Cagayan de Oro City News October 2013

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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.
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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

Rebels raid pig farm in Bukidnon

By Loui S. Maliza


SUSPECTED members of the New People’s Army (NPA) belonging to Front 68 raided a privately-owned pig farm in Purok 5, Sil-ipon village in Libona town, Bukidnon, around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, the military said.

Captain Christian Uy, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said about 30 rebels torched the staff house of Mega Farms located in the area.

Uy said the 4ID immediately sent troops to augment the military presence there and track down the rebels.

He said the rebels’ attack was motivated by the latter's intention to extort the company of revolutionary taxes and sabotage the comfortable living conditions of the residents there.

“Kung atong basahon ang ilang intensiyon, usa na ang pangikik nila sa kompanya ug gusto nila i-sabotahe ang panginabuhi sa katawhan. Kung ang tawo man gud nga wala nay kaligotgot sa gobyerno ug gusto lang manginabuhi, dili na mouban sa ilaha (If we read their intension, extorting the company is one while they tried to sabotage the source of income of the residents. If the people don’t hate the government and all they want is earn a living, they won’t join them (rebels),” Uy added.

He said the rebels also burned a heavy equipment of another private farm, the Agri Ventures Inc., located nearby.

Not rebel-infested

Uy said the area is not rebel-infested. “They (rebels) would just be present at the area if they would plan an attack.”

At press time, Uy added, they have yet to determine the total amount of damages.

But in a radio interview, a resident in the area who witnessed the attack said he saw about 50 rebels torched the staff house, tied the security guards and stabbed to death the pigs inside the farm.

Local television reports said more than 500 pigs were killed.

The farm’s 20-man security force was outnumbered by the rebels, the witness said.

The witness, who refused to be named, said the rebels were on foot, and they did not use any getaway vehicles.

It was possible, he added, that the rebels went down from the mountains of Sil-ipon to the Mega Farms.

The witness said on radio that he didn’t fear the rebels believing the insurgents would not hurt civilians.

But he said he was 50 meters away from the farm and did not see the rebels carrying something away from the farm when they withdrew.

Carlito Simpana, one of the security guards, said on TV the rebels assured them they won’t be harmed since they (s

Oro eyed as infotech hub in Northern Mindanao

By Butch D. Enerio


CAGAYAN de Oro City’s potential to become an information technology hub in Northern Mindanao is not remote given the right support from both the private and government sectors.

This is the observation of the Department of Science and Technology Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) during the holding of “Next Wave Cities” Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Roadshow outside of Metro Manila.

The ICT roadshow was to show the importance of IT-Business Process Management (BPM) and how it would spur economic development like in big urban centers.

In 2012, the DOST-ICTO, and its key partners, the Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines conducted a series of roadshows in nine cities outside Metro Manila - the NWC.

The purpose of the roadshow is to provide the right venue for the government, the industry players, the academe and the stakeholders to present and discuss the future of the IT-BPM industry in giving job and economic development in the countryside.

Monchito Ibrahim, DOST-ICTO deputy executive director, said that in order for Cagayan de Oro to be on the information technology map, the city should establish and strengthen the IT-BPM sector which is best for entrepreneurship, career development and advancement of workforce.

He said that since the start of the roadshow in 2012, more than 700,000 have been employed in the IT BMP industry in the entire country where two-thirds are in the voice based services. And have increased to almost a million workers this year.

Stephanie Caragos, CdO ICT Business Council president, said they can already say that Cagayan de Oro is already on the IT map with the coming of the roadshow, a good indication where IT-BPM industry locators will do business in the city.

“We are working doubly hard, with the help of the private sector and the government to sell Cagayan de Oro as a destination for IT-BPM,” Caragos said.

DOST hopes to achieve 1.3 million workers in the IT-BPM industry by end 2016 and expects that 40 percent of the workers are employed outside Manila.

Ibrahim noted that Cagayan de Oro is ranked one of the top 10 cities when it comes to the availability of talents, only that needed infrastructure is seemingly absent.

DOST said that the IT-BPM industry posted in 2012 US $13.2 billion and in 2013 revenue is expected to reach $16.5 billion and by end 2016 it is forecasted to earn $25 billion.

The Next Wave Cities is a series of ICT Roadshows outside of Metro Manila is led by the DOST and is co-organized by the Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council CDO ICT and DTI Misamis Oriental.

Agri-machinery road show in Oro set Nov. 11-15

By sunstar.com.ph


TO DRUM up the implementation of the agency’s Mechanization Program, the Department of Agriculture (DA)–Northern Mindanao field office, together with its other counterparts throughout the Mindanao island, is slated to conduct the 2013 “Makina Saka” or the Agri-Machinery Road Show on November 11-15 at the Marco Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante S. Delima will be the honored dignitaries during the formal opening of the five-day affair, in which a press conference will also be held afterwards.

The road show will exhibit a wide array of the latest and emerging agri machinery and equipment, particularly for rice which could be availed by the farmers from the DA.

It will also include machinery exhibition and actual demonstration of rice mechanization facilities as well as a conduct of seminar/congress/conference which are all geared towards the adoption of farmers to the various machinery and equipment that will be presented.

As such is seen to reduce labor in farm work as well as minimize production and post-harvest losses, which will contribute in attaining the heretofore twin goals of the department: food security and self-sufficiency.

Expected participants will be around 700 participants, ranging from farmer-leaders, local government unit agricultural technicians, agricultural and fishery councils and officials, and other stakeholders for agri-development. (PIA)

Comelec, police ready for village polls

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


IT’S all systems go for the conduct of the barangay elections today, Monday, as preparations had been made by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Cagayan de Oro City election officer Aleli Ramirez said the poll materials were already delivered Sunday afternoon by the Comelec and distributed to all the voting centers in the city.

Ramirez said the Comelec staffs were escorted by members of the PNP who acted as security.

“We hope the conduct of the barangay elections will be peaceful and orderly,” Ramirez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Sunday.

The city at present has a total of 285,645 registered voters, an increase from the 277,931 registered voters in last May’s synchronized local and national elections, Comelec data showed.

Superintendent Danilo Pelisco, PNP-Northern Mindanao deputy regional director for operation, said police officers have been deployed to escort Comelec staff since October 23.

He said 377 law enforcers are assigned to 60 voting centers in the city.

Pelisco also confirmed to Sun.Star that authorities have not received any information or report of groups or individuals who are out to disrupt the electoral process.

“We are hoping for the best. We have prepared for this and conferences were held to ensure that all hitches are acted upon so we could have a smooth election,” Pelisco said.

In previous interviews, Pelisco said that the PNP regional office has assigned around 1,143 police officers to polling centers in Northern Mindanao, and focusing on the 217 barangays in the region that are under the PNP’s election watch list.

Campaign tactic

According to police report, the political situation in the barangays is generally peaceful although there are some complaints from local candidates.

Marlon Tabac, who is running as village chairman in Barangay Gusa, said the candidates are complying with the election laws except for one bet who employed a different tactic, taunting him and the other hopefuls.

Tabac said what this certain candidate did was to employ his siblings, who are all government employees, to help him in his house-to-house campaign.

“Part ‘na sa iyang political strategy. Gituyo ‘na nila kay gusto sila nga mosumbong ‘mi sa Comelec pero di ‘na namo hatagan og dignidad. Diha sila nasayop (It’s a part of his political strategy. They want us to complain it to the Comelec but we will not dignify it. That’s where they are mistaken),” Tabac told Sun.Star on Sunday.

“I told my supporters, kalma lang, pasagdi lang ‘na sila (Be calm, let them do their own thing),” he added.

One of the biggest barangays in the city, Gusa has 10,332 registered voters.

Hope for the best

For the 23-year-old Regine Nailga, fashion photographer and entrepreneur, this will be her third time to vote and she hopes that just like in the past elections, the balloting in Barangay Tubahon, Laguindingan town, Misamis Oriental, where she will cast her vote, will be peaceful.

Nailga, however, wished that vote buying would stop as it has become a norm come election time.

“Dili gyud ‘na siya (vote buying) okay. Gapanganad na ang mga tawo. Unfair kaayo kay kung kinsa ‘tong naay kwarta mao may modaug (Vote buying is not okay. The people have become used to it. It’s so unfair since only those who have money will win),” Nailga said.

Adele Marata, 23, a college student, and resident of Lapaz 1 in Barangay Lapasan, shared her experience during her first time to vote in 2010.

Marata, a single mother, said it was not difficult for her to go to the polling precinct to cast her vote with a child in tow.

“Dali ra kaayo ko naka-botar kay nagdala man ko’g bata kay i-prioritize man gud nila (I found it so easy to vote when I brought my child since we were given priority),” Marata said.

She said the political atmosphere in Lapasan was not tainted with mudslinging and other dirty political maneuverings.

The only complaint she had were the mobile public address system of candidates that went around Lapasan during the campaign period even at unholy hours.

She said it has inconvenienced her, especially during the time that she’s studying and putting her child to sleep.

Like the rest of the more than 50 million registered voters in the country’s 42,026 barangays, both Nailga and Marata said they would go out Monday and exercise their right to vote.

Those from calamity-hit Zamboanga City and Bohol will not troop to polling precincts on Monday, as the Comelec reset the balloting in these areas to November 25.






9 Cagayan pugs in finals

By tempo.com.ph


CAGAYAN de Oro – The host city solidified its drive in emerging the top team in the 2013 PLDT ABAP Mindanao Boxing Tournament by sending nine finalists in the five-day tournament at the Tourism Hall here.

Jeronel Borres, a gold medal winner in the 2012 National Championships while competing in the Junior Boys class, moved a win away from clinching another mint as he disposed of Gedeon America by unanimous decision in the Youth Boys pinweight.

A member of CDO-Team A, Borres will take on Renemark Cuarto of Pacman, Sarangani Province, a unanimous decision winner over Efren Gumban of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Other members of Team A who made it to the gold medal bout were Carlo Paalam (Junior Boys Pinweight), Isagani Llaban (Youth Boys light flyweight), Markwil Salvana (Youth Boys lightweight), Shena Mae Jacinto (Junior Girls light flyweight) and Judelyn Casin (Junior Girls flyweight).

Refusing to be outdone were boxers from CDO-Team B as Mark Lumbad (Junior Boys light flyweight), Lorenz Labrada (Junior Boys light bantamweight) and Sugar Ray Ocana (Junior Boys bantamweight) also made it to the championship round.

Pacman, which is being supported by People’s Champion and current Sarangani Province Congressman Manny Pacquiao, made heads turn with four boxers in the Finals.

Joining Cuarto are Bonie Lamberte (Junior Boys flyweight), Lanie Mingullian (Junior Girls pinweight) and Joan Sumilhig (Junior Girls flyweight).

Local club team Mindy’s has sent three boxers in the championship round while Gingoog City, Valencia City, Manolo Fortich from Bukidnon, Villanueva at Balingasag from Misamis Oriental, General Santos City, Aglayan from Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lutayan from Sultan Kudarat and MP Boxing Association have qualified one finalist each.

3 CdO pugs make ABAP boxing final

By Correspondent Jade Violeta


HOST Cagayan de Oro City sent three of its boxers to the final round of the 2013 PLDT ABAP Mindanao Boxing tournament at the city’s Tourism Hall. Backed by a boisterous hometown crowd, CdO boxers who won their semifinal matches were Team CDO-A’s Carlo Paalam and Mark Lumbad and Lorenz Ladrada of Team CDO-B. The three fighters all won by unanimous decision victories in the Junior Boys division in the tournament, which is organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and supported by PLDT and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Ladrada eliminated Fedemar Antiga of Cabadbaran in the Light Bantamweight Class, Lumbad overpowered Eduardo Medio of Camiguin in the Light flyweight Class while Paalam beat Jerson Moreno of MPBA in the Light Pinweight division. Also in the final is Jay Boy Suan of Team Mindy’s who scored a thrilling split decision win over Alan Garing of Valencia in the Flyweight class.

In the finals, Paalam will meet Samuel Salva of Gingoog City, a unanimous decision winner over John Paul Bentoso of Team Pacman while Lumban will battle Ryan Christian Munda of Valencia City. Ladrada, for his part, will be battling Tomjone Mangubad of Team Manolo Fortich of Bukidnon, who eliminated Falcon Cris Ocana of Mindy’s with a unanimous decision verdict Cagayan fielded in a total of 14 boxers divided into two teams with seven more pugs trying to earn Finals slots yesterday. Aside from the Junior Boys, also at stake are gold medals in the five weight categories in the Youth Boys and two divisions in the Junior Girls. Tournament Supervisor is AIBA three-star international referee-judge Roger Fortaleza while competition manager is AIBA International Technical Official (ITO) Karina Picson. Liaison officer for the CdO team is Oscar H. Cinco while those who are helping officiate the meet are AIBA 1-star International Referees-Judges Ludy Ceriales of Misamis Oriental, Michael Monton of Bohol, Fernie Lou Abing of CdO, Guillermo Retiban of Talisay, Negros Occidental and Martin Sonido of Iloilo.







DTI postpones ZAMPEX regional trade expo

By sunstar.com.ph


THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 announces the postponement of the ZAMPEX 2013 regional trade expo in Zamboanga City this October 2013.

This is to give way for more urgent activities in support of the local and national governments’ efforts for the early recovery and rehabilitation of Zamboanga City, according to DTI-9 Regional Director Nazrullah B. Manzur.

The standoff Manzur said carried a very stiff social and economic price tag unprecedented in our history: 23,794 families or 118,819 individuals displaced; hundreds killed and wounded; over 10,000 houses burned.

On the economic side, the disruption of business operations, according to Manzur costs the city’s business sector an estimated loss of over P76 million in unconsummated sales daily. In addition to these, the missed investment opportunities for the city, foregone sales from marketing events like ZAMPEX, and unrealized revenues from tourism considering that Zamboanga’s grandest festival, the Fiesta Pilar is fast approaching.

“In the midst of all that’s happened to our city, we are pleased to note that most businesses that have remained opened during those darkest moments in our history did not take advantage of the situation to jack up prices or to hoard. And our appeal for sobriety among consumers had been heeded, although incidences of panic buying had been reported during the early days of the fighting in some areas of the city,” Manzur said.

“Since Day 1 of the crisis, we have been conducting daily monitoring of basic and prime commodities that fall under DTI’s mandate to ensure adequacy of supply and stability of prices. Our personnel had been doing the rounds daily from the east to the west coast of the city to check on the price and supply situation, often risking lives and limbs as they go about their duty,” Manzur disclosed.

“We will continue to do special monitoring activities until things have returned to normalcy as part of our contribution to the recovery efforts. We are also lining up livelihood trainings to be conducted jointly with our partner agencies in the SME Core Group. We are also identifying possible beneficiary groups or proponents for projects that may be funded under the DTI’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF),” Manzur said.

“We all know that the road ahead to recovery is arduous and long but I have faith in the indomitable spirit of our people to rise up again despite the circumstances. It is heartwarming to note that help came from all over including the DTI’s Employees Union which gave P10,000 and from our employees’ local coop which raised up almost P8,000 for the evacuees. This amount may be small but this gesture of commiseration from our comrades is definitely uplifting. Together with all Zamboanguenos, we say Levanta (rise) Zamboanga,” Manzur said. (PR)

CdO bets show wares in ABAP Minda tilt

By (The Philippine Star)


MANILA, Philippines - Lorenz Labrada, Jeronel Borres and Marvin Tabamo toppled their respective rivals to lead the early winners in the PLDT-ABAP Mindanao Area Tournament at the Tourism Hall in Cagayan de Oro City last Monday.

Labrada of CdO-Team B dominated Reny Oblad of Bukidnon in their light flyweight match (juniors), Borres of CdO-A whisked off Ressen Pronco, also of Bukidnon, in youth-pinweight class, while Tabamo, also of CdO-A, beat Camiguin’s Gilbert Rey Jerosalem in youth-flyweight.

The event drew 86 boxers from 14 teams throughout the region with ABAP vice chairman and CDO City Mayor Oscar Moreno gracing the opener where he exhorted the fighters to do their best and contribute to the efforts of ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas to win the country’s first Olympic gold through the sport.

For his part, ABAP vice president and former Baguio City Mayor Peter Rey Bautista rallied not only the boxers and coaches but also the parents of the participants to encourage their children to get into sports and excel in their chosen disciplines.

In other results, Jaybe Canedo of Camiguin disposed of Ramil Masado of Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat in pinweight of the Youth Boys category (17-18 years old), Lutayan’s Reymark Ibones (youth, flyweight) decisioned Pacman Team’s Edgardo Cartagena, John Bryan Noces of Calinan, Davao prevailed over Mendez’s Xavier Piastro in youth-lightweight, while Valentine Linio of Lutayan defeated Jonal Tamial of Pacman.

Tournament supervisor is AIBA 3-star International Referee-Judge Roger Fortaleza while competition manager is AIBA International Technical Official (ITO) Karina Picson. Liaisoning for the CDO team is Oscar Cinco.

Among the officials are AIBA 1-star International Referees-Judges Ludy Ceriales of Misamis Oriental, Michael Monton of Bohol, Fernie Lou Abing of CDO, Guillermo Retiban of Talisay, Negros Occidental and Martin Sonido of Iloilo.

2 Oro studes top CPA board exams

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


RANKING 5th and 7th place in the Certified Public Accountant licensure exam whose result came out on Monday has not been easy for Ryan James Bangot Aban who scored 92.14 percent and Richard Joseph Pestillos Baja Jr. with 91.57 percent.

Aban, 20, and Baja, 24, studied well in their undergraduate years and reviewed hard to pass the exam, and topping is a bonus.

Both knew the result would be out on October 21, and their families waited for it with thrill and excitement.

Aban got a message from a batch mate on Facebook’s chat box that he ranked 5th in the CPA exam. “I doubted it, I couldn’t believe that I got the 5th place because the week before the exam I had fever and intense back pain and I felt depressed that I was unwell and it could affect my board exam,” Aban told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Aban consoled himself that "if passing would be for me, it would be for me."

For Baja, his sister messaged him on his mobile telling him that he topped in the exam. “I felt so happy. I only thought of passing it and more than that I topped. I could hardly believe it. It was a difficult exam. Even if I reviewed hard, I still considered I could fail until the results are out,” Baja said.

During the last round of their pre-board exam, Aban and Baja landed on the 8th and 3rd places respectively.

Job offer

Both reviewed in a known accountancy review center in Manila. After the pre-board exam, they had been offered to work at the country’s top auditing firm, the SGV and Co.

“I just can’t believe it they hired me and I signed the contract the week before the results came. They were so certain I would become an accountant. The company has been so confident on me and I wasn’t, I was moved,” Aban said.

Aban will start working on November 18 while Baja who also signed the contract will start working in December.

Both of them considered the job offer a privilege and they were honored to get the offer.

Prayers

But still, they didn’t allow it to get into their heads and prayed so hard for God’s intervention. For them, they already worked so hard and things could still go ugly, thus, prayers were their refuge as they took the exam.

Only 4,246 passed the exam of the 10,396 who took it.

“It is the dream of many accountancy students to top the board exam, if possible, I am one of those students who aspired to be a topnotcher, but it came to a point where I thought it was impossible to become one. So, I just prayed to God that He would give me what my hardwork deserves and thankfully God gave me this achievement,” Baja said.

Baja further said: “When taking the board exam, you can never be certain whether you will pass or not the only thing you can do is to increase your chance through preparation.”

Aban also aimed at topping the board exam. However, one of the subjects was so difficult, he lost his confidence.

Aban graduated cum laude at Xavier University in March 2013 and Baja was awarded summa cum laude at Liceo de Cagayan de University also in March 2013.

They completed their primary and secondary education in public schools. They graduated as valedictorians. Thus, when they entered college they were awarded with academic scholarships.

Baja enrolled in the electronics and communications engineering program and lost his scholarship. He stopped going to school for two years and contemplated on the degree to pursue. When he came back to school, he took accountancy which he really wanted to take up, but he was lured to engineering instead.

“Since I lost my scholarship, I paid for my first semester, but in the following term I already regained my academic scholarship until I graduated,” Baja recalled.

When asked how he hurdled the difficulties in college, Baja said he planned and prioritized things since accountancy involves many activities that require time management.

Aban said topping the board exam isn’t a guarantee of a good life that waits ahead. “It’s not really a guarantee of a secure future. It is the quality of work we do in the actual world. It is an advantage to be hired in a prestigious auditing firm but the bottom line here is performance.”

Baja lives in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental while Aban hails from Gingoog City.

CdeO attains zero casualties through DOST’s DREAM project

By Recthie T. Paculba and Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 22 (PIA) – Through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) project, local government here attained zero casualties during typhoon Pablo on December 2012.

DOST-DREAM, under Project (NOAH) Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards is response to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.

Particularly, it uses state-of-the-art Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to generate 3D flood maps to detect flood hazards in the country.

Through an interview with Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Program Leader of the University of the Philippines' (UP) Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) program, the national government through the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has allotted P1.6B to generate 3D flood maps and hazard maps in 18 river systems that are flood prone in the country.

Further, he said that they have already completed the 3D and hazard map of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Iponan and Mandulog River which can be found in the website noah.dost.gov.ph. Meanwhile 3D mapping is done with Tagoloan and Agus River in Northern Mindanao.

He emphasized that this is an important tool including those installed Automated Rain Gauges (ARGs) and Water Level Sensors as early warning systems to advise Disaster Management of local government when flooding will occur.

In a radio guesting for Philippine Information Agency's radio program, "Lambo Dyes" at DXIM Radyo ng Bayan on October 11, Cagayan de Oro Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) chief, Col. Mario Verner S. Monsanto said that through the early warning systems of DOST and close coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) there was zero casualty during typhoon Pablo. As of October 2013, monitoring stations are installed in the City which includes rain gauges in Baungon, Libona, Talakag and Kinawe, Bukidnon. Water level sensors are also mounted at Kauswagan, Pelaez, Cabula, Golden Mile, San Simon and Bubunawan bridges, said Monsanto.

These equipment and their constant monitoring of the weather disturbances through DOST’s Project NOAH enable them to warn the people especially those who live near the riverbanks of a forthcoming disaster, he added.

“Epektibo jud ang early warning system nga gimugna sa City Hall. Pinaagi sa Oro Alert, na-inform dayon diretso si Kapitan Roa kung kailangan na ipabakwit ang mga tao. Si Kap na dayon ang ga-send ug message sa mga barangay leaders para diretso mang lihok ang mga tao. Busa sa kadtong niaging bagyong Pablo, wala gyu’y naapektuhan,” Alma Abrio, Barangay Consolacion worker, said.

(The early warning system initiated by the City Hall is really effective. Through the Oro Alert (messages sent by the LGU to barangay secretaries), Barangay Captain Roa was informed immediately that the people should evacuate the area. This is the reason why when typhoon Pablo occurred, nobody was indeed affected.)

Consolacion is one of the barangays in Cagayan de Oro City which was severely affected by typhoon Sendong since it is located near the Cagayan de Oro River.

Monsanto said that they will intensify the advocacy on risk reduction focusing on barangays and they will also strengthen their ties with the non-government organizations. They will also work on giving special attention to persons living with disability making sure that they will be prioritized during calamities. (RTP/JMOR/PIA10)

Clenro forms 24/7 anti-illegal mining task force

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


A 24/7 anti-illegal mining task force in Cagayan de Oro City will soon be deployed along the Iponan riverbanks covering barangays Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Tuburan, Tagpangi, and Pagalungan where rampant illegal mining operations have been reported.

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) chief Edwin Dael told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the presence of these illegal mining operations are numbered as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), presidential anti-organized crime task force (PAOCTF), police, military, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Clenro will be finalizing today, October 21, the details of the deployment to put a stop on the illegal mining operations there.

Dael said the Writ of Kalikasan issued by the court provides Iponan river a legal remedy to protect it and get “a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”

“With the Writ of Kalikasan and the new city leadership, Clenro believes the time has come to go after these illegal mining operators who have been plundering the resources surrounding the river and disrupting its ecological balance for many years now resulting to siltation and other environmental damages,” he said.

Dael said that with the Writ of Kalikasan, even the National Government felt the need to rehabilitate Iponan river to prevent the flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding it to avoid a repeat of the Sendong tragedy.

PAOCTF has been involved in the task force to help dismantle these illegal miners, he said.

In September, Mayor Oscar Moreno joined in the creation of the task force and committed to provide two staff and some financial assistance to sustain the task force.

Hydraulic mining

Dael said the task force would go after the hydraulic mining operations that occur nightly according to reports from Clenro’s informants living in those barangays.

“What is rampant now are the reported hydraulic mining operations. These areas don’t have accessible roads, thus, the task force members have to patrol on foot. They will rely on dispatches through mobile phones and VHF radio,” Dael said.

He said these illegal mining operations have armed escorts. To secure the task force, the involvement of the law enforcement agencies has been sought.

The task force would be initially deployed for three months, but it might also be extended depending on the logistics, he said.

Dael sees a more lowered siltation in the river once hydraulic mining operators decide to stop considering the city’s massive intervention through the task force.

Decreased sediment accumulation

Dael said the MGB detected lately using its instruments that the sediment accumulation at the Iponan river has decreased citing the removal of backhoes and barges as the reason.

He said the constant reports and photos posted on a social media site might have prompted the owners of the backhoes and barges to remove them from the barangays under Cagayan de Oro to barangays belonging to Opol town.

“This development is inspiring. And we are happy that Opol town mayor Max Seno has been very cooperative with the city’s effort that he (Seno) shooed away a mining company that didn’t get the social acceptability requirement,” Dael said.

Deliberation

Last week, Clenro seized a backhoe and a dump truck that are impounded and stored inside the city engineering compound along the junction of barangays Bayabas and Kauswagan here.

The alleged owner of the backhoe identified as Henry Yu, its operator Jessie Yañez, Terry Dacula, the dump truck driver, and the alleged owner of the dump truck, Bebina Cadili, have been notified to attend the deliberation on the seized heavy equipment this week.

My City, My SM, My Crafts: Pottery, paper and a cultural tableau in Cagayan de Oro

By (The Philippine Star)


MANILA, Philippines - It is said that gold has always been abundant in the Cagayan River, giving Cagayan de Oro, the City of Golden Friendship, its name. It is also the gateway to Northern Mindanao, a gold mine of amazing and diverse attractions like white water rafting and the Malasag Eco-Tourism village.

With its natural attractions, rich cultural heritage and warm, friendly people, it is a city in bloom, in blossom and in boom, the site of SM’s second mall in Mindanao.

Cagayan de Oro is also culturally diverse, where people of different languages, indigenous communities and cultures meet. As a melting pot, the city’s arts and crafts shine like gold.

Mallgoers had a glimpse of the best of the best in Cagayan de Oro’s crafts, as well as Northern Mindanao’s rich cultural heritage when “My City, My SM, My Crafts” recently made its sixth stop at SM City Cagayan de Oro. A joint project of SM, DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade and the Philippine STAR with support from CITEM and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, it is a celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design in the cities where SM has malls.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, DTI regional director Linda Boniao, and DTI provincial director Eliza Pabillore attended the event and viewed the products. City Tourism chair Dorothy Jean Pabayo, Eileen San Juan, as well as the DTI team and the DOT-10 family were also present.

SM officials led by SM vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, as well as SM City Cagayan de Oro mall manager Clara Elizaga and assistant mall manager Constantine Arce gave guests a warm welcome.

They enjoyed the program, which included a video presentation featuring the crafts of Cagayan de Oro with Ms. Cagayan de Oro 2013 Amadea Patti as a guide.

Northern Mindanao’s rich cultural heritage was showcased by a show-stopping cultural performance featuring its six indigenous communities: the Umayamnons with the binaylan dance; the Bukidnons with the planting dance; the Subanons with the courtship dance; the Tigwahanons with the indakulon and pinag-paging dance; the Higaonons with the binanog dance; and the Talaandigs with the tinambol dance.

One of the program highlights was the awarding of the winner of the Ethnic Beaded Necklace-Making Contest with workshop participants in competition. Marivic Liconda’s beautifully crafted ethnic beaded necklace got the judges’ nod for the top prize, for which she received P5,000 worth of gift certificates.

Judges included DTI regional director Linda Boniao, City Tourism Council chair Dorothy Jean Pabayo, DOT 10 supervising tourism operations officer Maria Elena Manalo, Eileen San Juan and Rhyan Casiño.

But the “My City, My SM, My Crafts” centerpiece was clearly the Craft Market inspired by the traditional Maranao House in Mindanao. This beautifully designed showcase was a treasure trove of the best of the best crafts in the province, and was an instant hit among SM City Cagayan de Oro shoppers.

The Craft Market included artisan pottery from The Stoneware Pottery Inc.; and rattan home furnishings from Greenminds Inc. Beautifully crafted artisan paper products from Salay Handmade Paper and San Roque Handmade Paper were also very popular among shoppers.

Other great finds were Christmas décor and fashion accessories from Tinabuan Arts & Crafts; woven mats from Sannidcolandia Weavers Association; bags and home furnishings made from abaca fiber and corn husks from Puyo Handicrafts; sleeping mats from Talisay Romblon Products Producers Association; abaca handwoven bags from 2N Handicrafts; and lamp shades and home accessories from Alubijid Lampanakay Weavers Association.

“My City, My SM, My Crafts” is a take-off from the previous My City, My SM campaign, which promotes tourism, and My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which highlights the culinary specialties in cities where SM has malls. A celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design, it aims to showcase the best of the best Philippine crafts in each host city, providing livelihood opportunities, as well as a platform for cultural exchange.

The Cagayan de Oro launch is the sixth in the “My City, My SM, My Crafts” road show after SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Lucena, SM City Batangas, SM City Davao, and SM City Naga. The next stop will be in SM City Marilao.







UN, USAid address climate change in Oro

By April Argen Pat B. Marzon


LOCAL and international organizations held on Friday a city-wide consultation to lessen if not eliminate the impact of climate change in Cagayan de Oro City.

The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UNHSP) and United State Agency for International Development (USAid) gathered the different sectors and spearheaded an event to come up and present objectives that could minimize the impact of climate change in the local level.

The City Government initiated the consultation with different community sectors for fear that thousands of lives will be lost during natural calamities brought about by climate change.

The environment sectors, especially the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), have drafted objectives to be the people’s guide to combat climate change.

The environment sectors aim to: rehabilitate 60 hectares of mangroves and 25 hectares of coral reef areas in five years; decrease the air pollution focusing on anti-smoke belching drive; ban open-burning; ban on smoking in public areas or the strict implementation of RA 9003; and formulation of clean air master plan; improve the quality of inland, coastal and ground water resources based on their designated classification; improve efficiency of solid waste management system –waste segregation at source by 50 percent in three years; and safe closure and rehabilitation of existing dumpsite and increase coverage of garbage collection. It has been observed that households which follow the proper waste disposal has been rendered useless as garbage collection does not follow the segregation or the solid waste management.

Open burning

During the deliberation of objectives that served as the outcome of the workshop, Bebeth Guzon, former DENR secretary and currently the team leader of climate resiliency in the Be Secure Project, said that the Ecological Solid Waste Act is already existing and it has totally banned open burning especially among households.

But for Florencio Dominguez Jr., of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), open burning has been rampant if not acceptable in the community due to uncollected garbage.

Dominguez admitted the objectives are idealistic and not feasible for full implementation, adding that “yet these are only drafts that need to be finalized to have a local action plan.”

They also noted that self-regulation must be practiced especially those ordinances that are difficult to follow like the banning of smoking in public.

They also tackled the need to address the optimization of agricultural production and productivity to sustain crop yields, to promote eco-friendly investment opportunities to generate employment, adoption of green building technology and to strengthen tourism opportunities and services with infrastructure support.

In an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Chedily Aissa Sajulga, officer-in-charge of the city planning and development office, said the objectives presented in the consultation are a basket of options for the LGU in prioritizing what needs to be implemented first.

Sajulga said the declaration of agreement is a commitment of the stakeholders to address climate change.

No overstaying inmates at city jail

By (CdeOSP/PIA)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct 18-- City Council committee on police, fire and public safety, this morning expressed on Wednesday, October 17, satisfaction over procedures being adopted to ensure that there are no overstaying inmates at the Lumbia City Jail here.

This, after being briefed by Regional Public Attorney Nunila P. Garcia, City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail wardens J/Supt. Jolly S. Taguiam Jr. and J/Insp. Mea Lee P. Todyog, on the processes being done by their respective offices in monitoring the cases of the inmates.

During the meeting, Atty. Garcia said Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) conducts weekly visits at the city jail. She updated the committee on the status of the cases on the inmates detained at the male dormitory at Lumbia. The PAO official confirmed reports of jail officials that there are no overstaying inmates.

She said the mandatory jail visit is aside from the other visits being made for the issuance of judicial affidavits of their clients.

“PAO’S weekly visit is an indication that there is no reason for this committee to claim that there might be overstaying,” Councilor Ramon G. Tabor, City Council committee on police, fire and public safety chair, said upon hearing the report.

He said he is satisfied with the role of PAO in determining the prisoners’ status on whether or not are overstaying. “I am impressed with the report of the director in enlightening the committee on the 17 names of inmates submitted,” he added.

According to Tabor, it is the advocacy of the committee to ensure that inmates who have served their sentences will be released.

“Justice would require that they should not be allowed to stay longer unless there is a case pending to warrant continued incarceration,” he stressed.

SUPPORT

For his part, City Prosecutor Macauyag informed the committee that it is the part of defense lawyers to move for the release of inmates or dismissal of the case of the accused.

He, however, expressed his support to the thrust of the committee.

“We can assure this committee that the prosecution is supporting very much this advocacy. We will see to it that PAO, private lawyers and the court will cooperate with the advocacy of the committee,” he added.

Councilors Tabor and Edna Dahino expressed their gratitude to all those who graced meeting.

Tabor said he will challenge the committee on health chaired by Councilor Dante Pajo to hold medical missions at the city jail.

“They are also persons worth the attention and care that is given to barangays. There is one neglected place and that is barangay city jail,” he stressed

Cagayan de Oro City buildings inspected

By Anjo Bacarisas


THE Office of the City Building Official (OBO) has identified buildings in Cagayan de Oro for inspection due to safety and stability concerns even before the intensity 4 tremor hit the city on Tuesday.

“We came up with a list of buildings to inspect,” said Architect Maria Alcantara, assistant OBO official.

She added that the department sent two teams on Thursday to assess and evaluate buildings in the city, especially those that showed previous “concerns.”

Some of the buildings that are on OBO’s list are Trinidad building at Corrales-Yacapin streets, Landbank-Velez branch, SM carpark, San Agustin Cathedral, Madonna and Child Hospital’s old building, Sabal Hospital at Velez street, Lantoria building and Gaisano City mall’s food court, said Alcantara.

“Mao ni sila ang una although daghan ang naa sa list (These are the first on the list although there are more),” said Alcantara, referring to the eight buildings she enumerated.

“The intensity 4 earthquake did not affect structural stability,” said Engr. Jack Lumacang, OBO administrator.

He added that OBO inspection teams checked on Wednesday four buildings including SM City mall and Koresco hotel.

Lumacang said the teams reported minor defects regarding SM’s elevated parking.

“We recommended repairs, but as of now the SM’s elevated parking is safe for use,” said Lumacang.

The inspection of Trinidad building which was led by Engr. Luiben Magto showed that the building’s electrical wirings in the 6th and 2nd floors are prone to “overload.”

“The circuit breakers in the 6th and 2nd floors are prone to overheat,” said Lumacang, adding that they have suggested electrical upgrades following the correct procedures.

Lumacang said they have advised the building owner to check the building’s electrical installations.

However, Lumacang assured that the buildings in the city are designed to withstand intensity 8 earthquakes.

“Before i-approve ang permit dapat naka-comply na sila sa tanan (Before building permits are approved they should comply with all the requirements),” said Alcantara.

Uncertain stability

“Although the methods are old, but the building plans in the city are not obsolete,” said Alcantara, explaining that they follow the National building code of the Philippines or RA No. 6541.

According to the website chanrobles.com, the National Building Code of the Philippines is a policy of the state to “safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare.”

However, Alcantara said that possible problems may come from the implementation of building plans and the supervision during construction.

“Ang krimen naa sa implementation and supervision (The fault could be in the implementation and supervision),” said Alcantara adding that these aspects in building construction is out of his office's league.

She added that they cannot check if the constructed buildings are following the building code because they only have two inspectors that conduct random checking during constructions.

“Our inspections are not that intensive because we only have two inspectors,” said Alcantara.

In an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, structural engineer Antonio Acupan from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines said that the plan of the building and the implementation could be different.

Alcantara added that although they cannot check thoroughly the implementation of building plans, the private engineers in charge of building construction has a 15-year liability with regard to building stability.

“The engineers have 15 years liability on the buildings they supervised,” said Alcantara.

Alcantara said the buildings which the OBO is prioritizing for inspection are those that have exceeded the years wherein the engineers in charge could be held liable.








CdeO Vice Mayor expresses sorrow for earthquake victims

By (CdeOSP/PIA)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct 16—Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor expresses sorrow for the lives that had been lost after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the county, October 15.

According to reports, 20 people were killed and several others injured as a result of the calamity that devastated buildings and churches in Bohol and Cebu City.

“It is another sad time for the country as some of our countrymen face this trauma,” Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas said, as he expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims.

EARTHQUAKE DRILLS

The vice mayor said the city should always be prepared for occurrences of earthquakes and other calamities which could come anytime.

“Let us not be complacent but always be on our toes,” he added.

Vice Mayor Acenas is calling on management of all schools in the city to conduct regular earthquake drills in their respective campuses to instill awareness among students on safety measures. He said heads of offices and establishments, especially those with multi-level buildings, should ensure the structural worthiness of the facilities and also conduct earthquake drills.

Nobody knows when the next earthquake will strike as it comes with no warning. We cannot prevent natural disasters but through life-protecting measures we can prevent these from becoming human tragedies, he stressed.

Magnitude 7.2 Visayas quake also jolts parts of Mindanao

By Froilan Gallardo


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/15 October)—Cries of “Allah Hu Akbar” (God is great in Arabic) rang out among a big Muslim crowd gathered at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center here after an Intensity 4 earthquake rattled infrastructure and swayed electric poles Tuesday morning as they celebrated Eid-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

“Let us praise Allah until the earthquake will stop. Earthquakes are afraid of Allah. It will eventually stop,” Shiek Abdulmalik Maulana Fatani told the crowd.

Marcial Labininay, officer-in-charge of the Phivolcs Cagayan de Oro Seismic Station, said the quake registered at Intensity four in Cagayan de Oro, 5 in Camiguin Island and 3 in Bukidnon province.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the United States Geological Service reported that the epicenter of the magnitude 7.2 quake was located at two kilometers south of Carmen, Bohol in the Visayas. It has a depth of 33 kilometers.

Intensity 3 was reported in the Davao region, Phivolcs said.

Mario Vernes Monsanto, head of the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Risk Reduction Management office, said the quake sent people out from high-rise buildings and hotels in downtown Cagayan de Oro.

“But all of our buildings and bridges are safe. Our teams reported that they did not find cracks in the buildings [due to the quake],” he said.

Monsanto said the city’s various inspection teams quickly fanned out to check on buildings and bridges soon after the earthquake struck this morning.

Photos of collapsed churches and damaged infrastructures in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu City went viral on social media sites after the quake.

The quake reportedly killed 20 persons as of noon Tuesday in the Visayas. It also triggered brownouts there. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Clenro seizes heavy equipment

By Grace Cantal-Albasin


THE City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) seized a backhoe and a dump truck used in quarrying allegedly without a permit noontime on Saturday, October 12, in sitio Looc, Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Edwin Dael, Clenro chief, said the operator of the backhoe and the driver of a dump truck had been warned and reprimanded three weeks ago to stop quarrying operations in the site.

"They didn't listen and now they're caught red-handed. Due process will be enforced," he said.

The dump truck has been stored at the City Engineering Office (CEO) while the backhoe is temporarily held under the custody of Canito-an village chief Joshua Taboclaon.

Dael said his office needs a prime mover to bring the backhoe to CEO for storage.

Charges on violation of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 would be filed against those who are and would be found involved in the quarrying operation.

Ralph Vincent Abragan, one of the members of the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB), reported to Dael he saw people quarrying without a permit.

Dael instructed Norman Rosal, a Clenro staff, who lives near the site to get there immediately. Abragan blocked the equipment using his pickup truck to ensure the operator and the driver couldn’t get away.

“They (operators) thought we wouldn’t patrol on a Saturday that’s why they took the chance to quarry, but our monitoring in these mining hotspots is almost 24/7. Thus, they were caught red-handed with their illegal quarrying operations,” Dael added.

Dael requested two police from Bulua police precinct to accompany him and arrest the backhoe operator and the dump truck driver while an additional police team was also dispatched to the site.

Dael said his office would verify the name of the owner of the backhoe to file charges.

“This will definitely undergo due process like the other cases currently handled in the office,” he said.

On Clenro Updates page on Facebook, Dael posted the photo of the seized heavy equipment and urged the communities in the city to report immediately any mining activities seen or observed to Clenro.

“If you will see illegal activities, report immediately and we will act right away,” Dael said.

Days numbered

Dael warned illegal loggers, saying their days are numbered, as the forestry division of Clenro has a new vehicle that can run after illegal logging activities in the hinterland barangays of Cagayan de Oro where rampant illegal logging activities are actively ongoing.

Barangay Dansolihon is home to the last remaining forest in the city, and Dael vows to protect it from any illegal activities. “I have sought the help of the communities around the forest and I am sure that Clenro can possibly help deter these illegal activities.”

Apart from the illegal logging activities, there is the perennial “kaingin” system practice that also contributes to the balding of the hills and mountains. Kaingin is the practice of burning of trees for cultivation purposes.

Dael said barangay officials would be reminded of their duties to put a stop to burning trees, illegal mining and logging since they are the first line of defense in protecting the environment.

Dael has been tapping the council of elders of the Higaonon tribes in hinterland barangays to actively enforce their practice of environment protection.

He said it wouldn’t be easy considering there are also barangay officials and some Higaonon working together against environment protection, but he is very optimistic that the reform his office aims at will be achieved based on his previous experience working with the lumads.

“We were almost there 15 years ago, but the change of leadership in the City Government hindered us to continue what we had started. We may be back to square one now, but with the support of the communities in the city to help us run after these illegal activities involving our environment, I am sure success is inevitable,” Dael said.

Deliberation on copper ore

On September 24, Clenro conducted the first deliberation of the copper ore concentrate caught being transported without a permit on August 26. The copper ore was extracted in Barangay Dansolihon.

The deliberation panel, he said, included Jerome Pioquinto of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Clenro staff, and Higaonon tribe representative of Dansolihon.

In two weeks, a second deliberation would be scheduled.

Barangay election hopefuls troop to Comelec

By Anjo Bacarisas and Loui S. Maliza


MORE than a hundred candidates trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday to file their certificate of candidacies (COCs) for the barangay elections on October 28.

Arthur Dael of Barangay Patag and Fred Daayata of Barangay Baikingon, a hinterland village, were the first to file their COCs for barangay chairperson and councilor, respectively.

As of 11:45 a.m., there were a total of three candidates who filed their COCs for barangay chairperson from barangay Patag; two from Baikingon; one from Iponan.

For barangay kagawads, Baikingon has 20 hopefuls that have already filed their COCs; four from Barangay Bulua; four from Canitoan; nine from Iponan; and 10 from Patag.

New COC forms

According to a city Comelec staff, some filed their COCs using the old form, but were directed to fill out the updated ones instead.

A printing establishment in front of the Comelec office sells new COC forms for P10 a set (four copies) as the Elections office announced the shortage of forms.

But the candidates can download the COC forms on Comelec website www.comelec.gov.ph and reproduce it.

Barangay Lapasan chairperson Omar Labuntog bought his COC form at the said store. But most of those who filed their COCs asked the forms from Comelec.

Misamis Oriental Comelec officer, lawyer Carlito Ravelo, clarified that the election aspirants have the option to either download the forms or easily buy it from any Comelec accredited stores including the establishment in front of the city Comelec office.

Ravelo said the filing of COCs has been extended until October 17 from its original closing date, October 15, to give more time for candidates to exercise their right to run for public office.

Comelec is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. without extension and only from Mondays to Fridays. The campaign period kicks off on October 18.

“Labi na gyud dinhi sa Cagayan de Oro kay daku nga lugar (Especially here in Cagayan de Oro since this is a huge area),” Ravelo said.

He urged the aspirants to file their respective COCs early to avoid the rush especially when Comelec notes some concerns on their documents to resolve them immediately.

Lou Nacalaban, who seeks public office as barangay councilor, filed his COC Friday morning taking advantage of the first day of filing where it was loose compared with the coming days.

Nacalaban, who ran for barangay chairperson in Barangay Puntod during the 2010 barangay elections but lost said, “Puntod Barangay Hall needs real leaders that prioritize programs and projects for the betterment of their constituents.”

Smooth and orderly

Barangay councilor Everado Febrero of Patag, said ‘so far, so good’ referring to the orderly filing of candidacy procedures at Comelec.

Election assistant Hope Damasing told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that Comelec assigned two staff to each section, and they have a total of eight sections that are tasked to accept COCs from specific barangays.

She added that although their office is small but it was able to accommodate the applicants.

“Kung ingnon maglinya, maglinya man pud sila (When we asked them to fall in line they obeyed),” said Damasing citing the candidates followed instructions.

“Wala pami naka-encounter og problems (So far we have not encountered any problems),” said Attorney Alelia Dayo-Ramirez, city election officer IV.

As of September 11, the city Comelec installed 16 full-time staff to facilitate the COCs of the aspirants in the city.

Ramirez discourages trooping to the office at one time since the aspirants are given six days to file their COCs.

“Kung dili ang bag-o nga COC ang gigamit dili gyud namo dawaton (If they are not using the new COC we will not accept the application),” said Ramirez pointing out that the new COC has a statement of expenditures.

Alma Tingson of Barangay Patag said one week before the filing of COCs a new form was sent to the Comelec that is why her application rejected.

“Dapat nag-download ko online (I should have downloaded it online),” said Tingson.

John Michael Artajo, a former Sangguniang Kabataan president running for barangay councilor, said the flow of the application process is okay but the place is a bit crowded.

“Mas maayo nga naka-schedule pud per barangay (It would have been better if it was scheduled per barangay),” said Artajo when asked what could be done to make the application process more efficient.

Artajo said it is better to come early to file applications because the crowd is less compared in the afternoon.

Independent candidate Angelito Potane of Barangay Bugo said the Comelec office is too small to accommodate all the applicants.

Potane added: “they lack staff to assess all the applicants.”

Based on the interviews of this reporter, the candidates who filed on the first day morning are optimistic that they are going to win the elections saying: “I am a winnable candidate.”

Qualifications

Qualified to become candidates are Filipinos, 18 years of age and above, can read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of at least a year in certain barangay. The drug test is no longer one a pre-requisite for the coming barangay polls. Drug testing was implemented in the last elections.

City Health: 'Puerto dirtiest market in Oro

By Anjo Bacarisas


“PUERTO is the dirtiest market in the city,” an official of the Cagayan de Oro City Health Office said Thursday.

Rowena Yu, health education and promotion officer III of the City Health Office, said Puerto beat the two other big markets in terms of worst sanitation.

Another city health official, Dr. Rachel Dilla, said the sanitation problem in Puerto market has been made worst because of the murky water from the drainage.

Dilla added that the farm produce and fishes sold are guaranteed fresh and they don’t warrant such a dilapidated, filthy and stinky surrounding.

Meat vendor Rico Ehido said the market has a clogged sewer system and the roof is riddled with holes that bother the vendors during rainy days.

Ehido said there are times the trashes are not collected for two days which further pollutes the market sending swarm of flies and other germ-carrying animals.

He said he has difficulty in selling meat because of the disorderly condition of the market.

Worm infested

Vegetable retailer since 1982, Mary Ambo told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that Puerto public market is infested with worms.

“Maong bakante ang sulod ana kai giulod man ang merkado (The reason why there are less vendors inside is the worm infestation),” said Ambo explaining how unclean it is inside the market.

Ambo said the market also needs a working public toilet not a broken one which does not flush feces and urine.

“Gihimo nana nga kalibangan ang merkado (Instead, they used the market as a toilet),” she added saying that some individuals would put their human waste inside cellophane and dispose it inside the market.

Reconstruction

“Sa tanan market dili na ‘ni madala og renovation (Of all the public markets this cannot be helped by renovation),” said Dilla, pointing out that the market needs reconstruction to address its problems.

Ambo also agreed on the reconstruction since food products are being sold in the market and the unsanitary environment could bring illnesses to the populace patronizing it.

“Dapat malimpyo gyud ang merkado para mosulod ang mga mamalitay (The market should be cleaned so the buyers would be enticed to get inside),” said Ambo.

She added that they (vendors) would be really happy if the market will be reconstructed.

“Aside from reconstruction, the vendors should also be properly categorized,” she added.

Yu said the market should be presentable as well.

City health’s program

The inspection by the city health office was part of the Tsada Merkado Taskforce to assess and evaluate the sanitation issues of Puerto market.

Yu said keeping the public markets clean is one of their advocacies along with different local government units like the Department of Engineering and Public Works, Agricultural productivity operations office, City planning and services office, among others.

Yu said they have collaborated with various offices so they can address all the needs of the market based on their evaluation.

She added that part of their long-term goal is to make all the public markets in the city convenient, comfortable and conducive to vendors and buyers.

“Nakita pud namo ang mga problema ng vendors base sa ilang istorya sa amo (We’ve seen the problems of the local vendors based on their reports),” said Yu.

Editorial: Rhetoric

By sunstar.com.ph


ON TUESDAY, the recently elected local executives entered their 100 days of holding office. Cagayan de Oro mayor Oscar Moreno and Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente “Bambi” Emano reported to the electorates what they have done since July 1, 2013, the day they began holding office.

Emano did it in Gingoog to emphasize the city’s potentials, which he claimed has been left unattended for years. Would that include his father’s term as the governor?

Emano enumerated his 10 programs which mostly are on starters. His report has been quantitative.

Well, it is probably a good way to begin -- starting every project at once. Come 2016, we will know if what he started would be fully achieved and implemented in the province.

Moreno rated himself 9 in a scale of 1 to 10 when asked by reporters how he would grade himself in his 100 days of serving the city.

Moreno was more reflective saying “he is bound to make mistakes and what’s important is that none of his mistakes is irreversible. That in his every action, he is accountable to the people. And he finds satisfaction in what he has been doing in the city amid the constant criticisms he get from his political rivals and people who are vigilant on how he runs the city government.

Moreno enforced new policies that are met with both cheers and jeers. Until now, majority of the vendors are still in limbo on how they can get back to their feet after having been displaced for more than three months. Other camps cheer him for making the city a little better in terms of organizing the once tangled landscape of the public markets and the traffic chaos at peak hours.

He has projects that have been branded controversial, the Duaw Park which is one of the projects of the city’s first lady and the ongoing restoration of Gaston Park.

Things could have been made better if all the changes effected have been carefully crafted without displacing the poor who are the hardest hit.

Emano on his part also instituted changes in the province. Every time he brings out changes, they come with the usual “politician blaming previous administrations for inheriting debts and mismanaged administration.” He cited in his report the Misamis Oriental Telephone System (Misortel) for its years of mismanagement. Has he considered his father’s stint to be part of that previous administration?

Moreno also has been into the blame game tactic.

Both local executives are accountable to the people. Whatever the manner the accomplishments have been made and presented, it is on how they translate their development programs to impact on the people’s lives come 2016.

And that’s what matters to the electorates.

Oro lawmaker bats for solar energy

By Loui S. Maliza


SWITCHING to solar power would save the Cagayan de Oro City Government millions of pesos in electricity bills, a local legislator said.

Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. is optimistic that investing in solar energy would mean P22.5 million savings for the city instead of paying P30 million yearly to Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco).

Lao said the 75 percent of the overall consumption of the City Government is spent on the streetlights.

“It’s high time that the City Government will invest on solar energy and probably, we can have our streetlights converted into solar-powered lights because data showed, which I took from the city accounting office, (most percentage) of the overall electricity consumption of the city went to the street lights,” he added.

Lao, the chairman on committee on energy, cited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as saying that the Philippines is abundant with sunlight due to its location, north of the equator, and can harness power from the sun at an average of 5.1 kilowatt per day.

Innovative financing

“But this potential is not realized because we are apparently discouraged by the high cost of putting up a solar energy kit compared with getting electricity at Cepalco,” said Lao, but added: “Innovative financing is the key.”

In his special report, Lao said innovative financing could lead to high growth if new sources of low cost capital are available for the sector.

It also noted that the speed of the sector’s transition to grid parity meant that most local governments are primordial to promote the desired growth of the solar sector over the next several decades.

It also said that the solar sector could also continue to be significant because of the rising electricity prices, and the need for competitive generation sources, lowered balance-system costs and it is tantamount to eliminate power shortages for the next several years.

“Solar generation would continue to gain significant share of new capacity as it will appear increasingly attractive in a long term solution against the rising electricity prices and fuel price uncertainty,” Lao said in his special report.

P125-million Cepalco bills

Lao’s report came after he learned the City has been billed by Cepalco of P125 million for its nine years electricity consumption, including the accumulated unpaid arrears.

“This amount is very huge and it can be diverted into construction of more school classrooms especially in the hinterland barangays, purchasing of textbooks for schoolchildren or perhaps medicines for rural health centers and foods for the needy. If only this city government have initiated in the past or introduced alternative measures to lessen and economize the annual energy expenditures,” Lao said.

But Councilor Ramon Tabor said the investment on solar energy would only triple or quadruple the cost of the annual electricity bills of the City Government, as it would need rewiring of existing electricity connections to solar wirings.

“If ever we adopt (solar energy), we need to start from the very beginning. The cost would be tremendous. Gubaon pa ang existing connections kay dili na magamit (Destroy the existing connections since they couldn’t be used). Or put up additional wirings for the purpose. We need to study the pros and cons, time to study and evaluate to adopt it in the future,” Tabor said.

However, Tabor, an opposition councilor, is willing to support Lao’s proposal since as the city can save much.

Councilor President Elipe, also an opposition councilor, expressed support to Lao’s proposal, but explained that solar energy didn’t kick off because of its investment cost.

“Solar is a very good alternative for (the city). At day time, we save water. At night time, water again. But investors would back out due to lack of incentives,” Elipe said.

Mindanao mostly produces electricity through hydroelectric and coal fired power plants.

According to Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the power generation in Mindanao at present is 52 percent hydro and 31 percent coal.

By 2020, MinDA projects that 56 percent of power in Mindanao will come from coal and 24 percent from water.

‘Bangga sa Daygon’ to open Christmas festivities in CdeO

By (CdeOSP/PIA)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct 8 – The city of Cagayan de Oro is set to launch “Bangga sa Daygon,” (Carol Competition).

As the Christmas season approaches, Councilor Lourdes Candy Darimbang, chair of the Cagayan de Oro City Council committee on tourism announces the launching of the “Bangga sa Daygon.”

The councilor said auditions will take place this month at the City Tourism Hall. Six barangays and six schools will be selected to compete in this year’s caroling contest, which bears the theme, “Daygon Binisaya.”

Councilor Darimbang said big prizes await the winners. For the barangay level, the champion will receive P75,000, while the winning school will receive P50,000.

Finals night will take place on December 14, 2013 at the Limketkai Atrium, said Councilor Darimbang.

The lady councilor is inviting barangays and different schools in the city to participate in the contest.

This is in line with efforts to make this Christmas a festive one and to boost the city’s tourism industry.

Teenage gangs in Oro rising

By Anjo Bacarisas


SOME teenagers in Cagayan de Oro City are getting involved in gangs that could possibly endanger not only their future but also their lives.

One of these gangs is GPY (good people young), also known as “Gagmay Pero Yayay” (small but terrible).

Most of the members of the group are teenagers. In fact, the oldest member is just 16 years old.

Yando Manoloto (not his real name) said that before the group counts one as a member, one has to prove his or her worth through initiations.

“Hirap or sarap (pain or pleasure)?” is the question the group members ask to those teenagers who want to join the gang.

Hirap (pain) would mean repetitious slapping of the face until the leaders are satisfied. Sarap (pleasure), on the other hand, is more dangerous to a female who wants to become a member of the group.

“Kissan ka sa members nga mga lalaki (The male members of the group would kiss you),” said Manoloto.

Dangerous deeds

Manoloto told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the group would watch porn movies in Internet shops.

He said they would collect money from members and flock together to watch pornographic videos while smoking.

“We are also in conflict with other groups,” said Manoloto after expressing his disgust to other groups or gangs.

Manoloto said most of the members stopped schooling so they’ve got nothing to do but stroll around and recruit new members.

Outsiders view

One of the Internet shop owners, Celso Madronero, who fend these kids off repeatedly, said the parents of these teenagers are expecting they are in school.

He added that most of the members of GPY cut classes, or worst, they do not go to school during weekdays.

“Dili maayo tan-awon kay bata pa gapanigarilyo na (It is not pleasing to look at these teenagers who have started smoking young),” said Madronero.

He said most of the time, members of the GPY would get him mad because they are so noisy while they listen to loud music.

“It can disturb the public,” said Madronero.

Claire Balota, who has observed the activities of the group, said the members are engaged in pervert activities.

“Mga bastos man ‘na sila,” said Balota, who is just 13 years old.

She said members of the GPY would only want to appear cool that is why they smoke.

Motivation

Manoloto said he joined the group because he did not have friends before.

“Mag-enjoy ko sa grupo kay wala man ko friends sa una (I enjoyed the group’s company because I have no friends before),” said Manoloto.

He added that before the group (GPY) invited him to join, he envied the group’s constant get-together.

He said members of the group treat him nicely, that is why he continued to be in the group.

Palace appoints new prosecutors, others

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan


President Benigno Aquino III has appointed new government officials and city prosecutors, a Palace official said.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said during the press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that Mr. Aquino signed on September 27 the appointment letters of lawyer Ansharey Lalia as Prosecutor IV, Office of the City Prosecutor-Cagayan de Oro City; lawyer Aljay Go as Prosecutor IV, Office of the City Prosecutor-Butuan City and lawyer Melvin Lamata as Prosecutor IV, Office of the City Prosecutor-Kidapawan City, all under the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service.

Also appointed was Marlea Muñez, as Executive Director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

According to Valte, Maria Paz Alberto, John Patrick Chan and Joan Denise Tiu have been named directors of Duty Free Philippines under the Department of Tourism.

Completing the batch of appointees are Eduardo de Mesa and Serafin Salvador Jr. joined as directors of North Luzon Railways Corp.

PDEA: Summary killings ‘drugs-related’

By Anjo Bacarisas


THE series of summary executions in Cagayan de Oro City could be linked to the proliferation of the illegal drugs trade in Northern Mindanao, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao region said Thursday.

From January to October this year, around 20 suspected members of the Batang Mindanao (BM 29) and Batman 357 gangs were summarily executed in the city.

PDEA-Northern Mindanao public information officer Rosemary Bajao said although PDEA cannot be conclusive that all of the killings were due to illegal drugs deal and she added saying “but from plain view the undeniable cause is drugs.”

She added most of the crimes in the city involved illegal drugs and its related activities.

“Naay times nga ang (illegal drugs) pusher dili makabayad sa iyang gikumpra (There are instances wherein the pusher failed to pay the drugs he or she ordered),” said Bajao, citing the reason why illegal drugs-related activities are linked to the summary executions.

Bajao said during their drug-bust operations they had arrested family members and individuals.

“Sa among operations mga pamilya among gakadakpan (In our operations we have arrested families),” she said.

She said it is possible that the killings happened due to the conflicts of family members that are competing in selling illegal drugs.

“Mga pamilya man ang gabaligya og drugs kay mao mana ilang pamugas, so possible nga sila pud ang nag-conflict nga miresulta sa pagpatay (There are families who sell drugs for their livelihood, and it is possible that these families are in conflict with one another leading to killings),” said Red.

Drug cartels

Bajao said there are drug cartels in the city, but PDEA is unsure if it is behind the summary executions.

“Sobra na pud millions ang drugs nga among na-confiscate diri sa city (We have confiscated over a million worth of drugs this year),” she said.

She added the PDEA is serious in its campaign against illegal drugs.

“We are giving heavy stress on our demand reduction campaign because we don’t want to do arrests that would put their families in shame,” said Bajao.

Reduction campaign is focused on giving information to the community about the long-term negative impacts of drugs, while supply reduction campaign is the process of making arrests to cut off the supply.

Bajao said they are scheduling meetings and consultations with other law enforcement agencies to discuss the summary killings in the city.

“Jail them all, instead of jail the pusher and save the user,” she said referring to the new principle of the drug enforcement agency.

Cagayan de Oro police chief Graciano Mijares denied any vigilante group in the city and claimed the killings could be related to the campaign against illegal drugs.

The church and civil society groups have urged the city government and the law enforcement agencies to do something with the killings to uphold right to life.

How is Hapsay?

By Giano M. Libot

AS THE Cagayan de Oro City Hall dons a new bright white re-painting, we are reminded that it’s just been three months into the new Mayor’s term of reigning in the challenges of this glorious city, what seemed like a hero’s welcome after May, has now turned into suspicion, and speculation as to how much change has there really been after 13 long years of being under an Emano leadership.

Today the city stands, faced with new challenges, from the paramount to the trivial, from resurrecting our tourism market shackled by the Bistro Bombing, to the continuous tug of war for discipline in the city streets.

So how has Mayor Moreno done so far? Perhaps an evaluative question that doesn’t seem to fair to ask, considering he’s only been in power for roughly a few months, however much as the crowd that heralded his ascension was quick enough to thrust him into the salvation category, so must be we the people start asking potent questions about this city’s desires and hopes for change.

I interviewed Mayor Moreno a month before his inauguration, and he said something that struck me, he said that “Cagayan de Oro will be the best city in Mindanao.” Of course as politicians are there is no surprise for casting this enormous promise, I asked myself if he was really serious about it. Perhaps this was just a rhetorically charged statement, driven by much bravado caused by a historically changing victory, but much in my heart also hoped that he was right, and that he would deliver.

So fast-forward to operation Hapsay, a move that met with much controversy, and resistance. Mayor Moreno ordered the cleaning up of the streets, in the projects words, simply enforcing the rules of traffic and safety, so much to the displeasure of many side walk vendors, Divisoria was no longer a place where they could freely sell. I have to be honest, few days into it I was liking the order around the city, I liked that the streets weren’t as cluttered, but there was still traffic naturally, but a lot more of the road that was once occupied by vendors were now accessible.

But fast-forward now, and as my friend noted the enforcement seems to have waned a bit, what was once a shock-and-awe effect for Hapsay, has now been in my opinion the look of being resigned, resigned to the fact that they cannot sustain the initial order that it brought. Now the street vendors are back once again.

Though to me this spells two things, government failure and also our failure, while it can be said that Hapsay was supposed to enforce the rules, Hapsay also meant a reciprocal exchange of duty on our part as well, to obey the rules, not only amid the presence of authority, but even without it.

Maybe it masks apologetics for the new leadership, but I think the challenge has to be equal, to the city government I hope your re-painting is as good as your efforts to continue to clean up the city, to the people, this is your government, this is who you voted for, it’s time to own up and commit to order.

Public safety committee urged to act on summary killings

By Loui S. Maliza


COUNCILOR Roger Abaday urged on Monday the City Council’s committee on police, fire, and public safety to act on the series of suspected summary killings in Cagayan de Oro City in the past few months.

Abaday noted that since January to September this year, close to 20 people were killed through summary executions, most of them believed to be members of the dreaded Batang Mindanao 29 (BM 29) gang.

He said the committee, chaired by Councilor Ramon Tabor, must coordinate with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) and other law enforcement agencies to investigate these crimes as they involved ex-convicts who just got out of jail as victims.

Abaday, a dean of Criminology in one of the city’s colleges, said he personally talked with the leaders of BM 29 inside the city jail in Barangay Lumbia who told him some of the gang members targeted underwent values formation while in incarceration.

“Gakahadlok lagi daw sila nga sa ilang paggawas, ayha dayon sila birahan. Imbis nga miagi na sila ug values formation, ayha pa hinuon sila pamatyon (They are scared to get out of prison fearing they could be killed. They have already gone through values formation, and then they’re executed),” Abaday told reporters in an interview.

He said some of gang’s members are now active in church activities and a few of them are now even pastors.

“Ang ilang gusto nga magbag-o man sa ilang paggawas. Gusto lang nila nga duna silay kapangitaan sa dihang mahuman sa ilang serbisyo sa sulod (All they wanted is to change when they get out. To find a livelihood after they have served inside),” he added.

Abaday said BM 29 leaders inside the Lumbia jail even asked Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno for assistance to those members who just served their sentence for protection and livelihood programs.

Cocpo chief Graciano Mijares has already denied the existence of groups or ‘death squads’ in the city who executed the alleged summary killings.

Drugs war

Mijares said the killings could be linked to the illegal drugs trade as most of the victims were reported to have connections with the drug syndicates in the region.

He said most of the killed victims were shot on the head and on different parts of their body.

The latest victim, Abaday said, was a member of BM 29 who was found bathed in his own blood at a grassy area in Sitio Tibasak in Barangay Macasandig.

The victim has yet to be identified who sustained several gunshot wounds in the head, face and body.

SSS .6% contribution rate increase to balance fund scheme

By (JMOR/PIA10)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct. 1. (PIA) – The Social Security System (SSS) announced that the increase of .6% in the contribution of members to take effect next year is a need to balance the system’s funding scheme. Atty. Josefina M. Olan-Fornilos, assistant vice-president of SSS Northern Mindanao stressed that the life of SSS fund is a balancing act. The inflows or revenues such as investment income and contributions must be equal or greater than the outflows or expenditures such as the operating expenses and benefits, she explained. Further, she emphasized that contribution rate has been stagnant for 23 years from 1981 to 2002 while pension increased 21 times. She said, as benefit payments catch up, the contribution rate has to be adjusted to allow the SSS fund to cumulate reserves; thus, provision of social security protection to all members across generations be sustained. As of June 2013, there are a total of 30, 040, 266 SSS members nationwide

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