Eriberto Sumalinog, Flaviano Fucoy, and Miguelito Ocapan and the department heads of the provincial government.

Everybody had fun, said Cerilles; even she was sweating from the exercise.

Dr. Nimfa Torrizo, assistant regional director of DOH’s Center for Health and Development and Regional Nutrition Committee coordinator Pamela Tarroza was there too with Cerilles.

The governor also acknowledged the participation of the regional directors of DENR, DAR and PIA, the academe, Zamsureco-I and the NGOs.

Cerilles then commended the Nutri-Walk-For-A-Cause, for bringing attention to nutrition as well as build public involvement in the fight against malnutrition.

Last Tuesday’s Nutri-Walk-For-A-Cause raised some P30,000 from the participating 30 offices and organizations. The PNC said they also received pledges totaling P20,000 from various government agencies who are nutrition advocates and benefactors.

The PNC also initiated a Weekly Nutri-Bingo as another fund-raising activity.

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

Auring leads Hataw, walk-for-a-cause

2009-07-24T00:10:00.001-07:00

JHCSC holds 3rd capping of nurses

2009-07-24T00:09:00.000-07:00

THE JH Cerilles State College (JHCSC)-Pagadian City Campus recently held its 3rd Cap and Badge Investiture and Candle Lighting Ceremony for senior nursing students.

Governor Aurora Cerilles was guest of honor and speaker during the ceremonies held at Hotel Alindahaw, July 13.

About 112 senior nursing students were invested with their caps and badges which symbolize the authority bestowed upon them as they officially undertake their duties in affiliated hospitals.

In Zamboanga del Sur, successful nurses train and work in the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.

For a nurse, the capping, badging and candle lighting ceremony is the handling down of symbols of the nursing profession and is also the strengthening of the commitment to serve with honor and dignity and to continually learn and practice to eventually excel.

The nursing cap and badges are used to signify the nurse’s vocation and wearing them is considered a privilege.

Cerilles, in her speech, observed that the capping event was the most solemn from among the capping and badging nursing ceremonies she attended in the past.

The governor then encouraged the student nurses to pursue their dreams and aim to become professionally registered nurses.

Cerilles likewise mentioned to the nurses to emulate the brave spirit of Florence Nightingale, as they light the lamp and recite the pledge.

Several personalities attended the capping and badging ceremony, among them lawyer Domingo Redelosa IV, dean of the schools’ College of Law, who is also the campus administrator and Dr. Wendell Glenn Cagape, college/board secretary and Campus academic head, Dr. Carlicita Saniel, president.

Chief Nurse Helen Arao of the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, Dr. Gloria Florendo, dean of the College of Nursing of the Western Mindanao State University and Prof. Evely Rendon, Consortium Coordinator of WMSU were also present.

Aside from Nursing, JHCSC-Pagadian City Campus offers course in Law, Nursing, Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management, and Information Technology. Graduate programs in Education and Public Administration are also available.

PR

JHCSC holds 3rd capping of nurses

2009-07-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

ZPPO holds 2nd summit for scribes

2009-07-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

THREE campus journalists came out as over-all winners in the recently concluded 2nd Summit for High School Editors and Writers sponsored by the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZPPO).

The said activity is one of the highlights of the PNP’s celebration of its 14th Police Community Relations (PCR) Month.

President Gloria Arroyo’s Proclamation No. 74 declares every July as PCR month, which aims to develop closer interaction between the community and the police in handling peace and order problems.

Police S/Insp. Teresita Paclibar of ZPPO’s Police Community Relations (PCR) office, informed this paper that for this year, the ZPPO-PCR initiated an on-the-spot Feature Story writing contest participated by 12 campus writers and editors.

The content of the feature story was based on the theme: “PNP Facing the Challenges of the Transformation.”

Paclibar said that ZPPO-PCR’s conduct of the press summit with journalists from secondary schools is to give importance to campus journalism’s role in schools.

Judges of the half-day competition composed of Ann Lu of the Pagadian Times, Ramil Bangues of RMN-DxPR and this paper’s editor.

The winners, in order, were Virren Leigh Duray of St. Columban High School (SCHS); Rachel Alvarez of Pagadian City National Comprehensive High School and Jose Virgel Herrera of SCHS.

It was learned the winning entries of the students will be published in the PNP journal.

Police S/Supt. Ramon Ochotorena, when visited at his office, commented that campus journalists should be taught to focus on both sides of the issue while using their school papers a venue to voice out their concerns.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

ZPPO holds 2nd summit for scribes

2009-07-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

DepEd’s Jesli said he is eyeing ‘something significant’

2009-07-23T19:05:00.001-07:00

FOR DepEd Sec. Jesli Lapus, it’s hard to stereotype but people can just about describe him in three sentences: He is a perfectionist, he does only significant things and he doesn’t postpone.

Disciplined by no-nonsense parents and mentors in his youth, Lapus recalls the traits and character he learned in his boyhood that helped shape his present-day leadership ability and outlook.

During his visit in Pagadian last weekend, he shared that he made a difference in his life by learning history through stamp collecting.

Starting while he was 10-years old, he says philately introduced to him lessons not normally taught in schools. “It opened my eyes to the broader world of diverse cultures,” he said.

He shares again his penchant for wide-ranging learning while in college by enrolling only the subjects he like. But then he adds he graduated had a balanced life.

The secretary explains his secret to rising in public service after serving as finance expert, manager and auditor in reputable private companies lay in hard work.

In 1987, he was appointed DAR undersecretary and in 1992 was Land Bank of the Philippines chief. Six years later, he entered politics and completed three terms as congressman of the third district of Tarlac.

In August 2006, he was appointed DepEd secretary by President Gloria Arroyo. He said he took the opportunity “to show everyone why he was the president’s choice.”

Though his administration faced several controversies, like the furor over erroneous textbooks and the Cyber Education Project, he said he was able to come out of it “through dialogue, concrete solutions and swift action.”

As he would always repeat: “To manage the biggest department in the executive branch requires no less than a top-notch professional manager.”

At present, he added that he is decentralizing DepEd, making it a school-based management and focusing on its human resources as frontlines.

“Principals must think like managers, as administrators. Teacher education must also be improved,” he said.

If everyone doesn’t know it, Lapus, though his leadership, manages more employees than any other person in the country and handles the largest budget than any government agency.

“The highest form of investment is education,” he told a crowd of 500 teachers during the regional executive conference held at the AEC, here, July 17.

That evening, in a dinner tendered by Rep. Antonio Cerilles with provincial and DepEd officials, Lapus said he was flattered being tagged as a likely contender for a senate seat in the upcoming 2010 elections.

He added that he was happy hearing the comments from teachers who told him that his presence boosted their morale. “The success and backbone of DepEd lies in them,” he remarked.

On talks about his Senate bid, Lapus adviced media in a huddle at Hotel Alindahaw to see the events as they are. “Let it be, let it be,” he said.

Lapus is a partymate of Cerilles in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). When he decides to run in next year’s polls, he said he will run under the administration coalition ticket.

“After success, you want to become significant and then you think of leaving a legacy. I have achieved quite a bit,” he further said.

He then intimated that his desire to run for the Senate was also upon the clamor of the teachers, although he admitted he will be facing tough contenders.

Surely, as some observers point out, Lapus will be squaring off against nine re-electionist senators and three come-backing senators who have indicated their plans to run again.

“People are entitled to their opinion. We will make our decision known by November,” he replied.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

DepEd’s Jesli said he is eyeing ‘something significant’

2009-07-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

Two carnap suspects fall

2009-07-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

TWO carnapped motorcycles were returned to their respective owners after the suspected carnappers were nabbed by city police, last week, C/Insp. Michael Palermo said.

Palermo identified the alleged carnappers as Ronnie Agner, a resident of Purok Malamboon, Balangasan, this city, and Jonathan Patarata, a resident of Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur.

Agner was alleged to have carnapped the parked black Honda XRM 110 motorcycle of a certain Jerson King last July 19 and took it for a ride in Tigbao where town police there intercepted him after setting up a road block.

Patarata, on the other hand, was arrested, July 20, after the owner of a stolen motorcycle identified as Ricardo Bongolan, a retired policeman residing in Lower Pulacan, Labangan, reported that his yellow Honda XRM was lost and believed carnapped after he parked it at the entrance gate of the San Pedro Fishport.

Palermo said they immediately informed all operating units and nearby municipal police stations and conducted a hot pursuit operation against the perpetrator.

The police chief added that they recovered Bongolan’s motorcycle parked at Purok Osmena in Sto. Nino District in Patarata’s possession.

Carnapping charges were filed against the two suspects who are now detained at the PNP lock-up cell.

In June, two stolen motorcycles were reported as recovered by the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office as PNP Prov. Dir. S/Supt. Ramon Ochotorena said his office has conducted 35 round-the-clock operations against carnapping around Zambosur.

Mayor Samuel Co, for his part, commended the PNP for its relentless campaign against all forms of criminality in the city, saying such an accomplishment matched his vision for a peaceful and progressive Pagadian.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Two carnap suspects fall

2009-07-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

It pays to be alert always

2009-07-22T00:52:00.000-07:00

IT pays to be alert; this seems to be the vital significance of observing the National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM).

Executive Order No. 137, dated August 10, 1999, declares July as NDCM to institutionalize the civil defense deputization program.

NDCM activities aim to increase the awareness to the threats of disaster and for a better appreciation of the government’s disaster preparedness program.

Regional Director Adriano Fuego of the Office of the Civil Disaster (OCD) said the NDCM observance in Pagadian City, with this year's theme: “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro,” is telling everybody to have common sense and be ready to act anytime.

“Common sense saves you from emergencies,” Fuego stressed.

On the activities lined up by OCD, he cited the need for LGUs, schools and the local disaster coordinating councils “to rehearse earthquake and fire drills, including evacuation procedures.”

In a meeting with press members, Fuego was accompanied by the representatives of the BFP, PNRC, DOH and DSWD, who each explained the impact of imparting consciousness and readiness in times of emergencies.

The panel mentioned that in Pagadian City and around Zambosur, for example, residents should be wary on tsunami recurrence, fire incidents, landslides and flashfloods.

The BFP noted that even in inner-city villages considered as fire hazard areas, like Sta. Lucia, Santiago and Santiago, houses made of light materials are built so close to each other.

The BFP then added that they are addressing the problem by conducting periodic inspections and lectures to the people in the mentioned barangays.

As for the PNRC, it said that they are on alert for terrorist acts like bombings and the deficiency of blood supply.

For the DOH, it said that they are coming up with a contingency plan related to the possible occurrence of Influenza A(H1N1) in the province.

Fuego said they are doing information and education advocacies and campaigns the whole month as they anticipate zero casualties when disaster comes.

To recall, on August 16, 1976, a devastating earthquake on the Cotabato Trench caused a tsunami to rise, killing some 8,000 people in coastal communities in Zamboanga Peninsula, Pagadian, Lanao, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

At present, Pagadian, along with the cities of Basilan, Dipolog and Malaybalay have been classified by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as Intensity 6 zones in the Modified Mercalli Scale Intensities for Mindanao.

Based on the survey by PAGASA then, it was determined that the maximum height of the tsunami waves in the entire Moro Gulf during the August 1976 disaster was 4.5 meters.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

It pays to be alert always

2009-07-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

Is Zambosur prepared vs. H1N1?

2009-07-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles has ordered the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) to come up with a contingency plan related to the possible occurrence of Influenza A(H1N1) in the province.

The meeting of health officials called by Cerilles took notice of the urgent situation and conducted their orientation and emergency preparedness and planning workshop last week.

The meeting tackled on the health department’s new interim guidelines on A(H1N1), which includes effective intervention to reduce mortality and further morbidity, clinical management, the revised response level guide for schools, and the policy changes from containment to mitigation response to the virus threat.

Health representatives from the regional office Center for Health Development (CHD-9) headed by Dr. Marcos Redoble conducted the said workshop at Hotel Guillermo.

DepEd executives, department heads, those from the private sector and media personalities attended the half-day orientation and emergency preparedness and planning workshop.

Redoble, in his presentation, summed up the difficulty of controlling the A(H1N1) virus even with 90 percent isolation and contact tracing.

This is so because, as Redoble adds, “because of the high level of presymptomatic transmission.”

“In addition, quarantining and contact tracing for influenza would probably be unfeasible because of the very short incubation, from two days and [the] infectious periods of that disease, which is from 3 to 4 days,” the doctor said.

Health authorities do contact tracing to mark out who are in close contact with an A(H1N1) patient sorted out as a case under observation (CUO), who might be tested positive for the said virus.

“The primary purpose of contact tracing is to determine whether influenza A (H1N1) virus has acquired the ability to transmit from person-to-person or has caused sustained community level transmission,” Rodoble explained.

As of date, the CHD said there are 26 A(H1N1) cases in the region, 14 of these were declared negative while 12 CUO’s were classified as positive.

Of those positive, eight came from Zamboanga City, three in Zamboanga del Norte and one from Zamboanga del Sur who has already fully recovered.

Earlier, the IPHO and the City Health Office of Pagadian City have declared that they cannot keep in check, more so control a possible occurrence of A(H1N1) in the province.

But health authorities in the province said they are providing only the right information to the public and or minimize misinformation to avoid panic.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Corazon Ariosa thanked Cerilles for the initiative on A(H1N1), adding their office have already alerted the provincial offices of the social welfare and development and the interior and local government on the said matter.

Last June, Ariosa conducted statistical updates and risk assessment concerning A(H1N1) in the country with the health sector.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Is Zambosur prepared vs. H1N1?

2009-07-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Troops rescue Zambosur fishermen from captors

2009-07-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

ZAMBOANGA CITY--Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-kidnapping operatives backed by Marine troopers rescued two Zambosur fishermen from their captors, Thursday, in Basilan.

Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-West Chief Director Felizardo Serapio identified the rescued fishermen as Renante Sequien, a resident of Tukuran, and Ronnie Nabie, of Sto. Nino, Pagadian City.

Both were fishing off Sibago Island in Tuburan, Basilan, April 4, when rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked their trawler, killed three of its crew, and seized the two after they failed to pay protection money.

Policemen then launched the rescue operation for the two fishermen following a tip that the victims were kept in Sitio Bohe Bessey in Brgy. Semut.

A firefight ensued between the kidnappers and the policemen who swooped down on the kidnappers’ lair. The gunmen escaped and there were no reports of casualties.

Serapio said the kidnappers fled after seeing the policemen were backed up by Marine Battalion Landing Team-7.

He added that the kidnappers were led by a certain Kumander Uzzi Hasim, a group that has ties with another rogue MILF leader named Usman Lidjal.

The two rescued fishermen are now at Camp Navarro General Hospital at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters for medical treatment and debriefing, a military spokeswoman said.

As this developed, both Gov. Aurora Cerilles and PNP Prov. Dir. Ramon Ochotorena commended the authorities for the safe rescue of the fishermen.

Meanwhile, policemen have intensified their search also for the three other missing fishermen earlier abducted last July 6 in Landang Laum on Sacol Island, this city.

The missing fishermen were identified as Jesus Alfonso, Edgar Barrera and July Gapol.

Up to this date, alleged Abu Sayyaf kidnappers are still holding three teachers seized also in March from Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School in Zamboanga Sibugay. A P10 million ransom has been demanded for the release of the teachers.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

Troops rescue Zambosur fishermen from captors

2009-07-21T23:04:00.000-07:00

NARS training for first batch ends

2009-07-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles praised the 90 volunteers of the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) for their dedication, hard work and service to the rural areas.

During the culmination ceremony of Project NARS Training Program Batch-I at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC), the governor likewise extended her admiration to the said volunteer-nurses for their sacrifices.

Cerilles added that enlisting under the program was a privilege and that the certificate of work experience being given to those who labored will vouch sure employment if ever they wish to look for greener pastures abroad or elsewhere.

It was learned that the 90 nurses composing the first batch is 40 short of the 130 quota for Zamboanga del Sur.

The lack of applicants, according to DOLE Provincial Director Virginia Bonbon is the lure of employment in Saudi Arabia, which is hiring nurses with or without experience.

The NARS program is President Gloria Arroyo’s strategy to cushion the impact of global financial crisis by employing new registered nurses who will help improve the delivery of health care services in rural areas.

Under the NARS program, applicants must be not over 35 years old with no nursing-related practice for the past three years with valid license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

A collaborative effort of DOLE, DOH, PRC and Board of Nursing, nurses employed under NARS program will receive a stipend of P8,000 a month from DOLE.

In Zamboanga del Sur, the Provincial Government through the Public Employment Service Office headed by Tyrone Singgo as manager, has assisted DOLE in scouting applicants from the 26 municipalities of the province.

The nurses dispatched to their respective stations or in rural health units have undertaken various responsibilities in health services like the giving of Vitamin A capsules and deworming to children.

The second batch of nurses working for NARS will go on active duty from October to March 2010, Bonbon disclosed.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

NARS training for first batch ends

2009-07-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

GOVERNOR Aurora Cerilles praised the 90 volunteers of the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) for their dedication, hard work and service to the rural areas.

During the culmination ceremony of Project NARS Training Program Batch-I at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC), the governor likewise extended her admiration to the said volunteer-nurses for their sacrifices.

Cerilles added that enlisting under the program was a privilege and that the certificate of work experience being given to those who labored will vouch sure employment opportunities if ever they wish to look for greener pastures abroad or elsewhere.

It was learned that the 90 nurses composing the first batch is 40 short of the 130 quota for Zamboanga del Sur.

The lack of applicants, according to DOLE Provincial Director Virginia Bonbon is the lure of employment in Saudi Arabia, which is hiring nurses with or without experience.

The NARS program is President Gloria Arroyo’s strategy to cushion the impact of global financial crisis by employing new registered nurses who will help improve the delivery of health care services in rural areas.

Under the NARS program, applicants must be not over 35 years old with no nursing-related practice for the past three years with valid license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

A collaborative effort of DOLE, DOH, PRC and Board of Nursing, nurses employed under NARS program will receive a stipend of P8,000 a month from DOLE.

In Zamboanga del Sur, the Provincial Government through the Public Employment Service Office headed by Tyrone Singgo as manager, has assisted DOLE in scouting applicants from the 26 municipalities of the province.

The nurses dispatched to their respective stations or in rural health units have undertaken various responsibilities in health services like the giving of Vitamin A capsules and deworming to children.

The second batch of nurses working for NARS will go on active duty from October to March 2010, Bonbon disclosed.

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

PopCom-9 launches LPPEd

2009-07-15T19:08:00.001-07:00

THE need for mothers to teach their girls on adolescent reproductive health is essential, this was the point raised during a conference of the Population Commission (POPCOM) in celebration of World Population Day, here.

During the conference, the Learning Package on Parent Education on Adolescent Health and Development (LPPEd) was launched.

LPPEd is a module for a program developed to equip parents with the knowledge on adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns as well as skills on how to communicate these concerns with their children.

Adosclents are to be taught at this age because it has been shown that it is from this age group the majority of the new incidences of sexually transmitted diseases and or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) come about.

According to a POPCOM study, majority of Filipinos are below the age of 25 and the reproductive health decisions that these people make determine the quality of life of the next generation of Filipinos.

Thus, the LPPEd will focus on community interventions in reproductive health for adolescents and the best among these is the inclusion of mothers who can closely relate with, influence and educate their growing girts to adopt a responsible and healthy sexual life.

Seeing that open and honest discussion regarding sexuality is not encouraged by parents, LPPEd will likewise correct inaccurate informations gathered from peer groups, media and other informal channels.

Present during the unveiling of LPPEd’s learning packages are Gov. Aurora Cerilles and son, Dumalinao mayor Ace William Cerilles, Mayor Samuel Co and POPCOM-9 OIC Dir. Susan Tejada.

Led by Tejada, the said officials signed their declaration of support to LPPEd.

Dumalinao has been chosen by POPCOM to be the pilot municipality for LPPEd activities this year.

Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for Western Mindanao, Asec Crisanto de la Cruz praised the Zamboanga Peninsula Population Officers and Workers Inc. (ZPOWERS Inc.) for their laudable undertaking.

Cerilles, in her message, also expressed full support in managing the population growth.

In fact, Cerilles mentioned that the Provincial Government has earmarked P4.04 million for the Response for Parenting Movement through a memorandum of agreement she signed with POPCOM.

Some 200 population program officers and field workers from the four cities and three provinces of the Zamboanga Peninsula attended the POPCOM and ZPOWERS Inc.’s annual regional population congress and general assembly. WITH REPORTS FROM PIA-9

PopCom-9 launches LPPEd

2009-07-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

PNC advocates for a healthy lifestyle

2009-07-15T06:11:00.002-07:00

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

WITH the changing lifestyle of Filipinos, public health concerns regarding chronic degenerative diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer are becoming too significant to ignore.

That is why healthy diets, regular exercise, abstinence from smoking and moderate alcohol intake were recommended for one to develop or have a healthy lifestyle.

Creating a healthy lifestyle is making small changes in how one live each day and be healthy; this is the message of the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) when it organized healthy lifestyle classes to Capitol employees since last week.

July is celebrated as Nutrition Month bearing the theme: “Wastong nutrisyon kailangan, lifestyle diseases iwasan.” The celebration is stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines issued in 1974.

Governor Aurora Cerilles has urged the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) to coordinate with LGUs, NGOs, schools and communities for the nationwide celebration.

The governor said she wants everybody’s participation as this month’s celebration focuses on the role and importance of proper nutrition in the prevention and control of diet-related lifestyle diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCD).

The four major NCDs, branded as the leading causes of death in the country, are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

On the other hand, the PNC, led by Provincial Nutrition Officer Jocelyn Dajao along with Jocelyn Saludsod of the Provincial Nutrition Action Office, has urged Capitol employees “to become instruments to friends and families in making positive decisions for taking up healthy diets and healthy lifestyle behavior.”

Dajao and Saludsod both see to it that their healthy lifestyle classes, which ran July 6-10 among Capitol employees, are filled with attentive listeners.

“Keep your own food diaries,” Dajao once suggested. “Take small portions of food, eat slowly and exercise to keep fit. Ayaw pagpagutom kay mao nay hinungdan mokaon ka sobra pa sa kinahanglan sa imong lawas.”

In her classes, Dajao pointed out that diabetes, which in the past is caused by heredity factors, is now acquired through environmental conditions, such as obesity, lack of activity and excessive food intake.

She then advised that in order to have an ideal body weight, males standing 5” should only weight 112 pounds or 51 kilos, and for females of the same height, normal weight should be 106 pounds or 48 kilos.

Aside from their healthy lifestyle classes, the PNC initiated “Hataw” exercises at the AEC every Friday afternoons and there’s also the “Nutri-Hataw” competition among the 17 departments.

A fund-raising activity called “Weekly Nutri-Bingo Game” was likewise coincided every Friday and the “Nutri-Walk for a Cause” scheduled on July 21.

Proceeds of the fund-raising activities will be used for PNC’s Feed a Child Enterprise (FACE) project, which concentrates on iron deficiency in children.

In the meantime, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Estrella Esma said Cerilles has been pushing for continued milk-feeding and iron supplementation to pregnant women in the province.

PNC advocates for a healthy lifestyle

2009-07-15T06:11:00.001-07:00

Zambosur eyes full, complete Philhealth coverage

2009-07-15T05:28:00.001-07:00

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

BEFORE bowing out on her last term, Gov. Aurora Cerilles said she is making sure her target to enroll 100 percent of Zambosurian indigents with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) will be met.

Cerilles vowed to expand the coverage of Philhealth to embrace more beneficiaries who were not enrolled before and were not covered by the Social Security System or the Government Service Insurance System and even those who do not have any health insurance.

With the presence of the Zambosur Medical Center (ZSMC) and the intensified Inter-Local Health Zones (ILHZs) in the province, the governor stressed that securing health services in the province will be easy with Philhealth.

Cerilles, who chairs of the Provincial Health Board, calls her plan “universal health insurance coverage,” which means that all eligible indigents or residents of Zambosur will be given coverages in medical and dental health care.

Cerilles then urged all city and municipal executives to measure up with her target and aim for the same goal, enrolling all their indigent households with PhilHealth.

“Health is our priority, it is one of my 7-Point Agenda and before I finish my term, I want my agenda to succeed,” Cerilles said during the policy meeting at Hotel Alindahaw, July 10, attended by Philhealth president Dr. Rey Aquino.

It was learned that the governor, along with Representatives Victor Yu and Antonio Cerilles, has implemented Philhealth’s multi-payor scheme, a system launched by Philhealth since 2005 that provides health insurance coverage to more than 50 percent of the indigent and underprivileged clients in the locality.

Such a scheme was implemented in order for all local government seats, whether the barangay, municipal and provincial, to allocate financial counterpart in the first two years of its implementation.

An example under this scheme, the beneficiary will only pay 25 percent of the total premium while LGUs will equally share the remaining 75 percent.

So far, of the total target of 134,301 beneficiaries, PhilHealth data states that about 92,216 were enrolled in Zambosur, which is about 76 percent in total enrolment.

Cerilles said that with the Province-wide Investment Plan for Health in place, the province was able to receive a grant from the health department amounting to P1.5 million for the maternal newborn child health and nutrition and commodity self reliance.

She likewise disclosed that with the teamwork of her husband, the congressman, they were able to obtain a subsidy from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in the amount of P10 million for ZSMC’s expansion.

The funding, according to Cerilles will be for the establishment of the Physical Therapy Center and the construction of private rooms in the said hospital. The bidding for this project will be made next month.

All these plans, Cerilles hoped, will be achieved with the full backing of the provincial board and local chief executives as she urged them to attend the the regular policy board meetings in their respective ILHZs.

Under Zambosur’s new health system, three ILHZs were set up: J-Smart, Dumanquillas and Yllana, from which all the 26 towns of the two districts Zambosur were assigned accordingly.

Zambosur eyes full, complete Philhealth coverage

2009-07-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

Interest in Scout movement strengthens in Zambosur

2009-07-14T05:07:00.001-07:00

REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, ZAMBOSUR PPB

THE Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Zamboanga del Sur-Sibugay-Pagadian City Council (BSP-ZSSPCC) is looking forward to make 2009 a busy year for the scout movement in Zambosur.

This after the said council, chaired by Rep. Antonio Cerilles, was proclaimed over-all winner of the 2nd Philippine Border Jamboree held in San Ramon, Zamboanga City last May 21-26.

The BSP-ZSSPCC bested 110 other scout councils throughout the country by winning first in Place Campsite category and Street Dancing Category and second in the Grand Camp Fire and Talent Competition.

At present, 20 municipalities in Zambosur are into the Neighborhood Scouting Project—a community-based scouting program intended for out-of-school youths, teaching them skills in knot tying, navigation, rappelling and survival techniques, among others.

Cerilles, in an interview, said he is strengthening the scout movement in the barangays after noticing its unimpressive growth in the past because of voluntary membership.

The congressman added that as first step, he adapted the Wood Badger’s leadership program in order for adult scouters to create a bond and commitment to the Scout movement.

The wood badgers, after their training, will then put their newly gained experience into practice by aiding the would-be scouts.

Cerilles remarked that because of their training success, interests in the scout movement are slowly coming back, with the enlistment of about 1,266 officials composed of regional directors, town mayors down to the village councilors.

“With a strong scouting movement, we can prepare the young to be good citizens so we can be sure that our country will not be short of strong leaders,” Cerilles stressed.

“Because scouting is one’s duty to God, country, others before one’s self,” he concluded.

Interest in Scout movement strengthens in Zambosur

2009-07-14T05:05:00.000-07:00

Global warming: A threat to our lives

2009-07-14T00:19:00.002-07:00

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

LAST Tuesday’s news worth pondering to was about Sen. Loren Legarda’s appeal for help to save the islands of Maldives and the Philippines from the threat of rising waters due to global warming, specifically caused by heavy and excessive carbon emission from rich and industrialized countries.

Constantly threatened by rising sea level, our country stands on the possibility of getting obliterated from the world map too; if for example, a one-meter rise in sea level will happen. The 1,192 islands in Madives would be almost gone at this deep while in our country; the same rise in sea level can affect 28 coastal settelements around the archipelago.

And while Legarda laments that both Maldives and the Philippines may have contributed less to the problem of climate change, people living in the scattered islands of the two countries are on the brink of getting exterminated as the threats of climate change become more and more visible in its borders.

Meteorologists and weather experts have said that the current sea level rise is due partly to human-induced global warming, to mention also the glacial flows from North America.

Global warming is the result of the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, methane, chloroflorocarbons and nitrous oxide.

Carbon dioxide, a by-product of the burning of fossil fuels, such as gasoline in an automobile or coal in power plants that generate electricity is slowly enveloping our skies. So too with atmospheric methane, a powerful greenhouse gas derived from sources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel production.

Remember that a carbon dioxide’s lifetime in the atmosphere can range from 50-200 years. This kind of gas prevent the reflection of solar radiation back out into space. Once it is there in the atmosphere, there is very little we can do to reduce it.

Experts have claimed that temperature increase of several degrees wouldn't be experienced consistently but there’s evidence that this is felt by particular regions more profoundly than others. Some might suffer changes in the amount of rainfall received. Again, this rise in temperatures could cause sea level increase of 20 or more inches, which in effect will destroy coastal wetlands and flood coastal areas.

It’s not difficult to sense the effects of global warming. It is still July here yet unabated rainfall has started to flood our agricultural lands, damage homes and infrastructures. The abnormal weather is new to a tropical country like ours because we should be expecting downpours by August but the current situation shows otherwise.

In the universal scale, we have the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty which agreement requires the United States, the European Union and Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2010. We don’t know if this agreement has been complied with by the concerned countries.

A study made by the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that 154,000 people die every year from the effects of global warming, from malaria to malnutrition, with children in developing nations seemingly the most vulnerable.

WHO estimates the said numbers could almost double by 2020, further suggesting that even a small shift in temperature, for instance, could extend the range of mosquitoes that spread malaria.

Dr. Thomas Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center, says that global warming has produced an increase in precipitation during the 20th century, mostly in the form of heavy rainstorms and little in moderate, beneficial rainstorms.

Meanwhile, Britain's Meteorological Office has warned in its report issued in November, 1999 that flooding in Asia and Southeast Asia would increase more than ninefold over the coming decades.

An October 2007 report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that the country’s corals are under threat from bleaching and illegal fishing and ocean “acidification,” which is caused by excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is slowly dissolving in the oceans, reducing the ability of the coral reefs to deposit calcium carbonate or calcify.

With the ocean becoming more acidic, corals would stop growing and eventually disintegrate and this would affect other sea shells and mollusks.

Another PDI report dated June 25, 2009 notes the briskly changing weather pattern all over the countryside, which is hurting the fishing industry. The fishing season has become shorter as heavy rains and strong waves now begin as early as late March or early April.

Global warming is a global concern. Calamities of sort occur frequently in our archipelago due to climate change that was also rooted from the people's lack of concern to the environment and even by abuses.

So what can developing countries do? How can we Filipinos take part in reducing the effects of global warming? With the 2010 election a few months from now, we should know how prepared the government is in responding to the effects of global warming as well as to its impact on the population.

We should demand from our candidates their convincing action in fighting climate change since it is their responsibility as our representatives in public office to protect our children and future generations from damage to the environment they will inherit. In short, let us vote only for those who care about our planet.

Even in the local scene, we can step up efforts to lessen the impact of climate change by tackling on issues about environmental management such as solid waste management, forest management, pollution and coastal management, among others.

With all these information identifying the problems, let us address the global warming problem and anticipate its effects on our lives. There are solutions, if people will only care to take action.

So then, let us help rid the atmosphere of poisonous gases. Let’s suggest the use of clean and renewable energy. Let’s advance organic farming and protect our remaining forests.

Let us try. We must.

Global warming: A threat to our lives

2009-07-14T00:19:00.001-07:00

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

LAST Tuesday’s news worth pondering to was about Sen. Loren Legarda’s appeal for help to save the islands of Maldives and the Philippines from the threat of rising waters due to global warming, specifically caused by heavy and excessive carbon emission from rich and industrialized countries.

Constantly threatened by rising sea level, our country stands on the possibility of getting obliterated from the world map too; if for example, a one-meter rise in sea level will happen. The 1,192 islands in Madives would be almost gone at this deep while in our country; the same rise in sea level can affect 28 coastal settelements around the archipelago.

And while Legarda laments that both Maldives and the Philippines may have contributed less to the problem of climate change, people living in the scattered islands of the two countries are on the brink of getting exterminated as the threats of climate change become more and more visible in its borders.

Meteorologists and weather experts have said that the current sea level rise is due partly to human-induced global warming, to mention also the glacial flows from North America.

Global warming is the result of the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, methane, chloroflorocarbons and nitrous oxide.

Carbon dioxide, a by-product of the burning of fossil fuels, such as gasoline in an automobile or coal in power plants that generate electricity is slowly enveloping our skies. So too with atmospheric methane, a powerful greenhouse gas derived from sources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel production.

Remember that a carbon dioxide’s lifetime in the atmosphere can range from 50-200 years. This kind of gas prevent the reflection of solar radiation back out into space. Once it is there in the atmosphere, there is very little we can do to reduce it.

Experts have claimed that temperature increase of several degrees wouldn't be experienced consistently but there’s evidence that this is felt by particular regions more profoundly than others. Some might suffer changes in the amount of rainfall received. Again, this rise in temperatures could cause sea level increase of 20 or more inches, which in effect will destroy coastal wetlands and flood coastal areas.

It’s not difficult to sense the effects of global warming. It is still July here yet unabated rainfall has started to flood our agricultural lands, damage homes and infrastructures. The abnormal weather is new to a tropical country like ours because we should be expecting downpours by August but the current situation shows otherwise.

In the universal scale, we have the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty which agreement requires the United States, the European Union and Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2010. We don’t know if this agreement has been complied with by the concerned countries.

A study made by the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that 154,000 people die every year from the effects of global warming, from malaria to malnutrition, with children in developing nations seemingly the most vulnerable.

WHO estimates the said numbers could almost double by 2020, further suggesting that even a small shift in temperature, for instance, could extend the range of mosquitoes that spread malaria.

Dr. Thomas Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center, says that global warming has produced an increase in precipitation during the 20th century, mostly in the form of heavy rainstorms and little in moderate, beneficial rainstorms.

Meanwhile, Britain's Meteorological Office has warned in its report issued in November, 1999 that flooding in Asia and Southeast Asia would increase more than ninefold over the coming decades.

An October 2007 report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that the country’s corals are under threat from bleaching and illegal fishing and ocean “acidification,” which is caused by excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is slowly dissolving in the oceans, reducing the ability of the coral reefs to deposit calcium carbonate or calcify.

With the ocean becoming more acidic, corals would stop growing and eventually disintegrate and this would affect other sea shells and mollusks.

Another PDI report dated June 25, 2009 notes the briskly changing weather pattern all over the countryside, which is hurting the fishing industry. The fishing season has become shorter as heavy rains and strong waves now begin as early as late March or early April.

Global warming is a global concern. Calamities of sort occur frequently in our archipelago due to climate change that was also rooted from the people's lack of concern to the environment and even by abuses.

So what can developing countries do? How can we Filipinos take part in reducing the effects of global warming? With the 2010 election a few months from now, we should know how prepared the government is in responding to the effects of global warming as well as to its impact on the population.

We should demand from our candidates their convincing action in fighting climate change since it is their responsibility as our representatives in public office to protect our children and future generations from damage to the environment they will inherit. In short, let us vote only for those who care about our planet.

Even in the local scene, we can step up efforts to lessen the impact of climate change, by tackling on issues about environmental management such as solid waste management, forest management, pollution and coastal management, among others.

With all these information identifying the problems, let us address the global warming problem and anticipate its effects on our lives. There are solutions, if people will only care to take action.

So then, let us help rid the atmosphere of poisonous gases. Let’s suggest the use of clean and renewable energy. Let’s advance organic farming and protect our remaining forests.

Let us try. We must.

Zambosur’s off-grid villages use solar power

2009-07-13T01:02:00.001-07:00

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

THE Provincial Government and the Department of Energy (DOE), effecting its memorandum of agreement signed last March for the energization of selected villages in the province, is now in the thick of training the so-called Barangay Power Association (BAPA), Ramon Jaurigue, DOE science research specialist said.

Jaurigue, in an interview, said BAPA’s creation will ensure the sustainability of the photovoltaic solar home system (PSHS) as they were the ones given the task of managing PSHS’ power system in the pilot villages.

The project is being implemented in the province by Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) Solar Home Systems Distribution Project using using 5-Wp Solar PV module complete with 100 AH storage battery, battery control unit and four compact fluorescent lamps.

To date, about 246 sets of PSHS have been installed in barangays Busol, Nangan-nangan and Lacarayan in Tigbao; Bulanay in Sominot; Man-ilan in Tukuran; and Lower Liason in Tambulig.

The PSHS project would serve about 40 households in each of the barangays mentioned.

Presently, the PNOC has energized some 12,390 barangays across the country under the said project.

PNOC’s Antonio Buenviaje, who trained the BAPA members, explains the PSHS project is a financing program for off-grid communities not energized by the local electric cooperative.

He added that beneficiary-families will only pay an initial P1,000 in counterpart for the PSHS installation while a token monthly maintainance fee will be collected by BAPA for the upkeep and replacement of the battery used for the storage of solar power for the next three years.

Buenviaje believes electricity is important to rural communities in order for them to be productive and do lucrative activities.

Last year, DOE Sec. Angelo Reyes visited Brgy. Langilan, San Miguel and witnessed the implementation of the Expanded Rural Electrification Program in 21 barangays in the region, which are being fitted with communal electrification systems.

Reyes then said that harnessing the power of the sun to energize homes will bring substantial savings on the expense families pay for buying kerosene.

Meanwhile, the July 9 technician’s training seminar was conducted by DOE and PNOC at the PGO Conference Room to enhance the participants’ knowledge in the proper handling, maintenance and utilization of the PSHS facility in their respective area of coverage.

The activity was facilitated by Provincial Planning and Development Office Coordinator Loy Canales and attended by 20 BAPA members and meter readers from the mentioned villages.

The inputs, according to Buenviaje, will help BAPA do some repairs in case the PSHS bog down during its daily operation.

Governor Aurora Cerilles, for her part, welcomed the developments and thanked the facilitators for their assistance and in creating BAPA.

“Progress results from persistence with purpose. We can never afford to be complacent because we want a better quality of life for the people; we want to give flesh and value to equitable development that those in the off-grid and far-flung barangays also deserve,” Cerilles said.

“To effectively combat today’s economic recessions, the need to capacitate and empower the people is crucial. Lauman ko nga kini nga kahimuan makatabang sa paghimong labing mabungahon ug malambuon sa kahimtang sa kinabuhi sa atong mga katawhan,” she concluded.

Firms urged to link with local business chambers

2009-07-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA

CONGRESSMAN Antonio Cerilles urged the local government of Pagadian and the Pagadian-ZDS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (PZCCIFI) to rally round on local businesses to become chamber members.

Cerilles said the LGU and PZCCIFI can help spruce up local economy by formulating laws that mandates micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to register or affiliate with the business chamber in order to justify their legitimacy as traders.

This was the first track of Cerilles’ discourse when he he delivered his keynote speech during the 5th Zamboanga Peninsula Business Conference (Zampenbizcon) held here last week, July 8-11.

Cerilles curtly said that efforts to boost the business sector will find relief when all businesses in the locality, in Pagadian City and in other urban centers, for example, feel their relationship with their respective trade chambers.

“The local government may opt not to issue licenses to businesses who are not members of your business chambers,” Cerilles said, saying this notice will guarantee enlistment.

The congressman added that he was moved to offer such a suggestion after seeing few people in attendance although he said those present in the conference were the more responsible business sectors in the region.

With the theme: “Meeting the challenges of time: One region, one vision,” the 5th Zampenbizcon gathered together delegates from the local chambers and trade associations along with different regional officials of the trade department.

The delegates are businessmen from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Misamis Occidental and from the cities of Isabela, Dipolog, Dapitan, Zamboanga and Ozamiz.

During its plenary sessions, the said event tackled on the LGU’s role in business and investment promotion, tourism and agri-aqua development agenda, offered special presentations on successful ventures and awarded the “2009 Most Oustanding MSMEs.”

In recognition of its innovative business processes, Nutribooster Foods Phils. Inc. is the provincial winner in the micro category while Pagadian City Springland Hotel grabbed the award in small category and RML People’s Mart in the medium category, for its entrepreneurial spirit.

The Zamboanga del Sur-I Electric Cooperative (Zamsureco-I) also received an award for demonstrating excellent responsiveness and service to customers and commitment to the growth and well-being of the community.

Governor Aurora Cerilles and Mayor Samuel Co, respectively gave their messages during Zampenbizcon’s opening ceremonies.

The governor, in her welcome remarks, commended the business sector for its active role in peace building and community development, which subsequently improved people’s lives.

Co, for his part, encouraged firms and private companies to invest and take advantage of the trade opportunities in Pagadian, taking cue from the achievements of the already thriving businesses in the locality.