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PARCCOM - Zamboanga Sibugay to hold election

By Claro A. Lanipa


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Mar. 28 (PIA) -- The Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) of Zamboanga Sibugay will hold an election of its members on April 12, 2012, nomination of its chairperson will be appointed by the president of the Philippines.

Section 44 of RA 6657, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988", as amended by RA 7905, created the PARCCOM to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) at the provincial level. It further mandates the PARCCOM to provide information about Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) guidelines on CARP and the progress of its implementation.

The PARCCOM is composed of thirteen (13) members as follows: Chairperson, Ex-Officio members - the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO), Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO)/Provincial Agriculturist (PA), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) representative, and its elected members from the Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) namely: the Farmers' Organization, Agricultural Cooperatives, Non-Government Organizations, Landowners (Principal Crop), Landowners' (Other Crop/s), Farmers/Farmworkers' (Principal Crop), Farmers/Farmworkers' (Other Crop/s), and Cultural Community representative.

In order to materialize the said nomination and election, the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of Zamboanga Sibugay is working hard in its preparation, highlighted by a series of activities such as: Community Assemblies/Meetings which was held on March 19-23, 2012, nomination and filing of Certificate of Candidacy from March 28-April 1, 2012, orientation of all qualified candidates / nominated representative to be held on April 12, 2012 in the morning, election of PARCCOM members on April 12, 2012 in the afternoon, and the oath taking of new PARCCOM members on May 10, 2012.

Under the PARC Executive Committee, Administrative Order No. 01-97 entitled "New Implementing Guidelines Strengthening the Formation, Organization and Operation of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM)", applicants/nominees for the chairperson shall be interviewed and rated by an Evaluation Committee in the province and prioritized accordingly.

The Committee shall be assisted by the PARCCOM Secretariat in the screening and evaluation of nominees for chairperson. Each shall be recommended by the PARO and endorsed by the DAR Regional Director concerned to the PARC ExCom. The PARC ExCom Screening Committee shall evaluate each applicant/nominee based on the personal data sheet and other information submitted to and processed by the PARC Secretariat.

The PARC ExCom through its Chairman shall then endorse three (3) duly ranked applicant/nominees to Malacañang for appointment. Though the President normally appoints the highest ranking/priority nominee, in some instances, he may choose to appoint another from the nominees endorsed by the PARC ExCom.

As for the nomination and election of the members, the same administrative order provides that there shall be one nominee from each accredited organization of the following sectors namely: Farmers' Organizations, Agricultural/Agrarian Reform Cooperatives, NGOs and Indigenous Cultural Communities in the province, if any. The nominees of the accredited organizations shall elect from among themselves their respective representative, to the PARCCOM. For purposes of nomination, a nominee who is nominated by two or more sectors shall be required by the PARO to choose in which sector he/she shall be nominated.

Moreover, it also says that there shall be two (2) representatives each of Landowners and Farmer and Farmworker beneficiaries, one of whom shall be a Landowner or Farmer/Farmworker representing the principal crop of the province where each group (i.e., Landowners, Farmer and Farmworker Beneficiaries) shall elect from among themselves two (2) representatives.

Once in the office, the appointed chairperson of PARCCOM shall serve for a term of three (3) years at the pleasure of the President of the Philippines who may reappoint the incumbent for another term of three (3) years, while the elected members/PSRs shall serve for a term of three (3) years and maybe re-elected for another term of three (3) years.

The DARPO of Zamboanga Sibugay launched a province-wide information campaign, to reach as wider as possible the potential nominees/sectors for the Chairperson and for the elected members. DARPO Sibugay encouraged all involved sectors to take active part in the said event and don’t hesitate to approach the DAR provincial office for inquiries. Publication in the newspapers, public announcements on the radio programs and posting at the municipal agrarian reform offices of the general criteria/qualifications and documentary requirements for the aspirants and the schedule of activities of the said event were also made to inform the public of the important information regarding the PARCCOM nomination and election. (JPA/DAR-ZamboSibugay/PIA9/CAL)





DILG IX conducts general orientation to LGOOs

By (JPA/Lia Sahi,DILG/PIA9)


PAGADIAN CITY, Mar 27 (PIA) –- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX conducted a 12-day Pre-Center Component I, General Orientation for Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs) II and III on March 12-24, 2012 at the DILG Regional Office, this city.


The orientation is a pre-requisite to the Component II Enhancement Training of the 47th Batch of LGOOs to be held in Polomolok, South Cotabato on April 10 to June 5, 2012. The training aims to capacitate the LGOOs with the skills, capacities and technical know how on the ins and outs of being a DILG field officer, as well as their duties and responsibilities.


The orientation/training was participated by six (6) technical personnel from the regional and field offices they are as follows; LGOO IIs Junil Cabahug, from Zamboanga Sibugay, Sherwin Caseñas, of Zamboanga del Norte, Philip Cuevas and Dihsie Ramos-Lauron from the Regional Office, and Marites Anota and Chandiramani Obut from Dipolog City.


Resource Speakers and Focal Persons took turns in orienting and familiarizing the trainees on various topics such as the History, Evolution and DILG Strategic Doctrines, Decentralization Policies and Principles, Local Government Unit Powers, Local Legislation, Finance, Code of Conducts and Ethical Standards and DILG Flagship Programs Projects and Activities.


In between the lectures an examination was administered by the lecturers in order to gauged the level of comprehension of the trainees on the lectures and subject presented.


Regional Director Paisal Abutazil emphasized that the trainees should take the general orientation phase seriously because this will equip them for the actual center training where they will be joined by trainees from other regions in Mindanao.


“We want to prepare the trainees not only mentally, but also condition them physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. In doing so, they will be able to face the challenges in the training center and more so in the actual job on the ground, confidently and head on,” Abutazil said.


For the Component II, Region IX trainees will be joined by other trainees from Regions 11 and 12. After the center training, trainees will be exposed to the job of a DILG Field officer through Field Emersion Phase for a period of three (3) months.

7 drug pushers nabbed in buy-bust ops in Zambo Sibugay

By Mindanews


IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (MindaNews/26 March) – Seven alleged drug pushers were arrested in two separate buy-bust operations on March 22 and 23 as part of the “all-out war” against drug pushers in the province. Pedrito Suano, provincial director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said four persons, including Bonfiacio Abao aka Dondon, the alleged Number 3 drug pusher in Malangas, were arrested at around 9 p.m. on March 22 in Purok 8, Barangay Ladicha in Malangas. Suano, who led the operations, said Abao’s arrest will have a significant impact in the campaign against perceived untouchable drug pushers in the municipality and the entire province. “The arrest of (Abao) will send the message to all those who believe that they are untouchable drug pushers here in Sibugay. We are already launching all-out-war against these drug pushers who deliberately destroy the future of our youth and our communities”, said Agent Suano, PDEA-Sibugay Provincial Head Suano said an agent from the PDEA posed as a buyer of shabu and contacted Abao for one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing shabu worth P500. The operation led to the arrest of the 33-year old Abao, from whom three small plastic sachets believed t be containing shabu. Also arrested were Lloyd Elisan a.k.a. ‘Nonoy’, 27, of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Diplahan town, from whom one sachet of shabu was seized; Jorlie Alimani a.k.a. ‘Jojo’, 36; and Clio Ledama a.k.a. ‘Lio’, 22, also of Diplahan. The next day, March 23, another buy-bust operation was conducted at around 4:30 p.m. in the vicinity of the Imelda Integrated Bus Terminal, in Imelda town. PDEA agents arrested Luzviminda Salinas a.ka. ‘Luz’, 38, and the Isnani brothers Daud, 28, and Gamal, 30, all of them residents of Talusan town. Confiscated from Salinas and the Isnani brothers were three plastic sachets of shabu, one from each suspect. Suano said the buy-bust operations gave them enough information that the suspects are linked with a drug syndicate operating in the island municipalities of Mabuhay, Talusan and Olutanga and Payao in the mainland. (Paulnazer T. Lontua/MindaNews)

Programs for Zam Pen's dev't tackled in RDC-9's 139th meeting

By (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)


DIPOLOG CITY, March 24 (PIA) -- Region 9’s development council has recently met to talk about issues concerning various programs for the development of Zamboanga Peninsula.


Around 50 members of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-9 were here yesterday for their 139th meeting tackling issues and concerns involving the implementation of infrastructure, agriculture, education and health programs in Zamboanga Peninsula.


Regional directors and representatives of the different national line agencies, provincial governments of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, city governments of Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga, Ipil municipality of Zamboanga Sibugay and private sector representatives came and attended said conference.


In a related development, RDC-9 has favorably endorsed the recommendation to increase the travel allowance of government officials and employees from the current P800 per day to P1,900 per day to cope with the rising costs of meals and hotel accommodation.


In yesterday’s meeting, RDC-IX chair Mayor Evelyn T. Uy also awarded plaques of recognition to Ms. Velia Santos Ebol, 71, a volunteer affiliated with the Zamboanga Peninsula Women’s Solidarity Foundation, Inc., and the Youth Solidarity for Peace (YSP)-Zamboanga City.


Ebol was one of the three national awardees of the 2011 Search for Outstanding Volunteers-Individual Category while the YSP was one of the winners in a nationwide search for the 10 Accomplished Youth Organizations for 2011.


“The best resource of the government is human capital and let us consider the dignity of government employees by giving some comfort during official travels,” said a private sector representative.


The meeting ended with some updates of the National Greening Program by Director Arleigh Adorable of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-IX. Adorable said DENR-IX was able to surpass its 2011 target having covered more than 1,400 hectares planted with forest, fruit and rubber trees around the region.

Jalosjos to invade Cerilles domain

By FRANK E. DOSDOS, JR.


In what appears to be an intimidating show of force, the mighty Jalosjos political machinery declared last Sunday, March 18, that it is going to enter the Zamboanga del Sur political Landscape in 2013. The Zamboanga del Norte Congressman and political kingpin Romeo Jalosjos made the announcement in his message during the induction of new members of the Liberal Party-Alliance of Parties for Progress (LP-APP) in Zamboanga del Sur at Mardel Hotel in the booming capital city of Pagadian.

Cong. Jalosjos was with Zamboanga-Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos, Zamboanga Sibugay Congressman Romeo Jalosjos Jr., Mayor Dominador Jalosjos of Dapitan City and Region 9 ABC President Marjorie Jalosjos. Jalosjos said that they have come to Zamboanga del Sur due to the clamor of the people for their intervention to help change the political climate in the province now under the grip of Governor Antonio Cerilles and District 2 Congresswoman Aurora Cerilles. It was said that the couple had been taking turns as congressman and governor of the province for decades while the people and the Land remain impoverished and under-developed.

The LP-APP in Zamboanga del Sur was led by Vice Governor Roseller Ariosa, Atty. Tresindo Poloyapoy, Romeo Vera Cruz, and the only LP Mayors Wilson Nandang of Labangan and Enrique Cabahug, Jr. of Aurora. Cabahug was reportedly punished for staying with the Liberal Party thereby delaying his infrastructure projects through suits fi led by Councilors allied with Cerilles. Nandang, for steadfastly holding on to his membership with the Liberal Party, reportedly suffered two preventive suspensions based on allegedly trumped up charges. Nandang was then reinstated by the Malacanang. Jalosjos said the Cerilleses were already frightened asking several times during the past weeks if it were true that they would come into the province. He said that there used to be only one Zamboanga in the peninsula before the province was divided.

He added that when the people of Zamboanga del Sur came asking for their help they immediately responded so the peninsula must grow and develop together. It was learned that Zamboanga del Norte, especially the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, have been growing phenomenally with the latter becoming an international tourist destination. "Zamboanga City has also been sending overtures for us to come and if they insist, we are willing to serve," Congressman Jalosjos said.

He also announced that they will be supporting candidates in the second district of Misamis Occidental in 2013. Last 2010, his daughter Lana was elected Mayor of Baliangao, Misamis Occidental through a small margin over his rival former Vice Mayor Angnie Yap. Observers say that there is logic in the expansionist moves of the Jalosjos political clan for geographically the Zamboanga provinces and Mi sami s Oc c idental appear to be a part of the Zamboanga peninsula. At press time, Governor Antonio Cer i l les has not been contacted for comment.

Palace hopes for release of other kidnap victims in Mindanao

By . (SDR/Sunnex)


MALACANANG is hoping Thursday that the other kidnapped victims, including an Australian and two Europeans, will be released soon through the facilitation of the local officials in southern Philippines.

In his regular press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo informed Malacañang regarding the release of Roselyn Kiram Wednesday afternoon in Maligay village, Patikul, Sulu.

Armed men seized Kiram, a health worker, on Monday in Liang village, also in Patikul.

"We would like to inform you that as per my discussion with Secretary Jesse Robredo, the health worker...was released yesterday through the mediation of the local government officials and also the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government)," Lacierda said.

"So we are hoping also that the others who are still in captive will be also released with the same effort, amount of mediation involved. We hope to see that they will be released soon," he added.

The suspected Abu Sayyaf members were allegedly holding Australian Warren Richard Rodwell, who was abducted in early December in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra, and Dutchman Ewold Horn, who were kidnapped by armed men while on a birdwatching expedition in Tawi-Tawi province early February.

Philippine terrorists escape Basilan with Australian captive - Zamboanga Today Online

By Mindanao Examiner


An Australian man kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines was spirited out of Basilan province where security forces have been battling the terrorist group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, officials said Saturday.Officials said Warren Rodwell, 52, has been moved by his captors to Zamboanga Peninsula on the restive region of Mindanao, where the former Australian army soldier was kidnapped in December.“We have reports that Rodwell was taken by his kidnappers to Zamboanga Peninsula because of the intense military operation against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan,” Colonel Ricardo Visaya, the provincial army commander, told the Mindanao Examiner.He did not give details about the escape, but said the operation against the terrorists will continue in Basilan. “We will not stop until these terrorists are neutralized,” he said.Another security official has confirmed the report and said Rodwell was taken to Zamboanga Sibugay or Zamboanga del Sur.Visaya said they have captured an Abu Sayyaf base in the town of Sumisip following a fierce firefight on Thursday that killed one army soldier and wounded three more.The bomb-making base is being used as by terrorist leaders Puruji Indama and Khair Mundos whose group is said to be holding Rodwell, who married a Filipina, Miraflor Gutang, 27, lasy year in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province where the prolific traveller was kidnapped.Both Indama and Mundos, blamed by authorities for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings for ransoms, escaped the military offensive.The Abu Sayyaf demanded $2 million ransoms for Rodwell's safe release, but his wife said they cannot afford to pay and appealed to the terrorists to free the foreigner.

Police activate task force to solve abduction case

By Bong Garcia


THE Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) has activated a task force to solve the recent abduction of a village official's son in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Zamboanga Sibugay Police Director Ruben Cariaga heads the Task Force Auditor, named after the family name of the victim, Meljohn Auditor.

ZPPO Director Napoleon Estilles said Thursday they already have an idea where the victim was taken by the armed abductors.

But Estilles did not give details as efforts continue to recover the hostage.

Auditor, 20, was with some fishermen attending their fish trap two kilometers off shore Barangay Magdaup, Ipil town, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay province, when he was seized by six unidentified gunmen last Sunday.

Auditor is the son of Barangay Magdaup councilman Gabriel Auditor, whose family is into fish trading.

Estilles said the pump boat used by the suspects was already recovered.

He said the motive of abduction could be turf dispute involving the establishment of fishpen but they have not yet ruled out the involvement of kidnap-for-ransom-group.

Fish pen owner son seized

By Al Jacinto


ZAMBOANGA CITY: Unidentified gunmen seized the son of a fish pen owner who is also a village official in Zamboanga Sibugay, military and police reports said on Tuesday.


It said the assailants, armed with automatic rifles and pistols, abducted Meljhan Auditor, 20, who was only visiting the fish pen over the weekend.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, but Muslim rebels and criminal gangs with links to the militant group Abu Sayyaf are actively operating in the province, just 100 kilometers east of Zamboanga City.

The motive of the abduction is still unknown, but the military said it could be the handiwork of small criminal group extorting money from fish pen operators.

The military put up additional checkpoints in the town and doubled its patrol to help the local police track down the perpetrators.

It was the second abduction in the town since December last year when militants seized Warren Rodwell, a 52-year old Australian national married to a Filipina in Ipil.

Rodwell was taken from his seaside home by gunmen disguised as policemen and dragged him to a waiting boat and brought to nearby Basilan province, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf.

Son of fish pen owner seized in Zamboanga Sibugay

By (Mindanao Examiner)


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 13, 2012) – Unidentified gunmen seized the son of a fish pen owner who is also a village official in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay, military and police reports said on Tuesday.

It said the assailants, armed with automatic rifles and pistols, abducted Meljhan Auditor, 20, who was only visiting the fish pen over the weekend.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, but Muslim rebels and criminal gangs with links to the militant group Abu Sayyaf is actively operating in the province, just 100 kilometers east of Zamboanga City.

The motive of the abduction is still unknown, but the military said it could be the handiwork of small criminal group extorting money from fish pen operators.

The military put up additional checkpoints in the town and doubled its patrol to help the local police track down the perpetrators.

It was the second abduction in the town since December last year when militants seized Warren Rodwell, a 52-year old Australian national married to a Filipina in Ipil.

Rodwell was taken from his seaside home by gunmen disguised as policemen and dragged him to a waiting boat and brought to nearby Basilan province, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf.

Zamboanga Sibugay gets more ‘PAMANA’ projects

By Ely Dumaboc


ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 10, 2012) – Zamboanga Sibugay province in the southern Philippines has become the latest recipient of government’s PAMANA stimulus fund that will benefits tens of thousands of families in different towns.

PAMANA is the acronym for “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program of President Benigno Aquino III.

Through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Secretary Teresita Deles, the government handed additional P30 million PAMANA funds for the municipalities of Olutanga, Talusan, Titay and Tungawan. The funds will cover various projects such as road rehabilitation, water supply system and seaweed production among others.

The province recently celebrated its 11th Araw ng Sibugay which was attended by OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, Congressman Romeo Jalosjos Jr., Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco, Payao Mayor Joeper Mendoza and Titay Mayor Maria Esperanza Corazon Rillera. And also PAMANA-Mindanao area manager Vic Borgonia and other local government officials led by Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Rommel Jalosjos who led the festivities.

“Ang Zamboanga Sibugay ay patuloy na makakatangap ng tulong sa PAMANA. Inaasahan naming magiging modelo ito for peace and development. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil ang maliit na pondo para sa mga maraming proyekto ay napupunan at nadadagdagan ng inyong local government. (Zamboanga Sibugay will continue to receive assistance from PAMANA. We expect it to be a model community for peace and development. We are thankful that the local government provides counterpart funds which further add to the limited funds for various projects.),” Montalbo said.

He praised the strong commitment to peace and development by the provincial and municipal governments.

Apart from the P30 million provided by the national government, the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial government committed to give an additional P7 million to demonstrate its support for the projects and enhance the peace condition in the area.

Last year, Zamboanga Sibugay received financial aid for road rehabilitation projects in three of its municipalities, namely Tungawan, Payao and Mabuhay. It was the first financial intervention from the current national administration to the province.

“Through PAMANA, we were able to implement road rehabilitation in 12 barangays. We aim to continue building a concrete pathway to peace and development,” Jalosjos said, adding “peace is a legacy which both PAMANA and my administration wish to give to Zamboanga Sibugay. Dili tayo pinabayaan ng national government, lahat nakaka-benefit sa mga proyekto ng PAMANA. The key to progress and development is peace and order (The national government didn’t forget us. We all benefit from the projects they deliver).”

PAMANA is the national government’s program and framework for peace and development for conflict-affected areas such as Zamboanga Sibugay. It aims to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities through projects that boost peace and development.

DAR holds web-based legal case monitoring system seminar in Zam Pen

By Adolfo Lopez, Jr.


IPIL,A Zamboanga Sibugay Mar 9 (PIA) – To ensure faster resolution and close monitoring of agrarian-related cases, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office, recently conducted an orientation seminar on web-based Legal Case Monitoring System (LCMS) among Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers (PARO), DAR legal officers and DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) staff of Region IX at Dakak Park and Beach Resort, Taguilon, Dapitan City.

Participants from Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur attended the seminar headed by PAROs Rizzel Villanueva, Virgilio Alcomendras, and Engr. Raymundo Bernardo of the respective provinces. Legal Assistance Division from the said provinces were in full force with the presence of the division chiefs Atty. Alan Tolorio, Atty. Avito Zamora and Atty. Judith Patriarca, bringing along with them their paralegal officers and LCMS focal persons.

Also present were officers from DARAB spearheaded by Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD) Atty. Jesric Enriquez and Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator Atty. Jessica Tilos – Agagon. DAR IX Regional Office also showed its support to the seminar as Regional Director Julita Ragandang graced the event along with Engr. Agnes Y. Maata, Assistant Regional Director for Operations Atty. Tettywangsa T. Husin Regional Office Legal Division Chief and other DAR IX regional employees.

Facilitated by the Management Information Service (MIS) of DAR Central Office, the participants were oriented on how to use the web-based LCMS and were also asked for suggestions for the improvement of the system.

Under LCMS, all agrarian-related cases whether filed at the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) or at the Legal Division in all DAR offices nationwide would be entered into this web-based system for easy monitoring and tracking on the development of these cases. The LCMS will enable DAR officers to track the progress of legal cases pending with the DAR. The said system was pilot-tested in selected regions and provinces and will be fully operational within this year.

DAR Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Anthony Parungao also graced the said event and expressed his optimism for the actual and successful operation of the monitoring system which would be a great help to the department in the speedy resolution of cases affecting land acquisition and distribution and other related cases.

USec. Parungao also said that the web-based LCMS is just one of the various reforms and strategies initiated by the DAR Central Office to pick up the pace of land acquisition and distribution in the country. He also mentioned about the web-based DAR Legal Information System (LIS) which was launched last November 2011. This will enable field personnel, agrarian reform advocates and researchers to access information related to agrarian reform (laws, issuances, court decisions, etc.) through the Internet. Templates for Agrarian Law Implementation (ALI) and cancellation cases were also prepared for DAR lawyers and legal officers to speed up and improve the quality of decisions which were made available by just visiting the DAR website.(JPA/DAR9/ATL/PIA(/CAL)

740 kilos of blasted fish seized in market

By panaynewsphilippines.com


CEBU City — The Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission (CCBDC), along with personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 (BFAR-7), confiscated 740 kilos of dynamited fish at Phase 2 of the Pasil Fish Market recently. CCBDC project director Ranulfo Sebusa said the seized assorted fish were from Ypil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Sebusa said its consignee, Marcelina Surigao, was told to come to their office on Friday for further investigation and documentation. He said they still have a grace period of one month to file a case against Surigao or she will be asked to pay the fine, considering she is a first time offender. Sebusa said the illegally caught fish, with an estimated value of P74,000, were confiscated after a week of surveillance. The seized fish included “mamsa” (jack fish), “kitong” (spade fish) and “solid sa lawod” (rainbow runner). Sebusa said dynamite fishing is prohibited under Section 12 of Republic Act 4003, or the Fisheries Act of the Philippines. Fish caught through cyanide and fine-mesh nets, among others, are also considered illegal catch. The CCBDC project director said the confiscated “hot fish” were distributed to at least seven charitable institutions in the city. Sebusa said the confiscation was the first for the CCBDC this year, although they conducted regular market operations for the last two months. He said the City Council’s disapproval of their proposed P9.3-million budget for this year did not hinder them from exercising their duties, proof of which was the recent operation. Last year, the CCBDC in coordination with BFAR, confiscated a total of 4,730 kilos of illegally caught fish with an estimated value of P537,000. The CCBDC also filed cases in court against five persons who were apprehended for allegedly violating the Fisheries Code of the Philippines. “We won’t stop because that is our mandate; as long as we are here, we will continue to operate and protect our marine resources,” Sebusa said. (PNA)

Zamboanga women group ventures into bottled sardines production

By (PNA) DCT/LAM/TPG/jsd


ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 5 -– A women association in Barangay Sta. Maria in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte has ventured into the production of bottled sardines through the assistance given them by the TVI Resource Development, Inc. (TVIRD). The TVIRD is the Philippine affiliate of TVI Pacific Inc., a publicly-listed Canadian mining company, which is into copper and zinc mining in Sitio Canatuan, Barangay Tabayo, Siocon. TVIRD Director for Public Affairs Ron Jabal said the group, known as the Sta. Maria Women Association (SMWA), has started production of bottled sardines last week just as the closed season for commercial fishing was lifted. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has lifted closed season for commercial fishing last Thursday, March 1. The closed season that was implemented starting last December was aimed to pave way for the fishes, especially "tamban," which is the primary raw material for sardines production, to spawn or reproduce. The sardines production project of the SMWA is aimed to jump start an alternative livelihood projects for the women of Siocon municipality. Joel Alasco, manager of the TVIRD Community Relations and Development Office (CREDO), said the sardines-making project is under TVIRD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program and funded by the Social Development Management Plan (SDMP). The production of the bottled sardines was the offshoot of a training program attended by 12 officers and members of SMWA at the Dipolog School of Fisheries in Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte province. The TVIRD has provided P100,000 for the training and cooking materials and for the improvement of the area where the sardines are being prepared by the SMWA. The SMWA's small sardine factory is located in Sitio Busicong in Barangay Sta Maria, Siocon municipality. The factory was established in Sitio Busicong due to its proximity to the sea where “tamban-tuloy” — the fish used for the sardines — are abundant and where there is ample supply of water — which is another project sponsored by TVIRD. So far, Jabal said the bottled sardines produced by the SMWA are being bought by the Exploration Department of TVIRD and Eng. Jun Antipolo who wants to have a monthly supply of the sardines to be delivered in Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay province. Jabal said the SMWA, which is aggressively looking for other buyers to make the project more sustainable, processes a minimum of 158 bottles per batch of production and each bottle costs P55. The bottled sardines that are being produced by the association are labeled “mananam”, a vernacular word which means delicious. SMWA president Manuela Canonayon said the sardines production project help augment “our income and prepare us for the future.” Canonayon and her 11 members vowed to manage well the project and to make it sustainable. “We are fortunate that TVIRD gave us the chance to learn the technology and gave us the capital to start the production. For this, we are very grateful to TVIRD,” Canonayon added. She said they are already planning to recruit and train more members to increase the association's bottled sardines production.

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