Difference between revisions of "Cagayan de Oro City News April 2013"

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==Include Mindanao railway in PPP, Aquino told==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/04/30/936460/include-mindanao-railway-ppp-aquino-told
*Tuesday, April 30, 2013
:By Jess Diaz
MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Aquino administration the other day to include the proposed Mindanao railway project in its PPP (public-private partnership) program.
Rodriguez said the Mindanao railway is a viable project and private investors may be interested in undertaking it with government help.
He said the government had already spent P71 million for a feasibility study that was completed in October 2009.
“The study covers a total length of 124 kilometers from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental to Linamon, Lanao del Norte. The railway system aims to link two vital Mindanao gateways, the Laguindingan International Airport and the Mindanao Container Terminal. It will have passenger and cargo operations,” Rodriguez said.
“However, until today, not a single rail is in place. This railway system has been the dream of many Mindanaons. It will be a tremendous boost to the economy and tourism industry of Mindanao, and it will provide our people with a more convenient and faster means of travel and transport for goods,” he added.
He pointed out that the inclusion of the planned Mindanao railway system in the PPP program would mean the “realization of the dream of Mindanaoans.”
The railway system would link major cites including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos.
Rodriguez also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build new or rehabilitate existing roads leading to the new international airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.
He said the Laguindingan airport would boost tourism and trade in Northern Mindanao. 
==DOJ urges NBI to arrest Jerry Tomawis==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/04/29/doj-urges-nbi-arrest-jerry-tomawis-279930
*Monday, April 29, 2013
:ByAnnabelle L. Ricalde
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors has urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to enforce the arrest warrant of Sultan Yahya “Jerry” Tomawis, one of the respondents of the financial investment scams.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, who led the panel of prosecutors on Friday, has called on all enforcement agencies, particularly the NBI, to arrest Tomawis.
“Sultan Yahya Tomawis is not off the hook and he can be arrested anytime, anywhere because his warrant still stands and (can be served),” Valenzuela told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview on Friday.
Tomawis is the father-in-law of suspected scam leader Jachob “Coco” Rasuman who is now detained at the NBI in Manila.
There were reports that Tomawis was with her daughter, Princess, who is Rasuman’s wife when she was arrested in Quezon City two weeks ago.
But the Pasay City Police did not arrest Tomawis after he told policemen that he was already cleared from the case and that he doesn’t have any standing warrant.
There were reports that the elder Tomawis was present during the visit of President Benigno Aquino III in Marawi City on April 22. He was allegedly escorted by the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
ALIF party-list Representative Acmad Tomawis is a brother of Sultan Yahya.
Tomawis and Rasuman’s investors are apprehensive that the government has been giving protection to the suspects than the safety of the victims.
One of the investors who requested anonymity disclosed that Rasuman has allegedly been given a special treatment at the detention facility of the NBI.
In Friday’s hearing, the prosecution panel finally presented complainant Naim Sampao in court and affirmed his affidavit of recantation, saying he is now determined to pursue the case against Tomawis.
Sampao told the court that he was pressured, and he and his family were being threatened at that time he decided to file an affidavit of desistance.
“The prosecution panel filed a motion for reconsideration against the dismissal of the case of Sultan Tomawis because of the affidavit of recantation of complainant Naim Sampao,” Valenzuela added.
The court’s order came after Sampao and other complainants Achmad Sangcaan filed their affidavit of desistance.
Valenzuela said Sampao filed his affidavit of recantation a day before the court ordered Tomawis’ dismissal.
==Candidates’ backers nearly come to blows in CDO==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/398645/candidates-backers-nearly-come-to-blows-in-cdo?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
*Sunday, April 28th, 2013
:By Cai Panlilio
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Supporters of opposing candidates nearly came to blows after Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who is seeking reelection, and rival Ian Mark Nacaya traded accusations of impropriety and negligence of duty during a heated forum here on Friday.
The clash was prevented when moderators from Xavier University’s Research and Social Outreach (RSO) Office intervened and told Rodriguez and Nacaya to “tone down” their tirades and to ask their supporters to keep their cool.
Rodriguez criticized Nacaya, chairman of the city council’s police, fire and public safety committee, for the city government’s alleged failure to stop rising criminality in the city.
He said that since January this year, more than 300 robberies were recorded in the city.
Rodriguez said it was ironic that Nacaya was employed by the city government but was remiss in his duties as chairman of the public safety committee against criminality.
“There is a P60-million intelligence fund allotted to the local government but nothing has been done about peace and order in the city,” he said.
Rodriguez also blamed Nacaya and Mayor Vicente Emano for the prevalence of mining in the city, saying the councilor helped issue permits to miners.
Rodriguez said the issuance of permits took place while he was working for the passage of a total mining ban in Congress.
For his part, Nacaya said Rodriguez’s idea of good governance was to spend millions for the construction of a road to a farm that the lawmaker owned and for projects intended for Barangay (village) Nazareth, where he resided.
“The congressional office has a P70-million fund, but P6.8 million of it was used by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez solely for his village, where his sister serves as barangay captain,” he said.
As Rodriguez and Nacaya exchanged tirades, their supporters geared up for a physical confrontation.
When the moderators sensed trouble, they approached the two candidates and asked them to calm down and to tell their supporters to remain in their seats.
In a bid to defuse the tension, another candidate for representative announced that he had accepted his defeat even as the balloting had yet to take place.
Independent candidate Eric Saarenas, who drew laughter from the crowd, turned serious when it was his time to speak, proposing that the priority development fund be scrapped “as this is the cause of all corruption.”
==Army chief in CDO relieved==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/398119/army-chief-in-cdo-relieved
*Saturday, April 27th, 2013
:By  Nikko Dizon
MANILA, Philippines—The military leadership on Friday relieved Maj. Gen. Nestor Anonuevo as head of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro in the aftermath of the ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona whose two bodyguards were killed.
Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya replaced Anonuevo as officer in charge of the 4th ID which has jurisdiction over the entire Northern Mindanao and part of the Caraga region.
In a phone interview, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, however, did not categorically say that Anonuevo was relieved but instead said there was a “reshuffling of players to change our approach” in dealing with the challenges in the field.
Asked if the decision to replace Anonuevo was a result of the ambush on Mayor Guingona, Bautista replied:
“Like in a basketball game, we change our strategy. We are looking for an approach that can be effective. It’s not necessarily just because of a single incident… Analyzing the ongoing situation, we need a different approach.”
Gingoog Mayor Guingona, 78, a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP) and wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., suffered bullet wounds in the arms and feet. She was returning with a six-member escort from a town fiesta in Alatagan, Misamis Oriental, when they were ambushed by NPA rebels.
Gingoog City is in Misamis Oriental which is under the jurisdiction of the 4th ID.
Bautista said the decision to replace Anonuevo “went through a process.”
Asked where Anonuevo would be assigned next, Bautista said it would be up to the Army leadership.
Bautista and Anonuevo are both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981.
According to Bautista, the ambush on Mayor Guingona by communist insurgents was a “wake up call” for everyone to fight and end the decades-long armed struggle waged by the NPA.
In an interview, Bautista also said that an armed struggle was a “Jurassic methodology, which nobody in these modern times believe in anymore.”
“It is a wake-up call for all of us that we need to end the armed struggle… It’s about time that we get together as a nation to finally put an end to violence and to the armed struggle. That is not the solution to our problems,” Bautista told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.
Bautista admitted he was upset over a photograph on the Inquirer’s front page on Wednesday showing supporters of the National Democratic Front (NDF) at a rally with a poster proclaiming that civil war is the answer to poverty (“Digmaan bayan sagot sa kahirapan”).
“Bayanihan and not civil war is my answer to that photograph because if there is civil war, then all the more we would be mired in poverty. That is the reality. More people will become poor because of war. Civil war is not the solution to our problems. The answer to our problems is for us to engage in Bayanihan. We should help each other,” Bautista said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Bautista noted that while communist insurgents claim to fight for the people, NPAs were harassing civilians even in poverty and calamity stricken areas.
“We should all work together because they are not only attacking our soldiers, even civilians are being ambushed. There are so many incidents already,” he said.
Bautista said that even before Guingona’s ambush, the NPA had owned up to the incident in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental last February where nine civilians where killed.
==New 4th army division commander installed==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=520358
*Friday, April 26th , 2013
:By  (PNA)
HBC/CD/ABB
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, April 26 (PNA) -– The army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division has a new division commander following a simple turnover at the division’s command conference room Friday afternoon.
Maj. Leo S. Bongasia, spokesperson of the army’s 4th ID, said that Brig. Gen. Ricardo R Visaya took over the reins of leadership of the 4ID from Maj. Gen. Nestor A Añonuevo.
A well decorated military officer, Visayas was Assistant Division Commander of the army’s 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao prior to his assignment here.
In his parting message, Añonuevo commended all the officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the 4ID and other operationally controlled and support units for their services during his leadership as a division commander.
Bongasia did not disclose the possible next assignment of Añonuevo as reassignments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) major commands in Mindanao took effect last week.
Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainer Cruz, the commander of the army’s 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga was promoted as the new commanding general of the army’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao two days ago.
==CSC conducts gender sensitivity training==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R10&article=1471366258682
*Friday, April 19, 2013
:By  Marie-Zil G. Malinao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) ran a one-day gender sensitivity seminar here in Pearlmont Inn Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday.
The orientation covered basic concepts of sex and gender and practical exercises such as the “Sapot ng Gagamba” (spider’s web - identifying gender related issues and problems), “Pitik Palak” (click and clap- to determine participants concept about men and women), and the “Masali” (acronym for magulang, salinlahi, and lipunan- parents, new generation, and society).
Participants likewise viewed a documentary on “Women in our lives,” which showed various gender biases.
CSC region 10 director, Atty. Lourdes Clavite-Vidal says this activity aims to remove actual and potential gender biases by focusing on the principle that development is for all.
“Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life,” she said.
According to CSC, more than 30 participants attended the training, coming from various government offices within the region. (MGM/JCV-PIA)
==CDO mayor orders release of mid-year bonuses==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=517654
*Thursday, April 18th, 2013
:By (PNA)
FFC/CD/PJN
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- City Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday ordered the release of mid-year bonuses including cash gifts starting end of April 2013 to the more than 3,000 city hall workers here.
Emano said he issued the order to allow parents to provide for the school needs of their children just in time for the opening of classes in June.
He said that the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts would be of great help in buying basic school needs, uniforms, shoes, and payment of tuition.
“I just hope that the parents would not squander the least amount at this time of hardship,” Emano added.
He said all city hall employees, whether permanent or casuals, are entitled to the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts.
==Aboitiz cuts power rates due to drop in world price==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=517290
*Wednesday, April 17, 2013
:By (PNA)
HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) lowered the rates of its power-barges operating in Mindanao due to a drop in world oil prices.
A subsidiary of AboitizPower, Therma Marine, in a statement Wednesday, said its power rates as of March stood at P7.13 per kilowatt-hour based on a 100-percent utilization.
This was on the back of an average fuel purchase of P29.13 per liter on the same month.
The corresponding impact on rates in the region will depend on the volume of power contracted by electric utilities from Therma Marine.
Therma Marine's combined 200-megawatt production is contracted to 23 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao.
The Therma Marine's highest rate was in May 2012, when its power cost hit P8.49 per kilowatt-hour because fuel cost P33.69 per liter.
Fuel comprises some 90 percent of Therma Marine's cost.
For the breakdown of the March rates, fuel cost amounted to P6.25 per kilowatt-hour.
Around P0.88 per kilowatt-hour remained for Therma Marine for the salaries of its employees, capital recovery, maintenance and operational expenses.
"As 90-percent of Therma Marine's power rate is on fuel, the movement of fuel prices in the world market has a significant effect on our power rates to our customers," Therma Marine chief operating officer Jovy P. Batiquin said.
"The fuel cost, however, is a pass through rate and this is regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission," he added.
Therma Marine owns and operates two 100-megawatt barges moored in Maco, Compostela Valley and in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
Therma Marine’s power barges serve as peaking and ancillary services, thus deployed during times of high demand or for back up generation, respectively.
==Power coops ordered to ensure power supply during polls==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=516969
*Tuesday, April 16, 2013
:By (PNA)
HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 16 (PNA) -- The National Electrification Administration Tuesday directed all electric cooperatives in Mindanao to coordinate with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to ensure adequate power during the midterm elections.
In its memorandum, the NEA also directed all power cooperatives to monitor the demand of their customers and provide NGCP status updates regarding the power situation of their respective areas for next month’s elections.
In the same memorandum, NEA directed all power cooperatives to maintain back-up generator sets in poll centres on election day in order to augment the supply from the grid and for emergency use.
NEA also urged the power coops to come up with an incentive program for consumers who would be cut off from the grid to secure supply for the elections, organize a quick-response team for any line or equipment breakdown, and assign a roving crew to conduct line patrolling and surveillance during election day.
NGCP, which managed the country’s electricity traffic, earlier assured consumers of uninterrupted transmission of adequate electricity a week before, on election day, and a week after election day.
However, NGCP corporate communications officer lawyer Cynthia P. Alabanza said NGCP cannot guarantee that there would be enough electricity from the power generation and distribution sectors for the week prior to, on, and days after the May 13 election.
Alabanza suggested that to augment supply from the grid as well as for emergency use, cooperatives should maintain a back-up generator in poll centres on election day, the NEA memo said.
They should also identify customers in their franchise areas that have standby generators that may be called upon if needed.
NGCP said that despite their assurances of adequate transmission of power, without the cooperation of the other members of the “Energy Family”, its preparation would be useless.
==Labor group asks for P88 daily wage hike in Region 10==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=516550
*Monday, April 15, 2013
:By (PNA)
LAP/CD/BEN BALCE/SSC
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 15 (PNA) –- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Monday petitioned the Labor department and wage board in Northern Mindanao for a daily wage hike of P88 in the region.
TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymundo Mendoza, said that the daily wage increase asked by the labor sector was based on the actual studies that the current daily minimum wage of P286 is barely enough to sustain a living.
He said that the current P286 minimum wage is not a living wage as the worker’s quality of life substantially deteriorates.
TUCP executive director Eva Arcos said that statistically as of March 2013, the current daily minimum wage has a buying capacity of only P200.84.
She added that after deductions, a minimum wage earner's daily take home is only P178.97.
In a four-page petition, Mendoza and Arcos said the bases for the wage hike petition were P19.98 from the actual increase in prices between June 2011 and March 2013; P20.02 from projected seven-percent rise in community price increase; P48.00 from P2.00 per year share in Gross Domestic Regional Product and there were no increases in daily wage for many years now.
==CDO sees educational materials as antidote for vandalism==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=516233
*Sunday, April 14, 2013
:By (PNA)
JBP/CD/PJN
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 14 (PNA) -- An inter-government agency task force planned to produce educational materials as one of the measures to address the issue of vandalism here, a city councilor said on Sunday.
City Councillor Ian Nacaya, head of the city’s committee on police, fire, and public safety, said that an educational campaign would certainly gain positive responses from the public.
Nacaya said that while there is an existing ordinance penalizing those caught in the act of vandalizing public and private properties, a holistic approach should be adopted to solve vandalism here.
"The production of educational materials for widest dissemination was an important step toward resolving the problem of vandalism here," Nacaya said.
He said that the anti-vandalism task recently activated would take care of making an outline of possible approaches in line with its plan to spearhead an educational campaign on vandalism as a social issue.
The task force would be headed by the city’s police office, with the regional health office, education department, the Philippine Mental Health Association, academe, Psychological Association of the Philippines, city health office, and city social welfare office as members, Nacaya said.
==Distribution utilities contract 50% of Aboitiz’ coal plant ==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=515851&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=4&ddte_arch=12&ydte_arch=2013
*Friday, April 12, 2013
:By Nelson V. Constantino
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- SCRAMBLING to mitigate the worsening power crisis in Mindanao and prevent their customers from groping in darkness, at least 15 distribution utilities and cooperatives all over the island have signed contract with AboitizPower’s upcoming coal-fired power plant.
These 15 power DUs and coops have contracted 180 megawatts or more than 50 percent of the total capacity of Therma South, Inc.’s (TSI) 300 MW coal-fired power plant now being constructed in Toril, Davao City.
TSI’s coal plant will go online in mid-2015.
“These contracts have been submitted to the Energy Regulatory Commission for review. And we are awaiting the ERC’s decision,” an AboitizPower official said.
Among the DUs that contracted power from TSI’s coal plant are AboitizPower subsidiaries Davao Light and Power Co., and Cotabato Light and Power Co., electric cooperatives Surigao del Sur, Electric Cooperative II, Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative, Cotabato Electric Cooperative and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, the PNA learned.
“We are greatly honored by this trust of our customers and we will continue to work hard to build a world-class power plant that the people of Mindanao will be proud of,” said Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr., TSI president and chief operating officer.
According to Cariaso, the coal plant is part of AboitizPower’s P35 billion investment in additional capacity to solve the Mindanao power crisis.
Bobby Orig, AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao Affairs, said on Wednesday that without new power plants, major urban centers in the southern Philippines will plunge into darkness by 2014.
Orig said the Mindanao power deficiency is projected to reach 484 MW, which is enough to power five major cities.
“The power situation in Mindanao is very bad. But it will worsen next year as our power deficiency is expected to reach 484 megawatts. That deficiency is enough to power five major cities in Mindanao,” he said.
Without specifically identifying these cities as the ones that will suffer in 2014, Orig said the 484 MW power deficiency in 2014 is like taking power out of such cities as Davao, General Santos, Butuan and Zamboanga — practically all corners of the southern Philippines. Except Cagayan de Oro, all other cities in Mindanao are currently suffering rotational brownouts. (PNA) >br>CTB/CD/NVC/abb
==2 killed, 3 wounded in police-NPA clash in Bukidnon ==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=515475&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=4&ddte_arch=11&ydte_arch=2013
*Thursday, April 11, 2013
:By Ben Balce
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 11 (PNA) -– Two communist rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while three police officers wounded in a clash Wednesday afternoon in the hinterlands of Talakag, Bukidnon.
Police Senior Supt. Orlando Biñas, director of the Bukidnon provincial police command, said on Thursday that the remains of the unidentified slain rebels were recovered at the encounter site in Barangay Saguiaran in Talakag, Bukidnon as police continue to comb the area Thursday morning.
Biñas identified the wounded policemen as Senior Insp. Alwin Baclao, PO1 John Bodiongan and PO1 Marlon Mendoza, who were all brought for treatment in a hospital in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
He said that the encounter took place when a platoon of police mobile group encountered the NPA rebels in Barangay Saguiaran, 18 kilometers from the town of Talakag Wednesday afternoon.
The police mobile group, together with 20 policemen from the Talakag police station, went to the area to verify reports of sightings of NPA rebels in the mountain ranges of Mt. Kalatungan and Kitanglad near Barangay Saguiran Wednesday morning, Biñas said.
Biñas said the rebels sensed the arrival of policemen resulting in a 30-minute gun battle.
“The police were at an advantage since they were positioned in a higher ground,” Biñas said.
Also recovered were an M16 rifle, KG-9 automatic weapon, a fragmentation grenade, and subversive documents. (PNA)
LAM/CD/BB/utb
==CDO distributes over 5,000 PhilHealth cards==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=515106&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=4&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2013
*Wednesday, April 10, 2013
:By  (PNA)
FFC/CD
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 10 (PNA) -- The city government has distributed more than 5,000 PhilHealth cards to residents during a weekly “People to People Program” here Monday.
City Mayor Vicente Emano led the distribution of PhilHealth cards in Barangays Bugo and Carmen, two most populated barangays in the city.
The "People to People Program" was a weekly program of the city government aimed at delivering basic services to rural and urban barangays in Cagayan de Oro City.
Some of these services include mass wedding, processing of birth registration of children, medical and dental services, legal services, supplemental feeding, and other day-to-day services at the City Hall.
Aside from the distribution of PhilHealth cards Monday, the city health department also distributed medicines to 5,800 patients, conducted dental services to 695 patients and circumcision of 496 boys.
Emano said that the city government implemented the weekly “People to People Program” since he was elected mayor for the first time in 1998.
==CDO joins nation in commemorating ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=514675&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=4&ddte_arch=9&ydte_arch=2013
*Tuesday, April 9, 2013
:By  (PNA)
hbc/CD/utb
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 9 (PNA) – City Mayor Vicente Emano urged the people in Cagayan de Oro City to remember the sacrifices of soldiers who offered their lives during the WWII.
Emano led city employees, representatives of regional, and national government offices in celebrating the “Araw ng Kagitingan” to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the April 9, 1942 “Death March” in Bataan.
In his short message, Emano recalled the pains, the struggles, and the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers who willingly offered their lives “in the name of freedom and democracy” during the WWII.
The “Death March” on April 9, 1942 was one of the most telling memories of war that left an indelible imprint of courage in the face of death in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos today, Emano said.
He said the “Araw ng Kagitingan” might be lacking in context to soften the pain of those who died for us but it was a fitting tribute of our sincere acknowledgement of reverence to those who perished in order for us to survive.
The army’s Fourth Infantry Division, the Department of National Defense, and the Philippines Veterans Association also joined the commemoration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” here on Tuesday.
==CDO risk reduction council adopts five-year action plan==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=514286&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=4&ddte_arch=8&ydte_arch=2013
*Monday, April 8, 2013
:By (PNA)
PDS/CD/utb
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 8 (PNA) – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Monday adopted a detailed five-year action plan to respond to disasters and calamities from 2013 to 2017.
City Mayor Vicente Emano, overall chairman of the CDRRMC, said the five-year plan will strengthen the capability of the CDRRMC to respond to disasters and calamities where every member-agency know their respective role.
As a start, the CDRRMC will initiate efforts to institutionalize the policies on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the policies of the city and the barangays this year, Emano said.
He said the city government will provide funding for various programs involving climate change adaptation and risk reduction when necessary.
Emano said the relocation of residents living in high risk areas was part of the CDRRMC’s five-year plan which the city government is now implementing.
Emano said the adoption of the five-year risk reduction plan signified the city's capability to effectively respond to all kinds of calamities and disasters, Emano added.(PNA)
==No poll-related violence in Northern Mindanao – PNP==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/04/07/927714/no-poll-related-violence-northern-mindanao-pnp
*Sunday, April 7, 2013
:By Gerry Lee Gorit
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – No election-related incident has been reported in Northern Mindanao, a police official said.
At the weekly news conference at the BusinessWeek Mindanao Media Center on Friday, Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, public information office chief of Police Regional Office-10, said peace prevails in the region despite the inclusion of three provinces as “areas of concern” in the elections and the proliferation of loose firearms.
Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon were tagged as election hotspots. An area is considered an election hotspot due to the presence of private armies, proliferation of loose firearms, intense political rivalry and the prevalence of crime and violence.
Cariaga said police confiscated 142 loose firearms since the start of the election gun ban on Jan. 13 until March 2. The firearms were seized in Bukidnon, 8; Lanao del Norte, 68; Misamis Occidental, 12; Misamis Oriental, 30; Iligan, 6; and Cagayan de Oro, 18.
Cariaga said crimes in the region were also lower from January to March at 598 compared to  650 during the same period last year.
==Gov't. forfeits Bigcas vehicles==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=513806
*Saturday, April 6, 2013
:By (PNA)
FPV/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/ABB
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 6 (PNA) -- Twenty-nine imported vehicles seized by the Bureau of Customs from businessman Allan Bigcas in Bukidnon two years ago have been forfeited in favor of the government.
BOC-10 deputy collector Marvin Mison on Friday said that district collector Lourdes Mangaoang received the order to seize Bigcas vehicles from Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.
Mison, however, said that the bureau cannot as yet auction the vehicles because Bigcas still has the right to file for reconsideration of the decision.
The 29 vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were valued at US$ 396,667 (P 16, 263, 347 at P 41.00 to a U.S. dollar) with an estimated duties, taxes and other charges for import totalling P17,387,410.
The vehicles were: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Charger, Toyota Seqouia Model 2002, Ranger RZR Utility Terrain Vehicle, Polaris Magnum 325 ATV 324cc, Yamaha Ultramatic 4x4, Kawasaki Ninja 2x14, Suzuki Model R/GSX 1000, Harley Davidson Model Big Dog,
Honda CBR 600RR Model 2006, Suzuki GSX/R, Suzuki GSX 1300R, Honda CBR 600RR Model 2008, Kawasaki Model 2003, Honda Model 2005, Honda Stunt Bike, Yamaha Model 2007, Kawasaki KMX, two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs, 2003 Suzuki GSX R1000, Yamaha YZ450, Yamaha YZF285, Suzuki RGSX, MOTO Elf, Suzuki and Martin Brother’s Chopper.
The highest valued vehicle was the Kawasaki KMX at US$ 60,000 ( P 2.460 million) and the lowest are the two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs at US$ 2,999 (P 122,959.00) each.
Bigcas is now running for the gubernatorial seat of the province of Bukidnon in the May elections.
==PAL ordered to give preferential accommodation to ‘must-ride status’ officials==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=513540
*Friday, April 5, 2013
:By (PNA)
HBC/CD/NELSON V.CONSTANTINO/UTB
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 5, (PNA) -– The Commission on Election has ordered the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to give preferential accommodation to government officials with "must-ride status" for the May 13 national and local elections.
These include officials, employees and deputies of the Comelec travelling on official business.
Comelec Resolution No. 9598 promulgated on Dec. 18, 2012, also stipulates that PAL should direct its officials and employees to affect the immediate shipment, delivery and transmittal of Comelec cargo and other election matters.
==Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City==
*Source: http://www.jobsonline.ph/loan-documentation-officer-rcbc-savings-bank-inc-job-northern-mindanao-cagayan-de-oro-city/
*Thursday, April 4, 2013
:By jobsonline.ph
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental – Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Loan Documentation Officer RCBC Savings Bank Inc Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Responsibilities: Performs pre-booking review of loan documents to ensure completeness as per Bank’s Checklist and deviations/exceptions with proper approval per matrix of authority. Prepares monitoring and status reports of loan documentary deficiencies bank wide including PLC’s. Attains service level and turn – Permanent – Full-time
==Livelihood project for CDO city’s inmates==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=512806&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=3&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2013
*Wednesday, April 3, 2013
:By (PNA)
PDS/CD/ssc
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 3 (PNA)–- City Mayor Vicente Emano on Wednesday ordered the operation of livelihood project for the more than 2,000 inmates at the rehabilitation center in Barangay Lumbia here.
Emano signed Executive Order No. 123-2012 which would establish coffin-making as livelihood project for inmates at the city’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Lumbia.
Emano issued the order citing the need for the city to assist the national government in its intention to provide rehabilitation to offenders and to prepare them to re-integrate into the society with renewed value for work.
In line with Emano’s order, City Councilor Adrian Barba asked the City Engineer’s Office to conduct an on-site inspection at the BJMP as part of the preparation for the submission of a program of works for the construction of the livelihood center there.
Councilor Barba said the city would purchase the needed materials which would be turned over to the BJMP so the inmate could use them in coffin-making.
Barba said the city government would purchase the coffins so that the inmates could earn while undergoing rehabilitation at the BJMP.
These coffins would likewise be given to indigent families as a means of burial assistance from the city government, he said
==Bidding of P300 M Spanish bridge above board -- DPWH==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=512421&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=cagayan%20de%20oro%20&andor=and&mdte_arch=3&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2013
*Tuesday, April 2, 2013
:By (PNA)
hbc/CD/BEN BALCE/utb
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 2 (PNA) – Requisites for the bidding of the P191 million Spanish bridged donated to the city government of Cagayan de Oro City was properly observed, an official of the Departhment of Public Works and Highways here said Tuesday.
Engr. Boni Lora, staff engineer of the regional office of the DPWH here, said that the city government has no involvement in the implementation of the project during the bidding and awarding process of the project.
“The construction of the donated Spanish bridge was purely the affair of the DPWH regional office,” Lora said.
He said nine qualified contractors participated in the bidding but three were found ineligible after highway officials reviewed their bids.
Lora, who served as the vice chair of the bidding and awards committee, said that the total amount of the approved budget for the construction of 434-meter long bridge was only P 223 million.
He said the national government already released an initial P 44 million to pay for road right of way and renumerate occupants of houses affected by the construction of the bridge.
He said the UKC Builders, inc. won the bid after submitting the lowest bid of P179 million who do all the construction works under supervision of the DPWH.
City Mayor Vicente Emano said that the Spanish government donated the bridge (most of them prefab) when he was first elected city mayor in 1998.
He said the delay of the construction of the bridge was due to politics since some politicians who hold influence in the national government vehemently opposed the construction of the bridge under his watch.
“I am thankful that President Aquino finally gave the go signal for the construction of the Spanish bridge here,” Emano said.
He said the Spanish bridge would cross from the J.R. Borja St. in the city’s downtown area toward Tambo in the other side of the Cagayan de Oro River Carmen.
Lora said that materials for the construction of the bridge could be provided by the Spanish government in the form of grant.

Latest revision as of 10:41, 8 May 2013

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Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
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The river of cagayan de oro city
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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:
  1. 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.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

Include Mindanao railway in PPP, Aquino told

By Jess Diaz


MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Aquino administration the other day to include the proposed Mindanao railway project in its PPP (public-private partnership) program.

Rodriguez said the Mindanao railway is a viable project and private investors may be interested in undertaking it with government help.

He said the government had already spent P71 million for a feasibility study that was completed in October 2009.

“The study covers a total length of 124 kilometers from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental to Linamon, Lanao del Norte. The railway system aims to link two vital Mindanao gateways, the Laguindingan International Airport and the Mindanao Container Terminal. It will have passenger and cargo operations,” Rodriguez said.

“However, until today, not a single rail is in place. This railway system has been the dream of many Mindanaons. It will be a tremendous boost to the economy and tourism industry of Mindanao, and it will provide our people with a more convenient and faster means of travel and transport for goods,” he added.

He pointed out that the inclusion of the planned Mindanao railway system in the PPP program would mean the “realization of the dream of Mindanaoans.”

The railway system would link major cites including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos.

Rodriguez also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build new or rehabilitate existing roads leading to the new international airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

He said the Laguindingan airport would boost tourism and trade in Northern Mindanao.





DOJ urges NBI to arrest Jerry Tomawis

ByAnnabelle L. Ricalde


THE Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors has urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to enforce the arrest warrant of Sultan Yahya “Jerry” Tomawis, one of the respondents of the financial investment scams.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, who led the panel of prosecutors on Friday, has called on all enforcement agencies, particularly the NBI, to arrest Tomawis.

“Sultan Yahya Tomawis is not off the hook and he can be arrested anytime, anywhere because his warrant still stands and (can be served),” Valenzuela told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview on Friday.

Tomawis is the father-in-law of suspected scam leader Jachob “Coco” Rasuman who is now detained at the NBI in Manila.

There were reports that Tomawis was with her daughter, Princess, who is Rasuman’s wife when she was arrested in Quezon City two weeks ago.

But the Pasay City Police did not arrest Tomawis after he told policemen that he was already cleared from the case and that he doesn’t have any standing warrant.

There were reports that the elder Tomawis was present during the visit of President Benigno Aquino III in Marawi City on April 22. He was allegedly escorted by the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

ALIF party-list Representative Acmad Tomawis is a brother of Sultan Yahya.

Tomawis and Rasuman’s investors are apprehensive that the government has been giving protection to the suspects than the safety of the victims.

One of the investors who requested anonymity disclosed that Rasuman has allegedly been given a special treatment at the detention facility of the NBI.

In Friday’s hearing, the prosecution panel finally presented complainant Naim Sampao in court and affirmed his affidavit of recantation, saying he is now determined to pursue the case against Tomawis.

Sampao told the court that he was pressured, and he and his family were being threatened at that time he decided to file an affidavit of desistance.

“The prosecution panel filed a motion for reconsideration against the dismissal of the case of Sultan Tomawis because of the affidavit of recantation of complainant Naim Sampao,” Valenzuela added.

The court’s order came after Sampao and other complainants Achmad Sangcaan filed their affidavit of desistance.

Valenzuela said Sampao filed his affidavit of recantation a day before the court ordered Tomawis’ dismissal.






Candidates’ backers nearly come to blows in CDO

By Cai Panlilio


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Supporters of opposing candidates nearly came to blows after Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who is seeking reelection, and rival Ian Mark Nacaya traded accusations of impropriety and negligence of duty during a heated forum here on Friday. The clash was prevented when moderators from Xavier University’s Research and Social Outreach (RSO) Office intervened and told Rodriguez and Nacaya to “tone down” their tirades and to ask their supporters to keep their cool. Rodriguez criticized Nacaya, chairman of the city council’s police, fire and public safety committee, for the city government’s alleged failure to stop rising criminality in the city. He said that since January this year, more than 300 robberies were recorded in the city. Rodriguez said it was ironic that Nacaya was employed by the city government but was remiss in his duties as chairman of the public safety committee against criminality. “There is a P60-million intelligence fund allotted to the local government but nothing has been done about peace and order in the city,” he said. Rodriguez also blamed Nacaya and Mayor Vicente Emano for the prevalence of mining in the city, saying the councilor helped issue permits to miners. Rodriguez said the issuance of permits took place while he was working for the passage of a total mining ban in Congress. For his part, Nacaya said Rodriguez’s idea of good governance was to spend millions for the construction of a road to a farm that the lawmaker owned and for projects intended for Barangay (village) Nazareth, where he resided. “The congressional office has a P70-million fund, but P6.8 million of it was used by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez solely for his village, where his sister serves as barangay captain,” he said. As Rodriguez and Nacaya exchanged tirades, their supporters geared up for a physical confrontation. When the moderators sensed trouble, they approached the two candidates and asked them to calm down and to tell their supporters to remain in their seats. In a bid to defuse the tension, another candidate for representative announced that he had accepted his defeat even as the balloting had yet to take place. Independent candidate Eric Saarenas, who drew laughter from the crowd, turned serious when it was his time to speak, proposing that the priority development fund be scrapped “as this is the cause of all corruption.”






Army chief in CDO relieved

By Nikko Dizon


MANILA, Philippines—The military leadership on Friday relieved Maj. Gen. Nestor Anonuevo as head of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro in the aftermath of the ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona whose two bodyguards were killed. Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya replaced Anonuevo as officer in charge of the 4th ID which has jurisdiction over the entire Northern Mindanao and part of the Caraga region. In a phone interview, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, however, did not categorically say that Anonuevo was relieved but instead said there was a “reshuffling of players to change our approach” in dealing with the challenges in the field. Asked if the decision to replace Anonuevo was a result of the ambush on Mayor Guingona, Bautista replied: “Like in a basketball game, we change our strategy. We are looking for an approach that can be effective. It’s not necessarily just because of a single incident… Analyzing the ongoing situation, we need a different approach.” Gingoog Mayor Guingona, 78, a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP) and wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., suffered bullet wounds in the arms and feet. She was returning with a six-member escort from a town fiesta in Alatagan, Misamis Oriental, when they were ambushed by NPA rebels. Gingoog City is in Misamis Oriental which is under the jurisdiction of the 4th ID. Bautista said the decision to replace Anonuevo “went through a process.” Asked where Anonuevo would be assigned next, Bautista said it would be up to the Army leadership. Bautista and Anonuevo are both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981. According to Bautista, the ambush on Mayor Guingona by communist insurgents was a “wake up call” for everyone to fight and end the decades-long armed struggle waged by the NPA. In an interview, Bautista also said that an armed struggle was a “Jurassic methodology, which nobody in these modern times believe in anymore.” “It is a wake-up call for all of us that we need to end the armed struggle… It’s about time that we get together as a nation to finally put an end to violence and to the armed struggle. That is not the solution to our problems,” Bautista told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo. Bautista admitted he was upset over a photograph on the Inquirer’s front page on Wednesday showing supporters of the National Democratic Front (NDF) at a rally with a poster proclaiming that civil war is the answer to poverty (“Digmaan bayan sagot sa kahirapan”). “Bayanihan and not civil war is my answer to that photograph because if there is civil war, then all the more we would be mired in poverty. That is the reality. More people will become poor because of war. Civil war is not the solution to our problems. The answer to our problems is for us to engage in Bayanihan. We should help each other,” Bautista said in a mix of English and Filipino. Bautista noted that while communist insurgents claim to fight for the people, NPAs were harassing civilians even in poverty and calamity stricken areas. “We should all work together because they are not only attacking our soldiers, even civilians are being ambushed. There are so many incidents already,” he said. Bautista said that even before Guingona’s ambush, the NPA had owned up to the incident in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental last February where nine civilians where killed.






New 4th army division commander installed

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/ABB


CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, April 26 (PNA) -– The army’s 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division has a new division commander following a simple turnover at the division’s command conference room Friday afternoon.

Maj. Leo S. Bongasia, spokesperson of the army’s 4th ID, said that Brig. Gen. Ricardo R Visaya took over the reins of leadership of the 4ID from Maj. Gen. Nestor A Añonuevo.

A well decorated military officer, Visayas was Assistant Division Commander of the army’s 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao prior to his assignment here.

In his parting message, Añonuevo commended all the officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the 4ID and other operationally controlled and support units for their services during his leadership as a division commander.

Bongasia did not disclose the possible next assignment of Añonuevo as reassignments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) major commands in Mindanao took effect last week.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainer Cruz, the commander of the army’s 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga was promoted as the new commanding general of the army’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao two days ago.

CSC conducts gender sensitivity training

By Marie-Zil G. Malinao


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) ran a one-day gender sensitivity seminar here in Pearlmont Inn Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday.

The orientation covered basic concepts of sex and gender and practical exercises such as the “Sapot ng Gagamba” (spider’s web - identifying gender related issues and problems), “Pitik Palak” (click and clap- to determine participants concept about men and women), and the “Masali” (acronym for magulang, salinlahi, and lipunan- parents, new generation, and society).

Participants likewise viewed a documentary on “Women in our lives,” which showed various gender biases.

CSC region 10 director, Atty. Lourdes Clavite-Vidal says this activity aims to remove actual and potential gender biases by focusing on the principle that development is for all.

“Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life,” she said.

According to CSC, more than 30 participants attended the training, coming from various government offices within the region. (MGM/JCV-PIA)

CDO mayor orders release of mid-year bonuses

By (PNA)

FFC/CD/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- City Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday ordered the release of mid-year bonuses including cash gifts starting end of April 2013 to the more than 3,000 city hall workers here.

Emano said he issued the order to allow parents to provide for the school needs of their children just in time for the opening of classes in June.

He said that the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts would be of great help in buying basic school needs, uniforms, shoes, and payment of tuition.

“I just hope that the parents would not squander the least amount at this time of hardship,” Emano added.

He said all city hall employees, whether permanent or casuals, are entitled to the mid-year bonuses and cash gifts.

Aboitiz cuts power rates due to drop in world price

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) lowered the rates of its power-barges operating in Mindanao due to a drop in world oil prices.

A subsidiary of AboitizPower, Therma Marine, in a statement Wednesday, said its power rates as of March stood at P7.13 per kilowatt-hour based on a 100-percent utilization.

This was on the back of an average fuel purchase of P29.13 per liter on the same month.

The corresponding impact on rates in the region will depend on the volume of power contracted by electric utilities from Therma Marine.

Therma Marine's combined 200-megawatt production is contracted to 23 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao.

The Therma Marine's highest rate was in May 2012, when its power cost hit P8.49 per kilowatt-hour because fuel cost P33.69 per liter.

Fuel comprises some 90 percent of Therma Marine's cost.

For the breakdown of the March rates, fuel cost amounted to P6.25 per kilowatt-hour.

Around P0.88 per kilowatt-hour remained for Therma Marine for the salaries of its employees, capital recovery, maintenance and operational expenses.

"As 90-percent of Therma Marine's power rate is on fuel, the movement of fuel prices in the world market has a significant effect on our power rates to our customers," Therma Marine chief operating officer Jovy P. Batiquin said.

"The fuel cost, however, is a pass through rate and this is regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission," he added.

Therma Marine owns and operates two 100-megawatt barges moored in Maco, Compostela Valley and in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Therma Marine’s power barges serve as peaking and ancillary services, thus deployed during times of high demand or for back up generation, respectively.

Power coops ordered to ensure power supply during polls

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 16 (PNA) -- The National Electrification Administration Tuesday directed all electric cooperatives in Mindanao to coordinate with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to ensure adequate power during the midterm elections.

In its memorandum, the NEA also directed all power cooperatives to monitor the demand of their customers and provide NGCP status updates regarding the power situation of their respective areas for next month’s elections.

In the same memorandum, NEA directed all power cooperatives to maintain back-up generator sets in poll centres on election day in order to augment the supply from the grid and for emergency use.

NEA also urged the power coops to come up with an incentive program for consumers who would be cut off from the grid to secure supply for the elections, organize a quick-response team for any line or equipment breakdown, and assign a roving crew to conduct line patrolling and surveillance during election day.

NGCP, which managed the country’s electricity traffic, earlier assured consumers of uninterrupted transmission of adequate electricity a week before, on election day, and a week after election day.

However, NGCP corporate communications officer lawyer Cynthia P. Alabanza said NGCP cannot guarantee that there would be enough electricity from the power generation and distribution sectors for the week prior to, on, and days after the May 13 election.

Alabanza suggested that to augment supply from the grid as well as for emergency use, cooperatives should maintain a back-up generator in poll centres on election day, the NEA memo said.

They should also identify customers in their franchise areas that have standby generators that may be called upon if needed.

NGCP said that despite their assurances of adequate transmission of power, without the cooperation of the other members of the “Energy Family”, its preparation would be useless.

Labor group asks for P88 daily wage hike in Region 10

By (PNA)

LAP/CD/BEN BALCE/SSC


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 15 (PNA) –- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Monday petitioned the Labor department and wage board in Northern Mindanao for a daily wage hike of P88 in the region.

TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymundo Mendoza, said that the daily wage increase asked by the labor sector was based on the actual studies that the current daily minimum wage of P286 is barely enough to sustain a living.

He said that the current P286 minimum wage is not a living wage as the worker’s quality of life substantially deteriorates.

TUCP executive director Eva Arcos said that statistically as of March 2013, the current daily minimum wage has a buying capacity of only P200.84.

She added that after deductions, a minimum wage earner's daily take home is only P178.97.

In a four-page petition, Mendoza and Arcos said the bases for the wage hike petition were P19.98 from the actual increase in prices between June 2011 and March 2013; P20.02 from projected seven-percent rise in community price increase; P48.00 from P2.00 per year share in Gross Domestic Regional Product and there were no increases in daily wage for many years now.






CDO sees educational materials as antidote for vandalism

By (PNA)

JBP/CD/PJN


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 14 (PNA) -- An inter-government agency task force planned to produce educational materials as one of the measures to address the issue of vandalism here, a city councilor said on Sunday.

City Councillor Ian Nacaya, head of the city’s committee on police, fire, and public safety, said that an educational campaign would certainly gain positive responses from the public.

Nacaya said that while there is an existing ordinance penalizing those caught in the act of vandalizing public and private properties, a holistic approach should be adopted to solve vandalism here.

"The production of educational materials for widest dissemination was an important step toward resolving the problem of vandalism here," Nacaya said.

He said that the anti-vandalism task recently activated would take care of making an outline of possible approaches in line with its plan to spearhead an educational campaign on vandalism as a social issue.

The task force would be headed by the city’s police office, with the regional health office, education department, the Philippine Mental Health Association, academe, Psychological Association of the Philippines, city health office, and city social welfare office as members, Nacaya said.







Distribution utilities contract 50% of Aboitiz’ coal plant

By Nelson V. Constantino


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- SCRAMBLING to mitigate the worsening power crisis in Mindanao and prevent their customers from groping in darkness, at least 15 distribution utilities and cooperatives all over the island have signed contract with AboitizPower’s upcoming coal-fired power plant.

These 15 power DUs and coops have contracted 180 megawatts or more than 50 percent of the total capacity of Therma South, Inc.’s (TSI) 300 MW coal-fired power plant now being constructed in Toril, Davao City.

TSI’s coal plant will go online in mid-2015.

“These contracts have been submitted to the Energy Regulatory Commission for review. And we are awaiting the ERC’s decision,” an AboitizPower official said.

Among the DUs that contracted power from TSI’s coal plant are AboitizPower subsidiaries Davao Light and Power Co., and Cotabato Light and Power Co., electric cooperatives Surigao del Sur, Electric Cooperative II, Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative, Cotabato Electric Cooperative and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, the PNA learned.

“We are greatly honored by this trust of our customers and we will continue to work hard to build a world-class power plant that the people of Mindanao will be proud of,” said Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr., TSI president and chief operating officer.

According to Cariaso, the coal plant is part of AboitizPower’s P35 billion investment in additional capacity to solve the Mindanao power crisis.

Bobby Orig, AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao Affairs, said on Wednesday that without new power plants, major urban centers in the southern Philippines will plunge into darkness by 2014.

Orig said the Mindanao power deficiency is projected to reach 484 MW, which is enough to power five major cities.

“The power situation in Mindanao is very bad. But it will worsen next year as our power deficiency is expected to reach 484 megawatts. That deficiency is enough to power five major cities in Mindanao,” he said.

Without specifically identifying these cities as the ones that will suffer in 2014, Orig said the 484 MW power deficiency in 2014 is like taking power out of such cities as Davao, General Santos, Butuan and Zamboanga — practically all corners of the southern Philippines. Except Cagayan de Oro, all other cities in Mindanao are currently suffering rotational brownouts. (PNA) >br>CTB/CD/NVC/abb






2 killed, 3 wounded in police-NPA clash in Bukidnon

By Ben Balce


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 11 (PNA) -– Two communist rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while three police officers wounded in a clash Wednesday afternoon in the hinterlands of Talakag, Bukidnon.

Police Senior Supt. Orlando Biñas, director of the Bukidnon provincial police command, said on Thursday that the remains of the unidentified slain rebels were recovered at the encounter site in Barangay Saguiaran in Talakag, Bukidnon as police continue to comb the area Thursday morning.

Biñas identified the wounded policemen as Senior Insp. Alwin Baclao, PO1 John Bodiongan and PO1 Marlon Mendoza, who were all brought for treatment in a hospital in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

He said that the encounter took place when a platoon of police mobile group encountered the NPA rebels in Barangay Saguiaran, 18 kilometers from the town of Talakag Wednesday afternoon.

The police mobile group, together with 20 policemen from the Talakag police station, went to the area to verify reports of sightings of NPA rebels in the mountain ranges of Mt. Kalatungan and Kitanglad near Barangay Saguiran Wednesday morning, Biñas said.

Biñas said the rebels sensed the arrival of policemen resulting in a 30-minute gun battle.

“The police were at an advantage since they were positioned in a higher ground,” Biñas said.

Also recovered were an M16 rifle, KG-9 automatic weapon, a fragmentation grenade, and subversive documents. (PNA) LAM/CD/BB/utb






CDO distributes over 5,000 PhilHealth cards

By (PNA)

FFC/CD


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 10 (PNA) -- The city government has distributed more than 5,000 PhilHealth cards to residents during a weekly “People to People Program” here Monday.

City Mayor Vicente Emano led the distribution of PhilHealth cards in Barangays Bugo and Carmen, two most populated barangays in the city.

The "People to People Program" was a weekly program of the city government aimed at delivering basic services to rural and urban barangays in Cagayan de Oro City.

Some of these services include mass wedding, processing of birth registration of children, medical and dental services, legal services, supplemental feeding, and other day-to-day services at the City Hall.

Aside from the distribution of PhilHealth cards Monday, the city health department also distributed medicines to 5,800 patients, conducted dental services to 695 patients and circumcision of 496 boys.

Emano said that the city government implemented the weekly “People to People Program” since he was elected mayor for the first time in 1998.






CDO joins nation in commemorating ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’

By (PNA)

hbc/CD/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 9 (PNA) – City Mayor Vicente Emano urged the people in Cagayan de Oro City to remember the sacrifices of soldiers who offered their lives during the WWII.

Emano led city employees, representatives of regional, and national government offices in celebrating the “Araw ng Kagitingan” to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the April 9, 1942 “Death March” in Bataan.

In his short message, Emano recalled the pains, the struggles, and the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers who willingly offered their lives “in the name of freedom and democracy” during the WWII.

The “Death March” on April 9, 1942 was one of the most telling memories of war that left an indelible imprint of courage in the face of death in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos today, Emano said.

He said the “Araw ng Kagitingan” might be lacking in context to soften the pain of those who died for us but it was a fitting tribute of our sincere acknowledgement of reverence to those who perished in order for us to survive.

The army’s Fourth Infantry Division, the Department of National Defense, and the Philippines Veterans Association also joined the commemoration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” here on Tuesday.






CDO risk reduction council adopts five-year action plan

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 8 (PNA) – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Monday adopted a detailed five-year action plan to respond to disasters and calamities from 2013 to 2017.

City Mayor Vicente Emano, overall chairman of the CDRRMC, said the five-year plan will strengthen the capability of the CDRRMC to respond to disasters and calamities where every member-agency know their respective role.

As a start, the CDRRMC will initiate efforts to institutionalize the policies on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the policies of the city and the barangays this year, Emano said.

He said the city government will provide funding for various programs involving climate change adaptation and risk reduction when necessary.

Emano said the relocation of residents living in high risk areas was part of the CDRRMC’s five-year plan which the city government is now implementing.

Emano said the adoption of the five-year risk reduction plan signified the city's capability to effectively respond to all kinds of calamities and disasters, Emano added.(PNA)






No poll-related violence in Northern Mindanao – PNP

By Gerry Lee Gorit


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – No election-related incident has been reported in Northern Mindanao, a police official said.

At the weekly news conference at the BusinessWeek Mindanao Media Center on Friday, Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, public information office chief of Police Regional Office-10, said peace prevails in the region despite the inclusion of three provinces as “areas of concern” in the elections and the proliferation of loose firearms.

Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon were tagged as election hotspots. An area is considered an election hotspot due to the presence of private armies, proliferation of loose firearms, intense political rivalry and the prevalence of crime and violence.

Cariaga said police confiscated 142 loose firearms since the start of the election gun ban on Jan. 13 until March 2. The firearms were seized in Bukidnon, 8; Lanao del Norte, 68; Misamis Occidental, 12; Misamis Oriental, 30; Iligan, 6; and Cagayan de Oro, 18.

Cariaga said crimes in the region were also lower from January to March at 598 compared to 650 during the same period last year.

Gov't. forfeits Bigcas vehicles

By (PNA)

FPV/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/ABB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 6 (PNA) -- Twenty-nine imported vehicles seized by the Bureau of Customs from businessman Allan Bigcas in Bukidnon two years ago have been forfeited in favor of the government.

BOC-10 deputy collector Marvin Mison on Friday said that district collector Lourdes Mangaoang received the order to seize Bigcas vehicles from Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

Mison, however, said that the bureau cannot as yet auction the vehicles because Bigcas still has the right to file for reconsideration of the decision.

The 29 vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were valued at US$ 396,667 (P 16, 263, 347 at P 41.00 to a U.S. dollar) with an estimated duties, taxes and other charges for import totalling P17,387,410.

The vehicles were: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Charger, Toyota Seqouia Model 2002, Ranger RZR Utility Terrain Vehicle, Polaris Magnum 325 ATV 324cc, Yamaha Ultramatic 4x4, Kawasaki Ninja 2x14, Suzuki Model R/GSX 1000, Harley Davidson Model Big Dog,

Honda CBR 600RR Model 2006, Suzuki GSX/R, Suzuki GSX 1300R, Honda CBR 600RR Model 2008, Kawasaki Model 2003, Honda Model 2005, Honda Stunt Bike, Yamaha Model 2007, Kawasaki KMX, two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs, 2003 Suzuki GSX R1000, Yamaha YZ450, Yamaha YZF285, Suzuki RGSX, MOTO Elf, Suzuki and Martin Brother’s Chopper.

The highest valued vehicle was the Kawasaki KMX at US$ 60,000 ( P 2.460 million) and the lowest are the two 2005 Honda CRF 150Fs at US$ 2,999 (P 122,959.00) each.

Bigcas is now running for the gubernatorial seat of the province of Bukidnon in the May elections.

PAL ordered to give preferential accommodation to ‘must-ride status’ officials

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V.CONSTANTINO/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 5, (PNA) -– The Commission on Election has ordered the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to give preferential accommodation to government officials with "must-ride status" for the May 13 national and local elections.

These include officials, employees and deputies of the Comelec travelling on official business.

Comelec Resolution No. 9598 promulgated on Dec. 18, 2012, also stipulates that PAL should direct its officials and employees to affect the immediate shipment, delivery and transmittal of Comelec cargo and other election matters.







Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City

By jobsonline.ph


Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental – Loan Documentation Officer – RCBC Savings Bank Inc Job – Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Loan Documentation Officer RCBC Savings Bank Inc Northern Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro City Responsibilities: Performs pre-booking review of loan documents to ensure completeness as per Bank’s Checklist and deviations/exceptions with proper approval per matrix of authority. Prepares monitoring and status reports of loan documentary deficiencies bank wide including PLC’s. Attains service level and turn – Permanent – Full-time






Livelihood project for CDO city’s inmates

By (PNA)

PDS/CD/ssc

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 3 (PNA)–- City Mayor Vicente Emano on Wednesday ordered the operation of livelihood project for the more than 2,000 inmates at the rehabilitation center in Barangay Lumbia here.

Emano signed Executive Order No. 123-2012 which would establish coffin-making as livelihood project for inmates at the city’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Lumbia.

Emano issued the order citing the need for the city to assist the national government in its intention to provide rehabilitation to offenders and to prepare them to re-integrate into the society with renewed value for work.

In line with Emano’s order, City Councilor Adrian Barba asked the City Engineer’s Office to conduct an on-site inspection at the BJMP as part of the preparation for the submission of a program of works for the construction of the livelihood center there.

Councilor Barba said the city would purchase the needed materials which would be turned over to the BJMP so the inmate could use them in coffin-making.

Barba said the city government would purchase the coffins so that the inmates could earn while undergoing rehabilitation at the BJMP.

These coffins would likewise be given to indigent families as a means of burial assistance from the city government, he said

Bidding of P300 M Spanish bridge above board -- DPWH

By (PNA)

hbc/CD/BEN BALCE/utb


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 2 (PNA) – Requisites for the bidding of the P191 million Spanish bridged donated to the city government of Cagayan de Oro City was properly observed, an official of the Departhment of Public Works and Highways here said Tuesday.

Engr. Boni Lora, staff engineer of the regional office of the DPWH here, said that the city government has no involvement in the implementation of the project during the bidding and awarding process of the project.

“The construction of the donated Spanish bridge was purely the affair of the DPWH regional office,” Lora said.

He said nine qualified contractors participated in the bidding but three were found ineligible after highway officials reviewed their bids.

Lora, who served as the vice chair of the bidding and awards committee, said that the total amount of the approved budget for the construction of 434-meter long bridge was only P 223 million.

He said the national government already released an initial P 44 million to pay for road right of way and renumerate occupants of houses affected by the construction of the bridge.

He said the UKC Builders, inc. won the bid after submitting the lowest bid of P179 million who do all the construction works under supervision of the DPWH.

City Mayor Vicente Emano said that the Spanish government donated the bridge (most of them prefab) when he was first elected city mayor in 1998.

He said the delay of the construction of the bridge was due to politics since some politicians who hold influence in the national government vehemently opposed the construction of the bridge under his watch.

“I am thankful that President Aquino finally gave the go signal for the construction of the Spanish bridge here,” Emano said.

He said the Spanish bridge would cross from the J.R. Borja St. in the city’s downtown area toward Tambo in the other side of the Cagayan de Oro River Carmen.

Lora said that materials for the construction of the bridge could be provided by the Spanish government in the form of grant.