Difference between revisions of "Zamboanga del Sur News April 2013"

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.
m (Protected "Zamboanga del Sur News April 2013" (‎[edit=autoconfirmed] (indefinite) ‎[move=autoconfirmed] (indefinite)))
Line 28: Line 28:


<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
<!--- DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE --->
==Palad-Palad festival caps Bayog’s 46th founding anniversary==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/palad-palad-festival-caps-bayogs-46th.html
*Wednesday, April 10, 2013 2:57 pm
:By Claro A. Lanipa (PIA9)
BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur – The municipality of Bayog marked its 46th founding anniversary on Tuesday featuring street dancing competition locally known as “Palad-Palad Festival 2013.”
In his welcome address, Mayor Leonardo Babasa Jr. said “this annual Palad-Palad- Festival is our way of expressing our thanksgiving to the ‘Most High’ for all the blessings we have received for the past days, months and years.”
He also urged his constituents “to always cooperate and support the programs and projects that will help us push forward our cause for development, peace and order in our municipality.”
The town’s 28 barangays, which are grouped into seven clusters, actively participated in the annual festival with each cluster depicting the culture, tradition and the way of life of a certain tribe living in the municipality through dances.
“The blessing of peace and prosperity that this municipality has received in the past years is the main reason of this celebration today,” said Zamboanga del Sur second district representative Aurora Cerilles who served as the guest of honor and speaker.
“We acknowledged the continuous efforts and dedicated service of our local officials headed by Mayor Babasa for the people by implementing the programs and projects that bring development to the municipality,” the lady legislator continued.
“With the theme, ‘Basura Atras, Bayog Abante sa Serbisyo ug Asenso (Fight off Garbage: Onward Bayog for Services and Progress),’ cleanliness is important to prevent diseases and epidemics,” Cerilles said.
“We should also conserve our natural resources and maintain the balance in our eco-system if we want to prosper. The environment is all we have to live in this struggle against poverty, sickness and poverty. For this reason we have to protect and take care of it,” Cerilles emphasized.
Meanwhile, Cluster 7 representing the lone barangay of Poblacion won the first prize of P50,000 in the street dancing competition, followed by Cluster 5 composed of barangays Salawagan, Lamare, Balumbunan, San Isidro and Depase with P30,000 cash prize, and Cluster 4  consisting of barangays Dimalinao, Pulangbato, Dipili, Depore and Damit with a cash prize of P20,000. Non-winners were each given P10,000 as consolation prizes.
==Candidates in Labangan, Zambo Sur sign covenant==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=514556
*Tuesday, April 9, 2013
:(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/CHARNYL S. ALBARRACIN/EBP
LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur, April 9 (PNA) -- Candidates vying for local positions have signed a covenant vowing for a “Secure, Accurate and Fair Elections (SAFE)” mid-term elections in this part of the province.
The covenant signing, which was held on Sunday at the Municipal Function Hall, was witnessed by election officials as well as from the police, military, departments of interior and local government (DILG)and of education (DepEd), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the media.
The main signatories of the covenant were reelectionist Mayor Wilson Nandang of the Liberal Party and Vice-Mayor Ukol Talumpa, who is running for mayor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Their respective candidates for vice-mayor and eight candidates for municipal councilors also signed the covenant.
Both parties have pledged to shun violence, human rights violations and avoid adopting black propaganda strategies.
They also promised to play fair and refrain from issuing statements or acts that would incite violence or threatens the public.
PPCRV chairman Fr. Felix Tigoy said the signing of the covenant will help ensure a peaceful and honest elections in this town, which have been marred by violence in previous elections.
Labangan is a 4th class municipality comprising of 25 barangays with a population of 34,530 in 6,629 households according to the 2000 census of the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Aside from SAFE, Tigoy said the covenant signing is also aimed to ensure Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) in May 13 in this town.
==BJMP develops inmates’ livelihood skills==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/bjmp-develops-inmates-livelihood-skills.html
*Monday, April 8, 2013 9:13 am
:By Gideon C. Corgue (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY – As part of the rehabilitative goals of correctional institutions, the city jail under the auspices of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) headed by Sr. Insp. Mashur Sala has recently launched  “welfare and development program” for the inmates by establishing barber and massage shops inside the rehabilitation center at Barangay Lenienza in this city.
Upon his assumption to the position as city warden on Aug. 29, 2012, Sala initiated the  said program to ease the inmates’ boredom of being away from their families and to make them productive while in jail.
Sala said the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) extended training on barbering and massage therapy to some male inmates.
“I have noticed that some inmates, who were convicted of relatively minor offenses, have vocational skills that need to be developed. That’s why I launched this project,” he said.
“I encouraged them to actualize the learning they’ve got from the training. That’s why I have established massage and barber shops to allow the detainees to raise funds for their basic needs and to help their respective families,” Sala explained.   
The BJMP chief said jail personnel and visitors can avail of the massage services for only P50  for 30 minutes and P75 for one hour. Haircut fee is only P20 for each customer.
The income raised from these services will go directly to the welfare and development program.
Aside from establishing massage and barber shops, Sala also formed a “dream choral group,” which is composed of 20 male and female talented inmates. The dream choral was showcased during the launching of “electronic dalaw” and inauguration of massage and barber shops recently.
“Indeed, these projects were just a dream, but now they become a reality,” Sala proudly said.
Sala said he hopes that through this program the inmates will become productive and better prepared by the time they will be out of jail and go back to their respective communities.
District Attorney Pacifico Cimafranca of the Public Attroney’s Office (PAO), on the other hand, lauded Sala for having a heart for the inmates.
“The person who initiated these projects is resourceful and creative and who has the heart for the inmates,” Cimafranca said.
Cimafranca encouraged the inmates to strongly support the projects so that their life will not be wasted while they are inside the jail.
==ZDS backs healthy organic farming==
*Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6517&sid=1&subid=5#.UWFJYPL_jFw
*Sunday, April 7, 2013
:By Nonoy E. Lacson
PAGADIAN CITY – In an effort to promote healthy living and preservation of the environment, the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur (ZDS) has established the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and Center for Organic Farming in an aim to promote organic farming in the province.
Through the initiative of Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio “Tony” Cerilles, the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and Center for Organic Farming was established in Aurora town and is already in full operation.
According to Cerilles, the center’s operation is anchored on the Organic Agriculture Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under Republic Act (RA) 10068 or the Organic Act of 2010.
Cerilles said that organic farming promotes fishery, poultry, livestock production, and propagation of vegetables without the use of synthetic chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural growing aids.
He said that a considerable portion of the center was allocated for planting organic vegetables; a field for organic rice farming; fishery, poultry and livestock production; cassava and corn gardens; an orchard for organic fruit trees; and even a garden for ornamental plant production.
While the remaining area hosts the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and the Center for Organic Farming, according to supervising agriculturist Arlene Zacal, who is in-charge of the facility.
She said that products harvested from the center are proven to be safe for consumption, rich in vitamins, and disease-free – the key factors in promoting healthy living.
Cerilles said that the provincial government is enthusiastically promoting organic farming, particularly to the farmers engaged in rice production, and expressed hope that in the next Agri-Pinoy Awards, the province can already present a full organic rice harvest.
The center aims to provide the students with a hands-on experience to supplement their knowledge.
According to Dr. Rino Soria, D.V.M., head of the Livestock Production Group, said the center was established by Cerilles purposely to provide the students enrolled in Animal Husbandry or Animal Science courses to undertake actual procedures, like how to raise swine, among others, and not merely concentrate on written procedures.
Soria said the center will also offer other short courses on agriculture like organic vegetable production, poultry and swine production, and other related subjects.
It was learned that these short courses, which will be accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will provide agricultural knowledge to individuals who had graduated from high school and could not proceed with their college education, including those that have reached college but could not afford to complete their respective courses, and the out-of-school youth.
Cerilles said that the youth is the target of the provincial government to directly benefit under the program.
For his part, provincial administrator Taton Padayhag said that a considerable number of farmers in the province had started accepting the concept of organic farming, and on several occasions, visited the center.
“The whole world is advocating organic farming, and if we only absorb it in ourselves, we can really see the goodness of this program,” an agriculturist in the province said.
==Protesters barricade on Pagadian airport runway==
*Source:http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/25610-protesters-barricade-pagadian-airport-runway
*Saturday, April 6, 2013 1:42 am
:By James Annjo Salomon (Rappler.com)
PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines - Heirs of Datu Lucas Taug Boto camped out and barricaded along the runway of Pagadian National Airport to demand compensaton for their land, causing the cancellation and diversion of flights from Manila and Cebu.
Several Cebu Pacific and PAL Express flights were either cancelled or diverted to another nearby airport. Cebu Pacific issued an advisory, giving the passengers up to 30 days to rebook or reroute their trips without penalties.
Airport manager Jose Bodiongan hinted at temporarily halting airport operations to ensure passenger safety.
Meanwhile, Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co is in talks with Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Sec Joseph Abaya and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec Mar Roxas to resolve the problem.
Ancestral Domain
Bai Sominal Taug, one of the owners who led the protest, said it was the best way to demand the government to pay for their land where the runway stretches.
In 1997, the government expropriated 3 hectares of the land as part of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Pagadian Airport Development Project.
The claimants took the case to the court after two years of not receiving compensation. The DOTC allegedly failed to pay P8 million as compensation for the expropriated land.
After 13 years of legal battle, Judge Edilberto Absin of the Pagadian RTC Branch 18 ruled that the family of Taug-Boto is the legitimate owner of the land.
Kins of Datu Lucas Taug Boto repeatedly stressed the protesters would not vacate the runway until the government pays them.
==DA TOT graduates to help boost rice self sufficiency in ZamPen==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/da-tot-graduates-to-help-boost-rice.html
*Friday, April 5, 2013 2:24 pm
:By Alma L. Tingcang (FPG/ALT/Inelin Cabiguin/DA9/PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY -  Some 32 graduates of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 3rd batch season-long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Palay Check for farmers/irrigators association were recently confirmed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Eduardo B. Holoyohoy in a simple ceremony held at Casa Emsa, Airport Road, Tiguma this city.
Gianipa A. Manupac, TOT adviser and facilitator presented the graduates to RED Holoyohoy who encouraged the farmers to work hand in hand with the government to achieve rice self-sufficiency in the region. In response, “Sapat na Bigas, kaya ng Pinas” was chorused by the graduates.
“The DA is committed to keep pace with the agricultural needs and progress of Filipino farmers that will make them profitable and also to create an income-generating rice granary throughout the year,” Holoyohoy said.
The TOT program for Palay Check is part of DA’s efforts to enhance the knowledge of rice farmers and irrigators to minimize the cost of farm inputs by maximizing the use of available resources and minimizing the big gap of the harvests in terms of yield from one cropping to another.
         
In consonance with the observance of the National Year of Rice (NYR 2013), DA is advocating for responsible rice consumption enjoining the public, producers, and policy makers to work hand in hand in achieving its goal for rice self-sufficiency.
“We are eating more rice than other food groups when rice and other grains should only be one-fourth of our plate meal. We restrict our energy source too much to rice,” said Regional Rice Action Officer Winifreda P. Jose.
         
Jose presented the Panatang Makapalay (Pledge for Rice) in driving consumers to save rice with emphases on responsible rice consumption such as  cooking rice correctly, preparing and taking just enough to minimize waste, to value every grain, and to acknowledge the efforts of the farmers.
         
“For each grain saved, a life is saved. This line elevates the status of the farmers not only as rice producers but also as life savers, giving life to the nation.  Ang mga mag-uuma mao ang dugo nga naglatay sa nasud (The farmers are the lifeblood of the nation), provincial coordinator, Jose Agad Jr. said.
         
The program ended with the distribution of special awards and certificates in recognition of the efforts of the farmers and irrigators for successfully completing the four-month season–long training.
==Health chief ensures social insurance for poorest of the poor==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/health-chief-ensures-social-insurance.html
*Thursday, April 4, 2013 2:07 pm
:By Claro A. Lanipa (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY – In his recent visit here, Health Secretary Enrique Ona urged Mayor Samuel Co to list down all poor families that were not included in the National Housing Targeting System (NHTS) survey of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) so that they will be enrolled in the government’s social insurance.
“This is what I asked so that all poor Filipinos especially here in Mindanao and even here in Zamboanga del Sur can be enrolled in PhilHealth,” Sec. Ona pointed out.
Sec. Ona was the guest of honor and speaker during the 76th Founding Anniversary of the city of Pagadian last March 26.
He said when he was appointed as secretary of health, the first thing he recommended to President Benigno S. Aquino III was to make sure that we include the poorest of the poor in the social insurance, which we now call “PhilHealth.”
“Indeed, during our first year of implementation President Aquino made it possible to enroll 5.2 million families/households or about 8.5 million individuals in Philhealth,” Ona said.
“So, what we are doing today is improving our hospitals, rural health units, district hospitals and even our barangay health stations,” Ona reported.
He added that last year including this year the national government has allocated P12.5 billion to enroll the poor families in the country in PhilHealth. “And with the passage of ‘sin tax’ we will be able to enroll almost the same number of poor families in the succeeding years,” Ona said. 
He reported further, that the national government has allocated for Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City for the improvement of health facilities  as follows: P55 million and another P45 million through the European Communities for 2010; P20 million for the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC) and P164 million for the regional hospital in Margosatubig town for 2011; P39.3 million for the rural health units and another P15 million for the ZSMC for 2012; and for this year P96 million and P70 million for the rural health units and ZSMC, respectively.
Pagadian is Secretary Ona’s hometown.
==GSIS reopens Educational Assistance Program==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/gsis-reopens-educational-assistance.html
*Wednesday, April 3, 2013 11:43 am
:By Alma L. Tingcang (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has started to reopen its educational assistance window yesterday for all GSIS active members who did not avail of the 2012 GSIS Educational Assistance Program.
In a press statement, GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara said, “Parents are hard-pressed on schooling costs at this time of the year.  Under the educational aid program, GSIS lends a helping hand to members by defraying their children’s education expenses.”
Leoncito S. Manuel, GSIS branch head here, said the loan carries a 6% interest rate and does not require any approval from the employer. Active members, regardless of salary grade, may apply for the financial aid amounting to P4 thousand.
He said a member will start paying a P20 monthly amortization three months after the loan is granted. 
It can be recalled that GSIS launched the new loan program last year, immediately after the Labor Day announcement of President Benigno C. Aquino III, directing both GSIS and SSS to establish an educational assistance fund for their stakeholders.
Under the program, GSIS has released over P2.45 billion to more than 600,000 state workers who availed themselves of the educational loan.
The pension fund also recently opened 200 slots under the GSIS Scholarship Program for academic year 2013-2014.  Government employees with salary grade 24 (earning approximately P50 thousand) or below may nominate their children to the program, if they are incoming freshmen in any university or college accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
A GSIS scholar is entitled to tuition and miscellaneous fees not exceeding P20,000 and a monthly stipend of P2,000.
Loan application forms may be obtained from any GSIS office and/or downloaded from the GSIS website: www.gsis.gov.ph.
==Parolees, probationers undergo fire prevention seminar==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/parolees-probationers-undergo-fire.html
*Tuesday, April 2, 2013 10:27 am
:By Gideon C. Corgue (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY – As part of the Parole and Probation Administration’s  (PPA) rehabilitation program, a seminar on fire prevention was conducted recently for parolees and probationers at Balangasan gym here.
Supervising Parole and Probation Officer Jocelyn Bael said almost 50 parolees and probationers had attended the seminar which aimed to provide them with the knowledge and skills on fire prevention.
Bael said the agency has included the seminar in its regular programs for the parolees and probationers to become productive and socially responsible members of the community.
The PPA chief said: “Since we Filipinos used to observe fire prevention every month of March, we would like our clients to be actively involved in community service.”
“With the lesson they learned during the seminar, they would know exactly on what to do especially in helping firemen on how to prevent the occurrence of fire in their respective communities,” Bael pointed out.
Since everyone is not spared from fire, Bael said, her clients should be ready at all times to render service to the community.
Bael invited speakers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to give lecture on fire safety.
Fire Officer 3 Perlito Bustamante lectured on the behavior, characteristics and types of fire and fire prevention tips while Fire Officer 3 Nellby Racho gave tips on how to operate fire extinguishers.
Bael also disclosed that aside from the fire prevention seminar, PPA also conducted a forum on women which was attended by its clients and mothers.
In said forum, Bael gave lecture on the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The activity was also a part of the agency’s rehabilitation program.
==Freed Australian hostage unlikely to file charges vs Sayyaf==
*Source:http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20130401064650
*Monday, April 1, 2013 6:46:50 pm
: (Mindanao Examiner)
PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 1, 2013) – Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage, Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell, is unlikely to pursue criminal charges against his kidnappers despite earlier statement by Philippine authorities.
Rodwell, 54, went to the Department of Justice on Monday to sign his affidavit of abduction, but State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes said the Sydney man has no plans of filing charges against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, according to a report by television giant GMA News.
“The purpose of the affidavit is for the processing of the investigation of the case...so far, Rodwell has not decided whether to press charges (against his abductors), but (his sworn) statement can be used by the PNP to pursue a complaint,” GMA quoted Reyes as saying.
PNP refers to the Philippine National Police.
Rodwell has evaded the Philippine press and would not talk to journalists who covered his arrival at the Department of Justice.
Rodwell - kidnapped on December 2011 from his seaside house in Ipil town in Zamboanga del Sur province by gunmen who posed as policemen - was freed on March 2 after his Filipino wife, Miraflor Gutang paid P4 million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf, which originally demanded $2 million.
Gutang claimed that she herself raised the money by selling off their house and vehicle and water refilling business in Zamboanga del Sur province, but her story raised more doubts because she had previously accused Rodwell of physical abuse and abandoned him days before he was kidnapped in their seaside house in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Rodwell married the Filipino woman in June 2011 after they met on the internet. Gutang’s fantastic claim of herself raising the ransom was far from her previous statement following Rodwell’s kidnapping in which she said in a radio interview that “whoever had kidnapped my husband, he is not rich. Return him to us and please don’t hurt him. My husband is ill.”
General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said the ransom received by the Abu Sayyaf would further threaten peace and security in the Muslim province, saying the terrorist group would likely to use the money to purchase illegal weapons and fund kidnappings and terrorism in Basilan and probably other parts of Mindanao.
“We are worried about this situation now because the Abu Sayyaf may use the ransom to fund terror activities and kidnappings and endangering civilian lives,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Gutang now lives with her parents – her father works as a farmer and mother, a housewife – in a modest house in Naga town. Both parents claimed Gutang was a battered wife. She even filed police reports several times claiming she was allegedly assaulted by Rodwell, and police said that she was also planning to file charges against her husband with the Australian embassy in Manila.
Rodwell’s sister Denise and his brother Wayne, who flew to Manila from Australia to be reunited with the freed adventurer, did not meet with Gutang.
President Benigno Aquino has ordered an investigation into the payment of ransom to the terrorist group, saying, he has not seen any reports on the Rodwell case. “I haven’t seen a report from the concerned (authorities, the) PNP anti-kidnapping group and others,” he said.
Aquino said the government has a strict no-ransom policy. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists,” he said.
There were suspicion the ransom money either came from Rodwell’s family in Australia or from the Australian government and only used Gutang as a cover to justify the payment to the terrorist group, blamed for many kidnappings and bombings in the southern Philippines.

Revision as of 11:55, 20 April 2013

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

Zamboanga del Sur - Archived News
Zamboanga del sur seal.png
Seal of Zamboanga del Sur Province
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del sur philippines map locator.png
Zamboanga del Sur Map Locator
Zamboanga del sur with municipalities.jpg
Municipalities within Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del sur provincial capitol.jpg
Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Sur
Provincial capitol of zamboanga del sur of santo niño pagadian city zamboanga del sur.jpg
Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Sur, Santo Niño, Pagadian city

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.

Zambosurlapuyanfalls.jpg
Lapuyan Falls: The favorite haunt of the fair Subanen maidens of Sitio Baga and all its neighboring areas, usual meeting place with many a young country swain in some secluded cavern beneath the rocky forest lane.
Zamboanga del sur lakewood.jpg
Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines
Pedagan Zamboanga del Sur.jpg
Village of Pedagan

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.
Lintugop Aurora Zamboanga del Sur.jpg
Lintugop, Aurora
Pagadian city 01.jpg
Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
Provincial human resource management office of santo niño pagadian city zamboanga del sur.jpg
Provincial human resource management office of santo niño pagadian city
Civil service commission of santo niño pagadian city zamboanga del sur.jpg
Civil Service Commision office in santo niño pagadian city

Palad-Palad festival caps Bayog’s 46th founding anniversary

By Claro A. Lanipa (PIA9)

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur – The municipality of Bayog marked its 46th founding anniversary on Tuesday featuring street dancing competition locally known as “Palad-Palad Festival 2013.” In his welcome address, Mayor Leonardo Babasa Jr. said “this annual Palad-Palad- Festival is our way of expressing our thanksgiving to the ‘Most High’ for all the blessings we have received for the past days, months and years.”

He also urged his constituents “to always cooperate and support the programs and projects that will help us push forward our cause for development, peace and order in our municipality.”

The town’s 28 barangays, which are grouped into seven clusters, actively participated in the annual festival with each cluster depicting the culture, tradition and the way of life of a certain tribe living in the municipality through dances. “The blessing of peace and prosperity that this municipality has received in the past years is the main reason of this celebration today,” said Zamboanga del Sur second district representative Aurora Cerilles who served as the guest of honor and speaker.

“We acknowledged the continuous efforts and dedicated service of our local officials headed by Mayor Babasa for the people by implementing the programs and projects that bring development to the municipality,” the lady legislator continued.

“With the theme, ‘Basura Atras, Bayog Abante sa Serbisyo ug Asenso (Fight off Garbage: Onward Bayog for Services and Progress),’ cleanliness is important to prevent diseases and epidemics,” Cerilles said.

“We should also conserve our natural resources and maintain the balance in our eco-system if we want to prosper. The environment is all we have to live in this struggle against poverty, sickness and poverty. For this reason we have to protect and take care of it,” Cerilles emphasized.

Meanwhile, Cluster 7 representing the lone barangay of Poblacion won the first prize of P50,000 in the street dancing competition, followed by Cluster 5 composed of barangays Salawagan, Lamare, Balumbunan, San Isidro and Depase with P30,000 cash prize, and Cluster 4 consisting of barangays Dimalinao, Pulangbato, Dipili, Depore and Damit with a cash prize of P20,000. Non-winners were each given P10,000 as consolation prizes.

Candidates in Labangan, Zambo Sur sign covenant

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/CHARNYL S. ALBARRACIN/EBP

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur, April 9 (PNA) -- Candidates vying for local positions have signed a covenant vowing for a “Secure, Accurate and Fair Elections (SAFE)” mid-term elections in this part of the province.

The covenant signing, which was held on Sunday at the Municipal Function Hall, was witnessed by election officials as well as from the police, military, departments of interior and local government (DILG)and of education (DepEd), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the media.

The main signatories of the covenant were reelectionist Mayor Wilson Nandang of the Liberal Party and Vice-Mayor Ukol Talumpa, who is running for mayor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Their respective candidates for vice-mayor and eight candidates for municipal councilors also signed the covenant.

Both parties have pledged to shun violence, human rights violations and avoid adopting black propaganda strategies.

They also promised to play fair and refrain from issuing statements or acts that would incite violence or threatens the public.

PPCRV chairman Fr. Felix Tigoy said the signing of the covenant will help ensure a peaceful and honest elections in this town, which have been marred by violence in previous elections.

Labangan is a 4th class municipality comprising of 25 barangays with a population of 34,530 in 6,629 households according to the 2000 census of the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Aside from SAFE, Tigoy said the covenant signing is also aimed to ensure Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) in May 13 in this town.

BJMP develops inmates’ livelihood skills

By Gideon C. Corgue (PIA9)

PAGADIAN CITY – As part of the rehabilitative goals of correctional institutions, the city jail under the auspices of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) headed by Sr. Insp. Mashur Sala has recently launched “welfare and development program” for the inmates by establishing barber and massage shops inside the rehabilitation center at Barangay Lenienza in this city.

Upon his assumption to the position as city warden on Aug. 29, 2012, Sala initiated the said program to ease the inmates’ boredom of being away from their families and to make them productive while in jail.

Sala said the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) extended training on barbering and massage therapy to some male inmates.

“I have noticed that some inmates, who were convicted of relatively minor offenses, have vocational skills that need to be developed. That’s why I launched this project,” he said.

“I encouraged them to actualize the learning they’ve got from the training. That’s why I have established massage and barber shops to allow the detainees to raise funds for their basic needs and to help their respective families,” Sala explained.

The BJMP chief said jail personnel and visitors can avail of the massage services for only P50 for 30 minutes and P75 for one hour. Haircut fee is only P20 for each customer.

The income raised from these services will go directly to the welfare and development program.

Aside from establishing massage and barber shops, Sala also formed a “dream choral group,” which is composed of 20 male and female talented inmates. The dream choral was showcased during the launching of “electronic dalaw” and inauguration of massage and barber shops recently.

“Indeed, these projects were just a dream, but now they become a reality,” Sala proudly said.

Sala said he hopes that through this program the inmates will become productive and better prepared by the time they will be out of jail and go back to their respective communities.

District Attorney Pacifico Cimafranca of the Public Attroney’s Office (PAO), on the other hand, lauded Sala for having a heart for the inmates.

“The person who initiated these projects is resourceful and creative and who has the heart for the inmates,” Cimafranca said.

Cimafranca encouraged the inmates to strongly support the projects so that their life will not be wasted while they are inside the jail.

ZDS backs healthy organic farming

By Nonoy E. Lacson

PAGADIAN CITY – In an effort to promote healthy living and preservation of the environment, the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur (ZDS) has established the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and Center for Organic Farming in an aim to promote organic farming in the province.

Through the initiative of Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio “Tony” Cerilles, the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and Center for Organic Farming was established in Aurora town and is already in full operation.

According to Cerilles, the center’s operation is anchored on the Organic Agriculture Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under Republic Act (RA) 10068 or the Organic Act of 2010.

Cerilles said that organic farming promotes fishery, poultry, livestock production, and propagation of vegetables without the use of synthetic chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural growing aids.

He said that a considerable portion of the center was allocated for planting organic vegetables; a field for organic rice farming; fishery, poultry and livestock production; cassava and corn gardens; an orchard for organic fruit trees; and even a garden for ornamental plant production.

While the remaining area hosts the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College and the Center for Organic Farming, according to supervising agriculturist Arlene Zacal, who is in-charge of the facility.

She said that products harvested from the center are proven to be safe for consumption, rich in vitamins, and disease-free – the key factors in promoting healthy living.

Cerilles said that the provincial government is enthusiastically promoting organic farming, particularly to the farmers engaged in rice production, and expressed hope that in the next Agri-Pinoy Awards, the province can already present a full organic rice harvest. The center aims to provide the students with a hands-on experience to supplement their knowledge. According to Dr. Rino Soria, D.V.M., head of the Livestock Production Group, said the center was established by Cerilles purposely to provide the students enrolled in Animal Husbandry or Animal Science courses to undertake actual procedures, like how to raise swine, among others, and not merely concentrate on written procedures.

Soria said the center will also offer other short courses on agriculture like organic vegetable production, poultry and swine production, and other related subjects.

It was learned that these short courses, which will be accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will provide agricultural knowledge to individuals who had graduated from high school and could not proceed with their college education, including those that have reached college but could not afford to complete their respective courses, and the out-of-school youth.

Cerilles said that the youth is the target of the provincial government to directly benefit under the program.

For his part, provincial administrator Taton Padayhag said that a considerable number of farmers in the province had started accepting the concept of organic farming, and on several occasions, visited the center.

“The whole world is advocating organic farming, and if we only absorb it in ourselves, we can really see the goodness of this program,” an agriculturist in the province said.

Protesters barricade on Pagadian airport runway

By James Annjo Salomon (Rappler.com)

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines - Heirs of Datu Lucas Taug Boto camped out and barricaded along the runway of Pagadian National Airport to demand compensaton for their land, causing the cancellation and diversion of flights from Manila and Cebu.

Several Cebu Pacific and PAL Express flights were either cancelled or diverted to another nearby airport. Cebu Pacific issued an advisory, giving the passengers up to 30 days to rebook or reroute their trips without penalties.

Airport manager Jose Bodiongan hinted at temporarily halting airport operations to ensure passenger safety.

Meanwhile, Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co is in talks with Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Sec Joseph Abaya and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec Mar Roxas to resolve the problem.

Ancestral Domain

Bai Sominal Taug, one of the owners who led the protest, said it was the best way to demand the government to pay for their land where the runway stretches.

In 1997, the government expropriated 3 hectares of the land as part of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Pagadian Airport Development Project.

The claimants took the case to the court after two years of not receiving compensation. The DOTC allegedly failed to pay P8 million as compensation for the expropriated land.

After 13 years of legal battle, Judge Edilberto Absin of the Pagadian RTC Branch 18 ruled that the family of Taug-Boto is the legitimate owner of the land.

Kins of Datu Lucas Taug Boto repeatedly stressed the protesters would not vacate the runway until the government pays them.

DA TOT graduates to help boost rice self sufficiency in ZamPen

By Alma L. Tingcang (FPG/ALT/Inelin Cabiguin/DA9/PIA9)

PAGADIAN CITY - Some 32 graduates of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 3rd batch season-long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Palay Check for farmers/irrigators association were recently confirmed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Eduardo B. Holoyohoy in a simple ceremony held at Casa Emsa, Airport Road, Tiguma this city.

Gianipa A. Manupac, TOT adviser and facilitator presented the graduates to RED Holoyohoy who encouraged the farmers to work hand in hand with the government to achieve rice self-sufficiency in the region. In response, “Sapat na Bigas, kaya ng Pinas” was chorused by the graduates.

“The DA is committed to keep pace with the agricultural needs and progress of Filipino farmers that will make them profitable and also to create an income-generating rice granary throughout the year,” Holoyohoy said.

The TOT program for Palay Check is part of DA’s efforts to enhance the knowledge of rice farmers and irrigators to minimize the cost of farm inputs by maximizing the use of available resources and minimizing the big gap of the harvests in terms of yield from one cropping to another.

In consonance with the observance of the National Year of Rice (NYR 2013), DA is advocating for responsible rice consumption enjoining the public, producers, and policy makers to work hand in hand in achieving its goal for rice self-sufficiency.

“We are eating more rice than other food groups when rice and other grains should only be one-fourth of our plate meal. We restrict our energy source too much to rice,” said Regional Rice Action Officer Winifreda P. Jose.

Jose presented the Panatang Makapalay (Pledge for Rice) in driving consumers to save rice with emphases on responsible rice consumption such as cooking rice correctly, preparing and taking just enough to minimize waste, to value every grain, and to acknowledge the efforts of the farmers.

“For each grain saved, a life is saved. This line elevates the status of the farmers not only as rice producers but also as life savers, giving life to the nation. Ang mga mag-uuma mao ang dugo nga naglatay sa nasud (The farmers are the lifeblood of the nation), provincial coordinator, Jose Agad Jr. said.

The program ended with the distribution of special awards and certificates in recognition of the efforts of the farmers and irrigators for successfully completing the four-month season–long training.

Health chief ensures social insurance for poorest of the poor

By Claro A. Lanipa (PIA9)

PAGADIAN CITY – In his recent visit here, Health Secretary Enrique Ona urged Mayor Samuel Co to list down all poor families that were not included in the National Housing Targeting System (NHTS) survey of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) so that they will be enrolled in the government’s social insurance. “This is what I asked so that all poor Filipinos especially here in Mindanao and even here in Zamboanga del Sur can be enrolled in PhilHealth,” Sec. Ona pointed out.

Sec. Ona was the guest of honor and speaker during the 76th Founding Anniversary of the city of Pagadian last March 26.

He said when he was appointed as secretary of health, the first thing he recommended to President Benigno S. Aquino III was to make sure that we include the poorest of the poor in the social insurance, which we now call “PhilHealth.”

“Indeed, during our first year of implementation President Aquino made it possible to enroll 5.2 million families/households or about 8.5 million individuals in Philhealth,” Ona said.

“So, what we are doing today is improving our hospitals, rural health units, district hospitals and even our barangay health stations,” Ona reported.

He added that last year including this year the national government has allocated P12.5 billion to enroll the poor families in the country in PhilHealth. “And with the passage of ‘sin tax’ we will be able to enroll almost the same number of poor families in the succeeding years,” Ona said.

He reported further, that the national government has allocated for Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City for the improvement of health facilities as follows: P55 million and another P45 million through the European Communities for 2010; P20 million for the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC) and P164 million for the regional hospital in Margosatubig town for 2011; P39.3 million for the rural health units and another P15 million for the ZSMC for 2012; and for this year P96 million and P70 million for the rural health units and ZSMC, respectively.

Pagadian is Secretary Ona’s hometown.

GSIS reopens Educational Assistance Program

By Alma L. Tingcang (PIA9)

PAGADIAN CITY - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has started to reopen its educational assistance window yesterday for all GSIS active members who did not avail of the 2012 GSIS Educational Assistance Program.

In a press statement, GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara said, “Parents are hard-pressed on schooling costs at this time of the year. Under the educational aid program, GSIS lends a helping hand to members by defraying their children’s education expenses.”

Leoncito S. Manuel, GSIS branch head here, said the loan carries a 6% interest rate and does not require any approval from the employer. Active members, regardless of salary grade, may apply for the financial aid amounting to P4 thousand.

He said a member will start paying a P20 monthly amortization three months after the loan is granted.

It can be recalled that GSIS launched the new loan program last year, immediately after the Labor Day announcement of President Benigno C. Aquino III, directing both GSIS and SSS to establish an educational assistance fund for their stakeholders.

Under the program, GSIS has released over P2.45 billion to more than 600,000 state workers who availed themselves of the educational loan.

The pension fund also recently opened 200 slots under the GSIS Scholarship Program for academic year 2013-2014. Government employees with salary grade 24 (earning approximately P50 thousand) or below may nominate their children to the program, if they are incoming freshmen in any university or college accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). A GSIS scholar is entitled to tuition and miscellaneous fees not exceeding P20,000 and a monthly stipend of P2,000. Loan application forms may be obtained from any GSIS office and/or downloaded from the GSIS website: www.gsis.gov.ph.

Parolees, probationers undergo fire prevention seminar

By Gideon C. Corgue (PIA9)

PAGADIAN CITY – As part of the Parole and Probation Administration’s (PPA) rehabilitation program, a seminar on fire prevention was conducted recently for parolees and probationers at Balangasan gym here.

Supervising Parole and Probation Officer Jocelyn Bael said almost 50 parolees and probationers had attended the seminar which aimed to provide them with the knowledge and skills on fire prevention.

Bael said the agency has included the seminar in its regular programs for the parolees and probationers to become productive and socially responsible members of the community.

The PPA chief said: “Since we Filipinos used to observe fire prevention every month of March, we would like our clients to be actively involved in community service.”

“With the lesson they learned during the seminar, they would know exactly on what to do especially in helping firemen on how to prevent the occurrence of fire in their respective communities,” Bael pointed out.

Since everyone is not spared from fire, Bael said, her clients should be ready at all times to render service to the community.

Bael invited speakers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to give lecture on fire safety.

Fire Officer 3 Perlito Bustamante lectured on the behavior, characteristics and types of fire and fire prevention tips while Fire Officer 3 Nellby Racho gave tips on how to operate fire extinguishers.

Bael also disclosed that aside from the fire prevention seminar, PPA also conducted a forum on women which was attended by its clients and mothers.

In said forum, Bael gave lecture on the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The activity was also a part of the agency’s rehabilitation program.

Freed Australian hostage unlikely to file charges vs Sayyaf

(Mindanao Examiner)

PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 1, 2013) – Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage, Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell, is unlikely to pursue criminal charges against his kidnappers despite earlier statement by Philippine authorities.

Rodwell, 54, went to the Department of Justice on Monday to sign his affidavit of abduction, but State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes said the Sydney man has no plans of filing charges against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, according to a report by television giant GMA News.

“The purpose of the affidavit is for the processing of the investigation of the case...so far, Rodwell has not decided whether to press charges (against his abductors), but (his sworn) statement can be used by the PNP to pursue a complaint,” GMA quoted Reyes as saying.

PNP refers to the Philippine National Police.

Rodwell has evaded the Philippine press and would not talk to journalists who covered his arrival at the Department of Justice.

Rodwell - kidnapped on December 2011 from his seaside house in Ipil town in Zamboanga del Sur province by gunmen who posed as policemen - was freed on March 2 after his Filipino wife, Miraflor Gutang paid P4 million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf, which originally demanded $2 million.

Gutang claimed that she herself raised the money by selling off their house and vehicle and water refilling business in Zamboanga del Sur province, but her story raised more doubts because she had previously accused Rodwell of physical abuse and abandoned him days before he was kidnapped in their seaside house in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Rodwell married the Filipino woman in June 2011 after they met on the internet. Gutang’s fantastic claim of herself raising the ransom was far from her previous statement following Rodwell’s kidnapping in which she said in a radio interview that “whoever had kidnapped my husband, he is not rich. Return him to us and please don’t hurt him. My husband is ill.”

General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said the ransom received by the Abu Sayyaf would further threaten peace and security in the Muslim province, saying the terrorist group would likely to use the money to purchase illegal weapons and fund kidnappings and terrorism in Basilan and probably other parts of Mindanao.

“We are worried about this situation now because the Abu Sayyaf may use the ransom to fund terror activities and kidnappings and endangering civilian lives,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

Gutang now lives with her parents – her father works as a farmer and mother, a housewife – in a modest house in Naga town. Both parents claimed Gutang was a battered wife. She even filed police reports several times claiming she was allegedly assaulted by Rodwell, and police said that she was also planning to file charges against her husband with the Australian embassy in Manila.

Rodwell’s sister Denise and his brother Wayne, who flew to Manila from Australia to be reunited with the freed adventurer, did not meet with Gutang.

President Benigno Aquino has ordered an investigation into the payment of ransom to the terrorist group, saying, he has not seen any reports on the Rodwell case. “I haven’t seen a report from the concerned (authorities, the) PNP anti-kidnapping group and others,” he said.

Aquino said the government has a strict no-ransom policy. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists,” he said.

There were suspicion the ransom money either came from Rodwell’s family in Australia or from the Australian government and only used Gutang as a cover to justify the payment to the terrorist group, blamed for many kidnappings and bombings in the southern Philippines.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Zamboanga_del_Sur_News_April_2013&oldid=623719"