Cagayan de Oro City News July 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
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

US issues travel advisory vs CdeO

By Abigail C. Malalis


CAGAYAN de Oro Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas said travel advisory specifying Cagayan de Oro was issued earlier by the American government.

Acenas said the US Government has warned their citizens not to travel to Cagayan de Oro.

However, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro gathered that the latest travel advisory issued by the United States embassy in Manila was on July 5.

The City Council on Monday also urged the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) to immediately bring justice to the victims and arrest the suspects to minimize damage on convention events. Cagayan de Oro has become a convention city due to influx of national conferences in the recent years.

Councilor Ramon Tabor, who presided Monday’s regular session, said the council is willing to immediately act whatever recommendations, monetary or legislative act, to help Cocpo restore the confidence of the people. “We ought to act swiftly so that we can conclude the investigation,” Tabor said.

CCTV amendment

Tabor, chair of the committee on police, fire and public safety and speaker pro tempore, said that as the principal author of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) ordinance, he is processing the drafting of provisions for amendments of the CCTV ordinance approved in 2008.

Tabor said the provisions will address the incorporation of CCTV owners to “immediately make available the footages to the investigating team” especially when crimes happen in their premises or nearby.

He said in the provisions, “establishments’ failure to cooperate will be held liable.”

“CCTV cameras must be of quality. They should not be installed for compliance and when needed could not give any evidentiary value,” he added.

Tabor said it is also necessary that a recommendation from the Cocpo director or his representatives must be sought when installing CCTV for the police to suggest vital positioning for these cameras.

In 2012, the council vowed to strictly implement the ordinance requiring establishments to install their own CCTV cameras after series of crimes involving bank robberies occurred.

Under the said ordinance, private establishments especially in major public areas in the city cannot have their business permit if they failed to put up their own CCTVs.

However, Tabor said he is still determining the capitalization of business to be covered by the “No CCTV, No Business Permit” policy.

“I am still determining to exclude sari-sari store and other business with less than P100,000 capitalization,” he added.

The “no CCTV, no permit” policy hopes to strengthen the city’s peace and order campaign that would make easier for local enforcers to immediately solve crimes.

The ordinance mandates the installation of CCTVs or video surveillance system in the premises of private establishments and public places that are considered “high-risk” such as gasoline stations, banks, and department stores.

Under the ordinance, the city police director shall issue a notice of violation to establishments not complying with the law and shall be authorized to investigate all alleged violations of the ordinance.





XU to confer honoris causa on Cardinal Tagle

By (Vanessa M. Gorra/XU/PIA10)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 30 -- Xavier University will bestow an honorary doctorate in the humanities on Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G Cardinal Tagle in a special academic convocation on August 1, 4 p.m. at the university’s Immaculate Conception Chapel.

“The honorary doctorate is being conferred upon [Cardinal Tagle] during the Year of Faith in recognition of [his] exemplary service to the Church in the Diocese of Imus, the Archdiocese of Manila, the Philippines and Asia-Pacific,” said Fr Roberto C Yap, XU president, in his letter to the Cardinal.

Fr Yap commended Cardinal Tagle for inspiring the Church with his “open, joyful pastoral attitude, solid theological expertise, compassionate concern for the poor and proficient use of the new media.”

“The University is especially edified by [his] humble and listening style of servant leadership,” Fr. Yap added.

Cardinal Tagle was the commencement speaker during last March’s academic convocation, with about 1,800 students receiving their degrees. The Cardinal sent his message from Rome where he was attending the installation of Pope Francis. He was the only Filipino Cardinal-elector at the conclave.

In his 30 years as a priest, Cardinal Tagle has distinguished himself as a servant of God. He lives a life of humility exemplified by his loving care for the poor. He hosts the Sunday TV program “Kape’t Pan Dasal” and teaches at the San Carlos Seminary, Loyola School of Theology, Divine Word Seminary and Maryhill School of Theology.

He had already served in the Diocese of Imus in various capacities from 1982 to 2011 when he was installed as Archbishop of Manila. He is the chairperson of the Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, is a member of the Office of Theological Concerns of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences and is an elected member of the Council of the Synod of Bishops. He became a cardinal in October 2012.

The conferment of an honoris causa on Cardinal Tagle is one of the hallmark activities of Xavier University’s Ruby Jubilee celebration this year. The special academic convocation will be streamed online via www.xu.edu.ph for everyone’s viewing.

Gov’t security forces placed on alert after CDO bombing

By Marlon Ramos


Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Sunday ordered the police and the military on heightened alert after an explosion at a restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City killed six people and injured 48 others on Friday night. The death toll from the explosion is expected to rise, with one of the injured, Reynaldo Dalupan, a resident of Metro Manila, already “brain dead” in the hospital, the Inquirer learned on Sunday. Most of the victims are doctors and pharmaceutical representatives who were celebrating at the restaurant in a popular city arcade after a national medical convention. President Aquino condemned the attack and ordered a “clean investigation,” according to his deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte. Clean investigation means in accordance with due process, Valte explained. The President ordered the police to determine the motive and identify the mastermind behind the attack, she said. “We are doing everything (to determine the suspects),” Roxas said on dzBB radio. “We have placed the police in Mindanao, the intelligence community and the Army on heightened alert to prevent a similar attack.” Investigators have yet to determine the explosive used in the attack, which hit Kyla’s Bistro in Rosario Arcade, just outside the popular Limketkai Mall. At least 100 doctors and pharmaceutical representatives were in the bistro celebrating after attending a national convention in a nearby hotel when the explosion occurred. Contrary to earlier reports, Roxas said investigators had not found shrapnel or metal fragments at the blast site, which would have indicated an explosive device made from a mortar bomb. “According to the doctors who did the autopsy report, there were no shrapnel that could be attributed to a grenade explosion,” Roxas said. Also contrary to earlier reports, what went off was not an improvised explosive device, Roxas said. “The (explosive) used was really different because it did not have shrapnel … or metal parts like in grenades or claymore mines,” he said. “In other words, the bomb was not a mortar round or an artillery round, which was set off by a detonator, because no metal parts were recovered. It did not contain nails, glass shards or metal balls, which are usually placed inside a bomb to hurt people.” Roxas said those killed died from concussions caused by the enormous “pressure wave” generated by the explosion. Those who were injured were hit by debris from shattered furniture and other objects that the explosion sent flying all over the place. Ordnance experts found wires and a 9-volt battery but not much else because owners of businesses in the arcade had the place cleaned up Saturday morning before police crime scene investigators could start their job. Not Moro insurgents Roxas’ statement suggested the attack might not have been the work of Moro insurgents who operated in other parts of Mindanao and were known to use mortar rounds as bombs by rigging these to timing devices. When asked whether investigators were looking at any specific group behind the blast and what the motive could be, Roxas said, “If it’s business rivalry, fighting over land, or terrorism we could not say yet until we know all the facts and details.” One of the six dead is a local politician, Misamis Oriental Board Member Roldan Lagbas. Malacañang appealed to the public not to speculate about the motive for the attack. The explosion has set off talk that it was aimed at derailing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and at embarrassing President Aquino, who was then playing host to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “Some motives have surfaced, but at this point, we will defer to the investigation,” Valte said. Roxas said he had ordered the police to reconstruct the crime scene and try to find more evidence. He said he also ordered background checks on the dead and injured to determine if any of them was the target. While Lagbas was a politician, Roxas said he might also not have been the target but just a victim. “Maybe the target was somebody who had moved to another place when the bomb exploded,” he said. He said police investigators were interviewing waiters at the bistro and National Bureau of Investigation agents were talking to the injured in area hospitals. “We are interviewing the victims and all possible witnesses. We are collating eyewitness accounts for us to reconstruct the crime scene and determine who was sitting where at the time of the explosion,” Roxas said. He said the police would release the sketch of the man who was seen leaving a bag on a chair “in the proximate area of the blast.” Police were reviewing video from security cameras in the place “to see the people going in and out of the area where the explosion happened,” Roxas said. The cameras are inside the bistro, but police still had to find footage that would show possible suspects. Of the 48 injured, only two—Dalupan and Marciano Agustin—remained in intensive care in the hospital. Dalupan, who is from Manila, is an executive at the pharmaceutical company Unilab. Agustin is a doctor who lives in Cavite province. When the Inquirer went to the hospital to ask about his condition, a source there said he was already “brain dead.” The families of Dalupan and Agustin declined interviews. Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno called on the public to refrain from speculating about the motive or perpetrator of the attack and instead wait for the result of the investigation. In Zamboanga City, Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, described as “farfetched” reports linking the explosion to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). “That’s too far,” he told the Inquirer by phone. The MNLF is unhappy about the preliminary peace agreement between the government and the larger MILF and has reportedly threatened to declare “independence.” Some 100 MNLF members gathered at the house of their leader, Nur Misuri, on Thursday, but did not make any declaration.—With reports from TJ A. Burgonio in Manila; JB Deveza, Bobby Lagsa, Julie S. Alipala and Nash B. Maulana, Inquirer Mindanao

Blast kills 6, hurts 46

By Bobby Lagsa


UNWINDING after a week's work were all the victims and survivors intended to do inside the Lim Ket Kai Mall Complex on Friday night.

However, relaxing with friends and guests turned into a nightmare after an explosion ripped through one of the restaurants at Rosario Arcade that killed six persons and wounded 46 others.

Three died on the spot after a suspected improvised bomb placed inside a backpack exploded. The police identified fatalities to-be-medical-representatives, namely, Emmanuel Palafox, Anthony Cañete, and Jose Ryan Estose.

The three others died in the hospitals where they were rushed. Misamis Oriental provincial board member first-termer Roldan Lagbas, 44, succumbed to shrapnel wounds. He was seated with his back to the partition of glass walls of Candy's Cafe. Lagbas is the son of the late House Representative Danilo Lagbas and a brother of Kinoguitan Mayor Danilo "Junjun" Lagbas Jr. and Benedict Lagbas who is also a member of Misamis Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The two other casualties are Anthony Paredes, also a medical representative, and Dr. Edwin Malamay, from Manila and a participant of the doctors' conference.

Cagayan de Oro City Police (Cocpo) Director Senior Superintendent Graciano Mijares said hundreds of people were around the area when the bomb exploded.

A number of doctors and medical representatives filled the parking areas converted into a party ground since an annual physician conference at a convention center inside the mall complex began Friday. The event was cancelled on Saturday, its last day, considering the injured and the fatalities the group suffered.

The participants came from Luzon, Visayas and other parts of Mindanao.

At noontime on Saturday, Mijares said the motives have remained unknown and the investigation has been ongoing.

High explosive

A bomb disposal expert from the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that based on their initial investigation, they are looking at high explosive as the main component of the bomb.

“What is sure though is that there is a carrier of the bomb, someone put that there,” the source said.

The source added that the place is filled with shrapnel multipliers as shattered glass from the nearby Candy’s cafe blasted into pieces.

Plastics pieces from chairs and beer bottles were spilled hundreds of feet away from the blast site.

“Those glass and plastic pieces will kill anyone instantly if you get hit owing to the energy of the blast,” the source added.

At the second floor of the Rosario arcade, a designated smoking area, blood trailed away from the ash smoking corner. Plastic pieces from chairs below penetrated through the plastic roofing of Kyla’s bistro.

Cagayan de Oro City Police chief for the City’s Public Safety Company (CPSC) Police Senior Superintendent Danildo Tumanda described the scene as "filled with chaos and blood."

Pandemonium

Leoncio Co, a senior manager of the LimKetKai group of companies, said he was entertaining a guest at the Big Flat Bread when the bomb exploded.

Co said the three restaurants – Kyla’s, Candy’s and Big Flat Bread – were full of people partying because it was a Friday night. He estimated there were at least 300 people sitting in the open spaces outside the restaurants.

“It sounded like an explosion of an electric transformer but I can feel the shockwave passing through my ears. My back was turned toward Kyla’s at that time,” Co said.

Co said he knew immediately that a bomb exploded behind him as he and his guest were drinking beer.

“I remembered asking my guest if he was hit and I stood up, touching my body with my hands to see if I was hit,” Co said.

When he looked around, Co said there was already pandemonium as guests, many of them bloodied, ran to get away from the blast site.

Co said he immediately called the security guards of the shopping mall and ordered them to bring the wounded to the hospital.

Edwin Santaan, a taxi driver, who was queuing to wait for passengers, said he was startled when a loud explosion rocked Kyla's Bistro. "Upon hearing the explosion, I rushed inside the taxi and moved away farther to see what happened.” "The restaurant strip was full of people. I was even worried I won't earn much because most of those who were at the restaurants had their own vehicles," Santaan added.

Mayor condemns terror

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, who is in Macau to show the City Government’s support to Milan Melindo’s world title boxing fight, condemned in the strongest term the bombing incident.

“What a condemnable and despicable act! This has no place in a peaceful community like ours. My heart bleeds for the victims and his families. MisOr Board Member Roldan Lagbas was very close to me personally,” he said in a statement sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Moreno, who has been sleepless in monitoring the blast, said he is keeping tabs with Mijares on decisions and updates.

He has also reported the incident to Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who came in the city from Manila on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to personally engage in the investigation.

“I’ve been in contact since last night with Col. Graciano Mijares and National Bureau of Investigation's top men. We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation. Perpetrators must be identified and motive determined, swiftly and thoroughly. Justice must be fully served.”

He said NBI will be sending its forensic experts to help in the investigation.

Moreno said the city hall has committed to coordinate closely with the police and law enforcement agencies and to provide assistance to the victims.

“I arrived in Macau on Friday to lend support to Milan Melindo’s quest for honor and glory, both for himself, for his city and country. I am looking for ways to cut this trip,” Moreno said.

Calm and sobriety

Moreno urged everyone to avoid speculations and allow the police and other law enforcement agencies working on the investigation to do their job. “Politics have no place for this grave incident and let us wait for the official statement and updates from the police,” he said.

Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) said: “I strongly condemn the dastardly and heinous bombing incident that occurred late Friday night in Cagayan de Oro City which resulted to the deaths of six innocent people and injuries of 46 others. I call on the police and the NBI to immediately coordinate with the City government for a speedy and no nonsense investigation of this senseless bombing incident. I urge persons who have some information on those responsible for this cowardly act to come out and provide the authorities with any information that could help in their investigation.”

Rodriguez also expressed his utmost sympathies to the families of the dead victims and prays for the early recovery of those injured.

Resilient

“We assure the peace-loving people of Cagayan de Oro City that we will not leave any stone unturned in pursuing the solution to this incident and in bringing those responsible to justice in order for peace and order to once again reign in the City. I also implore the Kagay-anons to remain calm and join hands together in prayer for the recovery of our beloved city. Cagayan de Oro City and the Kagay-anons are very resilient and I am confident that, together, we will pull through, help each other and move forward as one proud and peace-loving City,” Rodriguez said.

Northern Mindanao police director Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodriguez said they already have a composite sketch of the suspect based on eye witness account.

Threats

The city police office raised the security alert of the city this week due to the bomb threats at the city hall and the threats that Mayor Moreno has been receiving since last week.

Policemen were deployed in various areas while securing tightly the city hall as the ongoing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) registration for its upcoming elections in October this year.

Left backpack

Rodriguez said they are looking at the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras of the area to identify the suspects.

Rodriguez added the police have recovered a nine-volt battery in the blast scene.

Rodriguez added the suspect has left a backpack in a chair and left.

So far, no group or individual has claimed to the attack.

The Police also declared red alert in the city as check points and manhunt operations are ongoing.

Tragedy

Dan Lagbas, son of Roldan who rushed to the scene said he did not expect things to turn out that way. Dan shared his father was dining with friends when the bomb took off.

Roldan’s friend, Don, who was dining with him said he left the place 15 minutes before the explosion since his wife had been calling him to go home already.

“I just got home when I heard of the explosion, I have to rush back here and this is what we are looking now,” Don said shaking his head, almost breaking down seeing the horrible site.

“This is my second life now, if not for that phone call, I would have been one of them,” Don said.

Outpouring sympathies

On social media, residents poured to the internet their prayers and opinions on the bombing in one of the city’s night life center.

Blogger Maria Irene Aserios cautioned people from causing further panic as she remind social media users to be cautious in what they are posting on the internet, “Folks, just a gentle reminder - let us use social media responsibly. Please do not cause unnecessary panic that may only cause harm. Thanks and be safe,” Aserios posted on her FB wall and community pages.

Photographer Che Roa posted on her FB wall: “This year... I feel sad for CDO.

Let us all pray for the victims/survivors from the bombing incident at the Rosario Arcade. and also pray for CDO's safety. May God grant us peace,” Roa said.

Kim Quilinging, a social media advocate and former broadcast journalist said: "This is not just some random act of violence. This is terrorism. And the full force of the law, with all its available agents, should hunt down, and bring to justice, all those responsible for this dastardly and cowardly act against the city and its people."

Others said they fear for the city and the security of the public.

Fashion designer Benjie Manuel said his production is seriously considering not mounting any show as the city fiesta is fast approaching for the security of the public.

Manuel said: "Because of the bombing, (and the previous bombings) we are considering the cancellation of our star studded events and it may include the bsm experience, condolence to the victims and their families.”

Civic Leader Nixon Baban said his heart bleeds for his former subordinate Anthony Cañete who worked with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals as Medical representative.

“He (Cañete) frequently visited me in my office. Last week was his last after giving me samples. I even told him to invite me in his raising as a Mason. May his soul rest in peace. My contemporary in the field Anthony Paredes was also among the casualties. And Roldan Lagbas too, OMG! This is a very sad morning. Lord grant eternal rest to the dearly departed, and strength and faith to the bereaved families of the victims,” Baban said. (With reports from Grace Cantal-Albasin and Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Gun accidentally fires, kills cop

By Loui S. Maliza


A POLICE officer arrested for illegal drugs possession died while being brought to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Northern Mindanao office (PDEA-10) in Cagayan de Oro after he allegedly grabbed an operative’s firearm Thursday afternoon.

Senior Police Officer 4 Emelio Lusaria, died from a bullet to the head when the firearm he grabbed from a PDEA operative “accidentally” went off.

PDEA-10 Regional Director Emerson Margate said his agents were headed toward Cagayan de Oro about 3 in the afternoon after arresting Lusaria in a buy-bust operation in Iligan City when the shooting broke out.

Margate said Lusaria, who was handcuffed, tried to get hold of the steering wheel of the vehicle they were riding in, when PDEA agent Neil Pabilona tried to restrain him.

But Lusaria reportedly struggled and attempted to grab Pabilona’s firearm when it accidently fired and hit the police officer on the head causing his instant death.

Lusaria sat at the back of the driver’s seat, Margate said.

Lusaria was arrested with Albert Ong, an alleged drug lord in Iligan City.

“Actually, we already had difficulties restraining Lusaria after his arrest, he would not allow us to handcuff him. He was struggling a lot. Eventually, we were able to handcuff him. When they were on their way (to Cagayan de Oro), he was really struggling inside the police car. He wanted the car to crash,” Margate said.

He added, “Maybe he could not accept the fact that he was arrested. Maybe he could not just face the consequences.”

Margate said Lusaria is an active police officer of the Iligan City Police Office who allegedly protects Ong.

“He’s (Lusaria) an active officer. We have been monitoring him for a long time. The reports against him are consistent. Last week, we had a break from them, thus, his arrest was carried out."

Confiscated from Lusaria were 15 grams of suspected shabu and a caliber .45 pistol, while five grams of illegal drugs were seized from Ong.

Rubout?

Margate assured the public that he will not tolerate any of his men who are involved in any crime, including the act to disprove any suspicion that the incident was a rubout.

“We are open to investigation. And if it turns out that my men had problems, we will file an administrative case against them.”

He said the Initao police have already conducted its investigation, “but we will also conduct our own investigation.”

”We should help each other. We will not have it in any other way. We will follow the process.”

He said there were 14 undercover agents who arrested Lusaria and Ong—six of them, including Pabilona, were on board the police car. Pabilona is now detained at the Initao municipal police station PDEA-10 public information officer Rosemary Bajao said they would release an official statement on the result of the investigation.

Northern Mindanao’s economy grow by 7.4%

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 26 (PIA) -- The Northern Mindanao economy grew by 7.4 percent in 2012, higher than its 5.8 percent growth in 2011, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said.

The improved economic performance was fueled by the acceleration of the region’s Services and Industry sectors, Brenda Lynn M. Castro, officer-in-charge of NSCB Division 10, said in a news conference Thursday.

The Services sector which accounted for the biggest share of the region’s economy at 41.8 percent share grew by 9.0 percent in 2012 with all its subsectors, except Other Services, posting accelerated growths.

The Industry sector, accounting 33.4 percent of the region’s economy, expanded by 9.2 percent in 2012 from 6.7 percent in 2011 due to the higher growth rates in all its subsectors.

Construction subsector grew by 10.6 percent from 5.8 percent growth a year ago due to accelerated expansion of both public and private construction, Castro said.

She said Mining and Quarrying subsector also grew by 9.5 percent from 4.2 percent in 2011 due to significant increase in stone quarrying and non-metallic mining.

The Manufacturing subsector also posted a growth of 10.8 percent while Electricity, Gas and Water Supply registered 3.4 percent growth.

However, the Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF), which comprised 24.8 of the region’s economy, experienced a showdown in 2012 posting a growth of only 2.5 percent.

Castro said the deceleration was attributed to the slowdown of Agriculture and Forestry due to the decline in the production of banana, sugarcane, coffee, peanut, and tomato.

Although the Fishing subsector rebounded from a negative 0.6 growth in 2011 to 4.7 percent in 2012 brought about by the increased production of tiger prawns, milkfish and tilapia, Castro said the turnaround was not enough to raise the performance of the AHFF.

With regards to contribution to the national economy, Northern Mindanao ranked seventh in 2012 sharing 3.8 percent of the country’s economy. It also ranked eighth among the 17 regions in the country in terms of economic growth.

The region also maintained the sixth spot among all regions in terms of per capita gross regional domestic product (GRDP) with P53,632. (APB/PIA-10)

Laguindingan: The best of both worlds

By Malou Guanzon Apa


Cagayan de Oro City—I arrived here Tuesday afternoon for the Mindanao Sustainable Agriculture and Cooperative Marketing Forum, while the buzz in practically all corners of the country was still about President Benigno Aquino III’s mid-term State of the Nation Address (Sona). I rode Cebu Pacific going to CDO and as the plane prepared to land in Laguindingan International Airport, I peered through the cabin window. The still and clear waters of Macalajar Bay gave off a brownish blue color from the top and it seemed like the plane was gliding over a patch of land going to the runway. The aircraft actually landed slowly, as if the pilot was trying to take in the natural splendour of Macalajar a few minutes more before touching down. I have been to many airports in the country and a few in other parts of the world and I think Laguindingan is one of a kind. Because it is close to the shoreline and surrounded by hills on the opposite side, it offers the best of both worlds, so to speak. I find it interesting that I’m making my first post-Sendong visit to Cagayan de Oro passing through the newly built Laguindingan International Airport. As we know, PNoy ticked off this facility in his 4th Sona. The P7.8 billion infrastructure was built with the assistance of the South Korean government. The airport is viewed as gateway to the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC), a major economic infrastructure this side of Mindanao. The CDO airport is not yet fully operational, though. On the day I arrived, at least two afternoon flights from Manila were cancelled because air traffic in the capital’s international airport was clogged and pushed the arrival of flights to Laguindingan close to 6 p.m., prompting the flights’ cancellation. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has not yet given the green light for the airport to operate beyond 6 p.m. because it is not yet fully equipped. According to MindaNews, the CAAP has yet to install an Instrument Landing System (ILS), a navigational aid for planes, including VHF Omnidirectional Range Navigation (VOR); Meteorological Observing System; and Precision Lighting System (PALS). All these accoutrements are expected to be installed by May 2014. Actually, local businessmen here continue to gripe about the situation because the old Lumbia airport used to process at least 24 flights daily. At the moment, Laguindingan can only accommodate 18 flights at the most. Lumbia was closed because visibility around the old airport would drop to zero when weather is bad. There are calls for the old airport to accommodate evening flights, but that would mean operating two facilities using one and the same organization which is costly. Politics has likewise dealt a lot of changes in Cagayan de Oro City. The new man at the helm is Mayor Oscar Moreno who defeated Vicente Emano in the mayoralty polls. Moreno had served as the former governor of Misamis Oriental and served in the 11th and 12th Congress. He figured highly in his last congressional stint as one of the House prosecutors in the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada. This track record may have figured in the mayoralty race although nothing was more significant and emotional than the effects of Typhoon Sendong and the response of the local government in terms of mitigating the effects of the disaster. I spoke with the staff of the Cooperative Development Authority Northern Mindanao Director Orlan Ravanera, like Cristina Villamil and Fe Jamola, who told me their harrowing experiences, and how they narrowly escaped death when Sendong struck. In the aftermath of the deadly December 2011 typhoon, people here have a standby ladder that would take them to the top of their houses if floods came. My tocaya Marilou Carumba, senior Cooperative Development Specialist (CDS) said she gets scared every time it rains because the city streets easily get flooded. The lives of people in Cagayan de Oro and neighboring areas were never the same again after Sendong. Former governor and congressman Moreno, who ran under the administration ticket, easily won in Cagayan de Oro City but the defeat of Vicente Emano, who is affiliated with the Nacionalista Party did not politically marginalize his forces here. The new governor is his son, Bambi, whose running mate Joey Pelaez also won. Interestingly, Vicente Emano went down together with his congressional candidate in the first district, Benjo Benaldo. The new district representative is Klarex Uy who belongs to the Liberal Party. CDO’s 2nd district representative Rufus Rodriguez was reelected under the local party and from what I gathered, this anti-Reproductive Health advocate has a positive image in Cagayan de Oro. The choice of Cagayan de Oro as venue of the Mindanao-wide forum of agricultural cooperatives is very significant. For lack of space, I will tackle this issue in succeeding articles.

Agri-coops gear up for Afta 2015

By Nicole J. Managbanag


THREE-HUNDRED agricultural cooperatives in Mindanao gathered Wednesday in Cagayan de Oro for the Mindanao Sustainable Agriculture and Cooperative Marketing forum organized by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

CDA Regional Director Orlando Ravanera said the whole day forum would equip and provide knowledge to agriculture cooperatives for the full implementation of the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) by 2015.

Ravanera said the Mindanao-wide forum would bring together advocates of sustainable agriculture who are manufacturing organic fertilizers and producing organically-grown commodities. They will also be promoting their products during the affair.

The event aims to advance cooperative marketing in order to prepare for the implementation of the Afta in two years time, Ravanera added.

He said imposing the Afta would mean lifting of restrictions and quotas.

Ravanera said by the time Afta will be implemented, commodification would be the order of the day.

He said he feared that all kinds of cheap agricultural products would bombard the country, to the detriment of the poor farmers.

It is also a well-known trait that some Filipinos are fond of using imported products such as rice, meat and even their gadgets in their household, thus local products won’t be patronized.

Ravanera said he couldn’t blame his countrymen for buying imported products, because most of these are cheaper compared to the local ones displayed in the market; however, he said a country that is not consuming what it produces remains poor.

He encouraged agriculture cooperatives to prepare for a sustainable agriculture and advance solidarity economy by upscaling their products and by making a paradigm shift from the conventional farming.

CDA administrator Mercedes Castillo said the country is living in a time of crisis brought about by a global economic system that is not economically viable.

Castillo said: “The dominant development paradigm is like a giant, which is off-balanced. So as not to fall, it has to run and in running, it steps on communities, forests, seas, rivers, agricultural lands and even on people themselves, leaving havoc in its path.”

Castillo added that in the absence of a major change, it is predicted that the global system will collapse in less than one hundred years.

The world is now aware of possible changes, in which a shift has begun toward a more sustainable kind of development characterized by equity, democratic control, cooperation, service, people’s participation, sustainability and freedom, she said.

She said the agriculture cooperatives should follow a shift toward an economic system that is based on collective cooperation where the people harness their collective potentials, and marginalized sectors are drawn into the mainstream of development process.

Ravanera said he hoped that the forum will help cooperatives cope with the implementation of Afta, and make the Philippines a leading trader among other Asean nations.

“But first, we must be aware that a growing economy starts within ourselves. Let us love and use our own products to help our country attain an advancing solidarity economy,” Ravanera said.

Land use maps outdated

By Abigail C. Malalis


SECRETARY Mary Ann Lucille Sering of the Commission on Climate Change (CCC) declared that the land use plan of local government units including Cagayan de Oro is no longer primed for extreme weather events.

This, she said during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Zonta Club of Cagayan de Oro II in a hotel here in the city last week.

Zonta is an international organization of businesspersons and professionals gearing for the advancement of the status of women worldwide.

Sering, however, said it takes a lot of political will and resources for a local chief executive to prohibit people from living in the said lands.

Danger zones

In Cagayan de Oro, she said, Isla de Oro and the other islets along the river banks had long been declared a dangerous zone for residents by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III himself after the onslaught of Typhoon “Sendong” which resulted to millions worth of properties damage and hundreds of deaths.

Sering said she even remembered being put under pressure to sign an endorsement to give land titles of Isla de Oro when she was still Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“I was undersecretary then of DENR when I was actually pressured to sign an endorsement giving title to an area in Isla de Oro just because the land was already elevated enough, it’s already possible to build houses on it,” Sering said.

However, she refused to sign it because there was a map which showed that the area is a natural passage of the river.

‘Twin Phoenix’

Sering said the Moa was the first agreement entered by the Commission with other civic organizations.

“Women and children are the most vulnerable during disaster and I am happy to have partnered with a women’s group here. We don’t want another Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and this agreement will somehow help us in monitoring the project titled Twin Phoenix,” she said.

Twin Phoenix, is a project that will provide the city a better resolution of maps to be able to identify certain areas that are no longer fit for development and areas that can still be developed and utilized for business growth.

She added that the project needs the participation of the local government units (LGUs) and other sectors.

“We know that LGU terms only serve for three years and so we need help from civic groups to sustain the initiative and the project,” Sering said.

“Climate Change is not about yesterday but is about what will happen in the future. We don’t want LGUs to create a three-year-plan only, but long enough that can withstand not only their term but the future generations as well,” she added.

She said her office saw the land use plans of the LGUs and “all of them were based on what happened yesterday.”

The P69 million project will be implemented for two years, commencing in April 2012 until June 2014.

The project, Sering said has already started in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Compostela Valley among other areas.

Management and implementation of the project will be spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission.

The amount will be used to assess the disaster vulnerabilities of the two cities and the municipalities surrounding the Cagayan de Oro and Mandulog river basins to geological, meteorological and met-induced hazards due to climate change.

It will also help determine the wind and water level during extreme weather events.

The government’s counterpart of the project will be about P4M.

Ana de la Fuente, Zonta secretary, said their group will assist in all the activities of CCC here in Cagayan de Oro.

Zonta will help establish an office for CCC in the city and will initiate discussions on climate change especially in the schools and for the youth sector.

She said Zonta is organizing a Greenergy summit for the youth in August here in the city.

Regional body to hold DRRM confab for LCEs in Northern Mindanao

By Elaine O. Ratunil


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 22 -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), region 10 will lead a three-day Regional Summit on DRRM for local chief executives (LCEs) this July 23-25 here.

The summit aims to enhance the DRRM capabilities of the 98 LCEs especially in the terms of implementation of Republic Act 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, said Ana C. Cañeda, RDRRMC 10 Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 10 Regional Director.

Likewise, Cañeda said the summit is in compliance to one of the directives of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III after Typhoon “Pablo.” Calling for a conference where LCEs would discuss DRRM actions and tools as well as specify their respective roles and responsibilities for the efficient and effective delivery of government DRRM services.

She further said it also aims to define mechanism to achieve transparency and accountability of DRRM resources.

Aside from LCEs from different provinces, cities and towns of northern Mindanao, the council also invited the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (LDRRMO) and the Local Planning and Development Coordinator to participate in the summit, said Cañeda.

The event is one of the major highlight in the observance of this year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month with the theme “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan.”

Cañeda said the summit will serve as a venue to identify and highlight the role and responsibilities of LCEs in DRRM; acquire knowledge on local DRRM planning, tools and protocols; learn from experience and challenges of selected LDRRMCs and to affirm commitment to DRRM action.

On the first day, among the topics to be discussed include: Early Warning System; Earthquake and Tsunami alert information; Public Storm and Rainfall Warning Signals; Project NOAH; Hazard Assessment; Mainstreaming of Climate Change Adaptation and into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan; Incidence Command System; Operation Centers Standard Operating Procedures; Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis; Management of Evacuation Center; and Post Disaster Needs Assessment.

For July 24, selected LGUs will share their DRRM learning experience and challenges. Representative from Civil Service Commission (CSC) will discuss the establishment of local DRRM office and appointment of Local DRRMC and filling up of plantilla position. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) representative will discuss the salient features of joint memorandum circular No. 2013-1 on the allocation and utilization of LDRRM fund.

On the third day of the summit, the participating LCEs will review its significant roles and responsibilities in DRRM and will sign in the declaration of commitment to DRRM action. (OCD/PIA-10)

10 killed in clan war in Lanao Sur town

By Froilan Gallardo


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/21 July) — Armed clashes brought about by a long-standing “rido” (clan feud) in Bayang, Lanao del Sur claimed the lives of ten persons since Friday, with five others suffering injuries, the military said.

Col. Glen Macasero, commanding officer of the 103 Infantry Brigade, said the fighting between the Capal and Macugar families erupted when clan members gunned down a rival family member in Barangay Linao, Bayang town early Friday morning.

Macasero said the killing prompted the rival clans to retaliate and soon, intense fighting involving heavy caliber firearms erupted around the villages in Bayang town.

“By this time, the two families had called their relatives to come to their aid. The call went through nearby towns of Malabang and Lumbaca Unayan and every relative who had a firearm came to join the fighting,” Macasero said.

The Army has identified five of the 10 fatalities as Hadji Naim Macabago Capal; Latip Macabago Capal; Abar Tanggor Balt; Al-radji Tanggor; and Salahoden H. Acmad Dimacota.

Only one of the five wounded was identified: Arip Bacolod.

Macasero said the fighting stopped when the Army and police sent teams to separate the warring clans.

Initial reports identified the warring families as the Capal and Macugar families but non-governemental organizations (NGOs) in Lanao del Sur said the fighting has dragged other families to join the fray.

Ustadz Tahir of the Kasalimbago Movement, a Marawi-based reform-oriented NGO said there is still a danger that the situation could erupt in another violent fighting again.

He said army and police forces sent to pacify the warring families in Bayang town could not even enter the villages controlled by the clans.

“We heard the clan members had fortified their positions in the villages and were prepared to repel rival family members planning to attack them,” Tahir said.

Tahir urged the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to increase their patrols in Marawi City, fearing the clan war will spread into the provincial capital.

He said the warring families have relatives living in Marawi City.

“It is very hard to understand our culture but if efforts by the Army and PNP to settle this will fail, the clan war will escalate into Marawi City,” Tahir said, as he expressed fears innocent persons may be harmed.

Earlier reports said at total of 16 persons have been killed but ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman told MindaNews on Sunday noon, “I have yet to get final info.”

Also on Sunday noon, Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, ARMM police chief, told MindaNews in a text message that the Lanao del Sur Provincial Polic Office has “not yet provided the specific number of casualties.”

He said the feedback on the ground from other sources indicated “four to ten persons killed but I still have to get the official tally.”

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre established in 1998 by the Norwegian Refugee Council, the leading international body monitoring internal displacement worldwide, The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre established in 1998 by the Norwegian Refugee Council, the leading international body monitoring internal displacement worldwide, said “rido” has regularly triggered displacements of residents in the region. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Biz group lauds ‘Hapsay Dalan’ in CdeO

By sunstar.com.ph


THE Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber) has appreciated the City Government’s move to widen some of the city’s major roads by phasing out the mini stalls of sidewalk vendors and even halting the operations of the famed Night Café.

The business group is happy to note that sales have improved among many of its member-companies especially those located in the Divisoria area.

“We are happy to receive reports from our members on sales improvement,” said Oro Chamber President Efren Uy.

Uy believes that in freeing the streets from sidewalk vendors, legitimate enterprises can already cater to more customers because of increased visibility of their stores, not to mention the absence of clutter.

Antonio Uy, who owns Marny’s Fastfood and Wang’s Tea Fuzion, shared that convenience-wise, the business operation improved.

Before, Tony Uy said, they had difficulty loading and unloading the food containers as the vehicle would be normally parked two or three blocks away from the store due to traffic and the helter-skelter in Divisoria.

“The city is now clean,” Tony Uy said.

Another business, Barkadahan Grill, is happy with the sudden boost in sales after Hapsay Dalan (orderly street) suspended the Night Café operations.

The Oro Chamber president congratulated the current city administration for its Hapsay Dalan as it helped alleviate traffic congestion and restored the order in Divisoria and Cogon Market.

Micro business opportunities

Uy is also encouraging the Night Café entrepreneurs to register as microbusiness enterprises so they can benefit from the assistance of the different government agencies ranging from technical to financial support under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Law.

The Chamber Executive is asking the Night Café vendors to be patient too as the city is surely looking for the best site where they can be relocated.

The Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9178) or commonly known as the BMBE Law counts Mayor Oscar Moreno as one of its authors.

This act refers to any business entity or enterprise engaged in production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading and services, whose total assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated, shall not be more than P3 million.

The law dictates that the Department of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the private sector and non-government organizations (NGOs), shall explore the possibilities of linking or matching-up BMBEs with small, medium and large enterprises, and likewise establish incentives thereof.

The data gathered from business registration shall be made accessible to and shall be utilized by private sector organizations and NGOs for purposes of business matching, trade and investment promotion, it added. (PR)

Security Bank Foundation to donate P15M for 3 school buildings in CDOt

By Elaine O. Ratunil


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 19 -- The Security Bank Foundation, Inc. will make a P15-million donation for school building construction in three barangays of Cagayan de Oro.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the project has been signed by Mayor Oscar S. Moreno and Security Bank branch manager Wilma C. Gomez.

The recipient schools are: South City Central School in barangay Nazareth; Cugman Elementary School; and Agusan Elementary School.

Gomez said the foundation pledged to construct four-classroom school building in each beneficiary school that costs P5 million. Groundbreaking is set on July 22.

The construction of additional school buildings is one of the priorities of the administration of Mayor Moreno as he noted the deficiency or backlog of classrooms in public schools.

Moreno thanked the officials of Security Bank Foundation for the school buildings’ donation, hoping that the project will help address the classroom backlog and ensure quality education among schoolchildren. (CIO/PIA10)

CDO Mayor gets assassination threat

By (PNA)

CTB/CD/UTB


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 18 (PNA) -– Barely two weeks in office since he reported on July 1, newly elected City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno received bomb threats and assassination warnings through text messages during a radio program here, a top police officer said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares, head of the city’s 3,000-strong police force, said that the police are now validating the text messages which was sent by an unknown suspect when the Mayor guested at a radio program aired over RMN’s DXCC here last Friday.

The threatening messages were among the messages received from unknown senders who reacted to the radio program through an “open line mobile phone number” intended for listeners, Mijares said.

Part of the text message read: “Hulat lang kong mahuman nako buhat 2 ka bomba kay bombahan na City Hall aron hapayx2 mo tanan…agtangon ka...” (Just wait when the 2 bombs are completed since a bomb would explode at City Hall so everybody would be wiped out. Will take you by the forehead).

“Si Emano nag bilin ug daghan kuarta sa City Hall, pero ang Kapitolyo walay kuarta kay imo gihurot kawat,” (Emano, the former City Mayor left large sum of money at the City Hall, while you (Moreno) left nothing at the provincial capitol since you (Moreno) stole it all), the text message reads.

Mijares said the police still face a blank wall in determining the possible suspects since the mobile number used was already “dead” when the National Telecommunications (NTC) tried to trace it.

Mijares said that the text messages could be just a prank. The police, however, are not taking chances as police patrol have been deployed along the vicinity at the City Hall here, Mijares added.

He said the police are suspecting that disgruntled vendors and stall holders who were displaced at the Plaza Divsioria and at the city’s public markets when Moreno ordered a city wide cleanup of vendors could be among those pranks.

Private sector elects representatives to the RDC-X

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


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority of Region X (NEDA-X) has convened non-government and private sector organizations on Monday, July 15, to elect representatives to the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the term 2013-2016.

Led by NEDA-X Assistant Regional Director and RDC-X Secretary Fe D. Domingo with the assistance of outgoing RDC-X Co-Chair Arsenio L. Sebastian III, the private sector representatives (PSRs) selected their representatives to the RDC and firmed up the PSR membership in the RDC sectoral committees.

The PSRs elected Rodolfo L. Meñes of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (Oro Chamber), Inc. and Jaime Rafael U. Paguio of Promote CDO Foundation, Inc. as the private sector nominees for RDC Chair or Co-Chair.

Meñes and Paguio, together with the other nominees from the local chief executives that will be selected later during the RDC organizational meeting, will be submitted to the President for appointment.

To sit as Co-Chair and Vice-Chair of the RDC-X sectoral committees are the following: Macro and Development Administration Committee (MacroCom)–Dixon Q. Yasay (Xavier University-Governance and Leadership Institute) and Imelda G. Manginsay (Muslim-Christian Agency for Advocacy, Relief and Development (MuCAARD), Inc.; Economic Development Committee–Emma A. Nieva (Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies-Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center) and Roel R. Ravanera (Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.); Social Development Committee– Jordan Ian G. Apat (Philippine Service of Mercy Foundation, Inc.) and Melagros M. Maquiling (Differently-Abled Women Network); and Infrastructure/Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom)-Modesto C. Babaylan (Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc.) and Arsenio L. Sebastian III (Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Chapter).

These officers will sit in the RDC together with the Labor Sector representative, Milbert M. Macarambon of the All Workers Alliance Trade Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippine (AWATU-TUCP). They will be joined in by the geographical PSRs who will be endorsed by the five provinces in the region.

Elected to the RDC’s Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC-X) are Modesto C. Babaylan; Michael D. Cagulada of the Foundation for Growth, Organizational Upliftment of People (GROUP), Inc. and Grace B. Monsanto of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA).

As embodied in Executive Order 325 and in the RDC Manual of Operations, PSRs shall comprise one-fourth of the members of the fully constituted council one of whom shall be a representative of the Labor Sector. RDC-PSRs shall serve a period of three (3) years without prejudice to reappointment.

The RDC, as the highest policy-making body in the region, serves as a vehicle for private sector involvement in government for a stronger public and private sector collaboration.

Exposed electrical wires in school building found

By Froilan Gallardo


ONE classroom building at the East City Central School in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City was found to have exposed electrical wire connections that could possibly endanger students, a multi-agency task force said Monday.

The task force led by the Office of Civil Defense and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Northern Mindanao region said the exposed electrical wires found on the roof and walls of 17 classrooms pose a danger to the kindergarten students, with ages between five and six years old.

The inspection came after a magnitude 5.2 quake jolted Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of Mindanao at 9:28 a.m. Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake’s epicenter was located 14 kilometers northeast of Carmen town in North Cotabato and had a depth of two kilometers.

No damage was reported as a result of the temblor which was tectonic in origin.

At 11:51 a.m., another quake occurred 12 kilometer northeast of Carmen with a magnitude of 4.1. Another one struck at 2:41 p.m., seven kilometers northwest of the town with a magnitude of 3.4, Phivolcs said.

“These loose electrical wires can start a fire in case a stronger earthquake hits our city,” Marcial Labininay, head of the Phivolcs station in Cagayan de Oro station, said.

Aside from exposed wires, Luiben Magto of the Cagayan de Oro Office of the Building Official found that only a 60-ampere safety fuse was mounted on the circuit breaker of the school building.

Both the safety fuse and circuit breakers protect against overloading of electricity flow once it exceeds safe levels.

“With this kind of school building with all the lights, electrical fans and air conditioners, the safety fuse that should be used is about 200 amperes to take on that load,” Magto said.

The school building is of the pre-fab type which became popular during the Marcos administration. It is already scheduled for demolition but Department of Education (DepEd) officials delayed it pending the arrival of funds for the construction of its replacement.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Sam Velarde of the Bureau of Fire Protection said the old electrical plan submitted by DepEd only covered the electrical lights in the classrooms but as the years passed, more appliances have been used by the teachers and students.

“The teachers and the parents would decide to add electrical fans or lights without bothering to check whether the safety breaker can handle the additional electrical load. This is usually the problem,” Velarde said.

He said a major alteration made on the pre-fab building was the conversion of a part of it into a canteen.

He said the canteen has five or six more appliances attached to the electrical connection adding to its overload.

DepEd Supervisor John Mingo said the old pre-fab school building should have been demolished long ago after it reached over 30 years, but the lack of money prevented the agency from carrying out the plan.

“Where will the students go? We do not have enough classrooms. The old school building was better than nothing,” Mingo said.

He said if they have the money, they would have built newer schools because its designs have incorporated safety features on its electrical fixtures.

Roger Lapera, of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Regional Safety Inspection team said the task force composed of government agencies and non-government organizations will conduct inspections at the Cagayan de Oro National High School and the public markets in the city’s Cogon and Carmen districts.

“We are checking the integrity of these buildings if they can withstand earthquakes. We are also checking if the school principal and market administrators have an emergency evacuation plans,” he said.

Lapera said evacuation plans are very important for Cogon and Carmen public market buildings since these have “high density of occupancy.”

“We do not want vendors scrambling around not knowing where to go in case an earthquake occurs or a bomb explodes in one of these buildings,” he said.

Investments in Northern Mindanao more than double in Q1

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 15 (PIA) --- Inflow of new investments in Northern Mindanao for the first quarter of 2013 reached P3.44 billion, up by 223 percent from the P1.06 billion recorded in the same period in 2012.

Engr. Cecilio Clarete, chief economic development specialist of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in the region, said the increase was driven by the 419 percent increase in investments in Misamis Oriental and 602 percent increase in Lanao del Norte, particularly in Iligan City.

Misamis Oriental recorded P2.37 billion of investments sharing 69 percent of the total regional investments while Lanao del Norte posted P688 million or 20 percent of the total.

Clarete said the increase in investments in Misamis Oriental is mostly from infrastructure and services sector which is 78.6 percent of the total investments in the region.

Major investments in the province include construction and expansion of tourism and business-related facilities such as that of Seda Hotel, Primavera Condotel, Tune Hotel, Monte Carlo Hotel and partial development of Alberto Resort.

He said most of the investments in Lanao del Norte are also classified under the infra and services sector which constitute plant expansion of Pilmico Foods Corporation and building renovation of Madelicious bakery in Iligan City.

Other investments in Lanao del Norte also include expansion of coffee production and establishment of school building in Tubod, he added.

The other three provinces meanwhile posted the following investments: Misamis Occidental with P226 million, Bukidnon with P115 million and Camiguin with P35 million. (APB/PIA-10)

CdO prioritizes ‘Sendong’ victims’ relocation

By Mike U. Crismundo


Cagayan De Oro City – Good News. The city government of Cagayan de Oro vowed to prioritize the relocation of the big number of victims of tropical storm “Sendong” who remain displaced following destructive flashfloods.

At least 260 families still awaiting relocation are thoroughly being screened as city legislators prepare the Committee on Subdivision and Landed Estate to tackle relocation.

The members of the committee chaired by Councilor Alexander Dacer is set to act on the application for Preliminary Approval and Locational Clearance (PALC) of the Greenfield Homeowners Association Incorporated for a subdivision project located in Purok 2, Barangay Balubal, here.

This relocation site will take the villagers away from danger zones that are prone to devastating flash floods.

The City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) recommended its approval subject to conditions and to monitoring procedures.

On a roll

By Jonas Panerio


Frankie Minoza’s resurgence continues as he captured his second title in a row after he shot in a bogey-free 67 to post a five-shot win over Elmer Salvador in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship at the Pueblo de Oro layout in Cagayan de Oro City yesterday. The performance was reminiscent of his final-round performance in the Del Monte leg last week, where he fired in a nine-under 63 to win the championship there. Yesterday, he calmly sank five birdie putts to quell Angelo Que’s eagle-spiked 33 charge at front, before cruising to victory with two more birdies for a five-under card. With his earlier 67 and 64, Minoza wound up with a 198 total and pocketed another P200,000, his 18-under feat easily his best in a 54-hole tournament in years and one of the lowest on the five-year ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. Minoza, who battled Que in a classic backside shootout in the second round where they both shot 29s before finishing with a 64 as against Que’s 66, hit three birdies in the first nine holes to keep his overnight four-shot lead intact at the turn. Five behind Minoza after 36 holes, Salvador tried to put the pressure with back-to-back birdies from No. 10. But Minoza birdied No. 12 and Salvador wobbled with two bogeys against a birdie in the next five holes before holing out with two birdies for a 67. Salvador took home P120,000 while Que, the runaway winner at ICTSI Orchard last May, ended up third at 204 worth P90,000.

City to create peace and order Cagayan de Oro Task Force

By pia.gov.ph


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 12 -- Discussion on the proposal to create Task Force Cagayan de Oro started on July 11 with the participation of officers of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), among others.

According to a statement from Councilor Ramon G. Tabor, chair of the City Council committee on police, fire and public safety, as the city continues to grow, there is a need for concerted efforts of all to strengthen the city’s peace and order drive.

This was the first item in the agenda of the first committee meeting called by Tabor.

He explained that robbery incidents have been occurring three to four times a day in broad daylight, drugs are peddled everywhere, and incidents of killings have been taking place. Something drastic has to be done, he said.

The councilor said he believes it is time for the city to create a task force similar to Task Force Davao, which was meant to avert the spate of bombing incidents.

The meeting was attended by Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 Regional Director C/Supt. Catalino B. Rodriguez Jr; P/Supt Emmanuel Hebron of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO); LtC Evan Bermudo and Major Ricky Canatoy of the Fourth Infantry Division (4ID); P/SInsp. Pepito Reyes of CIDG, and the private sector such as the Oro Bankers, Liceo de Cagayan University, among others.

As an offshoot of discussions, the committee adopted a resolution requesting Mayor Oscar Moreno to convene the Cagayan de Oro Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and appoint its members.

Tabor said the proposed creation of the task force will be presented to the CPOC.

He said the meeting this morning is the first of a series of meetings to be held on the matter.

“We want to create a task force to address the pressing and common fear of our residents,” he added.

Oro Banker official Erlquin O. Lim lauded the committee for the move.

“The creation of the task force will be fully supported in by the Oro Bankers. We will be the first to rejoice with its creation,” he said.

Councilors Alden Bacal, Edna Dahino and Roger Abaday were present during the meeting. (CdeSP/PIA10)

CDOTransco appeals franchise for CDO-Airport route

By Abigail C. Malalis


TRANSPORT group under the Commuters Drivers and Operators’ Transport Cooperative (CDOTransco) appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to request for a franchise to ply the Cagayan de Oro (CDO)–Laguindingan airport route.

Eugene Pabualan, Oro Savings and Sharing Cooperative executive director, said the CDOTransco submitted its petition to LTFRB as early as January this year, but its franchise in CDO-Laguindingan was disapproved.

Instead the LTFRB granted them the Iligan-Laguindingan route.

Pabualan said that in September 2012, CDOTransco already conducted a study on the possible fare rate of airport commuters.

“We made several studies and proposed lesser fare to the airport and give transport coop the priority,” Pabualan said.

He said the transport coop applied for a loan at Development Bank of the Philippines with Ating Koop Rep. Isidro Lico appropriating P1 million for the purpose.

He said only eight units were delivered by its distributor, almost in time for the opening of the airport.

However, he added that sometime in April they learned that they were denied of the franchise.

“Instead, we were given the Iligan-Laguindingan route by the LTFRB,” he added.

Meanwhile, LTFRB Regional Director Mandangan Darimbang said that 20 franchises have been approved for CDOTransco despite getting only an initial eight units.

Darimbang said when the airport was supposed to open last April, the transport coop has not prepared the units yet.

“If the opening was pushed through last April, how could we ferry passengers from airport to Cagayan de Oro when the units were not yet available,” Darimbang told Sun.Star Cagayan de oro.

In fact, he added, until now they failed to comply with all the requirements needed for the franchise.

Loan approval

Pabualan said they welcomed the granting of the Iligan-Laguindingan route franchise, seeing that they could still serve the riding public.

However, he said the coop study was on the Cagayan de Oro to airport route at a fare rate of P150.

“We already worked with the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association and did massive marketing with hotels here in the city,” Pabualan said.

Cagayan de Oro City is 43 kilometers away from the Laguindingan airport while Iligan City is 60 kilometers away from the airport.

“Unfortunately, for the nth time our request has not been granted up to this moment,” he said.

Cooperative Development Authority Regional Director Orlando Ravanera also appealed to the LTFRB to give preferential treatment to cooperatives.

Ralph Abragan, Sulog vice chair, also expressed support to CDOTransco and will lobby the group’s request to the city council to prompt an investigation.

“We will represent in favor of the general public, the consumers and defend the rights of the coop as its beneficiary is the public,” Abragan said.

Mindanao power body backs additional Agus hydro uprating

By (MinDa) /JMOR/PIA10)


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- The Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) has endorsed a new proposal designed to uprate a major unit of Agus 6 hydroelectric power plant, in a bid to boost the capacity of the state-owned power generating plant in Mindanao.

The endorsement was firmed up during a recent MPMC meeting which was convened to assess the latest power situation in Mindanao and the status of immediate measures taken to address the power supply shortfall plaguing the island.

According to Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair and head the power monitoring body, the new proposal for the uprating of Agus 6 Unit 4 is in addition to the Agus 6 Units 1 and 2 uprating approved last year by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

“This proposal forms part of the immediate measures being pursued by the Aquino government to increase the dependable capacity of Mindanao power generation,” says Antonino, adding that “it has been submitted for approval.”

She noted that based on the information presented by National Power Corporation (NPC)-Mindanao, the proposed uprating of Agus 6 Unit 4 is expected to improve the plant’s generating capacity by 15MW, from present available capacity of 35MW to 50MW. The uprating project is estimated to cost of 495 million pesos.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Assets and Liabilities Corporation (PSALM) reported to the MPMC that it is finalizing the bidding schedule for the 2.6 billion pesos Agus 6 Units 1 and 2 uprating which is set to commence by third quarter of 2013.

The Agus 6 Units 1 and 2 uprating project seeks to extend the generating plant units’ economic life for another 30 years and increase its capacity output from 50MW to 69MW. The project will take 30 months period and is expected to be completed by 2016.

“Among the measures being pushed under MPMC, enhancing the dependable capacity of Agus 6 provide the most viable option for optimizing Mindanao generation’s hydro capacities,” Antonino stressed.

The MPMC has noted that after achieving a brownout-free elections last May 13, the Mindanao power situation had since improved with almost zero brownouts in most areas, except for 30 minutes to 1 hour power interruptions in some locations. A major improvement was also noted in the cities of Zamboanga and General Santos which previously had 4-8 hours rotating brownouts.

It however added that the Mindanao power situation could revert to precarious supply scenario in the next few months up toDecember 2013, when some major power plants go on preventive maintenance shutdown and with demand expected to further go up.

In anticipation of another period of supply deficit and lessen the occurrence of rotating brownouts, the MPMC has started to engage the various Mindanao power stakeholders in working for the immediate and long term measures on power.

Ensuring reliable, sustainable and affordable power regime in Mindanao is among the major policy recommendations up for discussion in the upcoming 22nd Mindanao Business Conference, the largest annual gathering of business leaders across the island slated on 8-10 August 2013 in Davao City. (

Que joins Pueblo cast

By MST Sports


ORCHARD leg winner Angelo Que signed up for this week’s International Container Terminal Services Inc. Pueblo de Oro Championship, completing another star-studded cast in the P1-million event unfolding tomorrow at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club course in Cagayan de Oro City.

Que, a former Philippine Open and three-time Asian Tour champion, routed the field at ICTSI Orchard last May with a four-day display of solid shotmaking but skipped the first two legs of the circuit’s Mindanao swing to honor a previous commitment.

But he made himself available for the final stop down south, guaranteeing another fierce battle for top honors in the seventh leg of the Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

With Frankie Miñoza in hot pursuit of a second straight championship after winning the ICTSI Del Monte last week and the likes of Tony Lascuña, Elmer Salvador and Jay Bayron out to redeem themselves from final round foldup, Que hopes come out strong from a two-week layoff to launch his bid for a follow-up to his Orchard romp.

Que closed out with a brilliant 10-under 62 to turn a four-stroke deficit into a four-shot victory over Lascuna at ICTSI Orchard in his first appearance on the local circuit since finishing joint sixth at ICTSI Wack Wack Championship last December.

Miñoza eyes No. 2 at ICTSI Pueblo

By MST Sports


Frankie Miñoza hopes to re-display the vintage form that won him the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Del Monte crown last week as he goes for a rare second straight crown in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship which begins Wednesday at the Pueblo de Oro layout in Cagayan de Oro City.

Miñoza went from five-down to a five-stroke winner over five rivals in his home course in Bukidnon, turning in a flawless nine-under 63 in a stirring windup and performance for a veteran, most decorated Filipino shotmaker who had seemed to have found his thirst for winning again.

“This is win augurs well for Pueblo de Oro,” said Miñoza after nailing down the Del Monte championship, actually his second for the year after edging the Bayron brothers – Jay and Rufino – in a playoff to capture his first The Country Club Invitational at the TCC layout last February.

The two-time Philippine Open champion is also priming up for his campaign in the Senior British Open with the former Asian Tour top player hoping to get all the boost he needs as he heads to the Royal Birkdale in England two weeks from now.

But he will be facing a fired-up field out to get back at him, including reigning ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña and former OOM winner Elmer Salvador, whose keenly-awaited final round duel at Del Monte was sideswiped by Miñoza’s blistering charge.

COA questions 'misuse' of PNoy's PDAF in Cagayan de Oro

By Michael Punongbayan, The Philippine Star


MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino gave more than P11.49 million of his own Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental last year to finance relief and operational assistance and for the repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of school buildings, irrigation and flood control systems, roads, and bridges in areas affected by calamities.

The city government, then headed by Vicente Emano as mayor, however, used the amount for a different purpose – the second phase construction of the water system in Barangay Indahag.

State auditors, in a report released last Wednesday, questioned the city government’s action since it used Aquino’s pork barrel allocation for a different purpose other than what was specified in a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) issued in December 2011, without asking for approval from Malacañang.

“As noted, construction of water system is not among the projects or activities to be funded from the PDAF…,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

“Any proposed changes, modifications or revision of the defined uses or purposes thereof require prior consent and/or approval of the grantor, in this case, the President of the Philippines or his authorized representative,” it said.

“However, despite the absence of an approval from the Office of the President amending or modifying the intended purpose/use of the fund, still the agency continued to implement the project. To date, the project is already 97.45 percent completed,” it added.

The COA report noted that per Aquino’s directive, a check for P50 million dated Dec. 23, 2011 was deposited at the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Cagayan de Oro City and credited to the current account of the city government.

Using a portion of the fund, the city government implemented the contract for the construction of the second phase of the Indahag water system with C. Dy Builders and General Merchandise as its contractor for P11,498,873.42 in 2012.

In defense, the city accountant argued that the SARO representing the P50-million PDAF of Aquino was a lump sum, thus they did not wait for the President’s approval and implemented the project immediately.

The city officials explained that based on the SARO, the money was “to cover the cash requirements of Cagayan de Oro City for relief and operational assistance and for the repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of school buildings, irrigation system, flood control and roads and bridges in areas affected by calamities” and taken up as subsidy to local government units.

Pointing the finger at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the city accountant told COA that the verbal instruction of the department, relayed through its city director, “that we send the proposal and if it is accordance with the purpose of the SARO and for Typhoon Sendong-related projects, it needs no further approval, which the management also holds the same opinion.”

“The SARO being issued in lump sum and did not in any way mentioned subject to submission of specific project identification, it is requested that this be considered,” the city accountant said.

State auditors, however, disagreed, saying the SARO, upon scrutiny, specifically disclosed the purpose for the use of Aquino’s PDAF.

“It is a basic principle of government expenditure that funds shall be used only for the purpose it is intended. Using the funds for purpose other than that it is originally intended, requires approval from higher authorities,” the COA report said.





Mayors Erap and Emano

By DUCKY PAREDES


‘Estrada found that illegal vendors were protected by the police themselves.’

IN his inaugural, Mayor Erap mentioned the fact that American author Daniel Brown called his city the “gates of hell.”

“But for me and even for all of us,” said Joseph Estrada, “this is a wake-up call. So our shout today is ‘Wake-up Manila! Rise Manila! Move on Manila!’”

That he is doing, The mayor also promised to clean up the police force to make them truly “Manila’s Finest and not Manila’s Worst.” On his third day as mayor, Estrada relieved three top officials -- Station 2 commander Supt. Ernesto Tendero, Station 11 commander Supt. Alex Navarette and Manila Traffic Bureau head Supt. Reynaldo Nava for failure to decongest their area -- Moriones, Divisoria and Binondo -- of traffic and illegal vendors.

Estrada found that proliferation of vendors was because the illegal vendors were protected by the police themselves when he went around Divisoria and Binondo on his first day in office last Monday.

On the other hand, former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Vicente Emano has been found by the Commission on Audit (CoA) to have misspent P11.5 million given the city by the President for relief and rehab projects after the city was devastated by Typhoon Sendong (which also killed 700 persons).

COA’s 2012 audit report notes that the amount was spent on the construction of Indahag Water System Phase 2 project which was not in the list of relief and rehabilitation projects approved by the Department of Budget and Management in special allotment release order no. G-11-02105 dated Dec. 19, 2011.

COA notes that the President’s PDAF funds turned over to the city were earmarked for the “repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of school buildings, irrigation systems, flood control and roads and bridges in areas affected by calamities…”

Aquino set aside P50 million from his PDAF for Cagayan de Oro City which was one of the hardest-hit areas by flooding in December 2011. Sendong resulted in the death of at least 700 residents.

COA also found lengthy delays in the implementation of supposed “quick disaster response” from P123.94 million cash donations received by the city from public officials, private individuals and institutions as well as foreign donors.

Proof of this is that of the P123.94 million total donations, the city government spent only P73.93 million, leaving over P50 million still in its bank accounts.

It is good news that Manila Water Co. Inc. will not proceed with its plan of acquiring French firm Suez Environnement’s 51-percent stake in Indonesian water utility PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (PALYJA).

Manila Water apparently failed to get the approval of Suez’s partner Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta (PAM Jaya) for the share sale.

This is good news for Indonesian water consumers. Do you know that the expenses (in the billions) of both our water franchisees -- Manila Water and Maynilad -- for their quest for foreign operations are borne by us. This is part of what we are being charged for the water we use. We are also paying for planned improvements even as these are still just plans, with implementation still in the clouds, as well as what they would have paid in corporate taxes, if they were not enjoying a tax holiday

After initially welcoming the bid of Manila Water, the local government of Indonesia apparently had a change of heart (Did they find out how our water concessionaires operate in Metro Manila?) and is now planning to operate the utility firm itself.

Manila Water provides water and wastewater services for the East Zone, which covers Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, and most parts of Manila and Quezon City, as well as Rizal.

The company also has projects in areas outside of the East Zone through its subsidiaries in Laguna, Pampanga, Boracay and Cebu.

Manila Water likewise has operations overseas.

In 2011, it acquired a 49 percent stake in the Thu Duc Water BOO Corp. in Vietnam.

One wonders how much of our water bill supports that Vietnamese operation. Shouldn’t we water consumers pay only for what we consume, not also for what these concessionaires are doing elsewhere in this world?

Isn’t it about time that our citizens abroad realize that once out of this country, they are on their own?

I find it hypocritical that we weep over drug mules being executed in China and elsewhere. The only reason we can’t execute them here may be that a President who apparently went bad herself, disallowed the death penalty as a punishment for crimes. Thus, what do we do when the Ampatuans’ trial finally ends when the crow has already turned white?

There was even that case in Singapore where a Filipina was executed for killing another Filipina and the whole country went crazy deploring the execution of one Flor Contemplacion, How sad that all of us were so taken with the fact that a Filipina was being executed that none of us fellow Pinoys ever even thought to mourn the murder of her innocent Filipina victim.

“It is with profound sadness that we confirm that our fellow Filipino was executed in China this morning. Arrangements for the repatriation of the remains are being undertaken,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a press briefing.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the Filipino as they mourn the loss of their loved one.

“The life of every Filipino is valuable and we pray that this is the last time that a tragedy like this befalls any of our countrymen.”

Wow, what a send-off. What it tells me is that, if her flight into China came directly from the Philippines that we ought to look into how she was able to leave our airport with 6.198 kilos of heroin. The one who needs arresting is whoever sent this 35-year-old woman off to her sure death in China for bringing heroin into that country.

I am glad that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supports the calls to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the poll body will propose the SK’s abolition to lawmakers. 

“It’s okay to retain the barangay elections but not the SK; we really have not seen any positive results from it,” said Tagle.

Tagle said he agrees with election lawyer Romulo Macalintal that the SK system introduced the youth to the evils of Philippine politics. I have always been against this believing that the SK turns them into crooks at a very early age.

SK elections are mostly ignored by the youth sector anyway since only two million youth voters take part in electing their leaders.

CDO ex-mayor Emano mismanaged ‘Sendong’ relief funds, says COA

By Gil C. Cabacungan


Tropical Storm “Sendong” continues to haunt defeated Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano two years after he was widely blamed for the massive death toll and destruction in his hometown. In its 2012 report, the Commission on Audit (COA) accused Emano of mismanaging millions of pesos in rehabilitation and relief funds for his city and constituents, including the diversion of P11.5 million, which came from the pork barrel of President Aquino. The COA criticized Emano and his team for the undue delays in deploying the P123.94 million in cash donations that poured in after the public became aware of the high death toll from Sendong. Idle P50-million deposit The COA was stumped on why city hall spent only P73.94 million of the donated funds and left P50 million in its bank deposits idle while thousands of residents continued to suffer due to damaged homes and infrastructure. Under Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the COA said the city administrators should have acted quickly to save more lives, minimize health risks, ensure public safety and meet the basic needs of disaster victims. The COA also noted that city hall was supposed to spend P55 million for the construction of 500 units of permanent shelters for evacuees. But a year after Sendong ravaged the city, the mayor and his team only spent P8.8 million as mobilization fee for the contractor, SCV Construction, which the COA noted was not qualified to undertake the project on legal, technical and financial parameters. The COA said the city authorities trimmed the project size from 500 to 80 units due to their failure to acquire lots for relocation sites. “It is a sad thing to note that until now, the city government is unable to provide us concrete data on the actual completed permanent shelters already distributed to the typhoon victims,” the COA said. The President also allocated P50 million from his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) for Cagayan de Oro City to bankroll the projects identified by the government in its special allotment release order dated December 19, 2011, for “the repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of school buildings, irrigation systems, flood control and roads and bridges in areas affected by calamities.” Why a water system? The COA audit showed that Emano used P11.5 million of the President’s allocation to build the Indahag Water System Phase 2 without the consent of the President. “As noted, the construction of (the) water system is not among the projects or activities to be funded from the PDAF. Any proposed changes, modifications or revisions of the defined uses or purposes thereof require prior consent and/or approval of the grantor, in this case, the President of the Philippines or his authorized representative,” the COA said. For its part, the city administration argued that it considered the President’s PDAF release as a “lump-sum subsidy,” which did not require the President’s approval.

WORM’S EYEVIEW: It wasn’t enough to have voted

By Manny Valdehuesa


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/03 July)–If you voted last May 13, good; it was the minimum expected of a responsible citizen. But if you thought voting was enough to fulfill your citizen duty, not good enough; for it was merely one of a series of duties and engagements necessary for achieving the purposes of elections.

A really responsible citizen is expected to do much more than cast a vote—especially in Mindanao, home of undying tradition, rabid trapos, pretentious oligarchs, and legendary practitioners of guns-goons-and-gold politics.

A voter who wishes good governance for his community and the rest of society must take care that his vote and of people around him (family, neighbors) are cast freely and honestly, not exchanged for money or motivated by misguided gratitude or obligation to a political patron.

Even then, the vote would still not be enough to achieve the purposes of elections. It may be good enough to renew the mandate of an incumbent or his team, but it still won’t produce good governance and its benefits.

A vote does not effect change or improvement. It merely makes way for either to happen. The change or the improvement would still remain to be done—the time for which happens to be now (after elections). And, as they say, it takes two to tango: on one hand, the elected officials, on the other, the citizenry, dancing in harmony, both knowing what steps to take now and in days ahead, and both doing their respective role.

Apathy=Bad Governance=Corruption

Bad governance and corruption in our system often occur because of inaction or apathy. Faced with inefficiency, we do nothing. Irregularity or abuse arises but we let it pass. We spoil our officeholders by making them think it’s all right even if it’s not.

Manny Pacquiao wanted to keep a vanity seat in Congress and Sarangani gave it to him; never mind that he’s brain deficient and won’t even warm the seat unless there’s a break from the boxing ring and he feels like posing for the media. Vicente Emano ran for vice mayor in Cagayan de Oro while Constantino Jaraula warmed the mayor’s seat for him—only to turn out that he didn’t know how to preside over a City Council and never did except once to bang a gavel and declare it open. The Dutertes indulge their royal pretensions and indispensability to Davao City’s governance and Davaoenos mawkishly let them, turning democracy into a monarchic oligarchy.

Cultural disservice

When impropriety invites no rebuke, wrongdoing no penalty, impunity is encouraged and presumptuous leadership is rewarded. That this happens especially at local levels, where intimate relationships obtain between those in power and those that put them there, is unfortunate. It impacts badly upon our culture.

It promotes tolerance of impropriety and bad conduct at the grassroots—the base of our political system. Encouraging such misguided tolerance between officials and voters, friends and neighbors, among members of the same community or family even, doubles its impact upon societal values.

It underscores the imperative of the Rule of Law at the grassroots, the local level. Unless people are aware of the law here, fastidious about its mandates, sensitive to its impact, and law-abiding, corruption will endure at the primal base of our system. It’s from the barangay that bad habits and careless morals spiral up and spread across the regions until it informs the character of our society.

Our national culture is but the sum of the attitudes, values, and practices obtaining in our communities.

Intimacy in wrongdoing, an accommodating friendship, drives people to excuse nepotism or favoritism, which is a subtle form of graft and a step away from corruption.

It takes uncommon statesmanship or a developed moral sense to distinguish between improper and illegal conduct. To look benignly at a borderline case where it involves a friend or relative is human. That’s why the law is needed to guide citizen behavior and interpersonal relations at the neighborhood level—where morality can melt to the plaintive strains of Sapagka’t Ako’y Tao Lamang among barkada.

Conditions for Good Government

Good governance and the quest for benefits accruing to it cannot be delegated or entrusted entirely to the discretion of officeholders. No one can rely solely on the conduct, style, or substance of a leader, especially one with autocratic tendencies. The role of the citizenry must come into play. And it must start with knowledge.

Knowledge is power. To be aware of the duties and responsibilities of those voted to office, as well as one’s role as a citizen, is the first condition for assuring good governance; so that every initiative will flow from knowledge and understanding.

The second condition necessary for good governance is attentive participation and engagement of all concerned. Governance must be dynamic. Information must flow freely between government and people. Activities must result from mutual cooperation, backed by active collaboration.

The third condition necessary for good governance is Assertive Sovereignty. The people must make known their expectations. They must insist that officials respect and bow to public opinion. And they must learn to assert the popular will.

In the event of defiance or official neglect, citizens have the right to withdraw the authority they delegate to their officials. That’s why the law gives them the Power of Recall, whereby the community may call for new elections to replace officials for loss of confidence. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Manny Valdehuesa is the president and national convenor of Gising Barangay Movement Inc. He can be reached at valdehuesa@gmail.com.)

Fire guts down Somo funeral parlor

By Loui S. Maliza


A FIRE razed a decades-old funeral home on Rizal corner Gomez streets in Cagayan de Oro Monday noon.

Fire Marshal Shirley Teleron said the fire broke out at the second floor of Somo Funeral Parlor at around 1:30 p.m. The fire fighters contained the blazed within 30 minutes.

She said, they couldn’t yet determine the cause of the fire but the damage is placed at around P300,000.

The fire department is looking at two possible causes of the fire.

Teleron said an unattended cooking could have caused the fire to break out which is reinforced by light materials of the mortuary.

She said witnesses noticed the blaze when Romeo Tiemco, 60, an embalmer who resides at the building’s second floor, went out of the mortuary and shouted for help.

“But we cannot discount possibilities that electrical connections or overloaded connections could also be factors,” Teleron cited.

The funeral home, reportedly made in the 50s, is originally owned by Ciriaco Somo and now managed by her daughter Jenny.

Teleron also belied reports that two persons were trapped inside the funeral parlor.

“We deny that because we sifted through the debris, but we did not find bodies. If there were indeed persons trapped inside, a strong smell would have been emitted from the area. Some said those trapped were children but they were seen to have fled already,” she clarified.

The immediate control of the fire prevented its spread to the neighboring buildings.

Teleron reminded the public to be cautious when cooking; to unplug appliances and electrical connections when not in use; and to avoid tapping electrical connections with neighbors.

Volunteers from Cagayan de Oro Filipino-Chinese volunteer fire brigade, Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Gaisano and Graphic reinforced the fire fighters who were responding to the area.






Editorial: Walk the talk

By sunstar.com.ph


TODAY, the city and the provincial governments are headed by their new local chief executives.

Nothing is new. They only exchanged courts.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Seriña Moreno together with his team took oath at Kiosko sa Kagawasan with former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. as the inducting officer.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma celebrated the mass for the team’s inauguration. The oath taking ceremony began with an ecumenical prayer by the various Christian churches in the city.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano together with his Padayon Pilipino partymates took their oath with former City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, Bambi’s father, their inducting officer.

Monsignor Elmer Abacahin celebrated the Padayon Pilipino provincial inaugural mass at Our Lady of Candelaria in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on June 26.

On Friday, the opposition city councilors had their simple oath-taking ceremony with former mayor Vicente Emano also their inducting officer at the new City Council session hall.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III took his oath also in Cagayan de Oro City. A statement that the Pimentels clearly manifested that Cagayan de Oro City is their political home court and Nene remains the political kingpin in this part of the country.

The organized and simple yet hyped inauguration of the new city administration somehow signaled that Hapsay CDO would commence with its 10-point agenda.

Beginning today, Team CDO’s Operation ‘Hapsay Dalan’ would be implemented through practicing basic road courtesy and employing ordinances to bring order in the chaotic streets in the city.

However, even before Team CDO could start office Dongkoy claimed he left City Hall with P1.3B in savings. The veracity of this claim would soon be uncovered. If indeed, these hefty funds exist.

Is it Dongkoy’s ploy to condition the minds of the people that Moreno isn’t inheriting huge problems at all since there is a lot of dough waiting for the new mayor to spend unlike his son, MisOr governor Bambi, who would be running a bankrupt capitol?

It seems that the Emanos have put the line that Moreno’s projects in Misamis Oriental are bound to be doomed and they are all a waste of money.

Dongkoy seems to paint the picture that capitol is bankrupt while the city hall has billions in savings and Oca doesn’t have worry because Dongkoy’s savings would solve its problems.

For his part, Moreno justified that funds have to be managed and not just to be saved at all. Is this his justification for a bankrupt capitol?

Both are still trap in old politics.

Both have to face the challenge that whatever they do during their stint as leaders, people must see their outputs, their hard labor and their concrete services.

Whatever they do, walking the talk would best serve the people in the city and the province.

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