View source for Cagayan de Oro City News August 2013

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<tr><td align="center" style="BACKGROUND: #E5E5E5; ">[[Cagayan de Oro City Map|<font size=3 color=green>'''Interactive Google Satellite Map of Cagayan de Oro City'''</font>]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[image:Misamis_oriental_cagayan_de_oro.png|300px|link=Cagayan de Oro City Map]]<br>Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental</td></tr>
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<tr><td align="center">[[File:Public market of cagayan de oro city misamis oriental.JPG|300px]]<br>Cagayan de Oro City Public Market</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[Image:Cagayan de oro city river.jpg|300px]]<br>The river of cagayan de oro city</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[Image:Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral cagayan de oro 01.jpg|300px]]<br>St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td align="center">[[File:Limketkai Center Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.jpg|300px]]<br>Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[File:Cagayan de Oro City buildings.jpg|300px]]<br>Cagayan de Oro City Buildings</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[File:Terminal bus of bulua cagayan de oro city misamis oriental.JPG|300px]]<br>Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City</td></tr>
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==DBM-X clarifies rules on granting of RATA==
*Source: http://r10.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1521377852350
*Saturday, August 31, 2013
:By Apipa P Bagumbaran


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 31  (PIA) --- Officials or employees who are assigned or presently using government motor transportation should not be granted transportation allowance (TA), an official of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in Region X said.
 
During the Career Executive Officers of Northern Mindanao (CEO-NM) First General Assembly on August 27, Chief Budget and Management Specialist Margarita Villamala said that those who are assigned or who use government motor transportation shall no longer be entitled to the TA but only the commutable representation allowance (RA).
 
She, however, clarified that the grant of the TA may be allowed when the official is prevented from the use of the government vehicle for three days or more such as when the said vehicle undergoes repair and a replacement vehicle is not provided.
 
She said the TA shall be pro-rated based on the number of days of actual work performance on workdays without an official vehicle.
 
RATA, which may either be commutable or reimbursable, are granted to select government officials to cover related expenses incidental to and in connection with the actual performance of their respective functions.
 
Villamala said the RATA is commutable if the grant is specifically authorized by law and if the funds for its payment are provided for in the agency budget. "…and the payment of RATA presupposes actual rendition of services in line with official duties," she added.
 
She said the grant of RATA shall be based on the number of days of actual work performance on workdays by the official concerned.
 
She said National Budget Circular No. 548, which provides for the amended rules and regulations on the grant of RATA, prescribes that the concerned government official/employee should receive 100 percent of the authorized monthly RATA rates if he/she has rendered 17 or more workdays of actual work performance in a month.
 
He/she is entitled to 75 percent of the monthly RATA if the actual work performance in a month is 12 to 16 workdays. If the number of workdays of actual work performance is six to 11 days, he/she is entitled to 50 percent of the RATA while those with actual work performance of one to five days are entitled to only 25 percent of the monthly RATA.
 
Villamala further said that public holiday falling on a workday, compensatory time-off, time-off from work charged against five days forced or mandatory leave, special emergency leave for employees affected by natural calamities or disasters, and suspension of work as declared by competent authority shall be construed as actual work performance in the computation of RATA.
 
"Undertime shall still be counted as a day of actual work performance for officials/employees observing an eight-hour work day," she added.
 
She also said that vacation leave with pay in excess of the five days forced leave, sick leave with pay, maximum of three days special leave, maximum of seven days paternity leave or parental leave for solo parents, maximum of ten days of leave for victims of violence against women and their children, maximum of 60 days of maternity leave, maximum of six months rehabilitation leave or study leave shall not be construed as actual work performance.
 
Meanwhile, designated officer-in-charge (OIC) may be allowed to collect RATA for the position if it is stipulated in the Office Order designating him/her as such.
 











==Netizens throw mixed reactions on Napoles' surrender==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/30/netizens-throw-mixed-reactions-napoles-surrender-300512
*Friday, August 30, 2013
:By Froilan Gallardo of Mindanews



THE surrender of Janet Napoles and the way how Malacañang reacted have drawn mixed reactions among netizens in the social network platforms Thursday.

Many netizens who posted on the Facebook page of Mata na CDO (Wake up CDO), the local anti-corruption page, saw nothing wrong with the handling of President Benigno Aquino and Malacañang of Janet Napoles who surrendered to them late Wednesday night.

“What if, nagsurrender sa presidente, gipaadto sa crame og pag-abut didto gipatay si Napoles... Unsa man atong ipuna kang Pinoy??? Di ba ato siguro siya ignon nga tanga, niabut na ang pinakadako nga ebidensya sa 10b scam wala pa gyud gisiguro nga masafety... In other words , sala sa init, sala sa lamig.,” Gladis Naduma said in her post.

Melan Uayan Garley also shared her thoughts in Mata na CDO: “Ok ra mana as of now, ga protektahan gyud ni PNoy si baboy kay unsaon nalang sa isang iglap patyun man gyud na si napoles dili na maka reveal sa iyang mga kauban ayahay kaau cla, after mang gawas tanan baho POBRE pana sa ok-ok bartolina ang padunggan ana.

Napoles, the central figure in the multibillion pork barrel scam, surrendered to President Aquino Wednesday night after hiding for several days after a court in Makati City ordered her arrest for the alleged kidnapping of her aide who had turned whistleblower.

Accompanied by her lawyer, Napoles surrendered hours after President Aquino dangled a P10 million bounty for her arrest. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, citing security risks, said President Aquino went to Camp Crame to ensure that Napoles will be safe in the custody of the PNP.

As of 8:30 in the evening on Thursday, Napoles has yet to be remanded to the Makati City jail. Her lawyers have opposed the transfer by filing a seven-page motion reasoning that Napoles’ life would be in great danger if she would be transferred to the Makati City prison jail.

Journalists who usually are reserved in their personal opinions on the issues they covered took to the social networks to voice their disgust over what they said was Aquino and Malacanang’s alleged special treatment of Napoles.

Jason Phillip Gutierrez of Agence France Press posted his Facebook wall: “Pumunta sa White Space (gallery), tapos sa Heritage Park bago pumunta ng palasyo. Nag sightseeing pa, bago dinala sa palace. Hinarap ng at least apat na officials bukod kay presidente, at inescort pa ni presidente sa crame. Wala nga namang special treatment. Klaro.”

Gutierrez continued, “Kung may concern sa safety, why did the president escort her to crame? Pumayag ang PSG? Tanong lang.”

Local journalist BenCy Gerona Ellorin, now working as an editor noted in his postings on Facebook that President Aquino did not show any interest when a cargo ship collided with a passenger ferry of 2Go company that already claimed 80 lives and rescuers still searching for the 50 persons still missing.

“Pero kay Janet Napoles, pinasundo at hinatid sa Crame. In the words of Lacierda, si presidente pa mismo nag inspect sa room -- kung safe ba -- where Napoles spent the night,” Ellorin said.

Journalists and other netizens also took their rage to their twitter accounts.

Chino Gaston, reporter of GMA 7, tweeted “ Hanggang sa pagkakaaresto privileged pa rin.”

Nonoy Espina, editor of TV 5 Interaksyon also tweeted “Mas bagay ata 'to na headline: 'Napoles is safe... and so are we' – Malacañang.”

“Security escort ni Napoles si PNoy. Ato President pa ang advance security detail to sweep Crame,” Espina continued his tweets.

Aquiles Zonio, correspondent of a national daily posted: PNoy is demeaning the presidency, serving as security escort for the queen of pork barrel scam.”

Danilo Agoncillo posted an edited photo in his tweet showing President Aquino and Napoles in the iconic pose of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the 1997 movie “Titanic.”

“What a rescue! Damsel in distress,” Agoncillo said in his tweet.

==Charges filed vs CDO blast suspects==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/08/29/1145041/charges-filed-vs-cdo-blast-suspects
*Thursday, August 29, 2013
:By Gerry Lee Gorit



City prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said the charges were filed after the panel of prosecutors submitted its resolution on the complaints against Usman Hapids, who belongs to the emerging militant group Khalifa Islamiyah Mindanao, and several others.

Macauyag said the case is scheduled to be raffled in the regional trial court, which would then issue the warrant for the suspects’ arrest.

He said the evidence against the bombing suspects is strong.

Hapids was positively identified as among the suspects based on an artist sketch made by the police.

Prosecutors recommended no bail for the temporary liberty of the suspects who remain at large.

The blast hit Kyla’s Bistro at the Limketkai Center here. Many of the victims were physicians and medical representatives who attended a convention in the city.












==News Feature: Gingoog educator gets �Outstanding Teacher award==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2611377592860
*Wednesday, August 28, 2013
:By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug 28 (PIA) -- Dr. Mitchel V. Rodriguez, master teacher of Odiongan Central School in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental has been chosen one of the winners to this year’s Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers in the country.
Now on its 29th year, the search honors the teaching profession, recognizing those who exhibit competence, remarkable dedication to their work, and effective educational leadership, as well as their various community involvements implemented by the Metrobank Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, president of Metrobank Foundation said that by winning this year’s search, Dr. Rodriguez joins the elite group of 316 outstanding teachers of the country honored by the foundation since 1985.
My life and teaching philosophy has always been building everything on the ground of love, said Dr. Rodriguez.
She emphasized that “Teaching is the most rewarding profession. It is even more than a profession because it is a noble mission. A mission not only confined with the pupils but even to co-workers.”
“I have done my mission to impart what I have. I had conducted and served as resource speaker through trainings, I am certain that I have shared what I have and helped them become better if not best teachers. I have also extended technical assistance to those who asked. I have made, searched and shared materials helpful to our teaching field. I have even done beyond the description of my job as long as it is for the good of our schoolchildren. With this, we can make a difference and build a better nation together through our profession with our mission. All these are because of love.” Dr. Rodriguez stressed.
She explained that saying “No” to work is not in her vocabulary no matter how challenging the work is she always tries to manage and work them out with love.
A total of 367 teachers were nominated to this year’s Search. They were trimmed down to 167 provincial finalists through documents review and were then reduced to 40 regional finalists who underwent interviews and teaching demonstrations before the members of the preliminary board of judges identified for each category. Nineteen (19) of the regional finalists were then selected to become the national finalists.
The national finalists then faced the 2013 Final Board of Judges chaired by Sen. Aquilino Martin DL. Pimentel III together with Co-Chairperson Supreme Court of the Philippines Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, Vice-Chairperson 6th District of Manila Congresswoman Rosenda Ann M. Ocampo and members, Albay Province Governor Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda; Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairperson Teresita R. Manzala; Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O. P.; and Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI)  Columnist Rina Jimenez-David.
This year’s Outstanding Teachers will be conferred with gold medallions and will be presented with plaques and a cash prize amounting to P350,000 each.
They will be presented together with the 2013 awardees of the COPS (Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service) and TOPS (The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers) in formal awarding on September 5 as highlight of Metrobank’s 51st anniversary celebration.

==City hall opens bid to collect city’s waste==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/27/city-hall-opens-bid-collect-city-s-waste-299967
*Tuesday, August 27th, 2013
:By  Loui S. Maliza



CAGAYAN de Oro City Hall is opening its doors to new interested contractors who will collect and dispose the city’s garbage.

City information officer Maricel Casiño-Rivera said the bids and awards committee (BAC) would welcome contractors to bid for the collection and disposal of wastes following the Basura Atbp, Inc.’s (BAI) termination of its contract with the City Government on August 22.

Casino-Rivera said “everything will undergo process,” referring to the bidding.

“As of now, the city planning and services office (CPSO) and our volunteers are the ones collecting the garbage and dispose it to our landfill (in Upper Carmen),” she said.

But she can’t determine how long the CPSO and the volunteers would continue to do the garbage collection.

Casiño-Rivera also said they are also considering not using the services of private companies to collect and dispose the city’s wastes anymore.

The termination of contract by BAI, she added, could be due to the alleged discrepancies in the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) has uncovered after the conduct of reviews on the transactions the private garbage collecting firm had with the City Government during the previous administration of former Mayor Vicente Emano.

Casiño-Rivera said Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno has sent BAI a notice of termination due to irregularities discovered during March and April 2013 where City Hall paid them in double of the average monthly payable of only P6 million each month, which it considered as “overbilling.”

“They could also be liable for their untimely and unnoticed termination of services,” she said.

But BAI owner Roland Ramos belied the accusations saying there was no overbilling on their part.

Ramos admitted he sent Moreno through a letter informing him of his decision to rescind the contract with the city hall effective immediately.

As a result, BAI stopped collecting garbage since Thursday night last week.

Ramos said he sent two bill notifications to the city government on August 2 and 16 but he did not hear any word from them.

He said that since he is operating a small business, he needs to know when he is going to get paid.

Ramos added, what he wanted is an assurance from the City Government on when he will be paid, but after the billings went unacknowledged, he decided to cancel his contract for the reason that without payment he could not just sustain his operations.

BAI’s contract with the City Government is supposed to end by third week of October this year.

==FishR launched in Oro==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2013/08/26/fishr-launched-oro-299716
*Monday, August 26, 2013
:By sunstar.com.ph



THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Northern Mindanao Region launched recently the National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration or FishR at Pryce Plaza Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

The gathering aims to communicate the key messages and benefits of FishR and to generate strong support of the local officials.

Mayors, governors, municipal agriculture officers and technicians from the cities and municipalities of the provinces of Northern Mindanao attended the launch.

BFAR regional director Asis Perez said that FishR aims to collate information as benchmark for the national database of fisherfolk from the municipalities.

The data will be used in designing programs to help local municipalities in managing, regulating, conserving and protecting fishing resources and establishing a comprehensive fishery information system.

FishR is open to all workers directly and indirectly involved in fishing activities like fishermen, fish vendors, fish farmers, and even those working in commercial fishing vessels.

The national registration is set to start this December and is expected to cover the backlog in the database within one year period.

With this, Perez urged fisherfolk to register and be counted for them to enjoy the FishR benefit package which includes the provision of alternative livelihood and social protection insurance.

The program will likewise facilitate the construction of various fish ports, processing and storage facilities in the countryside.

Perez further cited that with the administration’s bid in advancing the fishery industry, the fisherfolk registration, will not remain as a regulatory measure but rather as a key to services and benefits from the government. (PR)

==Higalaay: Parade of icons==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/feature/2013/08/25/higalaay-parade-icons-299605
*Sunday, August 25, 2013
:By  Bobby Lagsa



IT IS a race against time as Errol Balcos and his ragtag team of artists, sewers and sculptures moved in an incoherent ways to finish and deliver before Tuesday’s the 18 Higalas (friends) of Cagayan de Oro in time for the Higalaay (Friendship) Parade of Icons Festival.

Glue guns, knives, paints brush and large sizes of styrofoam cluttered on the ground and in the corner at the back of the city tourism office.

Errol is orchestrating the buzzing and goings of his team, checking on the wires that act as bust frames for the giant higalas.

Two master sewers cut and sew the “get-up” of Higala aided by period photographs of the giant paper and fiber glass machè.

On a steel post, the names of the Higalas are posted. Two of them would not make it to the street parade on Tuesday. “There is not enough time,” Errol said as he moved to another bust form, in his hand was a mixture of paint and water, he was about to paint the face of another Higala.

The commissioning to sculpt 20 Higala for the city fiesta only started on August 4, just three weeks before the parade.

The tasks at hand is bigger than the 20 feet Higala – materials needed to construct arrived only on August 4, “It’s supposed to start in July, but there was some problem with the release of funds,” Errol shared.

Nonetheless, his team moved with an efficiency that could match at well-oiled machine.

Errol is confident that he can deliver on time all that was necessary for the successful staging of the annual street parade, this time – the Higalas that has replaced the street dancing festival.

According to Eileen San Juan, chair of the city fiesta celebration, the concept of the Higala parade is in line to give due recognition to the people that made Cagayan de Oro what it is today – the regional capital of culture, trade and commerce and industry.

“This year's fiesta celebration highlights: HIGALAAY: The Kagay-an Festival 2013. The celebration aims at taking time to seek out friends, making new friends and going beyond self-interests to be friends for others. The festive comprises of different core events,” San Juan added.

“They are not just names of streets in the city, they are men and women who shared their talents and time to the city and dedicated their lives to the protection of our city,” San Juan said during a press briefing at the city tourism office last week.

“Do we know who the Tiano brothers are? There are three of them, we named a street in honor of their sacrifices for the city,” San Juan added.

Errol also shared that a group of city historians named the influential people that is included in the list of the first 20.

The higalas

Eighteen of the original 20 giant higala will troop the streets of the city on Tuesday, August 27.

A man and woman Higaonon will represent the peace loving origin of the city’s original inhabitants.

The Higaonon people are spread from the mountains of Bukidon and the coastal areas of Misamis Oriental.

Datu Salangsang, a Higanonon Datu who ruled the river communities of Kagayha-an to which the city is built upon.

Fray Agustin de San Pedro, the first priest to establish the current site of the city proper.

San Agustin, the city’s patron and the first doctor of the church.

San Agustin’s mother, Santa Monica and the Birhen sa Cota, the defender in times of disaster and calamity will also grace the city parade.

The city’s first mayor, Tirso Neri and Colonel Apolinar Velez, the only Filipino military commander who successfully routed an entire battalion of American soldiers during the Philippine-American war at the battle of Macahambus.

The Jesuit Archbishop Santiago Hayes who led in the reconstruction of the city in its current shape.

The three Tiano Brothers –- Ronaldo, Nestor and Apollo –- Three World War II veterans hero defended the city against the Japanese. Apoo Tiano also saw action in the Korea war 60 years ago.

The last municipal mayor and first city mayor of Cagayan de Oro City Max Suniel will also join the parade.

Emmanuel Pelaez, former vice president of the country.

The farmer and fisher folk of Cagayan de Oro who continually provide ample supply of food will also be represented.

And the only modern time figure that is included in the parade are the white water rafters which have become the city’s tourism trademark.

Cagayanons are excited for the Higalaay Parade of Icons which bears resemblance of Angono Rizal’s joyous fiesta in honor of San Clemente whose image, resplendent in papal investment, is borne by male devotees in a procession accompanied by parehadoras devotees dressed in colorful local costumes, wooden shoes and carrying boat paddles and higantes, giant paper mache effigies. The street event culminates in fluvial procession at the Laguna de Bay amidst revelry that continues until the image is brought back to its sanctuary.

With the new city administration, things have been made different, but the essence has remained.

==Employees' Compensation Commission to open nine more regional offices==
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/323398/news/regions/employees-compensation-commission-to-open-nine-more-regional-offices
*Saturday, August 24th, 2013
:By  VVP, GMA News



Employees in the provinces stand to benefit from the move of the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) to soon open additional Regional Extension units (REUs) in the provinces.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said at least nine new regional extension units will be opened to ensure social protection programs and services for workers.

In a news release, she said the new units will be opened in:
San Fernando City, La Union;
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley
San Fernando City, Pampanga
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
Legazpi City, Albay
Iloilo City, Iloilo
Tacloban City, Leyte
Davao City, Davao
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
The new ECC offices are expected to beef up the existing regional extension units in Baguio, Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro City, and Koronadal Cities.

Baldoz said the public may expect "convenience and fast attention" from the new extension units once they become fully operational.

Meanwhile, the ECC said it is now accepting applicants for the positions of information officers and administrative officers for the new REUs.

Their main tasks are to:
strengthen EC Program information dissemination with lectures and seminars
attend to EC concerns of the region
provide assistance to EC claimants
introduce and facilitate the KaGaBay program which provides rehabilitation services and livelihood and skills training for occupationally-disabled workers
serve as ECC Quick Response Teams to sites where work-related contingencies occur.

==Rafting industry still hurting after Oro blast==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/23/rafting-industry-still-hurting-after-oro-blast-299288
*Friday, August 23, 2013
:By  Jigger J. Jerusalem



ALMOST a month after the July 26 bombing in a mall here has passed but some players in the local rafting industry are still hurting from the incident, although hopes remain high that business will pick up as the city’s annual fiesta approaches.

Rafting activities are on a slowdown for some companies as bookings have been cancelled in the weeks following the attack that killed eight people.

“We’ve had some bookings cancelled and it has affected some of our members,” said Vitalino Espulgar, president of Oro Association of Rafters (OAR), and owner of Golden Friendship Whitewater Rafting.

When asked for an estimated figure of the rafters’ financial losses due to the incident, Espulgar was not able to give the exact figure but estimated it could be in the hundreds of thousands of pesos.

OAR is the name of the group of six rafting companies operating in the city, with Golden Friendship Whitewater Rafting, Red Rafts, Great White Water Tours, CDO Bugsay River Rafting, 1st Rafting Adventure, and Kagay Whitewater Rafting as members.

For Rex Tapongot, manager of Red Rafts, they have been experiencing the slackening of business since 2011 when the killer Typhoon Sendong ravaged Cagayan de Oro and rendered the city’s main river unfit for rafting for days.

“Sales have decreased since Sendong pa,” Tapongot said, adding that before they could book around 200 clients a month but now it has dwindled to an average of 50 persons.

Even Sepulgar’s own company has not been earning for weeks as it is undergoing an upgrade.

Two rafting operators, 1st Rafting and CDO Bugsay, however, did not really feel the effects of the bombing since they said that more people still prefer to ride the rapids over other outdoor adventures.

Ezzard Kim Domingo, General Manager of 1st Rafting, said they have not lost any business but bookings actually increased as the city fiesta nears.

“There was no cancellation in our bookings,” Domingo said, “although a lot of our clients are asking if it’s safe to come here, and we assure them that it’s okay to visit the city.”

The bulk of 1st Rafting’s clientele usually come to paddle during the peak months of April and May, and August to December.

So, for this month, Domingo said they expect the number of customers to exceed their average monthly rafting enthusiasts of about 700 persons.

“It’s the fiesta season, and our booking has gone up. It’s a given,” he said.

In the case of CDO Bugsay, their “suki” (repeat customers) from Metro Manila and Cebu make its business continue to pick up despite the slump.

CDO Bugsay’s marketing officer Reynold Domingo admitted that they are not actually losing as old clients keep coming back and even bringing with them their friends and relatives.

He said it’s the repeat customers who are actually helping them convince potential clients to visit the city and try the rafting adventure.

“On weekends we are doing good, bibo man gihapon,” he added.

Advisory

Espulgar said it is a standard operating procedure for OAR members to post advisories on their respective websites as soon as there is an incident in Mindanao even if it doesn't happen in Cagayan de Oro.

“It’s the rafting company’s initiative to post an advisory to assure their clients whether it’s safe to go rafting or not,” he said.

Espulgar said it is expected that operators would also advise rafting enthusiasts to forgo their booking, especially in cases where the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration predicts an oncoming tropical storm or typhoon that passes through the city.

“When Pagasa declares signal number 1 or higher, operators must cancel any scheduled rafting run. It’s automatic,” Espulgar said.

Espulgar said OAR members will meet this week to discuss plans and strategies to improve the rafting industry in the city.

==Another body found; mouth gagged, hands tied==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/22/another-body-found-mouth-gagged-hands-tied-299140
*Thursday, August 22, 2013
:By   Loui S. Maliza



ANOTHER body was found by residents early Wednesday morning in a secluded area in sitio Anhawon, barangay Bulua, police said.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) head Police Senior Inspector Christian Caballes said they have yet to establish the identity of the victim who died with four gunshot wounds on his head and two on his chest.

Caballes said the victim had the word “Junn” and a drawing of a human skull tattooed on his left arm.

“His arms were tied with a ‘plastic strap’, even his mouth was covered with a packaging tape,” he said.

Caballes said the victim was approximately 20-25 years old, about 5’5 to 5’6 tall, wore a red shirt and a matching red bonnet, skinny jeans and purple rubber shoes.

He said they found no ID or anything that could identify the victim.

Caballes called on concerned citizens or relatives who have missing a family member to visit Bollozos Funeral Parlor in Bulua to identify the victim.

He said Soco has yet to conduct an autopsy as of this posting.

Caballes said the crime site is far from any houses so it was unlikely that someone could have heard gun shots.

Second time

In a phone interview Wednesday, the Bulua police said the crime scene was so dark at night that residents would have no clue if something happens in there.

The police said it was the second time a dead body was found in the area.

But Bulua councilor Pedro Legaspi said they are planning on installing a street light but an electric post should be installed first.

Legaspi vowed to have it lighted so it can no longer become a dumping ground of dead bodies anymore.

For several months now, bodies found usually had their hands tied and mouth gagged. There were also several bodies found placed inside sacks. The killings have been suspected to be extra-judicial but none of the relatives filed any complaints.

The police have repeatedly denied of any ‘vigilantes’ in the city.

Another body found

Meanwhile, a cadaver was also found outside a department store near the Carmen public market Wednesday morning.

Carmen Police Station Chief Police Senior Insp. Alfredo Ortiz Jr. identified the victim as Danilo Reyes.

The victim died not of bullet wounds but of intoxicating liquor, Ortiz said, quoting statements from Reyes’s relative.

The authorities declared there was no foul play on his death.

==Is CDO bombing a case of wagging the dog?==
*Source: http://opinion.inquirer.net/59303/is-cdo-bombing-a-case-of-wagging-the-dog
*Wednesday, August 21st, 2013
:By RANDLIER A. ORLINO


I may sound insensitive or paranoid, or both, but I am quite suspicious about the Cagayan de Oro City bombing.
First of all, no one—not the Abu Sayyaf, nor the Moro National Liberation Front,  not even the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement—claims responsibility for it. Usually, one of these groups would claim responsibility for a terrorist attack like a bombing incident to state their cause.
Another striking fact is no shrapnel or metal part was recovered from the blast site or from the bodies of the victims. It gives an impression that the bomb used in the blast was not meant to cause massive damage or harm. What then might be the most probable driving force of those who were behind the blast?
I hope the bombing was not one of those old-school tactics of diverting public attention from a politically devastating issue to a much lesser one. For as of the moment, the country is preoccupied with mind-boggling scandals like the P10-billion pork barrel scam and the Mafia-style execution of two notorious bank robbers who had claimed that some cops were in their payroll. The first issue caused a lot of people, including  Catholic bishops and priests, and even some lawmakers, to call for the scrapping of the Priority Development Assistance Fund. It is now under investigation. The second issue is just as devastating—for it has led to a rift between some people in the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. And then there is the alleged $30-million extortion by a high official of the Department of Transportation and Communications.
Again, I hope that my suspicion will prove wrong, for if I am right, it will give an impression that eight lives were sacrificed, not to mention the 46 who were injured, just to divert public attention from the pork barrel scam, rubout case and DOTC scandal.
Eight killed, 46 injured just to wag the dog.











==Fire guts warehouse; damage pegged at P600T==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/20/fire-guts-warehouse-damage-pegged-p600t-298763
*Tuesday, August 20, 2013
:By   Loui S. Maliza



A FIRE gutted a warehouse filled with slippers and textiles in Osmeña Street, Cagayan de Oro Monday afternoon.

City Fire Marshal Shirley Teleron said the damage is pegged at P600,000 and they have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Witnesses said a thick black smoke got out from the warehouse at 1:40 p.m. A witness who refused to be named said someone immediately reported the incident to the authorities. Due to panic, it was the warrant section in City Hall he called.

Teleron and her team had to look for a steel cutter to open the roll-up doors to get inside the fire-gutted warehouse to contain the flaming textiles.

She also belied earlier reports that someone was trapped inside as the stock house owned by Gothong Corp., rented by Pinpin Enterprises, a Taiwanese firm trading rubber slippers and shoes, was fully-locked.

No one was hurt in the blaze that was contained after a 30-minute hose down, she clarified.

Teleron said they would also need to determine where the fire has started.

==COWD reprimands staff for exposing docs on FB==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/19/cowd-reprimands-staff-exposing-docs-fb-298595
*Monday, August 19, 2013
:By  Loui S. Maliza



AFTER years of acting as a “whistleblower” of the government-owned Cagayan de Oro Water District (Cowd) and not being censured for it, an employee of the said water utility was finally reprimanded by the firm’s management -- after bringing his exposés to the social networking site, Facebook.

Engr. Emmanuel Mulawan said he received a memorandum from Cowd general manager Rachel Beja for posting some of the water utility’s documents on Facebook page sometime last month.

Mulawan works in the Cowd Engineering Department as senior draftsman.

The memorandum, GM-199-2013, dated July 26, signed by Beja, directed Mulawan to explain the source of the Cowd documents that he posted online, including board resolutions, management recommendations, correspondence, among others.

In addition, Beja said posting those official documents on Facebook could be “detrimental to Cowd or libelous to its officers.”

Mulawan said the memorandum was intended to harass him.

In his reply to the memo, Mulawan cited Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 6713 or the Civil Service Law that says, in part: “Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty… and uphold public interest over personal interest.”

“I only want the Cowd board and management to be transparent. Since the concessionaires are our boss, they deserve to know the truth,” Mulawan told Sun.Star Sunday afternoon.

Copies of Mulawan’s reply were also given to Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, Civil Service Commission in Northern Mindanao, Office of the Ombudsman, and Cowd’s FLOW, a group of the utility’s employees.

During a recorded closed-door meeting between Beja and Mulawan last July 19, Beja told Mulawan that if he wanted to help Cowd, “they can solve it in a proper forum.”

“Since he (Mulawan) presented it (documents) to the public, it could prejudice Cowd,” Beja said, adding: “all of these anomalies are already with the Ombudsman. It may bring criticism to Cowd.”

The Facebook post was not the first time that Mulawan initiated to bring Cowd issues to the public.

Among the issues that he exposed to the media before included the Cowd board of directors’ approval of P100,000 that former City Mayor Vicente Emano allegedly solicited for fiesta activities in 2011, which Mulawan considered as “illegal”; the breakfast that the board had also in 2011 worth P13,000, which he also called “illegal”; and allowing Rio Verde to win the bidding to supply Cowd with bulk water when, Mulawan said, it should not be considering that Rio Verde only complied with the necessary legal paperwork after it won the bidding. In a bidding process, requirements must be submitted before winning a bid.

Mulawan said he based his accusation on the findings of Commission on Audit that a signed contract between Rio Verde, a bulk water provider of Cowd, and the water utility, of the Bulk Water Supply Project was allegedly “anomalous.”

He said Beja, who was formerly with Cowd’s bids and awards committee, already knew that that contract which was signed in 2004 was “defective.”

“But she did nothing about it. She was mum about it,” Mulawan added.

Mulawan said what he posted on Facebook is his way of telling the public that the present Cowd leadership “is doing something (to defend Cowd).”

“I do not want fame, I just wanted the public to know the truth,” he said.

Mulawan said he thinks that the Cowd management only reacted to his Facebook posts because what he exposed on social media could go viral that could reach to more people.

He did not receive any memorandum before from Cowd when he started his exposés in 2010.

Mulawan said he is not afraid to tell the truth as he has documents to back up his accusations. (With report from Jigger J. Jerusalem)

==CdO to count, survey elderly population==
*Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/lifestyle/elderly/18141-cdo-to-count-survey-elderly-population
*Sunday, August 18th, 2013
:By Butch D. Enerio / Correspondent



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—In order to effectively deliver the services intended for the elderly here, the city government plans to conduct a massive identification and documentation of its elderly next month.

Teddy Sabugaa, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) officer, said the registration process would enable the government to locate and know the conditions, especially the health status, of the city’s elderly.

“This way, we will be able to determine the kind of assistance an elderly needs,” Sabugaa said.

CSWD said the updated and verified list will form part of a data base that the Office of Senior Citizens Affair (Osca), could use to easily determine whether a certain elderly is already qualified to receive a pension, including the kind of medical attention they need.

Sabugaa said the updated list will help determine how many elderly in the city are physically incapacitated and bedridden, as well as those who are not members of an organization of senior citizens.

The CSWD said there are close to 90,000 elderly people in the city.

He said the documentation would be done from September 2 to 6 at the barangay level where the Department of the Interior and Local Government will facilitate the registration together with the CSWD and other line agencies concerned.

Sabugaa said once they have the number of registered elderly per barangay, the proportionate representation will determine the number of people who will operate the city’s Osca.

==Oro blast task group needs more credible witnesses==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/17/oro-blast-task-group-needs-more-credible-witnesses-298326
*Saturday, August 17, 2013
:By  Loui S. Maliza



MORE credible witnesses who could identify and testify against the suspects of Rosario Arcade blast on July 26 are needed by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to strengthen the charges before they can be filed in court.

A discreet meeting involving some of the ranking officials in the country held here Wednesday discussed further the identities of the suspected individuals who are allegedly members of a terror group based in Mindanao.

Police Superintendent Michael John Deloso, SITG spokesperson, said witnesses who pointed to primary suspect Usman Hapids and his group, Khilafah Islamiyah Movement (KIM), to be responsible for the terror act are still considered “weak.”

Deloso said the SITG has only come up with a collection of the descriptions of the suspects based on the witnesses’ accounts, but no one has given more credible statements.

He said it is very likely that the court would dismiss the charges against the suspects if there are no witnesses who can come forward and identify the culprits in court.

General Ricardo Visaya, the commanding general of 4th Infantry Division, told reporters that the bombing was terrorism after the inter-agency meeting with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, also chair of Anti-Terror Council, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Armed Forces Chief to Staff Emmanuel Bautista and Police Chief Alan Purisima.

Authorities have ruled out threats against Mayor Oscar Moreno and the his ‘Hapsay Dalan’ program.

But Deloso, chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office’ (Cocpo) investigation and detective management branch, said it’s not yet final.

“As to the motive of the incident, we cannot conclude it yet as our investigation is still ongoing. But we cannot discount all possibilities. But we still need more credible witnesses to impress the court and eventually would issue warrants of arrests in our favor,” he said.

Terrorism, Deloso added, is the angle that authorities are looking at since bombing is a tactic of terrorists.

“Our effort right now is to look for more credible witnesses that could really point Usman Hapids (and his group) in court as responsible of the blast, how we would be able to make the court believe in the witnesses,” he said.

Deloso said they have come up with the names of individuals and terrorist groups, “but how can the court believe that these suspects were really behind it?”

Delososaid intelligence reports alone cannot win the case.

“But it can help a lot to the investigation,” he clarified.

==Ex-Cagayan de Oro cop chief held hostage==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/16/ex-cagayan-de-oro-cop-chief-held-hostage-298155
*Friday, August 16, 2013
:By  Loui S. Maliza



CAGAYAN DE ORO -- A caretaker held hostage his employer, a retired police official, inside the victim's house in Scions Subdivision, Barangay Kauswagan on Thursday, the police said.

Superintendent Danildo Tumanda, chief of the City Public Safety Company (CPSC) of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said Oliver Caritan brandished a bladed weapon and held retired Police Superintendent Antonio Montalba along with other caretakers against their will.

Caritan, 42, a native of Zamboanga del Sur, is one of Montalba’s housekeepers in his farm in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Law enforcers tried to persuade Caritan to surrender, but he refused to give in, prompting authorities to force their way inside the house and restrain the suspect.

“He (Caritan) was at the terrace (of the house) while Colonel Montalba was negotiating with him to put down his weapon and surrender,” Tumanda said.

He said CPSC and Special Weapons and Tactics operatives found it difficult to calm Caritan down who continued to struggle while in handcuffs.

“This forced us to tie him like a pig because he was so strong. Six to seven police officers tried to tie him up and brought him to a hospital,” Tumanda said.

He said they used a thick rope to tie Caritan’s legs, feet and arms to restrain him. He was taken to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) for treatment.

Reports said the arresting officers were even forced to shot the suspect in the right arm to contain him.

At the NMMC, Caritan was still uncontrollable, thus the nurses injected him with a tranquilizer.

‘High on drugs’

Tumanda said Caritan had been seeking Montalba’s help to get his unregistered motorcycle that was impounded at the Land Transportation Office in Barangay Bulua since Thursday last week.

Reports said Montalba promised to help Caritan with his problem.

Caritan went to Montalba again on Thursday to follow up on his employer’s promise.

When he was approached by Caritan, Montalba sensed something odd about the suspect’s behavior and decided to bring Caritan to the hospital to have him checked.

Commotion happened after the suspect went out of control.

Prior to the incident, Tumanda said witnesses and Caritan’s co-workers told police that the suspect locked himself up inside his room for three days without taking his meals, and he was allegedly using methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu", an illegal drug.

Tumanda said Caritan reportedly bought P3,000 worth of shabu, his only sustenance for three days.

“Mao tingali to nga high kaayo, dili na normal ang iyang utok. Siga kayo ang mata unya lagom halos dili kaila sa mga tawo,” Tumanda said.

Tumanda said they recovered drug paraphernalia from Caritan.

‘Hapsay, hapsay’

While being treated inside NMMC, Caritan was shouting “hapsay, hapsay, hapsay.”

Sometimes, he cried and later laughed that attending nurses suspected he was possessed by evil spirits.

“He relaxes for a while, then he would keep on laughing. He disturbs the other patients,” a nurse, who refused to be named, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Attending medical staff at the NMMC said both Caritan’s hand and feet were hogtied while in confinement.

Tumanda said they would file several cases against Caritan, with resisting arrest as one of the possible charges. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)

==DENR seeks active support of LGUs in anti-illegal logging, mining campaigns==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1471376466994
*Thursday, August 15, 2013
:By Lina D. Calvez/DENR-RPAO/PIA



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) has called on the local government units (LGUs) to actively support anti-illegal logging and mining campaign being waged by DENR and its partners in Northern Mindanao. 

This call was made by Director Tawantawan during the meeting of the Regional Anti-illegal Logging Task Force composed of DENR, DILG 10, military and police held here recently. 

“The active participation of the LGUs will further boost our campaign against illegal logging and illegal mining in the region,” Director Tawantawan said. 

The members of the Task Force have requested the regional DILG to issue a memorandum urging the LGUs to support the campaign against illegal logging, and mining. 

Director Tawantawan further said that deputation of military and police personnel as forest protection officers will be undertaken to further strengthen the anti-illegal logging campaign. 

Earlier, military and police personnel have also been deputized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Region 10 (MGB 10) in its anti-illegal mining campaign. 

It can be recalled that President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 23 declaring a moratorium in the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests nationwide, and creating an Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force. 

“While we are intensifying our campaign against illegal loggers and miners, we are also looking into alternative livelihood for affected communities,” Tawantawan added. 

On the same meeting the task force agreed to request the Regional Philippine National Police Director to also instruct the provincial and municipal commanders to strengthen its forest protection activities, to stop if not prevent illegal cutting and transport of naturally growing trees in their respective areas of jurisdiction. 

It was reported during the meeting that from January to June 2013, the DENR 10 together with the military, police, other concerned agencies and civil society organizations have confiscated a total of 65,940.48 board feet of forest products consisting of logs, lumber, flitches and logbolts. 

These confiscations were undertaken in the provinces of Bukidnon with 15,115.6 bd ft of forest products and 5 units of vehicle; Camiguin with .11 cubic meter logs with 1 chainsaw; Lanao del Norte with 16,044.16 bd ft of forest products and 3 units vehicle; Misamis Occidental with 22.22 cubic meters of forest products and 1 vehicle and Misamis Oriental with 24,549.6 bd ft of forest products with 2 units motorcycle and 1 vehicle.

==DENR seeks active support of LGUs in anti-illegal logging, mining campaigns==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1471376466994
*Thursday, August 15, 2013
:By Lina D. Calvez/DENR-RPAO/PIA



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) has called on the local government units (LGUs) to actively support anti-illegal logging and mining campaign being waged by DENR and its partners in Northern Mindanao. 

This call was made by Director Tawantawan during the meeting of the Regional Anti-illegal Logging Task Force composed of DENR, DILG 10, military and police held here recently. 

“The active participation of the LGUs will further boost our campaign against illegal logging and illegal mining in the region,” Director Tawantawan said. 

The members of the Task Force have requested the regional DILG to issue a memorandum urging the LGUs to support the campaign against illegal logging, and mining. 

Director Tawantawan further said that deputation of military and police personnel as forest protection officers will be undertaken to further strengthen the anti-illegal logging campaign. 

Earlier, military and police personnel have also been deputized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Region 10 (MGB 10) in its anti-illegal mining campaign. 

It can be recalled that President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 23 declaring a moratorium in the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests nationwide, and creating an Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force. 

“While we are intensifying our campaign against illegal loggers and miners, we are also looking into alternative livelihood for affected communities,” Tawantawan added. 

On the same meeting the task force agreed to request the Regional Philippine National Police Director to also instruct the provincial and municipal commanders to strengthen its forest protection activities, to stop if not prevent illegal cutting and transport of naturally growing trees in their respective areas of jurisdiction. 

It was reported during the meeting that from January to June 2013, the DENR 10 together with the military, police, other concerned agencies and civil society organizations have confiscated a total of 65,940.48 board feet of forest products consisting of logs, lumber, flitches and logbolts. 

These confiscations were undertaken in the provinces of Bukidnon with 15,115.6 bd ft of forest products and 5 units of vehicle; Camiguin with .11 cubic meter logs with 1 chainsaw; Lanao del Norte with 16,044.16 bd ft of forest products and 3 units vehicle; Misamis Occidental with 22.22 cubic meters of forest products and 1 vehicle and Misamis Oriental with 24,549.6 bd ft of forest products with 2 units motorcycle and 1 vehicle.

==MisOr guv wants probe on Alubijid hospital==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/14/misor-guv-wants-probe-alubijid-hospital-297737
*Wednesday, August 14th, 2013
:By Nicole J. Managbanag



MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano wanted the newly opened P100-million public hospital in Alubijid town probed as he alleged it was marred with “inconsistencies (and) anomalous transactions” by former Governor and now Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Emano said the hospital was brought to his attention when he visited it last month.

The hospital, which is located in a one-hectare area, was a joint venture between the province and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

During the hospital’s opening, Moreno flaunted that the 50 bed-capacity hospital has a modern and state-of the-art facilities which provides quality health care service to the residents of the far-flung villages in the province, especially to families of overseas Filipino workers.

Cheap materials

In his visit, Emano found out that the materials used for the hospital’s construction were made of cheap materials.

He also learned that when it rains, water would drip from the ceiling flooding the hospital.

He said repairs would be “unlikely” since it was just inaugurated in June this year.

Emano said he will call the attention of the contractor to look into the construction flaws, and will demand to fix the hospital for it’s worth, at “P100 million is no joke.”

“Building the Alubijid hospital is supposed to be tantamount to giving basic services to the people but what happened, medicines are scarce and even overpriced,” he said.

“What’s worse is that the facilities cannot even cater to provide quality health care to its patients, some are even borrowed from other hospitals of the province,” Emano said.

Emano would also looked into the agreement with Owwa who shelled out P45 million as its contribution to the said partnership with the province.

He said the province’s counterpart during the construction was a lump sum of P55 million sourced through a loan.

It can be recalled that during the deliberation of annual budget last year, the majority of the provincial board went over Moreno’s request for loan.

Board Member Jesus Jardin denied Moreno's request to source out the loan from Land Bank.

Jardin was at the time the chair of health and sanitation.

Former Board Member Geodeguil Ursal also objected to Moreno's proposal.

Jardin and Ursal's approval was crucial as part of the requirements for Land Bank to grant the multi-million loan as it was improper of Moreno to seek a loan without the passage of an ordinance to build another hospital.

As predicted by the previous provincial board members about their hesitance to the construction of the hospital, Emano learned that the Owwa partnership “was never a partnership after all.”

He said the province will be charged for the hospital expenses of every Overseas Filipino Worker admitted patient which will be charged to the P45 million they committed to the partnership.

“After the province has declared bankruptcy, another problem has arisen as we are in debt with Owwa, the expenses are too big to (absorb), Emano said.

As remedy to the problem, Emano said he will review the contract with Owwa as he plans to request the institution for another negotiation.

Owwa officials and Emano are expected to have a closed-door meeting next week, this paper learned.

==DOST 10 awards scholar achievers==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2611376293814
*Tuesday, August 13, 2013
:By pia.gov.ph



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) region 10 recognized and awarded achievers in their list of scholars in the recent National Science and Technology Week here. 

Out of the 145 graduates in the Academic Year 2012 to 2013 in Northern Mindanao, 44 of them have topped and graduated cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. 

These students have courses in Chemical Engineering, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Math, Computer Science, Mathematics, Agriculture and Information Technology. 

According to Teresita Baluyos of DOST 10, to avail of the scholarship, the student applicant must be natural-born Filipino citizen; poor, talented and deserving student who belongs to a family whose socio-economic status does not exceed the set values for certain indicators; top five percent of the regular high school graduating class or member of the graduating class of a DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) identified or Department of Education (DepEd) recognized science high school, among others. 

Privileges of this scholarship include tuition and other school fees, book and transportation allowance, monthly stipends as well as uniform and monthly allowance added Teresita. 

The DOST-SEI undergraduate scholarship program aims to develop a scientifically and technologically literate citizenry and accelerate the development of Science and Technology human resources needed for socio-economic development. 

Currently, there are 373 ongoing scholars under DOST region 10. (JMOR/PIA10)

==NMFDC bags regional science and technology award==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1471376126644
*Monday, August 12, 2013
:By (Debbie de San Miguel,NDA MIO/PIA) 



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- The Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (NMFDC) Highland Fresh Dairy Products was awarded Best SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program ) Adoptor by the Department of Science and Technology – X on July 16, during the Regional Celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) held at Pearlmont Inn, Cagayan de Oro City. 

SETUP is DOST’s flagship program to empower SME’s in the country by assisting and encouraging them to adopt to new technologies and gain competitive advantage using appropriate technology. 

Last year, NMFDC was a recipient of a P600,000 grant from DOST for the Upgrading of the Milk Processing Plant Equipment. It was able to acquire display chillers, cream separator and mozzarella stretching machine. Part of the fund was also used in the improvement of the labels in the butter and cheese. 

The NMFDC represented Region –X and competed with 16 other SETUP regional winners in Manila last week. An exhibit was held at the Mall of Asia from July 22- 27 to showcase the products of the winning entrepreneurs. 

SET-UP national winner was awarded to Farmtech Foods Incorporated (FFI) of Silang Cavite, the company that produces dehydrated and powdered food products such as spices like chili, ginger, turmeric, tamarind; vegetables/ herbs like ampalaya, ube, malunggay, and banaba. 

Highland Fresh Manager Bismela Lancin shared the joy of competing in the national level. The event, she said, has all the more challenged them that they can make it big with constant quest for excellence in the business. 

“This has also opened wider market opportunities for dairy products as many food processors are looking for big supply of dairy products. It has also created a greater network of industry partners that can help NMFDC more efficiently produce and earn,” she added.

==‘Storms’ don’t matter with a reliable ICT partner==
*Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/marketing/17768-storms-don-t-matter-with-a-reliable-ict-partner
* Sunday, August 11, 2013
:By Jun Vallecera



THERE always has to be a first time, so it is said.

For global business-process outsourcing (BPO) firm Sutherland Global Services, that “first time” came in the form of a once-in-fifty-years downpour.  It devastated a wide swath of Mindanao that until 2011 had never experienced a storm of such size and magnitude. The catastrophe also threatened a business that relied on an unfailing delivery of service—one that could not possibly experience a downtime for even a second because consequences would mean major disruption in operations and, in the long run, revenue losses.

But the unthinkable did happen and the disaster struck, much to the horror of executives at the outsourcing and offshoring firm whose commitments to its own set of clients from around the world could not be interrupted, however briefly that disruption will happen.

The weather bureau has for hours warned inhabitants of the Surigao and Misamis provinces of an unusually nasty typhoon which formed over the Pacific Ocean and dumped millions of gallons of water over land where the annual rainfall was a few inches of rainwater in a year. Most people and businesses never had an inkling of the deluge that was coming and went about their daily affairs in much the same fashion they have done for decades at events that were about to unfold.

Print and broadcast journalists would later chronicle the devastation that swept Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental. Businesses such as those engaged in by Sutherland Global took a hit as well, with the communications link routed to its Cagayan de Oro offices having been severed by a landslide. This had the practical impact of isolating the BPO firm’s Davao City operations, disrupting a link that should be up again and running as quickly as possible.

AJ Enriquez, the self-acknowledged provin-ciano who made a career in Manila and now runs Sutherland Philippines as vice president and country manager, cannot afford a disaster so soon after a previously cut communications link in Cagayan de Oro City left Davao City marooned, albeit still able to deliver, however, in a diminished capacity.

Enriquez’s go-to guy, the technology-savvy Associate Vice President Michael Quiambao, would relate the floods in CDO a “major downtime event.” “It was the first time a typhoon of that magnitude hit Cagayan de Oro City and it isolated our Davao City operations,” Quiambao said of such critical BPO operations as data analytics.

“Disaster happens. But thankfully, we had the advantage of having Globe Business on our side with its rerouting scheme that allows redundancy in communications links that even if one circuit is cut, a reroute will take place in a few minutes,” Quiambao said.

As the corporate business arm of Globe catering to the wireless and wireline requirements of corporate clients such as Sutherland Global, Globe Business helped limit the BPO firm’s downtime to a minimum.

According to Enriquez, the company’s total downtime during the CDO disaster was only three hours and compared very favorably against the competition whose BPO clients allegedly complained of a two-day service disruption.

“We used the other service provider as backup, but unfortunately, it took them over 48 hours to restore their lines. The link provided by Globe Business held our trunkline,” Enriquez said.

According to him, BPOs like Sutherland need to be reliable and accurate all the time. Downtimes erode that veneer of reliability the company strives for and that is where Globe Business proves perfect for their requirements. “We are very satisfied with the services Globe Business provides us. What is good about them is that they respond fast enough for us to be able to respond to our timelines and deadlines with reliability and accuracy. Without Globe Business’s commitment of giving the right service level agreements, we will not be able to provide our clients the commitment to meet their business deadlines as well,” Enriquez said.

That relationship, according to Enriquez, dates back to Day One of Sutherland Global in 2005, when the company only had 150 employees housed in just a single location. Seven years later, Sutherland Global is present in nine locations across the Philippines, employing a hundred times more manpower with its current 15,000 headcount.

Quiambao describes an incident early in Sutherland’s corporate life in which they have to execute a multiyear contract with other telecommunications services providers in the Philippines to address the outsourcing require-ments of their own clients. He explained the short-lived arrangement was “part of the contract” and related to their need to grow the business of one of their sites. “We went back to Globe Business after about a year when the contract ended,” Quiambao explained.

Enriquez added that the experience brought home the message that more than anything else, both Sutherland and Globe Business value the partnership forged over the years far more than the business they get from each other.

“We have hit all our timelines and metrics. The beauty of this relationship is we can grow and expand to new sites and locations with a trusted partner in Globe Business. That reliability is key to our success in Sutherland,” the top executive of Sutherland emphasized.

That said, the local outsourcing and offshoring sectors will continue to remain the sunshine industries of the country—thanks to Globe Business, which powers BPOs like Sutherland Global with reliable connectivity to weather challenges, working closely with them and helping their enterprise grow further. Truly, it is an ICT partnership that will withstand all seasons.













==Oro fiesta to go on amid lack of funds==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/10/oro-fiesta-go-amid-lack-funds-297097
*Saturday, August 10, 2013
:By  Nicole J. Managbanag


EVEN without the budget from the City Government for the fiesta celebration, all the events lined-up will push through.

Maricel Casiño-Rivera, city information officer, said no funds have been generated for the fiesta activities since security of the upcoming activities has been prioritized.

Rivera said there is nothing to worry if funds for the festival are scarce since the City Government can always find the means to celebrate St. Augustine’s feast successfully.

The City Government can resort to soliciting funds from sponsors and other private entities that would be willing to help City Hall’s quest to provide something new for the tourists and Kagay-anons.

Most of the mentioned core events in the festival have been partnered with different sectors, both from private or government entities.

Rivera assured that fiesta activities and merry making will not be economized. “We will provide the best activities from other sources,” she said.

They will also request the City Council to appropriate an amount from the socio-cultural appropriation budget.

With the city’s approval, the partners would be given mileage in terms of promotion but they must abide with the terms and conditions set by the committee for the festivities, she said.

Rivera also assured that everything will be made transparent and accounted for.

Councilor Alexander Dacer, for his part, said the socio-cultural appropriation budget is not intended for the fiesta activities but for the improvement of the city museum.

Dacer said, last year, the City Government handled back the fiesta activities and cited that the Promote CdeO, the private organization which managed the city's fiestas celebration for the past five years, allegedly mishandled the event.

Dacer said Promote CdeO only turned over P493,000 as part of the city's share during the years that it handled the annual event and P507,000 as "continual contribution."

He said, “the City Government had a hard time looking for sponsors as we did not set aside a budget because we are banking on Promote CdeO.”

DOT pledges

Meanwhile Department of Tourism (DOT)-Northern Mindanao Director Catalino Chan has pledged an amount to be contributed for the expenses of the fiesta activities.

Chan said they will also provide trophies and prizes to some events of the fiesta.

Chan said it is DOT’s concern and task to achieve targets for tourists’ arrivals, be foreign or local.

Chan said, “we are positioning Cagayan de Oro, being the city of Golden friendship, as an ideal destination in Mindanao that is why we give our full support to the city.”

==Security prep set for Oro fiesta==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/09/security-prep-set-oro-fiesta-296932
*Friday, August 9, 2013
:By  Bobby Lagsa and Nicole J. Managbanag


CAGAYAN de Oro is set for its fiesta celebration.

City Police Office Operations Chief Lemuel Gonda said that police have finalized the security preparation and response scheme, crowd control and coordination with security and other stakeholders.

Gonda said that the city’s 700 strong police force will be augmented by additional force from the Regional police office and from the regional Public Safety Battalion.

At the news conference inside the city tourism center on Thursday, the police allayed fear that the city is not safe especially during the city celebration.

Crowd density

Retired Colonel Mario Monsanto, Oro Assistance for Life Emergency and Response Team (Oro Alert) chief and former Chief Operation Officer of Davao City’s 911 response team, said that he is compiling the population densities of the city fiesta’s core events which include the street dancing, P.E. Rhythmic Dancing, fluvial, and religious processions among others.

Monsanto said that it is imperative that crowd densities be taken into consideration as part of the security planning.

Monsanto added that they have tapped the help of other rescue capable organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross, the fire department, Rescue 411, and other organization.

Gonda added that the Philippine Army is also tapped for augmentations as well as additional units from the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal and the K9.

Gonda said that they have been conducting meetings on security assessments for the city fiesta.

Traffic rerouting

Lawyer Edgardo Uy, the head of Task Force Hapsay Dalan said that the Road and Traffic Administration has been finalizing traffic rerouting and traffic chokepoint unclogging.

Uy added that they are identifying the entrance and exit points for traffic in the city.

Eileen San Juan, Chair of the city fiesta celebration, said that after consulting and risks assessment, the city has decided not to cancel any fiesta events, “Unless there are new assessments.”

Gonda added that there are intelligence report that there are bomb threats but not in the city. However, he admitted the police cannot do it alone and they need the help of the public.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said that the public should not be intimidated by the bomb threat and bomb scare.

Moreno said that the city government is doing all that it can to make the city fiesta peaceful and merry.

“It is important that the people are not frightened and by the incident of bombing,” Moreno said.

Moreno stressed that “we must overcome fear and terror and that people must unite to fight against terror.”

==MILF to help solve Oro blast==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/08/milf-help-solve-oro-blast-296732
*Thursday, August 8, 2013
:By  Jigger J. Jerusalem and Loui S. Maliza


THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) gave its commitment to help authorities solve the July 26 bomb explosion in the city, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said Wednesday.

MILF peace panel member Robert Alonto met with Moreno in a visit Tuesday, lifting any cloud of doubt the group has a hand in the bomb blast that killed eight persons and injured 46.

Aside from holding an important position in the MILF, Alonto is also a Bangsamoro Transition Commissioner.

Senate inquiry

Moreno, who was in Manila Wednesday to attend the Senate inquiry on the bombing incident in the city, is hoping that with the help from other sectors including the MILF, the incident will be solved “as soon as possible.”

In a text message to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, City Information Officer Maricel Rivera said Alonto has relayed to Moreno the MILF high command’s commitment “to help the City Government in ensuring peace and order in the city.”

Moreno said that the MILF leadership has condemned the senseless and brutal act that killed innocent civilians and conveyed their condolences to the victims’ families.

“Sometimes tragedy can change the character of a person. This (incident) will change the character of the people of Cagayan de Oro,” Moreno told the Senate inquiry body chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

Moreno has also appealed to the people and the media to avoid issuing any speculative statement that would link the city’s explosion to a certain group or to last Monday’s bombing in Cotabato city.

During the inquiry, Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas has made it clear that the Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato incidents are not in any way linked.

Roxas also concluded that the July 26 blast was designed to kill and maim since it was detonated in a crowded place during “happy hour.”

Lone identified suspect charged

The city police office have informed the senate inquiry body that they have already filed charges against lone identified suspect Usman Hapids at the city prosecutor’s office Tuesday.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office Chief Graciano Mijares said Hapids is now facing multiple murder and frustrated murder charges.

City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said Usman Hapids, a suspected member of the Thalifa Islamiah Mindanao, is responsible for the incident.

Reports said Thalifa Islamiah Mindanao is a terrorist group based in Mindanao.

Macauyag said there are seven complainants and seven witnesses who identified Hapids as the suspect.

“Based on the records and evidence submitted to me, if not controverted, I would say these are enough to indict the suspect,” he said.

Macauyag said he created a panel of three prosecutors to handle the case and will hold a clarificatory hearing on August 20. At this hearing, the complainants and witnesses will appear to clarify the complaint.

“Few days after, they might get a resolution because the respondents cannot locate the suspect. Our target is to come up with the resolution before the fiesta celebration in Cagayan de Oro. This must be hastened since this case involves public interest,” he added.

Macauyag said they will be the one to determine the charges, “but in our initial evaluation, all the evidences are enough…if we find the probable cause.”

Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Lyndel Desquitado said they have intensified the security blanket in Northern Mindanao. Even during the city’s fiesta celebration in August 27-28, “is part of the security plan.”

He said they have heightened security measures not only in Cagayan de Oro but in whole of Northern Mindanao.

“We are positive, very positive (in due time the bombing will be solved),” he added.

Augment police capacity, resources

For his part, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said there should be a need to augment the capacity and resources of the police to solve incidents like these.

“Justice can only be achieved if we solve this crime. If nobody gets caught, nobody gets punished,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel also questioned the intelligence-gathering capability of the law enforcement agencies. “Is it excusable that something this big is not detected by the intelligence community?”

Sen. Gregorio Honasan said that these incidents are nothing new. “Paulit-uli na ito. Nagbago lang ang petsa (This has been recurring time and again. Only the date has changed.)”

Honasan said there is a need to strengthen the laws and to do an inventory of laws in connection with the bombings and similar acts.

He cited a 2008 legislation that would charge a person for unauthorized possession of explosives.

In a statement, Poe said the bombing will affect the investor confidence in Cagayan de Oro and that “we should not take this bombing lightly.”

==Oro mayor convenes peace, dev’t councils==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/07/oro-mayor-convenes-peace-dev-t-councils-296542
*Wednesday, August 7, 2013
:By Loui S. Maliza


CITY Hall has convened on Monday a council that would not only focus on peace and order but also on development.

Instead of the traditional city peace and order council, the City Government chose to name the new body the City Peace, Development and Security Council (CPDSC).

City information officer Maricel Casiño-Rivera said “it is apt and more viable as peace and order would follow whenever there are developments introduced in a certain area.”

“This is now the CPDSC in which we have broadened the functions of the peace and order council. Based on our experience in Misamis Oriental, peace and order is interrelated with the development of the city. There is a need to focus on development, and not just on peace and order,” Casiño-Rivera said.

She said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno serves as the CPDSC chair and former Congressman Ariel Fernandez of Balay Mindanaw as vice-chair.

Balay Mindanaw is a non-government organization based in Cagayan de Oro. Representatives from the civil society groups, academe, interfaith groups, the business sector and the law enforcement agencies also sit as members.

Rivera said the mayor believes that the programs on development have significant roles in maintaining peace and order in the city.

She said committees have been created to focus on each and every issue that the city faces.

“There are committees which have been organized such as governance watchdogs that would monitor the activities of the council. There are also committees created to give focus on the issue on ecology and climate change, public safety, human development, etc.,” she added.

Casiño-Rivera said the council would have its own funds that will finance its programs especially those for the law enforcement agencies.

The budget depends on the program. For instance, if the police lack funds, the local government can provide them.

A half-day seminar-workshop for all the council members will be held to map out concerns which need aggressive action, she said.

Councilor Ramon Tabor, who has been pushing to convene the City Peace and Order Council, was thankful of Monday’s convening of the council, saying he’s willing to support its programs to maintain peace and order in the city.

“We should be thankful. We are happy that at least we can be at peace because there is (a council) that would focus on peace and order of the city. Let us cooperate with the executive department,” Tabor said.

Tabor, chairman of the city council’s committee on police, fire and public safety, said he understood the intention of the mayor of creating such a council, as non-development in certain areas “would lead to lawlessness.”

He also favors of expanding the membership of the CPDSC which now includes non-government organizations, civil society groups and other civilian volunteers.

"We are happy with that. The purpose is to work hand in hand. Create ways, policies, measures to ensure peace and order together with Cagayan de Oro City Police Office and the 4th Infantry Division. At any rate, there will be a council that will focus on the problems, not just even bombing, kidnapping, and all other problems. There is nothing wrong on uniting against the problem of the city," he said.

“Nasukip sa iyang executive order ang problema sa kagutom, hinungdan sa paghinay sa development. Usa ang poverty that would lead to lawlessness, mao iyang panlantaw mao nga gisukip kining development. Akong makita sa iyang punto, kaprobrehon gayud ang hinungdan. Gani mosaka sa bukid tungod kay walay makita nga hustisya ug kagutom. I think diha nga linya, much better,” he added.

But still, Tabor added, the city would need a separate council that would focus on evaluating and acting on maintaining peace and order alone. It could be headed by the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, military or the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

This separate council would evaluate and agree whether their action would be viable or not, he said.

“Each agency would help in intelligence networking. They will meet regularly. I would still continue to push for 'Task Force CdeO' that would enforce specific and viable actions, like a special unit,” Tabor said.

Tabor said with the creation of Task Force CdeO, the city would not need to ask for augmentation from the military or the police during major celebrations because “they’re there already to act on it, not only during special occasions of the city, but the whole year round.”

==CDO Customs collector resigns==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/08/06/cdo-customs-collector-resigns-296335
*Tuesday, August 6, 2013
:By  Grace Cantal-Albasin


CAGAYAN de Oro (CDO) Customs district collector lawyer Lourdes Villamar-Mangaoang tendered her courtesy resignation on July 29 following Commissioner Rufino Biazon’s instruction for the collectors and other officers to relinquish their posts in the wake of the bureau’s crisis that Biazon described as “suffering from negative perception.”

Biazon planned to reshuffle the collectors, whom he called “little commissioners,” to reform the Customs’ blemished reputation due to massive smuggling and other illegal activities that plunged the bureau’s income.

Mangaoang relinquished her post citing compliance to Biazon’s instruction and requested that in her performance evaluation Biazon would take into account the successes she did in her stint as district collector in the ports of Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo.

CDO’s P550-M collection

Mangaoang cited CDO’s collection target for the first six months of 2013 (January to June) by P549,858,612 million with an annual revenue of P3,201,964, 612 billion against its predetermined target of P2,652,106,100 billion.

She also mentioned her record-breaking stint at the X-ray Inspection Project (X-IP) that she headed from December 2007 until mid-January in 2013.

“Records will bear that under my watch, the X-IP Team was able to seize P17 billion worth of illegally imported products including guns, ammunitions and prohibited drugs. Pardon the immodesty but what makes those P17 billion worth of seizures truly impressive is the fact that the total loan package for the acquisition of some 30 state-of-the-art container scanners is, at current exchange rate, equivalent to only P7 billion,” Mangaoang wrote in her letter to Biazon.

She described her posts as “legacy–laden stints in challenging and at times dangerous territories.”

In her stint at Zamboanga port in 2000–2003, she claimed reforming a rotten system that openly disrespected regulators, flagrantly ignored systems and procedures on entry declarations and wantonly disregarded established mechanisms on cargo inspections and assessment controls.

“By the time I was transferred to Cagayan de Oro in 2003, Zamboanga morphed from a smugglers’ haven into an earning Customs zone compliant with the requirements in country’s Customs and Tariff Code,” she further wrote.

Mangaoang added to the list of her successes the making of Cagayan de Oro into a billionaire’s port despite the closure of the National Steel Corporation, the port’s main revenue source that resulted to at least 35 percent decline in volume and value of imported goods processed.

Exceeding the collection target at the CDO port, she earned the “Commissioner’s Best Collection District Award in 2003, which was replicated when she was transferred in Iloilo port and got the same award in 2007.

Mangaoang proudly mentioned she received about 60 awards, commendations and certificates from customs stakeholders, private and civic organizations, media groups and foreign consultants or institutions.

She concluded in her letter that once the performance audit of all district collectors is completed her 20 years of experience in critical aspects of customs administration especially those related to revenue enhancement, border security and enforcement, assessment, operations and legal matters would be put to good use by putting her in a leadership pos in any of the major but struggling collection districts.

On August 3, Biazon had a closed-door meeting with the 47 of the district collectors in the country.

Biazon commended the collectors who relinquished their post and took it as a sign of their commitment to the reform program that he is intending to employ.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III during the State of the Nation Address had openly censured the Bureau of Customs for failing to meet the collection and for the rampant smuggling and corruption in the said bureau.

In two weeks, Biazon will announce the revamp and he would base it on their performance as revenue collectors (40 percent), enforcement against smuggling (30 percent) and feedback from “stakeholders” or the public (30 percent).

==The people in Cagayan De Oro==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/opinion/2013/08/05/jennermann-people-cagayan-de-oro-296172
*Monday, August 5, 2013
:By  Kyle Jennermann


ON THE 26th of July 2013, there was a bombing in Cagayan De Oro which killed 8 people and injured many. At the time of the attack I had just left Cagayan De Oro and I was exploring an area north of the city.

When I first heard of the seriousness of the bombing I felt terrible for all the people who have been affected by this disgusting brutal attack. Firstly, I would like to pass on my well wishes and heartfelt sadness to everyone in Cagayan and the entire Philippines who have been affected by this terrible, terrible occurrence. But, I would also like to share this with everyone.

I first came to Cagayan De Oro back in January, 2013 and brought along four of my closest friends from Canada. We spent seven days in the area and explored the islands, beaches, mountains, river rafting, and many beautiful outdoor areas that make up this part of Northern Mindanao.

I could go on writing a novel about how many beautiful natural outdoor areas there are in this part of the Philippines and the experiences my friends and I had. But, what stands out to me more is THE PEOPLE. Those seven days I spent in Cagayan De Oro in January and this recent five days have been beyond inspirational.

Why? Every day, I am inspired by the kindness, generosity, friendliness and happiness of the people here in Cagayan de Oro. You don’t have to search for it here all you simply need to do is walk around and interact with the people. I always tell my friends: “The world can learn a lot from Filipino culture” and I can honestly say that the people here in this part of the world inspire me every day. It has been life changing coming to this place, meeting the friends I have met and being welcomed like family!

I just wanted to write this little note because I am worried. I am worried that people around the Philippines and around the world will hear about this bombing and think it is unsafe to come here. And they will miss out on not only seeing this beautiful part of the world, but more importantly meeting and interacting with the beautiful people that are from here!

I just want people to know that Cagayan De Oro is a safe place, a beautiful place, and a place with amazing people! Once again, I would like to pass along my heartfelt sadness and well wishes to anyone who has been affected by this tragedy! I also hope that people can look past this terrible event and not be in fear of this part of the world because there are so many beautiful people waiting to say hello and welcome you here!

*****

(Kyle Jennermann hails from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. His mother is Canadian and his father is German now a Canadian citizen. He works at an outdoor adventure company in Hong Kong.)

==After deadly blast, CDO police tighten security for coming fiesta==
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/320550/news/regions/after-deadly-blast-cdo-police-tighten-security-for-coming-fiesta
*Sunday, August 4, 2013
:By  LBG, GMA News


Following a deadly blast at a popular shopping complex in Cagayan de Oro City, police there are boosting visibility and tightening security in time for the city's annual fiesta later this month.

The city marks its annual fiesta in the third week of August, according to a report on state-run Philippines News Agency.

City police head Superintendent Graciano Mijares said the city police force has been beefed up by personnel from the regional command.

Last July 26, a bomb exploded in an establishment at a popular shopping complex in the city, killing at least eight and wounding more than 40.

Investigators have yet to disclose their findings on the motive behind the blast.

However, Msgr. Elmer Abacahin of the Cagayan de Oro City archdiocese said the fiesta will go on despite fears caused by the July 26 bombing.

Mijares appealed to residents to report any suspicious person or activity to the nearest police station.

For his part, Cagayan de Oro City Archbishop Antonio Ledesma urged residents to pray for peace in the city.

==Barbaric, brutal Friday==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/opinion/2013/08/03/palmes-barbaric-brutal-friday-295871
*Saturday, August 3rd, 2013
:By  Susan Palmes-Dennis


WHAT is Cagayan de Oro to me? It is my home city and I love it. Like anyone else I was distraught with what happened last Friday July 20.

There are few words to describe it and barbaric and brutal immediately come to mind. An act most vile and foul committed only by the most evil, basest and brazen, that has no place in a society that calls itself civilized.

I fully agree that this is no time for finger-pointing. While it is investigated, we hope the Cagayan de Oro City government can arrest and hail those responsible to court and impose on their heads the maximum penalty under the law.

There is much to write about as there are numerous incidental issues along the way especially on how the police handled the evidence which might affect the case in court.

I think there is a time for police to be re-oriented on Evidence Handling 101 but not now. I still appreciate the police, considering that they were neglected in the past.

When I say neglected, I mean schooling, seminars or support from the city government to augment their expertise and hone talents. If there were further studies it was done through the PNP hierarchy and not the local police.

Is last Friday’s incident an act of terrorism as we are made to believe? Again, Google is helpful and has this to say; terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations to further their objectives. It has been practiced by right-wing and left-wing political parties, nationalistic groups, religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. An abiding characteristic is the indiscriminate use of violence against noncombatants for the purpose of gaining publicity for a group, cause, or individual.

There is no doubt that last Friday’s explosion in a mall planted fear among the weak and even those who appear to be strong, causing them to knock on the door of St. Augustine Cathedral and pray for divine guidance.

Suddenly, those who were near the area or was there but left early remembered their favorite saints by now. But it is not clear what group, political or criminal, operated behind the scenes.

Based on experience, if the explosion had any political undertones there would have been a written or broadcast admission by now. But this one is different.

In his book The Lion’s Game, author Nelson DeMille described terrorist Asad Khalid as a normal person who has his own reasons for what’s he’s been doing. Actual studies on terrorists and terrorism showed that terrorists on average are well-educated and come from secular educational institutes, with academic training frequently in the sciences or in technology.

Most terrorists come from stable, middle-class or privileged families. They do not typically suffer from mental disease or defects. Nor are they drug addicts or victims of poverty.

Most of these terrorists are dead at the end of the mission. This is unlike what happened to our city when it was not the bomber or bombers who lie dead on the concrete roads but the civilians. It behoves the Cagayan de Oro City government then to arrest these perpetrators and to start profiling people like them. Whatever happened to the bombing last year at a local hotel, was it solved? Or how about the other bombings in the city? Was there any group who claimed responsibility for it? They might be educated, rich or don’t suffer any infirmities or were fighting for a principle but terrorism would still be a crime against humanity and society.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro’s banner story “Blast to harm or scare” only compounded my doubts. Cocpo spokesperson Superintendent Michael Deloso said those who died were seated far from the explosion; if the intention is to terrorize, the bomber should have chosen the car park. The basis then was the direction of the bomb. It makes sense.

It is a fact that in the past years the City of Golden Friendship became a haven of felons big and small, organized and unorganized. The atmosphere then was not to make too much trouble so the city police won’t notice and then work overtime to crack down on them.

By not shaking things a bit, Cagayan de Oro City became a sanctuary of sorts for these undesirables. They merged and blended in the background without the police knowing it.

How to address this? I say real or fake terrorism needs to be confronted by political will. This political will must be expressed primarily through its various intelligence and enforcement organizations.

Effective intelligence requires effective data gathering and profiling. I might be wrong. Apologies if this was done already; I was gone three years but I knew back then that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies don’t coordinate and share information with each other anymore.

The past city council passed an outrageous ordinance that all those who come to the city with firearms should register their arms with the city including members of the Armed Forces. To get even with the city government other agencies left the city alone to solve its criminal problems. What happened to that ordinance by the way? That caught the ire of the intelligence agencies which is why they don’t share info with the city anymore. Working closely with other intelligence units in the region helps.

Intelligence gathering needs money, a lot of money. But there is no problem with that because there is a fund and I don’t have to ask where the intelligence fund went to for the past years. Given the kind of police service we have it seems it didn’t reach them. We might as well ask the August members of the City Council and the executive department if that arrangement made them intelligent. Well, they might as well apply as cops.

Intelligence agencies collect and analyze as much information as possible in order to give insightful advice to local officials. The focus needs to be on open source intelligence, where most of the information lies and is, for a price and some effort, readily obtainable.

Dealing with terrorism is therefore not a new challenge, despite the various claims to such effect by opportunistic political leaders or those are engaged in the modern fear industry. Why do you think the US police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other US law enforcement agencies solved the Boston bombing case immediately? Was it only because of the video taken by a civilian during the marathon that identified the suspects? We don’t leave everything to the police, you must help too. People participation is the thing of the day. All resources must be utilized. Catching the culprit is the first act but preventing it again is the bigger job.

**********

Lest I forget I have this message for the police. Please watch re-runs of Colombo or Hawaii Five- O and how the actors handled evidence from the start to finish. Or seek the opinion of the police retirees; one I can think of is Ben Rada. The late Major Eleuterio “Dodong” Amora of Agila,and Colonel Rebolos would not be in peace given the situation now.

==Roxas orders Purisima: Explain why Cagayan de Oro blast scene cleaned==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/457389/roxas-orders-purisima-explain-why-cagayan-de-oro-blast-scene-cleaned
*Friday, August 2nd, 2013
:By Jamie Elona
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines— Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima’s remark that there was nothing wrong when policemen cleaned up the crime scene in the Cagayan de Oro City blast did not sit well with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II. “It’s not okay with me. Maybe for them it’s okay,” Roxas said Friday as he asked Purisima to explain why when he arrived last Saturday at the blast site in the popular Rosario Arcade restaurant strip at Limketkai Mall it was already scrubbed. Roxas wondered why a crime scene had to be cleaned up only 12 hours after the “grisly explosion” that killed eight people and injured 46 others Friday last week. Purisima on Tuesday said the site of the bomb attack was cleaned up after Scene of the Crime Operatives and other investigators had finished gathering pieces of evidence by noon the next day. “So if it’s already finished (gathering of evidence) … and the investigator . . . releases the crime scene, then it would be cleaned,” Purisima told reporters. At the same time, he said mopping up a scene of a suspected terror attack would “remove any satisfaction they [terrorists] would get from seeing the fruit of their work.” But Roxas disagreed, saying it would be repeatedly shown on TV. “He should explain to me what he had said,” Roxas said, adding the most important job of the police is to investigate. In a separate interview, Purisima said the police investigators could explain the circumstances leading to the cleaning of the crime scene as he maintained his earlier stand that there was nothing wrong with the action. “The processors will explain everything because I was not in the area when the incident happened. They will explain how they did it,” Purisima said. He said the investigators present at the crime scene during post blast investigations would tell the exact time the gathering of evidence started, as well the time they finished scouring the bomb site. They will also identify the pieces of evidence gathered from the blast site, he said. Purisima said the PNP has coordinated with other agencies, including bomb experts, as investigation continues. “We have a good progress in the investigation,” he said, but refused to say any possible motive behind the attack.

==Report: BIFF 'most likely' behind CDO bombing==
*Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/35360-report-biff-most-likely-behind-cdo-bombing
*Thursday, August 1, 2013
:By NATASHYA GUTIERREZ



MANILA, Philippines - A risk control organization hired to investigate the deadly July 26 Cagayan de Oro (CDO) bombing believes the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) "could be most likely behind the bombing incident in Cagayan de Oro City."

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is holding peace talks with the government.

In a report prepared by the organization for its client, a foreign company doing business in Mindanao, the agency labeled the blast as a "terror bombing attack" and said the BIFF "is the only armed group with the capability and the motive to conduct such a terrorist activity."

It also asked its clients to avoid non-essential travel to Mindanao until the culprits have been identified and apprehended.

Its assessment is separate from the ongoing probe being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Police have yet to identify suspects or determine a motive.

On Friday night, July 26, Cagayan De Oro City was rocked by an explosion after a still-unidentified person left an improvised explosive device concealed in a black bag on a black monoblock chair outside Kyla's Bistro. The attack left 8 dead and 46 wounded, all civilians.

'Secessionist force'

The report, released to Rappler on the condition we do not identify the risk control organization, looked at 5 armed groups that have been responsible for past bombings targeting civilians, including the MILF, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Al-Khobar Gang and BIFF.

It discounted the MILF as the likely culprit, citing the ongoing peace talks with the government and its open cooperation with the administration in running after rogue groups.

The report also concluded that while MNLF chairman Nur Misuari has been outspoken in his criticism of the government's current talks with the MILF, his troops are based in Western Mindanao and do not have the capability to mount attacks outside their bailiwicks.

The ASG was also excluded because of the neutralization of ASG's key leaders and its focus of past attacks in areas surrounding Zamboanga and Sulu. The group also ruled out the criminal extortion syndicate Al-Khobar Gang, which has not been very active lately and is known to target bus companies in Region 12.

The report concluded the BIFF is behind the blast, citing the group's strong opposition to the peace process. It also pointed to BIFF's recent attacks in North Cotabato and Maguindanao — the latest of which was the July 30 attack on army detachments in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.

"The BIFF is apparently bracing itself to become the next major Muslim secessionist force in Mindanao after the MILF succeeded in concluding a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the government last year that could eventually lead to a final peace accord soon," the report said.

It compared its actions with the MILF in [1996], when the MNLF signed a peace accord with the Ramos government, adding "the same vicious cycle of violence and terror is again being initiated by the BIFF to show that it has evolved as a serious threat to be reckoned with."

History of violence

According to the military, at least 31 Muslim rebels and 5 soldiers were killed in clashes ahead of the resumption of peace talks.

The BIFF ambushed an army truck and attacked an army camp on July 6, just two days before the MILF and the government were to resume talks in Kuala Lumpur.

Back then, Ghazali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs of the MILF, told television network ABS-CBN his group was closely monitoring military operations against the BIFF.

"This operation might escalate into wider areas. We are very much concerned because we don't want that to happen," he said.

The BIFF is led by Ameril Umra Kato, a Saudi Arabia-trained cleric who had commanded an elite MILF unit.

He and his unit were blamed for a series of raids across Mindanao in 2008 that left nearly 400 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The MILF expelled Umra Kato in 2011 for his hardline stance against the peace talks. - Rappler.com