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General Santos City, Philippines - Archived News

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

State auditor in Sarangani fund scam among national finalists for CSC’s Dangal ng Bayan award

by (PNA) LAP/FFC/AVE/AC


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept. 6 (PNA) – A government auditor who helped uncover an P18.3-million fund scam at the Sarangani provincial government eight years ago was chosen by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as among the national finalists for this year’s prestigious "Dangal ng Bayan" Award.

Grace Saqueton, CSC Region 12 director, said auditor Helen Cailing of the Commission on Audit (COA)-Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao landed in the final list of nominees in the 2011 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees.

She said the award recognizes government officials and employees “who have manifested exemplary conduct and noteworthiness of public service and consistent demonstration of extraordinary ethical behavior on the basis of the norm of conduct of a public servant.”

Aside from Cailing, Saqueton said two Region 12 nominees - Army Col. Jose Kakila of the Joint Task Force GenSan and Police Officer 3 Girlie Gay Saniado of the General Santos City Police Office – were earlier named semifinalists in the award's Presidential Lingkod Bayan and Pagasa categories, respectively.

Saqueton said Cailing, who is employed as COA State Auditor IV, presently heads the agency’s special audit team in Sarangani province.

A report released by CSC-Region 12 cited that Cailing already filed 30 cases of alleged fund misuse against various public officials in line with her work as state auditor.

It said 12 of the cases have already been elevated to the Sandiganbayan while 18 others are currently pending at a Regional Trial Court and at the Office of the Ombudsman.

In 2003, Cailing’s audit team discovered alleged fund releases made by the provincial government of Sarangani for “ghost” or fictitious development projects of several non-government organizations, people’s organizations and local government units in the province.

The alleged “fraudulent and illegal” fund releases, which were made under the watch of then Gov. Miguel Escobar, reached some P16.106 million.

Among the cases that were elevated to the Sandiganbayan was the financial assistance amounting to P2.246 million released by the provincial government of Sarangani to supposed local cooperatives, whose officials and members were mostly government personnel and close relatives of some officials of the local government.

Saqueton said that as a national finalist, Cailing will receive a Dangal ng Bayan award and cash incentive of P200,000 in a ceremony slated at the Malacanang Palace.

“We don’t pay them for being good but we emphasize the best impact of being good examples to their fellow government employees,” she said.

Saqueton stressed that the annual search mainly highlights the importance on rendering good public service by all government workers.




Wage hike in Region 12 unlikely until prescription expires, says DOLE exec

by (PNA) LAP/AVE/RSS


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept. 5 (PNA) – Salary rates for minimum wage earners in the private sector in Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao may not be adjusted before the one-year prescription period to amend the existing salary rates in the region ends in October.

Lawyer Ma. Gloria A. Tango, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 12 director, said the results of recent consultations conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) showed “a lack of supervening condition” that would warrant an increase at this time.

“The one year prescription will end soon and so we can review and possibly adjust the salaries of private sector workers (after that),” she said, noting they recently conducted consultations that failed to elicit the declaration of a supervening condition.

A declaration of a supervening condition by the RTWPB would warrant a review for a wage increase even if the one-year wage order did not lapse.

In April, the RTWPB conducted consultations but found no reason to declare a supervening condition amid the skyrocketing prices of fuel and other basic consumer goods.

Several consultations were conducted recently that resulted to the same conclusion, even as fuel price continues to rise and is now nearing P60 per liter for premium gasoline in some parts of the region.

Tango urged private sector workers to be patient, reiterating that the one-year prescription to amend the wage rates will soon expire.

On October 31, 2010, the RTWPB approved Wage Order XII-16 that directed a two-tranche daily cost of living allowance (COLA) increase in the salaries in the private sector worth P15. The additional P10 COLA took effect right after the approval and the remaining P5 last April 1.

With the inclusion of the COLA, the new minimum daily wage rates in the region now stands at P260 for non-agriculture workers, P240 for plantation workers, P235 for non-plantation workers, P240 for retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers and P234 for retail/service establishments employing less than 10 people.

The Regional Development Council, in a bid to improve employers’ compliance to the wage rates, earlier called on the posting of the rates in giant billboards in strategic places across the region.

Tango earlier said the compliance of employers in the region on the proper wage rates was on a downtrend, pegging it at 72.40 percent in 2010 and 67.15 percent in the first semester of 2011.

Gensan councilor now stable after shooting incident

by (PNA) LDV/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept. 4 (PNA) –- City officials here condemned the shooting early dawn on Saturday of a city councilor here and called for an in-depth probe of the incident.

City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said in a radio interview that she has directed the city police office to look deeper into the circumstances behind the shooting incident, which seriously wounded City Councilor Ronnel Rivera and resulted to the killing of the alleged gunman.

A police report said Rivera, the city’s number one councilor and son of a fishing magnate, sustained four gunshot wounds on his neck and other parts of his body was shot by a disgruntled gunman identified as Januart de la Cruz, who was killed by the official’s responding bodyguards.

As of Sunday morning, doctors at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital here already declared Rivera’s condition as stable.

Dr. Francisco Lorenzo, the official’s attending doctor, said his patient has been slowly recovering from his wounds and he has not recommended the latter’s transfer to another medical facility outside the city.

Reports said the incident happened after Rivera offered a ride to Sheila Tañeda, owner of several bars in the city, to her brother’s house along Mateo Compound in Barangay Bula here.

Upon arrival, the gunman reportedly knocked at the door of the councilor’s vehicle and immediately fired his gun at him.

Rivera who was reportedly in a convoy of at least three vehicles –his sports utility vehicle (SUV), his bodyguards’ and the vehicle of Tañeda’s brother and friends- was hit on the neck and other parts of his body.

The councilor’s bodyguards fired back at the gunman, who was reportedly an off and on boyfriend of the 28-year-old Tañeda.

Police investigators said the gunman was reportedly seen waiting outside the rented apartment of Tañeda’s brother aboard his L-200 pickup truck prior to the shooting.

Rivera, who had just arrived from Cebu where he celebrated his birthday with his family, was with friends at the Cassado Billiards Bar earlier in the night after attending to guests of the 13th Tuna Congress.

Police immediately ruled out politics as motive behind the shooting of Rivera, who topped the city council race here in the May 2010 elections despite running as an independent candidate.

Rivera, who is reportedly eyeing the city’s mayoralty post in the 2013 elections, recently forged alliance with Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s political party People’s Champ Movement (PCM).

DA Sec Alcala leads groundbreaking of Asparagus Plant in GenSan

by CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept 3 (PIA)-- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala led Thursday (September 1) alongside City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio the groundbreaking of the Php3-M worth Asparagus Packing Plant expected to facilitate the processing of asparagus not only in the city but the entire SocSarGen (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City). Secretary Alcala was happy to note of the new development in the city describing it as another milestone for the agricultural sector here. The Secretary then turned over to Mayor Custodio 2,000 asparagus seeds as initial assistance under the department’s high value crop development program. He said the seeds will support the city government’s effort to further advance its agricultural landscape especially high value crops. The plant, which is located at barangay San Jose here is owned and managed by the Greenland Asparagus Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the recipient of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) high value crop program. Thanking the Secretary, Mayor Custodio said brgy. San Jose has good climactic condition that is suitable for growing asparagus and other high value commercial crops. The mayor said she is delighted with the strong partnership existing between and among the city government, DA and the cooperative. She also thanked DA for all its support to the local agricultural sector and all its projects that have been implemented in the city. Custodio also described barangay San Jose as the agriculture hub of high value crops in General Santos City especially for onions, banana, cotton, garlic, and the latest is asparagus. The project also included a production enhancement support package that is capable of processing newly produced asparagus harvested from the 60-hectare plantation in the area. The mayor said that with the project in the offing she foresees an increase in income of asparagus growers, thereby improving their quality of life aside boosting the local economy. The city government through its City Agriculture Office has also been massively promoting the use of “organic farming” among its barangays that are into agriculture as means of livelihood. DA-12 regional director Amalia Datukan and other regional and local officials were also present to witness the event. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

146 South Cotabato officials, employees get loyalty incentives

by (PNA) LAP/FFC/AVE/HST


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Sept. 2 (PNA) – At least 146 employees of the provincial government of South Cotabato are set to receive “loyalty incentives” later this month as part of the celebration of the 111th year of the Philippine Civil Service.

Alex Basco, chief administrative officer of South Cotabato, said the awardees will receive loyalty tokens “in recognition of their continuous and satisfactory services rendered” to the government.

As set by the Civil Service Commission, he said the award is granted to government officials and employees who have rendered continuous service during the last 10 years and have not incurred more than 50 days of aggregate authorized vacation leaves.

Basco said that based on the awards scheme set by the local government’s Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE), 13 employees will get a Lenovo laptop for logging 40 years of continuous service.

He said 38 employees will receive a cellphone as incentive for reaching 10 years of continuous service; 24 will receive a wristwatch for posting 15 years of continuous service; eight will get a digital camera for reaching 20 years in service; 22 will get a necklace with pendant for reaching 25 years in service; and 17 will receive a bracelet for reaching 35 years in service.

Aside from the loyalty tokens, he said a cash gift of P10,000 each will be given to qualified officials and employees who have rendered 10 years of service and P5,000 each for the rest of the awardees.

Basco said the awarding rites will be held during the culmination of the ongoing Civil Service Month set on September 30.

229 hatchlings of marine turtles released in Sarangani Bay

by CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, August 31 (PIA) –- A total of 229 hatchlings of marine turtles have been released recently in Sarangani Bay, said officer-in-charge Eduardo Saladero of the Sarangani-base Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). According to him, it is the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to protect and conserve endangered marine species in its area of responsibility. He said the release was made on separate occasions by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) based in Glan and Kiamba, Sarangani. Saladero cited a total 133 hawksbill turtle hatchlings freed at Gumasa, Glan coastlines while the 96 hatchlings of Olive Ridley turtle were released at sitio Bialong, Poblacion, Kiamba. Both freed early August. Forester Jessica Guilao of CENRO Glan said they have found at least “100 eggs in the nest, three of those were unfertilized, 97 hatched with only one mortality.” Saladero said the discovery of the hatchlings was a “shared” effort among different partners like the community folk, environment advocates and the local government units of Glan and Kiamba. He lauded the participation of the community residents and their cooperation with the DENR-PENRO saying it paved the way for such an initiative to become easier and successful. Saladero also said “DENR’s massive information drive” has been a great help and is effective in raising the level of awareness of community to get actively involved in the preservation of environment as well as in the protection of endangered species and habitats in their respective area. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

DSWD 12 seeks media's support for communication advocacy of 4Ps

PIA Press Release


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, August 31 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), region 12 sought the local media’s help in communicating the poverty alleviation programs of government in the region In a recently held orientation on the government’s convergence strategy on poverty alleviation programs with the local media practitioners in region at the Sarangani Highlands Resort, General Santos City. DSWD 12 assistant regional director Gemma Rivera exhorted the media to help shape the recipient’s perspective of the programs. "You are the messenger of the poor. You can help in changing the perspectives of the poor through the convergence programs of the Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALIHI-CIDSS) and Self-Employment Assistance (SEA-K)," said Dir Rivera. The CCT looks into the plight of children, 0 to 6 years old which is the critical age of children for whom the government is investing for their future, Rivera pointed out. The government has infused P446,708,639.00 worth of funds into KALAHI-CIDSS projects in region 12 from 2003 to 2011. This has benefited 189,160 households or 1.1 million individuals from 254 barangays in 13 municipalities and four (4) provinces. The 13 municipalities are Malapatan, Malungon, Maasim, Maitum and Kiamba in Sarangani province; Magpet, Libungan and Pres. Roxas in North Cotabato; Columbio, Lutayan and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat and T'boli and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. The KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects include bridge, common service, day care center, drainage, electrification, health station, post harvest facilities, road, school, water system among others. On the other hand, the government has released a total of P625,001,720.00 for the 138,637 beneficiaries of the 4Ps in region 12 from 2008 to July 2011.The beneficiaries hail from the two cities of General Santos and Cotabato and 32 poorest municipalities from the provinces of Sarangani, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.(otsudaria/PIA 12)

Mining firm hopes to start groundwork for operation

Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao


General Santos City, Philippines—Global mining giant Xstrata’s Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) on Friday announced that it continues to hope to start development activities in its Tampakan project next year to lay the groundwork for full operation by 2016. SMI, a partnership between the Switzerland-based mining firm, Indophil Resources NL and Filipino investors, to mine gold and copper deposits in Tampakan, South Cotabato and parts of Davao del Sur, was working doubly hard to acquire the necessary certificates for the projected operation, John Arnaldo, SMI corporate communications manager, told reporters here Friday. SMI’s optimism came amid the existence of a ban by the provincial government of South Cotabato on open-pit mining and other mining methods seen to be destructive of the environment. The ban has affected SMI’s development activities in the proposed mining area. With a foreign direct investment of about $5.9 billion, Xstrata foresaw an annual average copper production of 340,000 tons and 350,000 ounces of gold, based on a 20-year operation of the Tampakan project. Xstrata said the Tampakan project’s mill recovery rates were at 83-90 percent for copper and 60-80 percent for gold, with a copper concentrate grade of 37-34 percent. Consultations Despite prodding from Malacañang and a threat from Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to sue the South Cotabato government for “usurping” national functions due to the passage of the ban, provincial officials refused to amend the provincial ordinance that outlawed “destructive mining” in favor of SMI. Arnaldo said SMI would also start a massive public consultation next month. This move, he said, would help SMI to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate. Recently, he said SMI completed its Environmental Impact Assessment studies and has adopted plans for managing mine wastes. SMI also allegedly finished putting in place measures that would ensure that farmers would not be deprived of irrigation water when mining starts. When water level in the Mal River is below the current maximum amount used by irrigators, the mine would not take any water from the system, Arnado said. He also said that rainwater, which would come in contact with any part of the mining or processing area, will be kept separate from fresh water. Downstream seepage collection dams to contain any water leak and treating water for release or pumping back into the main storage facility had been constructed, Arnaldo said. SMI has also put up a nursery for its reforestation program. This ensures that cleared forests are immediately replanted, he said.

DOH’s 'Health Bus' to visit South Cotabato in Sept.

by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Health’s (DOH) "Health Bus" is set to visit the province of South Cotabato next month to help promote various health services and rally for support among local governments for the implementation of more sustainable health initiatives in the area. In a statement released over the weekend, the DOH said its "Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan" (LBK) bus and exhibit will make a stopover on September 22 to 23 in T’boli town as part of its ongoing tour in Mindanao. It said the LBK bus and exhibit will mainly highlight the promotion of health services on pre-natal care, child health, and nutrition as well as family health care. The health bus will also secure commitment from local chief executives and local health officials for the operation and sustenance of their own health services and mobile health events, he said. The DOH said the LBK bus is targeting to cater to some 2,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, couples with children aged five years-old and below, fathers and young couples or 500 families in 10 far-flung barangays of Tboli town. Once the bus arrives, it said a welcome caravan will be held along with its tour of the area to announce the event. The bus will make its stop in Barangay Aflek in T’boli for the launching of a two-day health festival in the area. It said the agency's health promotion campaign would be staged in a fiesta-like mode to encourage citizens’ participation. The LBK bus is equipped with customized consultation and examination clinics and a health promotion area for interactive exhibits, health classes, storytelling sessions, and entertainment shows, it added. South Cotabato will be the third destination of the LBK, which is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the DOH‘s National Center for Health Promotion, after its initial runs in Bukidnon and Compostela Valley Province.(DOH/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

6 OFWs from Region 12 stranded in Syria

By Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/26 August) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao is closely monitoring the repatriation of six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the region who are currently stranded in strife-torn areas in Syria. Abdulghani Umag, OWWA Region 12 director, said a report from the OWWA central office showed that two active and four inactive members of the agency from Region 12 have yet to be repatriated from Syria. The national government earlier raised Alert Level 4 and set the immediate, forced evacuation of the estimated 17,000 OFWs in Syria due to the worsening internal conflict in the area. “That (number) was based on the OWWA central office’s database. The problem is, we don’t have any information as to how many of the OFWs who had entered illegally in Syria were from Region 12,” Umag said. Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. Umag said they have opened two hotline numbers – 09177260443 and (083) 5200205 – at the OWWA regional office in Koronadal City and offered free calls for relatives of OFWs from the area who are presently based in Syria. He said they also extended their office hours up to 8 p.m. to accommodate inquiries and requests for assistance from the relatives of the OFWs. The official said they already extended assistance to the family of OFW Jessica Cagaitan, who earlier signified to avail of the government’s repatriation program but had lost her passport and other documents. Umag said he sent an email to Cagaitan advising her to immediately contact the Philippine embassy so she can get a new passport and other travel documents. “Once she reaches the Philippine embassy, she will certainly be able to go home,” he assured. Meantime, Umag said they were also verifying whether there were still OFWs from Region 12 among the estimated 7,000 Filipinos who are still in Libya. Violence at the Libyan capital of Tripoli and nearby areas escalated during the past several days as opposition forces advanced towards the stronghold of Libyan leader Muamar Khadaffy. The national government also raised Alert Level 4 for OFWs in Libya and sent a rescue team at the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of the remaining Filipino nationals in the area. “Nobody has so far asked for our assistance regarding any OFWs from the region who were still stuck in Libya. So we really don’t know if there’s anyone still left there or not,” he added. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

South Cotabato to go after rats next month; crop damage now P36M

By Allen V. Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/25 August) – Agriculture personnel in South Cotabato province will launch next month an intensified campaign against the continuing rodent or rat infestation in the area that already devastated some P36.945 million worth of palay and corn crops. Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato provincial agriculture officer, said they have declared the month of September as rodent control month in the entire province to give more focus on their continuing efforts to effectively reduce the pest’s population and the impact of its infestation on farm crops. “Based on our experience these past years, the month of September was the breeding period of rodents. So this is the best time to round up their breeding areas and neutralize them,” he said in a media forum. Legaste noted that during the months prior to September, rodent population and movements in most parts of the province are usually on the decline. But he said the pest would come out again by September and start with their breeding cycle, which happens four times a year. “A pair of rat alone could breed as many as 512 in one year so just imagine how fast they can multiply and the extent of their potential damage to our crops if we will not be able control them,” the official said. Records from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) showed that the value of damage caused by rodent infestation to corn and palay has significantly increased during the last three years. In 2008, OPAG only recorded a total damage of P55,000 due to rat infestation. It jumped to P14.6 million in 2009 and P44.1 million in 2010. But from January to July this year alone, the value of the damage wrought by rodents to corn crops in the province already reached P13.995 million and P22.949 million for palay. To highlight the observance of the rodent control month, Legaste said they will launch on September 1 a 10-day massive rat elimination drive in Barangay Dumadalig in Tantangan town, which has recorded the biggest damage from rat infestation in the past several years. He said a big part of Tantangan town’s palay and corn areas are mainly rainfed, making them highly vulnerable to rat infestation. Legaste said the problem has compounded due to the presence of nearby oil palm plantations, which were used by the rodent pests as breeding areas. “We will rally our farmers there to round up all the rat breeding areas and eliminate the rats within a 10-day period. After that, we will provide them with the necessary chemicals to neutralize the remaining rats,” he said. Legaste said the program is being supported by the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Regional Crop Protection Center and the DA-12 regional office, which committed to provide the needed chemicals and other pesticides for the control and elimination of the rodent pests. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

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