Cagayan de Oro City News May 2015

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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

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

Public market of cagayan de oro city misamis oriental.JPG
Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
The river of cagayan de oro city
Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral cagayan de oro 01.jpg
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
Cagayan de Oro City buildings.jpg
Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

K to 12 protest greets opening of classes June 1

By LA Corrales

A NATIONWIDE protest against the K to 12 curriculum organized by Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list, together with its support groups, greets Monday's opening of classes in all elementary and secondary government-run schools.

ACT vice president for Northern Mindanao Orphelia Tabacon said that teachers all over the country are wearing black arm bands as a form of protest against the implementation of the new curriculum while they hold classes in their respective schools.

“Tanan man gud teachers, depende sa ilang form of protest, basta sa Camaman-an, black arm band, sa uban, magsuot og shirt, magbutang og tarp,” Tabacon said.

In Cagayan de Oro City, ACT support groups such as Gabriela and Kabataan party-list and parents affected by the K to 12 implementation are going to hop to select schools like Camaman-an Elementary School, West City Central School, East City Central School, City Central School and Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS).

Tabacon said these are the only schools they can accommodate, “pero daghan ga-support ani, dili lang aning mga eskwelahan.”

They will be hanging tarps outside the gates of these schools, giving leaflets and orientation to the parents of the students about what K to 12 is. They will also need signatures of parents to sign their manifesto, a campaign signature to suspend the K to 12 implementation.

After the school hopping, they are going to hold a program in front of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) regional office located near SM City.

Salary standardization

They are also pressing on the enforcement of Salary Standardization Law (SSL) that according to Tabacon has been violated since “wa gyud mi’y nadawat na increase for six years nga si President (Benigno) Aquino III, nga dapat every three years naa man, pero karun wala.”

She added that the last increase the teachers received was in 2009, the last year of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Tabacon also cited Republic Act 4670, titled “Magna Carta for Public School Teachers,” which promotes and improves the social and economic status of public school teachers.

Tabacon said this has not been realized since the salaries of the teachers are under the poverty line.

She said that a Philippine Military Academy cadet undergraduate receives P27,425 and a call center agent P22,000 a month, a much higher salary compared to the teachers.

Tabacon said the wages of teachers are not enough, citing statistics that a Filipino family must receive P1,054 per day or P31,620 per month to have decent lives, “but reality tells that we received lower than that.”

The teachers demand the immediate approval of House Bill (HB) 245 filed by ACT partylist, authored by Representative Antonio Tinio, which calls for an increase in the salaries of public school teachers from P18,549 to P25,000 per month, and of non-teaching personnel from P9,000 to P15,000 per month.

No free SHS

The K to 12 curriculum for senior high school (SHS) is not entirely free.

Tabacon said that a student in SHS will spend about P22,000 for a school year.

For every student, the government will subsidize P7,000 for educational assistance and another P7,000 as a voucher, educational aid with other educational institution such as Ched. “Kibali respeto nalang, naa pay mabilin nga P8,000,” she said.

“Aha mana pangitaon sa ginikanan?” she asked citing books, fieldtrips and uniforms as other fees. “Ang canteen sa private school, mahal ang baligya,” she added.

The K to 12 curriculum is designed to support the Public Private Partnership (PPP) of President Aquino. This is a strategy to implement the export-labor policy of the government.

Tabacon believes that this is for the private schools to sustain themselves, in support with Aquino's PPP.

“Mabutang nga no choice ang mga ginikanan, mapugos ang mga students nga magkuha aning care-giving, house-keeping courses, mga courses pang abroad,” Tabacon said.

In the SHS, “gamay ra ang public schools naga nag open for it, dili niya ma-cater ang volume of students busa mapugos ang uban nga muadto sa private schools nga andam nga daan,” she said.

CDO dads to LTO: Stop new policy declaring as 'smuggled' surplus vehicles sans registration

(Philippines News Agency)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Local legislators here passed a resolution seeking a moratorium on the implementation of the new policy on renewal of surplus vehicles here.

City Councilor Ramon Tabor, chairman of the committee on police, fire, and public safety, said on Friday the local body addressed the resolution to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which issued Memorandum Circular AVT-2014-1877 that declares as “smuggled” surplus vehicles without a Motor Vehicles Users Charge document whose registration has not been renewed and where the importers failed to pay the proper duties and taxes.

According to the councilor, the new policies would also affect the local government units (LGUs) since the LGUs are also using surplus multi-cabs and dump trucks.

More sugar smuggled out

By JB R. Deveza, Pamela Jay F. Orias (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- At least 25 to 30 more 40-footer container vans of refined sugar were smuggled out of the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last week, said retired general Jessie Dellosa, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Intelligence Group.

Dellosa made the statement Friday morning, May 29, as he inspected the 16 40-footer container vans of refined sugar seized Sunday, May 24, at the same port.

The contraband shipment weighed some 416,000 kilos or close to 459 tons.

Aside from the smuggled sugar valued at some P25.6 million, four other 40 footer container vans containing candies, tea, toys, and pipe fittings worth P2.4 million were also seized.

Documents reveal all 20 40-footer container vans were shipped from China on board the vessel M/V Valdivia.

Customs documents identify the consignee of the seized shipment as AMD Royale Enterprises based in Purok 10, Baloy Highway, Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City.

The same documents identify the customs broker as one Steve S. Semblante of Zone 1, 374 Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Dellosa said the container vans smuggled last week also had the same consignee and broker.

He said the BOC’s Intelligence Group is now coordinating efforts with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to determine where the sacks of sugar successfully smuggled out of the MCT last week are being stored.

Owners of warehouses that contain the contraband will also be charged with smuggling, Dellosa said.

He said Customs officials are also looking into the other import documents submitted by AMD, adding that the BOC discovered that from January to May this year, AMD was the consignee of some 800 container vans.

The importation was also facilitated by the same broker, according to Dellosa.

“We still have to validate whether those were also refined sugar,” he said. “Those shipments were also declared similarly -- as household goods.”

Lawyer Ruby Claudia Alameda, district collector of the Port of Cagayan de Oro, said both the consignee and the customs broker will be charged with violations of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines, specifically for violations of the Section 2503 on the “undervaluation, misclassification, and misdeclaration in entry” of the goods seized Sunday.

The said shipment is automatically forfeited under the law and will be auctioned off.

Meanwhile, Elisa G. Lao, senior sugar production regulations officer of the SRA, said the volume of smuggled sugar seized Sunday, May 24, may adversely affect sugar prices to the detriment of sugar planters and millers nationwide.

“If these are auctioned, the SRA may recommend that these be put in reserve and not released to the domestic market,” Lao said.

Lao said the SRA will also have the contraband sugar tested to see if these are fit for human consumption before these are auctioned off.

BPI Foundation opens ‘Sinag Challenge’ to CDO young entrepreneurs

By Karl Glendy Espares and Gennerah Enterina / PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 28 (PIA) -- The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation in collaboration with Ateneo de Cagayan and Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ASCEnt) opens its First Regional BPI Sinag Challenge on 28 May 2015 at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

Attended by various young local entrepreneurs in the city, the BPI Sinag Challenge is a business plan competition nationwide, aimed to empower entrepreneurs with social mission.

“The BPI Sinag Challenge is a social business competition. We’re seeking young entrepreneurs with socially oriented businesses – the so-called millennial are as creative as they are critical-thinkers, and they have the passion, the heart and the skills to change the world through business,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Fidelina Corcuera.

During the event, BPI encouraged young entrepreneur attendees who have small businesses to join and allowed them to share the progress of their businesses. And also, how they started and how far they have gone.

The business competition will be joined by the eligible entrant; either individual or group ages 18 to 35 that have a definite social enterprise idea or concept in mind and existing enterprises.

Sinag will provide access to workshops, mentorship, access to financing and the finalist will receive P200, 000 each, six months monitoring, coaching and access to the Ateneo business incubation center.

Further, the finalists will in turn help boost local activities in the community, give better opportunities, higher income and more employment. In addition, promotes local investments.

Participants who want to join will have to send their entries and application online through sinag.bpifoundation.org.

Solon revives proposed Mindanao railway system

(PNA), LGI/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 27 (PNA) -- Senator Grace Poe wants to revive the Mindanao Railway System in Mindanao as part of the government’s move to develop the provinces.

Poe was in Cagayan De Oro City Tuesday on invitation by a group of local village officials where she pushed for the decongestion of Metro Manila and channeling the development of the provinces.

“It is high time to decongest Metro Manila and bat for development in the provinces because progress could not be attained if development is focused in the national capital of Manila alone,” Poe said.

She cited the need to create and sustain both physical and social infrastructures in the regions outside in order to start the development of the provinces outside Metro Manila.

She said that the social corporate concept of inclusive growth as endorsed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other international organizations should be adapted locally so that prosperity would trickle down to the level of individual constituents.

“Metro Manila has been congested already. And I can see lots of potential in the provinces as new growth centers,” Poe told the village officials.

She cited the growth of Northern Mindanao for the past 10 years and consistently being touted as the fastest growing region in the island, with Cagayan De Oro as the most competitive city in the country second only to Makati.

“You have five economic zones here in Region 10. You can surely attract lots of investors. But, what is prosperity if it remains only in the hands of a few. That’s why inclusive growth must be realized to trickle down to our citizenry,” she said.

Poe said that one of the infrastructures that Mindanao needs at this point is to start the realization of the long overdue Mindanao railway system.

Congress discussed the Mindanao railway system in the early 1990s, which led to the creation of the Mindanao Railways Office under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) during the incumbency of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

When Arroyo’s presidential term expired in 2010, the planned railway system also met a premature death following the abolition of the Mindanao Railway System Office.

Probe into abuses of traffic aides sought

(PNA), CTB/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 26 (PNA) – The City Council would tackle allegation of “abuse” by traffic aides toward sidewalk vendors in the city’s public markets here, a City Councilor said Tuesday.

City Councilor Alexander Dacer said that the city council committee on economic enterprise would conduct a probe into the complaints of sidewalk vendors against traffic aides assigned in the city’s public market in Cogon here.

Dacer said that the vendors have complained that the traffic aides seized their wares and carts while plying along the market sidewalks.

“What these traffic aides are doing were seizing and destroying fruits, carts, and belongings of sidewalk vendors who are simply eking a living,” Dacer said.

He said that the acts of the traffic aides are intolerable, that a call for an investigation is appropriate in order to determine the culpability, if any, of the traffic aides.

“If proven true, this is a simple case of human rights violation where whoever is liable should be charged in court,” Dacer said.

According to Dacer, the market vendors have been complaining of the alleged “atrocities” of traffic aides in the past that have become an issue in the local media.

He said that the market vendors have lately warned that they would not hesitate to retaliate if pushed to the wall harder.

The city council is finally taking steps to iron out things between the traffic aides and the market vendors with a determination that the conflict would not end in a bloody confrontation in the future, Dacer said.

Family Welfare Federations to hold 1st Mindanao Summit in CDO

By Glenford C. Labial (DOLE-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 25 - In an effort to strengthen the Family Welfare Program (FWP) by providing new mechanisms to effectively function collective leadership and corporate social responsibility as keys to workplace productivity and improved worker-management relations, the Department of Labor and Employment -10 (DOLE-10) and the Northern Mindanao Federation of Family Welfare Committees (NMFFWC) will be hosting the 1st Mindanao summit on 27 July 2015 at the Grand Caprice Ballroom, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City.

After the meeting among the Mindanao FWP regional focal persons along with their respective federation chairpersons convened at CEPALCO Green Building on 12 May 2015, the summit was finalized.

DOLE Secretary, Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz will be invited as the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the summit which is expected to be participated in by no less than 310 active FWP practitioners representing labor and management sectors from an estimated 295 companies in the Mindanao regions.

Topics on human resource, rediscovering and exploring the FWP towards the improvement of the work values, and quality services for private companies will be discussed.

A series of best practices including open forum will also form part of the summit.

In a statement during the launching, NMFFWC Chairman Florita B. Quijano of Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation, Iligan City, encouraged the management with organized and non-organized family welfare committees in Mindanao regions to allow the participation of their FWC members and safety officers to enhance their knowledge and skills and some inputs from different speakers and co-participants to effectively and efficiently implement the FWP.

In full support, DOLE Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante expressed, “This serves as an effective forum for labor and management representatives of companies and institutions implementing the FWP to thresh out common issues and concerns relative to the implementation of the program at the company level and to benchmark good practices to increase productivity at the workplaces.”

The island-wide event is driven with the theme, “Family Welfare Committees in Mindanao: Bridging Connections.”

Misamis Oriental electric coop distributes GenSets

(Sun.Star Cagayan)

MISAMIS Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative-1 (Moresco 1) celebrated its 47th anniversary by powering up two-megawatt Modular Generation Sets last week.

The portable generators were acquired through the National Electrification Administration (NEA)-Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) of the Department of Energy (DOE).

The SEP was launched by the Aquino administration in 2011 to provide electricity in far-flung communities through the installation of gensets.

Three years after it was launched, the number of sitios completely energized in Misamis Oriental under Moresco 1 increased from 94 in 2011 to 132 at the end of 2014.

About 4,000 households are expected to benefit from the modular gensets.

The gensets were distributed in the 10 franchise areas of MORESCO: the towns of Alubijid, lnitao, Opel, Lugait, Laguindingan, Manticao, Gitagum, Libertad, Naawan, El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental, the 15 baranggays in Cagayan de Oro City, the 17 baranggays in the Municipality of Talakag, a barangay in Baungon in the Province of Bukidnon, and a barangay in Iligan City.

In his speech during the Moresco anniversary, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla reminded members of the cooperative: "It is your duty to help the directors of our electric companies if we are aware of, for example, electric jumpers in the community, because it is not only the directors who will experience the loss but also you."

Living right with NutriFit CGY

By Patricia Ysabel Tabian (AdMU intern)

WE ALL know that in living a healthy life, proper diet and proper exercise are essential. However, our diet is 35 percent more influential on our health and fitness compared to just exercising. ‘Eating unhealthy is okay as long as you workout’ is a myth, and a bad one too. Exercising means sweating out the food you ate, and in order to have a genuine healthy lifestyle, both must come hand in hand.

Recently, more and more locals decide on switching sides and are going for a healthy lifestyle. More and more businesses open up with the goal of helping out people to eat healthy, offering different diets.

Now the city has NutriFit CGY, a home-service business that offers Paleo diet to those who want to live healthy and fit.

But wait, ‘what kind of diet is that?’ you may ask.

Part-owner Melodi Tan answers that: “Paleo is short for ‘Paleolithic’ which means eating healthy, real and whole foods.” The diet is basically engaging to low-carb and high-fat foods. The former means half a cup of rice, as well as substitution of other foods with quinoa seeds, and any food rich in grains except for wheat bread. The latter refers to eating proteins like chicken and grass-fed beef bought from our local meat shops. The Paleo diet is also similar to the diet of our ancestors as they too were used to eating organic and clean food. The diet is very strict as there is a daily meal plan to be followed, thus, making this diet a healthier option compared to others.

The Paleo diet has already been in the Philippines for some time now, especially in Metro Manila. Now, NutriFit CGY offers the same compact diet to the locals of Cagayan de Oro at a very affordable price. It is managed by Chef Angelo Reyes who is an expert when it comes to European cuisine, Chef Melodi Tan who is a pastry chef, and Ciara Mae Cansino who is a registered nurse. With a team like theirs, good health and proper nutrition can easily be paired up with gourmet food prepared in a flash!

Their menu is composed of their own pre-planned recipes and these are different every day to avoid boring the customers who are courageous enough to start living a healthy life. Their food is freshly prepared from scratch every day, and they avoid processed food as this can cause cancer. With this diet, results are visible within three months!

The Paleo diet eating basis includes the usual meat, seafood, eggs, fruits and vegetables, and nuts and seeds (like almonds, walnuts, chia seeds).

Their Pan Fried Fish with Almond Powder has a soft texture which makes it easy to eat. The fish was cooked flawlessly with the right amount of spices that bring out the fish’s meat taste.

It was paired with a side order of mashed sweet potato and broccoli, both perfectly seasoned. The two dishes complemented each other impeccably. Their other bestsellers are the Fish En Papillote, Rosemary Chicken and Roasted Vegetables, all with a certain touch of European cooking. This gluten-free and grain-free whole meal only costs P150, a very affordable price for something that can cause so much goodness in our lives.

Their Paleo diet also serves sweets, but these are served in small portions. These paleo sweets that are quickly sold out include their Flour-less Bacon Brownies, Paleo Almond Cookies and Meringue Pie.

Aside from the regular Paleo diet, they also offer post-workout athletic meals which is composed of 300-500 grams of protein usually through chicken or beef.

The owners themselves are very supportive when it comes to their clients’ health and taste.

Every day, they update their customers on the meal plan to make sure that they will be enjoying their healthy meals. Their meal schedules are very considerate on their cheat days on the weekend. Usually, every Monday includes low-carb diets to detoxify their customers from the weekend, and as the week continues their meals become more relaxed.

According to Melodi, their diet does not count calories because they are serve fresh and made from scratch, being healthy is already an assurance. This diet does not only help a person lose weight but it also ensures proper digestion and maintains the blood sugar regulation.

Avoiding processed foods

“The Paleo lifestyle is simply about avoiding processed, nutrient-poor factory foods. It may be an adjustment at first, but it is simply a matter of eliminating foods that don’t promote health on your body,” said Melodi.

What is a small adjustment for something that will bring us great results?

Our body and health has been serving us ever since, making sure that we were feeling well in the adventures that we wanted to pursue. It’s now time to return the favor and treat them properly. It may take time to adapt but all has a winning situation when it comes to eating clean.

Distribution of 50K Philhealth ID cards starts

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 22 (PIA) -- The City Health Insurance Office (CHIO) will distribute 50,000 Philhealth identification cards cards for the 80 barangays of Cagayan de Oro starting May 20.

City Health Insurance Officer-In-Charge Dr. Ma. Lourdes S. Gaane said the Philhealth ID cards distribution on May 20 will cover four barangays, with the following schedule:

Bayabas (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.); Bonbon (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon); Kauswagan (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.); and Patag (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

On May 21, the same activity was conducted at FS Catanico (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.); Gusa (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon); Cugman (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.); and Tablon (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Dr. Gaane added that the Philhealth ID cards distribution will continue from May 27 until June 11, 2015.

Philhealth Sponsored Program is one of the priority programs of Mayor Oscar Moreno to ensure that card holders and their qualified family members will not be burdened paying high-cost of medicines and expenses upon hospital confinement.

DOH urges mothers to adapt Pinggang Pinoy

(JCV/PIA 10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 21 (PIA) – Department of Health (DOH) reiterates its call on mothers to prepare a healthy food plate for the family despite money and time constraint.

Nutritionist Telesfora G. Madelo of DOH region 10 said it is high time to start now, considering the increasing rate of persons suffering from chronic energy deficiency and obesity.

She recommended the ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ concept developed by the Food Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), a daily nutritional guide especially designed for Filipinos that complements with the food guide pyramid.

It’s a simple and easy to understand visual tool that uses a familiar food plate model to convey the right food group proportions on a per-meal basis.

The model suggested that each healthy meal should compose of 33 percent rice, 33 percent vegetables, 17 percent meat, and 17 percent fruit.

Madelo suggest to buy fruits in season so it won’t be costly as well as to opt for variety in vegetables served.

She drummed up the call during the media health advocates quarterly media forum on May 20 held in the city.

She said while ensuring that children as well-fed and healthy, this would also help build good healthy food habits for the children.


Solon pushes for ‘permaculture farming’ (Agriculture)

(PNA), FPV/RCK/CD/MARK FRANCISCO/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 20 (PNA) – A Solon on Wednesday pushed for “permaculture” as a scientific approach to develop sustainable agriculture and self-maintained habitat in the agricultural system.

Speaking to about 600 government agriculturists during the national convention of city and municipal agriculturists here last Monday, Senator Cynthia Villar lauded the thrust of the government agriculturists in the propagation of the permaculture mindset in the country.

“Permaculture” is a scientific approach to develop sustainable agriculture and a self-maintained habitat of agricultural systems around the country modeled from existing natural ecosystems.

The government agriculturist through the League of Municipal Agricultural Officers and Municipal/City Agriculturists of the Philippines (LeMMCAP) have submitted papers on various approaches about “permaculture” farming from the Ilocos Region through the Mindanao Regions during the convention expected to wind up Thursday here.

Villar said that one of the examples of permaculture currently employed by farmers nationwide is crop rotation especially in areas planted with coconut.

“The cash crops, mostly coffee and cacao, which are grown in between coconuts, are good sources of organic fertilizers,” Villar said.

The LeMMCAP’s ultimate goal is to bridge national line agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and LGUs in crafting permaculture and agro-ecology policies to help bring about a sustained growth in agricultural production throughout the country without compromising the environment, Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson Palad said.

Palad also welcomed the proposal by Villar to require the local government units (LGUs) to set aside a compulsory an annual budget for agriculture.

Villar said that some LGUs, especially in urbanized areas, do not set aside funds for agriculture. “Without funds to develop agriculture, the city agriculturist’s main job is to inject anti-rabies vaccine. This is preposterous,” Villar said. (PNA) CTB/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

Mindanao regions gear to implement “dual training system”

(PNA), FPV/RCK/CD/MARK FRANCISCO/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 19 (PNA) – The regions in Mindanao would be the first outside Metro Manila to implement the “Dual Training System Act of 1994,” a technical education official said Tuesday.

Kotie R. Bax, regional director in Northern Mindanao, of the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), said that the “dual training system” is an innovative approach where companies have an option to allow workers to spend half of the working week day to enroll in a vocational course.

The company pays for the tuition while the worker would receive compensation only according to the actual number of days having worked for, Bax said.

Bax said that the “Dual Training System Act of 1994” is provided for under Republic Act No. 7686 designed to strengthen the man power education and training in the country to provide the workers with the appropriate skills in order to improve productivity in the workplace.

He said that system has been successful in other countries. “It is time that the program is adopted in the region through the duly accredited vocational and technical schools in cooperation with accredited agricultural, industrial and business establishments.

Under the system, a taxable income amounting to 50 percent of the tuition paid by the company to the vocational school would be tax exempt.

According to Bax, about 40 members of the chamber of commerce and representatives of 150 vocational schools in Mindanao would converge in Cagayan De Oro City on May 26, 2015 to signal the start of the implementation of the dual training system in Mindanao.

New Child Development Center soon to rise in Tignapoloan

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 18 (PIA) -- The parents in Barangay Tignapoloan in Cagayan de Oro City are happy to know that, not long from now, a new Child Development Center will be built in their area.

The construction is estimated to cost P766,366.00 and will be funded by the Special Education Fund managed by the Local School Board.

The construction of Child Development Centers, together with the construction of many classrooms for elementary and secondary education, is one of the priorities of Mayor Oscar Moreno’s administration.

Data shows there is an increase in the number of students aged 3-4 years in Day Care Centers in 2014. In the previous year, the number of enrolees reached more than 10 thousand in the entire city, in nearly 200 Child Development Centers.

Enrolling the children in Day Care Centers is free and there is also a feeding program from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) to provide good nutrition to the children.

Moreno is focused on sharpening the intellect of small children in their early years and strengthening them in their formative years to prepare them for the bright futures waiting for them.

'Brigada Eskwela' highlights K to 12

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

PUBLIC schools in the country are holding the "Brigada Eskwela," which is the annual preparation activities of government schools prior to opening of classes on June 1.

Dr. Noe D. Simene, chief of the Educational Support Services Division (ESSD) of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Northern Mindanao, said Friday that the region is ready for the May 18 Brigada Eskwela.

“We had a meeting yesterday (May 14) about capacitating Brigada coordinators. We informed them about the upcoming activities and requested them to furnish us their plans,” Simene said.

Simene said the highlight of this year’s event is not just the maintenance of the schools but also prioritizing the information dissemination of K to 12 program to parents, making it a different Brigada Eskwela this year.

Simene said DepEd-Northern Mindanao would provide parents information on the possible courses for their children to take as they enter the Senior High School.

Vevian Tuason, senior education program specialist in Social Mobilization and Networking of Misamis Oriental Division, said the goal of their office is to have a province-wide and simultaneous Brigada, citing it will be like a fiesta celebration.

Simene clarified that participating in Brigada Eskwela is not mandatory. He said that parents and students are not required to participate for enrolment compliance.

Simene added that Brigada is held to prepare the schools for the opening of classes and if parents and students are not willing to participate.

But Simene said that the teachers are required to be present in schools before class starts, “Naa gyud sila to assist whatever the school lacks.”

The theme for this year’s Brigada is “Tayo para sa Kalinisan, Kaligtasan, at Kahandaan ng ating mga Paaralan.”

Oro police office airs radio program to reach out to communities

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

IN ORDER to reach out the community especially the youth, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) established a radio program in a local FM radio outlet just last Friday, May 15, according to the chief of Cocpo community relation branch.

Police Superintendent Henry Cay-as, Cocpo community relations chief, said this radio program can help the police effectively disseminate information on activities and accomplishments of the police to the public, especially the younger audience.

The radio program’s main purpose is change the perception of the younger generation of the police, “dati kasi, ginapanghinadlok sa mga inahan ang police sa mga bata, example, ‘sige di ka magpuyo? naa raba police.’” Cay-as said. So, through this radio program, the police can address this misconception, he added.

According to Cay-as, most of the radio stations share the “bad news such as mga tulis, droga ug uban pa,” he said adding that it leaves a bad impression to the community. Through this venue, the radio program, Cocpo will share the lighter side of the police.

“The other purpose of this is the share to the public the activities and accomplishments of the police,” Cay-as said. Moreover, “people can send their complaints, issues, concerns and problems,” he added.

Usually, most of the people’s complaints are “walay police visibility ani nga area, wala’y tao sa outpost, illegal drugs,” Cay-as said.

Through a call or text, the people can also send their complaints and which the police must answer coupled with appropriate action, he added.

“Then and there, ma-actionan siya,” Cay-as said adding that all of the 10 police stations are monitoring the radio program and when a participant would address a complaint at their place, the police station that is responsible in that area will take answer or take action.

The process is simple: call or text 09354426947, the official hotline of Cocpo’s radio program and type one’s complaint or concerns and send it to this number, then the police will do the rest.

Last Friday, May 15, Cocpo aired its radio program called “Ang Kapulisan sa Dakbayan,” at Mellow Touch 95.7 FM. Cay-as said their segment will be aired every Friday at 8:30-9:00 a.m.

Anti-helmet ordinance in CDO’s downtown areas pushed

(PNA), LAP/RCK/CD/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 15 (PNA) –- The local legislators here are pushing for the approval of a City Ordinance that would prohibit motorcycle riding men from using their “helmet” in the city’s downtown areas.

City Councilor Roger Abaday, chair of the committee on public affairs, said on Friday that the proposed Ordinance is part of the measure to counter the commission of criminal activities by motorcycle riding criminals here.

“We have observed that most crimes here were perpetrated by motorcycle riding suspects using protective helmets and masks,” Abaday said.

He cited the number of unsolved hold-up and robbery cases here because the police and witnesses could not make an appropriate description of the suspects who were wearing helmets.

City Councilor Candy Darimbang said that a technical committee is now working on about the possible implementation of the anti-helmet law here that would not be in conflict with the national laws.

She said that while there is an existing law requiring the use of protective helmet for motorcycle riding men, the city council could possibly work out to approve a law that would be for the greater interest and security of the local residents here.

DOST opens application for third year college scholarship

BY Teresita S. Baluyos (DOST10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 14 -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announces the availability of scholarship slots for regular third year college students who are enrolled in priority science and technology (S&T) courses and are willing to teach in secondary schools in the Philippines.

To qualify for this scholarship one should be a Filipino citizen, regular third college student in identified priority science and technology courses in any state university or college or private university, has a general weighted average of at least 83% (or its equivalent) in his/her first and second years in college, qualify in the JLSS written examination, agree to teach in the secondary level of basic education in public or private high school as their return of service (ROS), agree to any of the approved ROS, agree to pay the amounts disbursed with applicable interest in case of failure to comply with the terms of Return of Service (ROS).

Applicants should be enrolled in the following Commission on Higher Education (CHED) - compliant science and technology priority courses: agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural chemistry, agricultural engineering, agricultural biosystems engineering, applied mathematics, applied physics, biochemistry, biology, ceramics engineering, chemistry with applied computer system, chemistry with materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, electronics and communications engineering, environmental science, fisheries, food technology, forestry, geology, geodetic engineering, geothermal engineering, industrial engineering, industrial management engineering-information-technology, information technology, instrumentation and control engineering, manufacturing engineering management-biomedical engineering, manufacturing engineering management-mechatronics and robotics, manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mathematics, mathematics teaching, mechanical engineering, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, molecular biology and biotechnology, physics, applied physics with applied computer system, applied physics with materials science engineering, science teaching (biology, chemistry, physics, physical science), and statistics.

Required documents to submit are accomplished JLSS information sheet (Form A), accomplished certification regarding course and year level (Form B), accomplished to Return of Service (ROS) Conditions (Form C), Birth Certificate and Official Transcript of Records or Certified True Copy Grades ( of first year and second year).

The application form can be obtained at the DOST regional and provincial offices and can be downloaded at this website: www.science-scholarships.ph. Accomplished application forms and the required documents should be submitted at the DOST regional and provincial offices, too.

Qualifiers of the JLSS will enjoy the following privileges: tuition and other school fees not to exceed P10,00/semester or P8,000/trimester/term; P5,000 book allowance/semester; monthly allowance of P5,000 (P5,000 for those who take BS-Physics, Applied Physics, Physics Teaching, Geology, Mining Engineering, Agriculture, and Fisheries); Transportation allowance for one economy-class round trip fare (for those studying outside of their home province); and group insurance coverage of P200,000.

After graduation, when the DOST scholar-graduate has been hired by the Department of Education (DEPED) or private school, he/she will be employed with a position equivalent to Special Science Teacher I in the Philippine Science High School. He/she will be given priority for job placement in high school in the country and will also receive a one-time relocation allowance should he/she be assigned in a place other than his/her permanent residence. He/she will be provided scholarship in identified teacher education institutes for Science and education Courses and be allowed to teach even without Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) eligibility but to pass the LET within five years from date of hiring.

Deadline of filling the application is on June 15, 2015. Date of examination is on July 12, 2015.

In Region 10, call 858-67-90 or visit the Regional Office located at J.V. Seriña St.(near JR Borja General Hospital) Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City or the nearest DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center in your area.

The JLSS is governed by Republic Act 10612, dubbed as “Fast-Tracked Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 2013” which aims to strengthen the country’s science and technology education by fast-tracking graduates in Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering who shall teach science and mathematics in secondary schools throughout country.

DPWH completes PHP176-M widening road of airport access road in Misamis Oriental

(PNA), FFC/EDS

MANILA, May 13 (PNA) -- Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said his department on Northern Mindanao has completed the PHP176 million widening of Opol to Laguindingan Section of Butuan City-Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Road (BCIR) which covers the 3.7 kilometer access road leading to Misamis Oriental’s main airport - the Laguindingan International Airport.

The project includes the widening of the highway from two lanes to four lanes, with some vital sections widened into six lanes.

The widening and reconstruction of three bridges namely: Alubijid, Igpit and Opot Bridges along BCIR were also part of the accomplishment under the Department of Tourism-DPWH Convergence Program.

The road is not only servicing Laguindingan International Airport but also providing better access to neighboring tourism sites like Loguilo Beach in the town of Alibijid and Opol Beach in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

“We continue to commit building better national road network, as we recognize its importance in maximizing the potential of our country’s world-class tourism destinations. This much improved road will benefit both the local residents and tourists, allowing better and safer transport of people, goods and services,” said Secretary Singson.

Malaysian, MisOr firms sign deal on 1M oil palm seeds for farmers

By Froilan Gallardo (MindaNews)

CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews/12 May) — A leading Malaysian agribusiness firm entered into an agreement with a Misamis Oriental-based agricultural company on Monday to distribute one million of high quality oil palm seeds to farmers in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

Felda Global Ventures (FGV) Vice President S. Palaniappan hailed the signing of the business partnership with Bali Oil Produce Corporation of Misamis Oriental as “a milestone.”

Palaniappan said the oil palm seeds they intend to distribute to farmers in the two provinces are assured of quality as these are backed by extensive research and development by their firm.

“This is a milestone in collaboration. The quality of our seeds is supported with extensive research and development by our company,” Palaniappan said.

He said they plan to distribute one million oil palm seedlings to farmers in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental through the help of Bali Oil Produce Corporation.

FGV is a leading agribusiness firm in Malaysia which uses its cutting edge technology from its research and development department to boost production of palm oil.

Manuel Boniao, chair of Bali Oil, said they will distribute the seedlings to farmers in the towns of Kalilangan , Maramag in Bukidnon and Tagoloan and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental.

He said they intend to cover 50,000 hectares in the first year of the arrival of seedlings.

“One major thing that is different here is that the farmers still own and till their lands unlike other agricultural companies that produce pineapple and bananas,” Boniao said.

“We are just adding more value and profitability to the farmers,” he added.

Boniao said they have tied up with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Cooperative Development Authority to provide soft loans to the farmers.

He said DBP has already agreed to provide loans to 1,750 farmers in the towns of Kalilangan, Pangantukan and Talakag towns in Bukidnon.

The distribution agreement between FGV and Bali Oil also included technology training for the farmers and nursery operations.

BFAR allots PHP57M for fish landings in Northern Mindanao

(PNA), FFC/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 11 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has allocated PHP57 million for the construction of fish landings in Northern Mindanao, a fisheries official said Monday.

Visa Tan Dimeren, BFAR regional director in Northern Mindanao, said that the BFAR has identified 20 towns as the site of the Fish Landing Center in the region.

She said that the BFAR would construct a fish landing in each of these towns worth PHP2.85 million under the supervision of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Dimeren said that the anti-poverty commission would assign a “coach” that would assist the poor fishermen in the maintenance of the fish landing centers.

“Aside from teaching the anglers in the proper handling of fish catch, the primary responsibility of the 'coach' is to make sure that the fish landing centers are maintained properly,” Dimeren said.

She said that in Misamis Oriental, the fish landing centers would be in 13 towns, two towns in Misamis Occidental, three towns in Lanao Del Norte, and two in the towns of Camiguin.

Dimeren also cited Panguil Bay in Misamis Occidental and Lanao Del Norte as among the richest provinces in Northern Mindanao in terms of marine resources because of the abundance of shrimps, squids, crabs in the area.


Error on land scope delays Phase-1 Oro dump rehab project

By Jennica Diaz (MSU-Marawi intern)

THE Phase 1 of the closure and rehabilitation project of the Cagayan de Oro City dumpsite in Upper Dagong, Zayas in Barangay Carmen has been stalled due to some problems that cropped up as it neared completion.

The rehabilitation project started in December 2014 and its Phase 1 was set for completion last April 15.

But Edwin Dael, chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro), told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the Phase 1 is still ongoing, citing the problem on overlapping the project to the adjacent land in which its owner filed a complaint for the error on the measurement.

Phase 1 includes the retro-filling, soil covering and the perimeter fencing, which has been stalled due to the current problem.

“April 15 unta siya matapos but because of the complaint, we have to redo it,” Dael said.

Due to that circumstance, “the contractor did cautious computations on the placements of fences to avoid extension of the operation,” he added.

He also said that barb wires will soon be put up after the concrete fences will be assembled.

With regard to the target date of its completion, he said he could no longer give the timeframe but assured it will be completed.

Budget for Phase 2

The Phase 2 of the project, which includes the filling of soil, piping, road network construction and social engineering, would still be pushed, Dael said.

He said three weeks ago, they started the program of work for Phase 2 despite the zero-fund that the majority of the City Council gave for the project.

“Disapproved pa rin yung budget sa City Council, but the mayor said he will find ways to look for the funds,” he said.

He added that Phase 2 could hopefully be finished if there were only enough money for the materials.

“The Phase 2 could have been finished earlier because both phases could be done simultaneously since they have different processes and scope of work,” he said.

Solid waste management project

Whether there is a zero-fund on the landfill rehabilitation and sanitary projects, Dael said the city administration will go on with the plans for each barangay in the city.

With a P4.2-million left on Clenro’s fund, he said it won’t stop them [Clenro] to lay out projects for the environment.

With the city’s endless and massive wastes, he said Clenro continues to campaign against throwing garbage anywhere that could clog city drain and waterways and segregating these wastes.

The Solid Waste Management project of Clenro for each barangay was launched in Barangay Lapasan early this May. The project provided instructions on classifying non-biodegradable and bio-degradable wastes and recycling. Hopefully, they will launch it soon in Barangay Gusa, Dael said.

Mindanao coop leaders unite for environmental protection, peace

(PNA), FPV/CD/CD

THE spirit of cooperativism lives on.

Leaders of Mindanao cooperatives are now pushing for inclusive, community-driven solutions to address climate change issues and the decades-long conflict in the second largest island of the Philippines.

The 46thCooperative Leaders’ Congress and General Assembly on May 1-2 in Butuan City marked the unity of the coops to start taking actions toward the said issues at their own local level.

“We have to be united, 13 million coop members nationwide, to develop and improve not just the quality of our lives but more importantly take care of our environment and resources,” said Orlando R.Ravanera, chairman of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

The coop congress drew together more than 600 delegates from more than 140members of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center.

Empowering members

Ravanera shared that cooperatives can empower their members who are mostly fisher folks, factory workers, housewives, vendors, indigenous peoples, among others, through capacity building,knowledge dissemination, and strengthening their sense of community ownership.

Citing government statistics, the total volume of business of registered cooperatives in the Philippines in 2013 amounts to P437.6 billion or 3.8 percent of our 2013 gross domestic product.

Moreover, the total volume of business of registered coops in Mindanao in 2013 is P101.88 billion and at least 60 percent of the latter came from Northern Mindanao and Davao Region.

Cooperativism for Mother Earth

Ravanera challenged the different cooperatives to come up with their own long-term initiatives to make their communities resilient and more prepared for disasters.

In 2008, according to the Brussels-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), the Philippines was one of three countries hit by most disasters, and leads the list of (vulnerable) nations most in danger of facing frequent and more intense storms.

Cooperatives serve as partners of Xavier University’s Valuing Ecosystem Services Together (VEST) project in an environmental undertaking for Mt.Kalatunganin Talakag, Bukidnonand the Cagayan de Oro River Basin.

Challenge

"The challenge is helping cooperatives to be resilient and sustainable as it is not only about saving lives but preserving livelihoods as well,” said Analyn B. Mejares, VEST technical officer and environmental consultant of MASS-SPECC.

VEST is the social marketing arm of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for Mt.Kalatungan which acts as a “rewarding mechanism” with a slew of activities to encourage Kagay-anons to participate in the fund drive to reforest the denuded mountain range.

Different sectors—corporations, cooperatives, the academe, religious groups, and households—in NorMin will reward the lumad community with economic incentives for acting as forest managers to ensure that watersheds along the region develop high water infiltration capacity.

“What more can cooperatives do?” she asked.

Mejares recommended that cooperatives can invest a significant portion of their community development fund to the PES/VEST project, sustainable agriculture and solid waste management, among other interventions.

“The Philippines ranked second in the world in terms of vulnerability to disaster and natural hazards, according to the World Risk Index 2014 report and one of the major reasons why the Philippines is at high risk is poverty,” said Mejares, who studied Environmental Systems, Markets and Climate Change at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.

“We still lack the resources, technical capacities and infrastructure to cope with disasters,” she said, highlighting the urgency for a sustainable resource management in the hope that cooperatives can create localized disaster risk reduction and management programs.

Achieving peace through cooperatives

Cagayan de Oro-based MASS-SPECC is the largest cooperative federation in the Philippines with a total of 272 active members and with assets amounting to more than one billion pesos.

Former Senator Aquilino“Nene”Pimentel Jr., one of the guest speakers at the coop congress, presented federalism as an option for lasting peace and sustainable development in Mindanao.

“The unitary form of government or a centralized government that has its orders coming from Metro Manila or the ‘imperial Manila’ has been proven inefficient and culturally insensitive to the many ethno-linguistic regional groups and to the indigenous and Moro people, especially in Mindanao,” Pimentel said during one of the thematic sessions.

For Pimentel, Mindanao cooperatives play a huge part in achieving understanding and peace because of the diverse ethnicities of their members.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Davao Region, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) and NorMin have the most number of registered cooperatives in Mindanao.

“Through federalism, unity in diversity can become a living and powerful statement that can break the chain of poverty and inequality that has characterized our history as a people,” he continued.

Cooperatives are considered “drivers of development” in the country especially in rural areas.

Both Pimentel and Ravanera believe that the issues on peace, environment and social inequalities are intertwined with one another, and aside from aiming for poverty alleviation, coops serve as platforms in reaching out to more marginalized sectors of our society and mainstreaming them in the development saga.

Police launch ‘Oplan Night Watch’ in Northern Mindanao

(PNA), FPV/CD/CD

CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan De Oro City, May 8 (PNA) – The police regional command here has implemented “Oplan Night Watch” as part of the no nonsense campaign against criminal activities in Northern Mindanao.

Chief Supt. Lyndell Desquitado, the regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 10, on Friday, said that “Oplan Night Watch” started this week.

The operation directed all staff officers of the PNP regional headquarters here to monitor the supervision of police directors of various police stations to assist police personnel in performing the assigned duties and responsibilities.

Operation Night Watch also directed all police sub stations and offices to conduct regular checkpoints, increase police actions, speedy resolution of cases and close monitoring of internal security operations.

Desquitado said the PNP regional command wants to ensure public peace, safety, and security of the community of Northern Mindanao through various interventions against all forms of criminalities.

“However, the success of an effective crime prevention lies in the active participation of the community by providing the law enforcers relevant and timely information about suspicious activities and questionable persons,” Desquitado said.

DBP grants P250M loan to Misamis Oriental

By Butch D. Enerio

THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), in its continuing mandate to stir economic development in Northern Mindanao, signed a P250-million loan agreement with the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental on Thursday.

DBP said the loan would finance for the acquisition of heavy equipment to develop, rehabilitate and maintain 1,800 kilometers of barangay roads and 1,080 km of farm to market and alternate access roads based on the province’s Enhanced Provincial Development Plan (EPDP) for the period 2013-2018.

Neogen Chaves, DBP senior assistant vice president and head regional Marketing Center for Northern Mindanao, said that loan awarded to the local government unit (LGU) of Misamis Oriental is part of the bank’s mandate in stirring economic development in the entire country.

“DBP is always ready to extend assistance to LGUs where we see it’s needed, and in the case of MisOr the loan amount would justify the need of the province to acquire the needed heavy equipment for the road projects and address the lack of hospital equipment, among others,” said Shirley Mae Serate, head DBP Cagayan de Oro Branch.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano said that the bulk of the loan amount or P200 million would be for the acquisition of the heavy equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, pay loaders, dump trucks, pick up vehicles, for the road projects, while the remaining P50 million would be spent to rehabilitate and equip the eight hospitals of the province with X-ray machines, air conditioning systems, ambulances and various medical and hospital equipment, complete mobile clinics, among others.

The loan is payable in seven years inclusive of one year grace period.

The province has a total road network of 4,301.42 km consisting of 2,751.41km barangay roads, 180.50km municipal roads, 1,066.51 km provincial roads and 303 km national roads.

Out of the 4,301.42 road network only 559.15 km are concreted. The rest are graveled, earth-filled or asphalted.

The province also has 109 bridges with a total reach of 6,455.05 linear meters.

The government hospitals in Misamis Oriental include eight provincial and one municipal hospital.

Based on the EPDP (2013-2018), the province aims to improve operational performance and diagnostic capabilities of district and provincial hospitals by upgrading the Gingoog and Alubijid provincial hospitals to Level III and the three other provincial hospitals to Level II by 2018.

“The acquisition of various hospital and medical equipment: two mobile clinics and eight units of ambulance is the province’s initial step in upgrading health care facilities and providing greater access to health services to the people of Misamis Oriental,” Emano said.

The loan agreement was signed by Emano on behalf of Misamis Oriental and Shirley Mae Serate for DBP and witnessed by DBP AVP Neogen Chaves and the members of the provincial board and other local officials.

Normin food processors conduct pasalubong fair in CDO

By Loraine C. Brillantes (DTI-MisOr/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 6 -- Over 25 local food processors participated in the banner event of the Food Processors Association of Northern Mindanao (FOPANORMIN) for a three-day pasalubong fair that formally opened on April 24, at the Centrio Activity Area, Centrio Mall.

The formal opening ceremonies was led by Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez together with FOPANORMIN President, Gina M. Obsina, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore, Department of Trade and Industry Division Chief, Liza V.M. Alcantar and Department of Science and Technology, Junelyn-Louvena Ruiz.

Popular brands such as SLERS, Vjandep Pastel, Malunggay Pastel, TGO Pines, Darling Foods and Missy Bonbon were among the participants of the event.

The activity was also a celebration of the 15th anniversary of FOPANORMIN which was established in the year 2000 with the assistance of the different line agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology.

World’s first Rafthon event to be launched in CdeO

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 5 (PIA) -- The one of its kind test of endurance – a combination of race running, biking, and rafting called Rafthon will add color and unique flavour on Cagayan de Oro City’s fiesta events this August.

Rafthon, or rafting, marathon, and biking, was conceptualized and initiated by youth and sports advocate Sean P. Moreno, who is also the Rafthon director.

Rafthon aims to boost local tourism through Cagayan de Oro City’s famous white water rafting adventure. The event is said to be participated by 120 teams from the different cities around the Philippines.

The Rafthon will take place on August 29, serving as the fiesta’s culminating activity. It has two categories, namely; Category 1 – rafting the last 8 rapids of the Cagayan River (equivalent to 14 kms) + 4km/11km running and Category 2 – last 8 rapids + 10km running + 35km biking.

The young Moreno said Rafthon is a Filipino home-grown sport which hopes to attract local and foreign tourists.

Oro’s Casino leads Butuan leg winners in netfest

By Lynde Salgados

CAGAYAN de Oro’s Clyde Mari Casino brought home the premier 18-under boys title of the 2015 Cebuana Lhuillier-Dunlop Sport Age Group Tennis Tournament’s latest Summer Series leg in Butuan City.

Casino, however, went through the deciding third set before wearing down George Gogo of Camiguin in the finals, 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 of the group 2 event held from April 29 to May 2 at Butuan Capitol Tennis Club in Butuan City.

Although Rupert Ohrelle Tortal of Surigao City forced the retirement of Nash Agustines of Oroquieta City in a 6-4, 4-1 duel for the 12-under boys diadem, the much younger Agustines still hold a good promise as he continues to lord it over in the unisex 10-under at the expense of John Christopher Sonsona of Tubod, Lanao del Norte whom he overcame in three sets, 3-5, 4-1, 4-0.

“We missed some of the best age group netters in the region, but with a total of 138 participants…the Butuan leg was still an interesting tourney,” organizer and ITF-licensed referee Mario Inguito Craiz told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro via text messaging.

Here’s the complete results:

SINGLES -- EVENT

10 years & under (unisex) Champion: Nash Agustines (Oroqieta City)35 41 40 Runner-up: John Christopher Sonsona (Tubod, Lanao del Norte)

12 years & under (Boys) Champion: Rupert Ohrelle Tortal (Surigao City) 64 41(RETired) Runner-up: Nash Agustines (Oroquieta City)

14 years & under (Boys) Champion: Janus Al-Najeeb Ringia (Marbel City) 26 63 10-2 Runner-up: Marc Nicole Suson (Cebu City)

16 years & under (Boys) Champion: Janus Al-Najeeb Ringia (Marbel City) 76 62 Runner-up:

18 years & under (Boys) Champion: Clyde Mari Casino (CDO) 63 26 10-5 Runner-up: George Gogo (Mambajao, Camiguin)

12 years & under (Girls) Champion: Joshea Dominique Malazarte (San Francisco, Agusan del Norte) 63 26 10-8 Runner-up: May Alejandro (Butuan City)

14 years & under (Girls) Champion: Janmarie Anghag (Ozamiz City) 63 61 Runner-up: Winona Cabardo (Davao City)

16 years & under (Girls) Champion: Carmeville Gervacio (Ozamiz City) 62 76 Runner-up: Janmarie Anghag (Ozamiz City)

18 years & under (Girls) Champion: Mary Aubrey Calma (CDO)63 62 Runner-up: Immaville Gervacio (Ozamiz City)

DOUBLES -- EVENT

10 unisex Champion: John Christopher Sonsona/Nash Agustines 42 41 Runner-up: Kurt Gervan Bandolis/Kristin Guia Margarrette Bandolis

14 years & under (Boys) Champion: Marc Nicole Suson/Justin Yepis 8-3 Runner-up: Prince Najeeb Langitao/John Steven Sonsona

18 years & under (Boys) Champion: Auden Aaron Paduganan/Francis Hidalgo 8-3 Runner-up: Duma Hakim Boloto/Clyde Mari Casino

14 years & under (Girls) Champion: Janmarie Anghag/Farrah Kris Caroline Emata 8-5 Runner-up:Joshea Dominique Alejandro/May Alejandro

18 years & under (Girls) Champion: Immaville Gervacio/Mary Aubrey Calma 8-3 Runner-up: Hillary Olga Reserva/Erika Aguillon

‘Cagayanons’ believe Pacquiao won the fight against Mayweather

By Cris Diaz (PNA), SCS/CD/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 3 (PNA) – Like most of the Filipinos, the “Cagayanons” believed Manny Pacquiao won the fight against Mayweather during live broadcast on Sunday.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro City said he believed Manny Pacquiao won the fight after landing many punches compared to Mayweather.

“Manny Pacaquiao was the aggressive fighter right from the start to the end as Floyd Mayweather kept on running away all time,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that Pacquiao carried the fight with determination and dignity as the Philippine flag flew high during the fight, upholding the Filipino pride and honor.

“Undoubtedly, Pacquiao’s colleagues in Congress are proud of the Filipino fighter who demonstrated the epitome of the Filipino’s determination and courage,” Rodriguez said.

Likewise, the more than 4,000 people who watched the pay-per-view of the Pacquiao-Maweather fight here also believed that Pacquiao should have won the fight.

About a dozen restaurants and hotels on Sunday broadcast live the pay-per-view Pacquiao-Mayweather fight here, selling entrance tickets from PhP250 to PhP350 per person.

Most wagers bet a minimum of PhP20,000 and up in favor of Pacquiao even before the fight started, but only a few took the bet since most Cagayanons favored Pacquiao to win.

Police on full alert in today's Mayweather-Pacquiao match

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrale (With Jennica Diaz/MSU intern)

WHILE many barangays and private enterprises are preparing for the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight today, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) chief of operations and plans Lemuel Gonda said they are on full alert.

Cocpo has deployed police units to all public viewing areas in coordination with local government units and barangays. Patrol mobiles, explosive ordnance unit (EOD), K9 units, and all alert teams are on standby, Gonda added.

Preparations have been made to witness the fight of the century.

Viewing areas

The provincial government of Misamis Oriental has prepared a 9x5 LED screen at the Provincial Capitol Grounds to provide the people free viewing of the match, said Allyn Peñalosa, provincial information officer.

“We will start the showing at 7a.m. until the end of the match,” Peñalosa said adding that they are also showing the match at the provincial government’s extension in Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental.

According to Julius Maximo of Cagayan de Oro Information Office (CIO), the city government has its public viewing at Duaw Park across City Hall at 9 in the morning.

Since most of the barangays in the city are going to do the same thing, “Katong mga tao nga wala gyud, dili makapalit sa tickets, mao among target na audience sa free viewing,” Maximo said. Duaw park can only accommodate about 100 persons, he added.

Christine Sabalo-Monforte, 36, has already prepared her sound system and projector with three flat screen TVs for the fight of Pacquiao-Mayweather. Monforte is inviting her neighbors in Barangay Kauswagan to watch the fight. She added that this is not the first time she has opened her house for free pay-per-view.

“Eight years na namo ni ginabuhat ug kani ang nakapabibo basta daghan kayo mulantaw,” Monforte said.

She also said that her husband, Jude, bought a video splitter and a sound system. With a little free snack, peanuts and fish crackers, she is expecting people to enjoy watching the fight.

There are also other houses in the neighborhood which are sponsoring for the venue, Tata Pacana, 48, also a barangay official in Kauswagan, is one of them. According to Pacana, because of the bigger space he has, his house was chosen. He added that it was sponsored by First District Representative Klarex Uy.

Meanwhile, there are 24 areas in Barangay Carmen which have been prepared for the event. In its barangay hall, the staff has prepared the projector and sound system Saturday afternoon.

Romarey B. Gorro, congressional staff of Uy who is holding office at Carmen barangay hall, said the pay-per-view is open to all. He added the viewers are going to receive ‘freebies.’ “Naay uban na maghatag ug free liquor and junk food every time naay pay-per-view diri,” he said.

He furthered that their staff has assembled approximately 100 satellite dishes for districts 1 and 2. All residents from those districts will be accommodated.

“Karun ra jud ni na daghan kumpara last time kay 50 ra,” he said.

Bernadette Murphy, a barangay official in Nazareth, said that pay-per-view at the barangay hall is being sponsored by an airlines through an FM radio station for the airing of the fight. She explained that this is the barangay’s first time to have a pay-per-view.

Expensive pay-per-view

Barangay Consolacion chairman Dante Roa wanted to subscribe pay-per-view for the residents in his barangay but cancelled it since it is expensive. “Dili madayun, dili makaya sa budget,” he said.

The subscription cost P30,000 if one is going to show it outside their house, in this case, the barangay’s covered court, while P2500 when viewing the fight inside the house, Roa added.

Still, some of the residents in the barangay guaranteed that they will subscribe in their homes.

Roa briefed the barangay tanods to be on alert and rove in the area.

Bound to earn for the day

The big fight will not stop Ali Macapasir, a pedicab driver in Carmen to do his income generating job. He said that ‘earning’ is his first priority. However, he said that if passengers are fewer, perhaps he could find time to witness it.

Meanwhile, Gilbert Dauba, 30, a resident of Puntod and also a driver of RBC Pier route for 12 years said: “Dili na importante sa ako, ang importante makakita ug kwarta pangbuhi sa pamilya,” he said when asked if he would stop driving in the meantime to watch the fight.

“Mingaw gyud na kada away ni Pacquiao kay,” he said adding that he may only drive half-day. He is also a fan of Pacquiao but he has three children to feed, the food on the table is more important, he said.

Fund raiser for face reconstruction

Aside from free pay-per-views, Loreto’s grill and restaurant at Tomas Saco, Nazareth, is hosting a fundraiser. John Loren Ocampo, the owner of the restaurant, mentioned that the fundraiser is at P350 per head and it will benefit his friend, Micheal Comique, his batch mate at Xavier University who got in a motorbike accident—his friend’s sport.

The proceeds will help his friend’s face reconstruction. Ocampo added that he didn’t have pay-per-views of Pacquiao’s fights in the past admitting that he is not a fan. However, this is his only way to help his friend’s family for his operation.

“Win or lose man si Pacquiao but him [his friend] will win [the operation],” he said.

10,000 flock to the Labor Day ‘mega job fair’ in CDO

(PNA), FFC/CD/EM/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -– Around 10,000 job seekers flocked the day-long “mega job fair” in an uptown mall here Friday on the occasion of the 113th anniversary commemoration of the Labor Day, employment officials said.

Raymundo Agravante, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that 71 private and public agencies participated in the Labor Day job fair here.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has also processed around 5,000 job vacancies for overseas employment submitted by eight accredited recruitment agencies in the region, the labor official said.

Agravante said that the locally based private and public agencies also announced the availability of more than 4,000 job vacancies in the region.

Among the top vacancies for local employment are Customer Service Representatives, Candidate Soldier Course, Security Guards, Product Support Representatives, Officer Candidate Course, Officer Preparatory Course, Revenue Officers, Business Transcribers, Proofreaders, Administrative Assistants III, Retail Sales Team and Business Developer.

The vacancies for overseas employment include Service Crew, Delivery Drivers, Security Guards, Janitors, Food Servers, Carpenters, and Nurses. Most of the overseas vacancies are in the Middle East countries.

He said that the 10 members of the Regional Coordinating Council also joined in providing help desk assistance, renewal of professional licenses, receipts of single entry approach, request for assistance on labor and employment concerns.

The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Region 10 also facilitated skills demonstration during the event.

Agravante said that the month-long Labor Day celebration in Northern Mindanao adopts the theme: "Dissenting Trabaho at Kabuhayan" (Decent work and Livelihood).

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