Cagayan de Oro City News September 2013

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
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The river of cagayan de oro city
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St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

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

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

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

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

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Limketkai Center Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.jpg
Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

WORM’S EYEVIEW: How trapos corrupt our political system

By Manny Valdehuesa


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/30 Sept.) — Let’s hope the bold steps being taken against those involved in the pork barrel scam, along with the radical shuffling of personnel at Customs, will impact the societal mood sufficiently to lessen public agitation.

The rising anger and disgust are at such levels that they can be exploited by reckless adventurists intent on sowing confusion and mayhem (like what happened in Zamboanga City) to deflect public attention and escape prosecution or worse.

But… however firm or willful the administration is in pursuing the current anti-corruption campaign, however determined it may be to clean up the system, the effects are bound to be transitory unless the people are awakened and empowered and the processes that assure transparency and accountability are institutionalized, backed by a Freedom of Information Act.

It was tolerance of the pork barrel system and our helplessness in having venality arrested that made abuse and shameless plunder possible. For so long, we allowed the ruling cliques to exploit our helplessness. We let them get away with impunity, along with their loot!

Delimiting the People’s Sovereign Role

Not only that, we allowed the traditional politicos—trapos—to confine our role in the political process to a narrow one that served their purposes. This role—on which they focus the people’s attention and through which they manipulate elections —is the simple act of casting one solitary vote every three years.

Trapos have dealt our society a great disservice in having people believe that casting a vote is sufficient to fulfill the duties of a citizen in a democracy. Equally bad, they make the masses believe that it matters little whom they vote for as long as they vote and, if they can, do so many times.

Not least, they’ve actually succeeded in making the poor and the undereducated think it’s all right to support a candidate who buys their vote. Then having made the point, they proceed to buy up all the votes they can afford!

In fact, voting is merely the minimum act required of a citizen in a democracy. It does not embrace the totality of his duties. It is only one of many. There is the duty is to ensure that those who win the election proceed in conjunction with other winners to establish a government that protects and not betrays the public trust, one that enhances and not diminishes the common good. Then to do all other tasks that make democracy vibrant and governance receptive.

To repeat: voting alone does not fulfill the affirmative acts a citizen must perform in order to sustain a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

People Power, Consent–of-the-governed

Essential to such government is people power and its dynamic role in upholding the principle of consent-of-the-governed, to support what is right, to reject or dissent otherwise. And citizens are duty-bound to contribute to the give-and-take of ideas and acts necessary for the governing process.

Doing so applies especially at the primal base of the republic—the barangay—where all the people are and where direct democracy operates. As members of the Barangay Assembly, the community’s legislative governing body and its highest authority, everyone is expected to participate in local governance—just as citizens do in Swiss villages and in Israel or in Athens.

Only in the barangay is it possible to convene an entire community to take up issues that concern them. From municipal to upper levels, it would be unwieldy to convene the entire constituency, which is why they are governed by what is called representative democracy—in which mainly officials (proxies of the people) speak or act on their behalf, although the people may also participate if they so desire.

Let No One Equate Elections with Democracy

Active people power or the exercise of citizen sovereignty is important to ensure consent-of-the-governed to acts of government especially during periods between elections. It is needed in times like today—when the public trust has been violated so grossly, and at the highest level at that!

In the wake of the general outrage provoked by the pork barrel revelations, restoring trust and confidence won’t be easy. No less than a revolution in our attitudes may be called for. Let’s explore this next






Bonifacio’s 150th, other topics up in history meet

By inquirer.net


The structure of the Katipunan is among the topics to be discussed at the 34th National Conference on National and Local History of the Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS) on Oct. 24-26. The conference will be convened at Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro City with the assistance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Committee on Historical Research, the Philippine Social Science Council, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The PNHS is the oldest historical organization in the country, founded in 1941 by the foremost historians of the time. To mark the sesquicentennial of the birth of Andres Bonifacio this year, the conference will open with a paper on The First and True Structure of the Katipunan by Angelito S. Nunag (University of the Philippines Pampanga). The other paper presentations are: Unrest in Northern Mindanao: The Fort Victoria Mutiny, Iligan 1896 and Regiment 68 Mutiny, Cotabato 1898 by Gregorio Jose P. Hontiveros (Butuan City Heritage Society); The 1899 Independence Proclamation of the Kagay-anon Katipuneros in the 2nd District of Mindanao, Roel B. Absin (Xavier University); A Survey on the Role of the Augustinian Recollects in the Establishment of Cagayan de Misamis (1622-1898), Ruhollah Al-Husseini J. Alonto (Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology); Continuity and Change of the Cultural Heritage of Indigenous People in Socsksargen, Domingo M. Non (MSU-General Santos); The Participation of Butuan in the Southeast Asian Maritime Trade before the Advent of Western Colonization, Mary Jane Louise A. Bolunia (National Museum); Revisiting the Sulu Sultanate, Calbi A. Asain (MSU-Sulu); Adaptation of the Laws of Indies Plan in Cebu Province, Kiyoko Yamaguchi (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), among other topics.

Commercial fishing back in CDO waters

By Anjo Bacarisas


SMALL fishermen in Barangay Bonbon criticized the Philippine Maritime police in Northern Mindanao region for failing to halt commercial fishing in the municipal waters leading to scarcity among their ranks.

A dialogue between the commercial fishermen, small fishermen, and various government agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Maritime Police, etc. was held first week of September.

The dialogue was intended to heed the plea of small fishermen that commercial fishing vessels should abide R.A. 8550, also known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.”

But on September 23, members of Bonbon Active Fisherman Organization (Bafo) noticed that commercial fishing vessels are back in the municipal waters and have become greedier.

Back in municipal waters

Merlyn Magsalay, barangay councilor of Bonbon, said “last night (Thursday) the commercial fishing vessels were so close to the shoreline.”

“Kung labayon nimo og bato maabot na (They [commercial fishing vessels] were stones away).”

She added that the commercial fishing boats were back in the municipal waters since Monday and they could not do something about it because they do not have the capacity to fend them off fishing in municipal waters.

“We saw the commercial fishing vessel named Junrose, Kong-kong, Niko and Digs last night,” said Elmer Sambaan, a small fisherman in Bonbon.

Sambaan added there are more commercial fishing vessels that they could not identify because the lights were out.

Worse comes to worst

The president of Bafo Nerio Pactolerin told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the situation has gone worst.

Pactolerin said the crew of the commercial fishing vessels are driving them away from the municipal waters in which where they should be fishing according to the fisheries code.

“Giputol sa taga-commercial fishing ang pukot sa among kauban (The net of our co-fisherman was cut off by one of the crews of the commercial fishing vessel),” said Pactolerin after their co-fisherman refused to leave the area.

Wilfredo Ladao and Emmanuel Pactolerin were the two small fishermen who were driven away by the commercial fishing crew Thursday night.

Magsalay said their situation is hapless and she pities the other small fishermen in Bonbon.

“Pila napud kabulan wala mi pang-sustento ani (For months we won’t have anything for sustenance),” said Magsalay.

Contained anger

“Wala mi ikasukol, kung naa pami armas hurot gyud na sila diha ba (We have nothing to fight them off, if we have guns we could have shot them all),” said Nerio.

Sambaan said if one of the small fishermen in Bonbon will be wounded they will fight to the death if that is what the commercial fishing operators want.

Nerio added they are not thinking about asking help from the government anymore because they have done it already and it yields no results.

Inutile

“Dili namo trabaho ang mangabog (It is not our job to drive the commercial fishing vessels off),” said Magsalay.

She added the seaborne patrols should be the one keeping the municipal waters free from commercial fishing vessels.

“The maritime police are inutile,” she said. “They are not doing their job.”

Useless patrol vessel

Sambaan said the maritime police have a useless patrol vessel in Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Magsalay added they are tired of sending reports to the people in-charge but nothing significant happens to their requests that the commercial vessels should stop fishing in the waters that is supposedly for the small fishermen.

“They are asking that the small fishermen should make reports without even considering that these fishermen did not go to school,” said Magsalay.

“How are they supposed to make reports?” she asked.

Collusion

“The seaborne patrol will call the commercial fishing vessels if they will patrol the municipal waters,” said a fisherman from Bonbon who asked not to be named.

The fisherman added that if the maritime police caught a commercial fishing vessel, they will bribe them with foams of fishes and money to set them free.

Nerio said one of the fishermen from Bonbon saw how the commercial fishing vessels bribed the Maritime police with seven foams of fish.

This reporter tried to call the regional maritime office four times through their number 856-54-85 but nobody answered.

The reporter tried to reach the officer-in-charge of the regional maritime office through the contact details that are posted in the Maritime group’s website (http://mg.pnp.gov.ph) but failed to get their side of the story.

Suspect of radioman killed in Iligan nabbed

By Richel V. Umel


ILIGAN CITY -- The city police nabbed a high profile suspect charged with several murder cases in this city.

Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that police arrested Anecito “Bing” Galvez an alleged gun for hire and Iligan’s most wanted.

One of the cases filed against Galvez was the attempted murder of journalist Jose “Joe” Cagalawan Pantoja, a radio broadcaster in Iligan City. Pantoja was shot on October 8, 2007 in broad daylight after he left his daughter at school.

Regencia said Galvez was also identified as one of the main suspects that allegedly shot and killed Fernando" Nanding" Solijon, a radio commentator. Solijon was shot in Barangay Buru-un on August 29. Two gunmen riding a motorcycle shot Solijon. [Read related story]

However, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Iligan City chief Alex Cabornay said, "he was dismayed over the police’s apprehension since Galvez was not presented to his office prior to Galvez’s interrogation at the police office here."

"Our interest on the suspect is vital to the solution of Solijon's killing,” Cabornay added.

Based on the NBI’s probe, the motorcycle-riding suspects were waiting for Solijon to come down from a house located on an elevated side of a hill. That evening, he had a drink with a new radio colleague, Alvin Suan.

While on the prowl for Solijon, the two bought two cans of sardines in a nearby store, hence, several people remembered their faces.

The two cans were found near the cemented footsteps leading to the house of Suan.

Probers also recovered the face mask used by the trigger man 50 meters away from where Solijon slumped after the shooting.

Witnesses told the NBI the getaway motorcycle was not able to start immediately, and in the process of troubleshooting, the face mask fell off.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried to reach Pantoja Thursday through his mobile phones, but failed.

OPAPP’s role gets mixed reaction from lawmakers

By Bobby Lagsa


THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), the government agency that deals with peace talks with five different tables, has received mixed reaction from two Mindanao lawmakers in connection to the current crisis in Zamboanga City.

Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro City) on Monday lauded the Opapp for its efforts to advance the peace process and stressed the agency’s crucial role in attaining just and lasting peace in the country.

However, Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna), for his part, has called on Congress to “scrutinize” the performance of the Opapp in the ongoing budget deliberations of the proposed 2014 national budget, for its failure to address issues in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which resulted to the standoff between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MNLF in Zamboanga City.

The standoff between government troops and MNLF rebels is now on its third week and claimed more than 100 lives including government forces and civilians.

In an e-mailed statement sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Zarate said Opapp’s tough stand against the MNLF in the peace negotiation and its disregard of Nur Misuari have resulted in the bungling of the peace talk.

OPAPP Budget

The two lawmakers from Mindanao have attended the budget deliberation on Monday for Opapp’s proposed 2014 budget.

Opapp sought for the approval of its 2014 annual budget of P351,547,000 on top of the P7 billion for its PAMANA (Payapa and Masaganang Pamayanan) fund that it administers as part of the government’s peace and development program.

“The Opapp is a small office. It has a small budget of P351 million only but it is charged with a very vital function of achieving peace in our country,” Rodriguez said.

“We see the Opapp as very, very important. I think we should be able to congratulate them because of the achievements they have already secured,” Rodriguez added before other lawmakers during the agency’s pre-plenary budget hearing with the House Committee on Appropriations.

Zarate also questioned President Benigno Aquino III’s inclusive and comprehensive peace policy after Opapp allegedly revealed that it was Aquino’s marching order to terminate peace negotiations with the other rebel group.

Zarate noted Opapp’s selective stand against other peace panels of the negotiations, terminating the MNLF peace talks and scuttling the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiations while rushing and promising more funds to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Patronage politics

Zarate also challenged Congress to delete Opapp’s PAMANA lump sum fund scattered in 10 agencies including the Department of Interior and Local Government, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, National Electrification Administration, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Commission of Indigenous People, and PhilHealth on reports from the ground that it only reinforced the President’s patronage politics and counter-insurgency measures.

Rodriguez, in particular, commended the progress made by Opapp and the peace panel negotiating with the MILF in the ongoing peace talks.

He added that the current military operations against the Misuari’s MNLF faction will not affect the peace process with MILF, a breakaway group of the MNLF.

“I had the good fortune to be an observer in the 39th formal talks, and I saw the sincerity of both panels (government and MILF). I saw in their faces and actuations that there is a very big chance that this (peace) will be achieved,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez added that Opapp spearheaded by Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles is mandated to oversee, coordinate, and integrate the implementation of the comprehensive peace process by virtue of Executive Order No. 3-2001.

Opapp is also tasked with the government’s negotiations for political settlements with rebel groups recognized by government as having legitimate grievances, as well as pursuing the complete implementation of previously signed peace pacts.

Snag with NDFP

However, the GPH-NDFP negotiations hit a snag in February 2011 following the government’s failure to release political prisoners, particularly the detained NDFP consultants, which was an agreed confidence-building measure in the resumption of the talks.

Nur Misuari and the rest of the MNLF, on the other hand, accused the government of unilaterally terminating the GPH-MNLF-Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) Tripartite Review of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement which resulted to Misuari’s declaration of Mindanao independence in August this year and the standoff in Zamboanga City.

“The peace policy of President Aquino should not be divisive and exclusive. It should not leave out a legitimate group just to appease another group. This is no way of talking peace in Mindanao,” Zarate said.

Opapp is currently having five peace tables: those with the MILF and the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed component the New People’s Army and its political arm NDF for negotiations on political settlement.

It is dealing with the MNLF that is currently undertaking a Tripartite Implementation Review process with the group and facilitated by the OIC-Peace Committee for the Southern Philippines.

Opapp also deals with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Army in Northern Luzon that signed a closure agreement last July 4, 2011, and with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade that is expected to sign a closure agreement soon.

DSWD extends age coverage for Pantawid Pamilya in N. Mindanao

By (Charmaine P. Tadlas-DSWD/RTP/PIA10)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, September 25 (PIA) – About 4,921 households in Northern Mindanao will continue to receive cash grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the conditional cash transfer (CCT) scheme of the national government.

This, after the national government under President Benigno Aquino’s administration declared extension of age coverage for children under the CCT program.

Previously, Pantawid Pamilya only covered those poor families with children whose age range from 0-14 years old. With the Program’s Extended Age Coverage (EAC), the same households that have children aged 15 to 17 shall continue to receive the Program’s cash grants amounting to a maximum of P1,400.00 every month.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children.

The program provides cash grants to beneficiaries provided that they comply with the set of conditions required by the program: Health and Nutrition conditions require periodic checkups, growth monitoring, and vaccinations for children 0-5 years of age; twice a year intake of de-worming pills for children, pre- and post-natal care for pregnant women and attendance of parents in family development sessions.

Education conditions include children’s day-care or school enrollment, attendance equivalent to 85% of school days.

At present, 237,848 households are now benefiting from Pantawid Pamilya in Northern Mindanao.

Power spot trading in Mindanao begins

By (PNA)

HBC/CD/NELSON V. CONSTANTINO/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY,Sept. 24 (PNA) -- The Interim Mindanao Electricity Market can now start operating following the recent approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission on the petition for provisional authority filed by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp., which will operate the trading floor in Cagayan de Oro City.

The granting of the provisional authority enables the PEMC, the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, to proceed with the operation of the trading floor for electricity in Mindanao.

The IMEM is designed to act as a day-ahead market where contracted capacities are traded.

The day-ahead price is market driven and will be subject to an offer cap to be agreed with the regulators.

The proposed price cap for energy supply to be traded in the IMEM has been set at P36 per kilowatt hour (kwh), according to Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.

Such decision, he said, had been based on the outcome of discussions that the IMEM operator held with stakeholders in the grid.

The petition for the price cap was lodged with the ERC for its approval. Basically, that cap is lower than the P62 per kilowatt hour enforced for the Luzon and Visayas Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. During the IMEM launch of the SMX Convention Center in Davao City, ERC Commissioner Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc noted that “we will soon have a meeting to come up with an agreement. Afterwards, this will be deliberated by the Commission for us to come up with a stand.”The preliminary commercial operation of the IMEM will kick off this September 26, but PEMC president Melinda L. Ocampo said “no settlements will happen yet… perhaps in the next two months.”

Oro teachers trained on disaster preparedness

By Nef Luczon


AGAIN, at the height of the developments in the investigation and filing of charges of the people behind the pork barrel scam (and a lot more bombshells about to explode) and the standoff between the “Misuari faction” Moro National Liberation Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the need to be vigilant in our own homes here is essential.

So how is the city now? Or is it too soon to notice “dubiousness” since the new administration is still “new” and it still hasn’t even served its 100 days yet?

The last time I made a reality check, it turned out that vendors are less seen in the roadsides, but they come back on the streets every weekend nights. Maybe they still have that “Night Café” mentality which could be hard to change overnight.

There are still traffic jams, a sign of a progressing city they say. There are also drivers, the likes of those maneuvering public jeepneys, who think they are F1 racers who flirt with speed and death in not-so-wide roads. And speaking of roads and races, again, there are still those who drag race in Pelaez Rotunda and Bulua Terminal roads on late nights, some with modified engines that admittedly put internationally acclaimed Kawasaki and Yamaha racing motorcycles to shame.

It would be good for them to race in daylight with an identified racing circuit for them, but for them to do it in public areas where there are residences, it’s a disturbance.

Then here comes the mendicants – young and old – still begging for alms and mercy from people walking on the sidewalks, near schools and business establishments. They could be doing it individually or with their families.

In CM Recto, it has become festive, they come with improvised drums and set of songs and performances to please motorists and passengers every time the vehicles stop with the red light on.

It’s not that we don’t want to help them, but isn’t it nice to help them learn to find a living than just give them money. Like that classic saying between giving a person fish and teaching that same person how to catch fish so he will survive.

Another heartbreaking reality of some of the street urchins roaming the city is their addiction to solvents, or the “rugby” and “vulcaseal” that we are commonly acquainted to, it’s still a puzzle if whether we have grown tired of addressing these issues thus we have turned a blind eye on them.

Lastly, we should never forget this: that we are still waiting for those accountable to the losses of public money from the city hall, we have a new administration whose spending patterns should be watched; the culprits behind the Rosario Arcade bombing whom we thought the police and military are pursuing, and the illegal mining activities along Iponan River that still need close monitoring.

God Bless Cagayan de Oro, at least there’s the new Duaw Park to visit.

Oro teachers trained on disaster preparedness

By Anjo Bacarisas


PUBLIC secondary school teachers in Cagayan de Oro City are undergoing a training for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) to prepare the communities in Cagayan de Oro City if another calamity would hit Northern Mindanao.

In a five-day training sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Manresa complex in Upper Carmen, around 50 teachers from the city are equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide assistance to minimize the effects of disasters.

Some of the teachers who participated in the activity are from schools hit by a massive flood when Typhoon Sendong hit the city on Dec. 17, 2011.

“Ang among school biktima siya atong sa Sendong (international name: TS Washi), nag-suffer gyud ang school kai daghan na-damage nga gamit (Our school was affected by Sendong, it suffered and a lot of materials have been damaged),” said Corazon Baculio, a teacher from Puntod National High School.

Teacher Rowena Galodo from Angeles Sister National High School told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that their school located near the Cagayan River was hit hard by the flood.

On the United Nations (UN) Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s website, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for disaster risk reduction Margareta Wahlstrom explained that Japan is an excellent example for other disaster-prone countries worth emulating after the Japanese people endured the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.

“We are aware of the examples of where school children (Japanese) seized the initiative and escaped tsunami while also helping younger children to flee,” Wahlsrom said to emphasize the importance of disaster risk reduction trainings.

Pay-it-forward

Galodo and Baculio participated in the activity to learn and pass on their knowledge to students and co-teachers so they can mobilize the population during calamities.

“Ni-participate ko ani para ma-reduce gyud siya or kung puwede zero nga dili gyud moabot sa amo utro (I participated in this activity to reduce or if possible to eliminate the effects of disasters),” said Baculio.

Part of the training is the integration of DRRM training to school subjects particularly Science and Social Studies.

Mercy Labial, the International Research and Exchange Board (Irex) grant awardee, said that the teachers will be equipped with the knowledge and skills that could be passed on to other teachers in their respective departments.

Irex is an international non-profit organization that administers the implementation of the project.

Part of their activity is the critiquing of their DRMM-integrated lesson plans.

Preparing the community

“This (DRR training) will cascade to better and prepared community,” said Dr. Rowena Paras, a representative from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) division office.

She explained that the knowledge and skills from the training will be disseminated in the classroom and in the community.

“Not only will the students be well-informed but also their immediate families,” she added.

Labial said that part of the activity is the organization of School-based Disaster Risk Management Council in 10 public schools in the city.

She added that this training will provide the teachers with DRRM concepts and how to “mitigate, prepare for, and respond to the effects of disaster.”

This project is a fulfillment of the mandate in Republic Act 10121 (Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010), Section 14, stating that “disaster risk trainings shall be integrated in the school curricula in the secondary and tertiary level.”

DepEd, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Red Cross, City Local and Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Health, and the Office of Civil Defense are the partners of this project.

Moreno’s call for COWD execs’ resignation remains

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has maintained his call for the resignation of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) board of directors to resign amid the Commission on Audit’s (COA) recommendation to have the water utility’s officials charged with graft and corruption.

City Hall spokesperson Maricel Casiño-Rivera said Moreno’s stand even before he assumed office was for the COWD’s board to step down through a “courtesy resignation.”

But even with the COA’s report implicating the COWD officials and two of its contractors, still not one of the board members handed in his/her resignation, Casiño-Rivera said.

She said Moreno sees the need for the COWD board to resign so he can overhaul the water district.

In a text message Thursday evening, Moreno said it should be the COA which will take the first step in bringing COWD’s alleged anomalies to a proper forum.

“COA should initiate the case as it has already studied and reviewed the matter,” Moreno said.

“I have asked for a legal assessment of the matter. I hope the board members (are) more sensitive now. Courtesy resignation is warranted,” he added.

In its report, COA has recommended the filing of charges against the COWD board and its contractors, Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc. and Geo-Transport and Construction Inc., for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

Aside from the violation of various sections of RA 3019, COA also cited other infractions committed by COWD, among them:

Rule V, Section 12; Rule XV, Section 47, Section 53, paragraph (d), and Section 55 RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations;

Presidential Decree (PD) 1445, the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines;

COA Circular 85-55A or the amended rules and regulations on the prevention of irregular, unneccesary, excessive or extravagant expenditures or uses of funds and property;

COA Resolution No. 91-52 dated Sept. 17, 1991, on policy guidelines governing auditorial review and evaluation of bidded infrastructure contracts;

COA Circular No. 97-002 dated Feb. 10, 1997, on restatement with amendments of the rules and regulations on the granting, utilization and liquidation of cash advances provided for under COA Circular No. 90-331 dated May 3, 1990.

4Ps extended in NorMin

By Anjo Bacarisas


LESS privileged residents have reasons to rejoice as the government’s Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, more commonly known as 4Ps, will continue to further serve the poorest in the region, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Northern Mindanao official said Wednesday.

DSWD’s regional 4Ps monitoring and evaluation officer Divorrah Meneses told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the program’s Set-1 (the first batch of beneficiaries) that will end in December this year will continue to receive conditional cash grants to improve their health, nutrition and education.

December marks the fifth year and the end of Set-1 of the conditional cash grants.

She said that presently they are conducting rigid monitoring on the stakeholders to address their basic needs and improve their lives.

More beneficiaries

“We are also searching for additional beneficiaries for our sustainable livelihood program (SLP) in the region,” said Meneses.

Philip Wayne Mappala, who is also a monitoring and evaluation officer, said that they have finished with the two months validation for Set-7, the newest batch of 4Ps beneficiaries.

“Set-7 will follow the same conditions as Set-1,” Mappala said.

Mapalla said that instead of 0-14 years old the educational grant will include beneficiaries that are 18 years old to help the students who can barely have access to high school education.

At present, they are conducting transition planning workshops to beneficiaries whose cash grants will be extended.

“We are still coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) on the ways to pursue the continuance of the program,” said Mapalla.

Stakeholders’ plea

“Naa pami mga anak nga ipa-iskwela, wala pa mahuman (We are still sending our children to school, they are not done yet),” said Enarsi Sapagi, a 4Ps beneficiary from San Lazaro in Barangay Lapasan, whose cash grant is about to end this year.

She said the 4Ps has improved the well-being of her family through the self-employment assistance-kaunlaran (SEA-K) program, educational, and health assistance.

The SEA-K is a livelihood and capability program that seeks to enhance the socio-economic skills of extremely poor families toward establishing and managing sustainable community-based credit organizations to develop entrepreneurship.

“Maayo kayo ang SEA-K, daku kaayo og ikatabang sa amo (The SEA-K program is good, it helped my family greatly),” said Bernadeth Pangalay of Barangay Puntod, and a wife of a construction worker whose income average is only P200 per day.

She said that the SEA-K lends them money to start a business without interest unlike other lending agencies that profit from their lack of capital.

Beneficiaries’ suggestions

“Balay (shelter),” said Sapagi said when this paper asked her what she wants to be added on the present programs.

She said that their home is threatened due to road widening project in Barangay Lapasan.

“Walay sure kung hangtud kanus-a mi taman diri (We are not sure how long we can stay here),” she said referring to their house.

Meanwhile, Pangalay suggested that the 4Ps should also be extended to students who are over 14 years of age but enrolled or interested in schooling.

“Dapat unta dili i-apil ang mga sugarol (The gamblers should not be included),” she added.

Meanwhile, the officials and employees of the DSWD-Northern Mindanao converged in a mall on Wednesday to listen to assistant regional director for operations Aldersey Mumar-de la Cruz' State of the Region Address that she gave on behalf of DSWD-Northern Mindanao regional director Araceli Solamillo who was out-of-town on official business.

Adlawan shines in Iloilo motocross

By Dale G. Rosal


Cebuano motocross daredevil Jon Eleazar Adlawan dominated the Pro-Open division in the 8th leg of the “Kopiko 3-in-1 Astig National Supercross Series” held over the weekend in Barotac Nuevo, Ilo-ilo City. Adlawan who ruled the category in the seventh leg held in Cagayan de Oro last July, is now leading the rankings in the division after his closest rival Glenn Aguilar placed only third in Ilo-ilo. Rhowell Mangosong IV finished second. Adlawan’s teammate Jubenile Abellar placed fourth followed by Ted Conde in fifth. Mangosong IV however, snatched Pro-lite division title followed by Aguilar and Adlawan. Team Kopiko of Adlawan and Abellar claimed the top spot in the Team event while Team Buffalo and SND finished second and third, respectively. Jacob Orbe remained the king in the Novice Open Production class after beating Jougeen Basco and Felidor Decipolo.

However, Conde found his winning touch in the Intermediate division edging Orbe for the top spot while Winsor Pamorca placed third. The top 3 placers in the Beginners Open division were Christopher Jules Bandigan, Jose Ocaban and Decipolo while Felson Ray Baculpo ruled the Underbone division followed by Michael Duran and CB Jordan Loreno. Ayen Ledesma and Irwin Lacnit meanwhile, grabbed this leg’s Veterans B and A titles. John Fernandez trailed Ledesma in second spot while Jay Lacnit finished third. Cebuano Pepo Rubi finshed second behind Lacnit while Dexter Bacabac came in third. Tristan Galanto topped the Veterans C division followed by James Roy Doroy and Nonoy Zambra while John Almerino snatched the Open Enduro title beating Jed Luna and JP Cuesta. Luna however, took the top spot in the Local Enduro class with Loreno and Francyl Barrido finishing in second and third spots, respectively. Meanwhile, Janel Saulog remained the queen in the Women’s division for the last two legs after beating Pia Gabriel again. RK Cuesta finished third. Gabriel though, claimed the Mini division crown while Ompong Gabriel and Jaypee Glen Gaid topped the 65cc and 50cc peewee divisions, respectively.

University calls for donations for Zamboanga conflict victims

By (Vanessa M. Gorra/XU/PIA)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept 17 -- Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is conducting relief operations for the people of Zamboanga City who are caught in the crossfire between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari faction.

In kind donations such as rice, instant noodles and other halal food, bottled water, and medicine may be delivered to the Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana (KKP) Office, Xavier University. Other items such as clothes, children and women's needs (diapers, sanitary pads, toiletries) and blankets are also needed. Donations will be accepted from September 17 to 22.


Cash donations are also accepted and may be sent directly to Ateneo de Zamboanga's BPI account 2111-0001-42. (Please fax or email copy of deposit slip to Bro Raymund Belleza S.J., at +62-991-0870/bellezaraye@adzu.edu.ph) or through the Finance Office at Xavier University. An official receipt will be issued for the donation.

For more information, donors may contact the Research and Social Outreach Office at +88-858-3116 local 3209 or the Office of Mission and Ministry at local 3351 or email gdelarita@xu.edu.ph and iguitarte@xu.edu.ph.

Water district to implement rate hike

By (JBD/CdeOSP/PIA)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, September 16 -- The Cagayan de Oro Water District is planning to implement its approved rate adjustment before the year ends.

This was revealed on September 12 by COWD-Genereal Manager Rachel Beja during the meeting of the City Council committee on public utilities chaired by Councilor Roger Abaday.

According to Beja, the water rate adjustment has been approved by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). The water district's Board of Trustees and legal counsel have also opined that in view of the approval of the compromise agreement, COWD may now legally implement the adjustment.

The approved 30-percent water rate adjustment will be implemented on a staggered basis starting on November 1 this year with a 10-percent adjustment. This brings the minimum charge from P168 for the first ten cubic meters to P184.80 for residential consumers and from P336 for the first ten cubic meters to P369.60 for commercial consumers. The succeeding adjustments of 10-percent will be carried out on February 1, 2014 and May 1, 2014.

Beja said water rates adjustment is intended to fund service improvement and expansion projects including the non-revenue water (NRW) reduction program. The adjustment will also cover for the inflation of the cost of all consumables used in operations, which has increased since 2007 when COWD last implemented a rates adjustment.

The committee referred this to the City Legal Office for comments and recommendation. It will be tackled again next meeting.

Bridal road show hits Oro

By Nicole Managbanag


A UNIQUELY designed three-day bridal road show, Kasalang Pilipino 2013, formally opened its 6th leg at Centrio Mall here on Friday morning.

While it carries the concept of any newly-wed couples’ wish of a happily-ever after wedding day like Cinderella and the rest of the Disney’s princesses or the grandiose fairy-tale wedding of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles of Cambridge or perhaps that simple wedding filled with the most important people of the couples’ lives, Kasalang Pilipino fair is keeping the balance of ideal weddings with various concepts ranging from that once-upon-a-time stories, celebrity weddings to practical themes.

Kasalang Pilipino has been going around in the major cities in the country every year to promote the local wedding and tourism industry and the latest trends in wedding themes.

The fair is featuring various booths for those who are planning to tie the knots, who are about to be wed and those who just simply love weddings. And you will also get to enjoy the activities the organizers have prepared.

The three-day event, which ends today, was organized by Professional Organizers Unlimited Inc. in partnership with Kasal.com and ABS-CBN.

Aileen “Ayee” Abao-Parojinog, chief operations officer of Professional Organizers Unlimited Inc., said 35 local and national wedding suppliers have joined to showcase their products in this year’s exhibit to provide better understanding and knowledge to would-be couples.

On September 14, Parojinog said, the event began with the two wedding gown fashion shows by the Oro Fashion Designers Guild and the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. The shows have provided engaged couples the ideas which local designers to choose.

September 13, Friday, Ever Bilena Cosmetics sponsored the “Ever BilenaPinay Make-up” competition. Ten amateur and professional hair and make-up artists in the city competed on making their subjects stand out with their wedding-themed make-up.

“The winning artist was judged based on the color combination of the makeup, skills and techniques, creativity and overall look of their brides-to-be,” Parojinog said.

The winner has received P20,000 worth of cosmetic products, one year priority listing advertising at Kasal.com, a trophy and a certificate of recognition. Parojinog said Cagayan de Oro has a lot of talented make-up artists who would-be couples need to know.

"The best thing about this event is that we are promoting the local wedding and tourism industry of every city, particularly our beloved Cagayan de Oro," Parojinog said.

Couples visiting "Kasalang Pilipino 2013” get a chance to win free wedding giveaways and honeymoon packages courtesy of the exhibitors.

To cap the three-day event, the would-be couples get to be serenaded by a wedding concert.

The awarding of certificates and the announcement of the best booth closes the event.

After its roadshow here in the city, it will visit San Pablo and Cebu for its last leg.

“Kasalang Pilipino 2013” has already visited the cities of General Santos, Angeles, Subic, Dumaguete, and Davao.

WORM’S EYEVIEW: Lessons from traditional politics, bad politiciansxswa

By Manny Valdehuesa


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/14 September)–What more do we Filipinos need in order to learn, be chastened by, and do something about the way traditional politics and bad politicians lead our society down the path of perdition?

The culture of corruption and impunity rages on around us. It runs rampant and envelops at every level from the barangay up. Even the youth are badly compromised as they apprentice for political office in their community. Meanwhile, we face yet another appointment at the polling place for barangay elections in October.

What is it that we have to do to cleanse our society, to repair the wear and tear in our politics, to secure the future for the next generation? Will manifestos and marches do it? How do we deal with all the vote-buying and vote-selling that even now the trapos are banking on to keep them in power? Is the community so helpless in the face of all this?

Let’s face it: much of the corruption springs from our wishy-washy attitude towards politics and politicos. We think we elect the officials; actually we let others do—others who outnumber us and who base their choices on stupid criteria like popularity or money for a vote. Once the winners are sworn to office, we leave them alone to do as they please.

It doesn’t help that we’re lousy at performing our oversight role as the citizens responsible for their selection. We leave them free to abuse the power and the authority entrusted to them. Even in the most flagrant cases, we tend to let bygones be bygones. We let venality pass; we let venal officials get away.

When they seek reelection and employ corrupt campaign practices, we let them get away with it again. Thus do small transgressions pile up, institutionalizing impunity; They become bolder and commit more and more indiscretions. Then they move on to larger violations and crimes. They go Big Time.

One day we wake up to horrendous headlines such as the ones that have been screaming at us day after day since Janet Lim-Napoles burst upon the nation’s consciousness. Only then do we realize how venal things have become, how our senators and congressmen have turned public morality and the public trust upside down, and how easily manipulable are our institutions that fake NGOs can be contrived to serve as conduits for big-time plunder and aggrandizement.

Then all we do is scream or curse or scratch our heads and wonder how things have come to such a pass. When do we learn? One thing I know is that we must learn three lessons.

Lesson No. 1: It is fatal for us and our community, in our present state of social development, to accept unquestioningly the avowed motives of anyone who seeks to be a leader. The record has shown that because a candidate is human, he is vulnerable to temptations attendant to power, prone to commit sins of commission or omission.

Their acts remind us time and again of the maxim: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Martial Law years taught us this but not ambitious people it seems. We must learn to question their motives.

So addled has our system become, jarred by persistent attempts to manipulate it, that in order to reorient it, it is necessary to put back elective officials in their proper places — as public servants.

They should no longer be indulged in their pretensions. We must not tolerate their posturing as overlords and cavalier dispensers of our common wealth that they have come to believe they are. It is such presumptuousness, aided by our naivete or passivity that made possible the ballooning of the Pork Barrel or PDAF. We forget that good governance requires checks and balances, of which the basic ingredient is citizen vigilance.

In other words, unless we rein in and stop the abuse and the plunder ourselves, starting at the primal base of the republic—in our own barangay—Philippine-style democracy will continue to malfunction; good governance will remain a quixotic quest.

Lesson No. 2: No statute, no regime of checks and balances, nor any moral consideration, nor political promises, can curb graft and corruption unless the people are truly enfranchised and the politicians are made truly accountable.

If the popular will is to prevail, we the citizenry must learn to assert our sovereignty and exercise our dynamic role right where we are—in our neighborhood in the barangay or community. And we ourselves must learn to resist the machinations of vested interests.

Already, the trapos have succeeded in delimiting our exercise of sovereignty to one solitary act: casting a vote on Election Day. Voting per se does not provide the dynamism required by a democratic order; citizen participation/involvement does.

The people must participate in defining the public agenda and the government’s priorities. There is no substitute for their right to sanction or approve official acts and decisions. What makes for a vibrant democracy is active participation and involvement of the citizens. Citizens must have a hands-on experience of democratic processes.

Short of these, as events prove time and again, leaders become presumptuous. They take liberties with the public trust; they cannot resist the temptation to help themselves. The urge to privatize public goods and services overcomes any latent desire or ideal to ennoble public service. Such is the temptation to plunder.

Lesson No. 3: The force of people power is needed in one’s community even more so than at Edsa. Although it is less dramatic at the local level, it is the effective way to induce reforms even if applied in small doses only.

What professionals in the field of communication term as the “feedback loop”—in which back-and-forth messages, responses, expectations, and reactions interact constantly—is essential to assure good governance.

This loop assures understanding, coordination, and cooperation between government and constituency—correcting misperceptions, rectifying miscues, reconciling differences, evolving consensual agreements, resolving issues.






City Council debunks CDO Mayor’s argument

By Ben Balce


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 13 (PNA) -– The legislative and executive department at the City Hall here were at loggerheads over the appointment of key personnel recommended by City Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Majority Floor Leader Ramon Tabor said that Moreno was insisting that the appointment of the budget officer, economic manager, and city accountant was already “deemed confirmed” because of the failure of the city council “to confirm” within the 15-day period as required by the Local Government Code.

Tabor belittled Moreno’s argument saying that the 15-day period provided under Section 454 (d) of the Local Government Code of 1991 specifically mandated the City Council to “act” on the recommendation of the City Executive’s recommendation.

“Acting and confirming are two verbs distinct from each other,” Tabor said.

He said that the local code did not say that the city council should “confirm” the appointment of an individual recommended by the City Mayor to fill up a position within the 15 – day period upon receipt of the City Council.

Tabor said that the code says that the city council should act on the recommendation within the 15-day period which could include “actions” requiring the recommended individual to submit pertinent documents.

In his letter to Vice Mayor Ian Acenas, presiding officer of the City Council, Moreno claimed that because of the 15 day reglamentary period given to the council “to act on the four newly appointed heads of the departments has lapsed, the same the appointees shall be deemed confirmed.

Moreno said that the 15 day period provided under Section 454 (d) of the Local Government Code of 1991 for them to concur.

He said that the submission of four departments head namely lawyer Beda Joy Elot (City Accountant), Dr. Hector San Juan (City Agriculturist), lawyer Percy Salazar (City Budget Officer) and Engr. Rolando Pacuribot (CEED Manager) was made on August 12, 2013,.

"From the said date, the fifteenth and last day for the council to act on the endorsed appointments fell on August 27, 2013," said Moreno.

Moreno alleged that the council failed to officially concur/confirm the appointments as their respective appointments for their specified positions have been deemed confirmed and officially completed.

Acenas refuted the Moreno's view arguing that the council is mandated by the local government code to have its Rules of procedures to govern in the conduct of its business.

"In aid of legislation, we govern the conduct of business, includes committee meetings and hearings," Acenas said.

The point in this issue was not on the numbers either calendar or working days but the issue of acting it (recommendation) upon it is receipt at the City council," said Tabor.

He said that from Aug 12 to Aug. 27, 2013, the City Council has acted on Moreno’s recommendation by asking the recommended employees to submit clearances and other documents that would lead to their confirmation. (PNA) HBC/CD/BEN BALCE/UTB

4 suspects nabbed in Misamis Oriental anti-drug drive

By (PNA)

LAP/CD/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 12 (PNA) –- A couple and their visitors were arrested Wednesday afternoon during a buy-bust operation in a suspected drug den in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

Vincent Cecil Orcales, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Misamis Oriental, identified the couple as Samsoden Guro and Rasmiya Guro while the visitors were identified as Jamel Pampa and Fabian Gadiano.

In his report to the PDEA regional office here, Orcales said that the suspects were arrested in a suspected drug den allegedly maintained by the Guros at Block 30, Lot 11 in Vamenta Subdivision in Barra, Opol.

Seized from the suspects were about 10 grams of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with an estimated value of P100,000 and one cal. 45 pistol with serial number 223457 loaded with a magazine with three live hollow point ammunition.

PDEA regional director Emerson Margate said that the suspected shabu would be turned over to the PNP crime laboratory for examination which would be used as evidence together with other seized items.

He said the suspects are now temporarily detained at the PDEA regional headquarter’s detention cell as charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the “anti-illegal drug laws” are being readied against them.







Kopiko Supercross 8th leg set

By CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL


THE much awaited 8th leg of the Kopiko 3-in-1 Supercross Series will unfold this weekend in Barutac Nuevo in Iloilo City. Around 160 to 180 riders are expected to join the nationwide motocross series organized by the Man and Machine Racing Promotions. The eighth leg was initially scheduled last month in Davao City in line with the celebration of the Kadayawan Festival but was moved due to security reasons. Leading the list of top contenders is Cebu’s Jon Eleazar Adlawan, who lived up to his lofty billing by winning the Pro Open elite category in the 7th leg in Cagayan de Oro City last July 31. Adlawan edged veteran Glenn Aguilar to lord the 250cc division while Burnok Mangosong finished third. According to Man and Machines Racing Promotions Manager Arnold Ignacio, they are planning to still hold a race in Davao City when peace is restored in Mindanao.

Cagayan de Oro City on full alert

By Bobby Lagsa


CAGAYAN DE ORO -- A full alert status has been raised here by the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) following the shutdown of Zamboanga City after a group of alleged Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members engaged in a firefight with government forces early Monday.

City police director Graciano Mijares said that Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima ordered the nationwide full alert status.

Part of it is putting up checkpoints and closely monitoring some members of the MNLF here to avoid same incident, Senior Superintendent Mijares said.

Mijares admitted there are active MNLF members in Cagayan de Oro, but “are not armed.”

“We are closely monitoring them and watching them. We assure the people that the police are doing their best to instill peace and order in the city," he said.

Meanwhile, the Central Command (Centcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Central Visayas region is also on alert following the predawn clash in Zamboanga City.

Lt. Jim Alagao, spokesperson of Centcom, said they are intensifying their intelligence-gathering to prevent the same attack from happening in the region.

He said they will monitor coastal barangays in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, which the rebels may go in case they planned to escape from Zamboanga City.

Though Centcom Commander Roy Deveraturda hasn’t raised the alert level yet, Alagao said the military units are ready.

“We are also willing to send troops if there’s a request for it,” he said.

Alagao, during the interview, urged the public to report suspicious individuals in their neighborhood to authorities.

As of now, he said they haven’t received intelligence information that MNLF will attack Cebu.

Police reports showed that the MNLF forces tried to raise the MNLF flag at the Zamboanga City Hall to declare its independence.

Nur Misuari, chairman of the MNLF, on July 25, 2013 declared independence during a gathering by the separatist group in Talipao, Sulu.

Misuari was the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor, who declared independence for Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and even North Borneo or Sabah, which is controlled by Malaysia.

Cocpo director Mijares said the standoff between MNLF and government forces that so far killed six person and wounded 24 others.

Mijares said they have already identified the MNLF personalities and its camp here, “and we are on top of them.”

“Their recruitment isn’t just in Cagayan de Oro, but Mindanao-wide, but we are monitoring their movement, especially if they have plans to rally, so that we could immediately take action,” he added.

Mijares said the Regional Public Safety Battalion is augmenting the city police force.

Mijares said the police are also coordinating with the AFP and other local government agencies to secure the region.

“Cocpo has been strengthening and implementing tight security measures around the city in coordination with the AFP and neighboring PNP units such as the conduct of checkpoints and target hardening measures in areas where people converge,” Mijares said.

Close intelligence sharing from the police and the military on the movement of MNLF is also being undertaken.

Police regional office spokesperson Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga said that the police have deployed the RPSB across the region especially at the southernmost part of the region in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental to contain “spillover” of MNLF troops.

Cariaga added that checkpoints and mobile patrol are deployed to monitor and prevent the entry of possible MNLF forces into the region.

“We are trying to prevent diversionary tactics, if the MNLF forces are pressured by government forces,” Cariaga said.

Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Leo Bongosia said that the army is on heightened alert but added that there is no troop movement as Zamboanga peninsula is under the area of the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Bongosia said that the army has been monitoring the outlying areas near the boundary of the 4ID.

In Malacañang, President Benigno Aquino III met with the security cluster and was briefed by the PNP and AFP at noontime Monday.

The government’s official website issued a statement that Aquino has directed that certain steps be taken to ensure that the safety of the civilian population in general be protected.

“At this time, upon the direction of the President, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the Secretary of National Defense, and the AFP Chief of Staff have been sent to Zamboanga City, where they will further ensure that the President’s directives are carried out and will update him accordingly,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda also urged that “in the interest of public safety, we appeal to all Zamboanga City residents to stay alert for official announcements and updates, and to cooperate with the authorities.”

Armm Governor Mujiv Hataman also went to Zamboanga City and that he is contact with Misuari, said ARMM regional administrator Abdulrashid Ladayo Sr.

Call for sobriety

The Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao (InPeace) said the ongoing armed standoff in Zamboanga City following the Moro National Liberation Front’s declaration of independence one month ago “should be handled very carefully by the Philippine government.”

InPeace chair Bishop Felixberto Calang, however, called on the AFP and PNP and the MNLF fighters to adhere to international humanitarian law to protect the rights of civilians and the hors de combat.

“Civilians, whether Christian or Moro, should be spared from the armed conflict; people in the streets and communities of Zamboanga are being traumatized by the conflict. They are protected by international humanitarian law,” Calang, a bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, said.

"But negotiations should now prevail over further armed confrontation to prevent more bloodshed and casualties,” said Calang.

Calang added that the Philippine government must review its compliance with the signed 1996 Peace Agreement with the MNLF.

“The government obviously brushed off the MNLF’s independence declaration this year in Sulu, little did they know that it posed a serious armed warning from a legitimate revolutionary movement that has obviously felt left out from the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro (FAB),” Calang said.

“The Moro question remains to be a complex problem and unless the roots of armed revolution are addressed and their right to self-determination is sincerely and genuinely upheld, it will pose as a gnawing wound in Philippine politics,” Calang said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate described the on-going standoff between government forces and the MNLF as a slap on the Aquino administration’s peace policy in Mindanao.

Zarate said all out military approach is not a solution to the current impasse, warning that such an approach may only escalate to other parts of Mindanao and inflict more violence to hapless civilians.

“This is an offshoot of a divisive peace policy that excludes other stakeholders in Mindanao, like the forces of MNLF Chair Nur Misuari,” Zarate said.

"The Aquino administration should seriously examine and put in order its peace policy in Mindanao since it appears now that it is failing as shown by this incident in Zamboanga City involving the MNLF members," he said.

“The peace policy of President Aquino should not be divisive and exclusive. It should not leave out a legitimate group just to appease another group. This is no way of talking peace in Mindanao,” Zarate added.

Misuari claimed that their forces were in fact harassed by the military resulting to an encounter as he denied they initiated the attack. (With Loui S. Maliza of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Davinci Maru of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)

‘Ino sa tag inangonoy?’ We are bisdaks!

By Paulita R. Roa


THE Parade of the Higantes as conceived by the 2013 Fiesta Committee is to be commended for this is a departure from the cut-and-paste kind of street dance festivals that we see all over the country.

Those same beating of the drums, stamping of the feet and dancers in colorful and exotic costumes are all lined up in parade formation, can be so predictable and boring.

However, I know of several places in the country notably in Luzon where there are Higante festivals and this was no doubt introduced by the Spanish friars who also brought in the religious practice of having a town patron saint and the fiestas.

Another innovation introduced for this year's fiesta is the change of name from the eponymous Kagay-an Festival to Higalaay Festival.

Higalaay means friendship and this is inspired by the popular brand name of Cagayan de Oro as the "City of Golden Friendship."

This title was the creation of the late City Councilor, Atty. Adolfo L. Balinado and not by City Mayor Reuben R. Canoy, as previously reported. The papier mache higantes that made its "debut" in the streets of the city represented several religious, mythical and local heroes of Cagayan.

But it was the Higaonon higante that drew a lot of comments and questions from many of the viewers because it was introduced as the “ancestor” of the Kagay-anons.

In fact, there was a group of Higaonons resplendent in their red costumes that danced in the streets behind the higante to the beat of the gongs.

Are we really descended from the Higaonons? What are the research documents and other anthropological data and evidences that will support the selection done by the 2013 Fiesta Committee that our ancestral roots came from this hill tribe?

As a member of the Cagayan de Oro Historical and Cultural Commission and head of the research section, we have papers and documents pointing to the fact that the Kagay-anons are descended from the Bisayans.

Another fact to consider is that many Philippine historians have pointed to Northern Mindanao as part of the Bisayan homeland.

Our stand is based on a study full of solid historical and anthropological data. Let me share several facts taken from our study:

1. Language: Our ethno linguistic identity is Bisaya and not Higaonon. In the study of comparative linguistics relevant to our prehistory, our ancestors were Bisayan speakers.

And if you are wondering why the Higaonon speakers are very different from ours is because these two groups must have been isolated from each other for centuries or for a millennium.

As examples, I am giving these two sentences that have the same meaning but are spoken differently:

Bisayan: Unsay imong gibuhat? Higaonon: Ino sa tag inangonoy? English translation: What are you doing?

Can you find a word or two that is akin or relative to both dialects? Wala!

Another example is the common word "wala" spoken by a Kagay-anon, Surigaonon, Cebuano and Higaonon:

Kagay-anon: Wala Surigaonon: Waya Cebuano: Wa Higaonon: Huda

The study of ethnic groups show that these are often correlated with language areas.

So the Bisayan-speaking communities that lived along the coast of Northern Mindanao from Surigao to the east up to Sindangan Bay to the west speak Bisayan though it has several variants in many of its words and even in tonal quality but it can still be understood as shown in the word "wala."

2. Geographical locations and migrations: The Bisayan speakers, like the Kagay-anons, lived in the coastal areas of Northern Mindanao creating a distinct cultural community and were known as the "dumagats." This cultural community is not the same as those that lived in the hills and interior areas of Mindanao.

The physiography or physical settings of Northern Mindanao is that of a narrow coastal plain that is bordered on one side by the bay.

The lowland lies along several rivers like Cugman, Cagayan, Iponan and others. Here the dumagats prospered greatly for it developed different kinds of vessels for the sea and rivers.

The boats were also used to transport people from the Visayas islands who chose to settle in northern Mindanao. It also paved the way to a rich maritime trade of the Bisayans not only around the archipelago but in Island Southeast Asia and even China.

In fact, Butuan was recognized as a tributary state to the Chinese imperial court in A.D. 1001.

The interior and hill areas lie behind the coastal plain and are composed of deep canyons, limestone cliffs, wide and raging rivers and virgin forests. This was where the hill tribes lived and developed their own cultural community.

Their social contacts with the dumagats may be far and between because of the difficult terrain.

It was the Spanish colonizers that introduced the wheel in this country–but the dumagats then saw no need of one because of their boats.

The eminent historian William Henry Scott said that if one wished to speculate who brought those exquisite Chinese porcelains or the Arabic Korans to pre-Hispanic Philippines, a ready explanation is available namely, they came in vessels built, owned and manned by islanders– among them our Bisayan ancestors.








Environment rehab needs passion – Clenro

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


WITH the current state of the environment in the city, his passion to give back to God’s creations has been fueling his desire to learn everything about environmental rehabilitation and protection.

It all began as he climbed mountains with his mountaineering buddies during his younger days. The more he communed with nature, the more he has been lured to groups that fight against environmental exploitation and degradation.

Each time his life has been put at risk fighting against nature’s enemies, the more he finds life’s meaning.

And it has become more meaningful these days as Edwin Ilogon Dael sits as the chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro). Now, that he heads this controversial office that has been blamed for allowing the wanton destruction of the city’s environment, the more his passion to protect God’s creations will be tested.

Edwin has the power, influence and the technical capacity to put into action all those that he has been advocating to address the city environmental destruction.

For years environmental groups have alleged Clenro as a “rubber stamp” because it allegedly failed to mitigate the illegal mining activities in the barangays along the Cagayan de Oro and Iponan rivers. Instead, special permits proliferated that flourished illegal activities in the upstream barangays. The absence of the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) prompted the previous administration to resort to special permits.

Clenro could be accountable to the destruction that brought the horrendous inundation that swept hundreds of lives and millions of properties as Typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit the city in December 2011.

At Clenro, he is reunited with his old team, the people he worked with during the stint of former Mayor Pablo Magtajas. At that time, he remembers, the small victories won by Task Force Subangan in protecting the environment.

The river was clear. Illegal logging was stopped and trucks were impounded and kept at the Philippine Air Force compound in Lumbia. The last two years of Mayor Pablo Magtajas was a reprieve for the environment. The campaign to protect the environment was fully supported and funded. Sadly, it went to nothing as the Emano administration took over. The victories slowly faded and lost again,” Edwin shared.

As Edwin comes back to Clenro, he says that addressing the vast environmental destruction in the city requires consistent rule of law and sustainable options for the communities to survive.

On August 9, it intercepted illegally cut trees. Also in August, Clenro intercepted an illegal copper ore concentrate. The two six-wheeler trucks have been impounded at the City Engineering Office. Deliberations for the release will be conducted next week. But, Edwin sees the chance for the release is slim.

“I have received reports that illegal mining continues, however, they use silencer as they operate at nighttime. We couldn’t operate at night yet these days, but soon we will get there especially when we the settlers unite to fight against it, they can be our best vanguards,” he said.

Unify the lumads

The illegal mining activities in the upstream barangays, he said, has mostly involved barangay captains (village chiefs) who are lumads lured to corruption. “They live comfortable lives with nice houses, vehicles and other material comfort at the expense of the environment as they work with those illegal mining and logging operators in the areas.” Some have even turned operators as they learned the ropes of the illegal activities. But, Edwin believes they too are victims.

Edwin started his round of talks with the Higaonon’s council of elders called Inanay-Inamay in barangay Dansolihon in August. He found out that there are still many Higaonons who remain steadfast in protecting the environment. They are spiritual who believe that destroying their environment will anger the spirits who inhabit there, Edwin said. “They believe that what surrounds them is their bloodline. The forest and the lands are their bloodline.”

The tribal guards will also be tapped soon as the massive campaign to stop these operators begins, he said. “Running after these illegal operators has to be strategic since it is risky. I am fortunate that those people I worked with years ago would warn me the risk of going into some areas. I just have to trust,” he said.

Sitio Balongkot in Barangay Dansolihon is the last remaining forest in the city where hardwood trees like Narra and Mahogany abound.

“The Higaonons are simple people and however simple life is, there is nothing for them. Their barangays have been left behind. The dilapidated roads prevent them to sell their produce at a decent price. Each time they haul their products, it will be expensive,” Edwin said.

Projects underway

Addressing the environmental destruction in the city, he said, requires all fronts – provide these communities with alternative livelihood that is sustainable and technical assistance on planting.

He cited a few projects that are underway. To show the sincerity of the city government to eradicate the illegal mining and logging activities, it is piloting a project called the Benoni-Tuburan Kasaligan Resettlement Site in barangay Tuburan where the Higaonons will live and plant fruit trees and vegetables. They will be provided sacks of rice as they plant the resettlement site. “It is a food for work assistance,” Edwin said.

Soon as harvests will begin in December the food terminal project at Westbound in barangay Bulua will take care of the produce of the resettlement site. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is shedding P1-million while the City Government is giving P130,000 as counterpart for the project.

The money, he said, will be used to purchase the facilities like chillers, freezers, scales among others and for the start-up capital. It will also be a source of income as it caters produce outside the project to earn.

With Republic Act 10452, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will release P37 million to reforest 3,000 ha of public land covering barangays Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Tuburan, Tagpangi, Dansolihon and Tagpangi. The funds come from the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) filed the bill. “This is going to be a great help to the communities and the rehabilitation of the forest in those barangays,” Edwin said.

Edwin is bent on pushing for the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) to study the geological morphology of the river to implement the proper rehabilitation projects.

CMRB organized

It was only in November 2012 that the City Government organized the City Mining and Regulatory Board (CMRB). “Organizing it has long been overdue. It should have been the body that regulated the mining activities in the areas and not special permits that former mayor Vicente Emano released,” Edwin said.

Clenro has already recommended to Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno the cancellation of the existing special permits and the issuance to fully stop the ongoing mining activities. “It is high time to allow the correct procedure to apply for any mining activities,” Edwin said.

The CMRB has been recently convened. It is composed of Teddy Sabugaa, the mayor’s representative; lawyer Giovanni Catli for the small-scale mining; Ralph Abragan, civil society group; the chair of the committee environment of the City Council and Clenro as the secretariat. “There is no representative from large-scale mining because it is never possible for the large-scale miners to operate here due to the cost benefit. It will be expensive for them to do so, that’s why the illegal activities persist,” Edwin explained.

Edwin furthered that the city can only opt to gold panning since the kind of gold in the city is free. “We don’t have alluvial gold here.”

Edwin banks on the support of the city government. Mayor Moreno told him, “Do your mandate. I will take care of the roads.”

Arduous task

Edwin admits it will be an arduous task but with teamwork, which he has, the funds and full support from the City Government, it will be a battle waiting to be won.

With regard to risking his life to this advocacy, Edwin said he is more prepared especially that his children are grown-ups and his worries over them have ebbed. “It was so difficult when I was younger but I persist. More so this time that they are grown-ups and they understand what makes my life fulfilling after the family -- take care of the environment. I cannot reinvent me, this is who I am.”

Edwin takes precautions as the road he is taking is rough, but with God, he sees things to be all right.

“I did it before. I assure you that even before Mayor Moreno’s term will end, the Iponan river will turn green. All we need to do is allow the process, if it has to be a moratorium for the mining activities, then be it, but an alternative should always be available.”

Armed with the passion to give back to God’s creations is Edwin’s core. He believes that with passion everything else will follow.

2 shot dead in Oro

By (Loui S. Maliza)


TWO men were shot dead on Thursday night in sitio Bontong, Barangau Camaman-an in Cagayan de Oro City, a village official said Friday.

Camaman-an chairman Roel Gamao identified the victims as Oliver Maestrado, 37, and Ronnie Potot, 35, both residents of said barangay.

Gamao said the victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Records from the Cogon police station revealed that Maestrado died on the spot, while Potot was rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and doctors later declared him dead.

Witnesses said two men onboard a single motorcycle gunned down the victims.

Gamao confirmed a report from the Cogon police that Maestrado was a known police character in the area and had just served jail time for theft. The records and warrant section of the police showed that he was on probation for a carnapping case.

Gamao said when Maestrado got out of prison, he went into farming and became a caretaker of a farmland in sitio Kamakawan in Barangay Indahag.

But Potot, Gamao said, had no criminal records and was even a law-abiding citizen in Camaman-an.

Police have yet to establish the motive why the victims were killed.

Potot’s wife Gina denied the two victims were friends and that her husband could have been falsely accused.

“Dili sila barkada. Walay sala akong bana, nadamay lang na siya mao dili ko kadawat sa hitabo,” Gina said in between tears.

Before he was convicted in 2010, Maestrado was said to be a “motorela” driver and at the same time worked as a repairman in a motor shop.

But Gamao belied earlier reports that Maestrado was linked to illegal drugs trading in the area, which could have been the motive of the killing.

Gamao said Maestrado was visiting a relative in sitio Bontong when the shooting occurred.

Potot, according to Gamao, left four children.

Due to poverty, Potot’s wife still has not claimed her husband’s body at the NMMC morgue.

But Gamao said the barangay will help the Potot family in the embalming and other expenses.

Maestrado’s remains, meanwhile, lie in state at one of the funeral parlors in the city.

Oro pugs bags 1 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze medals in Batang Pinoy

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 6 -- The Cagayan de Oro City amateur boxing team brought home pride and honor to the city as it pocketed one gold, four silver and 4 bronze medals in the just-concluded 2013 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Qualifying Leg in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on August 27 to Sept. 1, 2013.

Carlo Paalam shone brightest among the Cagayan de Oro City boxing team members as he claimed the city’s lone gold medal in the Philippine Sports Commission-organized national competition participated in by the country’s topnotch young athletes.

Cagayan de Oro City’s four silver medals were snatched by Bruce John Palapar; Aldren Pamisa; Francis Jay Diaz and Falcon Criz Ocaña while the four bronze medals are courtesy of Luijie Bangalan; Hurry Bert Basadre, Mark Lumbab and Junil Pamisa.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno, an avid boxing enthusiast, congratulated Cagayan de Oro City amateur boxing team’s sterling performance, citing the stiff competition posed by other competing boxing teams all over Mindanao.

He reiterated the city government’s all-out support to the city’s grassroots-based sports development program saying that a sustainable, scientific sports development program will help ensure young athletes and youth engage in wholesome activities and shun away from drugs and vices.

Meanwhile, two of the city’s finest boxers—Jason Daming and Paul Gilbert Galagnao, have already left the country bound for Kiev, Ukraine to compete in the World Junior Championship on September 17, 2013.

Mayor Moreno expressed optimism that the two boxers will display their outstanding performance in fighting against foreign boxers as they brim with guts and confidence to make Cagayan de Oro City and our country proud. (CIO/PIA)

From good old food to successful food competition–Cagayan de Oro bounces back

By Micky Fenix

Philippine Daily Inquirer


When a bomb recently exploded in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), my first thought was of our friends there. Were they safe? I had walked near the place where the explosion happened, ate at some of the restaurants in that row. A call helped to ease my mind about my friends. And it helped that I was to see them in a few weeks. Every year for 17 years now, the culinary competition “Kumbira” is held in this capital city of Misamis Oriental. It is run by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (Cohara). The members are proud of the fact that their project has lasted this long, and one can see that it’s because of their camaraderie— the importance they put to working together even if they are business competitors. For years now, I have been invited to judge the competition, together with other chefs and writers. We always look forward to the event; it is work certainly, but, inevitably, it also becomes a get-together of friends. Special event This year was an even more special event. Eileen San Juan, competitions chair, said during the opening ceremony that none of the judges hesitated to come despite the recent violent incident, and she and her group appreciated that. However, some of the competitors, many of them from other Mindanao provinces, withdrew because no assurances could be given the parents that their children would be safe. When we landed in CDO, the spanking-new Laguindingan airport surprised us. One of the judges said that when he saw the landscape, he mistakenly thought he had landed in Davao. The drive downtown was much longer now, but it’s also safer for planes to land at the new site; the old airport, after all, involved landing on top of a mountain. The Limketkai Center, where the competitions have been held these past years, was not as crowded on the first day, although more people came on the second day. The presence of Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. during the opening was a sign that everything was back to normal. I do hope he keeps his promise of promoting Mindanao more aggressively as a tourist destination. ‘Being Filipino’ The entries have improved a lot, perhaps because competitors have learned a thing or two from the debriefing given after each competition, with judges telling contestants what was wrong or right about their cooking or presentation. I was asked to judge the cake decoration, which had the theme “Being Filipino.” One group made a cake depicting Aguinaldo’s Cavite home; another devised a jacket using the design of the Philippine flag. Another competition involved cooking and packaging cashew, one of CDO’s agricultural products. Entrepreneurship was this year’s “Kumbira” theme, which included how to brand and

sell products. Some of the seminars included talks by owners of successful enterprises in the province, such as Vjandep’s pastel, a bread resembling bonete with custard. Though Vjandep pastel originated in Camiguin, it is also manufactured in a CDO factory. What I really enjoyed was the cooking and presentation of kakanin. The contestants showed how the delicacy could be served on a buffet table or during formal meals. The kakanin was cut for one serving, placed on decorative banana leaf or in small glasses. The better ones had contrasting textures. The one that impressed us most had dipping sauces of chocolate, coffee and a buttery syrup. My fellow judge and I enjoyed tasting each concoction—a maja, bibingka malagkit, suman, bicho.

Highlight Of course, the highlight of the competitions was the Chef Wars for both professionals and students, which picked out those who would be sent to Manila to compete in the finals at the National Food Showdown on Sept. 20- 21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City The Mindanao finalists are La Vetta Restaurant and Wine Bar (professional) and Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City (student). The Visayas finalists who were picked two weeks earlier are Bacolod Academy of Culinary Arts (student) and Business Inn/Planta Hotel (professional). Last week, it was the turn of the National Capital region and Southern Tagalog, which declared as finalists the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management or ISCAHM (student) and Marriott Manila (professional). This week will have the Northern Philippines competitions in Baguio, to determine the finalists from that area. As we left CDO, we were glad that things weren’t only back to normal, but the signs of progress were also unmistakable, such as the new airport and new hotels like Seda which was our temporary home. What has remained the same is the good food—perfect lechon, for instance, and the sinuglaw, a combination of charcoal-broiled pork and kinilaw. Another good sign was that I was getting used to the suwa, the aromatic lime added to the mix; it had put me off the first time I smelled it because it was like eating soap. I now look for that aroma to tell me that what I’m having is authentic sinuglaw from CDO.

Law enforcers ready for Oro bombers’ search

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


LAW enforcers are prepared to carry out a manhunt once the warrants of arrest for the suspects in Cagayan de Oro City’s July 26 bombing will be released within this week, police said Tuesday.

Superintendent John Deloso said Senior Inspector Pepito Reyes, chief of the Cagayan de Oro City’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), has informed him that the arrest warrants for prime suspect Usman Hapids, the four other John Does and a Jane Doe should be released by the court anytime within the week.

Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, regional police office spokesperson, has assured the deployment of the region’s police force in tracking down the suspects.

Deloso said the police are ready to search and serve the warrants to Hapids and his companions in other areas in Mindanao since they are no longer in Northern Mindanao region.

He said they have already contacted the regional police in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) to help in the manhunt.

“I’m not saying that the suspects are in Region 12 but we are coordinating with the police there,” Deloso told Sun.Star Tuesday afternoon.

Region 12 (Soccsksargen) covers the areas of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Deloso said the bombings did not only happen in Cagayan de Oro but in other areas in Mindanao, that’s why they are tapping the law enforcers from other provinces.

Intelligence reports show Hapids and his cohorts are believed to be members of the Khilafah Islamiyah Mindanao, the group that was tagged as behind the Limketkai Center bombing incident that claimed the lives of eight persons and wounded 46 others.

Meanwhile, City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said the multiple murder and frustrated multiple murder cases against Hapids and other suspects were raffled off Thursday last week and are now with Judge Bonifacio Macabaya of the Regional Trial Court Branch 20.

Teens, elderly majority comprise new Oro voters

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


TEENAGERS and elderly persons make up the majority of more than 10,000 persons who have been added to Cagayan de Oro City’s number of registered voters, city election officer Aleli Ramirez said Monday.

Ramirez could not provide the exact percentage of the registered voters by age bracket but she said that majority of them are first-time voters, mostly 18-year-olds, and also those in their 50s and 60s.

She said the elderly voters are mostly transferees and those who failed to vote at least three times in the past elections and want to register again.

From the total number of 277,931 voters in the May 10 elections, the city has now 285,645 registered voters, data from the city Commission on Elections (Comelec) office showed.

For the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), a total of 11,804 15- to 17-year-olds have registered last July 22 to 31.

Those registered voters will cast their ballots in the city’s 830 clustered precincts.

As compared to last May’s synchronized national and local elections of only 360 clustered precincts, Ramirez said the additional precincts was due to the increase in registered voters.

At present, Ramirez said their office is in the process of printing the voter’s list in preparation for the coming barangay and SK elections.

COC filing extended

Meanwhile, candidates running for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) posts will have ample time to file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) as the Comelec has extended the date of filing.

The filing of the COC for the local candidates will be on October 11 to 17, Ramirez said.

Ramirez said that the previous scheduled date, October 14 to 17, is not sufficient as they could not accommodate all the candidates who will be filing their COC in three days’ time.

“Three days are not enough considering that Cagayan de Oro has 80 barangays,” Ramirez said.

Except for October 13 (which is a Sunday), she said their office will be open to accept and process COCs on said dates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ramirez said there will be no more extension of the COC filing since October 18 to 26 is the campaign period.

Comelec Resolution 9740 promulgated last July 10, stated that: “No person shall be elected Punong Barangay, Member of the Sangguniang Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman or Member of the Sangguniang Kabataan unless he files a sworn Certificate of Candidacy in triplicate in the form prescribed by the Commission.”

“The (COC) shall be filed in three legible copies with the office of the City/Municipality Election Officer concerned. The (COC) shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representatives, whose authority shall be in writing, under oath and attached thereto,” read the resolution.

The Comelec has set the barangay and SK elections on October 28, a Monday.

Per Comelec regulation, the election period runs from Sept. 28 to November 12.

Planning, coordinating, financing for CDO

By Bernardo M. Villegas


A new World Bank Report entitled “Planning, Connecting, and Financing Cities--Now: Priorities for City Leaders” has just been published on time for the leaders of Cagayan de Oro City to meet the challenge in the next ten years or so to build a productive, inclusive and sustainable metropolis. An article in the World Bank Research Digest (Volume, Number 2, Winter 2013) summarizes a framework that will be very useful to Mayor Oscar Moreno and his municipal board, in cooperation with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation and other NGOs in this city of some 600,000. CDO fits very well the prototype of a city contemplated in this study of seven countries (Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Korea, and Vietnam) where detailed urbanization reviews were carried out. In these countries, surging populations are placing intense pressure on basic services and urban infrastructure at a time when cities still lack the resources and institutions to provide all new arrivals with access to jobs, housing, and basic services. And so migrants often settle in slums and areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change to be close to jobs and opportunities. The tragic case of the typhoon Sendong that caused the loss of lives and the more recent courageous move of the CDO municipal government to remove sidewalk vendors from a busy street in CDO have posed a serious challenge to the new leaders to prepare a realistic plan for the orderly and peaceful urbanization of CDO .

The main dimensions of the framework that can guide the work of the policy makers are as follows:

– Planning--Top priority should be assigned to land management. CDO has a total land area of some 57 million hectares, divided into District 1 (43 million) and District 2 (14 million) District 1 has 24 political subdivisions while District 2 has 16. As of 2010, agricultural lands accounted for 36 per cent; open spaces 30 per cent and residential 12 percent. The rest were divided into commercial (0.44 per cent), industrial (0.24 per cent); exempt properties (7 per cent) and other properties (14 per cent). So that private investments can be attracted to locate in the city, policy makers must strengthen land use planning and coordinate it with infrastructure, transport, and natural hazard risk.

– Connecting--Cities need to connect people with jobs and schools, and businesses with markets. The appropriate infrastructure will be determined by the speed and magnitude of urban growth. There must be a careful study of the short- and medium-term priorities. Such an analysis has to be coordinated with the land use policy that will be promulgated by the City Government. In the case of CDO, which is still partly rural, there must be a clear delineation of areas that can still be planted to high value crops like vegetables and fruits; commercial zones where BPO/KPO offices can be constructed; and industrial zones for manufacturing enterprises that can be attracted to the City and its environs from such countries as Japan and South Korea. The 12 percent of the land area devoted to residential construction must be further expanded to include socialized housing projects to meet the need of the informal settlers to be relocated from areas that are at risk from natural calamities. I strongly suggest that socialized housing must be located as close as possible to work opportunities, even if market values of land are to be partly disregarded.

– Financing--As more BPO, tourism and manufacturing investors are attracted to locate in the CDO area, bigger and more reliable sources of tax revenues for the City government will become available. The City Government must be creative in leveraging land markets in the commercial and industrial zones, as well as the residential districts for high-priced housing, so that it can approach local-currency debt markets. LGUs can issue municipal bonds, especially in today’s favorable condition of excess liquidity in the domestic financial markets.

The World Bank report contains examples from the seven countries where it carried out detailed urbanization reviews. For example, coordinating public and private finance is recommended but requires clear rules. Ghana encouraged public-private partnerships in the urban water sector starting in 2002, but lack of transparency and accusation of corruption very quickly led to their failure. In this regard, the new Administration of CDO must do its best to recover the confidence of its constituents that was lost because of perceived lack of transparency of previous administrations. Land use policies must be aligned with infrastructure plans, such as for public transit. The CDO Government may want to watch closely what Mayor Joseph Estrada and his municipal council are doing in the City of Manila to alleviate the maddening traffic situation.

In Tunisia, the national upgrading program reduced slum housing from 23 per cent of the housing stock in 1975 to only 2 per cent in 1995. This feat is not beyond the capability of the CDO government as long as it fully utilizes the close cooperation of civil society, such as the Gawad Kalinga movement, Habitat, the efforts of the Catholic church and academe, the proactive role of real estate developers willing to incorporate into their housing strategy certain socialized housing components. Among the progressive real estate developers that have already implemented effective inner city socialized housing strategies in Quezon City is PHINMA Properties, a subsidiary of the PHINMA group that owns one of the leading educational institutions in CDO. Indeed, despite the difficult challenges it faces, the CDO Government has never been in a better position to realize the goal of a “peaceful, orderly, livable city with a modern trading and services center where there are equal opportunities for its disciplined citizens to develop and prosper in a clean and healthy environment” (Vision for CDO). For comments, my email address is bernardo.villegas@uap.asia.






Oro to enforce child protection ordinances=

Sunday, September 1, 2013

By Nicole J. Managbanag


TO ATTAIN the goal of becoming a “child-friendly Cagayan de Oro,” the City Government would strengthen its campaign on “Hapsay Sagip Bata sa Dalan” through enforcing ordinances that protect minors from any forms of addiction ranging from internet gaming, alcohol and to other substance abuse and exploitation.

Teddy Sabugaa, head of city social welfare and development office (CSWDO), said the city will enforce ordinances on children’s protection program such as regulations on the use of internet cafés among kids and prohibition of selling alcoholic beverages to minors.

Maricel Casiño-Rivera, city information officer, said the ordinance regulating the operations of internet cafés disallows a child (anyone who is an elementary or high school student) from using the services of an internet café during regular school hours for online or network gaming, e-mail, chat or any other services.

Students, she added, are only allowed to enter any internet shops if permission is given by a duly authorized representative of the school or by a parent or guardian.

Under the ordinance, the owners or operators of these internet shops are also ordered to prohibit minors from availing themselves of internet services during school days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except if they can show a letter of consent or permit signed by their parents, principal or teacher allowing them to access the internet for research or school-related purposes.

Permission

For his part, City Councilor Adrian Barba, committee chair on education, said he convened all owners and operators of internet cafés located near the vicinities of schools in the city to remind them to comply with the ordinance.

Barba said “permission” is defined by the city ordinance as something in the form of a written consent and accompanied by the contact details of the duly authorized representative of the school, parent or guardian for verification purposes.

He said all those who attended the meeting were furnished with copies of the ordinance and advised to brief their employees or staff about the law.

Barba said they would conduct a random check in all internet cafés in the coming days.

Closure

He said an internet shop that violates the ordinance will face cancellation of its business permit and license, or worse, closure of the establishment.

“This ordinance hopes to protect our children against abuse, exploitation and violence, in all forms and means. This also aims to minimize absenteeism and cutting of classes by the students,” Barba said.

He said he also found out the proliferation of “piso net” or the coin-operated computers with internet connection in different barangays that students are being hooked on.

Meanwhile, Rivera said City Hall has reviewed other existing ordinances that affect children, especially those that prohibit selling of intoxicating drinks, cigarettes and solvent chemicals to minors and prohibiting youngsters to enter cockpits and other gambling places.

Rivera said the ordinance would prohibit storeowners to sell liquors and cigarettes within the 200-meter radius from schools.

She said stores selling alcoholic beverages near schools have been warned, citing a gasoline station across Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) and bars near Xavier University.

“These stores know that minors having drinking spree, especially those who are wearing school uniforms, is totally a violation of the ordinance,” Rivera said.

Chemical substance sniffers

With regard selling chemical substances such as vulcaseal and rugby, storeowners have been urged to list down frequent buyers of said brands for monitoring.

Rivera said the Hapsay Bata team recently went on a surprise inspection on stores and areas frequented by the sealant sniffers, hoping to rescue minors who might be using the substance.

Rivera said they would conduct another round of inspections since they have yet to rescue a single minor.

“We use the word ‘rescue’ and not arrest since these children are not criminals,” she said.

Rivera said Task Force Sagip Bata of the CSWDO would take into custody the minors they can rescue and will be put in a shelter.

She said they have come up with a good program where the rescued children will be sheltered, under the supervision of a licensed social worker.

“They will be given proper education so they will not remain forever in the shelters,” Rivera said.

Rivera said the CSWDO made an ongoing ocular inspection of the three existing shelters, the Tahanan ng mga Kabataan, Boys town and the Mother Therese of Hope Center.

Based on the result of the inspection, Rivera admitted that the previous city administration did not take care of the shelters.

She said they would renovate the shelters and provide educational materials, rooms, and other facilities so that these children can call these shelters their home.

Exploitation

Another ordinance the team will enforce is on the prohibition of exploitation of minors as barkers, “konduktor” (driver’s aide), or fare collector of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the city.

Rivera said they would make sure that operators or drivers would not abuse minors.

But if situations cannot be prevented due to poverty, Rivera said, “We will ensure that these workers will be provided with proper benefits.”

Rivera warned that appropriate fines, penalties and imprisonment would be meted out against those violators such as individuals, drivers or owners of motor vehicles, establishments and stores.

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