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Province of Davao Oriental - Archived News

Davao Region unemployment rate hits 3-year low

The unemployment rate in Davao Region has hit a 3-year low, according to figures from the Department of Labor and Employment.

According to DOLE-XI Regional Director Atty. Joffrey Suyao, the unemployment figure taken from January to July 2011 is pegged at 5.8 percent. This is lower compared to the 6.1 percent unemployment rate of 2010. The unemployment rate in 2009 registered at 5.9 percent.

The region has an employment rate of 94.2 percent as compared to national average of 92.9 percent.

“Although the growth is small, but this is something we can build upon,” Suyao said.

Suyao credits the current construction boom with the building of hotels and malls, the entry of more investments as current drivers for employment growth. He added that peace and order continues to be the main attraction of the region particularly in Davao City.

According to the National Statistics Coordination Board; the jobless rate in the country for 2011 (January to October year) hit at around 6.4 percent. This is the lowest jobless rate since 2007 when it unemployment rate registered 6.3 percent. The employment growth translated to 2.1 million jobs created from January to October of this year.

According to Press Secretary Edwin Lacierda, the jobs growth is a manifestation of government’s efforts to create conducive business and investment environment.

2 farmers from Davao Region bag National Gawad-Saka awards

DAVAO CITY- Two farmers and a farmers’ group in the region bagged the National Gawad-Saka awards, and are set to receive the award on December 13 from President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang.

The Department of Agriculture recently named the Gawad-Saka awardees from the Davao Region to include lady farmer Anna Cagulada of Dujali, Davao del Norte who was cited as the outstanding rice farmer in the country.

Aside from being hands on in her farm, Cagulada also functions as a public servant being a Barangay Kagawad in her hometown.

She will receive Presidential Trophy, and Presidential citation which will personally be given by President Aquino.

Cagulada will also receive P100,000 cash to finance additional input capital in her farm.

Another farmer awardee is Benjamin Lao of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, cited as outstanding organic agriculture farmer.

Lao owns an integrated and diversified farm with coconut as his main crop using mainly organic inputs.

He invented and developed coconut sugar and syrup products which are getting high demands both from the local and international markets.

Lao will also receive P100,000 cash award, Presidential Trophy and Presidential citation.

The Four Seasons Fruits Corporation from Tagum City was cited as outstanding agri-entrepreneur for its big impact to the production and income of small banana growers in Davao del Norte and nearby provinces.

FSFC is a banana processing company that ships products here and abroad. It is chaired by Ian C. Neo.

The company will receive P100,000 as additional operations capital. A Presidential trophy and Presidential Citation will also be given to the awardee.

DA regional executive director Oscar Parawan lauded the above mentioned farmers for achieving the highest and the most prestigious award in agriculture industry.

“We are proud of these outstanding farmers, they are our heroes in agriculture and they will serve as our partners in pursuing our goal for food self-sufficiency,” Parawan said.

He added that these farmers will also serve as the model for other farmers and fishers in the region to strive more and will continue to venture on new technologies introduced by DA and other government agencies to increase their income and production.

Feature: ARENA XI Serbisyo Caravan continues to touch lives

Senior citizens received pension fund. Indigents got medical services. Farmers brought home seedlings and seeds. Households received compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Fisherfolks took tilapia fingerlings and micro entrepreneurs received livelihood assistance.

These were among the benefits and services that the Serbisyo Caravan delivered to residents of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley where the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies (ARENA) XI conducted the second leg of its caravan of services last November 29.

Medical needs

Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo T. Uy got overwhelmed with the presence of regional directors and the pool of services that they brought along with them.

While expressing his gratitude, he was also hoping that ARENA XI would come back next year and again haul government services to other towns in his province.

He particularly took note of the medical services as among the topmost needs of his people, and that he hoped that the medical outreach would be done in longer days so more people would be able to benefit from it.

Mayor Romeo Clarin of Nabunturan said he observed that more residents avail of the free surgery, medical and dental check-ups and medicines.

Dr. James Dumdum who headed the medical outreach team in the caravan said the team had targeted to do ten major surgeries and 100 minor surgeries such as cyst excisions.

A dozen surgeons, three anesthesiologists, one pediatrician, an ophthalmologist and an internist volunteered their services during the ARENA Caravan medical outreach in Nabunturan.

The Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) spearheaded the conduct of such surgical mission with the support of the Department of Health (DOH) XI which supplied the drugs for major surgery and medicines for minor surgeries.

While providing security during the caravan and entertaining people through its Marching Band, the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army also conducted a separate dental service.

Released cash and other goods

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI made some 190 indigent senior citizens in Nabunturan happy as they took home their social pension given them in cash.

DSWD XI released some P407,500 social pension payouts given in line with the full implementation of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The law provides a monthly stipend of P500 to indigent senior citizens of 77 years of age and above, to augment what they have for their daily subsistence and medical needs.

Meanwhile, other agencies also made actual distribution of goods and materials.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) dispersed about 29,500 pieces of Tilapia fingelings.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) gave out some 500 pieces of durian seedlings and 200 packs of assorted vegetable seeds.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs), while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) distributed land titles to patentees under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

While receiving applications for teachers exam, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) XI turned over 2,000 pieces of pencils to Gov. Uy who would be giving them away to Grade I pupils in public schools of the province.

The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) turned over during that day an Abaca solar dryer to Nabunturan LGU and to Monkayo LGU.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) XI handed over scholarship grants, while the Department of Energy (DOE) distributed 3,000 energy saving lamps.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released P300,000 worth of livelihood assistance to those making a living in the informal sector in Nabunturan.

Other delivered services

Other services rendered were lectures, consultation/dialogues, briefing/ orientation seminar, information drive on various government programs, forum and counseling, processing of documents, licensing, online registration, technology training, and business name registration.

Distribution of wheelchairs and other assistive devices to persons with disabilities was also part of the services delivered.

Other participating agencies are Philhealth, the Departments of Education, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Justice, Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government.

The Serbisyo Caravan in Nabunturan also got the support of the National Statistics Office, Commission on Audit, National Economic and Development Authority, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Public Attorney’s Office, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Coconut Authority, Quedancor, Agricultural Training Institute, National Food Authority.

Other supportive agencies included the Commission on Human Rights, Philippine Information Agency, Land Bank of the Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Police Commission, Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

The ARENA XI Serbisyo Caravan first hauled and pooled the services of government line agencies to Boston and Cateel towns in Davao Oriental in August this year.

ARENA XI earned in Davao Oriental the appreciation of local government officials especially that of Provincial Gov. Corazon Malanyaon who saw the outpouring of services, and of social and economic benefits for her less fortunate constituents.

Davao Oriental Philippine Councilors League (PCL) president Vicente Castillones pushed for a resolution commending the ARENA XI Serbisyo Caravan as a model of delivering government services to poor communities.

ARENA XI President Achilles Gerard Bravo, regional director of the Department of Budget (DBM) XI, targetted to bring the caravan of government services to identified poor towns where people badly need national government attention.

Just like in its first leg in Davao Oriental, Bravo again looked at the recent ARENA Serbisyo Caravan in Nabunturan as a triumph over hectic schedules as it brought together 47 national line agencies and government-owned-and-controlled corporations (GOCCs) with their agency heads.

TESDA Davao soars with high employment rate- 6 of 10 graduates get jobs

Six out of 10 graduates of vocational courses of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Davao region were able to land jobs this year, buoying up the shares of skilled workers in the various industries in the country.

TESDA Region XI (Davao Region) reported that 15,760 out of the total 25,272 trainees who completed their respective courses this year found employment after graduation.

The number of graduates was culled from the total number of enrollees which reached 35,653. Of those who graduated, 20,510 underwent assessment, and 17,573 were issued certification as TESDA Specialista.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the figure was very encouraging as this clearly indicates that the agency is successfully achieving its mandate to train for jobs and to produce graduates that industries need.

“We are slowly coming to grips with the problem of mismatch between education choices and the skills required by businesses,” Villanueva said, adding that “at the end of the day, it’s above all an issue of quality.”

Graduates cannot just apply for jobs without taking and passing the competency assessment. More and more companies require job seekers to show proof that they possess the knowledge and skills they require.

A technical vocational graduate, who passes the assessment, is issued a certification. The TESDA certification attests the competencies of the qualification and that he has earned the right to earn the badge of excellence, that of being a TESDA Specialista.

This serves as a kind of quality assurance for TESDA graduates before they plunge in to the real world of work, said Villanueva, who was in Davao recently for the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Industry Forum.

The forum aimed to provide the framework for evaluating the needs of the captains of the 11 industry clusters in the region. These are the prime movers of the economy involved in sectors such as banana, coconut, mango, seaweeds, woods, construction, information communication technology, livestock and poultry, machineries, tourism and mining.

TESDA officials in the region are aiming for an 80 percent employment rate for their graduates.

Davao Region is composed of Davao City and four provinces – Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

There are a total of 248 institutions providing technical vocational and training, including public and private schools, private enterprises and community-based centers in the region.

Trainers in the region number to a total of 1,468 while accredited assessment centers total to 175.

As of November 18 this year, TESDA has released scholarship vouchers for the region worth about P30 million.

TESDA provides scholarships through its two main programs namely, the Training for Work Scholarship Program and the Private Education Student Fund Assistance (PESFA).

At least P2.3 million is still due for release to Davao City, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur under the PESFA scholarship.

1 NPA rebel killed in Davao Oriental

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla was killed by the military after his group was caught setting up land mines in Davao Oriental Monday morning.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command Spokesperson Col. Leopoldo Galon said a firefight erupted between members of the Army’s 6th Scout Ranger Command and some 70 NPA guerillas in Pantuyan, Caraga town at around 8:30 a.m.

Galon said the clash began after the military caught the communist rebels planting land mines in the area.

The firefight lasted for about an hour. The military recovered two M16 rifles from the rebels.

Bomb sniffing dogs were deployed to clear the area of land mines.

DepEd finances R-11 reading program

The Department of Education (DepEd) has included the nine schools divisions in Southern Mindanao or Region 11 in the agency’s P21,034,000 support financial assistance to its intensified reading program for elementary school children for School Year (SY) 2011-2012.

This was learned from DepEd Order No. 70, Series of 2011, issued by Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro that was received here recently by DepEd Region-11 Director Susana Teresa Estigoy.

Estigoy said Southern Mindanao is the only region in the country’s second biggest island region, which was included under the DepEd fund aid for reading program that also involved six regions in Luzon, and a region in the Visayas.

The fund allocation, Estigoy said, is earmarked to strengthen the implementation of DepEd’s “Every Child A Reader Program” (ECARP), particularly on its three major components.

These components are Reading Recovery (RR), administration of the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI), and development of the Philippine World Lists in English (PWLE) for first, second, and third grade pupils in Region-11’s nine schools divisions.

Estigoy said Region-11 is composed of the schools divisions of Davao City, Davao del Sur, Tagum City, Compostela Valley, Digos City, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, and the Island Garden City of Samal.

Quoting Luistro’s order, Estigoy said Region-11’s ECARP support fund aid for Reading Recovery will be specifically utilized for setting up Regional Reading Recovery Centers (RRRCs), and refurbishment of existing vacant rooms, expenses on teachers’ training, and for visits to schools of teachers-in-training, monitoring visits relative to the enforcement of RR in the regional level, conducting advocacy activities, management and maintenance of database, and procurement of equipment and story books for school children.

The DepEd chief’s directive, Estigoy said, described the ECARP as a national program designed to make every child an independent reader and writer at the end of Grade-3, even as it provides a year-long training to teachers to make them independent solvers of literacy problems in their respective learning centers.

RR, an early literacy intervention that aims at reducing reading and writing difficulties in schools, gives children, who are beginning to fall behind in reading and writing, a second chance before their problems become complicated.

An assessment component of ECARP, the Phil-IRI is a nationally validated assessment tool for measuring the reading proficiency level of pupils in both English and Filipino Languages, Luistro said, adding that the PWQLE is made up of the most frequently used words in English textbooks from Grades 1 to 3.

As this developed, Estigoy enjoined all elementary school teachers and administrators to effectively implement the ECARP, and to wisely utilize the DepEd financial support in their respective stations to ensure that every learner in the first three grades would benefit from the program.

She also fielded division and regional education supervisors to closely monitor the enforcement of the program.

Beyond Mati

Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental province, was once a quiet seaside community now laden with beach resorts lining coconut-filled shores, offering amenities and island banca tours to islets and secret coves. It has now become a most visited destination three hours away from Davao City.

The young city successfully celebrated its Sambuokan Festival last October 20-31, 2011. This week-long celebration is both a thanksgiving and observance of the commemoration of its founding anniversary every 29th of October.

Sambuokan (“buok” meaning one) showcases Mati’s “oneness” despite diversity of fascinating culture and ethnic traditions, lifestyle and way of life. Add to it the blessings of abundance in natural resources carefully preserved and enhanced by ecotourism.

Highlights of the celebration include night shows and events at the Baywalk, parties, a pageant, photo competition, fun run, frisbee event, dance showdown, bikini open, trade fair, exhibits, a market showcase of local products, banca race and the most watched skimboarding competition set in the stunning clear blue waters and white shores of Dahican.

Sambuokan’s Indak – Indak sa Kadalanan (street-dancing competition) became a highly charged atmosphere of energy and colors as the crowd cheered the participants. Emerging as the winners were the Matiao National High School (last year’s champ) and Matiao Central.

Beyond the merrymaking, this festival aims to unite the people working together for a common good, turning this once unknown town into a fast-developing settlement and the next potential tourist destination.

When you visit Davao, try Mati on a sudden road-trip whim. Endowed with one of the longest and most beautiful white coastlines in Mindanao, travel to Mati involves zigzagging through well-paved roads that snake up and down a cliff overlooking the sea. The now familiar Barney-shaped Sleeping Dinosaur is a landmark that indicates you have arrived in the once quiet municipality and provincial capital.

Learn how to skimboard, a sport popularized on wild Pacific waves that fringe white sand shorelines. Dahican is a long strip of mesmerizing powdery white sands and startlingly clear aquamarine waters that gradually change into deep azure in the horizon. Skimboarders practically camp by the beach for an adrenalin encounter with the waves.

Meet the local heroes, athletic teens popularly known as the Amihan Boys. They bring skimboarding to a new level by winning various regional competitions and bringing home top prizes, thanks to their mentor George ‘Jun’ Plaza, who raises and disciplines them like sons while they work for a living. Plaza is also a staunch supporter of the turtles and dugongs who ply his beachfront headquarters.

A dolphin tour showcases hundreds of frisky species of the beautiful mammal (Fraser’s dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, long-snouted spinner dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, to name a few) freely cavorting alongside fishermen’s boats. Dive tours and island hopping packages are available for arrangement in the city tourism office.

The simple yet unique distinction of this new city and friendly locals are remarkable features that will keep you coming back for more.

Business leaders urged to make stand for Mindanao

MATI CITY, Davao Oriental- Business leaders in yesterday's Asenso at Negosyo Sa Turismo forum held in Mati City were urged to make a voice after the Basilan encounter that killed nine soldiers.

Quezon Province Representative Lorenzo R. Tanada III, who was the guest speaker in the forum, asked business leaders to make a stand on how they would want the government to move and forward peace efforts for Mindanao.

"There had been clamor for an all-out war against the MILF but we know that it wouldn't be that easy. Businessmen would definitely be one of the most affected sector if we push for an all-out war,” he said.

Tanada has been roaming around the country specifically Mindanao to get the pulse of the people, on what they need and how they would want the government to do after the Basilan incident.

"The President finds it high time to ask the different stakeholders in Mindanao to make a stand. Instead of becoming too emotional, we should be sober and calm to come up with a right analysis,", he added.

The representative said the president decided on a two-pronged approach to get that all-out justice. First is by way of a calculated and targeted enforcement of the law against those who have violated and those responsible for the death of the soldiers. Second, Pres. Aquino would still want to continue talking for peace with the MILF.

"This way the government could also test the sincerity of the MILF in discrediting their rogue elements and in respecting the agreement with the Philippine Government,” he said.

Tanada who is also the party spokesperson was invited by the City of Mati in its celebration of Sambuokan 2011 and the 108th Foundation Anniversary of the said city.

Sambuokan Festival @ 11: uniting Mati through the years

CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental- Now on its 11th year, the Sambuokan Festival emerges as one of Mati City’s top crowd drawer that has started to carve a name in the local, as well as in the national tourism scene in the country.

Sambuokan has depicted the transformation of Mati from a small and quiet municipality in the festival’s early days to the very promising component city that it is today.

“True to its essence, Sambuokan Festival is indeed a manifestation of unity and brotherhood for all Matinians. We have been through a lot, particularly in our struggle for citihood, and in the tough times, we managed to conquer it all because of our unity, for our love of Mati,” Mayor Michelle Rabat explains.

Conceptualized to be a simple celebration for the Founding Anniversary of the municipality of Mati, it eventually became a street dancing extravaganza participated by the different schools in the city, and from the neighboring municipalities.

The body movement of the performers, their every move, and the facial expressions reveal a language of pride for the richness of Mati’s culture and its abundance in natural resources.

For this year, Sambuokan’s festivity runs for ten days, starting on Oct. 20, 2011.

The Sambuokan Festival starts with the Seminar on Best Practices for Business Establishments, Tree Planting Activity, Anito Run for Pawikan sa Dahican 2011, Concert at the Bay, Lanog: School Band Showdown, Amemdo Inter-Office Sportsfest Opening, Lakanbini ng Sambuokan 2011 Presentation and Fashion Walk, Lakanbini ng Sambuokan 2011 Finals Nite, Engkuwentro sa Baywalk 2-Amateur Boxing Invitation, Mati’s Got Talent, Bodybuilding 2011, Bugno ng Gintong Kamao-Mindawide Amateur Boxing, Tourism Business Encounter-May Asenso sa Turismo Cooperative Day, 2nd Annual Skumboarding Challenge, Dance Craze Contest, Sambuokan Thanksgiving Mass, Foundation Day Programme, Pasa PlatoUltiMati, Dahican Beach Party, and highlighting the festivity is the Indak-Indak sa Sambuokan Street Dancing Competition on Oct. 28, 2011.

Since Mati’s citihood was sealed with the final decision of the Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of the citihood of the League of 16, Sambuokan Festival is now on its own a stand alone festival, after it shared festivity with the foundation day of Mati, then a municipality, for many colorful and productive years.

“Though Sambuokan is now on its own, but the real essence stands still, and that is our unity. We have proven that though our unity we can do and achieve a lot. And this is something that we can be rest remembered of. Also, the festival serves as a tribute to the forefathers of Mati, like the former Mayor Paking Rabat and former Assemblywoman Edith Rabat who contributed to its progress with their vision and love of Mati,” she added.

Celebrating Sambuokan Festival is a showcase of gratitude, as it goes down to the history of Mati as a legacy beyond putting into oblilvion.

“Let us celebrate Sambuokan as a fitting tribute to Mati, and as a constant reminder to all Matinians that in unity, there is strength, and we should not let our strength be toppled with challenges, with just a few who look at life differently. The Sambuokan spirit is always positive, full of hope, and never give up on what seems to be impossible,” Mayor Rabat concluded.

Job opportunity

The Region 11 office here of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-11) is accepting applicants for 86 vacant positions in the implementation of Set 5 of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the Davao Region.

DSWD-11 Director Ester A. Versoza said the 4Ps will expand in more cities and municipalities in the region. At present, Versoza said the program is operating in all four provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley, covering 32 municipalities and four cities – Davao, Digos, Tagum, and Mati.

Farmer Cooperators show yields of Pagkain At Kita Program in Corn Harvest Festival

CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental- Around 100 farmer cooperators of the Pagkain at Kita program in Barangay Bobon, City of Mati proudly presented to Gov. Corazon Malanyaon their yield during the corn harvest festival here.

Speaking before the guests and the farmer cooperators last week, Gov. Malanyaon reiterated that her Pagkain at Kita program is designed to ascertain food security and income for every family in the province.

“The program is aimed at ensuring food stability, and augmentation in the family’s income. With the Pagkain at Kita program, I want every family to have at least a monthly income of 6 to 7 thousand pesos. That is why I am happy upon knowing that our farmer cooperators here were able to raise a net income 21 thousand pesos for three months. That is 7 thousand pesos monthly for each of the farmer beneficiaries,” she said.

The governor also seeks to find out reason why some farmers are not able to meet the expected output for the government to address it effectively.

“I do not want percentages, I want clear, picturesque details of them, of their situation. That is why Iinvested on the Nat’l Census Statistics Board (NCSB) to get all the information that I need, through the Geographic Positioning System (GPS).

The NCSB then, assured the Governor that she will have what she needs in two months time.

Punong Barangay Rutchie Ravelo of the municipality of San Isidro, and Coordinator of the Pagkain at Kita Program, disclosed that for Brgy. Bobon, there is a 110 hectare for corn production, the biggest hectarage for corn this year in the City of Mati.

“We hope to increase the area in the second cycle, since we are still on our first cycle,’ he explained.

Farmer cooperators expressed gratitude to the provincial government for the focus given to agriculture sector, which spells a leap in their economic status, and in their way of life.

2 nabbed Sayyafs transported to Zambo

TWO Abu Sayyaf members who were arrested by authorities in Mati City were transported to Zamboanga City on Sunday to face criminal charges for kidnapping and bombing incidents in Basilan and Zamboanga City.

Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed that Abu Abdul Aziz Kunting alias “Robert Tan” and Abu Akmed Kunting alias “Jason Tan” arrived in Zamboanga City on Sunday.

He said the two were also presented to a Zamboanga City court on Monday. The Kunting brothers are in the custody of the Military Intelligence Group.

The two are facing charges for their alleged participation in the Dos Palmas kidnapping of 20 resort guests and workers in 2001 that resulted in the deaths of at least five of the original hostages, including the two American citizens Guillermo Sobero and Martin Burnham.

At least 22 Filipino soldiers were killed in attempts to apprehend the captors and free the hostages in the next 12 months following the initial hostage-taking. An unknown number of captors were also killed by government forces.

Asked if the two ASG members have a bounty for their capture, Cabangbang said there was none.

Joint elements from the Philippine Army's 701st Brigade and the 28th Infantry Battalion, 104th Military Intelligence Company, the Military Intelligence Group 11 and 9, the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office, the Special Action Forces of the Philippine National Police, and the Mati City Police conducted the raid at a residence in Barangay Matiao around 2 p.m. of September 23 that led to the arrest of the ASG members.

Globe's vow

Globe Telecom further strengthens its commitment to be the leader in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education (ICT4E) by providing select public high school teachers in the Davao Region with advanced skills that would enhance the learning experience of their students.

Considering the importance of a strong technology backbone in education, Globe brings to Davao its Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) program – an intensive 54-hour, six-day teacher training program that focuses on the proper use of ICT application for school-centered classroom activities.

GFT is being conducted by Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom) in partnership with the Coalition for Better Education (CBE), and the Department of Education (DepEd).

With the success that GFT achieved in Central Visayas where it was piloted in 2009, Globe deemed it relevant to replicate the program in other parts of the country.

Globe has already launched GFT in North and Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.

“Globe understands that in this modern society, technology is already an essential aspect of education but it is not enough to simply provide schools with the equipment. With GFT, we are transforming computers and the Internet from just being desktop sources of information into instruments of interactive teaching and online collaboration,” said Yoly C. Crisanto, head for Globe Corporate Communications.

GFT is geared towards helping teachers apply ICT in Project-based Learning Approaches (PBL) where the core subject areas such as Math, Science, English, and HeKaSi (Heyograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika), and inter-disciplinary themes are embedded across curriculum.

It demonstrates how ICT can provide teachers and students with more accurate and quicker access to information, tools for easier and faster learning, and a chance to collaborate with the rest of the world.

It was proven that by using ICT, there is increased teacher motivation and improved student memory retention and comprehension of various subjects.

Irrigation project ensures sustainability of fish biodiversit

CATEEL, Davao Oriental- Aside from boosting the province’s rice production, the irrigation project to be constructed here will also ensure sustainability of fish biodiversity.

The P256 million irrigation project of the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) and the provincial government of Davao Oriental integrates social environmental safeguards (SES) to ensure that people and environment are not negatively affected by the project implementation.

In compliance with the World Bank operation policy, SES is a measure that mitigates and protects the environment from the cumulative adverse impact that might be brought by failure to recognize that inherent value of natural resources.

“Fishing aside from farming is also one of the important sources of food and livelihood in the province. While irrigation project will greatly boost rice production, we must also ensure that other sources of livelihood will not be jeopardized,” said program director Lealyn Ramos.

“While we want to spur rural development, MRDP also puts premium on environmental protection. Environmental safeguards are being observed and integrated in the design, site selection and implementation,” she added.

Citing the soon to be established irrigation project in Cateel, Ramos said the program ensures that aside from quality engineering standards it also conforms to the recommended environmental safeguards.

The dams and other structures that will be constructed may tend to block and pose hazard to fishes’ natural migration, a fish-friendly infrastructure was incorporated to the final design of the irrigation project.

“A fish ladder design was recommended to prevent damage to fish biodiversity and fish stocks along Cateel River ,” SES specialist Arnel Areglado said.

Fish ladder, also known as a fish way, fish pass or fish steps is a structure designed to allow migrating fish pass around barriers such as dams or locks by swimming and leaping up series of relatively low steps. Protection and recovery of fish stocks in the area is ensured since fishes have the opportunity to migrate and spawn in downstream and upstream ecosystems.

“The Cateel irrigation project which incorporates a 42-meter fish ladder structure is the first of its kind in Mindanao . It also showcases how the perceived negative impact of development projects can be addressed by putting in place the recommended environmental safeguards,” Areglado said.

The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) revealed that Cateel River which is the major water source of the irrigation project is a home to ecologically important fish species.

“These fish species are found to be either andromous (migrating from the sea to the river) or catadromous (migrating from the river to the sea) and the tributary of Cateel River is crucial in their life cycle,” Areglado said adding:

“The IEE identified the presence of “Pigek” the country’s most expensive but nearly endangered fish along Cateel River .”

Pigek which is also known as Pigok in Northern Mindanao and Ludong in Luzon swims to salt water to spawn from October to December and returns to upstream ponds after. It undergoes upstream migration during December, January, and February, and this coincides with other species of fry also undergo upstream migration.

“Since Pigek was found to be endemic in the Cateel River , there is a need to protect and conserve this valuable fish species along with the establishment of dams and other engineering structures.

Construction of a fish ladder as part of the irrigation project is the best way to address this need,” Areglado said.

Communities get 57 more projects

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) completed a total of 57 sub-projects in Governor Generoso, New Corella, Talaingod, and Laak in Davao Region.

The projects range from potable water system, flood control facilities, drainage lined canal, hanging cable footbridge, school building, barangay health station, tribal housing, day care centers and birthing facilities.

"This is where we need more help from major stakeholders. By our convergence, we will be able to help these municipalities in their community-driven projects," said Priscilla Razon, assistant regional director of DSWD.

Under Kalahi-Cidss, communities in different municipalities identify key development changes that they need and they are the ones who design and develop the projects through a participatory and collective approval process, wherein criteria are developed by the members of the communities.

Potable water systems are the major problems in the towns of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental and New Corella in Compostela Valley, wherein 12 were already constructed in these areas.

"Ito ‘yung mga basic needs at situations that could help them in living a decent quality of life, dito kami pumapasok to help them with their decision-making, looking for resources and opportunities in accessing these basic services," Razon said.

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