Cagayan de Oro City News June 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

P155-M MisOr road project seen to spur econ growth

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2014/06/10/p155-m-misor-road-project-seen-spur-econ-growth-347441
• Tuesday, June 10, 2014

By Lenesse Marie Libres

RESIDENTS of Misamis Oriental now have something to look forward to as more than P155 million has been allocated for the improvement of the national highway connecting the province to some parts of Mindanao.

The Department of Public Works and Highways-region 10 (DPWH-10), through the initiative of Misamis Oriental 2nd district Representative Juliette T. Uy, held a groundbreaking ceremony in El Salvador City and in the municipalities of Alubijid, Laguindingan and Opol on June 6.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in line with the upgrading of road projects in Cagayan de Oro, Opol, Laguindingan, Alubijid, Iligan, and Butuan.

The project amounts to more than P155 million and to be completed come April 2015.

The improvement of the national highway in Misamis Oriental is seen to increase the economic growth in the cities and municipalities that benefit from it.

From two lanes, the road widening project along Butuan to Iligan road will expand into four lanes addressing the problem with traffic congestion particularly since the opening of Laguindingan Airport.

At the intersection of Laguindingan Airport and the national highway, a rotunda with a miniature of an airplane indicating that visitors have arrived at the airport will soon serve as a landmark.

Local government officials shared their delight in the improvement of their areas.

“We encountered these problems: condensed traffic, big trucks which delay transportation. I am pleased that El Salvador City is a recipient of this project,” said El Salvador mayor Alfredo Q. Tan.

Opol town mayor Maximo B. Seno shared his excitement for Opol. “You saw Opol in 2013, you will see Opol in 2016. The results will show in the coming years.”

Retrieving the road right-of-way

“The development of the national highway in Misamis Oriental will be successful if the local barangay officials of each city and municipality and DPWH will work together,” said Engr. Lilibeth Aparicio of DPWH-10.

Aparicio appealed to local officials of the recipient cities and municipalities to coordinate with them in retrieving the road right-of-way.

Residents and street vendors refused to vacate the street side since it is their home where they also earn.

According to DPWH’s Highway Rights, the road right-of-way shall not be less than 20 meters but such minimum width may be reduced to fifteen meters in highly urbanized areas.

DPWH want to implement such strict measurements for the benefit of the public but the residents' refusal to give way to the construction might cause the project to slow down.

The 360-calendar-day span of the road projects is a huge allowance with regard to disturbances in nature and the clearing of the residents living along the highway.

Solar-powered lighting poles along the highway

In 2015, solar-powered lighting poles are expected to be up along the national highway.

“Even before I entered politics, I noticed that our roads do not have proper lighting or worse, none at all. With lights, crime and road disasters will decrease,” Uy said.

Last December 2013, Uy announced to the mayors about the plan to put up lighting poles.

However, this solicited hesitations from them due to the lack of funding to pay for additional electricity bills.

Fortunately, these solar-powered street lights, to be put up along Opol to Lugait and Tagoloan to Jasaan as far as Claveria, will not cost the national government even a peso.

“A private sector has agreed to fund the project which will include LCDs and CCTVs. This project will push through after the upgrading of the road projects as what we have discussed with Secretary Singson,” Uy assured.

CDO solon eyed to head House panel on Bangsamoro law

• Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/364835/news/nation/cdo-solon-eyed-to-head-house-panel-on-bangsamoro-law
• Monday, June 9, 2014 12:13 pm

By XIANNE ARCANGEL

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is being eyed to head the special ad hoc committee that will deliberate on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the House of Representatives, Majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said Monday.

“He is one of those being considered,” Gonzales said in a text message.

News reports have named Rodriguez as the chairman of the ad hoc committee on the BBL, which will be formed after Congress receives a copy of the draft law from Malacañang.

Sought for confirmation, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said a decision on who will head the special House panel has not been reached.

“No such decision has been made as we have not even received a copy of the agreement,” he told GMA News Online.

Belmonte earlier said a lawmaker from Mindanao will head the ad hoc committee, although he deferred from mentioning names.

Lawmakers have yet to receive the draft of the proposed legislation even though Congress is set to adjourn on June 11.

Last week, Belmonte said he has told Malacañang it would be advisable to submit the draft BBL after President Benigno Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 28.

According to Palace officials, the Office of the President is still reviewing the draft law to ensure it will be able to withstand legal scrutiny.

Malacañang has said it wants the BBL to be passed into law before 2014 ends so the plebiscite in the “envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro” can be held by mid-2015 or earlier.

The measure will formalize the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as stipulated in the peace agreement reached between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Primavera Residences to pour more investments in Oro

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2014/06/08/primavera-residences-pour-more-investments-oro-347088
• Sunday, June 8, 2014

By Lenesse Marie Libres

DESPITE allegations that Mindanao is a poor ground for investment, international investors have been eyeing it this year.

Cagayan de Oro, along with Batangas and Iloilo, are selected by the USAID as secondary cities to promote economic growth. USAID assistant administrator for Asia Denise Rollins and mission director Gloria Steele along with other officials visit Primavera Residences on June 7, 2014.

Primavera is known for its eco–friendly and modern Italian-styled buildings. The company promotes sustainable architecture by using photovoltaic solar panels which generates green electricity from sunlight. The building is designed to save 32 percent on the energy consumption because of its natural ventilation and heat reduction.

Arch. Romolo Nati, CEO and executive chairman of Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI) encourages businessmen to invest in Cagayan de Oro. “We think Cagayan de Oro is a major city in Mindanao. It is moving upward. There are opportunities here and it is very promising.”

Combining profit and advocacy

In 2010, Primavera was recognized by the Climate Technology Initiative-Private Financing Advisory Network (CTI–PFAN) as a Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunity and in 2013, Primavera City, ITPI’s upcoming development project in the city placed among the top 10 most promising clean energy investment opportunities in the Philippines.

Nati voices their interest in alternative location. “People can work and enjoy life in their provinces without going to Metro Manila. We like to say that we go where no one has gone before. We do business in a sustainable way: Economic, Environmental and Social Sustainability. We have to do business with integrity. We cannot do business and destroy the environment or disregard the social impact our venture will cause.”

With the world relying too much on technology, Primavera uses nature as their role model.

Centering on performance in an environment that sustains itself, Primavera Residences aims to contribute to the well–being of the entire community through respect and love of nature.

USAID exec renews US pledge to promote cities as ‘engines for growth’

• Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/33436-usaid-exec-renews-us-pledge-to-promote-cities-as-engines-for-growth
• Saturday, June 7, 2014

By Butch D. Enerio (Correspondent)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A regional executive for Asia of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited this city last week to renew the US government’s commitment to promote cities as engines of growth under the Cities Development Initiative (CDI) of the US-Philippines Partnership for Growth.

Welcomed by Mayor Oscar Moreno, Denise Rollins conducted a walking tour of the City Hall’s Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), which was established with the assistance of USAID through its Investment Enabling Environment Project (Invest).

This effort in Invest enabled CdO to achieve significant progress in streamlining its business-permitting process, significantly reducing processing time for renewals from 19 days to less than an hour in 2014, provided all necessary documents and requirements are complete.

Launched in 2012, the CDI seeks to promote economic development outside Metro Manila to disperse economic opportunities and enable the country to accelerate and sustain higher, broad-based inclusive growth.

Rollins was accompanied by USAID Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele.

Rollins visited program sites and engaged with local leaders and families representing the wide scope of USAID’s work in the Philippines, from government officials, to business and community pioneers, to survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

Moreno said his administration is doing well and that expectations are met in line with Invest. “We have to do more to show that indeed, we are a growing city and an investment destination in northern Mindanao,” Moreno said.

As proof, Moreno said the city has done tremendously in its revenue collection, exceeding the previous years’ figures.

In January to March 2012 the collection amounted only to P274,527,431. During the same period in 2013, the city’s collection was P297,276,880. In 2014 revenue collection amounted to P412,401,098.

This city has been one of the first cities to set up a Satellite BOSS, (outside the City Hall) during the January 2013 and January 2014 renewal period. The city’s efforts to streamline its business processes and cut red tape earned it the distinction of being the No. 1 most competitive city in the Philippines in 2012, based on a study by the National Competitive Council.

“Cagayan de Oro City is indeed on track in making itself known in the Philippines as an ideal place for business and investment,” Rollins said.

She said this city will continue to generate volumes of additional investments and increased economic activity to help achieve broad-based, inclusive and resilient growth.”

As part of the CDI, the US government and partner cities—currently CdO, Batangas, and IloIlo—hold mutual responsibility for promoting growth through appropriate incentives and policies, greater transparency and accountability and increased competitiveness.

Thousands join CDO tree planting on World Environment Day

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=8&rid=651101
• Friday, June 6, 2014

By Ercel Maandig [(PNA), LAM/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/UTB]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 5 (PNA) -– Thousands of people in this seaport capital of Northern Mindanao joined the tree planting activities on Thursday as the country celebrates the environment month of June and “World Environment Day,” an environment official said on Friday.

Ruth Tawan-Tawan, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, said that the participants came from various government agencies and private stakeholders in Cagayan De Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

She said that workers of public and private institutions, civil society groups, the youth, the academia and the local media joined hands in the planting of about 5,000 mangrove seedlings in the coastal village of Taytay in El Salvador City on the western coast of Misamis Oriental.

Another group led by the National Irrigation Administration in the region also held a tree planting activity on Friday at the Malasag Tree Park in Upper Cugman, Tawan-Tawan said.

She said that the Fraternal Order of Eagles (Philippine Eagles) in Northern Mindanao Region (NMR) is also spearheading a massive tree planting activities in the coastal village of Bonbon in Opol in Misamis Oriental on June 12, 2014 as part of the World Environment Month/Day that also coincides with the National Eagle’s Week celebration.

Tawan-Tawan said that the World Environment Day every 5th of June is being used by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourages political action.

Included is global warming which causes ocean levels to rise at an increasing rate. When global temperature rises, water expands and occupies more space. Ice melts which also contributes to rise of sea level.

A study released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) revealed that the global sea levels had risen from 10 to 25cm over the last 100 years.

As the temperature heats up, extreme weather events, such as heat waves, floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes become more frequent and severe, Tawan-Tawan said.

Tawan-Tawan said that DENR Region 10, in cooperation with the people’s organization, indigenous people, academe, local government units (LGU), other government agencies and stakeholders reforested 46,395 hectares from 2011 to 2013.

The DENR is also focusing on the country’s coastal areas as the depletion of the 500,000 hectares mangrove forest due to coastal development, land conversion, and reclamation, Tawan-Tawan said.

She said that, more or less, only about 100,000 hectares mangrove forests are visible today including the mangroves in Taytay.

There is an urgent need to protect the mangroves since these coastal forests protect the people and communities who are living along the coastlines as buffer shields during typhoons and storm surges.

The mangrove forest also serves as the nursery ground for fish, prawns, and crabs aside from supporting the production of fish in coastal waters, Tawan-Tawan said.

She said that the celebration of the World Environment Month/Day is a call for solidarity in mitigating climate change where the positive action of every person would contribute in the world’s struggle against climate change and the sustainable preservation of the world environment.

Oro’s senior citizens still enjoy free movies

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lifestyle/2014/06/05/oro-s-senior-citizens-still-enjoy-free-movies-346561
• Thursday, June 5, 2014

By Lenesse Marie Libres

THE city’s lolos and lolas (grandparents) will still have an excuse to go out and get those legs some exercise.

Each Monday, the senior citizens of Cagayan de Oro get to pick any movie at Ayala and Gaisano mall cinemas during the first screening which falls around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on the movie.

The free movie can be availed of by presenting their Senior Citizen IDs. The person who owns the ID must be present, as well.

The appeal to all the theater and cinema owners in the city to grant complimentary movie access to senior citizens is just one of the benefits and privileges provided as stated in Republic Act No. 9994, also known as The Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2010.

Verna Casiño, an employee at the Gaisano cinema, said that senior citizens have frequented the movie house during Mondays.

“Some even come with their apos or the whole family. I think it increases the sales of the cinema because grandparents rarely go to the movie house alone. It also promotes family time,” Casiño said.

The free move is a joint endeavor of the Regulatory Complaints Board (RCB) and the Cagayan de Oro City Movie Operators.

Their goal of this is to enhance the leisure of the senior citizens who have given service and contributed to the growth of our city for the past years.

Even teenagers voiced their opinion on the free movies for their grandparents.

Van, 17, and Elaiza, 14, usually goes to the movies with their lola. They said it has become a bonding time for them during the summer where they can go out on a Monday when classes haven’t started yet.

Movie privilege given to senior citizens is also implemented in other cities such as Quezon City, Iloilo, Makati City, Pasig City, and Manila. Mondays and Tuesdays at Centrio

Prior to the city-wide launch of “Sine Libre Para sa Senior Citizen” last December 2013, Centrio Ayala have started this giveaway since September, last year.

According to Maria Lou Layon, Cinema Cashier of Centrio, the order came from their head office.

The order specified that Ayala Malls are to grant free movies to senior citizens unless they fail to present their ID card.

“We are very strict with our policies,” Layon said.

Recently, Centrio added Tuesday as one of the Free Movie Day for senior citizens.

Although rumors have circulated that this will stop when classes resume, the Centrio management has assured that they will continue this privilege.

“Ayala Malls is pleased to continue to grant this privilege to our senior citizens,” Layon added.

Paje bats for increased upland productivity, not just palm oil

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1471401863943
• Wednesday, June 4, 2014

(DENR/RPAO 10/PIA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 4 (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for increasing the productivity of degraded upland areas, but such should be done in an “ecologically sustainable manner” using various crops not just palm oil.

“We need to develop and make our lands productive. But we will only allow this if this is in accordance with our needs and it is ecologically sustainable,” DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said.

According to Paje, there are around 8 million hectares of denuded and degraded areas in the country, but said his agency’s proposal is to utilize these to establish ecologically-sustainable plantations using native forest species and other high value crops that would strategically address not only the food needs of the Filipino people but also should have high economic value, like rubber and palm oil.

Contrary to news reports, Paje stressed that there is no plan to convert the entire 8 million open and degraded areas to palm plantations.

“While we have big opportunity to learn from the lessons of other countries, both best and worst practices, we are not recommending the massive monoculture of palm and rubber,” Paje stressed.

In the same manner, Paje stressed that the whole 8 million hectares could not be converted into food production such as rice and vegetables as this will engender soil erosion and floods.

“As I have cited in Cagayan de Oro City during the launching of the Mindanao Barangay Strategic Forest Project (BSFP) and the Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) Project, we are recommending upland perennial crops that will improve the water holding capacity of uplands and generate revenues that improve the level of living of upland communities,” he said.

Confab on Mindanao economy, its prospects and future set

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=649785
• Tuesday, June 3, 2014

(PNA), LGI/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/UTB

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 3 (PNA) -- Key transport and customs officials, economists, as well as supply-chain executives will gather for the Mindanao Shipping Conference on June 18 at a downtown hotel here.

Lawyer Oswaldo Page, acting district customs collector here, on Tuesday said the conference would tackle issues on the Mindanao shipping trade prospects, and the role of Northern Mindanao in sustaining the country’s economic growth.

He said the stakeholders would also focus on the government’s logistics strategies for Mindanao, the impact of the ASEAN economic integration in the transport sector, and the Bureau of Customs policies in support of trade facilitation.

Page said the delegates would also get a chance to participate in a high-level networking with the shipping industry executives, manufacturers, importers, and exporters.

He said that highly acclaimed resource persons who are considered expert in their fields have been invited to share their insights on a particular topic during the one-day conference.

Among those invited were Dr. Adora Navarro, a senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, who would discuss about the state of preparedness of the Philippine logistics industry as the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations integrate next year.

Former Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. will talk on the Philippine macro-economic prospects for the next three years, as well as his forecast for Mindanao trade.

Leon Dacanay, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Northern Mindanao, will speak about growth in Mindanao maritime trade, particularly cargo volumes, direction of trade and how shippers should respond.

Police sets up Public Assistance Desk in school premises

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=649506
• Monday, June 2, 2014

(PNA), LGI/CD/UTB

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 2 (PNA) -– The Cagayan De Oro City Police has set up public assistance desk in various public schools in this trading hub of Northern Mindanao during the formal opening the school year 2014-2015 on Monday.

Police Supt. Graciano Mijares, head of the city police force, said the public assistance desk intends to respond to parents and students who might need assistance as more than 300,000 students trooped to public schools here on Monday.

He said the public assistance desk which supervised by the police officers would also preempt commission of petty crimes that usually take place around the school premises during the opening of classes.

“Petty crimes such as snatching, pickpockets, and bullying of students sometime take place within the school premises during opening of classes,” Mijares said.

He said the local police command has already outlined various contingency measures to secure the school premises prior to the opening of classes on Monday.

Aside from setting up the public assistance desk, the local police command has also deployed plain cloth police officers in and out of the school premises, Mijares added.

RTA, police ready as classes open today

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/06/01/rta-police-ready-classes-open-today-345935
• Sunday, June 1, 2014

By Alyssa C. Clenuar

WITH students coming back to school after the two-month summer break, the city’s Road Traffic Authority (RTA) and the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) assures the public of securing the opening of classes in public schools today.

City’s traffic consultant lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy said there are no major changes in the flow of tasks as their prime duties are to lessen traffic congestion in the city and secure people’s safety on the road.

For the entire school year, two RTA personnel are assigned in every school to ensure safety of the elementary and high school students.

“Nothing has changed much as back-to-school is typical already. But we have planned things out on how and where to deploy our personnel and additional enforcers in the field,” Uy said.

With almost 9000 students in Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS), RTA will close the entry to Tiano-Makahambus streets to ease the congestion in Velez-Makahambus streets.

With 180 traffic enforcers deployed to the field, Uy assured that every school will have an RTA officer who can accommodate the people in the area.

In Divisoria, the pilot project of Hapsay Dalan where strict rules on jaywalking, illegal parking and loading and unloading are imposed, RTA deployed 20 more enforcers there.

Cocpo spokesperson Lemuel Gonda also assured there would be police visibility in the city as the police prepare for the school opening.

Gonda said they have received a directive two weeks ago that there should be maximization of police deployment in every school and ‘hotspot’ areas in the city.

“Just like RTA, every school will have two personnel that will be assigned to guard the safety of the people and the students especially and to assist RTA in whatever circumstance they will encounter,” Gonda said.

Cocpo also tapped the barangay police (tanod) for the security they could give to their community since there are also schools in their barangays.

“Expect that the police presence will be at maximum level since there will be roving too […] Since the directive has been passed to us, we immediately readied ourselves. This will continue even after the school year ends,” he said.