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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Cagayan de Oro City Public Market

The river of cagayan de oro city

St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:

The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro City Buildings

Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

Farmers in Mindanao start “long march” to Malacañang

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=649032
Saturday, May 31, 2014

By Ercel Maandig [(PNA), CTB/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/RSM)]

CAGAYAN DE ORO, May 31 (PNA) -- About 100 landless farmers from various places in Mindanao started a “long march” on Friday en route to Manila for a dialogue with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang on the status of the government’s agrarian reform program, Officials of the Alliance Land and Rights Movement in Mindanao (Alarm-Mindanao) said on Saturday.

Romeo Brosiosa, spokesperson of of the Alliance Land and Rights Movement in Mindanao (Alarm-Mindanao), said that the farmers came from Northern and Southern Mindanao provinces who converged in this port capital of Northern Mindanao last Wednesday.

He said that the farmers agreed to hold a long march starting on Friday from Cagayan De Oro City to Manila to seek audience with the President for a dialogue scheduled on June 10, 2014.

The farmers would bring to the attention of President Aquino, the status of the beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extended Reform (CARPER), who were landless farmers of the Taskforce Mapalad based in Bukidnon and the Davao-based Alliance Land and Rights Movement.

Brosiosa said that the landless farmers complained that they did not receive the land promised to them under the government agrarian reform program.

From Cagayan De Oro City, the Mindanao-based farmers will meet the farmers from Luzon and Negros Occidental in Batangas before marching to Malacañang in Manila on June 10, 2014.

Richard Colao, Secretary General of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said that the CARPER has, instead, turned into the government’s land distribution program into a business enterprise since the farm lands have been converted into industrial and residential lots.

The Alarma-Mindanao and the KMP should lobby for the passage and enactment of the genuine agrarian reform bill (GARB) under House Bill 374 since the proposed bill has remained pending in the House. Colao said.

Rudello Cabrejas, 67, of Davao City, 67, the oldest participant who joined the long march on Friday, said that he decided to join the national march so that his children would be aware of the rights of the landless to own land in this country.

“When I will die and leave the mortal world, my children will understand that my joining the long march was a demonstration of my love for them – that I truly cared for them,” Cabrejas said.

Tourism, state prosecutor, academe back knowledge sharing for sustainable dev’t

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1461401422626
Friday, May 30, 2014

(Ana Celeste W. Felisilda/DILG/PIA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 29 – To promote a culture of learning and knowledge sharing in pursuit of sustainable development through excellence in local governance, three stakeholders had agreed to pool their knowledge and expertise for Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC).

The Department of Tourism (DOT), Office of the Regional State Prosecutor (RSP) and Capitol University (CU) jointly signed on May 27 the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the LGRRC 10.

Agreements in the MOU include the attendance and participation in all multisectoral advisory council (MSAC) activities and regular meetings to assess the operations and ensure the dynamism of the components to the LGRC; designate a permanent focal person; and mobilization of their resources to support information materials on exemplary practices in the delivery of their respective agency mandates.

Also signed was the MOU on the LGRC partnership with Group Foundation, Inc. entitled “Citizen Watchdog for Good Governance” for the Research and Monitoring Project of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) to the beneficiaries in Cagayan de Oro City.

MSAC is the governing, policy-making body of the LGRC. It provides the general direction and guidance to the LGRC plans and programs and formulates policies and guidelines in the operationalization of the LGRC.

The LGRC is a dynamic, interactive and virtual program that contributes to build the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as a knowledge centric organization (KCO) and builds learning communities that pursue local governance excellence through knowledge sharing and innovation.

According to Atty. Rene K. Burdeos, regional director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), region 10, LGRC is not merely a physical facility, or library, nor is it simply a repository of knowledge products. It also makes knowledge products accessible to local government units (LGUs) and secondary users, among others.

Public schools ready for June 2 class opening

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/05/29/public-schools-ready-june-2-class-opening-345336
Thursday, May 29, 2014

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

AS CLASSES open for the public elementary and high school levels on Monday, June 2, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Northern Mindanao assures majority of its schools are ready and equipped to accept students despite shifting of classes due to lack of facilities and influx of students this school year.

Medarda Galarrita, DepEd-Northern Mindanao information officer, cited the National School Maintenance Week or Brigada Eskwela that entailed a weeklong cleaning and repairs of the school facilities through volunteerism was successfully implemented in the region.

Celso L. Pagulon, principal of City Central School (CCS), said, “Last week, ready na ang classrooms for the pupils for June 2, the start of classes.”

This week, late enrollees are still coming in and they are being accommodated since no schools are allowed to refuse students, Pagulon said.

The population at CCS has increased since students from private schools have transferred, he said.

About 50 classrooms have been rebuilt after the 2012 fire razed them, however, Pagulon has to wait the signal from DepEd central office if they could be used once the classes start.

“When the classrooms are ready for use, the shifting of classes will be discontinued and normal class schedules can be followed,” he said.

Until CCS gets the approval from DepEd central office, the shifting of classes will continue following this schedule: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. sessions.

“Inagpasa (Rushed),” Pagulon said, referring to the shifting of classes since another set of class will occupy the classrooms after the 12 p.m. shift, leaving the room after the morning sessions unprepared for the next class to use it, but assured the number of minutes allotted per learning area isn’t affected.

Swarmed

On June 2, Pagulon said the school will be swarmed with students and parents and to prepare for it, the Philippine National Police and barangay police (tanod) have been tapped to assist the first day of classes.

The CCS will also establish a help desk in the strategic areas of the school for people who will be asking directions.

Use of mother tongue

It has been three years since public schools have implemented the K to 12 curriculum and teachers from both public and private schools have been trained this summer.

The current grade 3 students are the pioneering pupils of this curriculum, Pagulon said.

With regard to language instruction, the mother tongue (Bisaya) will be used in the first semester classes and will switch to Filipino in the middle of the first semester. Then, in the midterm, they will use the second tongue, which is English. The transition is gradual to ensure that the pupils will able to cope with the changes, Galarrita said.

Aruelo said that previously, the use of English traumatized the new students as they entered school because they did not fully understand the language. But with the use of mother tongue, “Dili na kaayo mahadlok ang mga bata,” Aruelo added.

The service providers, the Teachers Education Institute (TEI), composed of the different universities in the region like Xavier University, Capitol University, Liceo de Cagayan University and Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay conducted trainings for the teachers who will employ the new curriculum.

DepEd-Northern Mindanao monitors the trainings and also provides technical assistance, she said.

Only Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) in the secondary level and City Central School in the primary level are doing the shifting of classes, due to the “lack of classrooms and a large population,” Galarrita said.

Starting this June 2, DepEd will be having the “Oplan-Balik Eskwela” as its way of monitoring the opening classes of schools in the region.

“So far, wala may complaints,” Galarrita said, adding that they are always on call whenever there are problems.

Logistics, trade opportunities in focus at Mindanao Shipping confab

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1521401242588
Wednesday, May 28, 2014

(Liza Almonte/PortCalls/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 28 (PIA) --- Key transport and customs officials, economists as well as supply-chain executives will gather for the Mindanao Shipping Conference on June 18 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Among the topics at the whole-day conference are Mindanao’s shipping and trade prospects; the region’s role in sustaining Philippine economic growth; government’s logistics strategies for Mindanao; the impact of ASEAN economic integration on the transport sector; and Bureau of Customs (BOC) policies in support of trade facilitation.

Delegates will also get a chance to participate in high-level networking with shipping industry executives, manufacturers, importers and exporters expected to attend the gathering.

Event organizer PortCalls has invited experts to offer their insights into opportunities Mindanao offers to investors, especially in the area of trade and transport.

Heading the list of speakers is Dr. Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., former socio-economic planning secretary, who will discuss Philippine macro-economic prospects for the next three years, as well as his forecast for Mindanao trade.

Leon M. Dacanay, Jr., regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for Region 10, will speak on growth in Mindanao maritime trade, particularly cargo volumes, direction of trade and how shippers should respond.

The state of preparedness of the Philippine logistics industry as the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations integrate next year will be the focus of Dr. Adora Navarro, a senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), as she discusses the benefits and pitfalls of the regional event.

From the private sector, Augustus Adis, president, PIE-MO Industries Association, will point out the needs of Mindanao shippers and cargo service providers while Jose Manuel de Jesus, president and general manager of Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), will discuss technological and systems innovations and container throughput at MCT.

Capping the event will be Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero, deputy commissioner for the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group of the BOC, who will speak on customs reforms toward greater trade facilitation. Uvero will brief conference delegates on new BOC measures in place to cut red tape, combat corruption and smuggling.

Mindanao Shipping Conference 2014 is supported by Smart Infinity (Gold Sponsor); Soonest Global (Silver Sponsor); Fast Logistics, Petron, Seda Centrio and Smart Communications (Bronze Sponsors); and Isuzu (Exhibitor).

Philippine Hawk Eagle released in CDO

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/environment/2014/05/27/philippine-hawk-eagle-released-in-cdo/
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 1:25 pm

By Froilan Gallardo (MindaNews)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/27 May) — The Philippine Hawk Eagle refused to fly at first and preferred to perch on the gloved hands of Roel Dahonog, acting chief of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-X, at the slopes of Malasag Hill in the city’s outskirts on Monday.

Prodded on to fly, the raptor flew but landed on the ground a little farther from Dahonog and other bird handlers.

One of the handlers, Dr. Miguel de Leon, stepped gently toward the bird and picked it up with his bare hands.

“This is not good. The bird is becoming tame. It’s a raptor and it should not have allowed anyone to touch it,” de Leon said.

He had to break into a trot with the large bird on his hand before it flew to its freedom toward the nearby trees on the slopes of Malasag Hill.

PAWD-X recovered the Philippine Hawk Eagle from an unauthorized collector in Barangay FS Catanico, this city last May 14.

Weighing only about 1.5 kilos, the raptor had a huge gash from its beak to the back of its head and its handlers had given up the bird for dead.

The DENR gave the bird to de Leon hoping he could save it. De Leon, an ophthalmologist by profession and son of the late Mindanao Herald weekly publisher Cynthia de Leon, is a wildlife enthusiast.

“When I saw the bird, I thought it would not survive. It had deep avulsions for its injuries,” he said.

But the bird recovered after de Leon performed a surgical procedure on it.

The DENR and de Leon scheduled an early release date for the bird to prevent it from getting domesticated. Last Monday, the bird was released back to the wild at the slopes of Malasag Hill.

“Philippine Hawk Eagles are birds of prey. It hunts for its food. It will get lazy and will lose its hunting skills if we continuously feed it,” de Leon explained.

According to the wildlife monitoring group Birdlife International, there are only 320 to 340 pairs of Philippine Hawk Eagle in Mindanao and some 220 pairs in Luzon.

The group classified the Philippine Hawk Eagle as “vulnerable” due to loss of its forest habitation, hunting and trade.

Dahonog said the DENR has to resort to asking help from people like de Leon because it lacks the expertise and personnel.

27birds4Dahonog said a Philippine Eagle Owl nicknamed “Chico” they have given to de Leon was found to have lost its hunting skills.

He is asking for any kind residents to adopt the bird and like de Leon, the DENR would issue them with Certificates of Wildlife Registration allowing them to keep the owl.

There are at least 100 individuals issued with the certificates in Region 10 and each of them is allowed to acquire wildlife so long as its origin is legal.

Dahonog said they are strictly monitoring the collectors because the trade of wildlife is a booming market despite DENR efforts to get rid of it since 10 years ago.

“The attraction of having an exotic pet is fueling a multi-billion peso illegal trade of wildlife in the country. It is ongoing despite our efforts to stop it ten years ago,” he said.

On May 16, a raid conducted by the Philippine National Police Criminal Detection and Investigation Group on a suspected gunrunner’s house yielded, aside from firearms, several wildlife species in cages including a crocodile.

Dahonog said the internal traffickers of wildlife still use the old port of entry in General Santos City to smuggle turtles, geckos, snakes, turtles and mynahs from Indonesia which are placed in cramped boxes.

He said because the DENR lacks the personnel to monitor the illegal trade, the smugglers could easily bring the wildlife species to Manila by trucks via the Lipata ferry in Surigao City.

He said another preferred route used by wildlife smugglers is via Palawan and most of the animals end up for sale on the streets of Cebu City.

“But the major market for the illegal wildlife sale is Cartimar Market in Pasay City. You can find every species of wildlife for sale in Cartimar,” Dahonog said.

The sale of wildlife in Cartimar Market is also advertised openly in social networks and blog sites. In one blog site, allthingsmanila.blogspot.com , a picture of an 11-month macaw for sale for P75,000 was posted.

Dahonog said the sale of exotic wildlife is not only in Cartimar Market. It is also rampantly advertised in other websites.

Philippine Congress passed Republic Act no. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act to protect the country’s wildlife from illicit trade, abuse and destruction.

The law also regulates the collection and trade of wildlife and spurs conservation efforts in its habitats.

8M ha eyed for oil palm plantations

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/605424/8m-ha-eyed-for-oil-palm-plantations
Monday, May 26, 2014 5:13 am

By Bobby Lagsa, Inquirer Mindanao, and Rafael Antonio (Inquirer Research, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

DENR chief says idle lands ideal palm sites

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje on Wednesday proposed the conversion of some 8 million hectares of idle, denuded and unproductive lands across the country into oil palm plantations.

Paje, who attended the launching of the Mindanao Barangay StraTreegic Forest Project (BSFP) here, said the country was losing P800 billion each year in production opportunities because of lands that are left idle.

He said the prospects of generating more cash out of these idle lands could be gleaned from the Indonesian example.

Indonesia, which has only 6 million ha of land planted with palm, makes $50 billion each year from the oil palm industry.

“That is almost the same as our national budget,” Paje said.

Paje said that if the plans pushed through, the country would earn more than Indonesia out of oil palm plantations.

Opposition

But Paje’s proposal was met with opposition here.

For Orlando Ravanera, Cooperative Development Authority regional director and environmentalist, food security and ecological integrity should be the government’s focus.

Ravanera said converting idle and denuded lands into palm plantations was not consistent with programs on food security and ecological integrity that the BSFP is aiming for.

“Land should be used for food security, not for biofuel,” Ravanera said.

Ravanera said the government should make sure that the people have sufficient food and, to achieve this, land use is essential.

Cagayan de Oro Bishop Melmar Labuntog, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and chair of the group Panalipdan Mindanao (Defend Mindanao), said that if there were idle lands, these should not be used for palm but for crops that can feed the country.

Labuntog said that instead of planting oil palm on denuded forests, for example, reforestation should be undertaken to ensure ecological balance that would help farmers yield more harvests.

Ravanera said one factor in decreasing food production levels was the failure of logging companies to replant as agreed upon and the continued operation of illegal loggers.

He urged Paje to strictly implement environmental laws and said reforestation is a must.

“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) should reforest the land and not plant palm. That is the mandate of the DENR,” Ravanera said.

Investment magnet

Oil palm is considered to have the highest oil content among oil-producing plants, including coconut and olive. Its high yield drives the development of oil palm industries worldwide. Palm oil is used in several food products, such as cookies, crackers and pastries.

Indonesia and Malaysia are considered the world’s top producers of palm oil.

Oro curfew on minors gaining support

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/05/25/oro-curfew-minors-gaining-support-344612
Sunday, May 25, 2014

By Alyssa C. Clenuar

AS THE economic boom in the city has been gaining ground where businesses mushroom paving the way to easy access to recreation, residents including minors have been hooked on patronizing them.

Many of the minors today are mostly seen hanging around bars and internet cafes and added to it is the proliferation of street kids around the city.

Roselyn Aurelio (not her real name), a parent of two high school boys supports the implementation of curfew among minors in the city seeing it a remedy for her boys to stay home at night instead of milling around the city.

“I am a busy woman because I am into business,” she said.

“I am a single parent and I raised them by myself through the years. I know they are well-mannered and behaved boys but when the principal called my attention, I really felt embarrassed and confused.”

Prior to the incident, she noticed her children coming home late from Thursdays to Saturdays and missing out a lot in school.

“They would ask permission to use my car because they would attend their weekly ‘group study.’ They would tell me that they have to do collaborations in making lab reports. Only to find out, they came from a party. My car would smell alcohol by morning,” she said.

Aurelio decided to keep her children grounded for months until they learn not to wander again. But it was harder than she thought, she said.

Greta Absin, a high school teacher, thinks that implementing the ordinance will be a great help in keeping track of her son’s whereabouts.

“At least, if the ordinance will be pursued, my son really has no reason to go out at night. Sometimes, he tells me that our internet speed is not enough for his surfing needs prompting him to go out and look for an internet cafe. Ando pa man diay, he was just playing DoTA all the while,” Absin said.

“I thought of the craziest thing a mother could do, I asked him to invite his friends over to play DoTA, just for me to keep track of him. He would still persist. So we argue a lot. I confiscated his PSP, laptop and other gadgets, but still, he would sneak out at night just to play,” she added.

Aurelio and Absin agree that the ordinance should be implemented soon as classes open this June.

The City Peace and Development Security Council (CPDSC) has proposed on enforcing the curfew on minors that will prohibit persons below 15 years old to roam or loiter around the city beyond 10 p.m.

Teddy Sabuga-a, CPDSC executive director, said this would remind the parents of their responsibility and obligations to their children.

The curfew aims at strengthening parental responsibility among parents over their children as their basic legal and revered obligations; enhancing inter-agency collaboration in all social protection undertaking for children; fortifying advocacy in protecting children at risk from becoming in conflict with the law, thus, curtailing the incidence of crimes committed by children in partnership with various stakeholders and developing the value of education among children.

Barangay Captain Jaime Frias of Barangay 26 also favors the implementation of the city ordinance. However, he said there should also be support from all the barangays in the city.

“It has been a three-decade ordinance. They tried to implement that before, unfortunately, not all barangays supported it so it was very difficult if only a few are going to follow it.”

Frias is optimistic it can cut vices like alcohol intake among minors and “I am happy for it.” But he worries on the shifting of classes in the secondary public schools in the city.

“With the time allotted for research work by the students, especially those under the afternoon classes, I doubt it would be pursued,” he said.

Frias also questioned on the manpower available to enforce the curfew.

Gusa barangay captain Marlon Tabac also sees the importance of implementing the curfew on minors.

"I am really in favor of implementing this. Although when I assumed office in December, we had an information dissemination the whole month, and by January we employed this in the barangay level, but other barangays in the city should also start enforcing this," Tabac said.

He said that all barangays should also think for the welfare of the minors on why they should implement it and put aside politics.

"This is for the protection of our children man sad. Barangays should really support this. No matter what party you come from or what political leader you are supporting to, it shouldn't be something to mix with politics eh," he said.

Parents urged to check school supplies

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=646815
Saturday, May 24, 2014

(PNA), CTB/CD/GGORIT/NOD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 24 (PNA) -– A city official here urged parents to be careful in buying school supplies to ensure the safety of the students and pupils.

City Councilor Edna Dahino, of the city council’s Committee on Trade and Commerce, said on Saturday that the parents should look for the PS (product standard) mark on the school supplies when buying school materials.

The PS marking shows that the product has passed and conform with the standards set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Dahino said.

According to Dahino, the DTI purposely imprints the PS mark as a seal that separates hazardous products that might contain toxic materials.

He specifically cited the pencils, coloring materials, school bags, and other school supplies.

“Some children bite into pencil erasers and other school supplies which could be bad for the health,” Dahino warned.

Dahino urged parents to be aware of substandard school products in order to prevent illness of their students and children.

Prevention of illness is always better that cure, she added.

MinDA, DENR, DILG launch two environment programs for Mindanao

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2611400813315
Friday, May 23, 2014

By Ariana Cristelle L. Pagdanganan (Ariana Cristelle Pagdanganan/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO, May 23 (PIA) – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) made a collaborative effort to launch two environment programs here to sustain the natural resources of Mindanao.

These two projects are the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP) and the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) of Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park.

The implementation of the BSFP calls for the rehabilitation of Mindanao’s natural habitats as well as in the reforestation of their denuded areas.

This project initially targets 200 barangays, organized by the DILG. Each barangay will establish 20 hectares of nursery that will eventually produce 10,000 seedlings and 4,000 hectares of tree plantation.

BSFP also provides incentives for top performing communities, as well as the livelihood support and project sustainability.

Secretary Paje explained on how important the DILG plays in this program; “Kalahati nung target ni Pangulo na matamnam by 2016 kayang i-deliver ng LGUs lamang” (The local government units (LGUs) are capable to deliver half of the target that the President would want to be planted by 2016).

Other than organizing the 200 barangay LGUs, the DILG will also disseminate tree-growing or other environmental initiatives to local partners and present performance incentive scheme for the BSFP. After which, the barangay LGUs will then provide counterpart either by cash or in kind.

Meanwhile, MinDA, through the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program is assigned to coordinate the private sectors, academe and the civil society organizations (CSOs) in assisting the organization of partner LGUs/alliance with the DILG and DENR.

Further, another project designed by the three governing agencies is called the Payment for Ecosystem Services or PES.

This is an environmental mechanism in sustaining ecosystems as well as to encourage industry stakeholders to participate in the payment scheme that is meant to protect the environment against the massive utilization of resources caused by excessive human activities.

Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, Chairperson of MinDA, said that PES is already being done in the municipality of Naawan.

The municipal council of Naawan had issued an ordinance to collect additional fee of one peso per cubic meter of water consumed per household.

Antonino encouraged everyone to do parallel efforts to protect and sustain the environment and its natural resources.

“We have to act now in order that the next generation will not blame us for abusing the environment that they will inherit from us in the future,” Antonino expressed.

Along with MinDA, DENR, and DILG, other partners that took part in this joint undertaking were the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC), Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association, which was also the recipient of the PES project.

CdO developer granted ‘Eco-Logic’ trademark

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2014/05/22/cdo-developer-granted-eco-logic-trademark-344117
Thursday, May 22, 2014

(Sunstar Cagayan de Oro)

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has granted Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI), developer of the internationally-awarded mixed-use condo building Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro, exclusive rights to use the “Eco-Logic™” trademark to identify its products and services, further establishing ITPI’s role as a pioneer in sustainable property development in the country.

ITPI is a young Italian-Filipino property developer known for its advocacy for, and practice of, sustainable architecture and development.

The company draws from nature itself when designing intelligent and energy efficient properties.

Eco-Logic™" represents the company's unique approach to property development, which is to use cost-effective, innovative, performance based technology and methods.

Eco-Logic™" also represents the process of designing a building that functions in accordance to its natural environment - a more intelligent approach that minimizes the use of expensive materials and reduces environmental impact.

Cost effective measures include passive energy-saving design features such as shadow and sunlight control and wind cooling; as well as active energy production from renewable sources.

State-of-the-art simulation software is used to analyze the behavior of sunlight, wind flow and ground movement in and around buildings.

Construction materials and manpower are locally sourced to reduce the need to transport materials and consumption of fossil fuel and to help contribute to the growth of local economy.

"There is a common misconception that building green properties is expensive and will require the use of high-tech, imported materials. This doesn't have to be so. You just need to come up with a design that makes use of affordable but effective materials that will enable a building to be sustainable in the long run. The trick is to combine functionality with aesthetics," said ITPI executive chairman and CEO Arch. Romolo V. Nati.

“In fact, investing in green properties can be very profitable. Primavera Residences for instance has a proven real estate appreciation of more than 10% per annum. Given its location at Pueblo de Oro Business Park beside SM CdO, units at Primavera Residences are very easy to rent out. Buyers may already pay their installment with revenue generated from the rent,” he added.

The 10-storey, twin-tower Primavera Residences is ITPI’s first project in the Cagayan de Oro.

The building is designed to maximize natural ventilation.

Its exterior walls are fitted with window-shading cantilevers, preventing much direct sunlight from reaching the insides of the units.

It has a green inner courtyard that acts as a natural chimney, forcing warm air to move upward.

“Through just the passive design of the building, our unit owners are enjoying up to 20 percent savings in energy. In June, photovoltaic solar panels will be installed on the rooftop and these will generate enough energy to light and power the common areas,” said Nati.

Because of its many green features, Primavera Residences has received several recognitions from international award-giving bodies.

It recently won in the 2014-2015 Asia Pacific regional competition of the prestigious International Property Awards in the Best Mixed-use Development category for the Philippines.

Units at Primavera Residences are ready for occupancy.

StraTREEgic forest program launched in CDO

Source: http://www.solarnews.ph/news/regional/2014/05/21/stratreegic-forest-program-launched-in-cdo#.U3ygy3bj5rQ
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

With a report from Cheng Ordonez (Solar News Online)

Cagayan de Oro – A joint cabinet working visit is being held here Wednesday, May 21, to launch the Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Program (BSFP).

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino are expected to attend and witness the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement and turn-over of check.

The BSFP is a tripartite partnership, which seeks to facilitate the implementation and attainment of the objectives of the National Greening Program (NGP) in Mindanao.

It initially targets to cover some 200 barangays for reforestation activities and generate, at least, two million seedlings of forest trees planted in typhoon prone and perennially flooded areas in Mindanao.

Alongside with the BSFP launching is the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for Miarayon-Lapok-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) of Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park cum Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC) special meeting.

The PES for Kalatungan is supported by CDORBMC for pilot testing within the basin and is envisioned to scale up the efforts of other indigenous peoples communities within the basin, including those in Mt. Kalatungan and Mt. Kitangalad Natural Parks.

MinDA, MASS-SPECC and the cooperatives of Bukidnon Pharmaceutical Multipurpose Cooperative (BUPHARCO), First Community Cooperative (FICCO), and National Federation of Cooperative (NAFE) are the initial beneficiary-partners of the PES scheme for MILALITTRA.

OCD reveals DRRM strategy in NorMin

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2611400564682
Tuesday, May 20, 2014

By Ariana Cristelle L. Pagdanganan (ACP/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, MAY 20 (PIA) – The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) region 10 during the Bukidnon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Summit here said that mitigation and prevention are the most effective strategies in minimizing the adverse effects of disasters.

In order to set their challenges this year, Ana C. Cañeda, regional DRRM council (RDRRMC) chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director, accounted the past Sendong and Pablo tragedies, saying that tropical storm Sendong had more casualties compared to tropical cyclone Pablo.

Their records show that casualties due to death and injury were all coming from the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

“As compared to tropical cyclone Pablo, mas gamay ra gyud compared to Sendong. Not because mas na-wise na ta, but this is because dili man gyud kita ang nasa path sa Pablo” (As compared to tropical cyclone Pablo, it was lesser compared to Sendong. This is not because we were already wise, but this is because we were not in the path of Pablo), she explained.

Flooding is said to be the number one potential geo-hazard type in Region 10. This is because there are already a number of flood-prone areas that are gradually expanding.

Other potential geo-hazard types mentioned were landslide, volcanic landslide, lahar, earthquake and tsunami.

All throughout the year 2013, the OCD-10 recorded 30 incidents of natural disasters in the region. Most of them were due to flood and then followed by landslide and strong winds.

Of the 14 recorded casualties, six of them were dead and eight of them were injured.

For the human induced disasters, OCD-10 monitored a total of 31 incidents, and majority of them were due to fire, which was actually considered as the most common human induced disaster, followed by army attacks that took place in sporadic areas.

These human induced disasters resulted to an overall of 36 casualties due to death and 155 were said to be injured.

Cagayan de Oro City had the most number of casualties in the region. This was largely due to the bombing incident that happened last year.

There were 257 houses/structures that were reported to be totally damaged, mostly caused by fire, while there were 120 houses/structures that were partially damaged.

So far, Bukidnon topped with the most number of houses/structures that were partially damaged.

The OCD-10 also takes into account the poverty statistics in the region and considers it as a disaster.

“Kung taas kaayo ta’g poverty incidence among families, that is already a disaster on itself bisag wala pay nahitabo. So, bantayanon na na sitwasyon” (When we have high poverty incidence among families, then that is already a disaster on itself even if the disaster is not yet happening. So, that’s what makes it a serious situation), Director Cañeda said.

Regional DRRM Programs

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had identified regional impacts that helped them form objectives, targets, and outcomes according to the four DRRM thematic areas which are the Disaster Mitigation and Prevention, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response, and Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation.

The programs under Disaster Mitigation and Prevention are the Project Climate Twin Phoenix by the Climate Change Commission, and the installation of automated raingauges, water level sensors, and tide level sensors by the Department of Science and Technology.

For the Disaster Preparedness, which was also called a Response Preparedness, there are several programs created in order to reduce casualty and damage to properties. These are the STEAG Port and Ship Security Sea Lion Live Exercise, Incident Command System (ICS) Training for PDRRMC Misamis Oriental, and the Search and Rescue Training for PDRRMC in Lanao del Norte.

For the Disaster Response, the OCD-10 prepared the local DRRMC to activate the cluster approach in their hazard contingency plan. It was said that they have fully activated their clusters during the prolong Sendong operations.

As for the Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation, inspections of recovery and reconstruction/rehab projects and relocation sites are to be undertaken in order to improve the living conditions of the victims especially during the aftermath of a said disaster.

The Paradigm Shift

Director Cañeda also introduced the new national DRRM framework which shifted from top-down and centralized Disaster Management to a bottom-up and participatory Disaster Risk Reduction.

This paradigm shift calls for all the constituents to take part in the planning on how to minimize their exposure to hazards.

Other than that, the OCD-10 is now aware that disasters are the reflections of the people’s vulnerability, and that they are therefore focusing on their “integrated approach to genuine social and human development to reduce disaster risk” as well as to being pro-active in their DRRM.

As presented in the NDRRM framework, half of their efforts for their DRRM plan would be allocated in their Disaster Mitigation and Prevention.

“We’re not going to make heroes out of people,” added Director Cañeda.

The Bukidnon Provincial DRRM Summit was conducted on May 6 to 7 with the theme: “Kaluwasan sa katawhan, Katungdanan sa tanan.” Other activities were the signing of the Strengthened Declaration of Commitment to DRRM, and the workshop.

Why UN Habitat named CDO an ‘emerging city of tomorrow’

Source: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/160399/why-un-habitat-named-cdo-an-emerging-city-of-tomorrow
Monday, May 19th, 2014 (Date Published)

By Ma. Leona Felice Echeveria

Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) has been named an “emerging city of tomorrow” in this year’s World Urban Forum in Colombia organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat). CDO is the only Philippine city on the list, which includes Hunchun, China; Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Malmo, Sweden; Nampula, Mozambique; Onitsha, Nigeria; Santa Marta, Colombia; Tetouan, Morocco; and Uberlandia, Brazil. CDO is ranked by the National Competitiveness Council as the Philippines’ most competitive city. The mayor of CDO is former Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Oscar S. Moreno. The city government has pioneered in the computerization of business permits and licensing, as well as the assessment and payment of real property tax. “Getting a business permit takes up less than an hour,” said Eileen Canoy Escobar-San Juan, the city’s local economic and investment promotions officer. She also noted that a key driver in the city’s remarkable growth was the “very strong private sector support and initiative.” CDO is the growth driver of Northern Mindanao (Region 10), whose economic growth continues to exceed those of the other regions in Mindanao. CDO’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) was P240 billion in 2012, up by 7.4 percent compared to its 5.8 percent growth in 2011. This was largely due to the acceleration of the industry and services sectors, which rose by 9.2 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively. Although agriculture stepped up by only 2.4 percent, contributing 28 percent to the region’s economy. Nationwide, Northern Mindanao (Region 10), which includes CDO, ranked third in per capita GRDP.

Fueling the region’s growth is CDO’s economic dynamism, government efficiency and appropriate infrastructure. New industries utilizing information technology are being established in the city. This fast-growing city of over 600,000 people provides easy access to an enormous concentration of markets in Northern Mindanao. The Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) facilitates direct and cost-efficient movement of containerized cargoes to Manila, Cebu and international shipping hubs. The multi-berth Cagayan de Oro Baseport handles inter-island passenger travel with connectivity to the country’s nautical highway and the logistics corridors of Mindanao. Laguindingan Airport services air logistics requirements, while an extensive road network leads to and from the major production areas and markets of Mindanao. The expansion of the MCT and Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) Power Plant will consolidate CDO’s position as the largest logistics center in Southern Philippines.

While the rest of Mindanao has been experiencing severe power shortages for many months now (with up to 16-hour outages daily in one Mindanao city), CDO has been hit by brownouts only at the tail end of this summer. That’s because it is approaching self-reliance in power: with Minergy’s 27.4-MW and 18.9-MW diesel power plants, STEAG State Power’s 210-MW coal-fired power plant—plus Bubunawan Power Company’s 7-MW run-off river hydro project in tandem with Cepalco’s 1-MW photovoltaic solar power plant—the only grid-connected PV power plant in the Philippines.

Complementing the logistics infrastructure of Cagayan de Oro is the rapid modernization of the city’s telecommunications infrastructure, transforming the city into a business center and international logistics and telecommunications hub of the south. Educational center

Beyond infrastructure, CDO is the center of education in Mindanao. Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan is Mindanao’s first university—and, in fact, is the first Jesuit university in the Philippines. Capitol University and Liceo de Cagayan University are cited by the National Association of Colleges and Universities as among the country’s top 10 higher education institutions with the largest number of accredited programs. With 15 universities and schools, CDO accommodates 82,000 students and 22,000 graduates every school year. Custom-designed skills training and apprenticeship programs are readily available to serve human resource requirements. For example, Xavier University has partnered with Asian Carmakers Corp., the country’s official BMW distributor, to bring German automotive expertise to technical education students. CDO’s strategic location and rich agricultural resources have made it the preferred site of major agribusiness companies such as Del Monte Philippines (which set up the world’s largest integrated pineapple processing plant here), Nestlé Philippines, Pilipinas Kao and other small and medium agri-based industries. As a gateway to Southern Philippines, CDO provides direct access to rich agricultural areas in Mindanao—the source of 40 percent of the country’s food and livestock. CDO is a significant producer of oleochemical and other coconut products. Higher-value products through agro-processing offer investment opportunities. Presently, Northern Mindanao is the top producer of cattle and is the third largest producer of poultry in the country. CDO is also a key destination of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in Southern Philippines. It has 4,806 rooms from various accommodation facilities that can handle conventions with 3,000 participants. It is trying to improve these rather limited numbers. White water rafting capital

CDO is the white water rafting capital of the Philippines, attracting ecotourism adventure seekers who also delight in experiencing ziplines and spelunking and diving, among other outdoor activities. CDO is linked to Camiguin, which is renowned for its luxurious beaches, hot springs, waterfalls and historic landmarks; to the mountain ranges of Bukidnon, home to seven indigenous communities; to the Caraga region capitals of Butuan and Surigao with boast eco-tourism thrills; and to the Lanao del Norte nexus of Iligan City and Marawi City, home of the colorful Maranao people. Over the years, the Cagayan River has renewed its claim over CDO—the primordial gateway through which flowed the transactions and transformations of people and progress, commerce and culture, ideas and values. Hit by Tropical Storm “Sendong” in 2011, CDO is a portrait of resilience, said Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ, president of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. “Usually,” he said, “the word reminds us of the bamboo because of the way it dances with the wind in times of typhoons and then snaps back in place afterwards. But I would like to propose that resilience should mean not just overcoming challenges but prevailing over them to become better, stronger, much more than what we had been.”

CDO all set for Int'l AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1471400361729
Sunday, May 18, 2014 (Date Published)

By Ma. Leona Felice Echeveria

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 18 (PIA) – In bid to raise awareness and advocate for the advancement of effective policies at all levels, the Cagayan de Oro AIDS Network (MOCAN) will join the 31st International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Mobilization (IACMM) on Sunday, May 18 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds. Over 1,500 participants is set to join the event composed of non-government organizations, government agencies, civil society groups, religious organizations, hospitals, academe, partner institutions and organizations in its fight against AIDS. MOCAN Chairperson Fritzie Estoque is calling the public to show care and support to people living with HIV (PLHIV) by joining the cause. She said the event will start at 3:00 p.m. with an open registration. Everyone who will join is encouraged to bring a candle, and to wear red to show their support to the advocacy. “We hope that this will encourage other PLHIV to come out and testify as this will help open the eyes of many, especially those with risky behaviors or lifestyle,” she noted. A testimony of a PLHIV who is also from the city will highlight the event on Sunday. Estoque said this will serve as inspiration to other PLHIV to come out and seek medical help, assuring that the support system is already put in place and that the earlier they seek help the more chances they get in slowing its progression. The testimony likewise aims to remind the public that everybody is vulnerable in acquiring the disease. (Ma. Leona Felice Echeveria/PIA)

2 Oro lawmakers included in ‘Napolist’ anew

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/05/16/2-oro-lawmakers-included-napolist-anew-343153
Saturday, May 17, 2014 (Date Published)

By Riz P. Sunio

TWO legislators from Cagayan de Oro were listed in the controversial list of Janet Lim Napoles, who was allegedly involved in the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel amounting to more than P10 billion.

According to reports, the city’s second district Representative Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo of the Abante Mindanao (Abamin) partylist were included in the list for former Senator Panfilo Lacson submitted on Tuesday.

Included in the list were 12 senators, a total of 60 congressmen, 12 from other government agencies, and nine other agents to be in business with the alleged PDAF scam allegedly masterminded by Napoles.

In a TV news report Wednesday, Jocelyn Rodriguez, chairperson of Barangay Nazareth, is confident that her brothers will be cleared from the accusations.

For his part, first district Representative Rolando Uy said some of the legislators were just dragged into the mess through trial by publicity.

“That’s the problem. It was already publicized even before the conduct of an investigation, and that list, there were no documents proving that this or that congressman was involved in the pork barrel scam,” Uy told Sun*Star via text message Wednesday afternoon.

Recently, Uy’s name was mentioned as one of those who were included in the alleged 1.7 billion scam as one of the legislators who allocated portions of their PDAF to bogus NGOs for agricultural programs.

Uy denied involvement with the NGOs and the scam and in an earlier report, said he was willing to submit himself to an investigation.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried to contact Rodriguez to get his side but failed to get a reply from him.

Handpicking of Oro as ‘emerging city’ lauded

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/05/16/handpicking-oro-emerging-city-lauded-343156
Friday, May 16, 2014

By Riz P. Sunio

LOCAL leaders praised Cagayan de Oro for being handpicked as one of the nine emerging cities of tomorrow in the world.

The honor was given by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) as among the nine global intermediate cities during World Urban Forum (WUF) in Medellin, Colombia, organized by the United Nations (UN). UN-Habitat organizes the world’s premiere conference on cities, according to a published report.

Size, fast growth, significance as part of an urban cluster linked to cross-border exchange and geographical variety were the criteria regarded for choosing the cities.

The city was also the site of one of the pilot projects of UN-Habitat’s Urban Planning and Design Lab.

The other eight cities of tomorrow are Hunchun in Jilin province of northeast China; Tetouan in northern Morocco; Uberlandia in the state of Minas Gerais of Brazil; Malmo, part of the Oresund region in the south of Sweden; Santa Marta in the northern Colombian department of Magdalena; Johor Bahru on the straits of Johor; Onitsha on the eastern bank of Niger River in Nigeria; Nampula, and the third-largest city in Mozambique.

In an e-mailed statement sent to this paper, Cagayan de Oro second district Representative Rufus Rodriguez lauded Mayor Oscar Moreno, local officials and the people of the city for the recognition, especially that parts of the city was damaged by Typhoon Sendong in 2011.

“The fact that we were able to rise up quickly and recover is a true indication that the leadership and people of Cagayan de Oro are very strong, dedicated and resilient. It is also a testament to the many different infrastructure projects that are being undertaken in the city which greatly contribute to the fast emergence and development of Cagayan de Oro City,” Rodriguez said.

He said that one of the highlighted projects in the report was the scenic drive at the city’s coastal by-pass road which has been a pet project of the legislator.

For his part, Efren Uy, president of Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber), said he optimistic that the city will get the recognition it deserves.

“As one of the nominee, we are very positive and hoping that CDO will be awarded as an emerging city,” Uy told Sun*Star through text message.

“In fact, it has been considered one of the top emerging cities for years now and was voted as the most competitive city in the year 2013. According to studies, all the indicators are there, this is why Cagayan de Oro has been chosen by USAID, along with Ilo-ilo and Batangas as beneficiary of its various development program,” he added.

Full power back by May 8

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/05/05/full-power-back-may-8-341297
Monday, May 5, 2014

By Alyssa C. Clenuar

STEAG State power Inc. (SPI) has assured that electricity in Cagayan de Oro City will be fully restored as one of its generators carrying 105-megawatts of power would be back online on or before May 8.

Earlier, SPI went offline as its turbine generators broke in February this year affecting the city’s power supply and resulted in rotational blackouts now entering its second week.

Power consumers in Mindanao may soon be relieved from the four-hour rotational brownout, but it does not guarantee of making the city power-outage free considering that the island is confronted with low power supply as the demand has been getting high.

SPI operates a coal-fired power plant located at Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Jerome Soldevilla, SPI communications head, said that the company assured that on or before May 8, Thursday, the Unit 2 turbine generator will work.

“As of now, we need ample time to check and re-check the turbine generator for the continuity of its operation,” he furthered.

He said that there are two identical turbine generators, each bringing a net capacity of 105 MW each, which will be added to the island’s grid to help ease the power problem in Mindanao.

One turbine is expected to be operational on May 8 while the other should be fully working on June 1 this year.

From three hours, the power outage has gone up to four hours from May 1 to 6, a notice from Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco) read.

Cepalco, in a statement, said the scheduled power interruption was imposed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“[SPI] defers the scheduled synchronization of one of its electric generating sets originally planned on May 4, 2014. Unfortunately, the last time we checked, the turbine generators are still not ready. But rest assured, when it operates back, it’ll bring 110% restoration of power in the whole island,” Soldevilla said.

In an e-mailed statement sent to this paper on Friday, SPI plant manager Dr. Carsten Evers said that while the repairs and restoration works of Unit 2 is substantially completed, the company needs more time to ensure that the unit is in excellent condition prior to commissioning and synchronization to the Mindanao grid.

“We apologize for this delay and rest assured that we are doing everything we can to bring the units back to the grid,” Evers said.

“SPI is coordinating closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) and other stakeholders in the Mindanao power industry to help improve the power supply condition in the island,” SPI said in its statement.

1 killed, 2 hurt in Oro motorcycle accident

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2014/05/04/1-killed-2-hurt-oro-motorcycle-accident-341153
Sunday, May 4, 2014

By Susan Palmes-Dennis (Sunnex)

A MAN died while his two cousins were hurt when their motorcycle hit a parked car in the village of Mambuaya, Cagayan de Oro City Sunday.

A Bombo Radyo report said authorities identified the fatality as Sonny Escolano and injured victims as Alfie Sulatan and Robert Fernandez.

The report said the victims came from a drinking session and were en route to the village of Lumbia to get more alcoholic drinks from their aunt when their motorcycle hit a parked car in Mambuaya village.

Escolano died due to the strong impact. His cousins are undergoing medical treatment at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.