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DOE urges Davao Region households, schools to save electricity

The Department of Energy (DOE) has called on constituents in Davao Region to practice proper power saving measures to contribute to the nation’s energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) efforts.

Marlon Romulo Domingo, DOE senior science research specialist, urged every household in the region to embrace the EE&C measures during yesterday’s “Seminar on Electricity Conservation in Households and Schools.”

Domingo raised DOE’s call through the mothers, school heads, students and representatives from the local and natonal government agencies who attended said seminar held at the Abreeza Mall this city.

Domingo provided tips on energy conservation, starting with a pointer on the importance of basic energy audits such as knowing how many appliances and how much energy the appliances use.

Part also of the audit is to identify proper EE&C measures, he stated during the seminar spearheaded by DOE in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a preliminary activity for the worldwide celebration of the Earth Hour 2012 on March 31.

Domingo advised the participants to buy more energy efficient appliances citing a tip on buying air conditioning units which consume the most electricity power.

In his cooling tips, he recommended air conditioning unit with higher Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), adding that units should be installed in coolest and shady part of the room.

He said that air conditioning unit should only be used during warm days like in summer season, and advised to use electric fans in conjunction with the air condition units.

Thermostat of air conditioning unit must be set at comfortable temperature, and the electric fan setting must be set at comfortable level, he said.

Domingo also advised regular cleaning for both aircon and electric fan units, and that cooling system of the aircon should be checked annually.

In heating water, the DOE official recommended the following tips: lower thermostat; repair faucet leaks; reduce the amount of water use; insulate water heater and pipes; install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads; and conduct regular inspection.

Domingo gave out cooking tips emphasizing the suggestion of not using the stove as heating device; using pressurized cooker; and avoiding the use of microwaves to heat foods.

He reminded households and office employees as well as the students to always turn off lights when not in use in any room, and recommended to use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) instead of the Incandescent Bulbs (IBs).

For the drivers, Domingo provided tips such as monitoring fuel consumption; planning travels; driving sensibly and to gas up wisely.

He also emphasized to get rid of all extra weights from the vehicle; to turn off engine while waiting; observe proper maintenance and to keep tires properly inflated, among others.

He told the participants to always remember that every liter of gasoline that a car burns puts 2.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the air which causes air pollution and brings harm to humans and to the environment.

Domingo concluded his talk underscoring DOE’s slogan dubbed as “Do Right. Be Bright. Bright Now!”

DOE to hold Enercon seminar in Davao

The Department of Energy, will hold a seminar on energy efficiency and conservation for the households and schools at the Abreeza Mall, Activity Center from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today under its National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (NEECP).

A preparatory activity for the Earth Hour on March 31, the activity which will be conducted in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWFP) will gather about 300 students and members of the households to learn household energy conservation tips from DOE Sr. Science Research Specialist Marlon Romulo Domingo, and energy efficiency plans and programs of the department from Maximino G. Marquez.

WWFP project manager for sustainable consumption and production and green economy project manager Patrick Vincent Co will also discuss climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The event will also be an opportunity for the participants to understand and be convinced to participate in the staging of the Earth Hour 2012.

In the seminar, Davao Light and Power Company representative Ross Luga and Nelson Gumba will teach the participants on understanding the electric bill and learning to read the electric meter which is a common concern of the households.

As a highlight of the event, the regional director of the PIA Efren Elbanbuena and of the Department of Education- Susana Teresa Estigoy will lead the group in the pledging of commitment to save energy everyday and save the environment.

The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (NEECP) was launched in August 2004 with one clear general objective: to make energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) a way of life of every Filipino.

In line with the DOE’s mission to attain energy access for more and address emissions harmful to the environment, NEECP’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign aggressively promotes Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

The DOE partners with the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines and the Philippine Information Agency to disseminate adequate information on ways and measures to conserve energy and, thus the planet from environmental degradation.

Abreeza Mall, operations manager Luigi Escano welcomes activities such as these to promote the mall’s advocacy of getting more people involved in saving the environment.

DTI-Davao warns contractors to secure PCAB license to avoid sanctions

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao cautions all contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors to first secure a license from the agency before engaging into any construction activities in the Philippines to avoid sanctions.

The licenses, which shall be secured from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), which is under the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), a DTI-attached agency.

Republic Act 4566 (Contractors License Law), as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1746, requires all contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors, regardless of nationality, to get a PCAB license first before they get involved with construction.

Under the law, a contractor may secure any of the two types of licenses – regular and special.

The regular license is issued to a domestic construction firm which shall authorize the licensee to engage in construction contracting within the field and scope of his license classification(s) for as long as license validity is maintained through annual renewal; unless renewal is denied or the License is suspended, cancelled or revoked for cause(s).

The regular license shall be reserved for and issued only to constructor-firms of Filipino sole proprietorship, or partnership/corporation with at least 70 percent Filipino equity participation and duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the Philippine laws.

The special license, on the other hand, is issued to a joint venture, a consortium, a foreign constructor or a project owner which shall authorize the licensee to engage only in the construction of a single specific undertaking/project.

In case the licensee is a foreign firm, the license authorization shall be further subject to condition(s) as may have been imposed by the proper Philippine government authority in the grant of the privilege for him to so engage in construction contracting in the Philippines.

Annual renewal shall be required for as long as the undertaking/project is in progress, but shall be restricted to only as many times as necessary for completion of the same.

A regular license shall be valid for one fiscal year, from the first of July to the 30th of June of the ensuing year, unless suspended, invalidated, cancelled or revoked earlier by the Board, and shall be renewed annually.

A license issued after the first of July shall be valid for the remaining part of the fiscal year.

DTI 11 Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto said that those who are engaged in contracting should get a PCAB license, else it is a violation of a Trade and Industry Law (TIL) and corresponding penalties will be charged against them.

“Once a contractor has a PCAB license, we are assured that they have passed the requirements relative to construction business. Through this way, we are also assured that they are aware of their responsibilities as contractors,” she said.

Meanwhile, PCAB chair Engr. Ramon F. Allado added that having a PCAB license legalizes one’s construction business.

It also professionalizes the industry and makes the playing field equal since having a license makes every firm accountable for his projects’ quality and adherence to standards and requirements as provided by law.

It assures the safety of the public, that only qualified and reliable contractors are allowed to undertake construction in the country,” he said.

DTI 11 is intensifying its campaign against unlicensed contractors in a bid to protect the project owners and employees/laborers involved in the said project.

Contractors caught operating without a license shall pay a penalty of up to P150,000 after due notice and hearing.

Illegal logs seized in Davao Oriental

Philippine authorities seized illegally cut logs in Davao Oriental province as the government campaign continues in the southern region of Mindanao.

The logs were estimated to be worth over P1 million and authorities were investigating the alleged involvement of a local government official after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force and soldiers from the 67th Infantry Battalion confiscated heavy equipment used in illegal logging.

There were no reports of arrest.

The Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force was created under Executive Order no. 23 dated February 1, 2011 along with the declaration of moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forest.

Army helps intensify the National Greening Program in Davao Oriental

GOVERNOR GENEROSO, Davao Oriental- About a thousand Narra seedlings were planted in the premises of the Governor Generoso College of Arts Science and Technology (GGCAST) in Davao Oriental on March 9.

This was actively participated by the army, students, faculty and staff of he college, municipal officials and MENRO of Governor Generoso in support to the Million Trees Program of Davao Oriental.

Prior to the tree planting there was a parade in commemoration of the school’s 5th Founding Anniversary celebration. This was followed by the blessing of a building with four classrooms to accommodate more students next school year.

Lt. Col. Leopoldo Imbang, 28IB Commander, emphasized the paradigm shift of the army from combat to non combat mode, “in line with the Internal Peace and Security Program – Bayanihan in attaining a genuine peace and development.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Rosita J. Bustamante, president of the GGCAST lauded the efforts of government troops. “We thank the 28IB Troopers in preserving our environment and I encourage the participants to take care of the trees and ensure its growth as the only legacy prior to leaving the school.”

“This is not just a plain tree planting but an opportunity of being united with the different stakeholders in the area as part of Army’s Peace and Development Outreach Program and in Winning the Peace,” Lt. Col. Imbang said.

Troops join World and National Wetland Day Celebration

LUPON, Davao Oriental– Troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office based in Lupon, Davao Oriental, in its Coastal Clean-Up Drive last Thursday (Feb. 2).

The activity was initiated by DENR in connection with the celebration of 2012 World and National Wetland Day with the theme: “Wetland and Tourism”. More or less 200 students from Lupon Comprehensive National High School participated and were educated thru a lecture on environmental awareness conducted by Mr. Nelson L. Pilotos of DENR Lupon.

“Our unit will never stop participating in any environmental protection and preservation activities”, 28th IB Commander Lt. Col. Leopoldo A. Imbang Jr. said.

This is the second time that troops of 28th IB participated in the coastal clean-up drive held in Brgy. Ilangay in Lupon. They also joined several mangrove and tree planting activities in Davao Oriental as the unit contributes in the restoration of the environment while conducting Peace and Development Outreach program (PDOP) in the area.

“Environmental protection is everybody’s concern, and our untiring participation in these activities is to stress the role of AFP as environmental protectors”, Lt. Col. Imbang Jr. said.

DRSUS is Detrimental to Davao youth and SCUs – NUSP

Lawmaker Isidro Ungab, Davao City’s representative for its third congressional district, has proposed House Bill 5311 or an Act to establish the Davao Regional State University System (DRSUS) which will integrate the region’s four state universities and colleges (SUCs) — the University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology and the Davao del Norte State College.

The proposed house bill aims to reduce the number of SCUs in the country so as to maximize their limited budget.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) believes that HB 5311 further justifies the continuous decrease in the budget for SUCs. The bill compromises the budget for college education to the detriment of the Filipino youth.

We say, the righteous path in addressing the deteriorating quality of and access to Philippine education system is to broaden the access to education for the poor majority especially in the provinces, allocate bigger budget for SCUs and ensure that quality education is provided for the country’s future generation.

For almost two years under the Aquino administration’s “daang matuwid,” the Filipino people have continued to suffer the impacts of the worsening socio-economic crisis. The administration through its palliative dole-out systems such as the Conditional Cash Transfer has been unable to uplift the lives of the Filipino people. It has slashed the budget for basic social services and education.

President Aquino’s message in light of the 2011 fiscal budget was: “We are gradually reducing the subsidy to SUCs to push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent, given their ability to raise their income and to utilize it for their programs and projects.”

In 2011, the Aquino administration allocated PhP 22.03 billion for SUCs nationwide, decreasing the budget by over PhP 1.8 billion. For 2012, the government has allocated only PhP 21.8 billion that will be shared by more than 110 SCUs all over the country.

Budget cuts resulted to continuous tuition and miscellaneous fees hikes, eventually privatizing the education. In essence the government keeps on being the number one agent in making education inaccessible which is tantamount to violating the right of the youth to education.

In line with its neo-liberal framework which aims to privatize public institutions, the government has been consistent with the design to reduce the number of SUCs in the country. As the name suggests, SCUs are ‘supposedly’ government-fund. The essence of these institutions is to cater quality and accessible education to the youth, by virtue of the universal truth that we are the future of our nation and thus, must be provided with the fundamental knowledge, training and practice to prepare us for our roles as future leaders.

We say, HB 5311 highlights the government’s abandonment of its social obligation to the Filipino youth. We call on administrators, students, teachers and staff of all SUCs in the country to support and join us in the fight against HB 5311. We must fight for greater budget for SUCs, we must fight for a nationalist, pro-Filipino and scientific education.

DENR-11 starts bird counting activity

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Division (PAWD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started its bird watching/bird counting activity in three municipalities of the region.

In line with the Annual Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC) for migratory birds, the bird watching and bird counting is being conducted at Malalag Bay in Malalag town, Davao del Sur; Carmen, Davao del Norte and Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

This activity aims to obtain information on the population of migratory birds at wetlands in the region as well as to monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands.

DENR-XI regional executive director Jim O Sampulna said that the bird counting will last until January 29, 2012.

The municipalities of Malalag, Carmen and Banaybanay are the only three identified temporary habitats of migratory birds in the month of January after crossing the continents.

Residents of this region are however warned not to enter into this venture as this bird maybe carrying the dangerous avian flu virus.

Last year, Sampulna said that a total of 7,836 migratory birds were counted by the three teams from PAWD.

There were a total of 3,705 birds found in Malalag, while 1,566 birds were counted in Carmen and 2,565 birds in Banaybanay.

These migratory birds are composed of different species like Godwit, Sand Plover, Common Greenshank and Black-winged Stilt to name a few.

AWC is an annual event which takes place during the second and third weeks of January. The census was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and has grown rapidly to cover over 32 countries.

According to the National Wetlands Program, many species of waterbirds fly in droves during winter to go to warmer and more hospitable tropics.

After winter following weeks of hopping from one country to another, waterbirds go back the same way feeding on marine species of animals and plants found along the shores.

AMAD to assist performance of Barangay Food Terminals in Davao Region

The Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of the Department of Agriculture will be conducting productivity performance evaluation to each Barangay Food Terminal installed to identify the productivity of each BFT in Davao Region,

Davao BFT Focal Person Assistant Arquillo Villahermosa said each BFT will be evaluated based on the fulfillment of the project objectives which include significant daily sales and if it continuously helps the producer as well as the consumers in the area. He added that the management of all BFT with high productivity performance will be turned over to the Local Government Unit concerns.

BFTs are Barangay-based food depot and distribution system which offer affordable, safe and quality wage food products like meat, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruits. This system directly links farmers and fisherfolk producers to the consumers which benefit them both. These were managed by LGU, private cooperatives, or legitimate registered Association in the area.

Villahermosa said with these BFTs farmers and fisherfolk are no longer worry where to bring their products because BFT answers it. He added that with BFTs fair market price for the farmers’ harvest is assured.

Villahermosa said the Department of Agriculture in Davao region already installed a total of 90 BFTs or Barangay Bagsakan including Bagsakan Centers amount to P200,000 each. Apart from the equipment, DA also conducted trainings on how to manage the project to the beneficiaries to equip them. He added that the evaluation will be done together with the Commission on Audit (COA) for proper recommendation.

He said those BFTs which are performing low will either be retrieve or be subject to rehabilitation and further assistance.

OFWs in Palau oppose planned closure of PH embassy

Filipinos working in the Republic of Palau have expressed concern over the impending closure of the Philippine embassy in the area.

Palau, with a population of at least 20,000 of which one-fourth is comprised of Filipinos, is an island-nation in the Pacific.

It is around 800 kilometers from the Philippines or just an hour’s direct flight from Davao City. It is said to be closest to the southeastern tip of Mindanao in Davao Oriental.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier announced the closure of the embassy in Palau by the end of July, reportedly due to budgetary constraints.

However, a group calling itself The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) expressed strong opposition to the impending closure as it would disadvantage the more than 5,000 Filipinos working in that country.

The Philippine embassy in Palau, manned by 10 staff members, caters not only to the needs of the Filipinos working in Palau but also addresses the concerns of Filipinos caught illegally fishing in its territorial waters.

Hundreds of Filipino fishermen have been caught encroaching into Palauan waters for the past years.

The TFCP lamented that should the embassy close, it would mean that they would not have anyone to help them, especially with matters regarding illegal recruitment, human trafficking, as well as other cases involving employer-employee contracts.

The TFCP is appealing to the government to reconsider its position regarding the embassy in Palau.

DavOr gives additional value to coco products

The coconut capital of Mindanao, Davao Oriental, cannot just forever stay as a copra capital. Industry leaders and even farmers felt that there is more to coconut rather it being a copra product.

Farmers were challenged and thought of alternatives after copra prices dropped to a record low of P5.00 per kilo in 2006.

Coco by-product processing plants then started to crop up in the province. Farmers researched about coco coir and peat products as these had high demand in the export market.

Resulting from the 1st National Coco Coir Summit in March 2011, coir processing plants started to operate all over the province where baled coir fibers are being produced and sold to institutional buyers and exporters in Davao and Manila.

Davao Oriental Trade and Industry head Belenda Ambi said many family members of the coconut farmers have benefited from the additional value of the said crop. Processed coco coir fibers are made into twines and geo-nets that were exported in China and other countries abroad.

One of the initiatives of DTI Davao Oriental was the Coco Coir Twining Project which served as a convergence of various services needs to complete the entire process of coir processing.

Acting as the consolidator of twine hanks is the Mati Cocofiber Technology (MCT). It then provides coir fibers to two twining communities in Maitom and Calamansi.

These coco fibers or twine hanks are then bought by Regwill Industries Inc. Through the facilitation of DTI, the Regwill Industries provided the needed trainings on hanks twining and weaving to the farmers and their family members.

Seeing the importance of convergence that is initiated by a government office, other communities have started embracing this new livelihood. Data showed that there are already seven twining communities assisted by DTI in the said province. The office has also recorded about 169 coco twine weavers who have alleviated their income from twine weaving.

DTI then reported $2.529 million sales in coco coir and peat production. This contributes as 85 percent of the total $2.975 million export sales for the year.

There are five major industry players in the province that have contributed to the generated export sales of coco value added product. These companies are the Mati Cocofiber Technology, Mati Peat Top Corporation, Fiber Technology Expert, the Yiwu Husk Factory and the Davao Oriental Coco Husk Social Enterprise Inc.

“We are not satisfied yet even if we are tagged as the biggest coco producer in the country. Last year, we strengthened promotion to invite investors to go on value adding of coco,” Ambi said.

DTI revealed six more coco husk processing projects are set to start their operations this year. These are the Althan Coco Fiber and Emerson Lim Coco Coir Processing Plant in Manay, a locally-owned coir and peat processing plant in Baganga, another processing plant in Governor Generoso and two branches of Davao Oriental Coco Husk Social Enterprise Inc in Gov. Generoso and Cateel.

All these new addition in the family of the coco industry are expected to contribute significant increases in the domestic and export sales of coco and its value-added products.

These coco products, being the One-Town-One-Product of Davao Oriental, have found export market through participation in trade fairs. The DTI and the local government both see to it that after products get help in packaging and design development, they are assisted to be matched with buyers and investors. These products are often brought to national trade fairs and exhibits to find bigger opportunity for export market exposure.

Data showed that the industry generated P2.46 million this year from trade fair sales which include cash and booked orders.

Aside from joining trade fairs, the industry members have also enjoyed market matching and linkage activities initiated by DTI.

Last year, the province generated P49.369 million by market matching. It brought 25 new buyer-supplier linkages, which benefitted 16 local MSMEs. They were linked with 21 institutional buyers from Davao, Cebu, and Manila.

With the increasing number of coco-processing plants coming in the province, industry players, together with the local government, are pushed to go full blast in coco production this year.

The provincial government poured in P4 million budget as its support to the coco industry. The money will be used in consolidated projects of other government agencies like the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment that are aimed at uplifting the lives of the coco farmers.

Free land title recipients in Davao to rise by a third this year

Recipients of free land titles in Davao will increase by as much as one-third this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Davao region said Saturday.

The agency's region 11 office is set to issue a total of 6,637 residential free patents in 2012, up by 33 percent from last year’s total of 4,964 titles, DENR Region 11 Executive Director Jim Sampulna said.

These will be issued to residents who have occupied land for at least 10 years.

"We are going full blast in the implementation of Republic Act 10023, and I have already instructed our land officials to closely coordinate with the local government units so that they can inform their constituents about the program," he said.

Last year, the regional office was able to process and distribute 1,332 residential land titles in Davao Oriental, 1,001 in Davao del Norte, 1,429 in Compostela Valley, and 1,202 in Davao del Sur, or a total of 4,964 titles covering some 81 hectares, Sampulna said.

For 2012, the DENR-Region 11 is targeting to distribute some 1,577 titles in Davao Oriental, 1,200 in Davao del Norte, 1,500 in Compostela Valley, and 2,360 in Davao del Sur.

Enacted in March 2010, RA 10023, also known as the New Residential Free Patent Act, authorizes the issuance of free patents on residential lands, including town sites as defined under the Public Land Act.

The law states that any Filipino citizen who actually occupies a residential land for at least 10 years is qualified to apply for a residential free patent title, provided that the land applied for is not needed for public service or use.

The area should also not exceed 200 square meters in highly urbanized cities, 500 square meters in other cities, 750 square meters in first and second class municipalities, and 1,000 square meters in all other municipalities.

Documentary requirements include a plan based on the actual survey conducted by a licensed geodetic engineer and approved by the DENR, technical description of the land applied for, and supporting affidavit of two third-party persons residing in the village of the city or municipality where the land is located.

Applications shall be filed at the nearest Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of the DENR, which is mandated to process the application within 120 days.

From the CENRO, the land patent application shall be endorsed to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), which has five days to approve or disapprove the application.

Mati still red tide free-BFAR

In a latest shellfish bulletin released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental continues to be free from toxic red tides despite isolated cases in some bays in the country where paralytic shellfish poison was found.

Other areas found safe to eat all types of shellfish are Cavite , Las Pinas, Navotas, Paranaque , Navotas and Bulacan in Manila Bay . It also includes Pangasinan, Masbate, Sorsogon, Puerto Princesa City , Panay, Roxas City , Capiz, Negros Occidental, Samar, Leyte, Surigao del Sur, and Camiguin Island .

However, identified areas positive for paralytic shellfish poison are the Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Murdelagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Oriental, Masinloc Bay in Zambales, Bataan coastal waters, and Maturinao Bay in Eastern Samal.

The BFAR stressed that all types of shellfish and Acetes gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption.

Some seafoods like fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

P8.5-M road project in Davao Oriental to boost farmers’ income

TWO farm-to-market road projects worth P8.5 million were recently completed as part of the government’s effort to boost economic activity in Davao Oriental, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced.

Farmers belonging to the Lacambita or La Union, Cambaleon, Bitaogan, Talisay agrarian reform community in San Isidro, Davao Oriental along with other residents in the area stand to benefit from the two projects.

DAR Regional Director Datu Yusoph B. Mama said the road projects are vital components in the government’s drive to spur rural development in the agrarian reform community (ARC).

Mama said that the farmers would have greater flexibility in their dealings with traders, following the concreting of two farm-to-market roads namely the Junction National Hwy. to Talisay Rd. and the Bangkok 1 to Purok Dahlia Rd.

Some 3,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries now benefit from these roads. With their completion, there is now easier accessibility to the farms. Also, convenience in transporting agricultural and marine products has significantly improved.

Mama emphasized that one of the major goals of DAR is to improve farmers’ lives by increasing their income. “These roads will help realize that goal,” Mama said.

The farm-to-market roads were implemented under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Projects and funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

'Small-scale miners in ComVal didn't heed warnings'

A slight tremor and continuous rains might have caused the landslide that killed at least 25 people and left 100 missing in Pantukan, Compostela Valley before dawn Thursday.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said rains for the past 2 weeks might have saturated the ground in Barangay Napnapan. That, coupled by a magnitude 3 quake that struck Davao Oriental at 12:01 a.m. Thursday might have caused the landslide.

"In our geohazard maps, the contributory factor to landslide is tremors. It's not just rains...Now because of rain, saturated na yung lupa and then there was a tremor. So nagkaroon ng sinking of the soil so bumigay na," he said in separate ABS-CBN interviews.

Small-scale miner Saul Pinggoy, a resident in Barangay Napnapan, said stones started hitting the roof of his house past 3 a.m. before the landslide hit. "Yung vibrations nung bato nagising kami dahil tumatama sa yero," he told radio dzMM.

He said his house was only 50 meters away from the area where the landslide hit at 3:45 a.m. He said the landslide could have covered at least 200 houses used by families of small-scale miners.

Paje said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) previously identified Purok Diat Uno and Diat Dos in Barangay Napnapan last December as extremely high risk to landslides.

He said another landslide hit the area last April 2011, killing at least 13 people.

He said geologists measured cracks on ridges on top of the mountain in Barangay Napnapan and found out that they were getting bigger.

"We have been giving warnings. We told them it was only a matter of time that this will give way and now bumigay na nga," he said.

Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo Uy said local officials heeded the call of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to evacuate residents in landslide-prone areas.

The problem, he said, is that residents kept returning because of a gold rush in Pantukan town.

"We ordered the miners to evacuate but siguro I think they went back to the mines. I think there is mining activity there again. I cannot monitor it all. The mayor of the municipality already ordered an evacuation. I have to investigate why they kept coming back," he said.

Asked if he would order a forced evacuation, he said: "Definitely."

Gold rush

Paje said a gold rush in Pantukan town has caused many small-scale miners in the province to conduct operations in the mountains, at the risk of their own lives. Earlier reports said miners could get as much as P1,900-P2,000 per gram of gold.

The environment chief said he surveyed Pantukan town before last April's landslide and found that the area is really like "a mountain full of holes made by small-scale miners."

"The houses there are almost permanent. Hindi na barung-barong," he said.

"They're like ants. Once people hear of a gold vein or a hit, they rush their without any force of mitigation, security or safety," he added.

Paje urged the local government prohibit the entry of new settlers in the landslide-hit area. He said this would prevent more miners to go there while local officials relocate the settlers in the danger zones.

He said the DENR has already stopped issuing environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) to small-scale mining operations in the area. This, however, has not stopped mining operations.

"Most of these operations are considered illegal already," he said.

The environment chief said he will also work for more detailed geo-hazard maps so that local government units would see the danger zones in their areas. He warned that the possibility of another landslide hitting Compostela Valley is higher because of higher precipitation brought by climate change.

"Landslides and flash floods are common all over the world but it is now getting more frequent. But if there are no people there, there would be no casualty," he said.

'Super heavy rains' in Mindanao feared

Mindanao has yet to recover from the destruction left by tropical storm “Sendong” and now comes another potential cyclone, which threatens to bring “super heavy rains” once it moves closer to the landmass in the region.

Weather forecaster Jori Loiz said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is now closely monitoring the potential cyclone east of Mindanao. He said the low-pressure area (LPA) was estimated 860 kilometers east of General Santos City as of 8 a.m. Monday.

PAGASA will be monitoring the possible intensification of the LPA into a tropical depression within the next 24 to 48 hours, Loiz said.

Once it develops into a tropical cyclone, it will be named “Ambo.”

“The LPA is still slightly far from the landmass, but there are already advance clouds that may bring moderate rains starting Monday afternoon in the eastern and southern part of Mindanao,” Loiz pointed out.

He noted that areas in the eastern and southern part of Mindanao that may experience moderate rains are Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

“But the periphery of the LPA is estimated at 10-20 mm per hour of rainfall, which is considered super heavy. The amount of heavy rains is estimated at 7.5 mm per hour,” Loiz said.

Meanwhile, a wind convergence also adversely affects Eastern Visayas.

The LPA and wind convergence will bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over the Visayas and Mindanao.

It will become cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern and Southern Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

As this developed, a P2-billion fund has been sought to be allocated for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, which suffered the severest losses in lives and property during the onslaught of tropical storm “Sendong” last month.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (PMP, Cagayan de Oro City) and his brother, Rep. Maximo Rodriguez of Abante Mindanao party-list, called on the House of Representatives to act swiftly in passing House Bill No. 5663, which they jointly filed on Monday, to allocate the fund.

Judging by the destruction brought by the storm, a P2-billion fund will be needed to put the two Mindanao cities back to its feet again, the two solons said.

The Philippine Red Cross, meanwhile, said it will provide 1,000 shelters for families displaced by “Sendong” after it received a five-hectare land donated by Xavier University to the affected families through the PRC.

Last Dec. 29, PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon and Xavier University Chairman Elpidio Paras led the groundbreaking rites at the Xavier compound in Barangay Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro.

A total of 1,000 shelters will be built by the PRC initially as soon as basic facilities and provision of livelihood is available.

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Jejomar C. Binay has directed the National Housing Authority (NHA) to hasten the provision of housing assistance to families affected by Sendong in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Iligan, and Dumaguete.

The NHA has already allocated P20 million for the implementation of the Cagayan de Oro Resettlement Project Phase II in Barangay Calaanan. Site inspection and evaluation is also being conducted in CDO Resettlement Project Phase III, a 42-hectare property located in Gusa, CDO, and Sitio Culago, Barangay Pagapat also in CDO City as proposed permanent resettlement sites for the Sendong-affected families.

In Iligan City, a 10-hectare LGU-owned property has been identified as a possible housing project that can generate 1,166 homelots.

Pasig City Mayor Roberto Eusebio said a 10-man team from the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office or (PDRRMO) left on Monday for Cagayan de Oro to distribute relief goods and medicines to “Sendong” victims.

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