Cagayan de Oro City News June 2016

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Cagayan de Oro City Photo Gallery

Cagayan de Oro City Realty

Philippine News

Interactive Google Satellite Map of Cagayan de Oro City
Misamis oriental cagayan de oro.png
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
Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral cagayan de oro 01.jpg
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
Cagayan de Oro City buildings.jpg
Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
Terminal bus of bulua cagayan de oro city misamis oriental.JPG
Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

EMB showcases notable SWM projects in NorMin

(JCV/PIA 10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – Northern Mindanao’s finest experts in solid waste management shared their innovations and notable strategies to various partners and members of the Northern Mindanao Ecology Center (NMEC) and the Cagayan de Oro River Basin and Adjacent Rivers Water Quality Management Area (CDOBAR-WQMA) Governing Board in Cagayan de Oro City on June 29.

Practitioners from the academe, local government unit, and commercial establishment namely Xavier University, Gingoog City local government unit (LGU) and SWM consultant Engr. Sin del Jamorol graced the learning event which also highlighted the environment month culmination activities.

In his opening message, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment and Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) acting officer in-charge, lawyer Abbas I. Lao said the event seeks to capacitate the members, especially the local government units, highlighting that to date, only 37 percent of the LGUs nationwide have complied with the guidelines set by Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The EMB, he said, has already filed its first 50 administrative cases for the non-compliant local governments at the Ombudsman, and two of these cases are from Northern Mindanao.

Regional SWM Chief Dovee Cherry Geollegue said only 10 LGUs in region 10 have established and operated a Sanitary Landfill and 36 percent or 737 barangays have materials recovery facility.

CEPALCO applies for PHP4-B capex

(PNA), BNB/JLD

MANILA, June 29 (PNA) -- The Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (CEPALCO) filed an application for its potential PHP4 billion capital expenditures for 2015 and 2016 at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

According to the petition, the distribution utility expects the total peak demand of its customers could reach 320-480 megawatts (MW) in the next 10 years.

With the higher demand, it noted it has to build new substations, switchyards, sub-transmission lines, primary distribution lines and acquire transportation equipment, which also includes tools and equipment and other necessary facilities.

”Due to the significant increase in the demand of electricity starting year 2017, CEPALCO needs to implement these projects as soon as possible within this year, 2016, in order that the additional capacity that it will received from with power suppliers can be efficiently feed to its distribution system facilities for distribution to its customers,” it stressed.

The company also disclosed it plans to automate its system through Smart-grid, allowing it to monitor the power supply flow from the power plant to the household. It could also allow customers to turn off their appliances through gadgets or mobile phones.

”The long-term expansion program is aimed to improve system capacity, reliability, efficiency, and comply safety requirements to meet the fast-growing demand of electricity in CEPALCO's franchise area, hence the implementation of these projects will enable it comply with its obligation to provide reliable and efficient service to its customers,” it added.

Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co., which started its operations in 1962, covers 65 barangays of Cagayan de Oro, including some municipalities in Misamis Oriental.

DICT launches center towards digital empowerment

(DICT)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- With high hopes of bridging the digital divide and cater the needs of every Juan, the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICT now DICT) Mindanao Cluster 2 launched its ICT Skills Training and Internship Center this 23 June 2016 at the ICT Office, Cagayan de Oro City.

The event is graced by the Deputy Executive Director of e-Innovation, Monchito Ibrahim and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor, Oscar Moreno. The collaboration of various partners both from the public and private sector in collectively advancing development through ICT opportunities is commended for allowing the establishment of the ICT Skills Training and Internship Center. DICT is highly indebted to the generosity of Fil-Chi Love and Care Foundation through the help of ASUS Technology Philippines for donating 20 computers used in the center.

In observance of the ICT Month, DICT has paved way for opportunities and series of skills training given to selected individuals and its target sectors (students, differently-abled persons, out-of-school youth and adults, entrepreneurs, unemployed professionals, women and senior citizens) to gain access to connectivity, communication, information and vital government services. The ICT Skills Training and Internship Center started as a vision of providing solutions in mitigating the digital divide.

DICT has seen the potential of a growing industry which is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) projected to double its earnings in 2017. The BPO industry helps employ many Filipinos. However, according to IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines(IBPAP), the hiring rate is only around 5-10%, citing skills mismatch as one of the many reasons for such, thus the center’s establishment to help them gain proper training.

The Center offers digital literacy skills to Cagayan de Oro residents through the use of ICTO’s key projects - The Juan, Konek! Free Public Wi-Fi: Internet Access in Public Places Project was conceived and implemented to achieve the DOST-ICTO’s vision of providing Internet for all. The government will be providing free internet to 99% of the Philippine community for digital empowerment and for the country to experience the economic and social revolution brought about by the internet.

Tech4ED which stands for Technology for Education, to gain Employment, to empower Entrepreneurs towards Economic Development, aims to harness ICT to enable, empower and transform society creating an inclusive, integrated and equitable society. With the help of the various platforms: e-Eduskills, e-Assist and e-GovServ etc. It will provide opportunities for employment and empowering entrepreneurs.

Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) which aims to promote ICT-enabled jobs as a high value economic opportunity in rural communities which have access to internet connection. RIS provides information and access to jobs that can provide additional livelihood opportunities for technically competent workers.

This new initiative is promoting ICT – enabled jobs whilst addressing unemployment, underemployment and poverty in the City. The training involves Web Designing, Web Development, Graphics Design, Digital Literary and Communications Skills. Cagayan de Oro, having been dubbed as one of the Next-Wave Cities for IT-BPM, DICT deemed it necessary to prepare as this will help address economic problems. This program would also help create pool of talents for BPO companies.

The office envisions their trainees and target sectors to succeed in this program and wishes the neighboring provinces to replicate the efforts of DICT Mindanao Cluster 2. Thru this, it shall generate a wider scope of benefits and development for every Juan.

CLENRO, partners hold river clean-up drive

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- In an effort to prevent the sprouting of water hyacinths along the Cagayan de Oro River, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) and its partners conducted a river clean-up drive on June 24.

CLENRO Head Edwin Dael said water hyacinths can cause adverse effects on the river's biodiversity, particularly on natural wetlands, native aquatic plants, destroy habitats of water organisms, unstable water temperature, among others.

Safer River, Life Saver Foundation, Golden Friendship Eagles Club, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Unit 10, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), CDO Dragon Boat Team, barangays Carmen, 17, 10, and Kauswagan, and Consolacion Sand and Gravel Quarry Association supported the activity.

Water hyacinth is one of the fastest growing plants known and it reproduces primarily by way of runner or stolons, which eventually form daughter plants.

CLENRO used the physical control in handling the water hyacinth and mechanical removal is seen to be the best short-term solution to the proliferation of the plant.

CSWD provides emergency shelter aid

(CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) already provided the Emergency Shelter Assistance to the 228 families who were affected during the fire incident at Barangay 35 last March 19, 2015.

The financial aid distributed to house owners, sharers and renters amounted to P739, 000.

CSWD Officer Teddy Sabuga-a explained that there was a delay in giving the financial assistance due to constraints in the approval of budget for the said cause.

Thus, the city government of Cagayan de Oro looked for means to obtain funds for the financial aid that the people longed to receive.

With the new set of council members this July, Sabuga-a hopes that the financial aid for victims of calamity such as fire will be prioritized.

University in CDO among finalists in GUPES Green Gown Awards

(XU Comm)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan has been recognized as one of the finalists for this year’s Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) Green Gown Awards.

XU is one of the four finalists in Asia and the Pacific in the Community Engagement category, along with Aklan State University (Philippines), De La Salle University (Philippines), and Fiji National University (Fiji).

Established in 2004, the GUPES Green Gown Awards is a joint initiative supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), that expands the Green Gown Awards further across the globe with an emphasis on profiling and learning from the Southern Hemisphere.

“All around the world universities are beacons of hope for a more sustainable future,” said EAUC chief executive officer Iain Patton in a statement. “The GUPES Green Gown Awards recognize and celebrate the powerful contribution of university staff and students and most importantly let us learn and benefit from their excellence.”

Open to GUPES members across six regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and West Asia), a network of over 800 universities and colleges, the prestigious award-giving body lauds exceptional environmental sustainability initiatives and best practices.

The GUPES Green Gown Awardee from each of the regions will automatically enter in the International Green Gown Awards contest.

The categories include Community Engagement for Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean; Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change for Africa and West Asia; and Student Engagement for Europe and North America.

The winners will be announced at the GUPES Green Gown Awarding Ceremony on September 13 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, USA.

1st ICT Summit in CDO marks growing BPO industry

By Hazel Mae Pacturan (HMP/JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 24 (PIA) – Cagayan de Oro ICT Council together with partner stakeholders held the first Information and Communications Technology (ICT) summit in Cagayan de Oro City on 23 June 2016 to welcome growing Information Technology - Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry in the city.

With the theme “Bringing BPO to the Southern Hub,” the summit aimed to showcase the city’s potentials and promote CDO as a (BPO)-ready sector inviting potential ICT/BPO companies to invest in the city.

CDO ICT Council president Stephanie Caragos said that ICT is important in this period of rapid change which is already driven by technology.

“Having ICT as a tool is one of the most vital assets of an organization, therefore using technology is key to the success of our organizations,” she said.

A number of investors have already flocked in the city as Cagayan de Oro was declared as among the next wave city in 2015.

“Very soon, Cagayan de Oro city as a next wave city will be facing an even greater challenge preparing for the inevitable growth of the IT BPO industry,” Caragos said.

Challenges of the ICT industry in CDO

Filipino workers are considered as “global knowledge workers” as they are able to compete at the highest levels among the best in the world.

This is why nine cities from the Philippines are included in the top 100 outsourcing destinations. Two of these cities even made it to the top 10: Metro Manila (2nd) and Cebu (7th).

Although CDO is part of the next wave cities, it was not included in the top 100 outsourcing destinations.

However, Ernie Tomas Jr., chief of the Investments and Promotions of Mindanao Development Authority, said that they are working to enhance the competitiveness of the ICT sector in Mindanao.

“As we transition to the new administration, we are optimistic that Mindanao’s development will be given more focus and attention,” he said.

The summit is in line with the celebration of June as ICT month.

CDO Nursing grad shines in June NLE, two grads in top 10

(XU Comm)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The College of Nursing of Xavier University soared high in the June 2016 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) with a 100% passing rate and two of her graduates in the top ten.

“This is the fourth consecutive NLE that XU had a 100% passing rate,” XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ said in a statement. “Moreover, two XU BSN graduates topped the exam.”

Xavier’s Rachelle Eve Alolor Bensig landed on the second spot with 86.60%, along with two other successful takers.

Another XU graduate, Ma Minvilu Verano Marbella, garnering a score of 86.00%, shared the fifth place with two others.

A total of 39 Xavier Nursing grads passed the recent NLE.

“In your healing profession, may you be servants of Jesus, ‘the physician who heals with the medicine of love, for he takes upon himself our suffering and redeems it,’” Yap said.

“May the patients that you care for see reflected in you, ‘the tenderness that is a sign of the love that God shows to those who suffer and are cast aside’ (Homily of Pope Francis for the Jubilee for the Sick and Persons with Disabilities, 12 June 2016),” he added.

The university president also expressed his commendations to the College of Nursing.

“We thank once again dean Ramona Heidi C Palad, the faculty and staff of the College of Nursing for the excellent guidance and support they steadfastly provide our students,” Yap said.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported on Friday, June 17 that 6,183 out of 14,184 passed the NLE conducted by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.

NEDA, World Bank presents 'AmBisyon Natin 2040' results in CDO

(XU Comm)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 22 - How do Filipinos envision themselves and the country come 2040?

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), in partnership with World Bank’s Knowledge for Development Community (KDC) presented the findings of the long-term visioning project dubbed “AmBisyon Natin 2040” at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City on June 20, as part of its Mindanao leg of sharing and stakeholder consultations.

The event aims to establish a wider coalition for AmBisyon Natin 2040 as it intends to communicate its collective goals to various stakeholders, particularly the youth. It also seeks to document the public’s comments and inputs on the results of the national survey and identify ways and activities to bolster awareness, support, and ownership of the vision.

XU’s Social Development cluster, Economics and Development Communication departments served as hosts of the CDO validation forum, held at XU - Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (Searsolin) in Manresa Farm Complex.

The event gathered together leaders from different sectors, namely, the academe, civil society, youth groups, local media, and the business chamber, among others.

The public forum’s panel were composed of XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, Xavier’s academic vice-president Fr Rene Tacastacas SJ, Oro Youth Development Council chairperson Ernesto Neri, and Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc’s vice president for the agricultural sector Roberto “Bobby” Ansaldo.

Aside from the presentations, panel discussions, and a press conference, a workshop will be conducted to come up with a general alignment and agreement of the participants’ vision for their community and the country from the results of the survey.

The results were presented by NEDA's OIC-assistant director general for policy and planning Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos while NEDA's development information director Nerrisa Esguerra will lead the crafting of communication and advocacy plans after the workshop.

In September 2015, XU became the 18th member of the network of World Bank’s KDCs nationwide, and is one of the three in Mindanao.

The Filipino aspirations

Earlier this month, NEDA released the results of AmBisyon Natin 2040 which contained a long-term vision for the Philippines based on the aspirations, values, and principles of Filipinos.

Ten thousand respondents across the archipelago were asked of what they want to achieve for themselves and for the country by the year 2040. The survey was commissioned by both the Philippine Competition Commission and NEDA in March 2015.

The Vision of Filipinos for Self reads: “In 2040, all Filipinos will enjoy a stable and comfortable lifestyle, secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our own and our children’s futures. Our families live together in a place of our own, yet we have the freedom to go where we desire, protected and enabled by a clean, efficient, and fair government."

Meanwhile, the Vision of Filipinos for the Country reads: “The Philippines shall be a country where all citizens are free from hunger and poverty, have equal opportunities, enabled by fair and just society that is governed with order and unity. A nation where families live together, thriving in vibrant, culturally diverse, and resilient communities.”

AmBisyon Natin 2040 also examined the quality of life that people want to have by 2040, and it aims to serve as an anchor for development planning and international development assistance across at least four administrations.

The findings of AmBisyon Natin 2040 revealed that an overwhelming 79 percent of Filipinos aspire for a “simple and comfortable life,” defined as having the following: Medium-sized home; Having enough earnings to support daily needs; Owning at least one vehicle; The capacity to provide college education for their children; and Going on local trips for vacation.

NEDA director general Ernesto Pernia told the Business Mirro that the forthcoming Duterte administration is open to using AmBisyon Natin 2040 for its economic development initiatives.

New Zealand grants USD 3.71 M for the dairy industry upgrade

(PNA), RMA/CD/JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 21 (PNA) – New Zealand has granted the Philippines USD 3.71 million (about Php 170.66 million) to upgrade its dairy industry, David Strachan, New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines said.

Strachan said that the grant include technology transfer and distribution of hundreds of milk-producing cows to farmers all over the country.

He said the aid was part of the keen partnership between the Philippines and the New Zealand governments to uplift the country’s dairy industry.

In an interview with the PNA, Strachan said that the New Zealand government was determined to upgrade the arts of dairying in the Philippines.

“The dairy production is quite a sophisticated industry and it’s an industry where New Zealand is probably a world leader. We would be glad to share our expertise and technology with the Philippines,” he said.

During an inspection of a dairy project in Claveria, Misamis Oriental last Sunday, Strachan said that the interest of the New Zealand government to develop the Philippines dairy industry was a result of the marketing relationship between the two countries for many years.

The project involved 285 heads of pregnant Kiwi Cross cows from New Zealand, which were placed in a quarantine facility managed by state-run Misamis Oriental College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) in Claveria, ready for distribution to 24 focus farms all over the country

The focus farms are located in Northern Mindanao, Calabarzon, Northern Luzon and Visayas, under the five-year Philippines-New Zealand Dairy Project (PNZDP), which is supervised by the agriculture’s National Dairy Authority (NDA).

Felix Tanedo, PNZDP National Coordinator, said that part of the program’s components was improving the dairy production through improved animal nutrition through planting of forage grasses rich in nutrients that will help increase milk production.

Tanedo said the government had introduced mulato and Mombasa guinea grass varieties, which can withstand long dry spells.

Strachan said that the New Zealand government was optimistic that the development of the local dairy industry would be addressed under President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

“I think that the incoming Duterte administration indicated that they’re going to invest a lot more in the agriculture sector, and I think we can play a valuable role in our modest way,” he said.

Feature: Beneficiaries with technical skills thrive to improve livelihood

By Jamila M. Taha (JMT/DOH/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 20 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to empower Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) beneficiaries through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

One of livelihood program's commendable approaches provides life skills training as a capacity-building strategy to prepare program participants to better manage livelihood opportunities and pro-actively measure and ensure optimum quality performance in managing livelihood activities.

The department partners with schools or institutions which are accredited by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide the best training and eventually produce the best graduates who would qualify for any technical and well-paid jobs.

As it has been grasped and materialized by some DSWD’s beneficiaries like Reynan Amonhay and Guillermo Baliling Jr., it is easier to find job when you have credentials to show, they said.

Reynan Amonhay, 22, single and out-of-school youth, helps his father in farming to provide for their huge family. Reynan, along with his 11 siblings, work hand in hand to meet daily needs. Although he has completed high school, Reynan didn’t have much skill to boast and match for a job.

"Karon malipayon kaayo ko sa akong nakab-ot sa akong kinabuhi, bisag high school graduate ra ko nakatrabaho ko ug natagaan ko sa dakong kahigayonan nga mulambo pinaagi sa natabang sa DSWD ug nahatag nga bag-o nga kahanas sa 1 AND ALL Technical School (I am really glad because of this milestone in my life, that despite the fact that I am only a high school graduate, I was able to find a job and given an opportunity to improve our living condition through the support of DSWD and 1 AND ALL Technical School)," Reynan shared.

Reynan earns about P6,000 a month as a technician in Globe Telecom.

Guillermo Baliling Jr., 25, single, shares the same experience with Reynan. As a Lumad coming from the same province of Bukidnon where farming is the main source of livelihood, Guillermo also dreams of having a well-paid job to support his family.

“Mao dagko kaayo ang akong pasalamat sa kini nga mga institusyon kay sila ang nahimong instrumento nga sa hinay-hinay ako na makab-ot ang akong pangandoy sa kinabuhi (Because of this I am very thankful to these institutions for being the instrument of change and opportunity for me to reach my goals),” says Guillermo.

“Ug manghinaot ko nga daghan pa ang matabangan aning programa (And I am also hopeful that other people will also benefit from this program),” he adds.

From the mountainous remote area he now takes his journey in the city as he became the head auto mechanic in Opol Auto Repair Shop that earns him a minimum of P250 a day depending on the number of clients.

Reynan and Guillermo are both certified NC II passers of Electrical Installation Maintenance and Automotive Servicing assessment examination conducted by 1 AND ALL Technical School, the same school that provided for their starter tools after graduation and recommendations for employment.

“Our school ensures hands on approach in teaching and we are very generous in terms of sharing the best techniques and tools to our students to make sure their gains are par excellence and beneficial for their future,” says Joy Co, president of 1 AND ALL Technical School.

“Rest assured that we will also continue sharing similar change stories of our graduates, to serve as an inspiration, to all of us working in community development," she affirms.

University in CDO among Asia top universities

(XU)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan debuted in the 2016 Asian university rankings released by London-based education and career consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

XU secured a spot in the 251-300 bracket in the QS University Rankings, released on Tuesday, June 14.

“I am very pleased to inform the community that Xavier University was included in the 2016 Asian university rankings released by Quacquarelli Symonds,” XU President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ said. “The QS University Rankings Asia highlights the top 350 Asian universities.”

Xavier is one of the eight Philippine universities which were included in the said list, along with the University of the Philippines (#70), Ateneo de Manila University (#99), De La Salle University (#143), University of Santo Tomas (#157), Ateneo de Davao University (#251-300), Silliman University (#251-300), and University of San Carlos (#301-350).

The indicators used in the QS University Rankings were:

• Academic reputation (30%), of which XU ranked 8th among PH universities;
• Employer reputation (20%), of which XU ranked 6th among PH universities;
• Faculty-student ratio (15%), of which XU ranked 4th among PH universities;
• Citations per paper (10%), of which XU ranked 5th among PH universities;
• Papers per faculty (10%), of which XU ranked 8th among PHI universities;
• Staff with a PhD (5%);
• Proportion of international faculty (2.5%) and of international students (2.5%); and
• Proportion of inbound exchange students (2.5%) and of outbound exchange students (2.5%).

“These criteria by which top universities are evaluated are important to consider in our quest to become a leading ASEAN university forming leaders of character by 2033,” Yap said.

“We congratulate and thank our students, faculty, administrators and staff who practice magis in fostering exceptional institutional quality, excellent program outcomes in teaching, research, creative work and relevant community service,” the Jesuit university president added.


First published in 2009, the QS University Rankings for Asia has adopted this year the Faculty Area Normalisation Approach to bibliometric data to ensure that publications and citations are weighted equally across the five broad faculty areas (Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences & Management).

The results were also generated from the five years’ worth of data (from 2012 to 2016), according to QS.

Founded in 1933, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan was the first to be granted with a University Status (in 1958) among the five colleges affiliated with the Ateneo system in the Philippines, becoming also the first university in Mindanao.

In consonance with ASEAN Economic Integration, Xavier envisions to be a leading ASEAN university engaged in teaching, research, formation, and social development while upholding the pursuit of knowledge and truth, dialogue with religions and cultures, and care for the environment and creation.

World Vision, CSWD, partners respond to child protection issues through arts

By Crislyn Joy Felisilda (CJF/World Vision)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- World Vision, through Teaching Health and Resilience to Children through Inclusive Values and Empowerment (THRIVE) project, in partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro though the City Social Welfare Department Office (CSWDO) in collaboration with other local organizations, will culminate the two-month long activity dubbed as Pagtinambayayungay, a psychosocial healing to children in need of special protection through the arts and awareness sessions of their caregivers on 17 June 2016 at Limketkai Center Cagayan de Oro City.

Aside from the weekly art workshop, which started on 9 April and ended on 4 June, this intervention also provided series of educational and development activities to caregivers of children in need of protection.

Around 65 children and 38 caregivers had joined this activity.

According to the reports from the Philippine National Police, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental belong to the top provinces in Northern Mindanao with high incidence of trafficking. Approximately 40% of those who are trafficked are children.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stated that the number of sexually exploited children has fluctuated over the years. In 2015, 35% of these children were under 14.

“The sessions were very helpful to me, espeially to my daughter who’s been to depression after her father sexually abused her,” shares, mother Anna (not her real name) from Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City.

“Joining the arts workshop, this has been helpful for us to heal gradually. It also made me feel that I am not alone facing my battle. I’m not only gaining insights and learning but we’re also gaining friends,” says 11-year old Anita (not her real name), Anna’s daughter.

The activity will recognize the supportive partners to combat child protection issues like Tingog sa Kalasag (TISAKA), ARTSADA Cagayan, Leah Remolado Arts and Events Center, BALAUD MINDANAW, Xavier University for legal Assistance, Gugma Sa Kabataan and Lourdes College.

Distribution of school supplies among the children will be conducted in the event. The art exhibit that will showcase the output of children will be held at Limketkai West Concourse area.

City Health Office now offers free services for TB patients

(PNA), PGL/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 17 (PNA) -- The City Health Office (CHO) here is now extending free medical services to patient infected with tuberculosis (TB), a city official said Friday.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, chair of the city council committee on health and sanitation, said that the medicines for tuberculosis are also available for free in various private hospitals here.

Pajo made the disclosure after City Health Officer Dr. Fe Bongcas reported to the city council that two private hospitals in the city are accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Bongcas told the local august body that every TB patient is assigned to a treatment partner to ensure that the medicine is taken regularly for six months.

She said that the TB patient partner could be a family member or a Barangay Health Worker assigned in the Barangay Health Center.

Pajo said that the announcement of the CHO is a welcomed development and urged city and village residents to avail of the services.

“There is nothing to be ashamed when one is contracted with TB since the disease could not be treated,” Pajo said.

Oro now N. Mindanao’s education center

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

WITH the City Government’s strong emphasis on uplifting the state of education, Cagayan de Oro has now become Northern Mindanao’s education center and this position must never be undermined, Mayor Oscar Moreno bared Wednesday.

“The city’s educational status is our crown jewel,” Moreno told government officials and attendees during the celebration of the city’s 66th Charter Day at the Divisoria park Wednesday, June 15.

He said the presence of the outstanding schools in the city is essential in developing the future movers and shakers. “This is where future leaders of our country are being molded.”

One major factor that has contributed to this is the construction of hundreds of classrooms for elementary and secondary education making Cagayan de Oro one of the cities that can handle the influx of senior high school students under the K to 12 program of the government.

In his term report as mayor from 2013 until 2016, Moreno said he had caused the construction of 441 classrooms all over the city that can provide the demand for more school facilities for the incoming senior high school students.

Since some areas around the city have classroom shortage, students are compelled to come to Cagayan de Oro to enroll in senior high, resulting to more people flowing into the city leading to the rise in demand for services.

In 2015, the Senior High School Summit was held and, according to Moreno, it accelerated the preparation for the city’s K to 12 program.

The construction of more classrooms was achieved even with the disapproval of the majority bloc of the City Council of the mayor’s executive budget in the last three years.

The majority bloc belonged to PaDayon Pilipino, the local political party founded and headed by former city mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano who ran against Moreno, a Liberal Party member, in the last two elections.

With the constraints in budget hindering the city’s chief executive, Moreno utilized the Special Education Fund (SEF) to purchase school sites, construct school buildings, promote sports development activities in public elementary and secondary schools, train teachers, and conduct researches.

Moreno also revitalized the Local School Board, which under his term, is composed of representatives from various sectors, to serve as the mayor’s advisory body in policymaking in regard to the city’s education needs.

Capacity building

Also, among the achievements of the Moreno administration in education was the capacity-building of good governance practices to the multi-stakeholders of the school community to improve the delivery of quality education, through the help of Synergeia Foundation, Inc.

Another entity, the Ayala Foundation, Inc. chose Cagayan de Oro as one of the areas that received the Text2Teach Program which equipped Grade 5 and 6 teachers with the needed information and communication technology skills and hardware required by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education increased the prowess of the elementary teachers of Indahag Elementary School and Fr. William Masterson SJ Elementary School in the areas of pedagogy, teaching methodologies and values integration.

Cagayan De Oro celebrates 66th Charter Day

(PNA), SCS/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 15 (PNA) – This seaport capital of 660,000 people in Northern Mindanao observed its 66th anniversary as a chartered city on Wednesday.

Known as “Cagayan De Misamis” during the Spanish and American periods, Cagayan De Misamis became a chartered city on June 15, 1950 by virtue of Republic Act No. 521.

Before becoming the country's vice president (Dec. 30, 1961-Dec. 30, 1965), the late Rep. Emmanuel Pelaez authored the House bill that led to the approval of R.A. No. 521.

R.A. 7670 declared every June 15 of the year as “special-non working public holiday” in Cagayan De Oro to be known as "Cagayan De Oro City Charter Day."

Cagayan de Oro’s 2016 proposed Php 2.4-B budget gets nod

(PNA), LAP/CD

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 14 (PNA) -– The City Council has approved a Php 2.4-billion annual budget for the city this 2016, which is up 18 percent over last year’s Php 2.08, an official said Tuesday.

City Vice Mayor Ian Acenas said that the 2016 annual budget was approved during the regular session on Monday under City Ordinance No. 13081-2016.

He said that although the city executive proposed a Php 4.8 billion budget, the actual income of the city government was only Php 2.2 billion in 2014, prompting the city council to approve only Php. 2.08 billion budget in 2015.

City Councilor Alden Bacal said that the city executive has, for several times, denied the request made by city council to submit the actual income of the city government in 2015.

Bacal said that the increase of the budget this year would be distributed to various departments based on the documents submitted to the City Council.

City Councilor Ramon Tabor, chair of the city council committee on police, fire, and public safety, said that the budget of the Cagayan De Oro Police Office (COCPO) also increased by Php 12 million in 2016.

In 2016, the budget for the COCPO was raised to Php 41 million compared to the 2015 budget of only Php 28.3 million.

Tabor said that the COCPO budget this year would be used to procure two units service vehicles worth Php 3.6 million; Php 5 million for five units pick-up trucks, Php 2.7 million for 35 units of motorcycle to address the mobility of the local police office.

He said that the amount of Php 2.7 million would be earmarked for gasoline, oil and lubricant expenses and Php 24 million for financial incentive to 100 police personnel at Php 2,000 each a month.

In this year’s budget, Php 3 million is allocated for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Tabor said.

He said that the amount of Php 700,000 would be used for the installation of Closed Circuit Tel-evision (CCTV) for the City Jail-Maile Dormitory and to rehabilitate the City Jail’s Water System.

MSMEs may now take advantage of STARBOOKS in CDO Negosyo Center

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 13 (PIA) – Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and various entrepreneurs who will avail services of Cagayan de Oro Negosyo Center can now take advantage of getting several science and technology information to improve business products and processes through Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station (STARBOOKS), a digital library from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

In a turnover ceremony on 10 June 2016 at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental provincial office, Tiano-Akut Sts., Cagayan de Oro City, DOST Regional Director Alfonso P. Alamban shared that STARBOOKS is a technology rolled out by DOST nationwide.

It is a digital library wherein barangays and far flung communities can access scientific and technological information without the use of internet. As of now, 70 STARBOOKS have been distributed throughout the regions. According to Alamban, they started with schools and colleges and now with negosyo centers.

Meanwhile, DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore said this is very relevant to our SMEs especially those who will avail services of Negosyo Center considering that it contains a lot of information in technology that would be a resource to improve their business, their operation and also do possible innovation on their product as well as for research and development needs. We expect a lot of SMEs to benefit from STARBOOKS available in Negosyo Centers.

Further, Negosyo Center in Cagayan de Oro city is continuing with its learning sessions which is three to four hours session which they do third and fourth week of the month together with their industry partners from the academe and industry associations.

Pabillore said that learning sessions vary from start-up entrepreneurs, would be entrepreneurs and existing entrepreneurs. Courses are modularized so that each group will have a curriculum to follow.

Further, Negosyo Centers in Claveria and El Salvador are open. Both Negosyo Centers are already operating; courses being offered include skills training among others. Pabillore said, this year they intend to launch six more Negosyo Centers in the other towns of Misamis Oriental particularly in Medina, Opol, Laguindingan, Lugait and two other municipalities.

On the other hand, Pabillore announced that DTI Misamis Oriental is already accepting applications for the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE). She said they already issued several certificates for BMBEs and they continue to accept.

BMBEs are business enterprises engaged in production, processing, or manufacturing of products, including agro-processing, as well as trading and services, with total assets of not more than P3 million.

Montierra: A new townhouse living option

(PR)

JOHNDORF Ventures Corporation (JVC) launched Montierra, a 600-home, sprawling townhouse community for middle class Kagay-anons at Seda Hotel on May 31, 2016.

The media launch and VIP night was attended by the city’s press folks as well as some special guests from the banking and real estate industries.

“Montierra is our way of showing the Kagay-anons how successfully we have done townhouse projects in Cebu,” said Michele Chiu-Bacungan, JVC sales and marketing manager, “But this time it’s going to be better, the units are going to be bigger.”

The project is located in the city’s uptown district, along the South Diversion Road, Upper Balulang. It is located in the city’s current booming district where various subdivisions and villages, schools, and business establishments found their home.

Also present during the launch were Richard Lim, the CEO of Johndorf Ventures Corporation, executive vice president Norma Lim, and managing directors Frances Dominique Lim and Frances Abigail Lim.

Lim shared that Johndorf is coming up with a new type of townhouse living in CdeO with Montierra. “The type of townhouse we are introducing now is something not common to the middleclass. Usually they would say na masikip or dikit-dikit, or raw house. We are offering bigger types of units, lot area and floor area. We’re doing this in a clustered basis so it’s not as constricting compared to other townhouses.”

She said that landowners will also get to appreciate the added features of living in Montierra which include several facilities such as a clubhouse, a gazebo, basketball court, and playground. The subdivision also features a lot of corner greens and open areas, and a gate and guardhouse with a fifteen-meter wide entrance. This is also the first Johndorf venture with a swimming pool.

“This time we’re giving Kagay-anons something that is community-ish, a friendlier environment,” Lim said.

The Montierra units are Asian contemporary in design.

The unit is fully painted. Each unit is intended to be spacious and airy, designed to let natural sunlight in, with three bedrooms and two toilet-and-bathrooms.

It is about sixty-three square meters in floor area and stands on fifty-four to one hundred eight square-meter subdivided lot. The units boast of a painted and varnished wooden staircase with handrail, granite-tiled ground floor and vinyl-tiled second floor, tiled toilets and bath with complete fixtures, kitchen cabinets and granite countertop, and a heat insulated second floor ceiling.

“The concept, as our studies show, attracts businessmen and professionals, young entrepreneurs and some foreigners who seek the right choice for a home to live in,” Ms. Bacungan said.

She added, “Montierra will now set the benchmark of what affordable living truly is with these well-planned and innovative amenities and facilities.”

“We want to ensure that our homebuyers would enjoy living in a townhouse that doesn’t feel cramp, that’s safe, you have amenities there, you’re very close to commercial areas, and at the same time, schools and churches are very near,” Nikki Lim said.

This gated community also boasts of a twelve meter wide main road and a commercial area where homeowners can hold businesses or shop close to home.

“We introduce a property management style where our tag line is ‘We are always there.’ Any concerns you have, our marketing and our customer care will always be there to answer it,” said Abigail Lim who added that Johndorf assures their clients full support not just during the after sales but also during the reservation, down to the documentation, even to submitting loans to the banks.

“We consider Montierra as a community. In this community, the ‘Always There Program’ also applies wherein we try to fit your need to our housing. If this is your budget, we can always repackage to fit to your budget.”

Future homeowners are encouraged to drop by at Montierra’s office at Unit 7, Jofelmor Bldg., Mortola St., Cagayan de Oro City or visit its website johndorfventures.com.ph.

CSWD to boost budget for centers food

(GOF-CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Clients from Tahanan ng Kabataan, Boystown, Home Care for Girls and Residential Care for Elderly will now enjoy the P100 daily budget from the previous P50 budget for food.

This has been announced by Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Officer Teddy Sabuga-a during his visit in those centers recently.

CSWD together with the city local government is optimistic that they will be able to support the centers especially on the food expenses.

The licensed social workers in the city also strengthens the centers by providing good and valuable services.

Cagayan De Oro Port, now busiest next to Manila Port

(PNA), PGL/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 10 (PNA) -– The port of Cagayan De Oro is now the third busiest port in the country and the busiest outside Metro Manila, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) here reported Friday.

A report from the PPA central office in Manila showed that the Port of Cagayan de Oro handled 1,398,968 metric tons (MT) from January to March this year, third only to the Manila North Harbor and the Manila International Container Terminal.

In its quarterly report, the PPA central office stated that the domestic freight handling made the bulk of the cargo – 622,499 MT of incoming traffic and 605,372 MT of outbound cargo, totaling 1,227,871 MT of domestic freight.

The Port of Macabalan here, the city’s main port area, likewise handled a total of 150,607 MT of imported goods and 20,490 MT of products for export.

For the same period, Manila North Harbor handled 5,557,761 MT in shipments traffic as compared to Manila International Container Terminal’s 3,746,201.

The same report also stated that a total of 50 million metric tons passed through the various ports nationwide in the first quarter of 2016, up 6.4 percent from only 47 million metric tons for the same period last year.

The PPA report came days after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released its own 2015 census results, putting Cagayan De Oro with a 2.23 percent population growth rate, cementing its status as the business hub in Mindanao.

CDO to hold Trabaho Patrol Job Fair on City Charter Day

(MAG-CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Cagayan de Oro City Job Placement Bureau – Public Employment Services Office-10 (PESO) and ABS-CBN invite jobseekers to join the Lingkod Kapamilya-Trabaho Patrol Job Fair on June 15 at Limketkai Atrium.

The PESO already accepts pre-registration from applicants who want to be part of the Trabaho Patrol Job Fair from June 7 onwards.

Interested jobseekers will just have to bring their updated resume and visit PESO, 2nd Floor, New Executive City Hall Building.

CDO launches Boystown Orchestra

(GOF-CIO/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The City Social Welfare and Development Office of Cagayan de Oro in partnership with the Samahang Musikero at Mang-aawit sa Kagay-an at Mindanao, Inc. launched the Boystown Orchestra on June 5 at Barangay Lumbia.

The Boystown serves as the refuge for street and abandoned children who were saved by the CSWD staff during their reach out operation.

The Boystown Orchestra will serve as entertainment to the clients as they will be playing music if during city activities.

The group will begin the music lessons in July.

There are at least 33 clients in the Boystown and 39 from the Tahanan ng Kabataan.

DENR adopts ‘LAWIN’ in environmental monitoring

(PNA), LAP/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG

CAGAYAN DE ORO, June 7 (PNA) -– Exactly 255 stakeholders in the protection of environment joined the “LAWIN” workshop on landscaping and wildlife indicators aimed at preserving a healthy environment here.

LAWIN stands for Landscape and Wildlife Indicators System, a system that eliminates the manual process of encoding of field data by using SMART and CyberTracker installed on a smartphone or tablet.

The program was spearheaded by the regional Department of Environment and Natural Re-sources (DENR) in cooperation with the United States Agency International Development (USAID), focused on forest and biodiversity protection system.

DENR officials said that the biodiversity system integrates the implementation of interventions to address threats and the monitoring of the response of the forest ecosystem to the management interventions.

One of the approaches involved in the monitoring is the adoption of the Landscape and Wildlife Indicators System or (LAWIN), a system that eliminates the manual process of encoding of field data by using SMART and CyberTracker installed on a smartphone or tablet.

The LAWIN system generates spatial based information, facilitate a process of science-based identification of hot spots and the formulation of measurable conservation target.

Environmental officials said that LAWIN also provides an electronic record of patrol effort, and facilitate a timely response to observed threats through environmental law enforcement and other management interventions.

Corazon C. Davis, the DENR Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance, one of the resource persons, has expressed the optimism that the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop could help solve environmental problems.

Selected forest rangers were provided a smartphone equipped with the LAWIN system application that would familiarize the patrols on the list of indicator species in the area of assignments.

Resource managers, data managers, patrol organizers, patrols, and environmental law enforcers from various areas in Northern Mindanao joined the recent LAWIN workshop here.

CDO hosts Southeast Asia’s first Global Bubble Parade

By Rezza Mae Tolinero (RMT/XU)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 6 – Happiness filled Xavier Ecoville during the Global Bubble Parade (GBP) on 29 May 2016, the first not just in the Philippines, but in Southeast Asia.

The Bubble Parade is an international “movement of passionate individuals who share the belief that happiness is the journey, not the destination, by joining together in peaceful local parades of soap bubbles.”

Aimed at promoting resiliency, diversity, and positive interactions within communities, the Bubble Parade is the brainchild of the 100happydays Foundation.

Localizing happiness

Xavier Ecoville took part in the Kagay-anon version of the parade, coined “Ambit Kalipay,” meaning “share happiness.”

Four years ago, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan and the local government established Xavier Ecoville as the resettlement village for the victims of Typhoon Sendong, which rendered thousands of families homeless. Today, Ecoville stands as a testament to the resiliency of the families who survived the calamity.

After the parade, the festival continued with games and an array of performances by local talents and the children of Xavier Ecoville. To ensure that everyone went home with a smile, the kids were given ice cream.


Evans Rosauro I Yonson, overall director of GBP-PH, shares, “I think we have achieved our set goals — to hold the first-ever Bubble Parade in the Philippines.”

“It may not have been that grand but seeing the faces of the children with their bubbles is already a clear indication that our event was a success,” Yonson says, adding that the Bubble Parade made him realize that happiness can always create ripples of positivity when shared.

More than your Happiness Heroes

Ambit Kalipay was hosted by the Ridge-to-Reef Young Leaders Camp, a project that sprung from the Seeds for the Future Grant of the US Department of State’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

Held from December 2015 to March 2016, the four-phase camp gathered young leaders from all over Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City to deepen their awareness on the environmental issues and the appreciation for the interconnectedness of the mountains, rivers, and seas.

Other than this year’s Bubble Parade, the organizers of the Ridge-to-Reef Young Leaders Camp will also host an event called “TREEE” (Engage, Express, Exchange) on June 4.

As part of the YSEALI YOUnified for #1Earth Campaign, the program aims to raise youth participation for the environment through the following: Engage: Coastal Cleanup, Express: Art for eARTh Exhibit and Exchange: Open talks on the present environmental issues.

More than 200,000 people in over 60 countries across the world joined this year “to build more resilient and diverse communities, to increase awareness about personal well-being and to create positive interactive experience between the city and its inhabitants.”

For partnership and volunteering opportunities, you may email the team: ridge2reefylc@gmail.com.

Population in Northern Mindanao up 400,000

(PNA), SCS/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 5 (PNA) – The population in Northern Mindanao has increased by 400,000 compared to the number of inhabitants in the region in 2010, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Sunday.

The PSA said the increase was noted during a census that concluded in August last year in comparison with the actual regional population recorded in the year ending 2010.

Released this week, the census data showed that the population in Northern Mindanao in 2015 already reached 4,689,302 compared to the 4,297,323 recorded five years ago.

Bukidnon remains the most densely populated province with a population of 1,415,226, followed by Misamis Oriental and Cagayan De Oro City, the regional capital, with 675,950 people.

The island province of Camiguin recorded the least population of 89,000 or only 1.9 percent of the total population in Northern Mindanao, the PSA report said.

The rest of the provinces posted a population increase, which account of the total regional growth rate at 1.68 percent per year.

Northern Mindanao or Region 10 comprises the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and the island province of Camiguin.

The latest population report now placed Northern Mindanao as the eighth densely populated region among the 18 regions in the country, representing 4.64 percent of the total population of the Philippines.The next census is scheduled in 2020.

University all set for Senior High School confab

(XUComm)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- “Aim High, Senior High” is not your average orientation seminar or OrSem but a grand welcome for the incoming Xavier University Senior High School students in Cagayan de Oro City.

Various activities are slated from June 2 to 4 at the XU main campus to provide a glimpse of the vibrant university life Xavier offers to its SHS students.

The three days will be filled with getting to know not just the academic side but also the kind of leadership formation that happens in the wide-ranging and extensive co-curricular and extra-curricular programs at Xavier.

The Senior HS program comprises the additional two years of basic education, in line with the DepEd’s Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (Republic Act No.10533), which aims to strengthen the basic education system in the Philippines.

From the conceptualization phase, student volunteers have been working hand in hand with the Office of Student Affairs, Student Activities and Leadership Development, faculty and staff of the university to ensure the OrSem activities are exciting for the eleventh graders and embody the spirit of being Xavier Ateneans.

A Eucharistic mass will be celebrated on June 2 at the XU Gymnasium to officially open OrSem 2016, to be followed by an academic convocation.

Meanwhile, the split sessions include counselling, strand assembly, and small group discussions, while the parallel sessions are composed of OrSem games, student interest talks and scholars’ assembly. This year’s OrSem will end with an organizational tour and a talent exposition.

SHS students are encouraged to share their OrSem experience using the hashtags, #MyORSEMStory and #ORSEMWanderlust.

XU offers complete Academic and Technical-Vocational-Livelihood tracks. The university has been preparing for this transition since 2014 and it hopes to form globally competitive graduates who will meet the standards and fulfill the demands of the ASEAN Economic Integration.

Anti-trafficking seminar held in Oro

By Butch D. Enerio

TO HELP raise community awareness among vulnerable sectors of society, a women’s group, in collaboration with line agencies and a non-government organization, conducted an advocacy training-seminar workshop among the youth on human trafficking.

The seminar, iFight Advocacy Training with the theme ‘Prepare To Fight Prepare To Inspire,’ was focused on the different ploys used by human traffickers to lure would-be victims.

The two-day training, conducted at the Capitol University, was well attended by student representatives of the different schools in this city.

They were appraised on the different educational materials from experts on human trafficking issues, notwithstanding the use of the internet to perpetuate crimes.

“This seminar is one of the ways that we can reach out to our community andhelp protect our children from human trafficking that has victimized mostly minors,” said Lindy Patriana, Zonta Club of Cagayan de Oro II president

Zonta International is an organization that aims to promote the advancement of women and children, and is working to end violence against women and children by being proactive and interactive.

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) through its Internet Child Protection Program coined as Project Angelnet, explained to the participants that the widespread online dangers are harming the lives of the young users through internet addiction, cyber-bullying, stalking, trafficking, pornography and on-line gambling.

PO3 Grace Sanchez of PNP-ACG said that internet addiction among children has already caused a digital divide that affected their normal activities, denying them of quality time with friends and family.

Sanchez said that the a considerable number of youths have experienced bullying on-line, having been bombarded with posted materials and have already engaged in forms of cruelty using the internet or other digital technology.

She said that before anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, cyber-stalking is first employed by traffickers to gather identities of prospects through social networking, biography and family websites.

Trafficking in person is the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring of persons with or without victim’s consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat, coercion, abduction, deception or abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation or prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services.

“Sad to say that there are parents who act as recruiters for their children to be trafficked or prostituted,” said Sr. Cecilia A. Espenilla of Justice Peace, and Integrity Council of the Dominican Sisters one of the speakers.

She presented to the young participants facts of human trafficking and how they can become catalysts to end the modern slavery by reechoing the learnings and awareness they got from their training to family members, classmates, friends and school officials.

Maria Theresa Celdran, incoming president of Cagayan de Oro Zonta , said that an iFight Movement chapter was organized after the training-seminar to strengthen the bond of the students in pursuing anti human trafficking information drive.

“The iFight Movement will give a face to the advocates in fighting human trafficking.” Celdran said.

The seminar training was in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the nongovernment organization the Visayan Forum-iFight Movement to end human trafficking.

More volunteers for Brigada Eskwela needed

By PJ Orias

TEACHERS from public schools are inviting more volunteers and stakeholders for this year’s Brigada Eskwela, centered on disaster preparedness and the implementation of K-12 program.

Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) principal Pedro Estaño Jr. disclosed that its school collected a total of P2 million donations from stakeholders.

Estaño said they started their collection as early as January in preparation for the Brigada Eskwela.

“Ang among advocacy man gud is Brigada or the cleaning up of schools, should be on a daily basis, dili kay karon ra siya (not one time only), all year-long kini siya nga buluhaton,” he said.

Estaño said the first day of Brigada was smooth and there were only little challenges.

However, Estaño said there will be no enrollees for Grades 11 and 12 for the incoming Balik-Eskwela as all of the school’s students instead went to enroll in private schools.

“Ang problema man gud diri is kulang gyud ta kaayo ug classrooms mao kining dili kita maka-accommodate ug more students for the K-12. Ang proseso gane diri is double shift, lahi nga batch ang gabie ug buntag. Kung naay mag-enroll gyud, pwede gabie na gyud ang klase (The problem is the lack of classrooms to accommodate more students for the K-12. We have a double shift process, batches are separated with one in the morning and another for the evening),” Estaño said.

Estaño noted a slight improvement for the classroom to student ratio, from 1:50 to 1:40 adding that the teaching force of MOGCHS is sufficient.

But Estaño said they are waiting for the City Government’s promise of 100 classrooms for MOGCHS.

City Central School principal Arnold Tejero said they appreciate the manpower support of some government agencies and private companies but noted that the help should continue until it ends on Saturday.

“Overwhelming kaayo ang nangabot na materials ug financial support na gi-donate sa mga lain-laing grupo. Grabe gyud ang among paningkamot kay contest man gud ning Brigada so gitawag namo ang mga ginikanan ug uban pa na gusto lang gyud mutabang nga muanhi na sa atong tunghaan,” Tejero said.

DOLE 10 holds Moral Recovery Program for employees

By Mildred E. Dablio (MED, LCO/DOLE-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Seventy One employees of the Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE-10) attended the annual Moral Recovery Program Levels 7 and 8 about “Pagsisinop at Pag-iingat sa Puso,” on 17-19 May 2016 in Mambajao, Camiguin.

Spouses, Gaines Marie G. Rosario, guest speakers from the Lay Formation Center (Layforce), the formation arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, encourages the participants to develop their stewardship skills, and equip them with an effective tool in managing people.

“To date, there is an overflow of information in the head; but not enough formation of the heart. Layforce Programs effectively employ the Theology of the Heart in touching the life of every participant - (Formation). And, we hope to achieve a balance between the heart and the mind thereby encouraging the participants to live-out their learnings and experiences shared - (Transformation),” Rosario said.

Level 7 on Pagsisinop ng Puso talks about the stewardship and accountability.

DOLE-X Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante spearheaded the team of participants.

“This values-formation module is very timely and appropriate to me and my staff to be good stewards in this earth and appreciate the value of accountability in what is given by God to us,” Agravante said.

Meanwhile, Level 8 talked about the value of professional working habits and transformational leadership.

“With the nature of our work as public servants, we are grateful to the Layforce in equipping us more with the effective tools in managing people,” Agravante said.

Agravante further ensures the public and the clientele, that DOLE-X employees are continuously capacitating themselves to contribute to the common good of the organization and the society.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Cagayan_de_Oro_City_News_June_2016&oldid=933840"