Cagayan de Oro City News June 2015

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Interactive Google Satellite Map of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

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.

Public market of cagayan de oro city misamis oriental.JPG
Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
The river of cagayan de oro city
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St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

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.
Limketkai Center Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.jpg
Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

CDO’s proposed Integrated Zoning Ordinance mitigates “climate change”

By Crescencio "Cris" Diaz [(PNA), CTB/CD]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 30 (PNA) – The city government here has started conducting public hearings on the proposed Integrated Zoning Ordinance (IZO) that now mitigates “climate change.”

City Councilor Alexander Dacer, on Tuesday, said that 59 village chiefs joined the public hearing last Friday as the city council started drafting a new IZO that would inform the constituents on the status of the village lots.

He said that the new IZO intends to identify areas considered as “danger zone,” particularly villages near water passages, as part of mitigating climate change.

“So far, the village chiefs have not introduced new changes of the existing IZO during the first two public hearings,” Dacer said.

Dacer, chair of the city council committee on subdivision and landed estate, said that the public hearings are important so that the constituents would know the classification of the village.

Engr. Isidro Borja of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), said that there are no changes in the zoning of urban barangays as these are highly- commercial areas.

“In the proposed IZO, they have introduced some areas for commercial as well as hazard zones, there are no changes, especially those barangays along the river,” Borja said.

Dacer said that the committee has scheduled a second public hearing for the second week of July with the village residents, the business sector, and developers in attendance.

Misamis Oriental activates disaster council as rains pour on

By Froilan Gallardo

THE Misamis Oriental Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has activated its emergency numbers 161 to response to any emergency in preparation to the onset of the rainy season.

Assistant provincial disaster team chief Jeric Abasa said they also set up a command center at the Misamis Oriental provincial capitol that is manned 24 hours to monitor distress calls.

Abasa said residents can dial 161 on the Misortel line and expect an emergency responder to answer at the end of the line 24 hours a day.

Abasa said the emergency line can also reached via the PLDT or by radio via the radio 158 radio frequency.

The command center can also be reached through text or SMS messages sent via 0998998833 on Smart and 09172701570 on Globe.

“We have operators manning the command center 24 hours a day and our rescue team are in constant training every Friday to prepare themselves,” Abasa said.

Also on tap are 424 personnel to serve as emergency coordinators in all the barangays in the province.

Abasa said the coordinators will provide barangay officials with the latest weather bulletins.

One Oasis CDO tops off Building 1

By Mike Baños (PR)

One Oasis CDO, the very first resort-themed, mid-rise condo development of Filinvest in Cagayan de Oro City, recently held the topping off ceremony for its Building 1, the first of five in the Asian-Balinese inspired 2.7-hectare complex development.

During the topping off ceremony it was revealed that One Oasis CDO’s amenities will be upgraded namely; increase in the size of the swimming pool, upgrading of the open basketball court to a covered play area and enhancing the development works with additional greenery.

Unit owners were also happy to know that they already enjoyed an 8% increase in their investments. Building 1 turnover is expected on the third quarter of 2015.

Shown in photo during the topping off ceremony are (from L to R)Mr. Jeff Gong-Cyberage Construction; Mr. Dale Lagonera-OOCDO Sales Team Head; Mr. Larry Cruz-LBC Builders. Ms. Arabelle B. Solidum -Area General Manager-Northmin; Hon. Mayor Oscar S. Moreno-City Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City. Mr.Tristaniel L. Las Marias-FVP-Vismin Cluster and Mr. Elmer Francisco-Licensed Real Estate Broker.

Filinvest tops off first condo building in Cagayan de Oro

By Butch D. Enerio (Correspondent)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) topped off its first building, one of the five condominiums that it is constructing here on Saturday.

Filinvest’s One Oasis Cagayan de Oro (CdO) was the first to be completed among the condominiums that are rising in this city’s downtown,

The project is the first resort-themed, midrise condominium development in this city. It was inspired by Asian-Balinese architecture and sits on a 2.7- hectare complex on Rosario Limketkai Avenue.

Ara Solidum, FLI area general manager for Northern Mindanao, said owners of One Oasis CdO will have their units turned over to them by the next quarter.

“Completion and delivery dates are our top considerations, which sets our project apart from the rest, which have a five-year time lag.” Solidum said.

FLI has positioned One Oasis CdO, which offers the quickest return for unit owners, who wish to invest their savings in assets that appreciate in time.

Its timely delivery ensures earlier generation of steady income flow for its investors, she said.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, who graced the occasion, said FLI’s coming to the city is an investment that contributes to the growth of the community.

“FLI’s investment in CdO is a manifestation of business confidence…that it sees a promising progressive city, and that FLI wants to be part of the economic growth not only in CdO, but the whole Northern Mindanao,” Moreno said.

FLI said its Oasis communities are midrise enclaves that allow urbanites to enjoy their patch of green in the city. With resort-inspired amenities and refreshing landscapes, owners can enjoy a convenient, laidback lifestyle, while staying close to their daily needs.

FLI’s One Oasis has an atmosphere of centralized leisure amenities, such as swimming pools for adults and kiddies, a club house, fitness building, basketball court, multipurpose hall and children’s play area, among others.

“With all these amenities, every single day is a chance to indulge, relax and enjoy a vacation in the city, notwithstanding that for residents, who are looking for alternative investments for their hard- earned earnings, will find One Oasis as a wiser option than simply putting their money in the bank.” Solidum said.

Oro buildings ready for earthquakes

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

BUILDINGS in Cagayan de Oro City have been assured to be disaster-ready especially during earthquake, the Office of the Building Official (OBO) said Friday.

Maria Concepcion Alcantara, officer-in-charge of OBO, said though that they haven't reached 100 percent of evaluating the buildings that owners applied for inspection.

“These are disaster-ready, earthquake ready provided the earthquake doesn’t reach intensity 9,” Alcantara said.

Alcantara said that most high-rise buildings in the city where there is usually a crowd like malls passed the OBO’s inspection and granted with permits to build.

"When we issue a permit that means only one word – safe," Alcantara said, adding that before an establishment obtains a permit, "Muagi gyud na sila sa butas ng karayom, mo-reklamo gani nang uban kay dugay daw kaayo, but we have to."

Structural officers at OBO will check the building foundation, beams, floorings, and the overall superstructure of the establishment, she said.

Terrence Agusan, structural officer, clarified that buildings in the city cannot withstand earthquakes with strength beyond intensity 9.

Alcantara said the National Building Code of the Philippines (Republic Act 6541) stipulates that any person, firm, or corporation, including any department, office, bureau, agency of instrumentality of the government intending to construct, alter, repair, move, convert or demolish any building or structure, or cause the same to be done, shall obtain a building permit from the Building Official for whichever of such work is proposed to be undertaken for the building or structure, before any such work is started.

But of the 430 building applications received by OBO as of April to June, there are 147 buildings that have been constructed without building permits, 64 started their construction without permits while 219 buildings are waiting for the permits.

"Daghan man gyud dili ga-follow, magbuot sila, we try to discipline them, pero dili man gyud maminaw, so beyond our control na pud ang uban," Alcantara said.

To aid the dilemma, the office is collecting penalties for those who break the law. "Muabot ug 5 to 10,000 ang atong sanctions for them."

"We are doing everything in our capacity to always put public safety first," Alcantara said.

Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro City Fire Department also confirmed that it is inspecting establishments in the city.

Shirley Teleron, district fire marshal, said they are doing all measures to protect the public from disasters, specifically possible major quakes.

An order from the central office was forwarded to every fire department in the country, intensifying inspections for building structures.

Teleron said: "Gibuhat gyud namo karon tanan, ga-inspect mi every now and then."

As for quake readiness, Teleron said they are focusing on the presence of fire exits in every building especially the high-rise ones.

Bosch plans to open business hub in Cagayan de Oro

(ABS-CBNnews.com)

MANILA – Bosch, a global supplier of technology and services, is planning to expand its operations in Cagayan de Oro within the year.

The firm said Cagayan de Oro is earmarked as the third Bosch business hub location outside of Metro Manila. The firm opened offices in Cebu and Davao in 2013.

"The up-and-coming city provides easy access to a large concentration of markets in Northern Mindanao, including mining and energy," Bosch said in a statement on Thursday.

Bosch ended its 2014 fiscal year with $42.5 million in consolidated sales in the Philippines, a growth of more than 45 percent year-on-year.

The firm said 2014 sales made the Philippines "the fastest growing market for Bosch in Southeast Asia."

"The strong growth is based on the successful performance of the company’s power tools and automotive businesses, along with significant contributions from its security systems business which formally established local operations in 2014," Bosch said.

As of April 2015, Bosch had increased its workforce in the Philippines to nearly 400 associates.

“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our office in Manila, Bosch remains strongly committed to the Philippine market through continued product and service diversification, employment growth, compelling social and sustainability programs, trainings, and partnerships,” said Andrew Powell, managing director of Bosch in the Philippines.

“For 2015, we expect further sales growth in the country based on an increased demand for our innovative products ‘invented for life,’” Powell added.

For its global sales, the Bosch Group expects to grow within an exchange rate-adjusted range of 3 to 5 percent in 2015.

Northern Mindanao Q1 tax collections hit P2.49 billion

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 24 (PIA) --- Northern Mindanao continues to post double digit growth in tax collections, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the region said.

In a media forum last week, NEDA told media practitioners that the tax bureau in the region hit a total of P2.49 billion in tax collections during the first quarter of the year, higher by 20 percent from the P2.07 billion tax takes in the same quarter in 2014.

Income taxes, which amounted to P1.52 billion, contributed the biggest share of 61 percent followed by Value Added Taxes (VAT) with P674.9 million or about 27 percent of the total regional tax collections.

Bulk of the collections was registered by the Cagayan de Oro Revenue District Office (RDO) totalling P1.48 billion or 59 percent. This amount is also 29 percent higher from the P1.15 billion tax collections in the same quarter of last year.

Based on the report submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the region, Iligan City RDO collected P394.6 million during the quarter, followed by Bukidnon RDO with P325.5 million. Ozamiz City RDO posted P206.3 million collections while Gingoog City RDO recorded P89.9 million during the same period.

The BIR attributed its strong performance to the implementation of Oplan Kandado and its enhanced tax mapping efforts.

The increased number of VAT-registered individuals and establishments as well as improved payment systems at the local level were also cited as contributing factors to the continuing tax collection growth in the region. (APB/PIA-10)

NorMin investments up by 105%

By Butch D. Enerio

INVESTMENTS in Northern Mindanao surged in the first quarter of this year.

In a media forum spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) last week, the Department of Trade and Industry’s regional office reported that investments reached P4.73 billion from P2.31 billion in the first quarter in 2014, a 105 percent increase.

Most of investments went to Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

Misamis Oriental generated P2.78 billion, up by 53 percent year on year, and accounted for almost 60 percent of the total regional investments for the quarter.

Infrastructure and services soaked up 85.49 percent of the total investments in the province.

Major investments included the completion of port facilities in Cagayan de Oro City, the construction of real estate building and expansion of a plantation in the municipality of Claveria.

Bukidnon raked in P1.3 billion, a 28.21 percent slice of the regional investment pie.

Agriculture and agri-based businesses that increased production and construction efforts pushed up the investment figures.

Except for Camiguin, which had 42 percent drop, all five provinces in the region had higher investment numbers during the quarter.

Misamis Occidental ranked third with 6.35 percent, doubling investments from last year’s P150.41 million to P300.17 million coming from servicing, infrastructure and services and trading.

Lanao del Norte generated P294.47 million worth of investments, up by 29 percent year on year. The servicing sector posted 45.93 percent or P134.88 million followed by infrastructure and services with 32.23 percent or 94.65 million, and 15.64 percent or 45.93 million was generated by the trading sector.

Construction or expansion of business entities and the establishment of a logistic company boosted investments in the province.

DILG chief joins Kagayan-anons in fight for dev’t

(DILG)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 22 -- "Let us continue to fight for freedom from hunger and poverty!"

This was the call of various sectors in Cagayan de Oro City, which was echoed by Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas during his visit to Misamis Oriental, June 10.

With about 200 farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth, and persons with special needs, among others present in the event organized by the Koalisyon ng mga Mamamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe), Roxas personally listened to the concerns and agenda of the various civil society networks in Cagayan de Oro.

KOMPRe has facilitated opportunities, such as this event, for the common folk to be heard by the national government.

"Ito ang magsisilbing mapa natin sa biyahe natin," Roxas said, referring to the key development and reform agenda of civil society organizations (CSOs).

He also viewed the CSOs' agenda as a "challenge" that he willingly accepts.

"Lahat ito ay simbolo ng pagbabago," Roxas stressed.

The Aquino administration, through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), has implemented a number of projects for Kagay-anons and the whole Misamis Oriental province, funded through the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) Program, which encourages the participation of citizens in identifying, allotting for, and monitoring projects for their own welfare.

"Lahat itong mga gawain ng pamahalaan, iisa ang tinutukoy nilang lahat: ang mapasainyo ang kapalaran ninyo," Roxas emphasized.

In turn, the participants expressed their enthusiasm in ensuring that these projects under the administration's reform agenda continue beyond President Aquino's term.

"We are very happy to have you here... we will pray for you, and for your intentions," said Monsignor Perseus Cabunoc, a religious leader in the community.

House declares 2 cities, 5 provinces mining-free zones

By Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

THE House of Representatives has approved eight proposed laws declaring two cities in Mindanao and five provinces as well as one district in another area of the country as mining-free zones.

“Mining has been statistically proven to be one of the most environmentally destructive industries,” the authors collectively stressed.

The bills, under consideration by the Senate, include: HB 45 by Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez and and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.; HB 5262 authored by Hon. Isidro T. Ungab; HB 670 by Hon. Cesar V. Sarmiento; HB 3667 authored by Deputy Speaker Carlos M. Padilla; HB 3780 by Hon. Ben P. Evardone; HB 4363 of Hon. Deogracias B. Ramos, Jr.; HB5260 by Hon. Joseph Gilbert F. Violago; and HB 5261 by Hon. Rogelio J. Espina, M.D.

The House-approved measures had been steered through plenary by the sponsoring House committee on natural resources.

The areas sought to be declared as mining-free zones include the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao, and the provinces of Catanduanes, Nueva Vizcaya; Eastern Samar, the 2nd District of Sorsogon, Nueva Ecija; and Biliran.

The authors cited the constitutional mandate “to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”

“Mining has adverse effects both to humans and the environment. Aside from adding toxic chemicals to the ore, it strips-off large areas of top soil of all flora and fauna,” they added.


Oro jeepney drivers get financial aid

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

JEEPNEY drivers in Northern Mindanao have received financial assistance from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who visited the region for his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program.

The PTK program aims to address ordinary people's problems like dealing with high prices, lack of jobs, low income and his continuing advocacy to fight corruption in the country.

"Ito po ay gusto kong patunayan sa inyo na pag nabigyan kayo ng oportunidad ay kaya niyo rin magpatakbo ng negosyo," Cayetano told the drivers at Mindanao University of Science and Technology on Thursday, June 18.

The said program was funded by businessmen supporters of Cayetano last 2013 while he was still a senatorial candidate.

The PTK, he explained is part of his public service as a government official voted by the people, and not a political campaign. He furthered that this is a part of his fulfillment of the promises he made to the people, when he was still vying for the senatorial position.

"This is a no strings attached event," Cayetano said referring to his recent visits and distribution of assistance to some drivers in MisOr, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

In May, Cayetano also gave financial aid to drivers in Opol town in Misamis Oriental.

On June 18, he also visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan distributing assistance to jeepney drivers.

Asked if he’d run for the Senate in 2016 and his visit was part of an early campaign, Cayetano said he will announce his senatorial bid by next month adding, "Well actually ang pangangampanya ay umuutang ka ng tiwala at ng suporta ng tao."

'BBL is a trap'

Meanwhile, Cayetano again expressed his opposition to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"I think the BBL… as written, is a trap, ito'y one-sided with only the MILF's side, ito'y magwe-weaken ng government position, at ito'y hindi magbibigay ng sagot sa kahirapan ng buong Mindanao," he said in an interview with Sun.Star Cagayn de Oro Thursday.

Cayetano believes in a just, inclusive, and lasting peace not only for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but for the whole Mindanao.

"Paano ito magiging for peace if the rest of Mindanao is madedehado. Mas maraming problema na maidudulot ang BBL, hindi ito solusyon," Cayetano added.

MisOr mayors back from alleged Europe junket

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

SEVERAL mayors from Misamis Oriental left for a vacation trip to Europe on the first week of June amid allegation that it was funded by presidential contender.

One of them is scheduled to come home today, Friday, after a two-week Euro trip.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano confirmed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, June 16, that indeed some mayors were on vacation in Europe.

Sources said that these mayors went to Europe allegedly funded by Vice President Jejomar Binay. They requested their names be withheld.

Governor Emano said “their travel would always be about politics, but right now they are spending from their own pockets and this suddenly becomes an issue?”

Vice Governor Joey Pelaez also heard about the trip, but couldn’t confirm it since his office doesn’t deal with the municipal chief executives’ travels.

Asked also if the trip was allegedly funded by Binay, Pelaez denied it.

"Definitely no, the Vice President did not fund it. Well, not Vice President Binay, that one I can confirm kasi ako sana mauna doon if siya ang nag-fund. Siguro, if it's a local travel, madali lang e-charge yan sa government, pero pag travel outside the country, mahirap yan," Pelaez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview at his office Thursday afternoon.

The same sources alleged that mayors Ken Niño T. Uyguangco (Medina), Rommel C. Maslog (Talisayan), Grace A. Jardin (Jasaan), Paulino Y. Emano (Tagoloan), Oliver L. Ubaub (Laguindingan, Enerito J. Acain V, (Initao), Jaime C. Roa (Naawan) and Wellie G. Lim (Lugait) were invited to the trip in Europe.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro called and sent text messages to the mayors, but only two responded.

As this paper called Tagoloan Mayor Emano’s mobile, his secretary answered it and said the mayor was in Europe and due to arrive today, June 19.

Another source who is under the employ of the municipality of Tagoloan told this paper that Mayor Emano and his wife left the country between June 4 or 5 for a vacation in Europe.

Talisayan Mayor Maslog confirmed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Thursday that he was also invited by these mayors to join them, but he declined since he is busy taking care of other things.

Maslog said the trip was not funded by the government saying, "Personal man to nila na travel, kay kung funded pa to, naa nako didto, dili gyud ko paulahi. Kadtong mga mayor na naay kaya, mao to ang naa didto, mga negosyante to sila."

No travel authority

This paper also found out that the mayors didn’t have travel authority from the Department of Interior and Local Government which issued a Memorandum Circular in 2006 governing foreign travel on local government officials and employees.

Edward Bhagwani, provincial director of DILG in Misamis Oriental, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Thursday that as far as his office is concerned it did not receive any request on travel abroad from any Misamis Oriental mayors.

Bhagwani said the DILG authorizes the international travel for local government officials and workers.

"We have to point out that they are obliged to ask for travel authority since they are government officials, it may be personal or official, regardless of the nature of the travel," Bhagwani said.

The travel authority should be requested 10 days before the departure date.

Travel authority and leave of absence are the documents that the Bureau of Immigration requires for the mayors to leave the country, he added.

"Since nakalarga man sila, possible gyud na wala nila gi-declare na mayors sila, basin private individual lang ila ingon, and the Immigration will not know whether they are government officials or not, gawas kung naa silay listahan pero wala man," he furthered.

Bhagwani also said that mayors can always invoke their right to travel but “as government officials they must ask for travel authority.”

He added that local chief executives should file a leave of absence if they travel even on personal capacity.

“Kung wala sila nag-file ug leave then mapamatud-an na ningbiya sila unya nilarga sila leaving their responsibility, then pwede gyud naay mu-file ug reklamo against sa ila (If they didn’t file a leave of absence and it is proven that they travelled leaving their responsibility behind, then it is possible that a complaint against them can be filed)."

"The point is, whether official travel or not, they need travel authority since they are government officials," Bhagwani reiterated.

ICT Council to spearhead “TechSpark – Innovations for better CDO”

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 18 (PIA) – In celebration of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) month in June, the Cagayan de Oro – ICT (CDO-ICT) Business Council will spearhead an event dubbed “TechSpark-Innovations for better CDO” on 26 June 2015 at the Limketkai Mall Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City.

“TechSpark-Innovations for better CDO” is a one-day event, aimed to raise awareness about technology innovation and introduction on how technology can help improve people’s lives and also create an environment of technopreneurship in Cagayan de Oro City.

According to John Arvin Adolfo, Executive Director, CDO ICT Business Council, TechSpark was inspired and conceptualized because of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ICT Month theme “Internet for All: No Juan Left Behind."

The event will have several activities particularly tech and innovations exhibit; new technology and services expo; tech competitions like tech quiz trivia and digital illustration expo.

Furthermore it will include tech talks; startup testimonies and plugins.

TechSpark CDO is organized by Startup CDO, CDO-ICT Business Council, DOST-ICTO Field Operations Office-Mindanao Cluster Office 2 and supported by Department of Trade and Industry – Misamis Oriental (DTI-MOR), City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Misamis Oriental, Techtalks.PH, Developers Connect (DevCon), CDO Bloggers and SMART Communications Inc. among others.

DSWD-10 conducts KALAHI-CIDSS confab for execs

By Luis T. Arquiza (PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Northern Mindanao recently conducted Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI CIDSS)-National Community Driven Development (KC-NCDDP) Governors and Mayor’s Forum for the additional 44 Municipalities that comprise the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and some additional municipalities of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, held at Pryce Plaza Hotel.

The KC-NCDDP is a flagship anti-poverty program of the national government that empowers people through the community-driven development (CDD) approach.

The project aims to empower local communities; reduce poverty by providing seed funds for community infrastructure, common service facilities, capability building and improve governance by providing stronger feeling of belonging and community ownership. The program is in support with World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

The objective of the forum is to discuss and present the comprehensive principles of KC-NCDDP and to officially facilitate the signing of Memorandum of Agreement with the new 44 Municipal Mayors.

In the program proper, DSWD regional director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo gave her welcome message with the emphasis on encouraging new local chief executives to support the program by enabling KALAHI-CIDSS Champion Municipalities in the region to showcase their best practices on KALAHI-CIDSS implementation.

To date, Governor Khalid Mohamad Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and mayor Benjie Y. Baguio of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, both shared KALAHI-CIDSS positive experiences in the ten year implementation since 2003, where Lanao del Norte served as the pioneering pilot province of the region.

Other highlights of the activity were the presentation of data of the 2014 KALAHI-CIDSS accomplishment report, highlighting 13 municipalities (11 in Lanao del Norte and 2 in Misamis Occidental) that had completed the KALAHI-CIDSS implementation, and generated a total of 112 community projects with an accumulated project cost of P15 Million. From the Yolanda affected areas, a total of 92 community projects were identified and prioritized by the seven municipalities: Mahinog, Catarman, Sagay, Guinsiliban, Mambajao in Camiguin, Malitbog Bukidnon and Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, with a total cost of P101 Million and a counterpart of 4 Million pesos coming from the municipalities both cash and in-kind.

The forum ended with the signing of 44 Memorandum of Agreement spearheaded by regional director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo and the municipal mayors concerned.

Nutrition of day care children in NorMin improves

(Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

THE nutrition of the 2,324 children enrolled in day-care centers in Northern Mindanao has improved after a 120-day feeding program implemented by the government.

More than 132,000 children were given supplementary food by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP). Before the program, 15,077 children were reported to be malnourished.

Araceli F. Solamillo, regional director of the DSWD 10, said malnutrition among the day-care children dropped by 1.77 percent six months after the feeding program started.

“From 11.37 percent rate of malnutrition, there was a remarkable decrease to 9.60 percent of malnutrition among these children,” said Solamillo.

In its 2008 National Nutrition Survey, the Department of Science and Technology reported that malnutrition was prevalent among Filipino children. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also showed in its 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey that about 1.1 percent of Filipino families were categorized as hungry and food-poor.

Under the feeding program, hot meals were served during snack or meal time to day care children five days a week for 120 days. The parents helped in the program by managing and preparing the food using indigenous food supplies.

458 applicants hired on the spot at job fair

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

A TOTAL of 458 job applicants were hired on the spot during the one-day “Himugsoan Trabaho Patrol” at Limketkai Mall Atrium on Monday.

About 6,600 signed up for the job fair. Aside from the applicants who were hired on the spot, 1,997 were considered qualified, another 680 are ready for a final interview and 308 will be taking a final examination.

Kathleen Kate Sorilla, PESO manager, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the bulk of the applicants was from the city.

Among the local job openings were for salesman, sales clerks, engineers, factory workers, while overseas work included nurses, drivers and engineers.

Charles Derequisto, 23, arrived late and was not able to register. "Sayang kaayo, pag-abot nako mao gyud pag-close. Sunod nalang, basin dili pa gyud ako," he said.

But Marife Achass, 23, applied for five jobs, "Pwede man maka-apply up to 5, so pahimuslan nalang gyud para in case dili madawat sa isa, naay backup," she said.

Jobseekers who were not able to register could still apply, and the openings would still be posted at City Hall.

City to build more classrooms

By Lynyrd Aleksei N. Corrales

THE implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K to 12 program in Cagayan de Oro remains on track despite the many challenges, City Mayor Oscar Moreno said.

Moreno said the city is working to meet the added pressure to build more classrooms to cope with the projected increase in the number of secondary school students.

Some 17,000 students are expected to enter senior high school (SHS) in the next two school years. Ninety percent of them will have to be accommodated in the city’s public schools.

But in a speech on Independence Day Moreno said he remains confident the city, together with the DepEd, can meet the challenges.

He took a swipe at his detractors, saying the city has been able to fill the need for more classrooms despite opposition from his political rivals.

Moreno said his administration has built 309 classrooms in its first 20 months of office.

120T tilapia fingerlings released into Oro river

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

THE waters of the Cagayan de Oro River, long depleted of fish stocks due to overfishing and adverse environmental changes, may once again teem with fresh water fish.

As part of the city’s Independence Day celebrations Friday, some 120,000 Tilapia fingerlings were released in different parts of the Cagayan de Oro River commencing with a brief 9 a.m. at Duaw Park just below the Governor Ysalina Bridge.

The City Agriculture Office (CAO), together with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Northern Mindanao (BFAR) Northern Mindanao, dispersed the tilapia fingerlings as part of the city’s rehabilitation program of the river.

City agriculturist Hector San Juan hopes with the dispersal of the fingerlings, the river will once again become a food source for many residents just as it had once been before pressures from an increasing population depleted the river’s fish stocks.

Personnel from the CDRRMC, BFAR Northern Mindanao and CAO manned two lifeboats to spread the dispersal of the fingerlings to the different spots of the river. The fingerlings were from the tilapia hatchery of BFAR Northern Mindanao.

San Juan said they chose tilapia because the specie is known to be adaptable and because tilapia fingerlings were plentiful at BFAR 10.

San Juan said the fish will mature from six months to one year. He explained that the fingerlings take longer to mature in the wild as opposed to fishponds where they are fed regularly.

San Juan said the fingerlings released into the river will likely consume plankton and mosses but said he sees no reason why these will not be fit for consumption when they mature.

Press Club head: Broadcasters must practice ethical journalism

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

THE head of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) said that while the club supports the call to decriminalize libel, broadcasters should also take a good look at the code of ethics for journalists to find out how they can properly practice their profession.

COPC President Jerry Orcullo gave his reactions to the arrest of a broadcaster in Valencia City.

Rey Cabaraban, a broadcaster at Radyo Juan, was arrested June 9 after Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. sued him for libel.

Orcullo said broadcasters should “avoid foul language” and steer clear of needlessly defaming individuals.

“Broadcasters should not attack people below the belt and use curse words on air,” he said.

Broadcasters who buy block times should also remember not to “commercialize” press freedom, Orcullo said.

Media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) defines blocktiming as “the practice of buying ‘blocks’ of air time to produce programs independent of networks and stations.”

The group said the blocktimer then sells the commercial time to sponsors and advertisers and notes that blocktime programs proliferate during elections.

“Never abuse press freedom. It is a constitutional right gained by the blood of our heroes and martyrs,” Orcullo said.

“Do not mock it by selling this sacred right to your sponsors,” he added.

Orcullo said he is calling on the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to review and enforce its regulations.

Parents urge to prepare ‘home-made’ snacks for children

(PNA), CTB/CD/

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 11 (PNA) – It would be better for parents to prepare snacks or meals as foods for their children in school, a local official said Thursday.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, chair of the city council committee on health and sanitation, made the advised to discourage kids from eating junk foods or processed foods in schools.

“Parents should also make sure that the kids drink plenty of water,” Pajo said.

Pajo, a dentist by profession, also encourage schools to have dentists and provide dental trough as part of the school facilities to enjoin children to brush teeth after meals even in schools.

The city councilor also appealed to all officials of the village health and sanitation to inspect schools, canteens and sidewalk vendors around the school’s vicinity.

He said the cooperation of village officials is very important considering that city’s health personnel could not inspect all the schools in the city.

It is very important that the city health office would have a regular inspection report about the sanitation and health environment of the city’s schools to protect the health of school kids, Pajo said.

Oro jeepney drivers get financial aid

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

JEEPNEY drivers in Northern Mindanao have received financial assistance from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who visited the region for his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program.

The PTK program aims to address ordinary people's problems like dealing with high prices, lack of jobs, low income and his continuing advocacy to fight corruption in the country.

"Ito po ay gusto kong patunayan sa inyo na pag nabigyan kayo ng oportunidad ay kaya niyo rin magpatakbo ng negosyo," Cayetano told the drivers at Mindanao University of Science and Technology on Thursday, June 18.

The said program was funded by businessmen supporters of Cayetano last 2013 while he was still a senatorial candidate.

The PTK, he explained is part of his public service as a government official voted by the people, and not a political campaign. He furthered that this is a part of his fulfillment of the promises he made to the people, when he was still vying for the senatorial position.

"This is a no strings attached event," Cayetano said referring to his recent visits and distribution of assistance to some drivers in MisOr, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

In May, Cayetano also gave financial aid to drivers in Opol town in Misamis Oriental.

On June 18, he also visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan distributing assistance to jeepney drivers.

Asked if he’d run for the Senate in 2016 and his visit was part of an early campaign, Cayetano said he will announce his senatorial bid by next month adding, "Well actually ang pangangampanya ay umuutang ka ng tiwala at ng suporta ng tao."

'BBL is a trap'

Meanwhile, Cayetano again expressed his opposition to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"I think the BBL… as written, is a trap, ito'y one-sided with only the MILF's side, ito'y magwe-weaken ng government position, at ito'y hindi magbibigay ng sagot sa kahirapan ng buong Mindanao," he said in an interview with Sun.Star Cagayn de Oro Thursday.

Cayetano believes in a just, inclusive, and lasting peace not only for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but for the whole Mindanao.

"Paano ito magiging for peace if the rest of Mindanao is madedehado. Mas maraming problema na maidudulot ang BBL, hindi ito solusyon," Cayetano added.

MisOr mayors back from alleged Europe junket

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

SEVERAL mayors from Misamis Oriental left for a vacation trip to Europe on the first week of June amid allegation that it was funded by presidential contender.

One of them is scheduled to come home today, Friday, after a two-week Euro trip.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano confirmed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, June 16, that indeed some mayors were on vacation in Europe.

Sources said that these mayors went to Europe allegedly funded by Vice President Jejomar Binay. They requested their names be withheld.

Governor Emano said “their travel would always be about politics, but right now they are spending from their own pockets and this suddenly becomes an issue?”

Vice Governor Joey Pelaez also heard about the trip, but couldn’t confirm it since his office doesn’t deal with the municipal chief executives’ travels.

Asked also if the trip was allegedly funded by Binay, Pelaez denied it.

"Definitely no, the Vice President did not fund it. Well, not Vice President Binay, that one I can confirm kasi ako sana mauna doon if siya ang nag-fund. Siguro, if it's a local travel, madali lang e-charge yan sa government, pero pag travel outside the country, mahirap yan," Pelaez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview at his office Thursday afternoon.

The same sources alleged that mayors Ken Niño T. Uyguangco (Medina), Rommel C. Maslog (Talisayan), Grace A. Jardin (Jasaan), Paulino Y. Emano (Tagoloan), Oliver L. Ubaub (Laguindingan, Enerito J. Acain V, (Initao), Jaime C. Roa (Naawan) and Wellie G. Lim (Lugait) were invited to the trip in Europe.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro called and sent text messages to the mayors, but only two responded.

As this paper called Tagoloan Mayor Emano’s mobile, his secretary answered it and said the mayor was in Europe and due to arrive today, June 19.

Another source who is under the employ of the municipality of Tagoloan told this paper that Mayor Emano and his wife left the country between June 4 or 5 for a vacation in Europe.

Talisayan Mayor Maslog confirmed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Thursday that he was also invited by these mayors to join them, but he declined since he is busy taking care of other things.

Maslog said the trip was not funded by the government saying, "Personal man to nila na travel, kay kung funded pa to, naa nako didto, dili gyud ko paulahi. Kadtong mga mayor na naay kaya, mao to ang naa didto, mga negosyante to sila."

No travel authority

This paper also found out that the mayors didn’t have travel authority from the Department of Interior and Local Government which issued a Memorandum Circular in 2006 governing foreign travel on local government officials and employees.

Edward Bhagwani, provincial director of DILG in Misamis Oriental, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Thursday that as far as his office is concerned it did not receive any request on travel abroad from any Misamis Oriental mayors.

Bhagwani said the DILG authorizes the international travel for local government officials and workers.

"We have to point out that they are obliged to ask for travel authority since they are government officials, it may be personal or official, regardless of the nature of the travel," Bhagwani said.

The travel authority should be requested 10 days before the departure date.

Travel authority and leave of absence are the documents that the Bureau of Immigration requires for the mayors to leave the country, he added.

"Since nakalarga man sila, possible gyud na wala nila gi-declare na mayors sila, basin private individual lang ila ingon, and the Immigration will not know whether they are government officials or not, gawas kung naa silay listahan pero wala man," he furthered.

Bhagwani also said that mayors can always invoke their right to travel but “as government officials they must ask for travel authority.”

He added that local chief executives should file a leave of absence if they travel even on personal capacity.

“Kung wala sila nag-file ug leave then mapamatud-an na ningbiya sila unya nilarga sila leaving their responsibility, then pwede gyud naay mu-file ug reklamo against sa ila (If they didn’t file a leave of absence and it is proven that they travelled leaving their responsibility behind, then it is possible that a complaint against them can be filed)."

"The point is, whether official travel or not, they need travel authority since they are government officials," Bhagwani reiterated.

ICT Council to spearhead “TechSpark – Innovations for better CDO”

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 18 (PIA) – In celebration of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) month in June, the Cagayan de Oro – ICT (CDO-ICT) Business Council will spearhead an event dubbed “TechSpark-Innovations for better CDO” on 26 June 2015 at the Limketkai Mall Rotunda, Cagayan de Oro City.

“TechSpark-Innovations for better CDO” is a one-day event, aimed to raise awareness about technology innovation and introduction on how technology can help improve people’s lives and also create an environment of technopreneurship in Cagayan de Oro City.

According to John Arvin Adolfo, Executive Director, CDO ICT Business Council, TechSpark was inspired and conceptualized because of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ICT Month theme “Internet for All: No Juan Left Behind."

The event will have several activities particularly tech and innovations exhibit; new technology and services expo; tech competitions like tech quiz trivia and digital illustration expo.

Furthermore it will include tech talks; startup testimonies and plugins.

TechSpark CDO is organized by Startup CDO, CDO-ICT Business Council, DOST-ICTO Field Operations Office-Mindanao Cluster Office 2 and supported by Department of Trade and Industry – Misamis Oriental (DTI-MOR), City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Misamis Oriental, Techtalks.PH, Developers Connect (DevCon), CDO Bloggers and SMART Communications Inc. among others.

DSWD-10 conducts KALAHI-CIDSS confab for execs

By Luis T. Arquiza (PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Northern Mindanao recently conducted Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI CIDSS)-National Community Driven Development (KC-NCDDP) Governors and Mayor’s Forum for the additional 44 Municipalities that comprise the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and some additional municipalities of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, held at Pryce Plaza Hotel.

The KC-NCDDP is a flagship anti-poverty program of the national government that empowers people through the community-driven development (CDD) approach.

The project aims to empower local communities; reduce poverty by providing seed funds for community infrastructure, common service facilities, capability building and improve governance by providing stronger feeling of belonging and community ownership. The program is in support with World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

The objective of the forum is to discuss and present the comprehensive principles of KC-NCDDP and to officially facilitate the signing of Memorandum of Agreement with the new 44 Municipal Mayors.

In the program proper, DSWD regional director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo gave her welcome message with the emphasis on encouraging new local chief executives to support the program by enabling KALAHI-CIDSS Champion Municipalities in the region to showcase their best practices on KALAHI-CIDSS implementation.

To date, Governor Khalid Mohamad Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and mayor Benjie Y. Baguio of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, both shared KALAHI-CIDSS positive experiences in the ten year implementation since 2003, where Lanao del Norte served as the pioneering pilot province of the region.

Other highlights of the activity were the presentation of data of the 2014 KALAHI-CIDSS accomplishment report, highlighting 13 municipalities (11 in Lanao del Norte and 2 in Misamis Occidental) that had completed the KALAHI-CIDSS implementation, and generated a total of 112 community projects with an accumulated project cost of P15 Million. From the Yolanda affected areas, a total of 92 community projects were identified and prioritized by the seven municipalities: Mahinog, Catarman, Sagay, Guinsiliban, Mambajao in Camiguin, Malitbog Bukidnon and Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, with a total cost of P101 Million and a counterpart of 4 Million pesos coming from the municipalities both cash and in-kind.

The forum ended with the signing of 44 Memorandum of Agreement spearheaded by regional director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo and the municipal mayors concerned.

Nutrition of day care children in NorMin improves

(Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

THE nutrition of the 2,324 children enrolled in day-care centers in Northern Mindanao has improved after a 120-day feeding program implemented by the government.

More than 132,000 children were given supplementary food by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP). Before the program, 15,077 children were reported to be malnourished.

Araceli F. Solamillo, regional director of the DSWD 10, said malnutrition among the day-care children dropped by 1.77 percent six months after the feeding program started.

“From 11.37 percent rate of malnutrition, there was a remarkable decrease to 9.60 percent of malnutrition among these children,” said Solamillo.

In its 2008 National Nutrition Survey, the Department of Science and Technology reported that malnutrition was prevalent among Filipino children. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also showed in its 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey that about 1.1 percent of Filipino families were categorized as hungry and food-poor.

Under the feeding program, hot meals were served during snack or meal time to day care children five days a week for 120 days. The parents helped in the program by managing and preparing the food using indigenous food supplies.

458 applicants hired on the spot at job fair

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

A TOTAL of 458 job applicants were hired on the spot during the one-day “Himugsoan Trabaho Patrol” at Limketkai Mall Atrium on Monday.

About 6,600 signed up for the job fair. Aside from the applicants who were hired on the spot, 1,997 were considered qualified, another 680 are ready for a final interview and 308 will be taking a final examination.

Kathleen Kate Sorilla, PESO manager, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the bulk of the applicants was from the city.

Among the local job openings were for salesman, sales clerks, engineers, factory workers, while overseas work included nurses, drivers and engineers.

Charles Derequisto, 23, arrived late and was not able to register. "Sayang kaayo, pag-abot nako mao gyud pag-close. Sunod nalang, basin dili pa gyud ako," he said.

But Marife Achass, 23, applied for five jobs, "Pwede man maka-apply up to 5, so pahimuslan nalang gyud para in case dili madawat sa isa, naay backup," she said.

Jobseekers who were not able to register could still apply, and the openings would still be posted at City Hall.

City to build more classrooms

By Lynyrd Aleksei N. Corrales

THE implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K to 12 program in Cagayan de Oro remains on track despite the many challenges, City Mayor Oscar Moreno said.

Moreno said the city is working to meet the added pressure to build more classrooms to cope with the projected increase in the number of secondary school students.

Some 17,000 students are expected to enter senior high school (SHS) in the next two school years. Ninety percent of them will have to be accommodated in the city’s public schools.

But in a speech on Independence Day Moreno said he remains confident the city, together with the DepEd, can meet the challenges.

He took a swipe at his detractors, saying the city has been able to fill the need for more classrooms despite opposition from his political rivals.

Moreno said his administration has built 309 classrooms in its first 20 months of office.

120T tilapia fingerlings released into Oro river

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

THE waters of the Cagayan de Oro River, long depleted of fish stocks due to overfishing and adverse environmental changes, may once again teem with fresh water fish.

As part of the city’s Independence Day celebrations Friday, some 120,000 Tilapia fingerlings were released in different parts of the Cagayan de Oro River commencing with a brief 9 a.m. at Duaw Park just below the Governor Ysalina Bridge.

The City Agriculture Office (CAO), together with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Northern Mindanao (BFAR) Northern Mindanao, dispersed the tilapia fingerlings as part of the city’s rehabilitation program of the river.

City agriculturist Hector San Juan hopes with the dispersal of the fingerlings, the river will once again become a food source for many residents just as it had once been before pressures from an increasing population depleted the river’s fish stocks.

Personnel from the CDRRMC, BFAR Northern Mindanao and CAO manned two lifeboats to spread the dispersal of the fingerlings to the different spots of the river. The fingerlings were from the tilapia hatchery of BFAR Northern Mindanao.

San Juan said they chose tilapia because the specie is known to be adaptable and because tilapia fingerlings were plentiful at BFAR 10.

San Juan said the fish will mature from six months to one year. He explained that the fingerlings take longer to mature in the wild as opposed to fishponds where they are fed regularly.

San Juan said the fingerlings released into the river will likely consume plankton and mosses but said he sees no reason why these will not be fit for consumption when they mature.

Press Club head: Broadcasters must practice ethical journalism

By Lynyrd Alexsei N. Corrales

THE head of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) said that while the club supports the call to decriminalize libel, broadcasters should also take a good look at the code of ethics for journalists to find out how they can properly practice their profession.

COPC President Jerry Orcullo gave his reactions to the arrest of a broadcaster in Valencia City.

Rey Cabaraban, a broadcaster at Radyo Juan, was arrested June 9 after Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. sued him for libel.

Orcullo said broadcasters should “avoid foul language” and steer clear of needlessly defaming individuals.

“Broadcasters should not attack people below the belt and use curse words on air,” he said.

Broadcasters who buy block times should also remember not to “commercialize” press freedom, Orcullo said.

Media watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) defines blocktiming as “the practice of buying ‘blocks’ of air time to produce programs independent of networks and stations.”

The group said the blocktimer then sells the commercial time to sponsors and advertisers and notes that blocktime programs proliferate during elections.

“Never abuse press freedom. It is a constitutional right gained by the blood of our heroes and martyrs,” Orcullo said.

“Do not mock it by selling this sacred right to your sponsors,” he added.

Orcullo said he is calling on the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to review and enforce its regulations.

Parents urge to prepare ‘home-made’ snacks for children

(PNA), CTB/CD/

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 11 (PNA) – It would be better for parents to prepare snacks or meals as foods for their children in school, a local official said Thursday.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, chair of the city council committee on health and sanitation, made the advised to discourage kids from eating junk foods or processed foods in schools.

“Parents should also make sure that the kids drink plenty of water,” Pajo said.

Pajo, a dentist by profession, also encourage schools to have dentists and provide dental trough as part of the school facilities to enjoin children to brush teeth after meals even in schools.

The city councilor also appealed to all officials of the village health and sanitation to inspect schools, canteens and sidewalk vendors around the school’s vicinity.

He said the cooperation of village officials is very important considering that city’s health personnel could not inspect all the schools in the city.

It is very important that the city health office would have a regular inspection report about the sanitation and health environment of the city’s schools to protect the health of school kids, Pajo said.

DPWH braces for rainy season, cleans canals along highways in Cagayan de Oro

(PNA), LAP/CD/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 10 (PNA) -– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started to clean major canals along the highways here in anticipation of the rainy season.

Sandra Flores, the DPWH spokesperson in Northern Mindanao, said on Wednesday that the cleaning of canals along the highways started last week in time for the opening of classes.

She said that the DPWH has started to clean the canals to prevent flooding along the highways in anticipation of the rainy season starting this month of June.

Flores said that the DPWH has started to move backhoe and dump trucks along the Kauswagan highways here as the cleaning reaches high gear for the past days.

“Apart from the accumulated eroded soil and garbage, grasses have also grown in the canal, which obstructs the flow of water,” she said.

Flores said that the clogging of canals during rainy days due to “cellophane and plastic bags” becomes inevitable.

She said that the DPWH has been campaigning for the proper disposal of garbage and plastics, but it seems “futile.”

Flores admitted that it would take a long time to educate the people on how to properly dispose of their garbage.

“In the meantime, we will make sure that the canals are cleared of garbage and obstructions to allow the water to flow smoothly during rainy days and avoid the flooding of the city’s major highways here,” she said.

BSP warns public against Phishing scams

(BSP/APB/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 9 (PIA) --- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is warning the public against Phishing scams.

Phishing is a form of identity theft whereby someone steals or uses personal or sensitive information of another person without his/her knowledge or permission, through hacking into one’s personal account, hijacking one’s data and taking over one’s online identity, to commit fraudulent acts/crimes, or conduct unauthorized business.

Once the scammers have your information, it becomes possible for them to withdraw money or purchase items under your name, open a new bank or credit card account, use your present account to illegally deal with other people, or encash checks on your behalf.

Scammers may also install computer viruses and worms or embed them in your e-mail and disseminate more phishing e-mails to other people.

These fraudsters usually send an e-mail with a generic greeting, such as “Dear Customer” or “To Our Valued Client” with an urgent message or content containing a threat such as “Verify your account”, “Update your account,” or “Failure to do so will result in account suspension.”

The message is usually accompanied by a link that, when clicked, leads to a spoofed or fake website which asks you to input your personal and financial information such as User IDs, passwords and account and personal identification numbers.

Scammers may use official-looking logos and other identifying information from a financial institution or other legitimate organization.

Phishing may be done in various methods other than e-mail, such as text messages, chat rooms, electronic fake banner advertisements or message boards, fake mailing lists, fake job search sites and job offers, and fake browser toolbars.

To avoid being victimized by Phishing scams, the BSP is advising the public not reply to suspicious e-mails and ignore and delete the message.

Do not click any link in a suspicious message and do not give personal and financial information requested through e-mail, the BSP said.

Call your bank instead and send a letter to verify if such e-mail request is real. If you think you have given out information to a phisher, report the incident immediately to the company that was spoofed, the BSP added.

Groups offer to rehab power plants

By BENCYRUS G. ELLORIN (CORRESPONDENT)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: The country’s cooperative sector is emerging out of the footnotes of Philippine economic development to join big business in major economic ventures including power generation in Mindanao.

Cooperatives from all over the country are banding together to raise the needed capital to operate and manage the Agus-Pulangi Hydro Electric Power Plants (HEPP), which is currently supplying half of Mindanao’s power needs.

Last Thursday, the board of directors of the 1Mindanao Energy Cooperative Federation (1MIECOOP) met in Cagayan de Oro City to strategize their next move – to convince President Benigno Simeon Aquino 3rd and the National Power Corporation – Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (NPC-Psalm) to award to them the Operations and Management Agreement (OMA) of the hydro-electric generation facility with combined installed capacity of 982 megawatts.

The 1MIECOOP is asking for an audience with the President to seek exemption from usual bidding processes under the rules set by Psalm in the privatization of the NPC assets. It argues that the rules of Psalm are designed for big corporations, whereas, the 1MIECOOP will be owned and capitalized by around 3-million Mindanao power consumers and big cooperatives nationwide.

To address the capital requirements to acquire the operations and management agreement of the Agus Pulangi, the 1MIECOOP will raise capital by collecting P100 a month for one year from cooperative members of cooperatives who have joined the 1MIECOOP —a cooperative federation. With around 3 million members, 1MIECOOP projects to raise P3.6 billion in one year. 1MIECOOP can even raise the stake higher with billionaire cooperative throughout the country shelling out bigger capital contribution.

Those who are opposed to the privatization of the power plants are wary that a power rate hike is in the offing, because private firms would have to generate profits.

The 1MIECOOP, in a position paper, said giving them the operation and management of the Agus-Pulangi HEPP would “put consumers’ interest above the interest of the private and public corporations.”

The option being offered by the 1MIECOOP would no longer need legislation to amend the EPIRA, said Orlando R. Ravanera, chairman of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

“It is simply putting the power generation facility in the right hands and away from the profit-taking,” Ravanera said.

He added that the CDA as the government’s regulating agency for cooperatives would make sure that once the operation and management of the power plants is given to 1MIECOOP, the agency would closely monitor it to protect the interests of the power consumer-owners.

Under the operation and management of the cooperative, 1MIECOOP said the low generation cost of the Agus Pulangi HEPP would be protected and maintained.

6 cops in Oro test positive for illegal drugs use

By Grace Cantal-Albasin With Stephanie Berganio (SuperBalita Cagayan de Oro)

SIX members of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) have tested positive for illegal drugs use, Cocpo community relations chief Henry Cay-as told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Sunday evening.

Police Chief Inspector Cay-as clarified that there are only six policemen from Cocpo who tested positive since it started its random drug testing about eight months ago during the stint of former Cocpo Chief Police Superintendent Graciano Mijares.

“The last one who tested positive was in Puerto police station. On June 5, there was a random drug testing in Agora police station (PS3) but the result isn’t out yet. There will be a continuous random drug test in all police stations and special units. Di pa tapos ang lahat,” Cay-as said in a text message sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

He added that those who found positive have been sent to the Regional Headquarters Support Group (RHSG) in Camp Alagar pending administrative charges.

“Yung bago pa, nasa respective stations palang nila (The new ones are still in their respective stations),” Cay-as added.

Police Superintendent Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) Northern Mindanao, confirmed that the regional office recorded 30 police who tested positive after random drug testing was conducted in the region, which included those under the stint of former police regional director, Police Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.

Police Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda, chief of operations and plans branch of Cocpo, said the new police who tested positive included a Police Officer (PO) 1, PO2, and a senior police officer.

Gonda is saddened that more police have been found involved in illegal drugs use despite several random drug testing that previously listed 30 police from the region who are now facing administrative charges.

Gonda added that Cocpo will continue with its "Oplan Linis Bahay" to cleanse its ranks from erring police members.

Gonda warned that police precincts that already went through random drug testing might undergo another surprise test to catch those police who have not heeded the call to stop using illegal drugs.

He also thanked the community for sending messages through text informing his office of police who are suspected to be on illegal drugs use or doing illegal activities.

P2.7-M worth of fake money seized in CDO

By Julliane Love De Jesus (IDL, INQUIRER.net)

Authorities have seized at least P2.7-million worth of fake peso and US dollar bills after it raided a printing press, leading to the arrest of three individuals in Cagayan de Oro City.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas swooped down on VMAR printing press in Barangay (village) Nazareth and caught its staff printing and cutting counterfeit US and Philippine Peso banknotes on Friday.

Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum, regional chief of CIDG Northern Mindanao, identified them as Vincent Cabiladas, 37, Amiel Nayve, 40, and Rex Padere, 38. All were residents of different villages in Cagayan de Oro City.

In a report to the CIDG headquarters, Tagum said operatives also found packs of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and drug paraphernalia in their possession.

He said the operation was by virtue of search warrant issued by Judge Gil Bollozos of Cagayan de Oro City regional trial court Branch 20 dated June 4, 2015.

Confiscated pieces of evidence were the following:

US Currency banknotes • Eighty-two pieces of $500 with various serial numbers (P1,845,000) • Twenty sheets of $500-uncut notes (P450,000) • Seventy pieces of $100 with various serial numbers (P315,000) • Forty-one pieces of $20 with various serial numbers (P36,900) • One sheet of $20-uncut notes (P900) • Forty-five pieces of $10 with various serial numbers (P20,250) • Forty-five pieces of $5 with various serial numbers (P10,125) • Eighty pieces of $2 with various serial numbers (P7,200) • Thirty-eight pieces of $1 with various serial numbers (P1,710)

Philippine Currency banknotes • Fifty-three sheets of P1,000-uncut notes with various serial numbers (P53,000) • Twenty-five sheets of P200-uncut noteswith various serial numbers (P5,000) • Twenty-three sheets of P100-uncut notes with various serial numbers (P2,300)

Police also confiscated 13 pieces of sachet containing suspected shabu, tooters, lighters, aluminum foils personal computers, printers and ink cartridges,

The arrested suspects will face charges of violation of articles 166, 168 and 176 of the Revised Penal Code for forging bank notes and possessing counterfeit currency.

They are now detained at the Cagayan de Oro Criminal Investigation and Detection Team’s office while cases are being filed against them.

MOSCAT hosts tour for agriculture appreciation

By Gennerah Enterina (PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 5 (PIA) – In the aim to further raise awareness and appreciation of the agriculture education and technology, the Regional Association of Government Communicators (RAGCOM) Northern Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Media held a study visit at Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) last 2 June 2015.

The activity was an opportunity of the participants to learn about MOSCAT’s promotion of research, advanced studies and progressive leadership in various disciplines and areas of specialization such as in Dairy management and mushroom growing.

MOSCAT President, Dr. Rosalito A. Quirino, toured the participants around the school premises and introduced their facilities where MOSCAT students are trained. He also showed the on-going construction of the soon-to-be Dairy Farm Academy, facilities in the Admin building and mushroom farm among others.

The dairy farm training in MOSCAT is the most preferred by New Zealand employers. In fact, MOSCAT is recipient of the New Zealand’s funding to strengthen and boost dairy industry in the country.

Meanwhile, MOSCAT has a mushroom production project which has P2.5 million worth of modern equipment imported from Korea.

Dr. Quirino showed the participants how organic mushrooms are processed. The mushrooms’ growing process starts from grinding of saw dust, wrapping, storing in sterilizer chamber, mushroom planting and incubation, then lastly, mushroom are left inside the growing house to grow for human consumption.

MOSCAT offers courses that center on agriculture: Bachelor in Agricultural Technology, Bachelor of Technology in Horticulture Management, BS in Agro-Forestry and BS in Agriculture, major in Animal Science, Crop Science and Entrepreneurship. MOSCAT also offers Certificate courses like Diary Farm Assistant (6 months), Diploma for Dairy Farm Manager (2 years), Certificate for Dairy Herd Manager (1 year) and Diploma in Agricultural Technology.

The tour capped off with a press conference with RAGCOM and media.

Anniversary bonus of ‘CH’ workers in CDO okayed

By Cris Diaz [(PNA), CTB/CD/CD]

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 4 (PNA) – The city council committee on finance on Thursday has approved the granting of anniversary bonus to more than 3,000 city hall employees here.

The city government would need some Php 17, 382, 000 million to pay the anniversary bonus at Php 3,000 for each of the City Hall employees including casuals, contractor, and job order workers.

City Councilor Prexy Elipe, chair of the city council committee on finance, ways and means, endorses the grant of the anniversary bonus to the committee on laws and rules.

Elipe said that the funds would be taken from the General Public Service Sector (P4,104,000), Social Service Sector (P1,425,000), Economic Services Sector (P1,734,000) and Special Account (P1,428,000) with a total amount of P8,691,000.

The finance committee has already asked the city budget officer to issue a separate “certificate of availability of funds” for the purpose, Elipe said.

Last week, City Mayor Oscar Moreno announced the grant of Php 5,000 anniversary bonus to all city hall workers on June 15, 2015.

Moreno vetoed the proposed Ordinance granting a Php 1,000 loyalty allowance to city hall workers for every year after 10 years in service.

“Instead, we will grant a P 5,000 anniversary bonus to all city hall employees on June 15, 2015 to commemorate the city’s 65th Charter Day anniversary,” Moreno said.

Moreno said he hopes the amount would also provide relief to parents as classes for school year 2015-2016 start in June.

Former President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 521 declaring Cagayan De Oro City as Chartered City on June 15, 1950.

Pantawid Pamilya capacitates beneficiaries to work overseas

By Erika Carmela B. Inovero and Recthie T. Paculba (PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 3 (PIA) – To further improve the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) created the Technical Vocational Skills Training Program (Tech Voc), one of the approaches of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in upholding its mission to improve socio-economic well-being of every beneficiary.

One of the recipients of the training program is Aida May Jangao, 34, who recently completed the Household Services skills on May 8, 2015. Prior to opening the door of opportunity to work abroad, Aida makes a living through selling fruit salad while her husband Felix Jangao Jr., 34, raises the family through retailing goats and pigs. Together, the couple earns around P2,500 to P3,000 per month.

Residing in Purok 3, Lagtang, Alubijid, the couple is blessed with one child, Mark Gabriel, 6, an incoming grade one pupil. Thus, with their meager income and a son to raise, they became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya since 2010.

Upon knowing that the Tech Voc is implemented in their area, Aida immediately enlists herself and took up the training program’s Household Services-National Certificate II where she was trained for 25 days, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during Saturdays and Sundays.

“Maayo kaayo ang training kay daghan ko natun-an. Labi na ang saktong pagtrabaho sa balay, aha sugdan ang paghinlo, unsa'y gamit sa panghinlo ug daghan pa. (The training was really good because I have learned a lot. They taught me how to clean the house properly; the areas that should be handled first, the equipment that should be used and a lot more),” Aida shared.

Recently, Aida has been planning and preparing to work as a domestic helper either in Middle East or Hong Kong on October this year. However, she also noted that the pros and cons of making the decision are in a constant see-saw as to which outweighs the other. Though high salary and good benefits are enticing, she still has security issues and uncertainties of being a wife and mother if she works abroad.

She intends to transfer the conditional cash grant to her husband’s name and send her son to her parents in Bohol after he finishes his study this school year. Though leaving her family seems to be a very tough decision to make, Aida is very positive that her absence along with the issues that may come with it will be endured by the family.

DSWD however assures Aida the continuous monitoring, counseling, updates and assistance for her family’s social welfare whenever she finally decides to brace a better economic opportunity.

“Pasalamat kaayo ko nga ang ila gyung giimplement na programa kay nakatabang financially sa amo. Dili lalim pero paningkamutan nako na matarong akong trabaho. I- manage pud nako among kwarta ug i-negosyo (I am really thankful that they implemented a program that financially helped my family. This is not easy but I will try my best to do good in my job. I will also manage our money carefully and put up a business in the future)," Aida said.

Pantawid Pamilya is a poverty reduction strategy of the DSWD that provides grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-18. Through providing incentives for poor families, they invest in the future by also ensuring that mothers and children can avail free healthcare as well as free education. Hence, it aims to give monetary aid to poor beneficiaries with the hope that these investments in human capital would lessen the great financial divide among Filipinos.

Php130-M supplemental budget needs appropriation ordinance, says city dad

(PNA), LAP/RCK/CD/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 2 (PNA) –- An appropriation ordinance is needed prior to the enactment of the proposed supplemental budget, a city councilor said Tuesday.

City Councilor Prexy Elipe, chair of the city council committee on finance, ways and means, made the statement during the deliberation for the approval of the proposed supplemental budget amounting to Php 130.4 million.

The City Executive has asked the City Council to approve the Php 126, 863,992.69 for the General Fund and Php 3,589.946.19 under the Special Account of the city’s Economic Enterprise for Calendar year 2015.

Elipe said that the city council would approve the supplemental budget only under an approved appropriation ordinance.

He said that the city council would tackle all the items in the proposed supplemental budgets individually.

Elipe said that the approval of the appropriation ordinance for the approval of the supplemental budget is a procedure that the local august body has adopted ever since.

Ex-lawmaker says not guilty to PDAF-related charges

(PNA), RMA/CD/CD

CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan De Oro City, June 1 (PNA) – Operatives of Northern Mindanao police based here have arrested 43 persons during a week-long anti-illegal drug drive in the region.

Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado, Region X police director, said the arrest of the suspects was part of the 911 police operations against all forms of criminality in Northern Mindanao from May 15, 2015 until May 22, 2015.

Desquitado said the 43 illegal drug suspects were nabbed during the 28 anti-illegal drug campaign in Bukidnon, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan De Oro City.

He said that police operatives seized 160.07 grams of “Shabu” (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride) with an estimated value of Php 1.8 million.

The regional police command collared 83 persons, including the 43 anti-illegal drug suspects, during the 911 police operations in Northern Mindanao.

“It appears that more than one-half of the arrested persons were into illegal drugs. It only showed that the illegal drug trade has continued to grow in the region,” Desquitado said.

Desquitado, who assumed as officer-in-charge of the regional Philippine National Police (PNP) command a month ago, has vowed to intensify the police campaign against all forms of criminal activities in the region.

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