Cagayan de Oro City News February 2014

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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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

Police nab gun-firing cop

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/28/police-nab-gun-firing-cop-330618
• Friday, February 28, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

A POLICE was caught with eight heat-sealed sachets of what authorities suspected as methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) after allegedly firing a gun due to an altercation with his wife Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Arrested was Police Officer 3 Arnel Acero, a resident of Zone 4, Barangay Bugo and assigned at Cugman Police Station.

The arrest was made 10 hours after members of Puerto Police Station launched “Oplan Bakal Sita.” In that period, guns and marijuana were seized.

Senior Inspector Jeopet Paglinawan, Puerto police chief, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday that Acero was arrested following a tip from an informant. A gun and suspected illegal drugs were seized from his possession.

Police seized

Paglinawan said Acero was arrested previously because of a drug-related case.

Police report stated that Acero fired a .9mm caliber pistol after a quarrel with his wife in Zone 4.

The arresting officers confiscated one magazine and 14 ammos and a bullet shell from the suspect.

Along with the government-issued firearms, the police seized from Acero an estimated two grams of alleged shabu with a street value of around P10,000.

Paglinawan said the amount they found is too much for the suspect’s own consumption.

The suspect is now detained at Puerto Police Station for further investigation.

Blackout hits parts of Mindanao

• Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/02/27/14/blackout-hits-parts-mindanao
• Thursday, February 27, 2014

By Roxanne Arevalo, ABS-CBN News Iligan; Lerio Bompat, ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao; and Joel Ramirez, ABS-CBN News Northern Mindanao

MANILA (UPDATE) – Power outages were reported in several parts of Mindanao before dawn on Thursday.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao corporate communications officer Beth Ladaga confirmed that the Mindanao power grid experienced disturbance at 3:53 a.m. today.

Power outage was reported in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, General Santos City, Davao City, Davao Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, and Compostela Valley.

The NGCP shifted its operations to "island mode" to restore power in the affected areas.

As of 9:30 a.m., NGCP said transmission service has been restored in Zamboanga City through the Western Mindanao Power Corp.; General Santos City through Southern Philippines Power Corp.; and Davao City through Pulangi IV Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Power has also been restored in Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian City and parts of Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and some parts of Northern Mindanao, however, remain without power.

Meanwhile, NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said it is still investigating the cause and extent of the power interruption.

"At this time, we have no information on the actual cause because the interruption affected the entire grid of Mindanao... Our focus is still on restoration. When we have finished giving back power to Mindanao grid, then we will focus on the investigation to find out what was the cause of the disturbance," she told ANC.

Alabanza said it is unusual for the entire Mindanao grid to be affected, making it difficult to speculate on the cause.

"While a grid disturbance happens, it could be anything from supply or transmission. It could be anything minor or major, its very difficult to speculate at this point," she said.

The NGCP official said it hopes to restore power within the next few hours.

No more renewal on taxis franchised in 2001- LTFRB

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/26/no-more-renewal-taxis-franchised-2001-ltfrb-330367
• Wednesday, February 26, 2014

By sunstar.com.ph

TAXIS franchised thirteen years ago would no longer be allowed to ply their routes in Cagayan de Oro City beginning this year.

Mandangan Darimbang, director of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Northern Mindanao (LTFRB-10), said that the first batches of Toyota Altis taxis would no longer be renewed following the agency’s regulation on limiting the franchise of public utility vehicles (PUVs) since 2007.

Darimbang said the city has around 700 taxi operators with 1,390 taxis servicing the city’s commuters while around 300 new taxis will be expected if the operators decide to substitute their 2001 franchised taxis.

The LTFRB has discontinued franchising PUVs like taxis, buses and vans since 2007 to control the number of vehicles in the region.

Private vehicle owners don’t have limits on the number of vehicles they can franchise, thus, the agency put the limit to PUVs instead.

“This regulation is also beneficial to the taxi operators and the riding public. The maintenance of cars five years and older is expensive. The operators would be spending more than what they'll be earning. To buy new units to substitute the originally franchised vehicles would be a better option. With new taxis, the commuters will be assured of secured and comfortable services,” Darimbang said.

Several taxi drivers have clamored and alleged that LTFRB has been releasing new franchises, thus the influx of taxis in the city.

But Darimbang said, “There were no more franchises since 2007. All the new taxis are substitution of earlier franchised taxis. In fact, there is a high demand of taxis especially that the airport is now in Laguindingan. It’s not even true that taxi drivers could no longer meet the “boundary” or rental fees because the need for taxis is high. The business is here. It’s normal these drivers would always find excuses whenever they fail to meet their rental fees.”

The LTFRB is also studying on the cases of dilapidated jeepneys servicing thousands of commuters in the city. He said the agency finds it complicated to distinguish jeepneys that are too old considering that some operators would repair the case or the body to make it appear new while the engine remains very old.

"For the buses, the LTFRB didn't renew anymore those that were franchised 15 years ago like the Lucy Liner in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental. Those buses were not safe for the commuters in the province anymore."

With regard to traffic congestion in the city, Darimbang said that it is not the PUVs that create the chaos on the roads, but the large number of private vehicles considering the agency doesn’t have any regulation limiting the franchise of privately-owned ones. (GCA)

DSWD sought to verify dual PhilHealth membership

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/25/dswd-sought-verify-dual-philhealth-membership-330077
• Tuesday, February 25, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

TO avoid dual membership for its thousands of members in the city, the Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) office hopes that the city legislators will reconsider the approval of the ordinance allowing Mayor Oscar Moreno to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Boyet Martinez, consultant of the city’s PhilHealth office, said they are optimistic that the City Council will give Moreno the green light so he can access data from the DSWD.

He said if the city’s PhilHealth office along with the City Social Welfare and Development office can access the data so they can maximize the resources of the city and avoid dual PhilHealth membership.

Martinez said the City Council refused to grant Moreno to enter into a MOA with the DSWD even if it was just intended for exchange of information without involving any expenses.

“There are no expenses to this. The MOA is just to access data that will help us crosscheck the PhilHealth members of the city,” Martinez said.

He said the DSWD has around 36,000 PhilHealth members in the city and the City Council seeks to renew the 50,000.

Martinez added it is possible some families have dual membership since they don’t have the data they need to crosscheck the list of members.

Renew

Although the approved budget for 2014 can only renew 25,000 PhilHealth members, Martinez said Moreno has ordered the renewal of the existing 50,000 members this year.

He added the renewal of these members is already a done deal.

However, Martinez said, based on their data around 8,000 members will be replaced by new members because they are either dead or have dual membership.

Martinez said in one family there should be only one member of PhilHealth, however, assured that PhilHealth members are distributed well in the city.

Source of funds

Meanwhile, Maricel Casiño-Rivera, city information officer, said the City Government can cover the 50,000 members for the first quarter.

She said the city has other resources to compensate with the lack knowing that the City Council only approved the renewal of 25,000 members.

To reach the 100,000-member target, she said the city will find ways to achieve the number.

Rivera said the administration is still hoping that the City Council will approve the P240 million that is intended to insure 100,000 residents.

But if they don’t, Rivera said they will always look for ways to deliver the services to the people.

NPA, military reminded: Minimize collateral damage

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/24/npa-military-reminded-minimize-collateral-damage-329907
• Monday, February 24, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano has appealed to both the New People’s Army (NPA) fighters and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to minimize the collateral damage of the possible conflict that could affect the indigenous peoples in the Caraga Region fearing its possible spillover in the province.

Emano said that the NPA and AFP forces should be mindful to the human population in the areas.

He said both the armed guerrillas and the military should be sensitive to avoid affecting the lives and livelihood of the people on the ground.

Misamis Oriental shares territorial borders with Agusan Del Norte where there exist several mountain trail corridors to the province.

“I am concerned on the strong possibility of displacement of people once the operations start. Definitely, the human exodus will spillover to our province,” Emano said.

In the last quarter of 2013, Higaonons were displaced after the intense clashes between the NPA fighters and military in Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental.

Forces from the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) and 4th Scout Ranger Battalion (4SRB) have been deployed in Caraga region to quell the growing insurgency in the area.

Upon learning of the deployment, Emano requested he’d be briefed on the extent of the operations so the province can take actions.

He is concerned on the welfare of the people especially the indigenous population in the areas that could be affected by the clashes.

Human rights

Sister Famita Somogod, coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao sub-region, said military operations in the hinterland communities could surely affect the livelihood of the people.

“Working in the rural areas for years, I know how militarization of rural poor communities impact on the lives of the lumads and farmers,” Somogod said.

She added the reinforcement of troops in Caraga region would result to human rights and international humanitarian law violations.

“With the addition of troops, needless to say, violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws are expected to soar,” Somogod said.

She added the military operations would further victimize civilian rural poor populace in areas already punctuated by hunger and illiteracy.

Surgical operations

Captain Christian Uy, spokesman of 4ID, said the military forces deployed in the area would only conduct surgical operations to avoid collateral damage.

“We will be conducting surgical missions that result to zero collateral damage,” Uy said.

Uy said surgical operations mean that the military will launch ‘point-to-point’ offensives on specific areas where Maoist fighters are detected.

He assured there would be no collateral damage on their military missions.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Ricardo Visaya, commander of 4ID, said the additional forces in the area meant the protection of the indigenous people from being recruited and exploited by the NPA.

He said they would determine and solve specific problems of the indigenous people.

“We will also recommend projects to be funded by Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) that will improve their (IP) plight,” Visaya said.

Uy added the deployment of forces in Caraga is intended to deter further attacks from the NPA that declared they would launch more punitive actions this year.

Visaya assured the AFP would safeguard especially the economic zones in the region to continue paving the way for prosperity here in Mindanao.

Cagayan de Oro mayor at war with council over budget cuts

• Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580090/cagayan-de-oro-mayor-at-war-with-council-over-budget-cuts
• Sunday, February 23rd, 2014

By Bobby Lagsa

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Oscar Moreno is now at war with members of the majority block at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) over the city’s annual budget due to Moreno’s refusal to allow councilors to possess discretionary funds, according to a Moreno ally. Councilor Eric Salcedo said that the majority block – identified with defeated mayoral candidate Vicente Emano – reduced the proposed P2.6-billion annual budget significantly that Moreno’s government would have difficulty addressing public needs. Salcedo said members of the Emano faction also “negotiated” with the minority block (to which Salcedo has been allied with since the last election) — to ask Moreno to allow insertions amounting to P1 million in discretionary funds for each councilor. He said the majority’s demand was made known to them during an informal meeting on the budget at the office of the city council secretary. Another Moreno ally, Councilor Lourdes Darimbang attested to Salcedo’s claim. Salcedo and Darimbang said they knew Moreno would not approve of the planned insertions. As a result, Moreno’s proposed budget of P2.6 billion was slashed by about P300 million. Many of the deleted provisions pertained to funds for the mayor’s office, including for intelligence gathering and support to poor Philhealth beneficiaries. When the 2014 budget was finally approved last week, Moreno vetoed many of its provisions. “It was illegal as the deletions, changes and insertions were not allowed by law and by the rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),” Moreno said in explaining the veto. Moreno said the move of the city council majority was clearly aimed at paralyzing him while ensuring they had the funds to sustain what they had in mind. He said while the reduction of the proposed budget was within the power of the city council, “it should however, be premised on genuine economy measures, motives and prudence in government spending, and uniformly applied.” He said it was obvious the majority block wanted to retain their discretionary fund but they reduced the Philhealth budget for poor residents, which has been “contrary and prejudicial to public welfare.” Councilor President Elipe, a son-in-law of Emano, defended the budget cut, saying it was based on a conservative projection of the city’s annual income. Vice Mayor Cesar Ian Acenas, another Emano ally, said Moreno’s allies were trying to paint the majority bad. He turned the table on Salcedo by saying the proposed insertion for discretionary fund came from the minority itself. He said to clear the issue, Salcedo should name names. Moreno, meanwhile, accused Emano – who has since returned to city hall as a consultant to the city council – of “calling the shots.” “But let me remind them that I am the mayor of this city and he (Emano) can wait for 2016 and I will defeat him again,” he said.

More bills to install speed limiters on PUVs filed

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/02/22/1293299/more-bills-install-speed-limiters-puvs-filed
• Saturday, February 22, 2014

By philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - The House Committee on Transportation has received four separate bills, all seeking the installation of speed limiters in public utility vehicles, especially buses.

These measures are: HB 3151 authored by Buhay Party-list Reps. Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr., Jose L. Atienza, Jr., and Irwin Tieng; HB 1762 filed by Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago (2nd District, Nueva Ecija); HB 3624 by Rep. Jerry Treñas (Lone District, Iloilo City); and HB3798 filed by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Abante Mindanao Party-list).

HB3151 or the proposed “Speed Limiters Act of 2013” seeks the mandatory installation of speed limiters in all public utility vehicles, whether already in operation or to be constructed, produced or manufactured.

HB 1762 is entitled “An Act promoting road safety by requiring the mandatory installation of speed limiters in all public utility vehicles and the enforcement of certain speed limits in various streets and highways.”

HB 3624 is “An Act requiring the installation of speed limiters in all public utility buses, providing penalties for violations thereof and for other purposes.”

HB 3798 is “An Act requiring the mandatory installation of speed limiters on all public utility buses which would limit their maximum speeds to 60 kilometers per hour for Metro Manila buses and 80 kilometers per hour for provincial buses, providing penalties for violations thereof and for other purposes.”

Corollary to this, House Bills and Index records (through congress.gov.ph) also shows that Rep. Enrique ‘Henry’ Cojuangco (1st District, Tarlac) had earlier filed HB 3377 or “An Act setting a speed limit for freeways all over the country, amending for the purpose thereof Republic Act No. 4136 Subsection (b).”

“There is need to update the present rules and regulations on road safety and traffic management by including freeways or controlled access highways in the classification of roads and set a uniform speed,” Cojuangco said.

“The recent incidence of fatal crashes of buses would continue unabated if we just leave to the discretion of our public utility bus drivers who would certainly continue to drive their vehicles with reckless abandon,” Treñas, who proposed a 60KPH speed limit for buses, said.

On the other hand, Rep. Violago proposes that both driver and operator and/or owner of the PUV who continuous in their business of transporting passengers without the required speed limiter shall suffer arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months imprisonment), the immediate cancellation of the PUV’s franchise and a fine of P50,000.

Likewise, Violago said tampering of speed limiter of any PUVs shall be punished with prision correccional (6 months and one day to six years) and a fine amounting to P50,000.

The lawmakers are all proposing a provision in the proposed consolidated statute that no PUV shall be registered by the Land Transportation Office without the proper speed limiter installed and set.

The Committee on Transportation, chaired by Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), is considering the various measures for consolidation.

Waste-to-energy project planned for shuttered Cagayan de Oro landfill

• Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/business/81205/waste-to-energy-project-planned-for-shuttered-cagayan-de-oro-landfill
• Friday, February 21, 2014

By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, InterAksyon.com

MANILA - Emerging Power Inc plans to convert the Cagayan de Oro City sanitary landfill into a source of renewable energy.

In a statement, the renewable energy company said it launched a feasibility study for a waste-to-energy project.

Emerging Power last February 12 entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Cagayan de Oro city government and Waste Recovery Borås (WRB) for the purpose.

WRB is a partnership among Borås City in Sweden, Borås Energy and Environment, the WRB Technical Research Institute of Sweden and the University of Borås.

The project aims to use methane from the Cagayan de Oro landfill to generate electricity.

Under the agreement, Emerging Power will also develop a full solid waste management plan that will address Cagayan de Oro City’s 10-hectare landfill in Barangay Carmen.

Created in 1987, the landfill is located 3.5 kilometers from the city proper and had a 25-year life span that ended in 2012.

Nenette Capaning, Emerging Power project manager, said the company tapped WRB to oversee the training for and conduct of the feasibility study. WRB provides capacity building for waste and renewable energy business development in developing countries.

Emerging Power and WRB also tapped Biogas Systems, a Swedish renewable energy company with expertise in developing waste-to-energy projects.

“Biogas Systems is willing to collaborate as technology provider and investor for waste-to-energy projects in the Philippines,” Capaning said.

BIFF member arrested in drug bust – PDEA

• Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579383/biff-member-arrested-in-drug-bust-pdea
• Thursday, February 20th, 2014

By Julliane Love De Jesus

MANILA, Philippines–‎An alleged drug pusher who is reportedly an active member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) has been arrested by anti-narcotics agents in Cagayan de Oro City. Noel Bayagna, a target-listed drug personality and alleged Bangsamoro enlisted personnel, was caught Tuesday by the agents of the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during a buy bust operation in Iponan town, officials said. Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA Director General, ‎said Thursday in that Bayagna, 23, was a “high-value target drug personality in the province of Misamis Oriental.” “According to information, he is an alleged active member of the Bangsamoro,” said Cacdac in a statement. ‎A breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts, the BIFF is a Muslim secessionist group seeking an independent Islamic state in the Philippines. In a buy bust operation of PDEA Misamis Oriental regional office, the drug peddler fell for the bait after selling to a poser-buyer one sachet of suspected shabu or metamphetamine hydrochloride. The transaction and arrest took place on ‎Julio Pacana Street in Licoan town around 6 p.m. Monday. Bayagna, according to PDEA, is a resident of Block 10, Lot 10, Bloomingdale Subdivision, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro Confiscated from Bayagna were two pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet and a P500 bill used as marked money during the operation‎.

Anti-porn drive in Oro intensified

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/19/anti-porn-drive-oro-intensified-329122
• Wednesday, February 19, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

DESPITE Cagayan de Oro City council’s deletion of the budget for the Regulatory and Complaints Board (RCB), the group won't budge to conduct surprise raids and penalize the culprits of spreading pornographic materials in the city.

Lawyer Beda Joy Elot, chair of the RCB, said on their next round they will be conducting unannounced inspections in areas where selling of pornographic materials is prevalent.

“The budget will affect the RCB but despite that we are doing our job. It will not hinder us from doing our mandate,” Elot said.

She added that on their next inspections they would also confiscate pornographic materials and impose the corresponding penalties and sanctions indicated in City Ordinance 1890 (CO 1890).

CO 1890 is the city’s anti-pornography ordinance that was passed 29 years ago, in 1985.

Elot said in CO 1890 there are sanctions and penalties that could reach the level of imprisonment.

City councilor Teodulfo Lao, a member of the RCB, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that after their massive information campaign they will start to penalize violators of CO 1890.

Violators spotted

While the RCB was conducting its information drive routine in Barangay Lapasan, Lao noticed some anomalous operations at Market City.

Lao said there are Internet cafés without blocking system against pornographic sites.

He added that some digital versatile disc (DVD) vendors and ‘Pisonet’ (coin-operated computers) operators do not have business permits.

Lao pointed out that minors are using some “pisonets.”

During the inspection, Senior Inspector Ivan Viñas of Lapasan police station said they found an Internet café that accessed online pornography.

Viñas said the technical team of the RCB through their technical expertise in using the computer was able to detect the pornographic operations of the Internet café.

Rachel Manahan, a DVD vendor at Market City, said although she does not sell pornographic DVDs but claimed there are DVD vendors who sell porn movies.

Manahan disclosed that selling of porn movies in the area is rampant before, but the culprits opted to close their stores due to the inspections.

“Naay gabaligya diri sa una, gikalat lang diha sa dalan. Wala na karon kay nahadlok sila,” Manahan said.

Manahan commended the efforts of the RCB saying that it is good to inform and spread awareness to the customers that it is prohibited in the city.

Viñas confirmed the rampant selling of porn movies at Market City before but recently those vendors closed their stalls.

“The police in Lapasan is ready and willing to support the campaign of the RCB,” he said when asked if they are ready for the raids.

Difficult to control

“Porn is difficult to control,” Elot said, adding that they cannot eradicate pornography in the city alone.

Elot said the RCB needs the cooperation of the public while they do massive information campaign to get their cooperation.

She added that pornography is easily accessible because it is available online.

Elot added they would closely coordinate with the community.

“The RCB will communicate with the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) in schools because we want to help them become more aware about pornography,” said Elot.

Elot added the vendors of DVDs in the city were already informed about the anti-pornography.

Penalty

CO 1890 states that on first offense, the violator will be fined of P500 and second violation would mean doubling the fine.

On the third offense, a fine of P1,000 and a possible imprisonment for six months will be suffered by the offenders.

Also, third and subsequent offenses could result to revocation of business license or permits to sell. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

CDO police on alert against BIFF, JI leaders

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=931392628263
• Tuesday, February 18, 2014

By Cheng Ordoñez

Cagayan de Oro - The Cagayan de Oro Police has gone on alert following the reported presence of two top leaders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in the city. The intelligence community is verifying the alleged presence of Shayk Tahar Mondos, believed to be a BIFF commander, and a certain Ibrahim, reportedly a JI bomb expert. Authorities say the presence of the BIFF and JI suspects could be part of the reported “Mindanao-wide terror mission” that targets major cities in Mindanao as part of their bombing operation. The Army’s 4th Infantry Division has already deployed additional forces to the local police command to augment the local police force. Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda said security measures had been tightened in highly-populated areas, especially churches, malls, and bus terminals. But he appealed to the public to be vigilant. Part of the security measures are The Mindanao-wide threat came after the signing of the final phase of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

Closer tourism ties between WVisayas and NMindanao seen

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=931392628263
• Monday, February 17, 2014

By pia.gov.ph

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA6) - - Department of Tourism 6 Director Atty. Helen Catalbas urged local officials and tourism partners and advocates in Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas regions to strengthen their ties as well as accelerate inter-regional travel that could further boost tourism and investment. This was the gist of the message of Catalbas as she welcomed delegates from Northern Mindanao and guests during the opening of the “Pasundayag Northern Mindanao sa Iloilo 2014” at SM City Iloilo Activity Center, February 16. Catalbas said the two regions have things in common, for one thing the link between them through the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan and the Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro City has been built through Cebu Pacific Air. According to Catalbas the weekly flight from Iloilo to CDO makes international flights from Iloilo to Hongkong and Singapore strong because of this linkage. She expects that with the joint promotion of both DOT Regional Offices 6 and 10, flights from Iloilo to CDO will futher increase from 3 flights weekly to daily flights. The “Pasundayag Northern Mindanao sa Iloilo 2014” is organized by DOT 10 together with the Northern Mindanao Regional Tourism Council. It is a regional promotion project that aims to promote the local destinations and wonders, rich culture and products of the region. DOT 6 Director Catalino Chan III said they chose to bring Pasundayag to Iloilo this year “because we have so much things in common”. The staging of the event in Iloilo City is the first in the Visayas. Among other reasons Chan gave are: Iloilo City has a clean river just like the Cagayan River which was a bit destroyed by typhoon “Sendong’ but is definitely back for business; Iloilo City, Batangas and CDO are identified by USAID-CDI as the 3 pilot cities for investment and promotions; direct flights from CDO to cities of Iloilo and Bacolod; and good relations with DOT 6.

Also, Chan said Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, the Bishop of CDO is from Iloilo which is an example of close friendship between two regions.

Chan assured Ilonggos that when they go to their region it will be more fun in Region 10, a perfect 10, because of its facilities and places of nature. Some of the famous destinations of the region are the whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro, Ma. Cristina Falls in Iligan, Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Lake Apo in Valencia City, ASEAN Heritage Park in Bukidnon, and Agutayan Reef in Misamis Oriental, among others. In his message, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the activity not only showcases the best of Northern Mindanao but the noble endeavor will certainly foster strong sense of camaraderie, unity, harmony and fruitful cooperation which is very important. “The city of Iloilo is truly honored and privileged to host cultural and tourism advocates like you because it is a great opportunity for us to work together and help one another for the achievement of one common goal and benefit of the general welfare especially in the promotion of the Philippines, our own country,” said Mabilog. The week-long event is highlighted daily by the cultural presentations prepared by the participating local government units which have also booths showcasing their products, local attractions, and services located inside SM City Iloilo. A total of 10 traders have also joined the promotional event to display and sell their products including the famous pastel of Camiguin, Cheding’s peanuts of Iligan and Puyo handicrats of CDO at the mall’s jeepney bay area. Northern Mindanao is composed of the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte and the nine cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, Gingoog, Malaybalay, Valencia and El Salvador. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

More incentives to family-owned firms pushed

• Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/national/67240-more-incentives-to-family-owned-firms-pushed
• Sunday, February 16, 2014

By Jester Manalastas

TO to encourage more families to venture into business, the government should provide them with incentives and benefits.

This was according to Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez as he filed House Bill 3315 or the establishment of Magna Carta for Kalakalan Pampamilya.

The main purpose of the bill is to invite family members to venture into business enterprises which in turn will create jobs and sources of livelihood for other people.

Rodriguez stressed this proposed measure seeks to respond to the national effort of alleviating poverty in the country and accelerating economic development.

He said, extreme poverty of majority of Filipinos is an issue of national concern, which the government should immediately address.

“If government wants to minimize poverty and hasten economic development, priority programs must be geared towards the development of the family,” Rodriguez stressed.

Rodriguez said the bill would likewise augment the income of family members, which can help provide for the basic human necessities.

Under the measure, any family business enterprise with employees of not more than 20 and with assets of not more than P500,000, at the time of registration, are qualified to receive incentives and benefits provided for under this Act.

Once registered, the family business enterprise can own, dispose of and encumber its properties and enter into contracts on its own account, with the capacity to sue and be sued, and transact business anywhere in the Philippines.

The Kalakalan Pampamilya business enterprise shall be exempted from all taxes, national or local, building permit fees and other business taxes, except real property and capital gains taxes, import duties and other taxes on imported articles.

In addition, any and all income, receipts and proceeds derived from the business operations of the Kalakalan Pampamilya business enterprise shall be excluded from the computation of gross income of the individual income tax of the business owner or members.

It shall be exempted also from any and all government rules and regulations with respect to assets, income and other activities indispensably and directly utilized in, proceeding from, or connected to the business enterprise.

A Kalakalan Pampamilya Office, to be created under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry, is mandated to effectively facilitate the financial assistance to qualified family business enterprises; assist the designated banks in the collection of payments of loan granted to family business enterprises and monitor and evaluate on a regular basis the status of the family business enterprises which availed of the benefits and incentives under his Act.

Mayor extols Cagayan de Oro as Mindanao ‘growth driver’

• Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/27604-mayor-extols-cagayan-de-oro-as-mindanao-growth-driver
• Saturday, February 15, 2014

By Butch Enerio / Correspondent

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—This city’s sitting mayor has invited businesses to locate to the city and neighboring areas during a business forum in Makati City last week, saying “this city is “the center of Mindanao, part of a bigger community relevant in nation building.”

The business forum was organized by the city government in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It showcased the investment potentials, not only in the city, but also in the neighboring areas of northern Mindanao.

Initially, Cagayan de Oro’s focus was in agricultural and environmental development where Mayor Oscar Moreno wants projects implemented with the help of the private sector. Projects of the Moreno administration include the improvement of the existing dump, construction and operation of a new sanitary landfill, establishment of a solid-waste transfer station, sewage treatment plant, interceptor and sewer system at the bank of Cagayan de Oro river, establishment of a wastewater treatment plant, reforestation of the city’s rivers banks and the establishment of an eco-tourism park.

To sustain the city’s competitiveness, strategic projects are needed in the agribusiness sector such as a modern mechanized poultry dressing plant to help the expanding independent poultry growers and integrators access the export market; an international-standard slaughterhouse for hogs and cattle; a vegetable-processing plant to add value to the increasing vegetable production of farmers in the area; and a plantation for commercial crops to make use of idle agro-forest land.

Moreno said once the strategic projects are in place, developments in the hinterlands will follow, giving enormous livelihood opportunities to the local population.

“Economic progress in Cagayan de Oro should radiate to the hinter-barangays and other neighboring areas and share the opportunities to our people. Thus, we will be reducing poverty incidence,” Moreno said.

Dr. Bernardo Villegas, director of the Research and Communication Center, said the city is the growth driver in northern Mindanao responsible for 7.8 percent of the region’s gross domestic product.

Villegas said CdO is the best location for manufacturing as well as for ‘bed and breakfast’ investment, alluding to the tourism potential of the city.

He said that in order for a city to fully use its potential for development, leaders should forget partisan politics, which is an obstruction of project implementation.

Some drivers not open to speed limit proposal

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/14/some-drivers-not-open-speed-limit-proposal-328268
• Friday, February 14, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

SOME drivers of public utility vehicles in Cagayan de Oro City disagree with the proposed ordinance that limits the speed of vehicles entering the city to less than 60-kilometer per hour (kph) on two grounds: concern on passengers and profit.

Francisco Orbita, a driver for 30 years who plies the Bugo route, said it would be hard for him to accept the 60-kph speed limit.

“It’s too slow, our passengers will be late in their classes and work,” Orbita said.

Orbita said a speed limit will give them six rounds in a day enough to pay the rent of their passenger units.

He said some drivers rent at P1,200 per day on their passenger units, and the six "round trips" will make it hard for them to pay the rent.

“Gansi nagyud sila ana,” Orbita added, referring to income the Bugo drivers can make if the 60-kph speed limit will be enforced.

However, Orbita said it would be okay if the "people in-charge" will consider the 80-kph speed limit.

He said the proposed speed limit of 20 to 30 kilometers per hour in the city streets is okay because of the traffic.

Bernard Salas, monitoring motorcycle unit personnel of the RTA, said the 60-kph in the city's highways is too fast.

Salas suggested that it would be a lot better for the motorists to set the speed limit to 40- kph.

He said the accidents in Tablon bridge were caused by speeding.

But for the 20-year Gusa driver, Catalino Miyaki said he is totally okay with the speed limits since their route is closer to the city compared to Bugo drivers.

Miyaki, while listening to the points raised by Orbita, said he understood the concerns of Bugo drivers.

Orbita added the speed limits if imposed will surely affect their livelihood.

Ricardo Valerio, enforcement division chief of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), said the proposed speed limit for the city proper is favorable.

Valerio said speeding is rampant in the city and the unlawful overtaking of vehicles is one of the major causes of fatal vehicular accidents.

Valerio said speeding often happens with Bugo lines that are headed to the city. But in the city streets, he said speeding is impossible because the traffic is congested.

Consult drivers

Meanwhile, Ringo Lago, secretary-general of Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao (Starex-Piston), said the group will still study the proposed ordinance.

Lago said that next week, they will conduct an assembly to seek the opinion of other drivers in the city.

He said it is important to consult the drivers on new traffic schemes because it could affect their livelihood.

Valerio said his office does not have the capacity to enforce the speed limits in the city and apprehend the violators.

He said it would be impossible to apply speed limits until the “gadgets” needed to identify that the drivers are going over the speed limits are available.

Valerio referred to speed gun radars that are often used to detect the speed of moving vehicles.

“Lisud pud kung mag tumo-tumo ta,” Valerio said, pointing out the problem of enforcing speed limits without speed gun radars.

He added that speed gun radars hold the evidence that a driver is traveling beyond the speed limits.

DOH-10 intensifies immunization campaign against measles

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1471392268051
• Thursday, February 13th, 2014

By news.pia.gov.ph

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 13 (PIA) – The Department of Health Regional Epidemiology Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (DOH-RESDRU) has reported a total of 152 suspected cases of measles since January, with only seven cases found positive up to press time.

Dr. David Mendoza, RESDRU coordinator bared to the media, in press conference held February 11, that there is a significant rise of 1.589% in the number of suspected cases when compared to the same period last year.

He, however, clarified that this is very distant from reaching the epidemic threshold because the actual cases confirmed through laboratory tests is only seven.

Although the numbers of confirmed cases are low, Regional Expanded Program on Immunization Coordinator, Asuncion Ilogon said that the health department together with its counterpart at the local government units did not relent on their efforts to cover all communities in the massive immunization campaign.

DOH likewise strengthened its monitoring in the immunization status especially in areas with high suspected measles cases.

In Northern Mindanao, Misamis Oriental posted the highest number with 86 suspected cases, while Camiguin province has no reported cases for the same period. Majority of these cases are affecting mostly males aging four years old and below.

DOH, meanwhile, attributed the controlled rise in measles to the conduct of the region-wide follow vaccination to some 43,000 defaulters in September last year. (AGPagayaman/JCV/PIA)

Bethel-B’non, Sacred Heart show the way in 2014 Sea Oil NBTC league

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/sports/2014/02/12/bethel-b-non-sacred-heart-show-way-2014-sea-oil-nbtc-league-327915
• Wednesday, February 12, 2014

By Lynde Salgados

SACRED Heart of Jesus Montessori School proved that they’re still a force to reckon with, hammering out a thrilling 104-97 win over Xavier University High School in the 2014 Cagayan de Oro championship of the Sea Oil National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League concluded on Sunday at the XU gym.

Taking a commanding twin-digit lead behind the monstrous scoring of Jerome Earl Menaling and eventual MVP Glenn Gallardo, the Sacred Heart Saints of coach Boy Dacoco got threatened, however, in the fourth and final quarter when the five-some of Jaio Waban, Kiko Baltazar, Earl Areola, Jerode David and Andre Sabal conspired for XU’s mighty charge.

In fact, the Junior Crusaders were able to cut the Saints’ 14-point spread to only four plus sending Jaio Waban to the free-throw line with still 34 seconds left.

“Kon iyang na-convert ang duha ka free-throws ma-pressure na among side kay mo-shift naman dayon ang momentum,” said one Sacred Heart parent Rey Tubac of Waban who vainly countered Menaling’s 34 and Gallardo’s 29 with his own individual score of 38 points.

The host squad controlled the game early, leading by as many as 6 points in the first two quarters when the all-around Gallardo—who was likened by NBTC Mindanao area coordinator Arvin Martinez to NBA star’s Kevin Durant—reasserted his supremacy in scoring, blocking and rebounding departments.

“We lost to a better team, but at least the boys did us favor by showing their never-say-die spirit. We’re very proud of what they’ve shown against Sacred Heart,” said Manny Diaz’s assistant coach Richard “Chef” Ocampo.

As Xavier University High School parted ways with Assumption Montessori School by rout in the semifinal round, Sacred Heart made it to the local NBTC Finals via the hard way: a 2-point victory against coach Menes Anciado’s Corpus Christi Knights, 98-96.

“Yes, kadtong dula namo sa Corpus ang pinaka-crucial, though galisod gihapon `mi sa Xavier,” Dacoco shared.

Completing Sacred Heart’s triumphant roster are Dandreb Antonio, Rovin Ray Fabiaña, Joseph Elmer Rodriguez, AJ Garcia, Placid Jonrey Floirendo, Vincent Bollozos, Nelmar Halasan, Emmanuel Akut, , John Ivan Garong, MJ Casiño, Michael Usman, Ryan Carl Tubac and Chezter Jan Maagad.

Meanwhile, capping the NBTC Mindanao Division 2’s final matches played at same venue was Bethel Academy-Malaybalay City’s whitewashing of Butuan City’s Agusan National High School, 73-49.

La Salle Iligan finished third behind Bethel-Bukidnon and second-running Agusan National High School.

Both Sacred Heart of Cagayan de Oro and Bethel-Bukidnon will represent the regions in the league’s forthcoming National Finals in Manila.

“There’s really a big difference between playing basketball and coaching a team. Lisod gyod diay kaayo mag coach, pero naningkamot ko nga ma-prove sa among school management nga naa gyoy ma-achieve ang team basta naa lay ensakto nga programa unya trabahoon,” said Bethel Academy coach Jester “Bimbo” Adams, once a star player of Cagayan de Oro College and ACSAT senior varsity teams.

No less than Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno and PBA legend Eric Altamirano, NBTC program director, came to watch the twin-league’s finale before a sizable crowd.

In a later interview, Altamirano said the quantum leap development of the NBTC League would always be a thing of wonderment.

“In the very beginning, we started our provincial leagues in just three cities. Now, we’re in 32 cities nationwide and I can’t see the same magnitude of development that our Sea Oil-backed basketball program is experiencing right now,” Altamirano told Sun*Star Cagayan de Oro.

The scores:

NBTC Mindanao Division 2

Bethel Bukidnon 73—Rafa Limahr 17, Pagud Chemvel 17, EnojardoLeonard 10, Panga Christian 8, Jumawan Charles 7, Monsanto Jason 5, Odog Jason 4, Huiso Jefferson 3, Praile Hernani 2

Agusan Nat’l High School 49—Inocencio Clent 20, Macapanton Louie Jay 12, Escobido Vincent 6, Ligan Antonio 4, Barruca Dan Angelo 2, Tuazon Adrian Rey 2, Plaza Kevin 2, Brodeth John Oliver 1.

NBTC CDO Finals

Sacred Heart 104 -- Menaling 34, Gallardo 29, Fabiana 21, Antonio 6, Floirendo 5, Akut 5, Garcia 2, Maagad 2.

Xavier U High School 97—Waban 38, Baltazar 15, Areola 12, David 8, Sabal 6, Dalde 6, Eufinado 6, Negre 2, Ramires 2, Koga 2.

Moreno calls Emano ‘propaganda fanatic’

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/11/moreno-calls-emano-propaganda-fanatic-327704
• Tuesday, February 11, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

INCUMBENT Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has branded political opponent and erstwhile mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano as “propaganda fanatic,” accusing the latter of using tactics to divert the people from the newsworthy development happening in the city.

“Every time I have an activity, even in the province before, he would always think about issues to expose to divert the attention of the people,” Moreno said.

“I already noticed his gimmicks even when I was still governor of Misamis Oriental. He is a propaganda fanatic,” Moreno said, adding that that is just how Emano works.

The mayor cited for instance that the city will participate in an investment forum, a milestone activity, in Makati City on Wednesday.

He added that the forum will showcase that there are a lot of things that can be done for the city’s development.

“We will have an investment forum Wednesday and he is afraid that the people will talk about it,” Moreno said, referring to the reasons why Emano would like to divert the attention of the people through raising issues.

Emano as City Council consultant

“What’s new with that?” a rhetorical question raised by Mayor Oscar Moreno to express his opinion regarding the plans to hire former mayor Vicente Emano as a consultant of the City Council.

Moreno added that the people of the city already knew that he (Emano) controls the City Council.

Meanwhile, city administrator Roy Raagas told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the majority bloc in the City Council is conducting meetings before the regular sessions.

Raagas added that Emano has been influencing the decision of the City Council on those meetings.

Chaos

Raagas said the former mayor as a consultant of the City Council will only create turmoil.

He said the city councilors from the majority bloc who would like to work with the present administration toward development will be hampered.

Raagas added the hiring of Emano as a consultant of the City Council will only legitimize his personal interest in influencing the affairs of the city.

“Why can he not wait for the next elections?” Raagas asked.

As to the P1 per annum consultancy rate of the former mayor, Raagas said he (Emano) would even pay if he needs to just to get into the matters of the city.

Councilor Zaldy Ocon asked: “P1 per year?”

Ocon added that the former mayor should rest because he is not needed in the City Council.

Raagas added the former mayor has only presided once in the City Council when he was still the vice mayor.

Raagas said the present vice mayor is more knowledgeable than Emano.

Ocon added it is their decision to hire Emano as consultant but it will only cause trouble.

“If they’ve got nothing to do, they should not create trouble,” Ocon said, adding that the hiring Emano as City Council consultant will not affect the desire of the administration to serve their constituents—the people of the city.

Vice mayor plans to hire ex-mayor as consultant'

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/10/vice-mayor-plans-hire-ex-mayor-consultant-327538
• Monday, February 10, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

THE Cagayan de Oro City Council will tackle on Monday a proposed ordinance authorizing Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas to enter into a contract on consultancy services with former mayor Vicente Emano.

The councilors will deliberate Acenas's hiring of Emano for consultancy services with P1 rate per annum and whose specific services are not stated in the proposed ordinance 2014-23.

Councilor Eric Salcedo said the proposed ordinance would only justify the interference of Emano in the affairs of the city under the new administration.

“He (Emano) just wants to interfere. He has nothing that can help the vice mayor,” Salcedo said, adding that Acenas knows better than the former mayor.

Salcedo added that Emano presided only once in his term as the vice mayor of the city during the stint of former mayor Constantino Jaraula.

Salcedo added that if Emano cannot be stopped, or if the proposed ordinance will be approved by the City Council, then Emano should explain the P55-million cash advance he made during his stint as the mayor.

The proposed ordinance states that the funds necessary for the “Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or MOOE: Consultancy Services” will be taken from the Office of the City Council-Secretary in the 2014 General Appropriations Ordinance.

The deliberations regarding the deferment, approval or rejection of the ordinance takes place at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the session hall of the City Council.

Along with the former mayor, the proposed ordinance 2014-20 and 21 will also allow Michael Salvador and lawyer Andrew Barba to become consultants of the vice mayor, with wages of P15,000 and P20,000 per month, respectively.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried to get comments from Acenas and Councilors Ramon Tabor and President Elipe but failed. Elipe and Acenas did not take the calls and Tabor did not answer the message.

Netizens’ take

To get the people’s thoughts on the issue, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro posted on Facebook the question: What is your take on the proposed ordinance of the City Council to hire former mayor Vicente Emano as a consultant at P1 rate per year? It has not been specified what the consultancy is all about.

For Arnette Tamparong, she said: “I don't think this is a good idea... We have the City Council to do the work… Why pay for another person????”

Nixon Baban said, “More heads are better than one. This is a welcome move if indeed the intention to help is sincere, instead of making a mockery out of the political processes. And hopefully, it would not stop the majority bloc of the City Council or the whole august body for that matter, from listening and keeping an open mind to the voice of the supreme consultant - the people (who need not be paid the P1.00/year consultancy fee).”

Another Facebook user Coy Fuentes raised the question, “Is the price an insult of some sort?”

Ismar Irenick Roa Estrella thought, “I can only wonder what are the sinister motives behind that move, if true!!!! Isn't it obvious? He just can't move on yet with his life after the May 2013 local elections. This is an indication, among other things, that the subject political lord is a hard loser. He thought that he is always a winner in every political derby he is in. So it is better for him not to submit himself anymore to the judgment of the given electoral populace. Instead, he will find some dictatorial ways to perpetuate himself in power at the expense of genuine democracy. But can the majority of the Cagayanons permit that to happen in our midst???? No way!!! Let us not sleep about these matters including its twists and turns involving those political shenanigans of and pretenders in our city. Let us at all times be vigilant about these local political realities and the forth coming hidden political schemes authored and co-sponsored by the pretenders to the throne! Lastly, let us always pray against political evils who intend to deprive us from enjoying the benefits of transparent and accountable local governance as always espoused and put into effect by the Moreno Administration!!!”

For his part, Enrico Ramon Lluch said: “That will cause political havoc. Hire professional public administrators!”

For Tito Mora, he said, “So they want to make it official? Big deal. For what is the use of jesters and clowns if they do not have a lord to amuse. We all know that the deposed mayor is still dictating what goes on in the Council. And come to think of it, do these clowns and jesters have any chance of getting elected without their master tactician? Not a chance. For whatever brains and balls they had, were chopped up and offered in the altar of power and greed. They really have nowhere else to go. So I hope that it will now become clear to Mayor Moreno, that this term is all about removing all the vestiges of the past, not just the personalities but their way of doing things. If it smells like crap, then it must be crap and any fecal matter is just going to stink till it gets dry and be of use to mankind. It is time to remove those kid's gloves and fire away. And please do not forget the Board and GM of the COWD.”

Aaron Neri’s take is: “Gi propose nila kana para example kunuhay sa current consultants nga nagdawat ug 20-35k a month. Unya ang iya kai P1/yr man kuno. Pamulabog ng ila. Majority ra ba ang mga Tonto.”

Midj KAn said: “I can’t help but to doubt the true motive behind the said proposed ordinance hiring former mayor Emano as consultant. It will only create conflict. If it is true that mayor Emano's reason to accept the post is for the people then he should respect their choice and support and give Mayor Moreno a chance to prove himself. Let us not allow the political evils be the hindrance of the transparent and good governance that the present administration is purporting.”

Aequitas Mic’s reply: “I find the proposal intriguing and I questioned the supposed P1.00/year compensation. I think there is more to it than meets the eye. And for what reason should the City Council hire an ex mayor? Another disaster waiting to happen.”

Ken Steve said: “Ila seguro idol si moreno who has hired a lot of consultants despite the fact nga fully filled-up man seguro ang plantilla sa cd, busa ilang gi awat. Why really hire consultants nga in-place na man tanan department heads and rank-and-file employees? Kung kinahanglan man gyod ug consultants, ngano man sab nga ang e hire apil kadtong mga partymates sa mayor nga nangapilde adtong election? And to think that some of losing candidates who were hired as consultants were placed in posts beyond their areas of competence, making these consultants look like square pegs in round holes.”

Barangay Assembly

• Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/mindanao-newsbits-february-9-2014-185824765.html
• Sunday, February 9, 2014

By Mike Crismundo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Region-10 office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-10) is set to assemble all barangay (village) leaders for the 2014 Barangay Assembly in Northern Mindanao, in line with Proclamation No. 260, Series of 2011, which declares the last Saturday of March and the second Sunday of October every year as Barangay Assembly Days. DILG-10 Director Atty. Rene K. Burdeos said the two Barangay Assembly for 2014 (first on March 29), serves to instigate the norms of transparency, responsiveness, accountability, and participation at the barangay level. The DILG-10 issued Memorandum Circular No. 2014-09 for the conduct of Barangay Assembly Day for the first semester of CY 2014 on March 29, 2014. (Mike Crismundo)

Lawmaker’s bill to make Oro 'mining-free zone'

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/02/08/lawmaker-s-bill-make-oro-mining-free-zone-327268
• Saturday, February 8, 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

CAGAYAN de Oro will soon be a mining-free zone after Congress passed the bill filed by this city’s Second District representative Rufus Rodriguez in its final reading without objection.

Rodriguez said last week the proposed legislation he filed, House Bill No. 45, went through the plenary unopposed.

“And last Monday, it (the bill) was approved on the third reading with the support of 293 lawmakers,” said Rodriguez.

It was first passed on the committee on the natural resources and still no one objected to the bill.

He furthered that he had conversations with some of the senators like Teofisto Guingona III and he is optimistic that it will be approved at the Senate level and eventually gets signed by the president into law.

“There are no further obstacles and I see this will be approved in the Senate,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, Lorelyn Dumaug, the 1st district chairman of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP), said the group is hopeful that the bill will be approved in the Senate.

She furthered that the approval of the Lower House is already a big thing.

Dumaug said CDP believes that the group stands for responsible mining, “but in areas where declaring a mining-free zone is a necessity, then we are in full support of it.”

“I can see that declaring (Cagayan de Oro) and Iligan as mining-free zones is a necessity,” said Dumaug.

Objective

The main reason why the bill was created is to prevent another Sendong-like calamity in the city.

“The objective was to protect the environment, and through that we can prevent the occurrence of another Sendong,” Rodriguez said.

He added that the bill was also created to stop illegal small-mining operations in the city’s hinterland areas.

Rodriguez cited the recent discoveries of mining operations in Cagayan de Oro’s upland communities.

He added that mining in the city was abused resulting to the destruction of the ecology and one of its dangerous effects was Sendong.

Dumaug said the city needs this bill to become a law because the environment urgently needs rehabilitation as a proactive measure against calamities.

She said in the city’s upstream rivers, the water is murky and it is not anymore normal.

Rodriguez and his brother Maximo Jr., the representative of Abante Mindanao (Abamin) party-list, authored House Bill 45 (HB 45).

HB 45 declares that: “It is the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.”

It added that it is the role of the State to “protect the people and the environment in Cagayan de Oro City from the adverse effects of mining.”

Section 3 states that any person who violates any provisions of the Act shall be penalized with imprisonment of at least six years but not more than 12 years.

The violators will also be fined of at least P100,000 but not more than P500,000.

In cases where the mining firm is foreign, their local representatives like the manager, president, or its agent in the Philippines shall be held liable.

Livelihood

Dumaug said the CDP is aware that this bill will surely affect the livelihood of the people in the hinterland communities, especially those who are engaged in mining.

She said: “But if the government is really serious in rehabilitating the environment then they must find a way.”

Prior to the proposal of the bill declaring the city as a mining-free zone, Rodriguez said a law has already been created to help the people in the hinterlands with their livelihood and reforestation.

Republic Act No. 10452 seeks to reforest some 3,000 hectares in the hinterlands of the city.

“When there’s no mining, there’s a way to take care of the livelihood of the people in the area,” said Rodriguez.

He said the budget for reforestation is around P35 million that is now in the hands of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Rodriguez said the reforestation project would provide the people an option to get a livelihood than depend on mining work.

“So, while stopping mining this (reforestation) will help, people will have livelihood,” said Rodriguez.

He added the administration of City Mayor Oscar Moreno is also planning to implement programs like livestock raising, handicraft and food production among others to aid people’s livelihood.

Blood money: Martial Law victims get P50,000

• Source: http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2014/02/07/blood-money-martial-law-victims-get-p50000/
• Friday, February 7, 2014

By Froilan Gallardo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/08 February) – Over 200 Martial Law victims received P50,000 each on Friday as part of an indemnification for the human rights violations committed against them by the Marcos dictatorship.

The amount, which was handed out by American lawyer Robert Swift, was the second tranche derived from a US$10-million settlement over a painting owned by former First Lady and now Leyte Rep. Imelda Marcos.

Lawyer Nestor Montemor of Claimants 1081 said 175 of the claimants came from Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao provinces and 30 others came from Davao City.

“This is already the second tranche of the indemnification ordered by a Hawaiian court to the Martial Law victims,” Montemor said.

A Hawaiian court in 1992 awarded US$2 billion in compensatory and exemplary damages to 10,000 human rights victims during the Martial Law administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and his family.

The indemnification formed part of a ruling on a class suit filed by at least 10,000 Martial Law victims against the Marcoses.

Swift, who represented the victims before a court in Honolulu, arrived here Friday noon from Butuan City where he also gave the same amount to each Martial Law victim.

The victims received the first payment more than a year ago.

“My struggle against the Marcos regime is not about money. It was principled resistance against an enemy of freedom,” Ruth Fernandez, a government employee said.

Fernandez was a 16-year-old student at Xavier University when the defunct Philippine Constabulary (forerunner of the Philippine National Police) arrested her when Martial Law was declared midnight of Sept. 22, 1972.

(Officially, the Martial Law edict, Proclamation 1081, was dated Sept. 21, 1972. But it was actually declared on midnight of Sept. 22, 1972. It is said Marcos used Sept. 21 as the official date because he was fond of numbers that are divisible by seven. – Ed.)

She was incarcerated in Camp Alagar with other student activists, militant workers and journalists.

Swift gave Fernandez a P50,000 check—proceeds of a US$10-million settlement derived from an 1899 painting by French artist Claude Monet owned by Rep. Imelda Marcos that the court said was illegally sold to a European millionaire.

Not all of the thousands who were brutalized during the Martial rule, however, received indemnification.

Lawyer Oscar Musni was all ears as members of Claimants 1081 explained the instructions on how those victims whose names were excluded from the list may claim compensation.

“Somewhere my application got lost. I don’t know how it happened,” Musni, who eventually became a human rights lawyer during Martial Law and beyond, said.

Montemor said those who have claims should apply with the Humån Rights Violations Claims Board that will be set up by President Aquino after Congress passed Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation Act. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

DepEd 10 announces opening of Fullbright Scholarship SY 2015-2016

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2611391568946
• Thursday, February 6, 2014

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) – The Department of Education Region 10 (DepEd-10) through the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAFF) announces the opening of 2015-2016 Fullbright Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program (FPASP) for advanced research awards in agriculture and fisheries in the United States.

According to Esmeralda Cunanan, PAFF executive director that this Agriculture Scholarship Program aims to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the Philippines by developing their human resource base through bilateral educational exchanges between the U.S. and the Philippines.

Further, she said that the objective of the grant is not only to enable recipients to pursue particular fields of study research but also to develop leaders in agriculture and fisheries who can contribute to promoting better understanding between the Philippines and United States.

Under the 2015-2016 program, awards are given to Filipino professionals, researchers, faculty or doctoral students specializing in agriculture, fisheries and forestry fields to conduct advanced research or non-degree doctoral dissertation research in the U.S.

Application forms may be downloaded from PAFF website www.fullbright.org.ph.

Applicants for these grants will be received by PAFF until June 30, 2014. (JMOR/PIA)

House approves bills declaring CDO, Catanduanes mining-free

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/02/05/1286670/house-approves-bills-declaring-cdo-catanduanes-mining-free
• Wednesday, February 5, 2014

By Jess Diaz

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has declared Cagayan de Oro City and Catanduanes mining-free local government units (LGUs).

The chamber approved on third and final reading two bills banning mining in these areas.

Two other measures declaring Nueva Vizcaya and Eastern Samar mining-free are awaiting approval.

The bills, authored by representatives of the concerned LGUs, contain similar provisions. The committee on environment and natural resources endorsed their approval.

The proposed laws declare that it is the State’s policy “to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful economy… Toward this end, the State shall protect the people and the environment… from the adverse effects of mining.”

They define mining as the “extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth and shall include such mining activities as exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing, and large-scale quarry operations involving cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel construction aggregates.”

However, quarrying of gravel and sand for pro-jects directly undertaken by national government agencies or the affected LGUs would be exempted from the proposed laws but subject to existing mining and environmental regulations.

Existing miners, if there are any, would be given time to relocate.

Violators would face imprisonment of six to 12 years and a fine of P100,000 to P500,000.

If the violator were a corporation or association, the president and general manager, or agent or representative, in case of a foreign entity, would suffer the punishment.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources would be mandated to issue rules and regulations.

The approved bills would be sent shortly to the Senate, which usually respects the decision of the House on measures with local application.

CdO pawnshop robbers known

• Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2014/01/cdo-pawnshop-robbers-known/
• Tuesday, February 4, 2014

By Camcer Ordonez Imam

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Police have identified the suspects in a pawnshop robbery during the holidays here. Police Inspector Ariel Pontillas, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, said the images taken from the CCTV of the motel where the group checked-in matched the images of four persons involved in a similar case in Caraga region.

Pontillas said the same group was also tagged in robbery cases in others parts of Mindanao, such as the Valencia case. Police identified the suspects as “Acetylene Gang, members Edmon Paliag, Arnel Bagudang, Rico Patunggay, and Ardis Colon alias “George” and “Pablo”. The group was previously into mining operation in Benguet before they engaged in robbery, Pontillas said. One of the suspects, who registered as a certain Dennis Paisan, identified himself as an engineer, according to the motel staff. Pontillas said the robbers checked in at a budget motel adjacent to the building occupied by the Alson Pawnshop. The suspects stayed in three rooms of the motel for four days before they executed the robbery. From the inn, the robbers bore two holes that led them to the pawnshop where they opened two safety vaults using oxygen tanks and other tools which were later recovered by the police from the crime scene. Pontillas said, although subjected for confirmation yet, the suspects could have carted away R10 million worth of jewelry, gadgets, and cash.

Local indie films to be shown in Cinema Rehiyon 6

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2611391392204
• Monday, February 3, 2014

By Sherlyn E. Lugto

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA) - With this year’s theme “Filming the Frontiers,” Cinema Rehiyon on its sixth installment aims to expose the works of the young and aspiring filmmakers residing in different regions in the country.

During the press conference in XU Little theater on January 28, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Head of the National Committee on Cinema Miguel Rapatan, and Hobart Savior, the Festival Director, explained that this festival is to give support and recognition to the hopeful directors in their eagerness and enthusiasm in producing films which are totally not commercialized and are educational and sensible.

Savior said that this yearly activity aims to let the spectators realize and embrace the diverse culture of people residing in different areas in the country.

“Our uniqueness and diversity should be showcased in a form of art and that is through film making. With this, we will be bringing together and share different cultures which would be very much helpful in terms of uniting people,” Savior said.

This year, a total of 93 digital films from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be shown in SM City Cinema 3 and XU Little Theater this February 19 to 22.

During the press conference, Savior and Rapatan informed that audiences will not anymore need to buy tickets to watch the films. Instead they just need to bring with them any of these combinations: toothbrush and soap; four pieces sanitary napkins; or toothpaste and soap to be donated in the Visayas for the Yolanda survivors.

Furthermore, there will be an acting workshop to be held in XU Little Theater on February 20 and 21. The acting workshop will be conducted by Rez Cortez and Leo Martinez – veteran actors in the country. A two-week crash course in film production will also be handled and organized by NCCA.

“With all these workshops being organized and offered, we hope that our aspiring filmmakers today will be enriched and equipped with the rightful knowledge and skills in producing sensible films so we could be able to relive or bring back those times when all the films shown in our country was all made with logical sense,” Rapatan added. (Sherlyn E. Lugto/JMOR/PIA10)

House bill seeks more leave benefits for judges

• Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/572516/house-bill-seeks-more-leave-benefits-for-judges
• Sunday, February 2, 2014

By newsinfo.inquirer.net

House bill seeks more leave benefits for judges

• Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/572516/house-bill-seeks-more-leave-benefits-for-judges
• Saturday, February 1, 2014

By newsinfo.inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—Due to adverse effects of long hours of work, judges may be granted additional sick and vacation leaves if a House bill filed by the Rodriguez solons is passed. Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. filed House Bill No. 3318 which seeks to grant additional 15 days sick and 15 days vacation leaves for judges of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, and Shari’a Circuit Courts. The leave benefits will be on top of the 15 days sick and 15 days vacation leaves mandated by law for employees in the Philippines, the lawmakers said in a statement Saturday. The bill will ensure that these judges will have the same number of leaves as their counterparts in Regional Trial Court and Shari’a District Court, the statement read. The Rodriguez brothers said long hours of work “affect the emotional, mental and even psychological well-being of judges.” The additional leaves would give judges more time to rest from their stressful work, they said. Excluded from the additional leaves are Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the lawmakers said. The leave benefits will be non-cumulative but cannot be converted to cash, they added.