Sarangani Province News November 2011

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Share your Photos

Sarangani Realty

Philippine News

Sarangani probes dumping of tons of spoiled tuna

by philstar.com


GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The provincial government of Sarangani province has launched an investigation into the dumping over the weekend of an estimated 20 tons of decaying tuna along the Sarangani Bay.

Rolando Tuballes, Sarangani environment and natural resources officer, said Tuesday loads of the rotten tuna were washed into the shores of three villages in Maasim starting on Monday, polluting a significant portion of its municipal waters.

He said the dumped tuna were initially seen drifting near the shores of Barangay Kanalo and were later swept to nearby Barangays Pananag and Lumatil.

Tuballes said some of the dumped tuna, which weighed as much as nine kilos each, were carried by a huge fish net that had been abandoned in the area.

“The smell was so bad in the area right now and there’s a possibility that the decomposing fish might contaminate the immediate waters,” he said.

Tuballes said they were still determining where the rotten fish came from but cited that they could have been unloaded by a fishing vessel that passed by the area.

He said the volume of the dumped tuna, which were composed mostly of Skipjack and Bonito, clearly shows that it was from commercial fishing operations.

The official said they initially coordinated with maritime agencies and fishery regulatory offices based in this city to help look into the incident.

He said they initially advised residents of the affected villages to bury the rotten tuna that had been washed ashore to prevent possible health-related hazards.

Jumbra Tama, Kanalo barangay chair, said the local government of Maasim has dispatched a backhoe to their village to help retrieve and bury the rotten tuna.

He said they initially asked the municipal council of Maasim to investigate the incident and initiate the necessary legal actions against the owners of the dumped tuna.

“They should be held accountable for this because it has put our health and livelihood at risk here,” he said.

Maasim Vice Mayor Utto Salem Cutan assured that the local government will take appropriate actions on the matter, especially against the owner of the dumped fish.

He said they received initial information that the supposed owner of the still unidentified fishing vessel and the fish net that carried the decaying fish was from this city.- PNA

Milkfish fry released in Sarangani

by Bong S. Sarmiento


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 November) — It’s all systems go for the controversial Alcantara-led coal power plant project in a world-class diving spot in nearby Maasim, Sarangani, with groundbreaking rites held last Friday. Tomas I. Alcantara, chair and president of Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR), led the groundbreaking rites for the $450 million coal-fired power plant, the first phase z100 megawatts (MW) targeted for completion by 2014. Alcantara said the entire project will generate about 200 MW of “safe, reliable and affordable energy” to the people of Socsargen (South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City) and the rest of Mindanao and will provide employment to at least 500 workers during the construction period. Around 150 workers will be hired when the plant goes on stream, with preference for local residents, he added. The power plant will employ modern and world-class equipment and technology to ensure “minimal environmental impact,” he said. Religious, civil and militant organizations and environmental groups are opposing the coal power plant citing adverse effects on health and the environment. Last year, the opposition gained international support with the sailing of Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s advocacy ship, in Maasim town. Alcantara said that as part of the company’s commitment to protect and enrich the ecosystem of Sarangani Bay, they would continue restocking or dispersing various species of fish produced in the nurseries of an affiliate company. “This is our effort to ensure the continued health of our waters and the protection of the livelihood of our fisherfolk who are dependent on our municipal waters,” he said. The newly created Sarangani Energy Corporation will pursue the coal power plant project. The project was issued an environmental compliance certificate by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2009. Joseph Nocos, Conal Holdings Corp. Vice President, had earlier said the second phase of the coal power project would begin a year after the completion of the first phase. The first phase is slated for completion in 36 months or late 2014, when Mindanao is projected to have a supply shortfall, he said. Conal Holdings is 60% owned by the publicly listed ACR and the rest by the Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. or EGCO, Thailand’s largest power producer. Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez, an Alcantara scion, has thrown his support to the coal power plant project, noting this could be a “magnet of investment” for other industries in the area. Several months ago, company officials announced that a power supply agreement with the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative 2 (Socoteco-2) had been reached. Under the power supply deal, Sarangani Energy will provide a dedicated supply of 70-MW to the Socotecto-2 which serves this city, the whole of Sarangani and parts of South Cotabato. (Bong Sarmiento/MindaNews)

Milkfish fry released in Sarangani

by MARVYN N. BENANING


MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of milkfish fingerlings were released on Friday in a marine sanctuary in Maasim, Sarangani, by an aquaculture company to produce more breeders.

In ceremonies held in Barangay Lem Lunay, Alcantara Group president and chief executive Tomas Alcantara said a subsidiary, Finfish Hatcheries, Inc. (FHI), nurtured the fingerlings in inland ponds using sabalo breeders that have grown to as long as 1.2 meters.

Fisheries experts said that in the wild, some sabalo can live for as long as 50 years, with the median at 32 years, and grow to about two meters.

Finfish Hatcheries, Inc. (FHI) also produces fry and fingerlings for grouper or lapu-lapu, pampano or pomfret, sea bass or apahap, cobia and snappers or maya-maya and had produced about 6.3 billion bangus fry since 1997.

With 12,000 spawners subsisting on naturally formulated feeds from Taiwan, Jaime Montalvo, who presides over fish processing, said the company can produce up to 1.2 billion milkfish fry every year, or about half of what the bangus industry needs annually.

By expanding the number of spawners, the conglomerate can actually produce up to 2 billion milkfish fry in a year.

Ramon Macaraig, chief of the technical division of the processing unit, said the Alcantara Group has 362 ponds, 57,062 sq m of cages and a 40-hectare finfish hatchery and a fish processing plant in Alabel, the capital of Sarangani.

“Sarangani Bay teems with different fish species and we hope to expand the number of breeders to supply the needs of aquaculture companies and fishpond owners in Luzon,” Alcantara said.

Earlier, the Alcantara Group also supplied millions of bangus fingerlings to fish cage operators in Taal Lake and in hatcheries in Quezon, along with fishpond operators in Pangasinan hit hard by fish kills.

It has also engaged in planting mangrove species in Sarangani Bay to encourage the spawning of more fish species and put in plane artificial reef domes to shelter marine resources.

Alcantara noted that further down the bay, large schools of fish travel in what he described as a marine superhighway that the government wants to maintain.

The Alcantaras have been into aquaculture since 1987 through the Sarangani Aqua Resources, Inc. (SARI), long before the Department of Agriculture (DA) found out the need to engage more in managed fisheries rather than depend on capture fisheries.

They ventured into hatcheries and bangus culture since taking over the ponds formerly owned by Dole in 1994.

Protecting Sarangani Bay is crucial to the Alcantara Group since it is home to breeders, with fishermen claiming that it teems with milkfish, with millions of spawners literally turning the bay white when they swim across the waters.

The quality of the milkfish spawners in inland ponds of the group depends on marine sabalo and to approximate the taste of the bangus produced for the local and foreign markets, the right mix of seawater and freshwater from the Maribulan River in Alabel is maintained.

Alsons investing additional $200 million

by MYRNA M. VELASCO


MAASIM, Sarangani — The power generation arm of the Alcantaraowned Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. will invest additional $200 million for the second phase of the coal-fed power plant it will be constructing here.

That will be on top of the $280 million already announced by the Alsons power group for the project’s first phase which will have 100 megawatt capacity and is targeted on stream by mid-2014. The second phase will have the same capacity and will likely contribute to Mindanao grid’s supply by 2015.

“Our investment for phase 2 will be lower because we already gained economies of scale from the first phase … we already have the coal yard, jetty and other facilities. We are targeting construction of phase 2 six months after,” Alsons power group chief executive officer Tirso G. Santillan Jr. said.

At least 70 megawatts of the power plant’s capacity had already been committed to South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) via a 25-year power sales agreement (PSA).

Santillan noted that the offered rate to the electric cooperative-offtaker is at P5.95 per kilowatt hour (kWh). “It is still subject to approval by the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission),” he emphasized.

Upon the plant’s commercial operation in 2014, it is expected that this will drive down the blended rate of Socoteco II by more than P1.00 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as it will replace part of the capacity being drawn now from a diesel-fired facility.

Socoteco II general manager Rudy Ocat noted that their demand will continuously grow in the next three years, hence, they contracted for 70 megawatts of the plant’s initial capacity.

According to Joseph Nocos, vice president for business development of the project’s corporate vehicle Sarangani Energy Corporation, the customers will be shielded from unwarranted cost impacts because of the procurement strategy they employed for the project, primarily for their coal supply contract with an Indonesian supplier

Munato Fest

by mb.com.ph


ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines (PIA) – The MunaTo Festival opened the four-day festivity the other day in a combined cultural and adventure concept to launch the trademark “Sarangani, your adventure.”

The MunaTo Festival kicked-off Thursday and culminates on November 27.

Board Member Eleonor Saguiguit said this is to promote the province to be “the tourism hub” in this part of Mindanao.

“We want something that is grand, something that would surpass the previous festivals. And we decided that it will be a different event (this year) to launch the Sarangani brand,” Saguiguit said.

“While we celebrate, we want to promote tourism and opportunities for investments,” she added.

She also disclosed that “Sarangani as a tourism hub has already taken off.”

Acting Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotions Center (STIPC) coordinator Larry Asparin disclosed that tourist arrivals in the province have been increasing since 2005.

MunaTo 2011 launches “Sarangani, your adventure” brand

by Beverly C. Paoyon


ALABEL, Sarangani, Nov. 24 (PIA) -- MunaTo Festival opened the four-day festivity today in a combined cultural and adventure concept to launch the trademark, “Sarangani, your adventure.” Board Member Eleonor “Nene” Saguiguit said this is to promote the province to be “the tourism hub” in this part of Mindanao. MunaTo Festival kicked-off today and culminates on November 27. “We want something that is grand, something that would surpass the previous festivals. And we decided that it will be a different event (this year) to launch the Sarangani brand,” Saguiguit said. “While we celebrate, gusto nating i-promote and ating turismo and opportunities for investments,” she added. She disclosed that “Sarangani as a tourism hub has already taken off .” Acting Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotions Center (STIPC) coordinator Larry Asparin reveals tourist arrivals have been increasing since 2005. An increase of tourist arrivals has been noted from the 16,080 in 2009 to 26,100 in 2010 as reported by the STIPC. The “Sarangani, your adventure” brand would create a name recall for Sarangani “as we wanted to make a mark in the tourism industry right now,” Asparin said. Asparin also pointed out tourism employment was rising as tourism activities in Sarangani were picking up too. “It encompasses basically all sectors, even fisherfolk and the transport sector, among others.” (PIO-Sarangani/PIA-General Santos City)

UNICEF-donated horses ensure pre-school education in Sarangani hinterlands

by BEVERLY C. PAOYON


ALABEL, Sarangani, November 23 (PIA) -- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated additional 13 horses to ease transport in holding home-based pre-school education in the hinterlands of Sarangani. This is the second batch after the distribution of 10 horses in February this year for the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the province. Home-based education for 3-5 year old children is commonly conducted in Sarangani’s relatively rural and upland communities where pre-school facilities are lacking because of geographical distance and where supervised neighborhood play (SNP) workers usually take a half-day walk just to reach these areas. Racquel Panal, assistant provincial social welfare and development officer, hoped this would also increase the number of children to benefit especially in remote communities “wherein services are very mean already at halos hindi na maabot ng ating mga service providers (barely reached by service providers).” Mila Labuan would take a four-hour motorcycle ride everyday to reach the site of her assignment in sitio Amlitos, barangay Kihan in Mapalatan. With the horse given her now, she said it would be easier for her to reach the site and can attend whenever there would be meetings at the Poblacion. “Karon nga naa na ECCD materials, patuonon gyud nako ang mga bata kay naa na sila magamit (Now the kids have ECCD materials to learn from),” because before she would just make her own improvised learning materials for the 60 children she is teaching. The total 110 SNP sites established at far-flung barangays in Sarangani cater to more than 4,000 disadvantaged children mostly from the indigenous people. The horses were turned-over with complete accessories like saddle, nylon rope and native horse backpacks where SNP workers would use to carry ECCD package for their classes like toys, reading and art materials, musical instruments, toothbrush, and utensils. Board Member Hermie Galzote said this strategy (ECCD on horse) would be an effective motivation in providing “services to our children particularly to the lumads (IPs).” Daan Suyan barangay councilor Fatima Hidalgo said the horse is a big boost in educating the children being the future leaders of our nation. “Ang atong gobyerno naga tan-aw gyud diay sa kalisod sa atong lugar labi na sa mga bukid nga lugar. Dili nato ikalilong, kinahanglanon nato ni siya ilabi na sa atong mga bata nga gataas ang quality sa education karon (The local government is indeed sincere in poverty alleviation especially in the hinterlands. It cannot be denied that we need such programs for quality education),” she said. The horses that were turned-over on Monday (November 21) benefited barangays Paraiso and Pag-asa of Alabel, barangays Daan Suyan, Lun Padidu, Kihan, Kinam, and Libi of Malapatan, and barangay Panamin of Malungon. (PIO-Sarangani/PIA-GeneralSsantos City)

Pacquiao looking forward to going to province

by RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News


MANILA, Philippines - Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is looking forward to going home to his province.

He said on Tuesday that he’s now going to focus on his work in Congress, focusing on the bills now on the agenda.

He declined to talk about any possible future plans.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion won a controversial majority decision over Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez last November 13 in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao was expected to easily defeat Marquez in their third bout, but his performance disappointed many of his fans.

Tribal council leads watershed project

by Cocoy Sexcion



MAASIM, Sarangani, Nov 21 (PIA) -- Governor Migs Dominguez, Mayor Jose Zamorro and Joel Aton of Sarangani Energy Corporation turned over seedlings to the Municipal Tribal Council here for distribution to indigenous people (IP) families living in the upland barangays of Nomoh, Kablacan and Amsipit. The seedlings would be planted to boost the watershed development program of the municipality. In turnover rites Monday (November 21) at the municipal grounds during the flag raising ceremony, officials said thousands of seedlings were set for planting this year. “For the remaining months of this year, we will be distributing a total of 17,500 seedlings of rubber, coconut, jackfruit and coffee to 50 families from Barangays Nomoh, Amsipit and Kablacan,” said Joel Aton, project assurance manager of Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC). “This is part of the commitment of Sarangani Energy Corporation to rehabilitate watersheds and to provide livelihood support to Maasim highlanders and tribal communities and each family will receive seedlings good for one hectare which can provide an added income of around P3,000 to P5,000 pesos a month upon reaching its productive stage,” Aton added. The project was supported by the provincial and municipal government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine National Police, 73rd Infantry Battalion and Alcantara Foundation. “I know this project will change the life of our people. The tribal people will cooperate and support this project because we know that this project will give us some livelihood and at the same time will help us restore all the forests that are gone in the mountain,” Municipal Tribal Council chief Benjamin Donato said. Mayor Jose Zamorro also urged his constituents to plant trees. “Supposed to be, we Maasimians are the ones who should initiate this reforestation project. This is everybody’s concern. For me, the only solution to the problem of global warming is plant more trees. So I thank SEC for this project,” the mayor said. On the other hand, Vice Mayor Utto Salem Cutan appealed to those who are against the construction of the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Sarangani Energy Corporation in Maasim set for its groundbreaking this November 25, to just give them a chance to welcome and embrace investments and development for their municipality. (PIO Sarangani/PIA General Santos City)

Marina suspends 9 cargo, passenger ships

by Evelyn Macairan The Philippine Star



Marina suspends 9 cargo, passenger ships By Evelyn Macairan The Philippine Star Updated November 20, 2011 12:00 AM 0 comment to this post MANILA, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) yesterday suspended nine Superferry vessels after one of its ships figured in a collision that caused the death of a fisherman and injured six others in Sarangani province Friday morning.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said Marina issued a voyage suspension order against the Superferry fleet that is owned by the Negros Navigation-Aboitiz Transport System.

This includes the passenger and cargo ships M/V Superferry 20, M/V Superferry 1, M/V Superferry 2, M/V Superferry 5, M/V Superferry 12, M/V Superferry 21, M/V Cebu Ferry 1, M/V Cebu Ferry 2 and M/V Cebu Ferry 3.

“The respondent Aboitiz Transport System Corp. was directed to coordinate with the Maritime Safety Office of Marina for the immediate conduct of additional ISM (International Safety Management) audit and re-inspection of said ships,” added Ricafrente.

He said the Seafarer’s Identification Record Book, commonly called the seaman’s book and the Qualification Document of the officers and crew of M/V Superferry 20 and the ship’s safety certificates were also cancelled until further orders.

Marina set the hearing on the maritime mishap on Nov. 25 at 10 a.m.

Initial information reaching the PCG showed that at around 11:45 p.m. of Nov. 17, the F/B San Jose Bayanihan was navigating to Balot Island from General Santos City when hit by M/V Superferry 20 that had just left Makar Wharf and was enroute to Manila via Zamboanga City.

At that time, the PCG General Santos station was conducting maritime patrol and saw the fishermen on water.

The lone fatality was identified as 60-year-old Giovanni Buntong, who was hit by a debris from the destroyed boat.

Those injured were the boat captain Mendoza, 52; Rex Bulawin, 28; Marjus Iramis, 20; Joseph Tiones, 20; Regalado Sender, 19; and Bryan Inero, 17.

Ferry rams fishing trawler off Sarangani

by Al Jacinto


ZAMBOANGA CITY: One fisherman was missing, presumed dead and seven others were injured after a ferry rammed their boat before dawn Friday off Maasim town in the province of Sarangani, police said. Police said the mishap occurred at around 1 a.m. while the Superferry was sailing for Manila. It said the missing fisherman was identified as Jovani Buntong. The other crewmembers were rushed to a hospital.

Other reports said the fishermen were fixing their engine near the port when the ferry rammed their trawler. The vessel did not stop despite the mishap and continued sailing leaving behind the trawler in total wreck and its crew on their own.

The ship’s owner, Aboitiz SuperFerry, did not give any statement about the mishap.

Fishermen killed, 6 rescued as passenger vessel rams banca off Sarangani Bay

by (PNA)

FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 18 (PNA) – A fisherman was killed while six others were injured when a passing SuperFerry passenger vessel run over a motorized banca off the Sarangani Bay early Friday.

Supt. Edgard Cuanan, regional chief of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Maritime Group 12, said M/V SuperFerry 20 was cruising around three miles off the coasts of Barangay Tinoto in Maasim town in Sarangani when it rammed the motorized boat San Jose Bayanihan at around 1 a.m.

The motorized banca, which has seven fishermen onboard, was totally wrecked after it was hit by the SuperFerry vessel, he said.

Cuanan said six of the seven fishermen, who were all residents of this city, were immediately rescued by patrol boat of the PNP Maritime Group 12.

He said fisherman Giovanni Buntong, 60, initially went missing but was found dead by local rescuers at around 3 a.m. Buntong was a former chair of Purok Malok in Barangay Labangal here.

The official said the six fishermen who were identified as Joseph Gediones, Bryan Enero, Marjun Kirames, Junito Mendoza, Regalado Caceller and Rex Polawing are currently being treated at the city district hospital here for various injuries.

Mendoza, the boat’s skipper, said in an interview with a local radio station that they were preparing to fish in the area when they were suddenly hit by the passing M/V SuperFerry 20.

He said the collision totally destroyed their boat and fishing gear.

“We immediately tried to swim towards the shore but we were rescued by the patrolling boat of the PNP Maritime Group,” Mendoza said in the vernacular.

Cuanan said that prior to the incident, their patrolling personnel sent out light and sound signals to fishing boats in the area to warn them about the passing passenger vessel.

“It appears that the fishermen were not familiar with the basic warning signals about the coming ship,” he said.

The official said they were still determining whether M/V SuperFerry 20, which left the Makar wharf here shortly before midnight Thursday, also gave out warning signals before the collision.

He said the vessel, which is owned and operated by Aboitiz Transport System, was en route to Manila when the incident happened.

Cuanan pointed out that their personnel have been regularly warning local fishermen regarding the passing vessels but they usually ignore them.

He some fishermen would even attempt to race down the bigger vessels and try to cross their path.

“Most of these fishermen are really hard-headed. We’ve been giving them the necessary warnings but they deliberately refuse to heed them,” he said.

All systems go for Sarangani’s MunaTo Festival

by PIA Press Release


ALABEL, Sarangani, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- Organizers of the upcoming 19th MunaTo Festival said preparations are all set for the extravaganza of cultural events, exhibits, and crowd-drawing competitions guaranteed to stir excitement over this year’s celebration. MunaTo Festival is a celebration honoring the first people and leaders of Sarangani. MunaTo was derived from the native vernacular meaning “unang tao” or “first people”, the early inhabitants of Sarangani who passed on a rich cultural heritage. MunaTo also refers to the makers of the 2000-year old anthropomorphic burial jars discovered in Maitum that are now in the National Museum. As a tribute to the pioneering leaders of the province, MunaTo is a celebration of their efforts to spur development in Sarangani which is sustained up to this day. Sarangani is rich with the local culture and tradition of the Blaan, Tboli, Manobo, Ubo, Kalagan, and Muslim tribes who succeeded in preserving the cultural heritage and the craftsmanship that are reflective of their respective culture. This year’s festival is set on November 24-27 with activities lined up to showcase Sarangani’s “history, culture and resources.” Acting coordinator of Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center (STIPC) Larry Asparin anticipated that “sounds and colors” with a festive mood would dominate the forthcoming MunaTo. He expected a huge attendance this year compared to the previous celebrations because activities were properly screened to attract more people. A considerable increase of tourists has been noted from the 16,080 in 2009 to 26,100 in 2010 as reported by the STIPC. MunaTo Fun Run: “A Run Against Global Warming” from the Capitol grounds to barangay Maribulan in Alabel would open up the festival. Male and female runners of all ages are invited to join with prizes at stake for both male and female categories of P1,000 - 1st prize, P750 for 2nd prize, and P500 for the 3rd prize. A hero’s welcome for the internationally acclaimed boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao from his recent victory in Las Vegas would also be staged on November 24. The street dance on November 26 is an open competition which the organizer proposed bigger prizes this time of P100,000; P75,000 and P50,000 respectively for the champion, 1st and 2nd placers. A P12,000 consolation prizes would also be given. The cheerdance competition, dubbed as “Sayaw Hugyaw sa Kalinaw”, is giving away prizes of P45,000; P30,000 and P20,000 for the champion, 1st and 2nd and a consolation of P10,000 each for the non-winning entries. Other events worth watching are the cultural exhibits, Fabli Gu Ni (municipal showcase), Photo Exhibit, Moro Pagingadan and Kadtigi sa Kapangiluto (Moro Cottages and Traditional Delicacies), Wall Climbing, Zip Line, Karnabal sa Kapitolyo, Pearl of Sarangani Pageant, Motocross, Eco-Trek, Battle of the Bands, concert featuring Cueshe, street party and fireworks display. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

JeepneEd drives through Sarangani schools

by Beverly Paoyon


ALABEL, Sarangani, Nov 16 (PIA) -- JeepneED, a mobile science laboratory that runs on used vegetable oil, was launched Nov. 14 to provide an outdoor learning area equipped with 10 netbooks, 3G hub for internet connectivity, and basic science materials. Sarangani is JeepneED’s pilot site for this first-ever science mobile and technology laboratory in the country. Governor Migs Dominguez said JeepneED had rightly chosen Sarangani as its pilot site because communities here are “hungry for innovation, hungry for development, and most importantly hungry for new opportunities that come their way.” JeepneED is “not only to deliver opportunities through a laboratory on wheels. However the real message here is, we have to continuously innovate,” he added. Shaina Tantuico, JeepneED co-founder, said the project sought to address gaps of science teaching methods in public schools where teachers usually resort to lectures only due to unavailability of resource materials and other exposure activities. Tantuico said the mobile laboratory would stir students’ interest to discover new things from indigenous materials. She said these learning activities can be integrated into the students lessons in schools. Students from grades five, six, and first year high school in some public schools in Sarangani has already benefited from this program. JeepneEd has started serving Malandag Elementary School in Malungon, Alegria Elementary School in Alabel, Rogaya Integrated School and Mangelen Integrated School in Maasim. Lamlifew Elementary School is also among the pilot community sites. JeepneEd plans to expand to other schools in Sarangani. JeepneED is a Philippine-based non profit program that partnered with Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST) and Condrado Alcantara Foundation, Inc. to address deficiencies of science laboratories and teaching methods in Sarangani. All activities generated from the mobile laboratory will be based on the competencies of teachers from the Department of Education (DepEd). JeepneED supports teachers by providing appropriate resources to be integrated in their curriculum. Tantuico said the very small solution can really affect students’ performance throughout time based on research. She said the access to books and internet and an effective mentor will make a good support system. “How we can make these solutions to as many students as possible and the easiest answer was to put it on wheels,” Tantuico said. She said science was chosen because it “connects us to something both academic and vocational, something that is book-based but also creative and it also connects mathematics and literacy and with all that in a truck that runs on used vegetable oil.” The mobile laboratory runs an average of eight kilometers per one liter of used vegetable oil. Erika Pineda, another co-founder of JeepneED, said the P5 per week fee from a student would cover the cost of materials for repairs and future upgrades of the mobile laboratory. “The five pesos allows us to build a system for sustainability so hopefully next year with 2,000 students at five pesos per week a simple JeepneEd will run without any outside donors,” he said. With the help of QUEST and DepEd, “we will be able to reinvest our resources in making more interventions for quality education,” Pineda said. DepEd superintendent Allan Farnaso said JeepneEd is “one ingenuity-thinking innovation and effort that serves us Sarangans and that we can do better than what we have already accomplished.” Farnaso said most of the schools in the province lack equipment for laboratory. Jenielyn Lariosa, JeepneED facilitator, said “one good thing about having hands-on activity is that students have this retention.” “When we first had this experiment and then we came back a week after, the students still remember what they did and what they learn. With that retention makita natin yong learning sa mga activities that they do.” (PIO Sarangani/PIA General Santos City)

Most Recent News WORK ON US$450MLN PHILIPPINE POWER PLANT TO BEGIN SOON: CONAL

by (PNA) ms


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, The Philippines, Nov 15, 2011 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX News Network) -- The ground works on a 200 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant the Philippine town in Sarangani are set to begin within the next few weeks, with a formal groundbreaking slated for November 25, a company official said.

Joseph Nocos, Conal Holdings Corp. vice president, told reporters the groundbreaking for the US$450 million coal-fired power plant, which will be pursued by affiliate Sarangani Energy Corp., is a step to making the project a reality.

"It signals the start of the actual implementation of the [coal-fueled plant] project," he said in a press briefing.

He estimated the construction of the first phase, which includes 100 MW, would be completed in 36 months or later in 2014, at a time when Mindanao is projected to have a supply shortfall.

The second phase, which would cover the remaining 100 MW, would follow after an interval of 12 months or a year, Nocos said, adding the coal needs of the power plant will be imported from Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Conal Holdings is 60 per cent owned by the publicly-listed Alsons Consolidated Resources (PSE:ACR) and the rest held by the Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. (EGCO), Thailand's largest power producer.

Sarangani readies hero's welcome for Pacquiao

by RSJ, GMA News


A hero's welcome awaits Filipino boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao following his latest win over Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas Sunday [Manila time].

In Sarangani, Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said they have started making preparations to welcome Pacquiao home, government-run dzRB radio reported.

Dominguez indicated the welcome may coincide with the MunaTo Festival on November 25, the report added.

The GoSarangani.com website said MunaTo is a cultural festival commemorating the “First people" of Sarangani province.

"Sarangani was made into a separate province only in 1992, however, the findings of the anthropologic burial jars in Maitum proves community life as early as 500 BC. This is a festival that embraces the different Indigenous People of Sarangani and their heritage," it said.

Pacquiao registered the latest victory in his storied boxing career with a win over Marquez in Las Vegas.

It was the third meeting in the ring between Pacquiao and Marquez since 2004. Their first meeting ended up in a controversial draw, while the second ended in a split decision in favor of the General Santos City native.

DA pushing for RoRo expansion in Sarangani

by Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/7 Nov) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is working for the expansion of the Roll On, Roll Off (RoRo) transport system in the coastal municipality of Glan in Sarangani province in a bid to facilitate the shipment of quality vegetable products from various parts of Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao. Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato agriculture officer, said the DA central office pushed for such move as part of its ongoing efforts to develop several parts of Region 12 and the neighboring areas as the country’s next “vegetable basket.” “With a RoRo facility in place, we can easily ship out our vegetable products from the region to other domestic markets and at a cheaper price,” he said. Legaste said the establishment of the RoRo facilities and route in Glan will mainly link up local producers and shippers of fresh and processed vegetables to major markets in the country. “It will improve our market opportunities and our capacity in terms of vegetable production,” he said. The official said it will benefit thousands of vegetable farmers in South Cotabato province and the neighboring areas in the region who are currently facing problems with the high costs of shipping agricultural through the existing routes run by commercial vessels. The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region had been also pushing for the opening of a RoRo route in the region. Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. Legaste said the existing RoRo routes only cover portions of northern, western and eastern Mindanao through the “western and central shipping highways.” The western highway starts in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte and goes off to Dumaguete City, Bacolod City, Iloilo, Caticlan and Roxas City in the Visayas; and, Mindoro and Batangas in Luzon. The central highway covers Cagayan de Oro City and Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin in Mindanao; Bohol and Cebu in Visayas; and, Masbate and Camarines Sur in Luzon. “Our nearest markets are Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City but the volume that we move is quite limited considering distance of these areas,” Legaste said. South Cotabato is presently considered as among the top producers of high-quality vegetables in the southern and central Mindanao area. Mall chain Robinsons and several other supermarkets in the area retail vegetables produced in Barangay Miasong in Tupi, South Cotabato. Aside from Tupi town, which has an estimated 300 hectares of established high altitude vegetable production area, the provincial government of South Cotabato has been also developing another 300 hectares of vegetable area in the upland village of Ned in Lake Sebu town. The province produces high-value vegetables such as asparagus, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, white potato, radish, carrots, among others. It is also a top producer of “pinakbet-type” vegetables such as eggplant, squash, okra, amplaya and string beans. Legaste said at least 30 percent of vegetables currently in South Cotabato are consumed while the rest goes to various markets in the region and the neighboring areas. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

DA pushes opening of RoRo route in Sarangani province



GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 7 (PNA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is working on the expansion of the Roll On, Roll Off (RoRo) transport system in the coastal municipality of Glan in Sarangani province in a bid to facilitate the shipment of quality vegetable products from various parts of Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao. Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato agriculture officer, said the DA central office pushed for such move as part of its ongoing efforts to develop several parts of Region 12 and the neighboring areas as the country’s next “vegetable basket.” “With a RoRo facility in place, we can easily ship out our vegetable products from the region to other domestic markets and at a cheaper price,” he said. Legaste said the establishment of the RoRo facilities and route in Glan will mainly link up local producers and shippers of fresh and processed vegetables to major markets in the country. He said it will benefit thousands of vegetable farmers in South Cotabato province and the neighboring areas in the region who are currently facing problems with the high costs of shipping agricultural through the existing routes run by commercial vessels. Legaste said the existing RoRo routes only cover portions of northern, western and eastern Mindanao through the “western and central shipping highways.” The western highway starts in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte and goes off to Dumaguete City, Bacolod City, Iloilo, Caticlan and Roxas City in the Visayas; and, Mindoro and Batangas in Luzon. The central highway covers Cagayan de Oro City and Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin in Mindanao; Bohol and Cebu in Visayas; and, Masbate and Camarines Sur in Luzon. South Cotabato is presently considered as among the top producers of high-quality vegetables in the southern and central Mindanao area. Mall chain Robinsons and several other supermarkets in the area retail vegetables produced in Barangay Miasong in Tupi, South Cotabato. Aside from Tupi town, which has an estimated 300 hectares of established high altitude vegetable production area, the provincial government of South Cotabato has been also developing another 300 hectares of vegetable area in the upland village of Ned in Lake Sebu town. Legaste said at least 30 percent of vegetables currently in South Cotabato are consumed while the rest goes to various markets, among them Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City. (PNA)

Missing Sarangani woman's body found in septic tank



ABS-CBNNews.com reports that the body of 51-year-old Sarangani province resident Nimpha Dahay was found stuffed into a septic tank in her home. Dahay had been reported missing on April 4. The authorities discovered her body on October 29. (The report did not reveal what led them to search the septic tank.)

According to the report, Dahay's children thought that she "merely left home after having an argument with their father Fermin." In fact, when Danay's son Jerold said he was going to search for her, the 58-year-old Fermin dissuaded him by saying that the effort would just be "a waste of money." Fermin has been tagged as the prime suspect for Danay's murder.

Fermin is currently jailed at the Sarangani Provincial Jail for " previous rape and murder charges."

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Sarangani_Province_News_November_2011&oldid=288738"