General Santos City News December 2011

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Philippine News

PNP-12 to policemen: No use of gun to celebrate the New Year

By.CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 31 (PIA)--- Leading by example, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 here is bent on making the New Year celebration accident-free warning its policemen not to ever use their guns. “Ang baril ay sadyang ginawa upang ipagtanggol ang mga inaapi at hindi dapat gamitin sa karahasan at kalokohan,” the Regional Public Information Office quoted CSupt. Lester Camba, PRO-12 deputy regional director for administration, as saying. Camba himself spearheaded the “taping of the muzzles of firearms” of police personnel here Tuesday (December 27) in a simple ceremony held at PRO-12 headquarters. Regional public information officer Supt. Resty Damaso said such action was done in accordance with the Letter of Instruction (LOI) 42/2011 labeled “Yuletide Season.” Damaso explained the LOI “pertains to the implementation of proactive measures against indiscriminate firing of guns during the yuletide season to further prevent injuries and deaths brought by illegal and indiscriminate firing of guns.” Camba urged all police assigned all over region 12 to refrain from using their guns during the New Year’s revelries to avoid injuring anybody with stray bullets. “Sa mga nagdaang taon, maraming naitalang aksidente patungkol sa ligaw na bala,kaya dahil dito minabuti ng ating mga nakakataas na pinuno ng organisasyon, na lahat ng kapulisan ay sama samang maglalagay ng selyo o tape sa muzzle o dulo ng baril upang maiwasan ang anumang aksidente at karahasan!,” Camba told policemen. He said this was also the police way of showing people that guns or firecrackers-related incidents can be prevented without using either of them. The police, Camba said can partake in the celebration for the coming New Year, but their primordial role should not be taken for granted. Their primary role remains. It is still to maintain and preserve the peace and order, undertake patrol, increase police visibility and assistance and keep a tight watch at places frequented by people, he said. “Always be vigilant and alert especially this coming New Year. Sana po, ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pagbabantay sa ating mamamayan at pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at katahimikan sa ating rehiyon,” he urged police. PRO-12 believes that on top of Christmas and New Year celebrations is to ensure that no guns or firecrackers-related incidents will happen. It then appealed to public to avoid using powerful firecrackers that can hurt encouraging them instead “to use utensils, whistles, trumpets and horns” to celebrate safely this holiday season. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

Geohazard maps

By. Joseph Jubelag


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on local chief executives in Central Mindanao to refer to their respective geohazard maps to prevent the occurrence of disaster and calamities in their localities. He said the DENR had already distributed geohazard maps to local government units specifically those which are prone to disaster and calamities.

“Local officials should make the geohazard maps as basis in identifying disaster-prone areas so they can take the necessary steps before, during and after calamity,” Pascual said. The DENR official’s call was made in the wake of tropical storm “Sendong” which devastated several areas in Northern Mindanao, killing more than 1,000 people.

OCDRC-RDRRMC 12 hails ICON and media support in times of disaster

By. CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 28 (PIA)--- The Office of Civil Defense Regional Center- Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCDRC-RDRRMC) 12 lauded the quick response of the members of the Information Communication Network (ICON) 12 and the media in the region in times of disaster. ICON, an organization of government information officers in south-central Mindanao, is under the tutelage of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 12. Lita Enok, OCDRD-12 regional director said ICON-12 and the media were very helpful in the dissemination of news regarding Tropical storm Sendong soliciting the massive response of the populace in the entire region. She credited the pouring in of support for the victims of Sendong to the active involvement of media and the information officers of different national government agencies and local government units who mobilized different sectors to help in any way they could. Enok also acknowledged the partnership the OCDRC-RDRRMC 12 forged with PIA-12 in the information and communication activities “intended to generate support in the form of cash, goods or personnel/technology for the flood-affected areas” in northern part of Mindanao. On December 23, Enok and her staff went to Cagayan de Oro City “to augment and extend support to OCDRC-RDRRMC 10 during the ongoing response operations in the areas of Region 10.” With no let up, the OCDRC-RDRRMC 12 has done all the monitoring and tabulation of assistance extended as well as the activities undertaken by regional line agencies, LGUs and civic and private organizations in Region 12, Enok said. Enok also said all assistance that had been generated or those that are coming in yet for the hard-hit victims of Sendong had been delivered or shall be delivered to the victims specifically in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

Response for Sendong victims overwhelming—OCDRC XII

By. CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 27 (PIA) -- Response for the hard-hit victims of Tropical storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao was overwhelming, according to the Office of Civil Defense Regional Center (OCDRC) XII. In the OCD's report, it cited the assistance of the provincial government of Saranggani which donated more than P500,000.00 worth of 469 sacks of rice, 53 boxes of bottled water, 150 gallons of drinking water, 232 boxes of canned goods, 134 boxes of noodles, 207 boxes of infant milk, 861 sacks and 142 boxes of used clothing, 4 boxes of assorted grocery items, 400 plastic mats, one box and two packs of kitchen utensils, two sacks of bags, one sack and three packs of assorted footwear and 15 funeral caskets. Along with the relief items was the P3,266.00 worth of financial assistance coming from individuals who opted to donate in cash. The relief items were delivered just before Christmas day in three 10-wheeler trucks headed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) team. The province has also deployed a team of responders and volunteer nurses to northern Mindanao specifically in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City to conduct medical outreach activities. In its desire to help the victims, the provincial government has temporarily turned its provincial gymnasium to operations center for the collection, processing and dispatch of relief goods. The provincial government of South Cotabato also gave its share by approving the release of P1.5 million for relief and other forms of assistance including the 450 bags of rice and 20 funeral caskets. It also deployed its PDRRMO response team to help the victims in the area. The OCDRC XII said the city government of Cotabato also donated 10,000 bottles of water and assorted relief goods which were distributed by its own response team. Meanwhile, the city government of General Santos shelled out P500,000.00 cash assistance to each of the city government of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. Aside from cash, the city government also turned over some relief items which were delivered Friday, Dec. 23, according to the City Public Information Office. The relief items were gathered through the collective efforts and assistance of different sectors and organizations here in the city, it said. Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio has also tasked its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to send a team to assist in stress debriefing of the victims. In the report, OCDRC-12 also acknowledged the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII for augmenting the supplies of DSWD Region X. These were 2,000 family food packs, 10,000 bottles of water, 1,500 clothing packs, 2,000 plastic mats, 2,000 mosquito nets, 1,629 bed sheets, 1,579 hand towels, 600 bath towels and sent off 15 social workers to assist in the stress debriefing of victims in Iligan City. The Department of Health (DOH) XII has also ensured that 21 cadaver bags will be sent to DOH Region X. It said that it will send its own Mental Health Psycho Social Service Team this week to also assist in stress debriefing along with DSWD personnel and local counterparts. Earlier, the Deparment of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII has issued a memorandum enjoining the local chief executives (LCEs) in Region XII to provide assistance to affected families in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

Response for Sendong victims overwhelming—OCDRC XII

By. CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 27 (PIA) -- Response for the hard-hit victims of Tropical storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao was overwhelming, according to the Office of Civil Defense Regional Center (OCDRC) XII. In the OCD's report, it cited the assistance of the provincial government of Saranggani which donated more than P500,000.00 worth of 469 sacks of rice, 53 boxes of bottled water, 150 gallons of drinking water, 232 boxes of canned goods, 134 boxes of noodles, 207 boxes of infant milk, 861 sacks and 142 boxes of used clothing, 4 boxes of assorted grocery items, 400 plastic mats, one box and two packs of kitchen utensils, two sacks of bags, one sack and three packs of assorted footwear and 15 funeral caskets. Along with the relief items was the P3,266.00 worth of financial assistance coming from individuals who opted to donate in cash. The relief items were delivered just before Christmas day in three 10-wheeler trucks headed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) team. The province has also deployed a team of responders and volunteer nurses to northern Mindanao specifically in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City to conduct medical outreach activities. In its desire to help the victims, the provincial government has temporarily turned its provincial gymnasium to operations center for the collection, processing and dispatch of relief goods. The provincial government of South Cotabato also gave its share by approving the release of P1.5 million for relief and other forms of assistance including the 450 bags of rice and 20 funeral caskets. It also deployed its PDRRMO response team to help the victims in the area. The OCDRC XII said the city government of Cotabato also donated 10,000 bottles of water and assorted relief goods which were distributed by its own response team. Meanwhile, the city government of General Santos shelled out P500,000.00 cash assistance to each of the city government of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. Aside from cash, the city government also turned over some relief items which were delivered Friday, Dec. 23, according to the City Public Information Office. The relief items were gathered through the collective efforts and assistance of different sectors and organizations here in the city, it said. Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio has also tasked its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to send a team to assist in stress debriefing of the victims. In the report, OCDRC-12 also acknowledged the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII for augmenting the supplies of DSWD Region X. These were 2,000 family food packs, 10,000 bottles of water, 1,500 clothing packs, 2,000 plastic mats, 2,000 mosquito nets, 1,629 bed sheets, 1,579 hand towels, 600 bath towels and sent off 15 social workers to assist in the stress debriefing of victims in Iligan City. The Department of Health (DOH) XII has also ensured that 21 cadaver bags will be sent to DOH Region X. It said that it will send its own Mental Health Psycho Social Service Team this week to also assist in stress debriefing along with DSWD personnel and local counterparts. Earlier, the Deparment of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII has issued a memorandum enjoining the local chief executives (LCEs) in Region XII to provide assistance to affected families in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

(Yearender) Socsksargen surges, exceeds growth targets in 2011

By. Allen Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) – Loud roars of rolling heavy equipment cut short the early dawn lull at a portion of a commercial section here as workers begin to form a queue towards the entrance of a fenced property where a major shopping mall is undergoing construction.

Elsewhere, another group of workers along with their equipment also starts roll as the morning sunlight tries to break through the dusk still hovering over the atmosphere.

These busy scenes in the property sector practically illustrate the surge in economic activities here and nearby areas during the past 12 months, taking a major rebound after a sluggish run a year ago.

From surplus yields in the agriculture sector to significant expansions and growth in investments and export trading – everything appeared on track for the entire South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos or the Socsksargen growth area.

The usual distractions – peace and order problems and natural calamities, made their presence felt but hardly made a dent to the area’s overall socio-economic gains.

All these were made sweeter by the classy feats of local heroes such as boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr. and Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup, among others, that again brought this southern port city and the nearby areas to the global stage.

Property boom

After its groundbreaking in late 2010, construction works for the P2.5 billion shopping mall complex of SM Prime Holdings Inc. here began early this year at a leased 17-hectare property located within the city’s main commercial district.

Occupying almost an entire block, the 150,000 floor area SM City General Santos was targeted to open by the first quarter of 2012. SM officials said it would hire some 8,000 workers from the area for the upcoming operations of the mall, which is bigger than the SM malls in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City.

The city’s investment board headed by City Mayor Darlene Custodio-Antonino earlier approved a tax break to the company as incentive for the multi-billion venture that falls under the local government’s investment priority areas.

In August, the city’s first Philippine Economic Zone Authority-approved Information Technology or IT park finally opened with top Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm Sutherland Global Services as initial locator.

In Sarangani, local officials led by Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao led the groundbreaking last August of the province’s P200-million modern hospital complex, which is being built through the public-private partnership or PPP concept championed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

Last November, the growth area’s biggest investment so far – the Alcantara Group’s US$ 450-million coal plant project – commenced construction in Barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani.

The 200-megawatt power project, which is a joint venture between the Alcantara Group and Thailand’s Electricity Generating Public Company, was due for completion by the year 2014.

Earlier this month, mall developer Gaisano opened another shopping mall in Koronadal City in South Cotabato. Gaisano Grand Koronadal is the company’s second shopping mall complex in the area.

The Economy

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 12 cited in a report that the favorable weather in the area this year has resulted in increased production of most of the high value crops, except for asparagus, cacao, coconut and mango.

For the fishery sector, municipal inland fishing recorded a better performance because of abundant water in the inland fishing grounds of the region, it said.

In terms of investments, a total of P2.251 billion of investments was generated in the area, with the province of South Cotabato and this city posting a total value of P1.374 billion based on the business name registered in different municipalities of the province from January to September 2011.

“Investments generation in all areas was rising because of the favorable investment climate and lighter requirements for investors,” noted NEDA Region 12 chief Teresita Socorro Ramos.

She said export earnings grew by about 24 percent with canned/fresh/frozen/pouched tuna and fresh/canned pineapple as leading export products.

Ramos said domestic and foreign tourists continue to visit the region to witness unique festivals and celebrations, as well as, to enjoy the splendor of the region’s tourist spots.

“Prices of commodity in the region stood at a single-digit inflation of 4.7 percent (as of the second quarter), except for fuel which is dependent on the international price adjustments,” she said.

In terms of the area’s rice sufficiency level, which reached 109.39 percent in 2010, was again on track towards the targets this year based on yield records obtained by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) and the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) in Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao.

BAS records showed that the area produced a total of 889,560 metric tons (MT) of palay within the first nine months of the year. Field reports indicated that the area will likely surpass its total yield of 1.2 million MT in 2010 by the end of the year.

For corn production, Socsksargen produced another surplus record of 793,688 MT so far during the year’s first three quarters.

Tuna Industry

Despite the setbacks faced by the tuna fishing sector as a result of the two-year fishing ban along the Pacific Ocean, the city’s tuna industry remained resilient and still managed to keep up with demands of the international markets.

Marfenio Tan, president of the San Andres Fishing Industries, said the operations of the six tuna canneries based in the city were not much affected by the fishing ban due to the unloading of tuna catches by foreign fishing vessels at the fishport complex in Barangay Tambler here.

The tuna industry posts an average annual export receipts of US$ 280 million, making it the area’s top dollar-earner.

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) earlier reported that the volume of fresh and frozen tuna stocks unloaded at the fishport complex dropped by only 1.5 percent last year just down to a total of 98,276,518 kilograms (kg) from the previous 99,733,827 kg.

Tan, who is the immediate past president of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc., said records for this year’s tuna landings were not yet available but they expect that it will surpass the slight deficit posted last year.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which counts the Philippines as a member, imposed the two-year ban on purse seine fishing starting on January 1, 2010 to allow the depleted tuna stocks along the Pacific Ocean to recover.

At least 9,000 workers in the local fishing industry have lost their jobs because of the ban, records from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources earlier showed.

Peace and order

On August 15, the entire Socsksargen area was shaken by a powerful roadside bomb blast in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat that allegedly targeted a passing convoy of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

The attack, which killed two people, came after the recovery of over a dozen explosives and threats of bomb attacks on key cities in the area, including this city.

Police Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao, disclosed that local terrorist cells led by fugitive bomber Basit Usman had been plotting to launch attacks in the city but could not gain entry due to the intensified security operations of government law enforcement units.

The area’s joint security forces further preempted the planned terror attacks with the earlier arrest of seven members of an alleged terror and kidnapping ring before they could enter the city.(PNA) LAP/AVE

LPA spotted near GenSan

By. abs-cbnNEWS.com


MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Weather bureau PAGASA on Sunday said it is monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) near General Santos City. In an advisory issued 10 a.m., PAGASA said at 8 a.m. Sunday, the LPA was spotted 130 kilomters (kms) east of General Santos City. PAGASA also said the northeast monsoon (amihan) and the easterlies, or the winds coming from the Pacific Ocean are converging over Visayas and Mindanao. The weather bureau said these two weather systems will bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Visayas and Mindanao. It warned that flash floods and landslides may occur in areas affected by raining.

Paskuhan Village” showcases GenSan’s best

By. Pops Gumana-Fruylan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) -- Local and foreign tourists flocked the City Government’s “Paskuhan Village” here which showcased culture, tourism and economic richness of the twenty-six barangays of the Tuna Capital. One can experience the similar excitement of a whole city tour by making a quick visit to the booths, adorned with flashing, colorful lights and recycled items creatively turned into interesting Christmas decors. Near the entrance of the village, a miniature General Santos City International Airport highlights the booth of Barangay Fatima which made attractive by toy cars occupying the streets and the parking lot, and the lighted air traffic control tower. “It was a tiny replica of the real airport,” exclaimed Jecelyn Joy Miparanum, a “balikbayan” nurse from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Other attractions are the “Santa Nok” of Barangay Ligaya, and the giant egg of Barangay Baluan which depicted poultry farms as the main livelihood in the area. Santa Nok is a giant chicken made of corn husk and other organic materials. Coastal barangays like Bawing, Bula, Buayan, and Calumpang adorned their respective booths with a real “bangka” and fishnets. A giant shrimp made of luminous plastic in Bula, and the dried fish and squid for sale in Calumpang indicated the abundance of the sea in these barangays with fishing as the main source of income. Eco-friendly decors also spruced-up barangays Dadiangas West, Tambler, Dadiangas East, Apopong, and Upper Labay with Christmas ornaments pieced-together by recycled plastic, empty soft drink bottles, crumpled papers, used CDs, corn husk, and a lot more. “This is very interesting because with a little imagination, it is possible to make wonderful festive decorations while still being kind to the environment,” said Aiko, a student from Banga, South Cotabato. Barangays known for their agricultural products such as Olympog, Sinawal, Batomelong, Tinagacan, and San Jose also made a giant replica of their products and displayed some of their harvest in stalls. The tourism potentials of Barangay Conel were also displayed in the Paskuhan Village with live Santa Claus entertaining visitors beside the mini-duplicate of the Amsikong Falls. Meanwhile, infrastructure developments and other facilities were showcased in the booths of five other barangays through their miniature models. The malls and hotels in Lagao, the City Public Terminal in Dadiangas North, the Public Market in Dadiangas South, high-end subdivisions and towers of the two biggest television networks in the country in San Isidro, and the buildings of vehicle companies in City Heights. This year’s Christmas celebration was anchored on the theme: “Kampeon ang Pasko sa Gensan” in reference to the personalities who have brought pride and honor to the city. Barangay Labangal, where the family of world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and other popular individuals reside, put-up a glove-shaped booth; while Barangay Katangawan has the life-sized photo of Ms. Universe 2011 third runner up, Shamcey Supsup. The “Paskuhan Village” displayed not only the rich economic potentials of Gensan, but also housed the creativity and talents of the generals who are worthy to be called “Champions.” (PGFruylan/PIA-General Santos City)

Sarangani and GenSan to give relief assistance to Sendong typhoon victims

By. CT Apelacio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 22 (PIA) –- The local governments of Sarangani and General Santos City (SarGen) have devised their own initiative to contribute to the victims of Typhoon Sendong in northern Mindanao. As of December 20, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 957 dead; 1,582 injured; 432 rescued; and 49 others still missing. In Sarangani, Governor Miguel Dominguez convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDDRMC) to discuss the province’s assistance to the victims particularly in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities. The PDRRMC immediately passed a resolution to donate P500,000 worth of rice, canned goods (sardines), mats and blankets, bottled water, used clothing, and caskets to the stricken areas hard hit by typhoon Sendong. The provincial government has also sought the assistance of other groups and individuals starting with its employees to help boost the province’s donations. According to the Provincial Information Office, the provincial government has also deployed a medical team to assist in the evacuation centers in the area. It said it will deliver the relief goods just before Christmas. Meanwhile, the city government here is also set to deliver its assistance to Sendong’s victims through the City Social Welfare and Development Office, which is in charge of the relief operation. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio earlier urged her constituents to help in any way they can for the sake of the typhoon victims. Aside from its own resource, the city government was also able to generate donations from various sectors and even from individuals here. Custodio also arranged for a convoy of trucks to ferry the relief goods, the first of which will be on Friday, December 23. The city government targets some P1-million worth of donations to be distributed to more than 5,000 disaster victims, rendered helpless by Tropical Storm Sendong. The first batch of relief goods is “composed of rice, bottled water, canned tuna and sardines, dried fish, bread loaves, used clothes and fresh undergarments, blankets or malongs and supplies of medicines.” (CTA/PIA General Santos City)

PNP XII's OPLAN Yuletide Season in place

By. PIA Press Release


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police, region XII has set operational guidelines and procedures for the security coverage and other public safety measures during the yuletide season. In his directive to the provincial and city directors of PNP XII, director Police Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele ordered the strict enforcement of fire cracker zone, police presence at all churches and intensified inspections of firecracker/pyrotechic warehouses and manufacturing sites. Mantele also ordered the strict enforcement of police checkpoint operations to prevent proliferation of loose firearms and implement intensified intelligence operations. The PNP, he said, will implement appropriate measures to prevent police personnel and other gun holders from illegally discharging their firearms during the yuletide season. The PNP XII director said the PNP will deploy Route Safety Marshals for motorists and establish assistance hubs for the general public, handicapped, disabled and elderly during the season, particularly at the different places of convergence. Mantele disclosed the intensified drive for security and public safety in view of the traditional Yuletide Season which starts with a nine-day novena, "Simbang Gabi" in Catholic Churches all over the country and extends up to the first week of January. During this period, he continued, economic activities and influx of people particularly in urban centers are expected to increase which may trigger the increase of street crimes, traffic congestion and traffic accidents. Mantele said the situation might also be taken advantaged of by terrorists and other criminal elements in carrying out their nefarious activities. Likewise, the PNP official pointed out, the traditional way of using firecrackers and other pyrotechnics to celebrate Christmas and New Year may result to accidents causing loss of lives and damage to properties. OPLAN Yuletide Season is a coordinative efforts of the Department of Health, the local government units and other government and non-government agencies, Mantele added. (OTSUDARIA/PIA 12)

Australia pledges humanitarian aid for Mindanao, other disaster-hit areas in Asia-Pacific

By. (PNA)

LDV/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 20 (PNA) –- Australia has allocated some A$ 10.5 million for humanitarian assistance to victims of recent calamities that affected the Asia-Pacific region, including the devastating floods in several parts of Mindanao over the weekend that already left over 900 people dead.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said they are set to release the financial grant to non-government organizations (NGOs) Care, Caritas, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children and World Vision as part of its new Humanitarian Partnership Agreement.

He said the assistance was meant to “ensure a faster, more coordinated response to rapid onset emergencies” in the region.

Rudd noted that the participating NGOs have been pre-qualified and have a proven track record in providing humanitarian assistance internationally.

“We have seen flash flooding in the Philippines that has resulted in over 600 deaths. The Australian government's work with the Red Cross and the Philippines government meant emergency supplies were pre-positioned for immediate distribution, and assessment teams are now working to see what more needs to be done,” Rudd said in a statement released Monday by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid).

Typhoon Sendong (international code name: “Washi) wreaked havoc in five Mindanao regions and portions of Visayas and Mimaropa region, triggering flashfloods and landslides that already left 957 people dead and 49 others still missing.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 9,743 families or a total of 42,733 persons have remained in evacuation centers in the cities of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and other neighboring areas.

Meanwhile, aside from providing direct relief and humanitarian assistance, the official said the program will also focus on building the capacity of NGOs and their partners on the ground to respond to disasters.

They will help build up disaster risk management systems and lessen the impact of natural disasters in partner countries and regions, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific, he said.

Rudd pointed out that in the last 30 years, the incidence of disasters globally has more than doubled, and almost half happen in the Asia-Pacific region.

“It's particularly a problem in poor countries that don't have the resources to respond when disaster strikes,” he said.

In addition to the humanitarian support, Rudd said Australia has provided close to A$ 11 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for emergency preparedness within the Asia Pacific region and Africa.

“Australia's contribution is enhancing WFP's ability to pre-position humanitarian supplies and improve disaster management capacity within the WFP and with partner governments in developing countries,” he said.

He added that program wants to ensure that people in crisis would receive the needed life-saving food and shelter.

NGCP power grid intact after tropical storm “Sendong” hit Mindanao

By. PIA Press Release


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 19 (PIA) -- Major power transmission lines of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) remained operational even as tropical storm “Sendong” battered Mindanao on weekend. Milfrance “Bambie” Q. Capulong, NGCP’s regional corporate communications officer, said power transmission service provider and grid operator of the NGCP continued to monitor the effects of the tropical storm “Sendong” on power transmission facilities in Mindanao. As of Sunday, Capulong revealed that the “major power transmission lines of NGCP, the backbone lines of the power grid, have not been affected with a sustained fault.” “There were two momentary faults, but these were immediately restored,” she explained. Earlier, Capulong said necessary preparations and precautions had been implemented to minimize the impact of the storm on NGCP operation and facilities. “These include ensuring the availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work,” she said. Meanwhile, Capulong revealed that the four sub-transmission lines which delivered power to Cagayan de Oro City and Bislig City were affected by the storm. “These, however, have been restored after aerial patrol and repair of said lines have been done the whole day of Saturday,” she said. Tropical Storm “Sendong” made a landfall in the afternoon of Friday, Dec 16 in Hinatuan, Surigao del Norte, and devastated other areas of Visayas and Mindanao on weekend. As of 6:00 a.m. today, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded 533 deaths, 16 injured, and 309 are still missing. (PGF/PIA Gensan with reports from NGCP)

Gen San Price Monitoring Council intensifies monitoring of noche buena products

By. Pia Press Release


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 16 (PIA) -- The City Price Monitoring Council headed by the Department of Trade and Industry, this city, is closely monitoring the prices of noche buena products this month of December. In the "Meet the Press" program over DXCP, Arnel Sayco, officer-in-charge of DTI-General Santos City, underscored the significance of intensifying the agency's monitoring tasks on most in demand food products in this merrymaking season to protect the consumers from scrupulous businessmen. Sayco said posters on the suggested retail prices of noche buena products are displayed in supermarkets where consumers can refer to if they suspect overpricing or violation of the Price Act or Republic Act 7581. Ken Wong, DTI-General Santos City's Consumers Arbitration Officer disclosed that once a consumer discovers an overpriced product, he/she may lodge his/her complaint with the Consumers Welfare's Desk of the establishment which might take efforts in settling the case. If unsettled, the case can be brought to the DTI office for arbitration, Wong said.(OTSUDARIA/PIA 12)

DPWH starts work on P3-B Mindanao road projects

By. gmanetwork.com


The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started work on integrated Mindanao road projects that can reduce transport costs by some 10 percent.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said these road projects, worth some P3 billion, are multi-modal and sustainable and can boost business, trade and tourism.

“Southern Mindanao is fast becoming the center for agro-industrial business, trade and tourism. Its products, bananas, pineapples, fresh asparagus, and fish products are now being exported abroad. These road improvement projects are necessary to transport these agri-products from the production areas to the centers of commerce and trade,” Singson said.

Under the World Bank-assisted National Roads Improvement and Management Program Phase II, the DPWH is now implementing: improvement of the 31.476-kilometer (km) Malita-Don Marcelino section of the Malalag-Malita-J.A. Santos road costing P549.57 million 53.10-km Digos-Kidapawan road section costing P623.610 million 50-km Kidapawan-Pagalungan road section costing P379.1 million; 58.22-km Pagalungan-Junction Cotabato road section costing P977.493 milion the project on landslide risk mitigation along Digos-Gen. Santos City road and Davao-Calinan-Buda road costing P512.246 million.

The landslide risk mitigation project includes slope protection works in 34 sites along Digos-General Santos City and four sites along Davao-Calinan-Buda road section to address the problem of landslides and road settlements.

Remedial works on these damaged roads will ensure continuous accessibility between Digos City and General Santos City, and, Davao City and its neighboring provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and other provinces. - VVP, GMA News

Indonesia repatriates 50 Filipino fishermen

By. Allen Estabillo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – Indonesia has repatriated 50 more fishermen from this city and the neighboring provinces of Sarangani and Davao del Sur who were earlier jailed for fishing illegally in its territorial waters.

City Councilor Ronnel Rivera said Wednesday the repatriates arrived here Tuesday morning aboard a vessel commissioned by his family’s fishing company RD Fishing Industries Inc. from Manado in Indonesia.

He said the repatriation was arranged by staff members based in Manado of his own foundation Ronnel C. Rivera (RCR) Foundation Inc. (RDFI) and officials of the Philippine Consulate in Manado.

After arriving at the RDFI wharf here, the fishermen were immediately subjected to proper documentation by Philippine Coast Guard and City Social Welfare and Development Office personnel.

“These fishermen were allowed to return home by Indonesia after serving their jail terms for illegal entry and fishing violations,” Rivera said.

Majority of the 50 repatriates were residents of this city while a number of them were from Sarangani Province and Balut Island in Davao del Sur, he said.

The official said most of them were crew members and officers of fishing boats owned by various tuna fishing companies based in this city that were apprehended by Indonesian Naval personnel after encroaching Indonesia’s fishing grounds.

He said some of the fishermen had served jail terms of more than two years while others completed lighter sentences of four months to one year.

Rivera, who is vice president of the RD Group of Companies, said his foundation will initially provide financial and livelihood assistance to the repatriated fishermen as well as possible job placements in his family’s fishing company.

Aside from the 50 fishermen, Rivera said his staff members in Manado were also working for the repatriation of 15 more fishermen from the area.

“I was informed by the consulate that 15 more fishermen are now ready for repatriation. So I immediately instructed my staff to make the necessary arrangements so these fishermen can come home before the end of the month,” he said.

Since last year, Rivera’s foundation already facilitated the return of around 200 fishermen who were imprisoned in various jails in North Sulawesi province in Indonesia due to illegal fishing and entry violations.

Rivera estimated that to date, around 5,000 fishermen from the city and the neighboring areas are still languishing in Indonesian jails.

“We’re currently working double time to facilitate the immediate repatriation of these fishermen. Right now we’re targeting to bring home some of them every two to three months,” he said. (PNA) LAP/AVE

South Cotabato workers get P20,000 extra bonus

By.(PNA)

scs/FFC/AVE/HST


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 12 (PNA) – Employees of the provincial government of South Cotabato are set to receive an additional bonus of P20,000 this month as productivity enhancement incentive.

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said the incentive was based on the accumulated savings of the local government from its budget for this year.

He said the P20,000 additional bonus will only be given to regular employees of the provincial government but added that the contractual or job-order workers will also be getting a reasonable cash gift.

Pingoy noted that the actual amount appropriated for the regular employees’ incentive was more than P20,000 but the local government slashed a portion of it to accommodate the contractual and job-order workers.

“In the spirit of Christmas, we deemed it appropriate to share our cash gift with the non-regular workers since they’ve been also working hard just like the rest of us,” the governor said.

He said the incentive will be released before December 23, in time for the local government’s Christmas party.

Last year, the provincial government granted P21,000 as extra cash gift for all its 955 regular employees but only P18,000 was released as it allotted the slashed P3,000 for the incentives of the more than 600 contractual and job-order workers.

Among those who benefited from such scheme were the local government-paid teachers, who received a cash gift of P5,000 each.

IPOPHL encourages GenSan SMEs to register intellectual property

By. Pops Gumana-Fruylan


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 11 (PIA) -- The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) encouraged small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) here to register for trademark, copyright, and/or patent to ensure their protection against infringement. Atty. Ricardo R. Blancaflor, Director General of IPOPHL, was in the Tuna Capital over the weekend to orient SMEs on the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) which can become “the most valuable business asset of an enterprise.” Blancaflor shared the success story of “Mang Inasal,” the first barbecue fast food chain in the Philippines, which after three years of operation sold its business assets to “Jollibee” for P3 billion. He explained that all the stores of Mang Inasal all over the country were only worth P1 billion, but its trademark was worth P2 billion. “Little did Mang Inasal know that the three-colored trademark would be bought for an additional P2 billion,” he said. Blancaflor explained that IPOPHL is pushing for the registration of intellectual property to uncover hidden creations of the minds that are still unutilized. He said one foreign study revealed that 27 percent of 1,000 science projects in the country, which are considered genuine work, could have been patented worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “We never know we are actually sitting on a gold mine,” he stressed. Meanwhile, Blancaflor commended the creation of the General Santos City Intellectual Property Association (GINPAS), a group that advocates intellectual property rights in the city. He expressed optimism that with GINPAS around more people will move for the registration of their intellectual creations that could benefit the local government through “more taxes and more economic growth.” Dorecita Delima, Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 12 also expressed confidence that the creation GINPAS would encourage other provinces and cities in the region to adopt the same advocacies on intellectual property. “IPOPHL is the lead agency in the country mandated to implement state policies on intellectual property (IP), including coordinating the efforts of the public and private sectors to formulate and implement plans and policies to strengthen the protection of IPR in the country.” (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)

Media’s help sought on Mindanao’s critical environment situation

By. Walter I. Balane


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/9 Dec) – The media must dig more and be more critical in the midst of a deteriorating environmental situation in Mindanao, former presidential assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said in the opening Thursday of the three-day 7th Mindanao Media Summit. Dureza, who is now publisher of the Davao-based Mindanao Times and the Mindanao trustee of the Philippine Press Institute, said the media must go beyond the usual fare of reportage “amidst the various advocacies” on the island’s deteriorating environmental state. “Study very well and deliver the correct message,” he told more than a hundred participants to the summit, which focused on “Environment Watch: Mindanao.” Dureza said resource conflict is emerging as a more serious source of conflict in Mindanao and environment watch is the “call of the moment.” In her rationale of the summit, Carolyn Arguillas, chairperson of the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC), cited that floods in Mindanao have displaced more people than war did. Arguillas presented that roughly about 100,000 people were displaced by war in Mindanao in 2011. But she added that in January 2011 alone, floods in Mindanao communities displaced about 855,480 persons, which is 43 percent of the total number (2 million) displaced by floods all over the country. Arguillas also called the attention of the media on the lack of tsunami warning signs in the Moro Gulf, site of the worst tsunami that hit the country in the 1970s. The tsunami left 8,000 people dead or missing, 10,000 injured, and about 90,000 displaced. The gulf, she said, is the most tsunami prone in Mindanao. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Lualhati Antonino, in her presentation, said Mindanao is faced with the impact of unparalleled activities that pose implications on the capacity of its resources to support development. She called the attention of the media on the “situation of the watersheds and river basins in Mindanao,” “the current production and settlement practices affecting our environment,” “and the serious implications of our unsustainable development practices to food, human, and environmental security.” Most developments dependent on the natural endowments of Mindanao are aggravating the impacts of climate change to the economic and social activities of Mindanao, she added. Antonino cited that Mindanao holds original growth forest blocks which are now “fast depleted.” The remaining forest cover of Mindanao is now only 21 percent, including plantation species, she said, citing 2002 data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. She also cited 2010 data from the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) that said that Mindanao’s natural remaining forest cover, which is essential for water production, is now at only six percent. Antonino said Mindanao’s natural resources are so diverse and rich that is why Mindanawons “are able to support their economic progress well, given the right support and monitoring.” But she added that since the economy of Mindanao is primarily dependent on agriculture, any adverse effect to its resources affects production and livelihood of many farmers and agricultural workers. “Right now, increased human settlement activities already pose severe implications to the capacity of our resources, the biomass of our wildlife, and the sustainability of our waters and watershed areas to support developments,” she said. She added that unsustainable agricultural practices and lack of an integrated and coordinated approach in managing and developing river basins in Mindanao “contribute to the cumulative deterioration of our watersheds.” Antonino cited as examples mangrove cutting in coastal areas, quarrying, mining without mitigation measures, disposal of wastes in water systems, unregulated use of water, and increased community settlement along riverbanks all add up to create detriments to ecosystems. “Such ecological challenge lodges Mindanao’s sustainability to an alarming level,” she added. For Mindanao to achieve sustainable development, she added, an appropriate and effective resource management mechanism must be put in place to harmonize and integrate all efforts to rehabilitate watersheds and river basins. “The enabling environment shall be anchored on three areas: production, protection, and settlement,” she said. Antonino highlighted MindaNOW: Nurturing Our Waters Program, a project spearheaded by MinDA. She said it is testament of support to the national policy of sustainable development and a supplement to the endeavors for the National Greening Program by the DENR. She added that it serves as one of the concrete translations under the Mindanao 2020 vision of striking a balance between economic development and ecological integrity. Organizers said the summit this year intends to help journalists engage their communities not only in its traditional role in providing accurate news and information “but also in opening venues for deeper discussion on pressing issues regarding the environment.” The summit intends to increase the capacity of journalists to produce greater quality and volume of reporting; raise the level of public awareness and debate on environment issues; and create opportunities for journalists to build networks with scientists, technology experts, consumers and other media organizations. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

ERC orders more consultations for GenSan power deal

By. (PNA)

scs/FFC/AVE


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered distribution utility South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) and power firm Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) to conduct more public consultations for its proposed power sales agreement. Joseph Nocos, vice president for Administration of SEC’s mother firm Conal Holdings Corporation, said they received the ERC directive following an expository hearing conducted by the agency on Wednesday regarding the power deal that the company signed with Socoteco II last June. “We were directed by the ERC to hold more consultations and explain the details of the contract to all stakeholders within the (Socoteco II) service area starting next week until January 15,” he said. Nocos said they are initially planning to hold a series of briefings among local government officials and consumers within Socoteco II’s franchise area, which covers the entire Sarangani province, this city and the municipalities of Polomolok and Tupi in South Cotabato. As set by the ERC, he said they will announce the scheduled consultations through newspaper publications, radio and television plugs. Nocos said the holding of the additional consultations was required by the ERC to facilitate the pre-trial hearing for their agreement. “The consultations will focus mainly on the power sales agreement and possibly other important aspects of the project,” he said. Nocos was referring to SEC’s US$ 450 million coal plant project in Barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani province that formally commenced late last month. The company is constructing a 200-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant, which it plans to operate by the year 2014. Based on the agreement that they forged last June 3, SEC will provide Socoteco II with 70 MW of adequate, reliable and economic baseload power supply from 2014 to 2023 through its coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani. Nocos said SEC is offering a power rate to Socoteco II at only P5.24 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is way cheaper than the estimated P9 per kWh charged by diesel-powered plants. More than 80 percent of Socoteco II’s energy supply is dedicated to industrial, commercial and residential users of General Santos City. Rodolfo Ocat, Socoteco II general manager, said their projections showed that Socoteco II will likely face power supply shortage by 2014 due to the decision of the National Power Corporation to cut down its power supply to the area by 30 percent or roughly 30 megawatts. Socoteco II’s peak load requirement is currently pegged at 102 MW. Early this year, Socoteco II forged a supply

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