Philippines

Cagayan de Oro City News

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Cagayan de Oro - Archived News

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.
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
Aerial View of Cagayan de Oro City

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.

MisOr mulls P159-M budget to boost tourism

By Jigger Jerusalem (PNA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The local government of Misamis Oriental is planning to allocate around PHP159 million to develop new tourism sites and to upgrade existing ones.

Lawyer Jeffrey Saclot, the provincial tourism officer, said the drive to improve the province's tourism industry became a priority after Misamis Oriental was chosen to host the 36th annual Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (Atop)--a national convention that will take place next month.

Saclot said that the proposed budget is intended for the infrastructure projects of tourism destinations in Misamis Oriental, and possibly be included in next year’s annual budget.

This year, the provincial government has already released millions of pesos for the upkeep of existing tourist destinations, Saclot said, although he did not cite specific figures.

He said tourism remains a priority program of Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, whose aim is not just to develop and promote the province’s tourist spots but also for the communities living within the sites to generate income.

Among the sites that will be further developed is the Sagpulon Falls in Jasaan town, which will need P10 million for construction of open and close cottages and for other amenities.

Aside from the local government funds, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) has also set aside P10 million for the trail going to Sagpulon Falls and will be releasing the amount soon once the paperwork is concluded, Saclot said.

Another P10 million for the jump-off point and boardwalk going to the Agutayan reef, also in Jasaan, was already earmarked.

The upgrading of the Alibuag Cold Spring in Medina town, he said, will be made possible with the PHP10 million funding, while the provincial government has pledged PHP3 million for the construction of additional cottages in Alibuag Beach Resort in the municipality of Sugbongcogon.

The Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in Binunangan town, he said, was included in the development initiatives, with the area being considered as one of the religious tourism sites in the province. The province will be building a swimming pool near the shrine worth PHP5 million.

Two mountain resorts in Naawan town, the Bolyok Spring and the Mahangob Falls, will be developed using the PHP10 million fund already allocated for these sites.

The famous “bibingka” (rice cake) of the municipality of Manticao, meanwhile, will be further promoted through packaging and marketing, he said.

“We’ve recommended the [Gov. Emano] to put up a "pasalubong center" in the province and he is very positive about this,” Saclot said, adding that Steag, a power-generating company, is set to donate P10 million for the project.

Saclot said the “pasalubong center” (souvenir shop) will be located either in Alubijid or Laguindingan and will serve as a final stop for local and foreign tourists before going to the airport in Laguindingan.

Saclot said they will also be helping the barangay and municipal governments of Laguindingan to expand the Tubajon Aquamarine Park, which recently won in a nationwide competition for the cleanest coastline.

“We want to preserve the ecotourism setup there (Tubajon), that means no concrete structures, just bamboo, and other native materials, and we are planning on expanding the mangrove plantation,” he said.

He said the park was chosen as one of the destinations of the delegates of the Atop convention, with participants coming from all over the country.

MinDA, SHFC partner for Do No Harm confab

(MinDA and TFBM)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY-- Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) with Do No Harm (DNH) trainers of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) organized a three-day Capacity Building on Conflict Sensitivity and DNH held in Cagayan de Oro City, August 8-10, 2018.

The capacity building is embedded on nurturing local capacities for peace “Towards Peaceful and Effective Rebuilding of Marawi City.”

The training is also part of the results chain for MinDA’s Do No Harm Mindanao Program wherein a series of CS-DNH Training was conducted for Task Force Bangon Marawi and all other key players in the rehabilitation of Marawi City and its environs.

MinDA currently has a pool of DNH trainers to tap in facilitating orientation seminars or awareness training on Conflict Sensitivity and DNH.

Having joined the DNH Orientation for TFBM last year, SHFC requested for an in-depth training for team members to ensure conflict-sensitive approach to all aspects of their shelter and livelihood project in Marawi City. The participants of the training were the officers and staff from UN-Habitat, local government unit (LGU)-Marawi City and SHFC.

Aside from DNH training, relevant topics on the ‘The Maranao Culture: History, Structure and Social Dynamics’ as well as Islamic Financing were emphasized in order to equip the participants with the effective tools in project implementation.

Joint Task Force Ranao deputy commander Col Romeo Brawner Jr., meanwhile discussed the Military Perspective on the Marawi rehabilitation and reconstruction and shared about the ongoing security, engineering and civil-military operations.

Highlights of the training include the coming up of strategies in overcoming conflict in resource transfers; identifying potential dividers and connectors in relation to their shelter program as well as mapping key stakeholders and potential partners.

Through the training, participants from SHFC, UN-Habitat, LGU-Marawi were able to formulate a way forward plan wherein a conflict-sensitive lens is integrated.

Household mapping pushed

By PJ ORIAS

A CITY official urged barangay officials to conduct household mapping as part of Cagayan de Oro's efforts to pursue a more concentrated urbanization path.

In the next years to come, City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a hopes that every household in every barangay is profiled and identified through household mapping.

Sabuga-a said the city might not be able to control the pace of its fast-growing population, but it will work to at least monitor movement in the barangay level.

After training barangay tanods, Sabuga-a said they are now aiming at making efficient partnership with the barangays especially in terms of responding to calamities.

"Our problem now is when calamities strike, for example, if there's fire, and when our social workers respond to the area, the assessment of the total household affected is doubled. More people are coming in and are asking for assistance even if they are not affected with the fire, so this becomes a problem, we have no validation," he said.

"The household mapping also allows us to monitor the people coming in and out of your barangay," he added.

Sabuga-a said this effort might be small, but this is first step toward realizing the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte to make the city the country's fourth economic center.

"In the long-term plan, we want to have a system to make it easier for us plan the development of Cagayan de Oro," he said.

City Hall awards Oro's 3 best restaurants

By PJ ORIAS

THE City Health Office (CHO) named Monday, September 3, three restaurants as Cagayan de Oro's best, recognizing their adherence to food and sanitation standards.

Kagay-anon Restaurant, Cucina Higala, and Minindal Cuisine are among the three restaurants that were conferred with awards during the weekly flag raising at the City Hall.

Environmental Sanitation Chief Sergio Ramon Bautista of the CHO said over 1,000 restaurants in Cagayan de Oro were evaluated until it came up with three names.

"Prior to the contest, our sanitary inspectors evaluated these restaurants if they passed our food sanitation standards. They were evaluated several times, and these three restaurants got the rating of more than 90 percent," Bautista said.

He said it is one of the CHO's advocacies to ensure that all restaurants in the city comply with standards, such as cleanliness, safety, city health cards for each employee, and has a food safety officer, among others.

City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said this is part of the City Government's continuing efforts to be competitive and make Cagayan de Oro a destination for food tourism.

Australian Embassy officials visit Oca

By PJ ORIAS

HIGH-RANKING officials from the Australian Embassy in Manila on Thursday met with Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno to discuss the city's development programs and future possible partnerships.

In his radio program, Moreno said they shared a good discussion.

"Philippines and Australia enjoy a very long, warm, deep friendship. When I was governor of Misamis Oriental, daghan ilang natabang sa ato, we're one of those chosen for a project given by the Australian AID," he said.

Moreno said the province then was a recipient of the project called the Provincial Maintenance Road Facility, which aimed at concreting roads in remote areas of Misamis Oriental.

"The delegation also came here to build strong partnership and strengthen it, and also to indicate that they might come back," he added.

Mayor Moreno also briefed the delegation about the local government’s strategies in promoting peace and stability in the city and the region through participatory approach in governance.

The delegation is headed by Mat Kimberly, Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy; Rachel Cusack, Second Secretary; Luke Lyons, Security Services Manager and Kloe Carvajal, Research Officer.

CDO underground cable system in the works

By Nef Luczon (PNA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--The Task Force on Information Communication Technology (ICT) here has been given the green light to initiate the “Project Velez,” an initiative that aims to replace the current aerial cable system into an underground system.

The project will consist of three phases and will initially implement the underground cable system in the city's three main thoroughfares--Velez and Corrales streets, and CM Recto Avenue, a national road, said Engr. Teodoro Buenavita Jr., regional director of National Telecommunications Commission in Region 10 (NTC-10).

Buenavista, one of the task force’s convenor, said a conference on August 31 is expected to iron out the specific target dates and other preparations for the relocation of the current electric wires and network cables.

He said an existing underground cable system owned by Misortel, a telephony service provider owned by the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, will be tapped for the initial phase of the project.

He said the Misortel facility was constructed in the early as 2000 in partnership with South Korea investors, and has been underutilized since.

“Actually, there is an existing underground facility with a win-win solution for Misortel. Cable owners will now be renting the facilities. So (this will be) a potential source of revenue of Misortel,” he said. “We checked the manholes and it’s still in good condition,” the NTC-10 chief added.

With the Misortel facility, he said there was no longer a need to do extensive excavations for the meantime as it only requires the transfer of the existing wires hanging on the posts directly beneath Misortel facility.

Flood-prone areas such as in CM Rect can be resolved through an “engineering design,” he said.

Tesda-NorMin sets World Cafe of Opportunities in August

By JO ANN SABLAD

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Misamis Oriental will be launching a “one-stop-shop” of employment opportunities for technical vocational education and training (TVET) graduates and alumni on August 25 and 26 in Robinsons Cagayan de Oro.

The two-day regional World Cafe of Opportunities (WCO), as part of the 24th Anniversary of Tesda and celebration of National Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) Day, is one of the strategies of agency to link the TVET graduates and alumni to employment opportunities both in wage and self-employment.

“Kana sya nga programa, designed ka na sya para sa tanang TVET graduates or alumni nga wala pa makatrabaho. Especially kanang naa gyud sa construction sector, amo kamong gi-invite anang adlawa, dalha lang ninyo ang inyong mga credentials (This program is designed for all unemployed TVET graduates or alumni. Especially those who are in the construction sector, we invite you all to attend the activity on that day, just bring your credentials),” engineer Nazario Villamor Jr., officer-in-charge-provincial director of Tesda-Misamis Oriental, said.

National government agencies, private companies, technical-vocational institutions and financial institutions will all converge during the two-day activity to offer all possible employment, training and financing opportunities and facilitate higher job-skill matching.

According to Villamor, the agencies that will participate in WCO includes: the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Public Works and Highways, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, among others.

“Unya kato pong gusto og training, kato pong duna pay available nga slots, atong gipang-invite ang (Those who wanted to register in the training, if there are still available slots, we invited some) technical and professional institutions para mahitabo na sya nga (so it can be a) national enrollment day on that day,” Villamor said.

“Kung gusto sa TVET graduate nga gusto sya mo-undergo og entrepreneurship, naa gi-invite nato ang DTI nga maoy makahatag sa ato og assistance og sa financing naa ang Land Bank of the Philippines og ang Development Bank of the Philippines (If the TVET graduate wanted to undergo entrepreneurship, we invited DTI to for assistance and for financing, we have the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines),” he added.

In connection with the National Tech-Voc Day, there will be simultaneous celebration of National TVET Enrolment Day and World Cafe of Opportunities in 17 regions nationwide.

On February 7, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act 10970 which declares August 25 and every year thereafter the National Technical-Vocational Day nationwide.

Oro waste management summit set August 23

By PJ ORIAS

A SUMMIT on solid waste management is slated on August 23 to increase awareness on the importance of waste segregation in the barangay level.

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) head Engineer Armen Cuenca said the summit aims to highlight the barangays' role in waste reduction.

"We want to instill in their minds that what the city should only collect is residual wastes, and that the barangay has to collect biodegradable wastes and recyclable," Cuenca said.

Based on a waste analysis study conducted in 2014, every person in Cagayan de Oro generates 0.76 kilo of waste per day. As the population grew, the volume of garbage generated daily has reached 1,000 tons.

According to Clenro, public markets remain the biggest source of waste, followed by general stores, institutions, and households.

Edgar Naguio, head of the Community-Based Solid Waste Management, said to date, only barangays Gusa, Tablon, and Canitoan are so far practicing proper waste management, by implementing "No Segregation, No Collection Policy".

Naguio said barangays Lapasan, Cugman, Bugo, and Puerto in the first district of Cagayan de Oro are among the barangays with poor waste management, while barangay Carmen is the number one waste generator in the second district.

Cuenca said he hopes that after the summit, all 80 barangays of Cagayan de Oro will be compliant to laws on proper waste management otherwise they will be forced to file cases against erring barangay officials.

Oro’s 2nd Lumba’ Bike Festival on Aug. 18-19

(LLS)

CYCLING enthusiasts in the locality will get to have some fun.

This, as the 1990 batch of Xavier University High School–Ateneo de Cagayan (XUHS) and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro will be hosting the 2nd Lumba’ Bike Festival at the back of SM Uptown grounds on Aug. 18-19.

Spicing up the two-day activity includes band concerts, bike exhibits, raffle draws and other related festive activities.

According to project director Mark Orlando “Jhovals” Vallecer II, the highlight of Lumbafest is the road bike and mountain bike race Elite series, which is the group’s signature event from SM Uptown grounds to Talakag, Bukidnon and back.

Vallecer said it will be followed by the Duathlon event the following day.

Participants of the festival are the ever growing bike enthusiasts and companies all over Mindanao and from Luzon and the Visayas where they will also showcase not just their biking skills --but also conduct bike clinics for adults and children-- and to showcase the latest bike products and models.

This city government-sanctioned activity is part of the “Higala-ay Festival 2018”, a month long celebration of the Cagayan de Oro Fiesta.

Vallecer further said that part of the pre-fiesta event’s net income will be spent for projects for the benefit of House of Hope, a non-profit Psychiatric Custodial care facility at Palalan, Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City and Calabrian Children’s Foundation [CCF], a non-profit home for destitute and Abandoned Children in Zone 3, Bayabas, Cagayan de Oro City.

Capitol holds monthly clean up drive

By ALWEN SALIRING

EMPLOYEES of the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental are ordered to participate in the year-round clean up drive around the premises of the Capitol compound.

The initiative started Friday, August 10 and will be done regularly every first Friday of the month.

Provincial administrator Jocelyn Lood-Mateo said that capitol workers must lead in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation.

Capitol officials have seen the said move as an effective method to encourage the public to also clean their respective surroundings to ward off illnesses such as dengue and other health problems.

Mateo said all department heads and chiefs of offices are also joining the mass grooming of all trees stood within the vicinity of the capitol once every six months.

Governor Yevgeny Emano lauded the said effort to educate people the value of cleanliness to prevent diseases even as he urged the public to join the activity.

The activity falls under the capitol's health program which is among the eight pillars of the Emano administration.

Oro’s DRRMC nominated for Gawad Kalasag

(SunStar Cagayan De Oro)

AFTER bagging the Best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) in the regional level, the Cagayan de Oro City's DRRMC is yet again nominated this time, for the Gawad Kalasag National Award.

Allan Porcadilla, CRDDMD officer-in-charge said the nomination was made after its office won the Best DRRMC for five consecutive years now.

He said the competition is going to be tough considering that their rivals are big cities that are also best in their respective regions.

Porcadilla admitted that the CDRRMD has still a long way to go in terms of equipment.

"But we are striving to be better every day, so far our teams are equipped with knowledge and can respond to emergencies really well," he said.

Cagayan de Oro's disaster risk reduction and management council (DRRMC) was named as the Best DRRMC in the highly urbanized city category. Oro Rescue was also hailed as the Best Government Emergency Management or GEM.

Gawad Kalasag an annual award recognizing groups who rendered outstanding contribution in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance.

It also aims to appreciate individuals, groups or institutions which have shown extraordinary courage, heroism and sacrifice in times of emergencies, be it natural or human-induced.

MisOr tops fight against malnutrition

By ALWEN SALIRING

THE Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental has received recognition from the National Nutrition Council for besting other provinces in Northern Mindanao in the fight against malnutrition.

Through the efforts of the Nutrition division of the Provincial Health Office, the province topped in reducing the incidence of malnutrition of five years old kids and below in the region.

"Tungod sa panaghiusa sa tanang departamento, nagmalampuson ang atong kampanya batok sa malnutrisyon," the capitol said.

Malnutrition is among the problem faced by parents in the province especially those who are less capable to provide their children with good nutrition.

The capitol said the various programs of the provincial government such as supplemental feeding, distribution of vitamins and medicines, among others are the factors for the significant decrease of malnutrition cases in the province.

Misamis Oriental got the lowest percentage of malnutrition incidence with 3.8 percent or 3,023 children, followed by Misamis Occidental with 4.5 percent 1,365 kids; Bukidnon with 4.6 percent or 6,015 children and Lanao del Norte with 9 percent or 6,790 kids.

Governor Yevgeny Emano lauded the hard work of his employees in delivering the best service to the people, especially to the children.

This as he vowed to pour out more support and assistance in his health-related programs.

Tech-voc training for Oro’s marginalized youth

By PJ ORIAS

THE Cagayan de Oro City Council has passed an ordinance establishing the Cagayan de Oro Technical Vocational Institute (CDO-TVI) in an aim to level up the City Government's skills training program especially for the out-of-school youths.

The CDO-TVI will stand at the old site of the Agusan National High School in Zone 2, barangay Agusan, and in other areas of the city.

According to the ordinance authored by committee on education chairperson Councilor Zuzette Magtajas-Daba, there is a need to sustain the gains achieved by the local government unit by expanding its educational program through technical skills and vocational training to the residents.

Daba said this is also an answer to the demand of skilled workers locally and internationally.

CDO-TVI shall undertake center-based and community-based skills and livelihood for students from low-income families, out-of-school youths and the marginalized sector.

It will also offer school-based, Mobile Training Program, enterprise-based and Community-Based curricula.

The CDO-TVI will adopt Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's Unified Programs Registration and Accreditation Systems as well as the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education's senior high school curriculum for its ladderized courses.

Group educates Oro moms on child feeding

By JO ANN SABLAD

AS PART of the International Breastfeeding Week celebration, the Modern Nanays of Mindanao (MNM) started the first day of Hakab Na, on Friday, August 3, teaching the mothers of Cagayan de Oro City on infant and young child feeding.

Hakab Na, the Philippines counterpart of the Global Big Latch On activity, is global synchronized breastfeeding event that aims to popularize breastfeeding.

"Ang (The) Modern Nanays, we promote optimal infant and young child feeding during the first 1000 days. So this is the golden window of opportunity to get that best foundation to start their life," Nadine Angelica Casiño, the founder of Modern Nanays of Mindanao, said.

The MNM started the afternoon event with Bump to Breast, an activity where moms were taught on how to prepare for breastfeeding while still pregnant.

According to Casiño, they invited the best neonatologist in the city to inform the mothers present during the activity on how to be mentally, psycho-socially and emotionally prepared while still pregnant.

"Gihatag namo nga (We gave this) chance for the pregnant mothers of CDO to come and learn about it and prepare. So they can start it right gyud. Kay sometimes ang birth is such an anxious moment for families because it’s like the unknown, especially for first time moms," Casiño said.

"But this is their chance to look into the lens of the experts, the lens of mga (the) moms who have been there also," she added.

The second part of the event was the Kids EAT Right, wherein moms were informed of what they should feed their children, especially the picky eaters, for them to achieve the nutrition they need.

"So we want our kids to eat right, it’s not enough that we feed them, it needs to be the right kind of food. Ang EAT actually means Educate, Ask, and Taste. So we're going to educate the moms about the proper food, unsay naa anang nga (what is in that) kind of food, when to feed your baby, how much food ang i-feed sa baby, ana," Casiño said.

"Tapos ask, it’s a time for you to ask on 'my child is a picky eater, what should I do?' or mag ask na like 'she only likes to eat eggs, what should I do?' So ma-answer sya dinhi. It’s practical advice by modern nanays nga giagi gyud ana nga problems (who underwent those kind of problems)," she added.

The MNM founder also stressed out how information on breastfeeding and proper care and feeding of infant and young child are important, especially in the society where misinformation or fake news is prevalent.

"This is to really bring families together to inform them. Because you don't get this kind of information anywhere. Kung i-google nimo (If you google it), overwhelming ang information there. And too much information, if it’s not confirmed to the right people is dangerous. Too little information is also dangerous," Casiño said.

Modern Nanays of Mindanao is a peer support organization that consists of mothers whose advocacy is to protect and promote natural infant and young child care to provide the best foundations for lifelong health.

Reclamation project eyed

By PJ ORIAS

EMBARKING on land reclamation projects is one of the proposed strategies for Cagayan de Oro City to belong to the list of metropolis areas in the country.

City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said Luzon, Cebu, and other neighboring cities are already undertaking reclamation projects to extend borders and walls, and in the long run, for urbanization.

“If we have reclaimed properties in Gusa, Lapasan, Bonbon, Bayabas, Bulua, and according to the city mayor, why not raise the earth in Punta Bonbon, that we can also gather no less than 60 hectares. The city should take the lead in working this out,” he said

Under Presidential Decree No. 1084, land, including foreshore and submerged areas, may be the subject of a reclamation project. Reclamation includes dredging, filling, or other means, and acquiring reclaimed land.

In Republic v. City of Parañaque, the Supreme Court held that reclaimed lands are reserved lands for public use. Ownership of reclaimed lands remains with the State unless withdrawn by law or presidential proclamation from public use.

However, while efforts are being exhausted by the city government to achieve this, the repeated urban flooding is not helping in working towards this goal, the councilor said.

“This has made the city a swamp due to outburst of drainage system, creeks, and riverbanks causing flooding,” Nacaya said.

“Solutions were proposed and discussed, and some are already in the process of working through it but in the meantime, we are still being flooded. We need to see beyond the concerns and problems besetting the city,” he added.

While this “seemed like a good plan,” Francisco Pagayaman, spokesperson of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap–Northern Mindanao Region (Kadamay-NMR), cautioned the city that reclamation projects could mean displacement of residents.

Pagayaman said the city government should be ready for a plan, particularly preparing relocation sites for the residents who will be affected with reclamation projects.

“Dili lang unta plano para mas mo-tsada ang syudad ang atimanon nila, kundili apil pud ang mga panginabuhian, ang mga katawhan nga mga kabus na mao gyud ang una maapektuhan sa mga reklamasyon (The city should not only plan how to make the city attractive, but they should also include in their plan the livelihood, the poor people who will be affected in reclamation projects),” he added.

Early this year, President Rodrigo Duterte has created a development road map that will strengthen regional centers and see the rise of Cagayan de Oro City as the country’s fourth economic center.

Metro Cagayan de Oro will be established by 2025, joining Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, according to a draft of the National Economic Development Authority’s Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

MetroPac breaks ground on the 9-km ‘East Pipeline’

By PJ ORIAS

Water supply at the city's east service area is seen to improve as the construction of the east pipeline is set to start.

A groundbreaking was held Friday, August 3, 2018 for the East Pipeline connecting the water plant in Baungon, Bukidnon to the Camaman-an reservoir, and is expected to improve supply to 50,000 households or around 30,000 people.

“We believe that this 600 millimeter pipe to be laid along the South Diversion Road in barangays Taguanao, Macasandig and Camaman-an Reservoir, will improve water pressure leading to improved water distribution and in an impactful way, lead to improvement of quality of life for Kagay-anons,” Mikkel Guetierrez said, the chief operation officer of the Metro Pacific Water Investments Corporation.

The pipeline will be turned over and operated by the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD).

Contractors High Valley Multi-purpose Cooperative and JH Patawaran Construction Co. will jointly construct the 9 kilometer pipeline, while E.C. Structural Composites Inc. will undertake the Camaman-an Reservoir retrofitting and waterproofing.

The facility is expected to initially supply an additional 20 million liters per day of treated water to benefit the east service area from Lapasan to Tablon during its 1st year of operations.

The groundbreaking was attended by the COWD board of directors and employees, MetroPac executives, and City Mayor Oscar Moreno.

JCI to spread sustainable development awareness

By JO ANN SABLAD

THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Kagayhaan Gold is set to spread awareness about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) to students from all over Northern Mindanao through a knowledge game set to be conducted on August 9 in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Knowledge Game 2018 is an initiative by JCI Kagayhaan Gold to advocate for the UNSDGs in the educational sector.

“It’s a multi-sensory at tsaka (and) multiple intelligence game yung gagawin. Acknowledged ngayon that we have multiple intelligence so each of the intelligence meron syang (there's) particular game that is intended for that particular type of intelligence,” Owen Jaen, president of JCI Kagayhaan Gold, said.

Jaen said that in the morning before the game, a session or an awareness workshop will be conducted to help the participating students and teachers understand what the UNSDGs are.

“So in the morning we have sessions on the UNSDG so that the participants will be able to understand what the UNSDGs are and what they can do as students in order to achieve those goals. Parang lecture type na quick lang (It’s a quick lecture type),” Jaen said.

“After the sessions, we will be asking them for possible solutions that they can offer as students. From the innovation, with the things that they can suggest, they can do in their own school to help UN,” he added.

There are 17 sustainable development goals, which includes: No poverty; Zero hunger; Good health and well-being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean water and sanitation; Affordable and clean energy; Decent work and economic growth; Industry, innovation and infrastructure; Reduced inequalities; Sustainable cities and communities; Responsible consumption and production; Climate action; Life below water; Life on land; Peace, justice and strong institutions; and Partnerships for the goals.

JCI's Knowledge Game is to be conducted to address UN's sustainable goal on quality education.

“Yung pinaka (Our) main target namin: quality education. So for us to gauge quality education and for others also to strive for quality education we are coming up with this knowledge game,” Jaen said.

As of August 1, there are 11 schools from all over Northern Mindanao registered in the event:

- Merry Child School (Cagayan de Oro City)

- Paramount School of Arts, Languages, Management,and Sciences Inc. (Valencia City, Bukidnon)

- Hosanna Christian International School (Maramag, Bukidnon)

- Sumilao Bukidnon Tribal Academy (Sumilao, Bukidnon)

‘Hapsay Sapa’ wins international award

By PJ ORIAS

THE Cagayan de Oro City Government's Hapsay Sapa program is getting recognition internationally, winning the 2018 Asian Townscape Award from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the U.N. Habitat, a city official said.

Patrick Gabutina, Hapsay Sapa program coordinator said, the program involves transforming or rehabilitating major creeks in the city to linear parks.

The project is successful in urban barangays, particularly barangays 22, 26, and Lapasan, and they plan to take it to upstream areas, he added.

“I think what they liked in this project is how we involve the community. We do things differently, we don’t issue a notice of eviction or demolition to the illegal settlers beside the creeks, we talk to them instead, make them understand. Sure it's a longer process but at the end of the day they are the ones who volunteer to help. This process is more sustainable especially if we engage the community,” he said.

Established in 2010, the award aims to honor significant efforts made by Asian cities and organizations to improve, revitalize and create a beautiful and harmonious townscape that is safe, sustainable and respectful of history and local cultures. It is organized by the UN Habitat.

The award also highlights the people's efforts to create more beautiful, sustainable, resilient and environmentally friendly townscape at the city, district and community levels.

“We are still waiting for the details of the award and when can we get it. But we are just so overwhelmed that the project is being recognized internationally,” he added.

City hall to implement biometric attendance

By PJ ORIAS

THE Cagayan de Oro City Government is planning to implement a biometric system in all of its offices to efficiently monitor the working hours of the city hall employees.

City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said the system should ensure that the services rendered by the employee is accurate and the government is not cheated.

Government offices now use the biometric technology to track employee time and attendance instead of obsolete systems that rely on manually filling out a time-sheet or rely on time card punching.

Sabuga-a said by using biometric technology, the city is also streamlining its payroll processing and having more control on hours of overtime work.

“Ma-track ang status sa mga empleyado, kung nagleave automatic ug deduct (This will track the status of employees, if they are on leave, their salary will be deducted automatically). Hopefully this year we can put up the biometric system in all of the city offices,” he said.

“This is to ensure that the services required by law, particularly the 8 hour work hours are really delivered. It requires your physical presence, no more daily time record or logbook unless there are special arrangements between the employee and his or head,” Sabuga-a said.

The changes came after former City Councilor President Elipe and his sister who was employed in a “flexi-time” scheme, were convicted of graft charges for manipulating her daily time record (DTR).

Pristine Quizon's DTR made it appear that she reported for work during the dates October 25, 29, and 30, 2013 for the payroll period October 16 to 31 2013. But a travel record from the Bureau of Immigration showed that she has been out of the country during the said dates.

Elipe, according to the Ombudsman, that despite being fully aware of Quizon's absence, Elipe still approved and certified the DTR as true and correct, “making it appear that he verified the hours indicated therein.”

Sabuga-a meanwhile pointed out that the changes is not only implemented because of Elipe.

“This is more than him, this is about efficient governance at the City Hall,” Sabuga-a said.

CDO, Norfolk successfully complete first student exchange program

(CDO CIO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA)--Sister cities Cagayan de Oro and Norfolk in Virginia, USA have successfully completed the maiden run of the high school student summer visitor exchange program with the six student delegates from Cagayan de Oro returning home with a rich experience from their 15-day stay in Norfolk.

The exchange program held on July 1-15, gave the students from Cagayan de Oro the opportunity to experience family life in another country’s setting, hone their interpersonal skills, cultivate life-long friendships, and deepen cultural awareness and intercultural understanding.

“The exchange program was a great exposure for the students as well as their host families,” Mayor Oscar S. Moreno said, as he welcomed the students and presented them to the media in a press conference on July 30.

The mayor added that the program’s impact is strategic for the residents of both cities citing that their rich 15-day experience will be told in the stories our students will tell their family, friends, and schoolmates, and the host families’ stories they will tell of their time with the students.

“The retelling will go a long way and will foster stronger relations between the people of Norfolk and Cagayan de Oro,” Moreno said. The six students are Shaddrach John Lloyd B. Daba, Grade 12, Lourdes College High School; Lance Nathaniel B. Elot, Grade 11, Xavier University High School; Earl Joy B. Lopina, Grade 12, Xavier University High School; Reine Julia S. Madriaga, Xavier University; Marielle L. Paguidopon, Grade 12, Lourdes College High School, and Elkanah L. Ricardo, Grade 12, Oro Christian Grace School.

Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA) has prepared an itinerary which enabled the students to gain a wealth of opportunity to appreciate a new culture and our very own on a fresher and deeper level.

The delegates visited monuments, museums, parks, and sites unique to Norfolk like its naval base, botanical park and mermaid factory.

They met with officials of NSCA, as well as city councilors from Norfolk City.

They were also given the opportunity to visit the Philippine Embassy in the District of Columbia and tour the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC.

At the Young Global Citizens forum held for the faculty, staff, and students of Academy of International Studies in Norfolk, the students from the city received glowing commendations for their video and power point presentation on the Philippines and Filipino culture, and for ably handling their workshops on the Higaonon dance ritual “dugso”, Pinoy game, “takyan” and ancient writing system “baybayin."

Eileen E. San Juan, Local Economic and Investment Promotions officer of the city, and who is also the focal person of the sister cities program, said the officials of NSCA were impressed by the students’ presentation.

In interactions with their host families, students and various groups in Norfolk, the delegates projected everything very Filipino and Kagay-anon at the same time studied what they could of American and Norfolk history and culture.

Maria Dulce T. Potenciano, executive director of the Local School Board and chairperson of the Selection Team said the students are back as a new person, with their horizon widened. “From this rich yet brief exposure, they gained a wealth of experience,” she added. The student exchange program is a new initiative of the sister cities relations of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines and Norfolk City, Virginia, USA.

It is aimed at bringing the youth from both cities closer together in a brief yet rich summer program that promotes cultural awareness, and intercultural understanding.

It may be recalled that Cagayan de Oro City and Norfolk City forged a sister city relationship on June 18, 2008.

In the resolution signed by then-Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro and Paul D. Fraim of Norfolk, both cities recognize their shared similarities as major port cities with maritime and tourism-related activities and businesses.

Both cities also share a treasured historic significance in that Norfolk is the seat of the General Douglas McArthur Memorial, and Cagayan de Oro has the largest replica of the general’s famous “scrambled egg cap”.

Since the twinning agreement has been signed, delegations from Norfolk have visited the city, and Cagayan de Oro has also reciprocated such visits.

CDO eyes establishment of tech-voc institute

(CdeOSP)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)-- The establishment of the Cagayan de Oro Technical Vocational Institute (CDO-TVI) is in the offing.

The City Council committee on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya is slated to act on the proposed ordinance creating and establishing the CDO-TVI, as approved by the committee on education chaired by Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba on Friday.

Mayor Oscar Moreno informed the legislative body that the CDO-TVI is a community-based technical vocational training school, which will operate in accordance with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) standards.

He said the CDO-TVI is intended to address the needs of the city’s constituents and other applicant-trainees for the desired competency and accreditation qualifications.

According to the city mayor, this will help them meet the market demands both locally and internationally, as well as equip them the necessary skills for their occupational, trade and livelihood needs.

The city mayor added that the CDO-TVI shall also offer school-based and technical, vocational education skills development curriculum.

It shall adopt the Unified TVET Programs Registration and Accreditation Systems (UTPRAS) of TESDA, the Senior High Curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its ladderized degree courses.

CDO-TVI shall also serve as an assessment center for acquired competencies in technical-vocational skills.

BOARD

Under the proposed legislation, the governing body of the CDO-TVI shall be a Board of Trustees (BOT), composed of the city mayor as the chair, the executive director of the CDO-TVI as the vice chair and the deputy executive director as the co-vice chairman.

Members are the chair of the City Council committees on education, on youth, on trade and commerce, a representative from the DepEd, representative of TESDA, Oro Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cagayan de Oro City, among others.

The board shall enact rules and regulations to carry out the purposes and functions of the CDO-TVI.

The BOT shall, likewise, fix the tuition fees and other school charges, such as but not limited to matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as the board may deem proper to impose after due consultations with the involved sectors, among others.

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