Cagayan de Oro City News December 2014

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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

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

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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

8-year-old boy helps catch robber in Cagayan de Oro

By Joel Locsin / LBG (GMA News)

An eight-year-old boy helped police catch a man who held him and his mother up in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday morning.

Police arrested Christian Noel Alfonso after the boy identified him from a picture gallery, GMA Northern Mindanao's Joane Tabique reported Wednesday.

Investigation showed the boy was about to go a private school in Barangay Macasandig when the suspect approached him and forcibly took his mobile phone and money.

"Parang dadalhin niya ang bata pero nakatakbo ang bata. Ito kasing suspek nadala na noon sa Police Station 9, na-identify ng bata doon sa picture gallery," said Inspector Jose Duallo, deputy chief of the Macasandig police.

Alfonso declined to comment on the allegations against him and now faces charges of robbery and child abuse.

3,000 people celebrate International Human Rights Day in CDO

(PNA), LAP/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/SSC

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) -- About 3,000 people from the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon converged Tuesday in this trading hub to commemorate the end of the week-long International Human Rights week.

Father Chris Ablon, Secretary General of Karapatan-Northern Mindanao, said that the people who represent the urban poor, Lumads, workers, farmers, and students will hold an “A Solidarity Program” Tuesday night here.

Ablon said that the program would dramatize the people’s struggle in the pursuit of the rights to own lands, to fair wages, and against the commercialized education.

Part of the program would call the government to stop the militarization in the countrysides and the cities, stop using the military for the interests of mining and plantation companies.

He said that the group would also dramatize the demands of the government to respect the rights of the Indigenous People to ancestral domain and self determination, recall all strategic lawsuits against People's Participaiton and uphold the human rights at all levels.

Selda, an organization of the victims of the Martial Law regime, will also offer a fitting presentation of the political prisoners who have been detained on trumped up charges, Ablon said.

On Wednesday, the group will march to the Freedom Park in the heart of the city where various human rights group, including the labor sector would join hands to sound the clarion call for “Peace in Mindanao.”

The political detainees at the provincial jail in Misamis Oriental signaled the start of the celebration of the 66th United Nations Declaration of the Human Rights Week last December 2 when they started a hunger strike that would also culminate on Wednesday.

Thousands flock to DOLE job fair in CDO

(PNA), CTB/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/NOD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) -– Thousands of job seekers flocked to the job fair in a commercial center here Monday on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Raymundo A. Deloso, DOLE assistant regional director, said that the agency expects more job seekers during year end job fairs since more employers would need more workers in the coming year.

He said that Northern Mindanao has the highest employment rate at 97.4 percent compared to other regions in Mindanao.

Deloso said that it is normal for thousands of job seekers to flock to Cagayan De Oro every time there is a job fair because the city is the “gateway” to various regions in Mindanao.

He said the DOLE observed that there is an influx of job seekers from the towns of the Caraga Region in the eastern part of Mindanao and Lanao Del Norte in the western part of the island.

“More often, there are also job applicants coming from the Visayas region,” Deloso said.

He said that two government agencies are hiring on Monday’s job fair here with the Department of Social Welfare and Development offering 49 slots and the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division has an opening for 310 enlisted personnel.

DSWD-10: No food pack distributed during ‘Ruby’

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

AS TYPHOON Ruby (international name: Hagupit) was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Northern Mindanao said not a single food pack was distributed in the region since it did not report any displacement of residents that may have been affected by the weather disturbance.

DSWD-Northern Mindanao supply officer Elmer Canios said the 8,000 food packs they had prepared in anticipation of Ruby were left untouched in a warehouse.

“We did not make any releases since no one was affected (by Ruby),” Canios told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Sunday.

He said they were expecting Ruby to hit Camiguin but even the island province was spared from the disaster.

He added DSWD-designated vehicles were on standby ready to transport the relief goods to Camiguin when Ruby passed by Northern Mindanao.

But Canios said they would still continue packing additional food items as they are planning on having a stock of 30,000 packs by December 15 in preparation for any eventuality.

“Our repacking is ongoing,” he said, adding that DSWD-Northern Mindanao's present inventory is part of the P6.6 million worth of supplies that they purchased last month, excluding the 3,000 bags of rice they bought from the National Food Authority.

A packed food item contains six kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, two cans of corned beef, two cans of beef loaf, eight packs of instant noodles, and eight sachets of 3-in-1 coffee.

Of the 8,000 packs available, about 5,000 of those were still leftovers from the 18,000 food items that they had distributed at the height of the Typhoon Yolanda sometime in November, 2013, he said.

Part of those that were not given last year was also distributed to other provinces affected by calamities, he added.

RDC-X has a new chairperson

By Peleta B. Abejo (NEDA-X/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 5 (PIA) --- President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Quibranza Dimaporo as the new chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao (RDC-X) for the term 2013-2016.

Governor Dimaporo is a third termer as Governor of Lanao del Norte. He is presently the Vice-President of the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors League President of Mindanao (CONFED Mindanao) and Chair of the RDC-Social Development Committee. He has also served as Chair of the RDC-Infrastructure/Utilities Development Committee in 2007-2010.

Governor Dimaporo finished his Bachelor of Arts in International Economics (2002) at the University of San Francisco in California where he also earned his Master’s Degree in Development Economics (2003) with honors. He also holds a Doctoral Degree in Agricultural Economics (2004) from the Texas A & M University in the United States.

A Resident of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Governor Dimaporo was born on February 16, 1980 to Abdullah Dimakuta Dimaporo and Imelda Dela Cruz Quibranza. He is married to Christina Mendoza Kahanding and has four children, Isa Abdullah (7), Noah Abdullah (6),Adan Abdullah (4) and Zakeriya Abdullah (3).

4,000 jobs available in DOLE-X 81st Anniversary Job Fair

pia.gov.ph

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, December 4 -- The Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE) will commemorate on December 8 its 81st Anniversary, with the theme, “81 Taon na, Umaarangkada pa Tungo sa Disenteng Trabaho at Maunlad na Negosyo.”


Highlight of the celebration will be a Job Fair at the Activity Center of Centrio Mall, Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City, opening at 9:30 a.m. As of the December 2, 2014, some 26 companies already signified to join with 4,019 job vacancies.


From the said Job Fair report, 20 local companies will participate with 983 job vacancies.


The following companies include Concentrix with 510 job vacancies; Timog Integrated Factors Corporation with 15 vacancies; Pilipinas Kao, Inc. – three; Asia Pro Cooperative, 45; Northpoint Manpower Services, 11; UKC, nine; Optimo Global Group, Inc., 30; Alrose Group of Companies with 42 companies; Candole Manpower Services, 74; Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, Inc., 16; Lapanday Diversified Products Corp., 17; UNIFRUTTI Philippines, Inc., four; Arriba Telecontact with 30 call center representatives vacancies; Camella Homes with 50 Sales Clerks/Representatives vacancies; Liceo de Cagayan University, six; (16) Department of Social and Welfares Development with 49 vacancies for their special projects; Army Recruitment for Mindanao with 15 vacancies for enlisted personnel; LCG Group of Companies with 24 Sales, Accounting, and MIS vacancies; Accolade Resources with 30 vacancies of Call Center representatives; and McDonalds with eight vacancies for Management Trainees.


Top available jobs for local vacancies are Call Center Professionals (300 vacancies); Customer Care Professionals (100 vacancies); Product Support Professionals (100 vacancies); Repackers (50 vacancies); Service Crews (20 vacancies); Baggers (20 vacancies); Sales Representatives (15 vacancies); Sales and Marketing Associate (15 vacancies); Supervisory Trainees (10 vacancies); and Mechanical Technician (6 vacancies).


Meanwhile, some six overseas job companies, include: GBMLT Manpower Services with 793 job vacancies bound for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Ethiopia; Pisces International Placement Corp. with 66 vacancies for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; East West Placement Center, Inc. with 778 vacancies for Qatar and the KSA; Admiral Overseas Employment Corp. with 1,150 vacancies for Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and KSA; Landbase Human Resources Co. with 180 vacancies for KSA; and Joseline International Manpower Corp. with 28 vacancies for Riyadh, Al Khobar, Damman, KSA, and Jeddah.


Top available overseas job vacancies are: Civil Construction/Maintenance (427 vacancies); Carpenter/Mason/Steel Fixer (400 vacancies); and Electrician/Erector (300 vacancies).


Pre-registration of interested job applicants are still accepted until Friday, December 5, 2014, 5:00 p.m. at the DOLE-X Western Misamis Oriental Provincial Field Office, Ground Floor of the Monte Carlo Building (fronting RER Phase II gate), RER Phase I, Kauswagan National Highway, Cagayan de Oro City. Pre-registered applicants will proceed directly to the Referral Section during the Job Fair proper.


All applicants are directed to bring copies of their respective resumes and wear their corporate attires for interviews by their prospective employers during the Job Fair on December 8.


Job Fair is an employment service strategy of the DOLE that facilitates the meeting of job seekers and employers, local and overseas licensed recruitment agencies, and registered job contractors and sub-contractors in one activity and venue.


Moreover, the DOLE team composed of its attached agencies or the Regional Coordinating Council will also be providing its services through Help Desks. The services include, legal advice (NLRC 8th Division); receipt of complaints for the Single Entry Approach and the Compulsory Arbitration (NLRC RAB-X); receipt of application for the renewal of Professional Licenses (PRC-X); receipt of OFW Dependent Scholarship (OWWA-X); availability of technical/vocational scholarships (TESDA-X); Pre-Departure Orientation (POEA REU-X); and advocacy of wages and productivity programs (RTWPB-X). (Mildred E. Dablio, DOLE-X LCO/DOLE-X)

Local disaster councils gear up for ‘Hagupit’

(Vaneza M. Kimilat of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Linette Ramos-Cantalejo/Justin K. Vestil/Davinci S. Maru/Flornisa M. Gitgano/Sun.Star Cebu/PNA/Sunnex)

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Local government units and disaster councils are gearing up as Tropical Storm Hagupit is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.

The state weather bureau said Tuesday that the weather disturbance outside the PAR has intensified into a tropical storm and is expected to enter the country by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

In its 11 p.m. Tuesday bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the cyclone, with international name "Hagupit," was spotted at 1,825 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao.

It has maximum winds of 105 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 30 kph.

Once Hagupit enters PAR, it will be locally named Tropical Storm Ruby, the 18th tropical cyclone to enter the country in 2014.

Northern Mindanao

With this, Mario Verner Monsanto, officer-in-charge of the Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRMO), said the agency is already monitoring the storm's movement.

“The city has always been prepared and will respond as quick and effective as it can,” Monsanto said.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) also started sending advisories to all town mayors of the province and all Association of Barangay Captain (ABC) presidents in various towns.

“We have conducted the inventory for the additional food stocking, rescue gears and equipment and advisories to volunteers. So far, it is our primary preparation and precaution for the typhoon,” said Provincial Administrator Eduardo Pacamalan.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Northern Mindanao has also been preparing since the cyclone has been spotted.

Noli dela Rita, regional information officer of BFP, said the agency is on a heightened alert status due to the monitored tropical storm.

“We have coordinated with all the local government units (LGUs) in the region and active responders in the city. We are ready for any possible incidents when Hagupit enters PAR. We have also coordinated with the Cagayan de Oro Fire District and CDRRMC. We are getting ready,” dela Rita said.

In an interview with Sun.Star Pilipinas, Sun.Star’s noontime webcast, Pagasa weather forecaster Meyma Casilagan said Hagupit will either make landfall in some parts of Visayas or will change course and head to Japan.

She said there are two scenarios as to how the weather disturbance will move. It might turn toward Japan due to the presence of a high-pressure area and a northeast monsoon or hit Luzon and Visayas.

Casilagan said that based on Pagasa’s international models, Hagupit’s formative stage is similar to typhoons Yolanda (Haiyan), which devastated central Philippines in November 2013, and Pablo (Bopha), which made landfall first in Davao Oriental in Mindanao in 2012.

But for now, she said Hagupit is still too far to affect the country.

Cebu

In Cebu, though, barangays and concerned government agencies were already urged Tuesday to clear waterways and prune trees in preparation for Hagupit, as Cebu City Hall starts checking evacuation centers and prepares to deploy rescue and heavy equipment if the typhoon hits Cebu.

The typhoon threatens to be as strong as typhoon Yolanda, City Councilor Dave Tumulak said, that is why the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Managemet Council (CCDRRMC) ordered an inventory of all rescue and communication equipment as early as last Monday.

If the typhoon does not change its course, the CCDRRMC will ask the City Council to declare the city under a state of preparedness in Wednesday's council session.

In Tuesday's Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, Tumulak requested the Cebu City Police Office not to allow any policeman to go on leave this week so they can assist in the evacuation of residents.

“We need the manpower when the typhoon comes so all government employees, especially the City Government workers, will be tapped as volunteers in a worst-case scenario,” said Tumulak, who also sits as head of CCDRRMC.

He said the City has learned from the lessons of Yolanda.

“We lacked manpower and communication equipment when Yolanda hit us and we’ve learned from that... We anticipate that all communication will bog down that’s why we will provide emergency communication equipment and connectivity. We will also see to it that all medical supplies are ready, as well as food packs, water and relief items,” he said.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes has been meeting with the City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and other leaders concerned with the preparation.

Felix Suico of the DRRMO said heavy equipment, evacuation centers and food packs are ready.

He said weather updates will be relayed to the barangays through handheld radios and text message.

In Lapu-Lapu City, DRRMO radio operator Jonathan Antonio said they will be monitoring coastal barangays, such as Pusok, Looc, Canjulao, Maribago, Marigondon and Suba-Basbas.

Antonio said they’ve been sending weather updates to the barangays also through text message, landline and handheld radios.

Members of the Lapu-Lapu DRRMO recently underwent training on disaster preparedness conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Negros Oriental

In Negros Oriental, the PDRRMC, chaired by Governor Roel Degamo, called on the people to remain calm and to continue monitoring the development of the tropical storm.

Degamo told the people not to panic as he enjoined them to listen to advisories coming from official warning agencies.

PDRRMC executive officer Adrian Sedillo said the Provincial Government and PDRRMC will base their actions on official announcements from Pagasa.

International weather stations are saying Tropical Storm Hagupit is a Category 3 cyclone with its uncertain track baffling meteorologists who are keeping a close eye on it as it is expected to be over the Micronesian Islands of Yap and Palau by Wednesday.

The PDRRMC in Negros Oriental has been on standby alert since Tropical Depression “Queenie” sliced across Negros Oriental last week, causing massive flooding in Dumaguete and other parts of the province and leaving at least four people dead and few others missing.

Meanwhile, Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete called on the people to pray unceasingly as the country faces the threat of yet another tropical storm, possibly a strong one toward the end of the week.

Bishop Cortes also said the diocese will collaborate with the local governments on disaster preparedness.

Some of the parishes are already prepared for disaster preparedness and response after undergoing training earlier this year, Cortes added.

35 chosen from the archdiocese to see Pope Francis

By Vaneza Kimilat

A TOTAL of 35 individuals from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro have been chosen to attend the mass at the Manila Cathedral in which Pope Francis will preside on his visit to the country on January 15, 2015.

The 10 priests chosen from the vicariates of the Archdiocese are Rev. Fr. Perseus P. Cabunoc, SSJV, rector of San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral; Fr. Jose Isagani Villamil, Fr. Raul Dael, Fr. Jobel Gulisao, Fr. Rosauro Valmores, Fr. Ramir Colanse, Fr. Eleuterio Datoy, Fr. Jose Alan Pulgo, Fr. Wilfredo Tuquib, and Fr. Joel Oga.

Among the five nuns are Sr. Elsie Gonzales of Canossian Daughter of Charity; Sr. Teresita G. Balberan of Carmelite Missionaries; Sr. Maria Perla Victoria Balbastro of Daughter of Charity; Sr. Carmelita Buot of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres; and Sr. Lorna Cababaan, MCM of of Missionary Congregation of Mary.

“The other 20 come from the laity. I am not sure of their names, but part of that number would be the survivors of Sendong and from the different groups in the archdiocese,” Rev. Fr. Raul B. Dael, SSJV, Vicar for the Clergy and Religious Missionary, said.

Fr. Dael said choosing the representatives were drawn by lots within the 10 vicariates of the archdiocese and those chosen consulted their respective delegates to get representatives.

The archdiocese will fund the accommodation of the city’s representatives while the plane fares will be divided by the archdiocese and the parishes.

“It’s a moment of grace for the Philippines especially that the Pope is visiting those affected by Yolanda. That would be a great encouragement for the people; it will be a great inspiration for the people,” Fr. Dael said.

“For now, we don’t have the plan on what the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City will do while the Pope visits Manila and other provinces. Maybe next week we will come to that,” Rev. Fr. Perseus P. Cabunoc, SSJV Rector, San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral said, referring to what church-related activities will be prepared while the Pope is in the country.

Papal visit, the route

On its website papalvisit.ph.com, Pope Francis is expected to arrive in Manila on January 15.

On January 16, the pontiff will be officially welcomed by President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang Palace and will also meet Philippine authorities and members of the diplomatic corps.

Pope will go on a motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (the Manila Cathedral) for a mass with bishops, priests, religious men and women. And then will meet with families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

On January 17, the Pope will be at the Leyte Province in Eastern Visayas and visit the Archdiocese of Palo. He will offer mass near Tacloban airport and will have lunch with the some of the survivors of Yolanda.

He will then bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo, Leyte and will visit the Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration to meet with priests and religious people there.

On the 18th, the Pope will meet religious leaders and some youth groups at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila. And then he will go on a motorcade for the concluding mass at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park.

The pontiff will then leave for Rome on the 19th.

For the detailed itinerary of Pope Francis's visit, go to papalvisit.sunstar.com.ph.

Anti-discrimination ordinance ‘needed’

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

AS THE World Aids Day is being observed today, December 1, all over the globe, an advocate feels there is still a tremendous amount of bias and discrimination against individuals who have contracted this disease and those who have different sexual orientation.

Rey Namocatcat, of the local advocate group Tingog-CdeO, said the best way to stop this animosity is for the city legislature to craft an ordinance that will protect people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), as well as those belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual (LGBT) communities.

While the two proposed bills have been pending at the Senate and the House of Representatives, Namocatcat said it would also be helpful for the PLHIV and LGBT sectors if local government units will pass anti-discrimination ordinances, like what the cities of Cebu and Davao already did.

In the Lower House, House Bill (HB) 110 was filed by then Akbayan partylist and now Dinagat Island Representative Arlene Bag-ao.

Its counterpart legislation in the Senate, Senate Bill (SB) 1022 was authored by Senator Ramon Revilla.

Both lawmakers filed their respective bills sometime last year.

Once enacted into a law, HB 110 and SB 1022 will fine and imprison violators for discrimination of LGBTs, for the following offenses: denial of access to public service, including military services, to any person on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity; inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as the disclosure of sexual orientation, in the criteria of hiring, promotion and dismissal of workers, and in the determination of employee compensation, training, incentives, privileges, benefits or allowances and other terms and conditions of employment; refusal of admission or expulsion of a person from educational institutions on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; refusal or revocation of accreditation, formal recognition, and or registration of any organization, group, political party, institution or establishment solely on the basis of sexual orientation; denial of a person access to medical and other health services open to the general public, as well as access to or the use of establishments, facilities, utilities or services including housing, open to the general public; to subject or force any person to any medical or psychological examination to determine and/or alter the person's sexual orientation; and harassment by members of institutions involved in the enforcement of law and the protection of rights, such as the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines).

Violators will be penalized with a fine of not less than P100,000 but not exceeding P500,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years or both.

Since Cagayan de Oro has no related ordinance on this yet, Namocatcat said people who are victims of discrimination should file appropriate charges for a crime that stemmed from the act, for example, physical abuse.

He said in the absence of the antidiscrimination ordinance, other existing criminal laws can be used to protect the PLHIV and LGBT members.

He added that victims of discrimination could also cite the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights as the Philippines is one of the signatory-countries.

Part of the group’s agenda, he said, is to ask the City Council to create an anti-discrimination law.

At present, Namocatcat said Tingog and other advocate groups are strengthening the capacity of their peer educators, so proper information could be relayed to the PLHIV.

He said PLHIV are encouraged to undergo voluntary counseling and early diagnosis for HIV antibody testing.

After the testing, that person is also urged to get the test result in person since no one can do that for him/her.

In addition, Namocatcat said the LGBT communities in Cagayan de Oro City are being made aware on the sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (Sogie), a framework that will help the “sexually closeted” individual.

Rep. Rodriguez says support for Bangsamoro Basic Law is “universal”

(MindaNews)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/30 Nov) — Despite some concerns, the proposed Bangsamoro Law is receiving overwhelming support from residents in Northern Mindanao, the chair of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law said.

“I saw the universal support for the proposed Bangsamoro law. It is undeniable,” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro City) told MindaNews .

Rodriguez said he got a sense of the sentiments after a round of public hearings in the cities of Marawi, Iligan, and Cagayan de Oro; and in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last week from November 27 to 29.

Rodriguez said he no longer sees any major problem arising from sectors questioning the constitutionality of the proposed Bangsamoro Law.

He said despite manifestation from those who oppose the law, he saw only several issues that they would have to fix before submitting their final draft to the Senate by January next year.

The major issue they have to resolve, according to Rodriguez, is the question of inclusion of some towns and barangays into the new Bangsamoro region through a plebiscite.

He said they have to study the issues raised by Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat and former Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz that the Constitution does not allow any province, city, town or barangay to be divided, merged with or its boundaries altered without conforming with the requirements provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991.

The core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro includes the five-province, two-city Autonomou Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the six towns in Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays in North Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the ARMM in the 2001 plebiscite.

The six towns are Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar , Tagoloan and Tangkal town.

Also in question are some barangays in Iligan City: and in the towns of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Pikit and Midsayap in North Cotabato province.

“I find this ironic because most of these areas are dominated by Muslims,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said his committee will conduct ten more public hearings before they would meet in plenary session.

The scheduled public hearings are Baguio and Laoag cities on Dec. 5; Buluan, Maguindanao and Koronadal, Dec. 10; Davao City, Dec. 11; Kabacan and Midsayap towns in North Cotabato, Dec. 12; Butuan City, Dec. 13; and Cebu and Iloilo cities on Dec. 15.

In mid-November, Rodriguez told MindaNews that the public hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law “will be the most comprehensive and inclusive consultations in the history of the House of Representatives.”

Rodriguez added that the Ad Hoc Commitee “will then deliberate on the bill when we resume session on January 19.”

Plenary debates are “expected starting Feb 2 and approval by end of February,” Rodriguez said.

Congress takes a break from December 20 to January 18, 2015, will resume sessions from January 19 to March 20 and will go on break again from March 21 to May 3.

‘Dear Pope Francis’ campaign gets going

(PIA)

Cagayan De Oro City — The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), has launched a Letter Writing Campaign for the Papal Visit in 2015 entitled “Dear Pope Francis.”

PHLPost Central Mindanao area director Nimia S. Acebes said that this project aims to create awareness about the papal visit to further strengthen the faith of the Filipinos in God and to develop the skills, especially the youth in composition-writing and their ability to express their thoughts clearly.

The campaign is open to all Filipinos. With title ‘Dear Pope Francis,” the composition must be recent, unpublished and original.

It should also be in the form of a letter containing its basic elements (heading, salutation, body of the letter, complimentary close and signature).

All letters must be originally done by the participant. And on a separate sheet of paper, the participant must indicate the following information: complete name and home address, gender, age and date of birth, name and address of school; grade or year level and contact number of school and participant telephone, fax and cellphone numbers.

The deadline for submission of the ‘Dear Pope Francis’ entries is on December 5, 2014. All letters to the Pope should be dropped in Special Drop Boxes located in all designated post offices.

A Special Committee shall select the best letter and will be represented to the pope.

For more information and inquiries, you may look for Cecille A. Cotapte, market specialist of PHLPost Central Mindanao Area, Macabalan Cagayan de Oro City with number (088) 856-7124 or you may visit the Post Office in your locality.

Oro residents block access road in Macajalar

Jigger J. Jerusalem

FOR blocking the road leading to their homes, more than a thousand residents of a neighborhood in Barangay Lapasan found themselves inconvenienced, and in turn barricaded a public street, bothering motorists at Macajalar road Thursday morning.

The residents at Sitio San Miguel in Barangay Lapasan said they find it hard to get to their residences or to go some place from their homes as the private road going there was fenced by the owner of the property whom the residents identified as Mindanao Health Care (MHC) Wednesday night.

San Miguel is located on a hilly side bounded by Barangay Camaman-an and located near a shopping mall. Below the houses is a firing range said to be owned also by MHC.

Because of the blockade, resident Jojie Nonot, 53, said it would be difficult for him and the more than a hundred families to go home as part of the road was affected, resulting in the excavation allegedly ordered by the MHC management.

“What will happen if there is an emergency? Garbage could no longer be collected. The other day, a resident who had just a dialysis couldn’t proceed to San Miguel. He was carried instead by the neighbors. He got soaking wet because it was raining,” Nonot, a farmer and board member of the neighborhood association, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday.

Aside from the San Miguel residents, people going to and from the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Northern Mindanao headquarters at Camp Alagar and students at the Lapasan National High School use the road as shortcut, he added.

Nonot said the owner of the property did not inform them in advance when fencing the road.

He said they were told by the security guards, numbering more than a dozen who were deployed in the area and armed with shotguns, that the road is a private property and using it was prohibited.

He said the homeowners can pass through, but they have to hurdle the barbed wire near where a “private property, no entry” sign is hanged.

In retaliation, the residents also blocked a portion of the Macajalar road just a few meters away from the entrance of the firing range.

Access road

The Macajalar road serves as an access road going to the national highway and a nearby mall. Motorists had to find other alternate routes because of the blockade.

The obstruction, said Rita Zarsosa, 36, and a San Miguel dweller, caused a motorcycle owner to flare up as he shouted invectives at the residents early morning on Thursday. He eventually turned around.

But Zarsosa said that was the only incident that figured an angry motorist. Other drivers, once they saw the blockade, turned back without complaining.

She said only Mayor Oscar Moreno can help them solve their problem, but she heard he could not directly intervene since the property in question is privately owned.

Nonot said they had to do that (obstruction) so City Hall and other concerned government agencies would listen to them and do something about their situation.

SPO1 Jonathan Mulleon, a member of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) Traffic Unit, said they were deployed to augment law enforcers from the Agora police station to ensure violence would not erupt on site.

Nonot said their neighborhood is a piece of land acquired by the former employees of Coca Cola, then owned by San Miguel, hence the name of the housing subdivision, in 1967.

Some of the first residents of San Miguel have been living there for 40 years, Nonot, a homeowner for 22 years, added.

He said they could not figure out why after more three decades of using the road, it is only now that the owners decided to close it, but he added they suspected that the 1.6-hectare property, which the road is part of, will be bought by a company.

Agreement

But he said about three years ago, the homeowners signed an agreement with former MHC president, Vicente Cabrera, who provided three meters and the owner of the adjacent lot another three meters for access road intended for the residents’ use.

It was also agreed that the road will not be closed provided MHC will be paid by the city government through the expropriation of the lot.

He said the agreement was witnessed by sitio leaders of Hillside and San Miguel, City Legal Office, and a Lapasan barangay official.

Nonot said Lapasan barangay chairman Omar Labuntog issued a hold order for the excavation to stop and remove the fence, but it went unheeded.

He said they have yet to have a dialogue with MHC new president Manolo de Leon.

When Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried to get the side of the MHC management inside the firing range, the guards stationed inside the property said only employees are allowed to enter the compound.

The guards also said no one in the management was around to answer queries from the media.

1st Go Negosyo Center opened in CDO

(JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 27 (PIA) – “It is not enough to teach people accountancy and basic financial literacy but an entrepreneurial mindset.”

This was made clear by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV during the opening of the first ever Negosyo Center in the country on November 13, 2014 here in Cagayan de Oro City.

He said that there is an allotted P93.5M for the Go Negosyo Act where 100 Go Negosyo centers will be established nationwide by November of 2015 and 2,500 in total within the next five years.

Senator Aquino said, “We want the Negosyo Centers to be a front line organization.” Isang lugar na pwedeng mahanap, pwedeng makita ng ating kapwa Pilipino na naghahanap ng tulong sa kanilang maliit na negosyo. (A place which can be easily located can be accessed by fellow Filipinos looking for help with their small businesses.)

There are some Negosyo Centers in pilot areas that will be found in city halls, malls, commercial areas, and others to be housed in state universities and colleges, the Senator said.

The purpose of the center is to help micro enterprises become small enterprises and the small enterprises become medium and the medium become large and export and join the global market.

According to him, micro enterprises comprise 92% of the country and graduating from micro to small is really one of the challenges.

There is the regulatory challenge because entrepreneurs go from underground to regular economy. It is also a minimum wage challenge from going to non-minimum wage to minimum wage. It’s a Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) challenge if you are a food entrepreneur. You need to get the regulations to get to the supermarket for example.

“I am hoping that this can make a big difference in terms of our fight against poverty. There is no way we can get out of poverty if there are no jobs, no enterprises,” the Senator said.

If you have a good business you might not need to go abroad. There are many benefits of having a business and having a job in the country. It’s time to focus efforts on fighting poverty. And the way to help our people fight poverty is by providing jobs and supporting their enterprise.

Senator Aquino said the center represents an actual physical program, actual method, and actual process to develop in our country.

He said, finance institutions are present and will give opportunity to the formal or regulated micro financing groups to read brochures or have training sessions here to take them away from the “5/6” or other loan sharks. So that will be part of this center.

This will be a proactive center where the organization doesn’t just wait for people to come but seek out opportunities for our countrymen. Even the farming communities are welcomed for them to find a way so their products and services will be delivered to the market. Meanwhile the center may be also used by the private sectors for meetings, events. There will be a partnership between private sector, government officials, and local officials.

This is just the start, there is so much further we want to achieve, the Senator said. We have a very good start. If we can make it work here in Cagayan de Oro, we can make it work anywhere in the Philippines. We will make sure that the Negosyo Centers are funded, supported and we will continue bringing in private sector to support the Negosyo Centers.

DTI as leading agency for the Go Negosyo Center in CDO

According to Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya, the Negosyo Center is a dream come true. It is really a realization of making services available to Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs).

Because that’s always what they ask about, “Where do we go? How do we do? How can we ask for help?” Now, they only have to remember the address of the Negosyo Center whether it is in DTI, local government, or in a mall.

According to Jerry T. Clavesillas, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (BSMED) that this is the first Negosyo Center established under the Go Negosyo act RA 10644.

Further, it is cross sectoral, cross agency. A Negosyo Center is primarily under the supervision of small and medium enterprise development council of which the membership covers a lot of agencies.

He said that this is really to promote the ease of doing business. Further, requirements are simplified for those who want to go into business and also facilitate other regulatory requirements and even support services we can provide to the MSMEs.

Moreover, the center is for the promotion of MSMEs. MSMEs only need to approach this center. Meanwhile, personnel will not be purely from DTI but ultimately an inter-agency collaboration. So other agencies and private companies like Microsoft are also willing to provide training especially with Information Technology (IT) solutions. These are the things that we can get out of the Negosyo center, he said.

Local government participation

Cagayan de Oro first district Representative Rolando “Klarex” Uy said this is a huge leap for businessmen and would be businessmen in the city. “Ang negosyo maoy kinabuhi sa gobyerno. Kung wala ang negosyante, ang gobyerno dili mugana og walai pangimpliyo. Importante ang negosyante. Kai kung wala sila, unsa man ang employment sa local nga kagamhanan?” he said. (The business is the life of the government. If there are no businessmen, the government could not work and there won’t be employment. The businessmen are important. If they do not exist, what would be the employment in the local government?)

Meanwhile, 1st Congressional District of Misamis Oriental Representative Peter Unabia congratulated the courage of Provincial Director Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore.

He said that this is a big help to aspiring businessmen. He also challenged that the center will be sincere in providing assistance to develop micro entrepreneurs to become small to become employers themselves.

On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro vice mayor Ian Acenas said the city is so lucky and so blessed and that the opening of Negosyo Center is so timely because the city has been declared 2nd most competitive city after Makati just this year.

Programs Offered

The Negosyo Center shall offer services like Trainings in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Technology, Financial Management, Productivity and Efficiency, Business registration services, Business consultancy/ coaching, Product Development, Market Development and Promotions and Business Ideas and Information.

The center is located at the ground level of Antolin Building, Tiano-Akut Sts., Cagayan de Oro City.

Roll-out for the full multi-phase implementation of the Negosyo Centers will begin in 2015 as provided for in the Transitory Provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Go Negosyo Act.

The Center is a pilot project of Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aguino IV.

Oro to develop relocation sites

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

AFTER more than two years, Cagayan de Oro City's relocation areas still need further development so residents could live a quality life.

In a statement sent through email to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Oscar Moreno was quoted as saying that one of his plans is develop the permanent resettlement sites through the construction of added amenities that dwellers could commonly use such as parks and churches.

Moreno said the additional facilities would complement the facilities recently donated by Habitat for Humanity Philippines in a ceremonial turnover.

Among the structures being donated by the group are multipurpose livelihood centers, a health center, day care facility, as well as police outposts to be put up in various relocation sites in the city.

A multipurpose building and health center will be put up in the resettlement area in Barangay Indahag, while a relocation site Barangay Pagatpat will have its own day care school and a police outpost.

The relocation areas in Canitoan will be recipients of a multipurpose structure and a police outpost.

During the turnover, Moreno expressed his gratitude to Habitat for the continued assistance it has extended to the City Government, especially to the relocated residents whose lives should be enhanced given their condition.

Also, Moreno is planning on subdividing the land on the resettlement sites so they could become the legal owners of the lots they are living in at present.

Most of the settlers living at the relocation areas are survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong that devastated villages in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan where hundreds of people were either declared dead or missing and millions of pesos in properties were damaged on December 17, 2011.

Among the villages in the city that experienced the most destruction brought by Sendong were Carmen, Camaman-an, Balulang, and Iponan where residents perished in the flood.

Aside from the different infrastructure the organization has donated to the city, it also handed out seven water-testing kits that were received by city health officer Dr. Fe Bongcas.

Bongcas said the City Health Office has yet to identify the villages that they are going to distribute the kits to.

Farmers protest DAR Bukidnon executive

Mindanao Examiner

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Some 200 landless farmers on Monday protested the continued defiance of the Department of Agrarian Reform to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in Bukidnon province in northern Mindanao.

The farmers also demanded the resignation of Julio Celestiano, the provincial agrarian reform officer, for his failure to implement CARP in Bukidnon, especially in the estate of the Fortich family.

Rosendo Emat, chairman of the Fortich Farm Landless Farmers Beneficiaries Association and a member of the national peasant federation Task Force Mapalad, accused Celestiano of violating the CARP.

“While the DAR is among the top agencies tasked to fulfil the state’s Constitutional mandate to pursue agrarian reform with the welfare of the landless farmers and farm workers receiving the highest consideration, the department ironically has a top CARP violator within its ranks in the person of Celestiano, who has been tolerating the Fortich family in blocking the implementation of agrarian reform in a landholding that they don’t even own,” Emat said.

The 331-hectare portion of the 1,178-hectare banana, pineapple and papaya plantations in Valencia City consisting of three lots are being claimed by Carlos Fortich and daughters Maria Teresa Zarraga and Pilar Morasa, according to Emat, who said that government records show that the Fortich family is not the registered owners of the lots.

He said in 2006, the DAR, through issuance of notices of coverage, placed the three lots being claimed by the Fortich family under the CARP so these could eventually be distributed to farmer-beneficiaries of the program.

However, in 2011, as the distribution of the lots to beneficiaries neared, the Land Bank of the Philippines refused to value the landholdings and determine the compensation that the government would give to the landowners in exchange for placing their properties under the CARP after it found out that the lots were untitled and not owned by any private individual.

24 hurt as bus, dump truck collide in Cagayan de Oro

Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News


At least 24 people were reported injured after a bus and a dump truck collided in Cagayan de Oro City shortly after noon Sunday.

The collision occurred along the national highway at Barangay Tablon in Cagayan de Oro City, GMA Northern Mindanao's Sozie Alamban reported Monday on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."

The injured, which include the bus driver and two children who were on the bus, were brought to a hospital.

The left side of the bus sustained heavy damage.

Initial investigation showed both vehicles were heading for Cagayan de Oro City when the accident happened. Police said the truck was about to enter a compund when the bus hit it.

Meanwhile, the husband of one of the injured asked the bus company to shoulder the medical expenses of the injured.

"Obligasyon nila kasi mga pasahero nila 'yun at saka sagutin nila ang nangyari dahil problema nila 'yun baka wala ng sumakay sa kanilang bus kung ganon ang style nila," said Vergilito Puyos.

The bus company has yet to comment on the incident, even as police continue their investigation into who should be held liable for the collision.

CDO’s emerging foodie trail

(DZRH News)

CAGAYAN de Oro City is a place known to many domestic and foreign tourists as an adventure destination. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit CdeO just for the whitewater rafting alone. Adventure-seekers also find more exciting activities a few minutes away from the city.

Not many, however, would come to CdeO just for its delicacies (except maybe for the ham), since CdeO has never been known as a foodie stop. Unknown to many, a lot of the family-owned businesses in CDO are related to food, mainly because Kagay-anons appreciate good grub.

Lately, a number of quirky restaurants have sprouted all over town. In Divisoria alone, unique places to eat can be found in almost every corner, where the ambience is as interesting as the menu.

The newly opened Backyard Grill is one of the restaurants that serve affordable grilled fare, with a lot of their meals at P99. Aside from the usual silog meals, it also serves meals on a hot plate: sizzling Sisig, sizzling (spa)Ghetti and even sizzling Brownie Ala Mode! Its hefty serving of baby back ribs will keep you coming back for more. Backyard Grill is located at Marfori Compound, Gaerlan St.

Alaska Aces back at top of standings

(DZRH News)

Alaska Aces guard Cyrus glides in for a layup against a GlobalPort Batang Pier defender. The Alaska Aces bounced back with a vengeance by beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 87-84, Saturday, Nov. 22 in Cagayan De Oro City to grab first place in the standings of the 2014-2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. PBA Image/Nuki Sabio

Alaska Aces guard Cyrus glides in for a layup against a GlobalPort Batang Pier defender. The Alaska Aces bounced back with a vengeance by beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 87-84, Saturday, Nov. 22 in Cagayan De Oro City to grab first place in the standings of the 2014-2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. PBA Image/Nuki Sabio

The Alaska Aces bounced back with a vengeance by beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 87-84, Saturday, Nov. 22 in Cagayan De Oro City to grab back first place in the 2014-2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

The Aces took command of the game early in the fourth period. Vic Manuel started the scoring binge with three consecutive field goals then Calvin Abueva completed the Alaska run, with back-to-back baskets of his own, which pushed the Aces ahead for good, 79-65, with 7:31 to go in the game.

The Batang Pier cut the gap but the Aces relied on their defense to preserve the victory. Abueva, with 19 points and six rebounds, went on to win Player of the Game honors.

With the victory the Aces (7 wins, 1 loss) grabbed solo leadership in the standings ahead of the San Miguel Beermen (6-1).

The other teams include the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters (5-2), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (5-3), the Meralco Bolts (4-3), the Talk N Text Tropang Texters (4-3), GlobalPort (4-4), the Purefoods Star Hotshots (3-3), the NLEX Road Warriors (3-4), Barako Bull Energy (2-5), the Kia Sorento (1-7) and the Blackwater Elite (0-8).

GlobalPort jumped out to an early nine-point lead, 20-11, after a three-point play by Yancy De Ocampo who converted a followup and a bonus free throw with 1:15 to go in the first quarter. Alaska eventually trailed, 15-22, after the first period.

The Aces started the second quarter breathing fire. RJ Jazul and Jvee Casio drilled a pair of triples to start the Alaska scoring spree. Abueva then capped the 10-3 Alaska run with a drive (plus a blocking foul that was not called) to tie the count at 25-all, with 8:09 to go in the second period.

Cyrus Baguio and Casio completed the Alaska run as the Aces suddenly erected a five-point advantage, 31-26, in the second quarter.

But GlobalPort made its own run late in the period, outscoring the Aces 11-2 the rest of the way as Alaska found itself facing a four-point deficit at halftime, 33-37.

Abueva turned to “Beast Mode” early in the third period converting four consecutive field goals right in the first seven minutes of the period. Alaska outscored GlobalPort, 18-13, to grab the lead. Abueva capped the run with a hookshot as Alaska took over the driver’s seat, 51-50, with 6:29 to go in the third period.

Alaska’s second unit, led by RJ Jazul and Eric Menk, then picked up where Abueva left off. Jazul drilled a triple and then Menk converted a pair of free throws to push the Aces to a six-point advantage, 66-60, after the third quarter.

SCORES:

ALASKA ACES 87 – Calvin Abueva 19, Jvee Casio 14, Cyrus Baguio 10, Sonny Thoss 10, RJ Jazul 8, Eric Menk 7, Vic Manuel 6, Chris Banchero 4, Ping Exciminiano 4, Dondon Hontiveros 3, Rome Dela Rosa 2, Sam Eman 0, Tony Dela Cruz 0.

GLOBALPORT BATANG PIER 84 – Terrrence Romeo 26, Stanley Pringle 15, Alex Cabagnot 15, Mark Isip 12, Yancy De Ocampo 6, Ronjay Buenafe 5, Jewel Ponferada 3, Keith Jensen 2, Paolo Taha 0, John Pinto 0, Prince Caperal 0, Nonoy Baclao 0.

QUARTER SCORES: 15-22, 33-37, 66-60, 87-84.

DOLE-X joins regional launching of nutrition council’s “10 Kumainments”

By Glenford C. Labial (DOLE-X)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 21 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office No. X joined the regional launching of the “10 Kumainments” of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on November 14 at the Dynasty Court Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

NNC-X coordinator, Marissa DM. Valles, said that the “10 Kumainments” are approved by the NNC Governing Board, as a campaign to help prevent malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJDD, steered the unveiling of the huge standee together with retired National Economic Development Authority region 10 (NEDA-X) regional director Myra V. Balandra.

With its 10 dimensions under the Family Welfare Program (FWP), as emphasized under Department Order (D.O.) 56-03 s. 2003 “Rationalizing the Implementation of Family Welfare Program”, DOLE intensifies the mandateto stakeholders to comply “Nutrition” as part of said dimensions, as well as implementing lactation station in workplace.

Aside from the FWP directive, the department commits to NNC the facilitation of emergency employment and capacity building of workers on counseling for the poor and vulnerable workers in the region.

DOLE is part of the Technical Working Group together with the Department of Education (DepEd); Department of Agriculture (DA); NEDA; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health (DOH).

The launching was attended by non-government organizations like the World Food Programme; World Vision Development Foundation, Inc.; inter-agency partners that include DA; NEDA; DepEd and the trimedia partners.

As part of the programme, NNC presented the Results of the 2013 Nutrition Survey in Northern Mindanao and the Updated Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2014-2016.

The event was participated by Glenford C. Labial, Labor and Employment Officer-III and DOLE-X FWP regional focal person.

The launching bears the theme “Strengthening Partnership in Scaling-up Nutrition Action”.

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