Cagayan de Oro City News April 2015

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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
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
The river of cagayan de oro city
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St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

OWWA conducts pre-departure orientation, ensures OFW safety

By Jose Angelo Lorenzo S. Gomos (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO, April 30 (PIA) - Northern Mindanao residents planning to work abroad no longer need to go to Manila because Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 10 handles pre-departure orientation for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) hopefuls.

Located on the 2nd floor of the Trinidad Bldg., Yacapin St., Cagayan de Oro, OWWA currently deploys approximately 80 OFW’s per week with a total number of 69, 348 both based in land and sea.

“In-ana kadaghan ang demand sa OFW’s abroad especially sa Middle East countries,” (That’s how high the demand of OFWs in the Middle East countries) says OWWA 10 Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Director Harry B. Borres during the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Mega Job Fair press conference held on April 29.

OWWA is an attached agency to DOLE and promotes the welfare and protects the interests of OFW’s.

Part of OWWA’s concern is finding solutions to address problems of Filipinos working abroad.

“They [OFW’s] are often overworked by their employers, abused verbally, and suffered maltreatment,” said OIC-RD Borres.

He specifies that countries which have the most distressed OFW’s are in the Middle East. “The visa of household service workers is not registered with the local market and their local authority.”

Seventy among the 80 deployed OFW’s in Northern Mindanao are household service workers and over 50 problematic cases have been recorded, 30 of which are cases of maltreatment.

Other cases include contract violation, expired visa, locked-up OFW’s, and underpaid workers.

However, OWWA 10 offers four-day training for OFW hopefuls which includes culture of familiarization and self-defense. Arabic language will also be taught to prime trainees for effective communication.

In addition to OFW protection, OWWA established 36 posts abroad. Along with this, OWWA coordinates with the police to rescue distressed OFW’s.

OWWA also provides hotlines and addresses of their office and of the Philippine Embassy to the OFW’s.

“We sent crisis management team to Yemen and Libya,” said Borres, ensuring OWWA’s mandate to impose security and safety to OFW’s in Arab nations where wars are currently waged. Recently, P10,000 was granted to OFW’s who returned from Libya.

Furthermore, OWWA’s responsibility is to cater the employment of OFW’s returning to the Philippines and securing their family’s needs.

“Katung mga OFW’s nga dili na gusto manar’baho, naa ta’y tie-up with OWWA Landbank nga nag approve ug P865 million para negosyo,” (For those OFWs who do not want to work abroad anymore, we have a tie up with OWWA and Landbank with an approved P865 million for business capital) Borres said.

A total of 1, 257 OFW’s have availed to this amount and their businesses generated employment with 5,632 jobs.

Besides this, OWWA also grants scholarship to OFW dependents in the Philippines.

With Labor Day ahead, OIC-RD Borres commends OFW’s, saying, “Our Filipino workers are very skilled, can speak English fluently, and can multi-task.”

COWD upgrades facilities, develops new sources

By Paula Vallestero (PIA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) upgrades facilities by replacing pumps to improve operational efficiency.

The disposal of the existing split type pumps in its booster stations with submersible modular type pumps. The upgrading of pumps will result to shorter downtime and decrease the period of supply interruptions during repairs.

COWD’s report bared the completed replacement of three pumps, two in Balulang booster station, and one in Bugo.

Ongoing projects water projects were likewise initiated by COWD at the Ayesha Subdivision in Camaman-an to accommodate waterless areas and those experiencing low water pressure, as well as to augment and improve water supply in Camaman-an and other neighboring areas.

COWD said another water source at NHA-CDO Bayanihan Village in Macapaya, Camaman-an is also being developed to address the water needs of the survivors of Typhoon Sendong who resettled in the area.

University Sports Complex to rise in CDO

(XU)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 28 -- Xavier University is set to build the Xavier Sports Complex at its Pueblo campus to strengthen its sports development programs for elementary and high school Ateneans.

In a public consultation and scoping at XU Grade School, XU vice-president for administration Br Noel B Cantago SJ, project manager Engr Noemi A Dacudao and pollution control officer Joel F Francisco addressed the various issues raised by parents, teachers, local government units and the communities residing around the construction site.

“The purpose of this event is to gather your thoughts about the construction of the Xavier Sports Complex and respond to the different issues on sanitation, traffic, noise and others,” Br Cantago said to the attendees.

“We will do our best to address your pre-, during and post-construction concerns.”

The five-hectare sports complex comprises a gymnasium with over 4,500 seating capacity, semi-Olympic size swimming pool and a race track for training purposes, among others.

XUGS-Pueblo principal Emmanuel G. Gomez expressed his excitement on this development project for the basic education community.

“The Xavier Sports Complex is a concrete example that XU aims to meaningfully improve itself especially in providing facilities for its elementary and high school students,” Gomez said.

Details about the start of its construction and expected completion date are still being finalized. A public hearing will be the next step prior to the groundbreaking ceremony.

City Council congratulates 124 successful city scholars

(PNA), CTB/CD/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 27 (PNA) - The City Council committee on education on Monday has congratulated the 124 city scholars who successfully completed the college education.

City Councilor Adrian Barba, chair of the committee on education, said that the 124 city scholars were part of the 143 city scholars who passed the city government’s scholarship program four years ago.

Barba also made special commendation to the city scholars who garnered honors and special awards from their schools during the commencement exercises this year.Among them are: Christmar Bolatano, BSED - Summa Cum Laude at Liceo De Cagayan University, Karen Grace Barton, Danna Mae Salo, Jessah Mae Otida, and Kimberly Galupo, all Cum Laude of Liceo De Cagayan University, Jamaica Maraguinot, Cum Laude of Xavier University.

Barba also congratulated Graziella Gamayo and Rochelle Novie Cabrido, all graduated cum laude at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) here.

Barba said that the city’s scholarship program, implemented four years ago, is part of the city government’s social commitment of sending the poor and deserving students to school.

“We believe that providing the poor and deserving students a chance to continue their studies would give the students an opportunity to prove, once and for all, that poverty is not a hindrance to success,” Barba said.

Veggie prices up in Oro

By Jamila Hiba A. Padilla (XU-DevCom), Jo Ann Sablad (Liceo intern) [Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro]

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Vendors here said that prices of some vegetables have increased due to the dry spell brought about by the weak El Niño that has been forecast to last until the first quarter of 2016.

Manong Dodoy, who has been selling vegetables for years now in Cogon market, said few vegetables have been brought to the markets since farms and gardens are drying up and there has been no irrigation to help alleviate the worsening heat these days.

Dodoy sells at least 10 different vegetables in his stall: Baguio beans, cauliflower, lettuce, singkamas, radish, potato, onion leaves, and cabbage.

The prices of these vegetables have increased between P30 and P50 per kilo, he said.

Asked about the increase, another vendor, Nang Mising, sympathized with the workers whose salaries have not increased since their income is not enough to cope with the soaring prices of basic commodities, including the agricultural products like vegetables.

“Kaya gihapon bisa'g ginagmay ra, igo ra buhi-buhi. Makapalit ug isa ka kilo nga bugas, gamay’ng sud-an, inom ug kape, mao ra among maabot sa karon, sa kalisud sa panahon,” she said.

She hopes things will get better soon since she still has to pay for her grandchildren’s tuition at school.

“Some vegetable dealers have less produce, walay stock sa bodega, kay wala na-harvest sa mga planters,” vendor Eden Ompoc said.

For the eateries inside Cogon market, the prices of cooked food have also gone up or the serving is cut.

Jay Anne Noynay, who has a stall for cooked food, said the P5 to P10 serving before could no longer be maintained by now due to the price increases in vegetables.

“Dili na baya ga serve ang mga tindahan ug barato, kay mo patong, mo increase baya jud sila,” said Jay Anne.

A vegetable vendor, Jamil Cabugatan, said that the price of the vegetables he sells has been increasing.

“Tungod sa init, ang uban madaot,” Cabugatan said.

He also said that the number of customers buying his vegetables is decreasing from more than 30 to 30 and less. With this, his income per day is also decreasing.

Fruit vendor Rushie Paslon said the price of her fruits is high because there weren’t that much fruits to sell. “Gamay ra ang ani kay init man,” she said.

Meat stall owner Ruben Roxas said that the price of his meat products (pork and beef) is still the same, but the dry spell is still affecting his enterprise. “Apektado kayo. Menos ang palit,” he said.

Consumers roam from stall to stall to compare prices in order to buy the cheaper ones.

But the weekly update of agricultural price statistics of Northern Mindanao by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that prevailing retail prices of the commodities have remained stable.

Engr. Carlito A. Baclayon, interim chief Statistical Operation and Coordination Division of PSA, said there are no movements to the prevailing retail prices of agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, meat and poultry, fish, vegetables and fruits. Still, there are observations of dry spell, which is affecting the production of commodities in certain areas like Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

“The pricing of the products has remained stable. There were no reports of El Niño yet. We’re waiting for further reports from Pagasa. What the agricultural areas are experiencing would be the dry spell,” Baclayon said.

However, Statistical Coordination Officer 4 Brenda Lynn Castro said that if the El Niño was to happen, there would be no assurance whether the prices could go up or down, “since if there would be inputs from other regions that can stabilize the prices.”

Castro admitted they could not tell if the El Niño can affect the production of agricultural commodities directly.

The prices of chicken and egg have not shown any increase yet.

CDO to host West PH Sea confab on April 29

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 25 (PIA) – The second leg of the nationwide Information Drive on the West Philippine Sea issue will be held on April 29, 2015 at VIP Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

A collaboration project of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the campaign aims to disseminate information on the issues relating to West Philippine Sea particularly why the Philippine government seeks arbitration from an international tribunal, our entitlement on the disputed territory and other historical, economic and legal concerns.

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Charles C. Jose will grace the event to discuss the core issues, the overarching principles that guide Philippine response to the issues, and the steps that are being undertaken by the Philippine Government to address the disputes.

An estimated 200 participants from the different sectors particularly from the academe, National Government Agencies, fisherfolks, Information officers, local government through barangay chairmen and the media have been invited.

The Multi-sectoral forum will start from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 nn which will end with a press conference with ASec Jose. This forum is open to anyone interested. For details you may call PIA region 10 office at 856-8178.

City seeks support for Sinulom Falls as tourist destination

(CdeOSP)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 24 -- Chair of the City Council committee on tourism, on Monday called for support for the development of the Sinulom Falls in Barangay Tignapoloan as one of the city’s tourist destinations.

In her special report during the regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas, Councilor Candy Darimbang said she personally visited the site twice upon the invitation of the barangay chairman of Tignapoloan.

She said, the city can be proud of the Sinulom Falls, which is breathtaking and panoramic.

She said it is comparable to the Pasonanca Falls in Zamboanga, and other landmark tourist destinations in the country.

She, however, observed that the temporary access road leading to the site is not fully developed, it was steep and rough and difficult to traverse.

According to Darimbang, with the discovery of the potential tourist destination, the local government should extend full support to the development of the area. She cited that tourism is a major player and catalyst in the country’s progress.

RESOLUTIONS

In line with this, the councilor filed a proposed resolution declaring Sinulom Falls at Sitio Sinulom, Barangay Tignapoloan as a protected area and a second resolution, requesting the City Council to appropriate funds for the construction of the access road leading to the falls to make it accessible to tourists.

TOURISM BOARD

Vice Mayor Acenas referred these to the City Tourism Board for appropriate action. He suggested that the board considers tapping the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the development of the area.

Councilor Adrian Barba said the ownership of the land and other concerns should also be looked into.

For his part, Councilor Teodulfo Lao said Sinulom Falls can be a source of pride to the city. If the area belongs to Cagayan de Oro, it can be developed as a tourist destination, he cited.

Palay production in Northern Mindanao up 5.7%

[(PNA), SCS/CD/MARK FRANCISCO/CD]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 23 (PNA) – Palay production in Northern Mindanao increased by 5.76 percent in 2014 compared to 2013, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Thursday.

NEDA said that rice growers in Northern Mindanao harvested 713,764 metric tons last year as against 673,903 metric tons in the previous year.

Translated into revenue, the value of the palay produced in Region 10 in 2014 was PhP13.9 billion, up 24.7 percent compared to the PhP11.4 billion in 2013.

Bukidnon posted the highest yield in irrigated palay at 5.40 metric tons per hectare, followed by Lanao del Norte at 3.40 metric tons per hectare, the NEDA report said.

Northern Mindanao comprises the province of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and the island province of Camiguin.

More classrooms for CDO, says Luistro

By Cherie Lian V. Ansale (RTP/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 22 (PIA) -- The government will be constructing a total of 142 classrooms here.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said this during the inauguration of the new division office of Cagayan de Oro, April 21, here.

This he said in addition to the 26 senior high school sites that the national government is planning to construct in the second quarter.

Furthermore, Luistro asked the attendees to help the Department of Education (DepEd) in monitoring the construction plans to make it in time before the senior high school students start their classes in June 2016.

“It will be helpful if our citizens and the school board also help our education officials to monitor and to ensure they are constructed according to standards and in time for June 2016 opening of our senior high school,” Luistro said.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno received an education champion award for his dedication in shaping education in the city. He shared that the local government is committed to help and be a partner in elevating quality education in the city.

The new DepEd division office is now located in Fr. William Masterson, S.J., KM 5, Upper Balulang.

Oro stakeholders gear up for K to 12

By Butch D. Enerio

LEADERS in Cagayan de Oro City have geared up for the implementation of the country’s educational system in a summit with a theme: "Uswag Kagay-anon (Move Up Cagayan)! Yes to Senior High School (SHS)" on Tuesday.

The Department of Education in Cagayan de Oro (DepEd-CdeO), the lead implementer, is embarking on the huge challenge in implementing the SHS Curriculum and averred that it cannot afford delay as the next generation must survive in the Asean world.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin S. Luistro, the summit’s keynote speaker, said there are a lot to gain with the K to 12 Curriculum where the future of Grade 12 graduate is more promising than that of high school graduate in the old curriculum where four years were spent to complete it.

He said that Grade 12 graduates can easily land on jobs where their skills are honed apart from earnings that could be more than 100 percent higher.

“We are seeking the cooperation from industries to open their doors to our SHS students where they can learn hands-on and experience the training of jobs required by an industry,” Luistro said.

1.4 million new learners

Luistro said in the academic year 2016-2017, there will be 1.4 million new learners in the entire country and would be doubled in the following school year.

Cagayan de Oro City was chosen as one of the 10 pilot cities in the country to implement the SHS by the Philippine League of Cities (PLC) because of the aggressiveness of the current administration to advance and afford basic education to the city’s constituents.

One of the eight-point agenda of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno is education and environment protection where his administration pursues and enhances the role of the city as educational center of Northern Mindanao.

“Cagayan de Oro must be better and the only way to improve is to advance our quality of education, and it is never late, education has no end and will never end,” Moreno said.

Cagayan de Oro City is awarded as the 2nd Most Competitive City of the Philippines and a grand winner in the “Most Livable Cities Challenge.”

The Moreno administration has constructed a total of 309 classrooms in its 20 months in office to address the pressing gap. He actualizes his famous tagline, “Buhis sa Katawhan, Ibalik sa Katawhan (Give taxes back to the people).

‘Education Champion’ award

Moreno received the Education Champion Award from Luistro during the blessing of the new DepEd building in this city.

“DepEd-CdeO’s commitment is to offer education that could uplift every Kagay-anon’s standard of living. It hopes to contribute to the city’s economic development. That it will serve as our return of investment that will hopefully happen with the full implementation of the K to 12 Curriculum where the gains are jobs, business and quality college education,” said Mary Ann Allera, DepEd-CdeO SHS coordinator.

In Cagayan de Oro City, the projected enrolment of the public schools for school years 2016-2017 and 2017–2018 will be 17,011, where 90 percent public and 10 percent private provisions. “That would mean, 10 percent of our graduates from Junior Public High SHS will take SHS in private schools,” she said.

DepEd said that it will give an allowance of 1,504 for other enrollees from other divisions within the region or across regions owing to Cagayan de Oro, which is considered as the learning hub of Northern Mindanao.

In the private schools, the projected enrolment is 6,482.

At present, the capacity of the approved non-DepEd schools is 10,129. That would mean the private schools can accommodate 3,647 more from other divisions.

The city with its LSB has an ongoing process for possible purchase of lots intended for SHS.

“In the private schools, we currently have 10 with approval to offer SHS, seven are waiting for approval to offer SHS and 38 are gearing up their application,” DepEd said.

Skills development accredited implementers

There are already four Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) accredited early implementers: Xavier University (XU) for Integrated Technology, Systems Technology Institute (STI), Skills mastery Institute, and AMA Computer College.

DepEd’s survey indicates that the choice of academic specialization is the General Academic Strand, while the lowest number will be in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) strand.

In private schools, most of the students will take the accountancy, business and management. Just like the public school, the lowest number will be in Stem.

In the public schools, the highest number of enrollees will take home economics (HE), industrial arts (IA) in next in rank, the agri-fishery and ICT, which ranks third.

In the private schools, maritime and criminology are considered as the most preferred specialization followed by HE, ICT and IA.

Word demands

The preferences of the SHS are also in consonance with the work demands in the city in the next five years. This is based on the March 2015 survey conducted by DepEd-local government unit-XU in partnership with LCP.

It can be noted that first in the rank is construction, which will involve welding, ship building. The 2nd is labor especially on carpentry, plumbing, and masonry, among others.

The second choice is accountancy, business and management, which are aligned with banking as the third among the in-demand courses.

“We can deduce that skills needed by the establishments and industries would hopefully be met by the SHS graduates in 2018 and beyond. In that way, we will be able to supply skilled workforce,” Allera said.

DepEd has 228 teachers in the public school with NC II, III, IV Tesda certifications. They are currently teaching junior high school in preparation for the SHS. Sixty of them were trained in the summer of 2014 using the LSB fund. "This summer, we will continue to send teachers for training and assessment."

SHS in Cagayan de Oro needs a total o f 216 classrooms and 323 workshops. The highest need is in the HE, ICT, IA and agri-fishery, which entails almost a billion pesos to comply with the equipment requirement.

“We have identified engaged stakeholders. We need them to be more committed and be with us in our aspirations to hone the skills of our best capital-human resources,” Allera said.


CDO hosts Senior High School summit

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 20 (PIA) -- The city government of Cagayan de oro is now ready in hosting the Senior High School Summit slated on April 21, in partnership with the League of Cities of the Philippines and Department of Education (DepEd), Division of Cagayan de Oro.

The summit’s theme is “Uswag Kagay-anon! Yes to Senior High School.” Cagayan de Oro, along with 10 other cities in the entire country, was chosen as a pilot area for the implementation of senior high school program.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, President of the League of Cities in the Philippines, and other local chief executives are expected to grace the event.

The summit, which is part of the City LEADERS (Lead, Educate, Advocate, Design, Effective and Responsive Senior High School) Project, aims to show the achievements of the 10 pioneer cities in their preparation for the Senior High School implementation, and to formalize partnership among establishments supporting the program.

The “CITY LEADERS Gearing for Senior High School” is initiated by the League of Cities of the Philippines and funded by The Asia Foundation with support from the Australian Embassy.

DepEd is very grateful to Mayor Moreno’s tremendous help, particularly the construction of 309 classrooms in just 20 months in office.

According to Mayor Oscar Moreno, more schools will be built by his administration, with the help and support of the Local School Board, to answer the 500-classroom shortage which was not given priority over the past years.

P89 wage increase In Northern Mindanao pushed

(Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Workers in Northern Mindanao are pushing for the P89 wage increase in the region to cope with the soaring prices of basic commodities.

On Friday, April 17, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regional office, through the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB), and the National Economic Development Agency (Neda) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted a public hearing to provide stakeholders a platform to discuss the impact of the daily minimum wage increase petition.

With the petition, the daily minimum wage will be P395 from the current P306.

High economic growth

During the public hearing, Neda-Northern Mindanao Director Leon Dacanay Jr. updated the audience of the economy in the region since 2013. He emphasized that Northern Mindanao has maintained its P250 billion economic growth and its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of P55.06 billion, which remains to be the highest among Mindanao regions.

Dacanay, who is also the vice chairperson of RTWPB-Northern Mindanao, said the value of rice production increased to 8.79 percent or 3.9 billion metric tons, resulting in the stabilization of the rice prices in the middle of 2014.

Dacanay cited that in the coconut industry, the nut production in the region has increased to 1.18 percent or P1.8 billion from 2013 to 2014, while the copra production remained stagnant with 0.03 percent or P438,852. The overall production of major crops like vegetables, fruits and root crops rose to 4.4 percent or 7.8 million metric tons last year.

But Dacanay said that despite the high economic growth, the magnitude of poor people continues to rise although the employment rate is relatively stable.

"Inflation rate continues to fall since the decline of the world oil prices that started in the middle of last year. However, the purchasing power of the peso declined by 3.6 centavos as of February 2015 from June 2013," he said.

Soaring prices of basic commodities

In the public hearing, the Associated Labor Union–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) presented its petition for the P89 increase and the reason why it should be granted to the workers.

According to Nicandro Borja, regional vice president of ALU-TUCP, 42 percent of a worker’s daily wage goes to food.

The 42 percent of the minimum daily wage in the city is P128.52. "And when you subtract that amount to P306, the amount left for the worker would only be P177.56 per day," Borja said.

With the continuing rise of the prices of basic commodities every day, workers are left destitute with what they can take home to their families given their minimum starvation “dying wage,” he said.

He added the daily minimum wage is insufficient especially that workers spend the expenses on the transport fare and meal plus the payment of electric and water bills.

If a worker has children who are students, their budget would be divided to the tuition, as well as the “baon” or allowance of the children, he said.

Aside from those expenses, a worker also spends for clothing, medicines and/or vitamins and and [of course] recreation, he added.

“And if their family does not have a house, they would [again] slash out their budget to paying the monthly rent,” he said.

No dramatic surge of prices on basic commodities

But the DTI said there is no dramatic incident where the price of the basic commodities has increased.

Lawyer Fel Lester Brillantes, DTI-Northern Mindanao chief of Consumer Welfare Division (CID), said that in the comparative price monitoring report from the second quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of this year, the products monitored like canned goods, instant noodles, iodized rock salt, flour and processed canned pork have maintained their suggested retail price (SRP).

The DTI considers a red flag when the increase of prices is more than 10 percent.

Brillantes said not all products are monitored by DTI because there are other implementing agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), which monitors prices of agriculture produce.

“In the case of the daily minimum wage of 306 pesos, investors may look at this as preference in choosing where to invest. And that is our advantage,” Dacanay said.

He added that the capacity of the region to give a wage increase depends to more than 95 percent of small and medium enterprises, which need to be taken into consideration.

Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce president Cerael Donggay said the P89 minimum wage increase is too much.

“The increase should not be too drastic to prevent an adverse effect to the business sector. Maybe a P4 increase will do,” Donggay said.

Batang Gilas rout Brunei, stay unbeaten in SEABA U-16

(philstar.com)

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Batang Gilas showed mercy against its opponents from Brunei composed of Grade A students and players who have just started playing basketball, but the Filipinos still went business as usual in securing their third straight win in the SEABA Under-16 Championship yesterday with a 113-31 triumph at the Xavier university gym here.

The Filipinos scored 42 points in the first quarter and despite showing compassion against their rivals by playing token resistance on the defensive end, their firepower were still too much for their rivals, who could only score three points in the first period.

That lone basket came from Tristan Jared Lai Yung Chee, an outstanding student from Brunei and the youngest player at the age of 14.

By the end of the first period, the outcome had already been settled as the Filipinos moved a win away from sweeping the tournament presented by MVP Sports Foundation, SMART Communications, Maynilad, Rio Verde Water Cagayan de Oro City, and Rough Rider Jeans Clothing in partnership with the Department of Tourism Promotions Board headed by COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III and the local government of Cagayan de Oro headed by Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Earlier, the Pinoys have secured a berth in the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship following its win over Thailand Friday. The Batang Gilas team can sweep the tournament with a win against Indonesia today.

Seven players finished in double figures for the Philippines led by Victor Berjay’s 17. He also grabbed 12 rebounds to become one of two Batang Gilas played finishing with a double-double performance.

The other player who ended up with a double-double was JG Gomez de Liano, who had 14 points and 14 boards.

Other players in double figures for the Philippines were Will Gozum (16), Sian Dave Ildefonso (11), Kris Harvey Pagsanjan (10), Samjosef Belangel (10), Rhayyan Amsali (10).

Earlier, Indonesia clobbered Thailand, 71-53, for its second win in the event.

Modern international port terminal to rise in CDO

By Aida Raut [(PNA), CTB/CD/AR/EBP]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- A state-of-the art passenger terminal will soon rise at the Macabalan Port area here, a lawmaker said Friday.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, of the 2nd District here, said that the construction of the passenger terminal worth some P 350 million will likely commence on June 2015.

He said that the port terminal would be designed to cater to the needs of both domestic and foreign tourists who are expected to flock to Mindanao via the port of Cagayan De Oro City.

“The modern passenger port terminal, equipped with air condition and walkalator, would be the first in Mindanao,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that the passenger port terminal would be constructed under the government, public and private partnership program and is expected to be able to accommodate tourist “cruise ships”

He said that the contractors have set the groundbreaking for the commencement of the project next month.

Oro power utility assures 'no more brownout'

By Grace Cantal-Albasin, Froilan Gallardo

BEGINNING today, Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) lifts the rotational brownout it enforced in the city since April 10 after the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), formerly the National Power Corporation (NPC), has added another 30 megawatt to Cepalco’s daily requirement to run the city’s power needs.

Last week, Cepalco was only receiving about 60MW-70MW compelling the power utility to resort to load shedding since its own power sources were insufficient to supply the 150MW to power its franchise area.

Marilyn Chavez, Cepalco’s senior manager for Customer and Community Relations, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Wednesday that PSALM could now provide 100MW to Cepalco. “Finally, Cepalco has ironed this out and we assure our customers that there’ll be no more power curtailment beginning tomorrow (Thursday) even if the load that PSALM provides is still short of 50MW. Cepalco’s Minergy, independent power producer, the Cabulig hydro and solar power will be sufficient to provide the city’s power demand,” Chavez said.

The neighboring Iligan City and Lanao del Norte haven’t experienced power curtailment which left Cagayan de Oro residents and the business sector wondering why there was insufficient power supply here lately.

Last year, the city experienced only minimal rotational brownout despite the Mindanao power curtailment after the Steag’s coal-fired power plant generators conked out. Steag supplies 210MW to the Mindanao grid.

Hydro sources drying up

Pulangi River in Bukidnon and Lake Lanao, major sources of hydropower electricity in Mindanao, is rapidly drying up worsening the power situation in some cities of Mindanao already reeling with daily rotational brownouts.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) director Romeo Montenegro said the water level in Pulangi River in Bukidnon went down to 280.85 meters above sea level, way below the baseline limit of 286 meters as of Tuesday.

As a result, Montenegro said the hydro plant in Pulangi is now capable of producing only 30MW of electricity out of its 250MW rated capacity.

“It (Pulangi hydro plant) is not out, but it is producing only 30MW because there is no more water except silt,” Montenegro said in a text message.

Cagayan de Oro reeled under a daily eight-hour rotational brownout in its franchise area in Cagayan de Oro and the towns of Jasaan and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental that began Tuesday.

Pagadian City and nearby province of Zamboanga de Sibugay are also under severe power curtailment, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said Wednesday.

To make matters worse for Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian cities, the newly completed 150-megawatts Boiler Unit 2 of Therma South Inc. (TSI), a power plant owned by the Aboitiz Power in Davao City, failed to go on line when it sustained damages during the Mindanao-wide blackout last Easter Sunday, April 5.

Prior to that, Cepalco secured a 20-megawatt supply from TSI supposedly to alleviate the critical power situation in Cagayan de Oro.

The same thing happened to Lake Lanao where, Montenegro said, the prolonged dry spell of weak “ El Nino” has reduced the electricity output of the six cascading hydro plants along the Agus River.

“All Agus plants are running but some units are derated or having reduced output,” he said.

Montenegro said water level in Lake Lanao had plunged to 699. 82 meters above sea level.

He said the maximum water level for Agus hydro plants to operate safely without damaging its machineries is 702 meters above sea level.

“Cepalco’s current load portfolio cannot cover high demand because of the summer heat,” Montenegro said.

Pulangi and Agus River in Lanao provinces supplies more than 52 percent of the electricity in Mindanao

Cepalco vice president Ralph Paguio said even with their standby power plants and the Independent Load Producers (ILP), they do not have enough electricity to cover their entire franchise area.

“This force us to resort to power curtailment to equitably share whatever supply there is,” Paguio said.

He said they offset the shortfall with from Cepalco’s coal plant, Minergy which produces 42 megawatts of electricity and participating ILP firms in Cagayan de Oro.

Paguio said still there is a shortfall of electricity they could not meet.

Aboitiz communications officer Wilfredo Alfredo III said the electricity supply from Therma South could have ease the situation in Cagayan de Oro.

“The brownouts could have been cut to only two hours not eight hours,” Wilfredo said.

In a statement, Aboitiz Power said the sudden loss in last Easter Sunday’s Mindanao-wide blackout caused the damage at the TSI Unit 2 boiler which was scheduled to go on line this month.

TSI president Benjie Cariaso said repairs can run up to ten months but he added that their Unit 1 coal plant is still scheduled to operate in June 2015.

Cariaso said repairs to the Boiler Unit 2’s air-preheater as well as the electrostatic precipitator can run up to 10 months delaying its commissioning.

CDO malls, hotels now required to provide PWDs with free wheelchairs

(PNA), JBP/CD/AIDA RAUT/CD/EDS

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 15 (PNA) -- Malls, hotels and bus terminals in Cagayan De Oro are now required to provide free use of wheelchairs for persons with disabilities (PWD), a city official said Wednesday.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, chair of the City Council Committee on Health and Sanitation, said they have approved Ordinance No. 12936-2015 during the council’s regular session Monday.

He said that under the ordinance the management of all hotels, malls, resorts, and bus terminals here are now required to provide wheelchairs to PWDs for easy accessibility.

The local legislators also remind owners of the establishments to provide ramps and parking spaces for PWDs.

City Councilor Ramon Tabor, of the committee on laws and rules, said that the Office of the Building Official should strictly enforce the provision of ramps for PWDs in all buildings in the city.

Tabor also bats for the strict implementation of the parking spaces allotted for PWDs in malls and establishments in response to reports that able-bodied persons parked vehicles in PWDs' parking spaces.

He said that the city council must also approve a corresponding ordinance that will penalize the violators of the PWDs parking space law.

Plan to develop 28-curtain water falls in CDO underway

By Ercel Maandig [(PNA), CTB/CD/EM/EDS]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 14 (PNA) – Plan to develop the 28-curtain water falls in the hinterlands of Tignapolo-an, 42 kilometers southwest of here, is now underway, village chief Jay Roa Pascual said on Tuesday.

Pascual said that the waterfall known in local dialect as “Sinulom” (flock of black ants), connects 21 rapids that feed the Cagayan De Oro River’s white waters.

He said that the “Sinulom Waterfall” is an hour ride from downtown Cagayan De Oro City through rocky roads and rough ride of about 2.5 kilometers from the village’s main road.

Unlike the other waterfalls in the country whose source is an open lake or the flowing river, the source of the Sinulom Waterfalls is a fresh water spring that comes out of the bowels of the earth, Pascual said.

The Sinulom Waterfalls are located in a 5-hectare cove where the 28 curtains of water falling from a height of about 250 feet. The community residents simply pitch the safe, clean and fresh water spring for drinking, he said.

Actually, Pascual said that the road access to the area is the only problem before the development of the Sinulom Waterfall as a new tourist destination.

He said that there is a move in the City Council now to fast track the appropriation for the construction of a farm-to-market road in the area.

When developed as a new tourist destination, the Sinulom Waterfalls could generate jobs and livelihood for local residents and income for the village, Pascual said.

How CDO's Iponan River is recovering from mining

By Bobby Lagsa (Rappler.com)

The environment offices of Cagayan de Oro City and Opol town, both in Misamis Oriental, have aggressively made arrests and filed cases vs illegal miners

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The continuous operations of the Cagayan de Oro City Local Environment and Natural Resource Office (CLENRO) against illegal hydraulic mining along the Iponan River has resulted in the gradual recovery of the river's ecosystem.

Mining along the Iponan River has been a long-drawn battle between miners and the local government units of Cagayan de Oro City and Opol town in Misamis Oriental.

Illegal mining operation in the remote villages of both LGUs continued unabated for more than 15 years, turning the river dark brown and earning it the monicker "chocolate river."

Miners used water pumps or hydraulic jets to extract minerals from the hills. Heavy equipment, such as backhoes , were then used to pile the dirt into a washer to filter the gold dust.

Illegal hydraulic mining causes direct and indirect damage to the ecosystem, and the most significant impact of these mining activities is its effect on water quality and the availability of water sources.

The excessive use of water jets causes soil erosion that eventually flow into the river, making it brown and turning the river shallow.

CLENRO chief Edwin Dael said that the anti-mining drive has led to the filing of multiple cases against operators, arrests, and the confiscation of hundreds of waters pumps and heavy machinery and equipment.

“This is a continuing implementation of the laws on mining and for the protection of the ecosystem,” Dael said.

As the CLENRO clamped down on illegal mining, police and military assistance provided protection for the advocates and officials due to security threats.

On April 6, 2015, army and police officers spotted at least 5 armed men guarding an illegal mining site, which they suspect are part of well-funded operations – the ones that are remaining in the area, said Dael.

“Where can you find an illegal mining operation where backhoe, dump trucks, motorcycles are present? The poor cannot afford such equipment,” Dael said.

Their accomplishment report to the city government showed that expensive machinery that are expensive. “A single pump, the cheapest is at least P10,000. Add the hundreds of meters of hoses, which are also expensive,” Dael said.

Dael added that these operators also abused their laborers, but they have kept quiet, fearing for their lives if they divulged who the operators are.

In the war against illegal mining, two anti-mining advocates were killed. Datu Sandigan Fausto Orasan, tribal leader of the Higaonon tribe in the area was killed on September 11, 2014. His fellow anti-mining advocate Danilo Linsagan was killed two months later.

The two were former miners who turned their backs on mining and went further by being defenders of their ancestral lands.

Positive results

Residents along the Iponan River in Barangay Canito-an also attest to the positive effect of the operations against mining.

Children take turns diving in a drift log in San Simon, while women do their laundry along the river. “For a very long time we couldn't wash our clothes in the river, because it was full of dirt, but now we can wash again,” a resident said.

Dael said they thought that it would take at least 10 years to make the river clear again, but they did it 20 months into the current administration. “It was like a mission impossible to rehabilitate the river,” he recalled.

That the Writ of Kalikasan and Writ of Continuing Mandamus filed by the civil society organization SULOG in court in 2012 – months after Typhoon Sendong killed thousands in the city in 2011 – also helped.

Dr Lesley Lubos, director for research and publication of the Liceo de Cagayan University, however, cautioned that the green color of the river now does not mean that the river has fully come back to life.

“It needs further scientific study to determine the state of the river,” Lubos, who holds a PhD in Biology, said.

She said unless there is a science-based study on the "disturbance" of the ecosystem, its state could not be fully verified.

Lubos added that displacement of wildlife species will have far-reaching effect; soil erosion and siltation will also affect the ecosystem of the seas.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, in previous interviews, always emphasized that the state of the environment is non-negotiable.

Moreno said people must learn to take care of the environment to prevent another Sendong.

As part of the rehabilitation program of the city government, the government undertook the concreting of the 20-kilometer road that connects the 5 hinterland barangays to provide better access.

“Most of the residents were not involved in farming because the cost of transporting [their produce] to the city was expensive and they were at the losing end, that’s why they ended up in illegal mining,” Moreno said in an earlier interview.

“Now you can see farming activities because now they can transport their produce in a safer, cheaper, and more convenient way,” Dael added.

Uratex opens new plant in CDO

By Camcer Imam

Experience luxury and comfort in your sleep with Uratex Foams' newest mattress collection, The Hamptons Mattress Class. The collection includes Hamptons Premiere, Hamptons Prestige, Hamptons Mystique and Hamptons Royale, 4 models that redefine prestige and elegance to suit different tastes in style--from the basic to the more intricate. Enjoy the sweetest dreams from the Hamptons Mattress Class that suits for you.

RGC Group of Companies has opened its manufacturing plant and showroom for its foam brand Uratex in Cagayan de Oro.

“Establishing a manufacturing plant and showroom in CDO is part of our commitment to expand our business in Visayas and Mindanao, and support the continued development in the region,” Eddie Gallor, executive vice president of RGC Group of Companies, said.

Gallor said Uratex is also eyeing to open production centers in Tacloban, Butuan, Iligan and General Santos City.

Uratex is the country’s largest manufacturer of commercial and automobile polyurethane foam products and is considered as one of South East Asia’s leading foam brands, and a consistent recipient of “Most Trusted Brand” Platinum award since 2009.

Cagayan de Oro to host SEABA U-16 tournament

By MARISSE PANALIGAN / RAF (GMA News)

Cagayan de Oro City will be hosting the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-16 Tournament, the qualifier for the FIBA Asia U-16, on April 14 to 19.

National team Batang Gilas, who won the past two championships since the bi-annual event was introduced in 2011, will defend their title against teams from Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The games are set to be played in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, which produced PBA great Jojo Lastimosa and San Miguel Beer forward Nelbert Omolon.

In a press release, the Department of Tourism expressed their support for the event, especially assuring the safety of the delegates following the Mamapasano clash that occurred last January.

Domingo Ramon Enerio III, the Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board, also joined the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials in the FIBA World Cup hosting workshop held in Switzerland last December.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, who also serves as the chairman of the SBP, assured that the capital city of Misamis Oriental is ready to host the event.


More poor families to get basic services

By Butch D. Enerio

WITH the second round of properly assessing the poor in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is anticipating more poor Filipinos can be enrolled in the conditional cash transfer program or 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) through holding the agency’s “Listahan – Talaan ng Pamilyang Nangangailangan (Listahan)” or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction for the second quarter this year.

The Listahanan, which is conducted nationwide, started in 2008. It registered 700,000 respondents and only 400,000 were provided with the needed interventions by the government. These respondents would be reclassified in the second round based on the levels of wellbeing with regard to survival, subsistence and self-sufficiency while the others will be re-evaluated.

The majority of the more than 400,000 respondents have become beneficiaries of 4Ps and received the basic services from the different government agencies involved in 4Ps.

Ian Putong, DSWD regional field coordinator, said the second round gathering of data would be more reliable, fast and with less error compared to the previous survey.

“With the advance technology that the DSWD is using in data gathering, we are hopeful that the Listahanan would come out with less error, particularly on the 'inclusion and exclusion' issue where respondents were falsely categorized and listed as poor while the real poor were not included, notwithstanding when respondents misrepresent themselves and gave false answers to the questionnaires,” Putong said.

He said the re-evaluation process of the respondents is required for the DSWD to come up with a more credible data base that will also be the basis for other agencies to identify and locate the poor families, potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services.

DSWD said that in Northern Mindanao’s upcoming Listahan, it would require about P81-million fund based on the work and financial plan of the department. The endeavor will require 2,505 field workers to accomplish the data gathering in 135 days.

Holding it in the entire country, the Listahahn project will cover an estimated 15 million poor households in all rural and urban areas. And the project would need 48,000 field staff who will be using tablets, servers, laptops and other information technology equipment for fast dissemination of data collected to the DSWD central office.

Putong said it was unfortunate that a considerable number of those who were already beneficiaries of the 4Ps and delisted or dropped from the rolls after committing violations. He did not elaborate.

DSWD-Northern Mindanao has at present more than 260,000 active 4Ps beneficiaries whose economic lives have changed for the better, their children sent to school and are in good health.

“We are happy of this development and we hope to reach out to more of our citizens, identify and locate them so that they will enjoy the basic services the government affords them,” Putong said.

DOH announces vaccination of children, infants in Northern Mindanao

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

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 9 (PNA) –- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday announced a region wide vaccination of infants and children on April 15.

Dubbed as “Garantisadong Pambata Vaccination” (Guaranteed Vaccine for Children), the program covers nine cities (including Cagayan De Oro) and six municipalities in Northern Mindanao.

Josephine L. Ibalio, of the DOH Integrated Helminthiasis Program, said that the program covers all infants six weeks to 11 months old in areas covered.

She said that the vaccination involves deworming, measles, pertussis, mumps, German measles.

The DOH will also conduct feeding program under the supervision of its Nutrition Program, Ibalio said.

She said that the DOH, with the help of the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars, would also start the advocacy throughout the country like the exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months.

The DOH will launch the vaccination and other health packages simultaneously in the region, Ibalio said.

Mindanao Power Forum tackles Agus-Pulangui Privatization Issues

By Mike Baños

Two of Mindanao’s leading advocates for reliable and cheap electricity have joined hands to bring more transparency to some apparently contradicting energy policies of government and proffer possible solutions acceptable to all stakeholders.

The Integrated Institute of Electrical Engineers-Cagayan de Oro Chapter (IIEE-CdO) and the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers (MCPC) will bring the third edition of the Mindanao Power Forum as a side event of the 19th IIEE Northern Mindanao Regional Conference (NMRC) scheduled for April 9-11, 2015 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Dubbed “Mindanao Power Forum Update III” the forum, co-sponsored by the Alsons Power Group, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and STEAG State Power, Inc. will focus on the theme “Privatizing Agus-Pulangi: Balancing the Interests of Stakeholders in the Mindanao Grid” and will be held Friday, 10 April 2015 from 1:00-5:00PM at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel Function Room.

“We have sought this partnership with the IIEE to enable the ordinary consumer, private distribution utilities, rural electric cooperatives and other stakeholders in the Mindanao power industry to come together in an annual forum to discuss issues affecting the island’s power grid and map out possible solutions in an objective platform of unity and cooperation, rather than confrontation and distrust,” said Engr. David A. Tauli, president and spokesman of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers (MCPC).

“We have organized this third edition of the Mindanao Power Forum specifically to update our members in IIEE-NMRC on the current power issues affecting our island,” said Engr. Nonito A. Oclarit. VP-External Affairs of the host IIEE-CdO Chapter.

This year’s theme focuses on the impending privatization of the capacities of government owned generating facilities, particularly the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex which provides over half of the island’s electricity.

To place the discussion in its proper context, Engr. Cereal C. Donggay, former Vice-President for Mindanao of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and currently president of the Oro Chamber, will render an overview on “The Evolving Power Mix in the Mindanao Grid and the Crucial Role of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex in the Long-Term Energy Outlook.”

As Napocor’s former VP for Mindanao, Engr. Donggay will relate how the grid was managed in the past to keep the prices of electricity low and brownouts to a minimum.

Also sharing his experience as former Napocor President and Chief Executive Officer is Mr. Guido Alfredo A. Delgado with his topic “Privatizing the Agus and Pulangi Hydropower Plants: An Alternative.”

He will be followed by Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, D’Engg., president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology on “The Rationale and Implications to the Mindanao Grid of the privatization of the contracted capacities of the Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plants.”

Not the least, Engr. Tauli will discourse on “The People’s Agenda for the Mindanao Power Corporation” to clarify what exactly the proposed MPC aims to achieve.

Among the distinguished members of the panel of reactors representing the various stakeholders in the Mindanao electricity industry are Atty. Beatriz Irina Denise C. Alazas, Manager, Energy Trading Department, Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM);

Dr. Alan T. Ortiz, President & COO, SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., San Miguel Corporation and former president of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO); Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Executive Director, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); Rep. Edgardo R. Masongsong, 1-CARE Party List, Congress of the Philippines; Mr. Ralph U. Paguio, Senior Vice President, CEPALCO; Engr. Eugene H. Bicar, Head-Mindanao Systems Operations, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’ and Mr. Romeo M. Montenegro, Director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs, Mindanao Development Authority (MindDA) and executive director of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC).

The Open Forum will be moderated by Mr. Clint Django G. Pacana, Executive Director, Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) and the day’s proceedings will be synthesized and summarized by Atty. Dionel O. Albina, PENG, Research Head, Institute of Power Economics (IPSEC), MUST.

The forum is open to the public for a P300 entrance fee to cover the costs of snacks, handouts and other consumables. For further inquiries, interested participants are invited to contact Committee Chair, Engr. Nonito A. Oclarit through email at iiee.cdochapter@gmail.com or through mobile No: 0917-563-3300. You may also contact the forum staff Ms. Jessa Aparece at mobile no. 0906-179-5219 or Landline/Fax No: (088) 857-7993.

Additional information are also available from our Media Partners BusinessWeek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily News (exclusive media partners), Parasat Cable TV and Jade Cable TV Systems, and our social media partners CDO.Dev.Com (Progress Watch: Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental), clix.com.ph (Cagayan de Oro’s Premier Go-To Site) and Kagay-an.com, Online News from Cagayan de Oro. The Cagayan de Oro Energy Press Corps is the forum’s exclusive media coverage partners.

Oro gov't ready for dry spell impact

By Butch D. Enerio

“IF RAIN doesn’t come in May, the negative effect of the long dry spell to the agriculture sector in the city would be tremendous,” said Hector San Juan, city agriculturist.

But San Juan allayed the apprehensions of farmers, saying the City Government is prepared to address the eventualities, despite funding constraints, owing to the ready support that the national line agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), which assured of ample supply of seeds of the different crops that are traditionally grown in the city’s hinterlands.

“We have already in the pipeline rehabilitation measures if in case the dry season is prolonged and all the available seeds and inputs would be accorded to farmers for their early economic recovery,” San Juan said.

He said the Moreno Administration is currently doing some direct interventions that would lessen the impact of the dry season, apart from the El Niño’s likelihood to affect the rainfall pattern in the different parts of the country.

Such interventions, other than logistical support, include the continuing education to farmers with regard to crops best suited for planting and which are not heavily dependent on water like cassava, sweet potato and other root crops.

At present, the City Agriculture Office (CAO) has encouraged farmers to start land preparation so that when rain comes, right away they could jumpstart the planting season.

San Juan said that CAO area coordinators are closely monitoring the conditions of the farms, including the livestock where operators are given guidance on the proper nutrition and maintain animal health by providing shed and water for their stocks, preserve food as early as now while there are still grasses that can be cut for silage making.

CAO said that with the El Niño, which is expected to last until middle of the year, grasses that have dried can still be cut and fed to the animals by adding molasses to make them still be palatable.

CAO also cited the importance of vaccinating the animals for protection against viruses and diseases.

“We have also advised farmers in areas where there is still moisture to plant vegetables, early maturing or short duration crops such as sweet pepper, alugbati, mungbean since the seeds of these crops are available,” San Juan said.

He said the DA is pushing for the use of organic fertilizers, which CAO has already taught to the farmers during trainings conducted by the DA.

For the corn farmers, CAO has encouraged to make sure that there is enough soil moisture when sowing the seeds and source of water is available. The DA has pollinated variety of corn seeds to be distributed to farmers affected by the drought. In case there is no more soil moisture, the farmers are advised not to plant.

He said although the city has its long-term plan to construct an irrigation system, CAO has advised farmers to prepare water catchments and practice water conservation.

Lumbia-Pagalungan road project begins

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 6 (PIA) -- The concreting of the Lumbia-Pagalungan road by the City Engineering Office has already started, aiming to help residents and farmers hasten the transport of agricultural products to the markets.

Led by Engr. Rolando Pacuribot, the project costs more than P13 million and is one of the road projects undertaken by the administration of city mayor Oscar Moreno.

The mayor wants all roads leading to and from the agricultural areas paved.

The farm-to-market roads (FMRs) is part of the 8-point agenda of mayor Moreno.

Only 10 percent of the total project cost comes from the equity of the local government while the rest is shouldered by the Department of Agriculture.

To date, completed FMRs were implemented in barangay Lumbia, Tagpangi, sitio Sili-Sili in barangay Pagatpat, barangay Baikingon, Pagalungan, Canitoan, Besigan, and Tignapoloan.

Priest washes feet of city’s poor

By Raymund F. Antonio (CORRESPONDENT)

CAGAYAN DE ORO: Emulating Pope Francis’ gesture to wash the feet of inmates at a prison in Rome on Maundy Thursday, a priest here washed, dried and kissed the feet of the city’s poorest and most vulnerable.

In a recast of an age-old ritual at a church located within a posh township, Fr. Florencio Salvador, chaplain at the St. Francis Xavier chaplaincy in the city’s Pueblo de Oro Estates, washed the feet of at least a dozen poor, including the mentally challenged, the survivors of domestic abuse and those struggling with drug addiction.

Fr. Salvador washed the feet of people from shelters and rehabilitation centers run by the Roman Catholic Church’s various social action ministries.

The Thursday rituals recalled the biblical instance when Jesus Christ washed the feet of a dozen disciples before breaking bread with them shortly before he was arrested and crucified.

Traditionally, Vatican rules that the ritual washing of the feet is exclusively for males as Christ did it on his 12 all-male apostles.

But barely two weeks after Pope Francis became the top vicar of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, he broke tradition by washing the feet of young people, including those of a young woman living with AIDS at a detention center. Last year, he washed the feet of the elderly and disabled, including those of other religious affiliations.

For Mary G., 23, a ward at the House of Hope, a facility for the mentally challenged managed by the Missionary Congregation of Mary, the opportunity came unexpected. She was planning to do something else that afternoon when she was informed. She came as an eleventh-hour replacement for someone else who got ill.

“Spiritual belief is part of my healing practice. Before I got ill, I was already a church-goer and I sing in church as part of the church band of a Christian denomination, but the experience last Thursday was way beyond my wildest imagination. I was partly shy, partly proud during the ritual. As the priest washed my feet, I prayed hard that I will recover completely and be with my family again and able to go back to school,” she said.

Inspired by the gestures of Pope Francis, early in March, as the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro was celebrating Social Action Month, Fr. Salvador invited representatives from rehabilitation centers.

He said that changing the participants of the ritual also highlights themes of the Year of the Poor among the church-goers in his chaplaincy and instills the inclusion of the poor in development plans for the communities, he added.

In November last year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine declared 2015 as Year of the Poor in anticipation of papal visit to the country last January.

Fr. Salvador also stressed that while the St. Francis Xavier chaplaincy serves communities residing in the two upscale subdivisions of Xavier Estates and Pueblo de Oro, it is also open to residents of a host of working-class subdivisions in their peripheries as well as that of nearby resettlement sites of survivors of typhoon Sendong in 2011.

Blatant smuggling by CDO trader bared

By Raymund F. Antonio

Despite the string of cases filed against it by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), a Cagayan De Oro City-based trading company has the arrogance to continue engaging in smuggling activities at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

This was the accusation made by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Cagayan de Oro port officer-in-charge Alvin Enciso as he bared that New Dawn Enterprises tried to illegally import 46 containers of plywood last January.

“The shipment was misdeclared as phenolic board since it doesn’t require an ICC (Import Commodity Clearance),” Enciso said yesterday.

He said that New Dawn Enterprises did not obtain import permit and registration from the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and clearance from the country’s Wood Producers Association.

It is the Bureau of Product Standards-Department of Trade and Industry (BPS-DTI) that issues ICC for plywood shipment which should be allowed entry in Philippine ports.

Estimates showed that the intercepted plywood shipment from China was worth P60 million.

BOC may delist New Dawn Enterprises from its accredited importers transacting with the agency for its continued unlawful violation of Customs laws and regulations.

BOC already charged the importing firm twice before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in previous months for its illegal importation of rice and agricultural products last year.

Customs authorities in CDO have been making headway in its relentless campaign against smuggling.

Just last year, port collector Claudia Alameda issued 59 warrants of seizure and detention on various shipments. Among these were glutinous rice, carrots, garlic, used clothing, potatoes, plywood, and motor vehicles.

(Lenten Feature) All roads lead to the ‘Virgin of Guadalupe’ in Cagayan De Oro

By Cris Diaz [(PNA), RMA/CD/CD]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 2 (PNA) – Thousands of devotees on Holy Thursday teamed towards the "Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine" in the mountainous villages of Cagayan De Oro City’s southeastern outskirts to fulfill the vow in the Season of Lent.

The Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine is located on Impalalay Hills, the landlocked borders of the villages of Balubal and Tablon, accessible by wading nine rivers – each planted with nine Stations of the Cross, too.

For some devotees, the sacrifice of climbing the mountain during the Holy Week to pay homage to the “Virgin of Guadalupe” in Cagayan De Oro City is a vow of a lifetime.

“I will always be around until the end of my life,” says Erlinda, 71, of Salay, Misamis Oriental, who have fulfilled her vow for the last 21 years of trekking toward the shrine every Holy Week.

Erlinda said her family helped in the construction of the Chapel at the “Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine.” Her family is one of the devotees who make sure that the site is always up keep.

Ramen Gondi, 45, a carpenter-mason also of Salay, Misamis Oriental, said his life changed after the first visit to the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1994.

“For more than 10 years, I have been coming here every Holy Week and the Virgin of Guadalupe has provided my family more than all the things that we have asked for,” Gondi said.

One of the most revered visitors of the “Virgin of Guadulupe” on Holy Thursday is Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, 72, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro City.

Ledesma, who walked all the way to the Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine Thursday morning, has expressed elation over the peculiar serenity and the natural beauty of the place.

He was impressed with the discipline of the devotees who observed contemplative silence as they venerate the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Back in Tablon, the local government has deployed police, traffic, rescue, and medical personnel, as more than 30,000 devotees are likely to visit the Virgin of Guadalupe until Good Friday here.

Police, augmented by village volunteers, are keeping watch for people who cross the rivers and climb the mountains to make sure that everybody is safe.

Among the banned items in the Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine are lighters, matches, bladed weapons, and liquors.

DOLE-10 culminates women’s month celebration

By Glenford Labial (DOLE-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 1 -- Some 54 Department of Labor and Employment – region 10 (DOLE-10) women workers, comprising 48% of the total 113 workers under its six provincial field offices were lauded at the conference hall during its Monday convocation on March 30, 2015 as the celebration of the women’s month culminated.

Anchored from the national theme “Juana, Desisyon Mo Ay Mahalaga Sa Kinabukasan Ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!,” DOLE-10 set its local theme dubbed as “Juanas…Making a Difference” in recognition of its women labor force who worked, and had worked in the past that escalated from clerical works to holding high-ranking positions in the national office.

Among those past workers in the regional office comprised the previous administrative chief appointed as undersecretary, Ma. Lourdes M. Trasmonte and former assistant regional director, now assistant secretary, Atty. Maria Gloria A. Tango.

Through these inspiring individuals, DOLE-10 works hard to attain targets at par with these achievers who had served the regional office with commendable performances.

After the Eucharistic mass celebrated by Fr. Raul B. Dael, DOLE-10 commenced the celebration through unveiling of tarpaulin revealing beautiful faces of the said 54 women employees in recognition of their contribution and hard work led by regional director Raymundo G. Agravante and Lucila S. Pulvera OIC-IMSD Chief/WINGS President and alternate Gender and Development (GAD) focal person.

In 2011 and 2014, the department received Certificates of Recognition as the Outstanding Regional Office in category B given by the central office for the remarkable collective efforts in successfully implementing the key services and achieving the best overall physical and financial performances.

In a short talk, Pulvera recalled that these powerful women are the main reasons why we consistently achieved such highest distinctions. "Today, we honor the women of our office because our voices are being distinguished in the policy and decision making,” she said.

Among the various GAD lined-up activities include lenten reflection and “Juana, ikaw na ang manguna” instructional dance routine.

During the program, a classical ballet rendition about “gender equality” was interpreted by ballerina Caryn Rose D. Escobido, Labor Employment Officer-II of the Western Misamis Oriental Provincial Field Office.

2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Philippine Commission on Women and the 20th year of adopting the agenda to uphold empowerment, development and peace during the 4th World Conference on Women.

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